Chapter 66
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 66
Chapter Title: Crime City Investment
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Sensing my gaze, Isara picked up the scenario.
"With news spreading that our group is investing in the content business this time, all sorts of distributors have been sending over scenarios. Mostly movies."
"Mind if I take a quick look?"
"Of course. I trust your eye for this, Author."
The Team Leader's info dumps only covered hits. Same titles might not mean the same story, so I needed to skim the contents too—and sure enough, a few were ones I recognized.
"Can I invest in these too?"
"As much as you want!"
The first one that caught my eye was Crime City. Production budget: 5 billion won. Knowing it spawned sequels that all crushed at the box office, I shortlisted it.
Best to focus on low-budget smash hits.
There were others like The Wailing, The Handmaiden, and Train to Busan, but instead of spreading thin across everything, better to go all-in on a sure thing. Of course, with Isara's deep pockets, she could probably vet all my picks anyway.
This should do it...
I picked out a handful of the ones I knew, and Isara's expression settled into calm focus.
Scenarios alone wouldn't guarantee a hit. They needed a solid director and the right casting.
I couldn't meddle that far, but Isara wasn't just some chaebol heiress with money to burn—she'd handle it.
"I'll invest in Crime City only."
A few days ago, I'd heard how the drama had skyrocketed sales for both the web novel and webtoon.
Novel sales up 50 times, webtoon a whopping 100 times.
The novel had already raked in big during serialization, but the webtoon was just getting started—it'd print money for ages.
"How much?"
"If it's split investment, around 500 million total."
"You've made a killing, haven't you, Author?"
"Getting by."
"Then here's some good news."
"I'm all ears."
"You could go with 1 billion."
"Pardon?"
"Remember the RS clause in your drama rights deal? Just from current ratings, your guarantee's already over 500 million."
"Whoa... really?"
To be precise, it was royalties, but the point landed.
"And it'll climb more with all the exports."
"Glad I went with you and the president."
Hold on—if I'm getting 500 million on RS, how much did Isara pocket?
This is why you invest.
If it flops, you lose it all, so the upside has to balance the market.
"Crime City, huh... Any reason you picked it?"
"Gut feeling."
"Always with the gut."
"It really is."
I turned away from her glare.
"Fine. You put in 1 billion, I'll cover the remaining 4."
"No regrets."
I could say that with confidence for a reason.
【How'd you like it?】
We'd had times in the military-style training where we were forced to watch movies like it was indoctrination. Once the screening ended, the Team Leader always polled our thoughts.
【Fun watch.】
【Me too! It was fun!】
【Meh. Kinda childish.】
Most said it was fun, but the Team Leader didn't stop there.
【Watch more. If you still don't get why I picked this after seeing them all, you're no better than shit as writers.】
Harsh as hell calling people shit, but anyway—we watched the first, then the second, then straight into the third. The second matched the first's fun, but the third felt a bit lacking.
【This movie even has a novel version up on the Nobelpia platform. It hit ten million during COVID and proved what weary folks crave deep down. You're web novel writers—don't half-ass the themes. Make products, not art! Got it?】
After binging Joker and The Dark Knight back-to-back, I couldn't recall ever watching three movies in one day. It hit me how hard the Team Leader was driving that point home.
Director and lead actor moved as a package deal.
Change one, and who knows the outcome—but rare for me to know the full inside story like this, so I could drop 1 billion without sweat.
"Just one thing—I want in on the casting."
"I'll ask the distributor."
Best if my novels turned into dramas and movies, but with only one body, jumping on others' works when chances arose seemed smart.
Leave this to Isara.
Time for today's real agenda.
"Beyond Indonesia rights, what's next?"
"Your schedule. Dating variety show and auditions. Time to start."
"Hmm... I handed over all the source material, though."
"Missing details. And your company's picking idols—you can't sit this out."
"You're not saying I have to judge from the panel, are you?"
"That's exactly it."
"What...?"
"Why resist? You've been on TV already."
"That was just..."
"Variety. Auditions are variety too."
What was I supposed to do there? I knew zilch about music.
"I believe in that gut of yours, Author. Pros handle scores—you pick on vibe. Wouldn't that be fun?"
"I'd just get flamed and booted."
"You're already swimming in hate."
True. Not everyone sang my praises. Fame bred envy and jealousy, and novels were subjective anyway.
