Rookie Talent Agent Knows It All
Chapter 555: Merge (1)

Chapter 555: Merge (1)

[Everyday V12.1]

[Date: January 11, 2021]

[Fortune of the Day: Storms rush in from all directions. The sea overflows and tsunamis rise, while the ground cracks and sinks. It's best to keep a low profile. But if you face adversity head-on, it turns into a blessing in disguise.]

"Storms? Tsunamis? Cracking ground?"

Every line warned that something big was about to happen. At that moment, I had a feeling there might be conflict at today's merger ceremony. That was because most of the talent agents from Gwanwoo Entertainment, the company merging today, came from Suhyaejong's side, and the person leading this merger was none other than Choi Man-Sik.

On top of that, I had recently blocked Choi Man-Sik from acquiring the Hope Hospital site. So it was obvious that Choi Man-Sik would try to retaliate. Perhaps that was the reason Everyday showed this kind of fortune.

'I'd better be careful.'

Still, I was relieved to see that the fortune ended by showing me the path I needed to take.

"If you face adversity head-on, it turns into a blessing in disguise..."

A blessing in disguise meant that with strong will and relentless effort, I could turn even misfortune into fortune.

In other words, depending on what I do, today's fate could change.

"Yeah. It's not like I ever took the easy road anyway..."

Ever since the regression, not a single day has been an easy one. So today, I decided to face that adversity head-on too.

"Alright, time to go turn misfortune into fortune."

With those words, my steps grew stronger as I left the house.

***

Basement Level 2, Hoop Entertainment's small theater.

A massive banner hung above the stage in Basement Level 2, Hoop Entertainment's small theater.

[(Congratulation) Hoop Entertainment x Gwanwoo Entertainment Merger (Celebration)]

In reality, Hoop Entertainment was acquiring Gwanwoo Entertainment, but we had agreed to present it to the public as a merger to preserve the other company's dignity.

Once the merger ceremony ends, Gwanwoo's talent agents will begin moving into the offices of Actor Divisions 1 and 3. Gu Seong-Cheol's Actor Division 2 and my Actor Division 4 had decided not to accept any talent agents from Gwanwoo. However, since many actors and agents were coming from Gwanwoo, a new Actor Division 5 was established.

And for the singer division, Gwanwoo had more singers and a larger structure than we did, so we brought in their existing system as-is and established Singer Divisions 3 and 4.

As a result, the newly integrated Hoop Entertainment had transformed into a massive entertainment company with five actor divisions and four singer divisions.

Just then, Kang Ji-Yung stepped onto the stage. She had volunteered to emcee today's event, holding a microphone in one hand and a tablet in the other.

Tap tap.

The sound of the mic tapping echoed through the small theater.

"Alright, alright~ Seems like everyone's got a lot to say, but save your personal talk for later and take your seats. The president and shareholders will be entering shortly."

The agents from both companies, who had been whispering among familiar faces, quickly scrambled to find their seats.

I also moved to the front row and took the seat marked with my name, the seat for the head of Actor Division 4.

[Actor Division 4 Chief: Mr. Jung Yoon-Ho]

At that moment, just as I was about to take my seat, a massive figure approached from the right. It was Chief Baek Sang-Beom, head of the newly established Actor Division 5.

At forty-three years old, Baek Sang-Beom was a veteran talent agent with twenty years of experience. He stood about 190 centimeters tall, weighed around 100 kilograms, and had a muscular build. Apparently, he used to be on a wrestling team. Because of that, even the most ill-mannered actors would turn meek in front of him.

And unlike most athletes, he had been obsessed with watching movies and dramas since childhood, giving him a keen eye for scripts that would succeed. Thanks to that, he had been in charge of Actor Division 1 at Gwanwoo Entertainment and was involved in casting decisions across the company.

But the moment he saw me, Baek Sang-Beom started picking a fight. "Hey~ What's this? You're not even going to say hi to your sunbae? Guess you're doing so well now that you don't even see people like me, huh?"

Maybe this is what the planner meant by 'Storms rush in from all directions.'

I wanted to ignore this ridiculous provocation, but then I remembered the staff—team leads and employees from both Hoop and Gwanwoo—seated behind me were watching. They would no doubt be paying close attention to everything that happened from here on.

If that was the case, I couldn't afford to just let it slide. I had to set an example.

Unfazed by Baek Sang-Beom's intimidating stance, I reached out for a handshake. "Of course not. I was just lost in thought and didn't see you. Now that we're colleagues at the same company, I look forward to working together."

Baek Sang-Beom was momentarily caught off guard by my respectful response. However, soon, he grinned and grabbed my hand with his thick fingers. "Alright then. Good to see you. Let's work well together, yeah?"

As soon as our hands clasped, the former wrestler gripped tightly.

Crack.

The sound of bones pressing against each other echoed.

'There it is.'

