Chapter 180: Enticement

Fiddling with his phone, I hesitated for a moment. I wasn’t sure if this task was suitable for him.

But I changed my mind. Handling clandestine matters was fundamental to his job, after all.

I pressed a speed dial button on my phone, and the ringing tone began. My heart pounded.

“Yes, Chief of Staff. This is Woo Byung-joon.”

His voice remained monotonous.

“Executive Director Woo. It’s Jin Do-jun.”

“Yes. Please speak.”

“I’m calling with a request.”

“It’s not a request, Chief of Staff. It’s an order.”

“Indeed. Then, I’ll issue an order. There’s an entertainment agency in Gangnam called Time Music. It’s a place that cultivates singers.”

“Yes.”

“Please investigate the president of this company and its financial status.”

“Are there any specific areas I should focus on investigating?”

“The entertainment industry is full of swindlers. See if they’re running a celebrity-sponsor business, or if they’re just trying to scam investors out of their money. Also, check if the president has any criminal records.”

It’s easy to find wealthy individuals eager to connect with celebrities. Among entertainment agency presidents, many are just con artists focused on luring these clueless rich people into investments.

If they manage to hook a mark, they’ll introduce a young woman, elaborately packaged as part of a new girl group, and rip them off for the production costs of albums and music videos – it happens all the time.

If Sang-joon Hyung is working at a place like that, I need to get him out of there quickly.

“Are there any further orders?”

“No. That will be sufficient.”

“Understood. It will take approximately four days.”

As soon as the call ended, I let out a sigh of relief.

When will I ever get used to Executive Director Woo’s dry voice?

Executive Director Woo Byung-joon and I met at a cafe near the company, a day earlier than expected, on the third day.

He pulled out a thick stack of documents and placed it on the table.

“I didn’t find any particular reason to investigate, but it turns out your older brother, Jin Sang-joon, works there.”

“Yes. That’s why I wanted it checked out, just in case.”

“There was nothing unusual. He’s neither a con artist nor a swindler.”

“What about the company’s financial situation?”

“That’s an area where you, Chief of Staff, are the expert, so it would be best if you took a look yourself. I’ve obtained the financial transaction records for both the company and the president personally for the past five years.”

After looking at a couple of the documents, I let out a hollow laugh. I already knew it was small, but both the income and expenditures were at rock bottom.

It was a classic passion project.

An amateur company where the owner makes a modest living doing what they love, content with their happiness.

“The reputation wasn’t bad. They are known for accurately identifying the potential of new artists and creating music that suits them.”

If that were the case, they should have succeeded already. The era where only idols dominate hasn’t arrived yet. Many idols and girl groups have succeeded, but just as many solo artists are also strong.

Then there’s only one reason….

“This company mainly operates in the underground scene.”

Woo Byung-joon’s expression shifted slightly but quickly returned to his usual indifferent look.

“Yes. While I’m not entirely sure what ‘underground’ precisely means, they are known for seeking out unpopular genres.”

I knew everything I needed to know. As I gathered the documents, Woo Byung-joon asked,

“Is there anything else you require?”

“No. This is enough. Thank you for your efforts.”

“You’re welcome. Then, I’ll take my leave.”

He stood up abruptly and gave a slight bow. As he was about to walk away, it seemed something occurred to Executive Director Woo.

“Ah, how are the new employees? Please let me know if you experience any inconveniences.”

“No, not at all. I appreciate their taciturn nature.”

“That’s a relief. Then….”

As I watched Woo Byung-joon’s broad back as he left the cafe, a short sigh escaped my lips.

When will I be able to have a friendly conversation with that man? Or will that day ever come?

* * *

Time Music President Jo Hwan-gyu kept adjusting his suit, which he hadn’t worn in ages, looking awkward. Even as he tried to relax, the trembling in his fingertips wouldn’t stop.

“I’m here to see Representative Oh Se-hyun. The appointment was already….”

“Are you the president of Time Music, by any chance?”

The female employee at the company entrance glanced at her notepad to confirm.

“Yes.”

“He’s expecting you. This way….”

President Jo Hwan-gyu nervously walked through the luxurious office. He knocked on the CEO’s office door and entered to find a middle-aged man greeting him with a bright smile.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Jo Hwan-gyu.”

“Oh Se-hyun here. Please, have a seat.”

As he settled onto the leather sofa, he started feeling even more uneasy. Miracle was the one who contacted him first, so why was he the one feeling more nervous?

President Jo Hwan-gyu decided that to shake off this unease, he needed to address his questions first.

“Representative Oh, to be honest, I’m dumbfounded. I only found out that Miracle Investment is a huge investment firm after talking to you and doing an internet search.”

“Oh really? Someone running an entertainment agency doesn’t know about investment firms?”

Representative Oh Se-hyun asked back, feigning surprise.

“Ah, well, I never thought investments would be relevant to me.”

“Isn’t it more that you never even considered receiving investments?”

He hit the nail right on the head, leaving Jo Hwan-gyu speechless. Seeing this, Oh Se-hyun began to speak with a smile.

“Let’s cut to the chase and get straight to the point. Listen carefully.”

“Yes.”

“Our Miracle will invest in Time Music.”

“Yes? In our company?”

“That’s right. The investment terms will align with the norms of your industry. So, President Jo, it would be good for you to check with surrounding agencies to understand the common investment conditions. You need to verify if the terms we offer match the industry standard. Understand?”

“Ah, yes.”

“The initial investment will be 2 billion won.”

“T-Two billion… ?”

President Jo Hwan-gyu doubted his ears for a moment. An unbelievable sum. And another doubt began to creep in.