Hate spiked after the drama.
But I was the type to embrace it. My mental fortitude was rock-solid—only that Team Leader bastard could crack it.
"I hashed out details with the channel yesterday. How about five judges total, two from your company?"
One'd be Manager Min. Already a name in the biz. Me being the other? Bizarre.
"I'm voting yes too."
"Ugh, they'd finger-point my lack of expertise."
"How's an entertainment CEO lacking expertise gonna run a public audition? You're great at everything except self-awareness sometimes. Still haven't grasped how huge you are?"
"...Sorry. Basement-dwelling shut-in here."
"Not just me thinking it. PD Kim from I Live Alone reached out again."
"That was Jin-seong..."
"You're the main draw."
Fine, fine. I'm in.
"Ever Googled your pen name?"
"...No."
"Knew it."
My internet time went to intel gathering and scouting writers. I wanted to beat that Team Leader to the punch on everyone.
Isara tapped her phone and shoved it my way.
"...Not quite auteur level..."
Articles, posts, endless trail under my pen name.
"I didn't write these."
Isara grinned and continued.
"Some hype, sure—but that's the world's view of you right now. I'm not one to waste that marketability."
The Team Leader's words echoed in my skull again.
"...Got it."
No point denying forever—own it and move on.
That day, Isara bled me dry on multiple fronts before I headed home.
She was way more plugged into the world than me. I was a writer living in novels most days. She was a warrior meeting people, making calls, fighting battles.
Stuff like this goes straight into the novel.
Meeting her was luck. Without Isara, minor headaches would've piled on me or Ye-jin.
Tak-tak-tak-tak!
Didn't even change—straight to pounding out Mount Jiri Elf. Had to transplant Isara's character before it faded.
It was the day month-end evaluations dropped.
The academy buzzed like a high school class prepping for college entrance exams—today's results meant some would get cut.
Harsh, but efficient.
You bastards are done for.
No clue how the webtoon class fared, but in standard web novels, about twenty shone.
They were the hauntings of the creative rooms—already cranking out a full volume every three weeks minimum.
Lee Myung-han was one. He'd hit five chapters a day, no weekends, pumping out a volume weekly at least.
About forty showed real effort. Hadn't read their drafts, but the desperation seeped through.
The rest? Iron rod to the ass today.
Here she comes.
Executive Director Go Ye-jin entered. Rumors swirled about her too—beauty wrapped in elite aura. Always polished, yet never rude.
"You've all worked hard."
She bowed deeply to the trainees.
"A month is long if long, short if short—but how you use it changes everything. I hope you've learned that."
Lee Myung-han nodded. First time in his life he'd gone this insane with focus for a month.
"I believe in every one of you. But space and time aren't infinite, so regrettably, those not ready yet must part ways today."
She outlined what came next. Survivors got ongoing training to polish their works for release.
And promising ones would collab with the webtoon class.
Webtoon...
Still a pipe dream for him, but persistence would bring chances eventually.
"Our academy aims to be Korea's top content educator. As the first class, you must build the system for those after. Some of today's selectees will get individual PD offers."
His heart raced. PD gig meant closer to Executive Director Go Ye-jin up front? Maybe even spotting Author Memory often.
"Qualified list is posted in the front hall corridor—check and head home. Thank you."
Trainees surged out, faces a mix of doubt. A guy who'd bolted ahead suddenly crumpled. Staring blankly at the list, he scowled like it made no sense.
"...Why me? Rejected...?"
Hwang Geon.
"No way, hyung!"
Lee Se-ho, who'd slimed around him, yelped in shock, then gasped at his own name on the rejects.
"Why me too...?"
Those who'd missed submissions took it in stride, but the cocky ones? Rainbow of reactions.
Prime exhibit: Nam Joo-yeon.
"What the hell? No way!"
She shrieked and bolted full tilt. Looked like she was charging to complain—Hwang Geon and Lee Se-ho chased after.
Kuhuhu...
Lee Myung-han trailed them, unable to hide his grin.
He'd thought justice only existed in web novels, but today real-life villains might get their comeuppance en masse?
You lot need this to wake up.
Rumor had it they'd trashed Author Memory at a booze-up they'd dragged him to—and got burned.
"Excuse me!"
At the west corridor end toward the parking lot, Nam Joo-yeon snarled at Executive Director Go Ye-jin, blocking her path.