I had already anticipated this, so while shaking hands, I pressed down with my thumb on the thick muscle between Baek Sang-Beom's thumb and index finger.

Baek Sang-Beom's face began to contort in pain. "Gah... You son of a..."

Pressing even harder with my thumb, I said, "If you're planning to keep playing dumb games like this, let's head up to the roof, take off our titles, and settle it properly. How does that sound, Mr. Baek Sang-Beom?"

There was a weight class difference, but I had full confidence I could win. Even for a former wrestler, there was no way to block the punch of a national-level boxer without gloves.

That's when a clear, sharp voice rang out from behind Baek Sang-Beom's massive frame.

"My god, again? Mr. Baek, can you quit showing off your strength already?"

It was Chief So Ji-Min, newly appointed head of Singer Division 3. At thirty-five, she stood 165 centimeters tall and looked like she was in her early twenties, with a cute and charming appearance.

Her looks had made her stand out from an early age, and she entered the industry as a child actor at five. By sixteen, she had become the leader of Gwanwoo Entertainment's popular idol group Pretties. Yet, despite her looks, she lacked the spark to succeed as a celebrity, so she switched careers at thirty to become a talent agent.

Since she had practically grown up at broadcast stations, there wasn't a single staff member who didn't know her. Thanks to her cute appearance and bubbly personality, So Ji-Min was popular at the stations.

But I knew her true nature.

Back in my Top Entertainment days before the regression, she had been one of the most selfish and cutthroat talent agents under me. She was also sharper than anyone, so it made sense she jumped in the moment Baek Sang-Beom started getting flustered.

As So Ji-Min appeared, Baek Sang-Beom quickly let go of my hand and stepped back. "Ahem... It's a misunderstanding. I was just messing around a bit, saying hello."

Baek Sang-Beom looked like a bear but acted like a fox.

So Ji-Min said, "Then why do stuff that'll be misunderstood? Go on, apologize."

After covering for Baek Sang-Beom, So Ji-Min turned to me with a sweet voice. However, when Baek Sang-Beom just stood there sulking, she instead reached out her hand to me.

"Mr. Jung, I think Mr. Baek might've been a bit rude. Don't take it personally. He's a bit hot-tempered, but he's not a bad guy."

And right then, Ji So-Min deliberately extended her hand for a handshake with my right hand, the same one that had just been in a power struggle with Baek Sang-Beom. She definitely knew it was still sore and did it on purpose.

'Yeah. That's exactly the kind of person you've always been.'

With a calm smile, I extended my left hand instead. "Yes. Nice to meet you, Ms. So Ji-Min."

So Ji-Min took my left hand with a slightly disappointed look. "But Mr. Jung, I've heard so much about you~ You've been making quite the waves lately, haven't you?"

"You're too kind."

"Oh my~ Too kind? You ousted Chief Kim Dong-Soo and basically took over all of Hoop Entertainment."

'You're really bringing up Kim Dong-Soo on a day like this?'

If Baek Sang-Beom had intended to crush me with his fists, she seemed to be trying to crush me with her words. Fortune of the Day was proving to be spot on.

In the end, I mentioned something I knew about So Ji-Min's weakness. "That's nonsense. Oh, and there's something I should let you know... At Hoop Entertainment, it's strictly forbidden to take trainees to drinking gatherings. I recommend you keep that in mind."

For a moment, her eyebrows twitched. So Ji-Min had a habit of calling in unknown trainees and having them pour drinks for PDs and CPs just to get her singers on broadcast programs. Most trainees, eager to debut and too young to object, rarely refused her orders.

When I pointed out that outdated and sleazy tactic of hers, So Ji-Min's eyes turned snake-like.

"Where did... you hear that kind of nonsense? Did you see it with your own eyes?"

I shrugged and said, "You know better than anyone that it's not nonsense."

"Hah, This is rich. Say one more thing like that and I won't just sit back and take it!"

I shook off her hand and replied, "Same goes for me... If you don't watch your mouth in front of me from now on, I definitely won't let it slide."

They were basically Choi Man-Sik's enforcers anyway.

'An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.'

Just as Everyday had warned me, I stood up to them. The fuming So Ji-Min glared at me for a while, then abruptly turned her head and returned to her seat.

I thought it might finally be over, but there was still one more. The true ace of Gwanwoo Entertainment and now the head of Singer Division 4, Yoon Dong-Gu approached with an arrogant look.

At thirty-two, he had graduated from Korea's top business school, completed his military service, and only started composing music afterward. He had enjoyed music and band activities since he was young, but he didn't begin composing until he was twenty-eight.

Even so, his very first composition became a huge hit. Now, he was a popular composer earning over a billion won annually from copyright royalties.

However, I knew exactly where his so-called composing talent came from. His hits were all based on mixing famous foreign songs and arranging them just enough to avoid being called plagiarism. In short, he was a plagiarism technician. I knew this because he had worked at Top Entertainment before the regression.