Why?

“Yes. Is it too little?”

“Ah, no, it’s not that….”

“Rather than the 2 billion, you should focus more on the word ‘initial.’ If the results are good, we could invest even 20 billion won.”

President Jo Hwan-gyu tried hard to recall the dream he had last night. He couldn’t remember it clearly, but it must have been a dream about a pig farm or a dragon ascending to the heavens holding a mystical orb.

“I have only one specific condition.”

Jo Hwan-gyu focused, listening intently to the condition that would come from Oh Se-hyun’s lips.

“With our 2 billion won investment, you absolutely cannot support indie bands or underground singers. You can continue doing that yourself, like you are now.”

“Th-Then what?”

“I hear it costs about 500 million to 1 billion won to raise a new girl group. Is that right?”

“I’m not exactly sure… but I’ve heard it costs a lot of money.”

“Raise two teams with the 2 billion won. Girl groups can earn some pocket money by performing at events right away, right? So, my point is, nurture new talent that can make money.”

“But I have no intention of expanding my business in that direction. It’s not in line with my vision.”

As President Jo, who had been stammering, gave a firm answer, Oh Se-hyun’s face hardened, and his polite tone began to change.

“President Jo.”

“Yes.”

“Think before you answer, will you? You’ve hit the jackpot here. It’s like finding a gold nugget on the street!”

Jo Hwan-gyu felt a surge of tension again at Oh Se-hyun’s piercing gaze.

“Use that gold nugget to build your business and make a lot of money. And with that money, you can foster the indie bands and underground musicians you like. You need to separate your hobbies from your business. Don’t you agree?”

Hobbies.

President Jo felt a surge of emotion, as his business was being reduced to a mere hobby, but considering the scale of Miracle, it was hard to argue.

“Our Miracle US headquarters invests a tremendous amount in movies. Are you aware of that?”

“Ah, no.”

“We mainly invest in Hollywood blockbuster films, but we also invest heavily in independent and art films. We rarely even recoup the investment in those, let alone make a profit. Do you know why we keep investing?”

“…….”

“Because that’s how the entire film industry develops. New actors from independent films, young directors who worked on art films – these people eventually move into commercial films. This constant circulation is what makes Hollywood thrive.”

Oh Se-hyun’s tone softened slightly.

“From what I’ve gathered, President Jo, you have a good reputation. They say you have a good eye. Use that eye to discover talent with both commercial appeal and star potential. And nurture them into stars, whether they are idols, girl groups, or ballad singers. I’ll provide as much funding as you need, so don’t worry about that. You can pursue your art with the money those stars earn. Is that such a difficult calculation?”

President Jo Hwan-gyu remained silent for a long time. During his silence, Oh Se-hyun also kept quiet, patiently waiting.

Finally, Jo Hwan-gyu opened his mouth.

“May I ask one question?”

“As many as you like.”

“Why are you investing in me? There are countless agencies in Gangnam that raise idols. You could invest in them, so I’m curious why you chose our company, which pursues a completely different direction.”

“I told you, you’ve hit the jackpot.”

“So, why did I hit the jackpot?”

“You hired a new employee at your company, right? Jin Sang-joon.”

“Yes. He’s a graduate from abroad….”

“That kid is my best friend’s son.”

“Ah…!”

It wasn’t because of last night’s dream. The dragon with the mystical orb was the new PD.

“They sent him abroad for his studies despite their financial difficulties, but looking at it, he seems destined for a meager existence, far from getting a return on their investment. But what can you do? He says he wants to do what he loves, just like you, President, so I can’t exactly stop him.”

“So, you’re investing because of your friend’s son?”

“Does the reason matter? Enough to throw away such a golden opportunity right in front of you?”

“No, it doesn’t.”

“Then, President Jo, you should prioritize thinking about how to grow your business from now on, rather than the reason behind this.”

Jo Hwan-gyu thought for a long moment before cautiously opening his mouth.

“If I don’t accept the investment….”

Before he could finish, Oh Se-hyun’s frustrated voice erupted.

“Do you think I’d just leave my friend’s son under a foolish president who would kick away such a precious opportunity? I’d drag him out by the collar! I’d rather start my own company!”

He was serious.

Right now, Oh Se-hyun was earnestly considering grabbing Sang-joon by the collar and dragging him out of this company.

Amateurs…!

He was investing his precious time in someone like President Jo, who lived without much thought, because he admired Sang-joon’s determination to stand on his own two feet and Do-jun’s heartfelt desire to actively support his brother.

“Oh, and one more thing.”

Jo Hwan-gyu, who had been bowing his head at Oh Se-hyun’s outburst, slowly raised his face.

“My investment is strictly confidential to Sang-joon. If he finds out about this, he might resign immediately. Sang-joon’s pride is on par with that of a chaebol’s son.”

President Jo Hwan-gyu stood up abruptly, as if he had made up his mind.

“Whatever the reason, thank you for giving me this opportunity, Representative. I will do my best not to let this opportunity go to waste.”

“You’ve made the right decision. Time Music will have our company’s experts closely managing it. President Jo, you can focus on discovering talented new artists and creating good music. Trust us and leave it to us.”

“Yes. Please guide me.”

Watching President Jo leave while repeatedly bowing his head, Oh Se-hyun clicked his tongue without realizing it.

“Tsk, tsk. That Do-jun kid is practically the head of his household. His father, his brother… that poor kid has no luck.”

Oh Se-hyun temporarily forgot that Jin Do-jun was born with the immense fortune of being the grandson of Korea’s wealthiest man.