"Hey~ You know me, right?"

"Oh. Yes, Mr. Yoon Dong-Gu."

"Let's shake hands."

As I shook hands with Yoon Dong-Gu, he glanced around. "So, where's Bang Seon-Woo?"

I thought he would pick a fight with me, but instead, he went straight for Bang Seon-Woo. Seeing the previous two chiefs fail to mess with me, he was probably thinking of targeting someone close to me.

I had anticipated that and told Bang Seon-Woo not to come to the ceremony and just get some good sleep instead.

"Seon-Woo is sleeping."

Yoon Dong-Gu looked dumbfounded. "Sleeping? On a day like this?"

"Yes. He had a creative burst last night and stayed up composing. He just fell asleep."

Yoon Dong-Gu replied in an annoyed tone. "Then call him. I've got business with him."

"Seon-Woo isn't a company employee. He's a producer and creator under contract with us. He's not obligated to be here."

"Hey, Chief Jung. I said I want to see him."

"Go right ahead. After he's had a good sleep, that is."

As I refused to back down even a single word, Yoon Dong-Gu glared at me.

Nevertheless, I didn't blink and stared right back. He came at me trying to assert dominance, and if I backed down now, things would only get more annoying later.

His eyes burned as he stared at me, and he clenched his teeth. With nothing to say, he turned and walked away. "Damn it... I'll deal with you later."

Whip.

I had brushed off provocations from three division chiefs with ease. Something told me working with Gwanwoo Entertainment from now on might be pretty entertaining. Though in the end, I would be the only one left standing.

Anyway, the moment those three left, I could clearly see what Choi Man-Sik had intended. He had sent those three division chiefs to try and show the Gwanwoo staff behind me that I wasn't anyone worth fearing. If he got lucky, maybe he thought he could destroy my image too.

'What a petty bastard.'

And right then, the talent agents from Gwanwoo Entertainment seated behind me suddenly started whispering among themselves.

-Wow~ Chief Jung is no joke.

-Right? I'd heard he wasn't ordinary, but even our viper-like chiefs couldn't shake him.

-They say he became a division chief in his second year. It wasn't just handed to him for no reason.

-He's supposed to be the ace at Hoop... and now I get why.

-Ugh, seriously... should I switch teams?

-Hey, should we just go ahead and request to be transferred to Actor Division 4?

Maybe because I had stood my ground even against their own division chiefs, the team leads and employees from Gwanwoo Entertainment were now sending me favorable looks.

'Is this really how a blessing in disguise happens?'

Just like Everyday said, an unexpected outcome was unfolding before my eyes. I had already planned to bring the Gwanwoo staff over to my side, but thanks to today's events, that was going to be a bit easier.

'Thanks, Everyday.'

At that moment, Kang Ji-Yung picked up the microphone. "Alright~ The presidents and executives of both companies are entering. Please give them a warm round of applause."

Finally, the merger ceremony between the two companies was officially beginning.

***

Clap clap clap.

With the sound of applause, Kang Gam-Chan, Jung Soo-Hyuk, and Ahn Ye-Eum from Hoop Entertainment took their seats on one side.

Then on the other side of the small theater, Kim Gwan-Woo and his younger brother, Kim Jang-Bi, from Gwanwoo Entertainment sat down.

Kim Gwan-Woo was a talent agent-turned-producer who had launched major girl groups like OC Girls, Perfect Allrounders, Youth Generation, and Pring Pring—names still brought up today.

With thirty years of experience, he had a reputation for making every artist he touched a success. Even though his recent performance had dipped slightly, in terms of career, he was by no means inferior to Kang Gam-Chan.

His younger brother, Kim Jang-Bi, was the same. A former judo athlete who won a bronze medal at the Asian Games, he had once run a successful security company. He later sold that company to a major conglomerate for a high price and joined his brother's firm.

He had a bit of a temper and was known to get violent with subordinates, but thanks to his bold personality, he maintained good relationships in and out of the company. And in truth, he had been the one managing and growing Gwanwoo Entertainment in place of his sensitive brother.

Then Kang Ji-Yung, serving as MC, spoke again. "Next, our company shareholders will now be entering. Please welcome them with a round of applause."

The employees all stood and applauded to greet the shareholders.

First to enter was Choi Eun-Tae, walking slowly alongside Choi Yung-Ho. With a straight back, he wore a fedora and a suit, accepting greetings with an indifferent expression as he sat.

After that came the other shareholders Lee Sang-Pil and Park Hyung-Moon.

And lastly, Choi Man-Sik entered. The moment our eyes met, Choi Man-Sik's gaze burned intensely.

That's when Everyday's warning from today's fortune flashed through my mind again.

'The calm before the storm.'

But I, too, had made my preparations for this day. As his stare poured down on me, I met his eyes and responded silently in my head.

'Today, nothing will go your way, President Choi Man-Sik.'