Rookie Talent Agent Knows It All
Chapter 556: Merge (2)

Chapter 556: Merge (2)

Thanks to my efforts last year, the core of the Suhyaejong faction in our company was nearly dismantled.

Because of that, Choi Man-Sik's plan to take control of Hoop Entertainment through the Suhyaejong line hit a major setback. On top of that, a few days ago, I happened to thwart a plot to snatch Hope Hospital for free.

Maybe because of that, there was a murderous glint in Choi Man-Sik's eyes as he stepped onto the stage for the merger ceremony with Gwanwoo Entertainment.

'Jung Yoon-Ho. I'll never let you off the hook!'

It was as if Choi Man-Sik's eyes were saying exactly that. However, I casually brushed off his gaze. After all, I already knew Choi Man-Sik wouldn't leave me alone ever since the day I first met him.

Besides, today was the day the 'storm' was supposed to hit. So I had already prepared a way to counter Choi Man-Sik.

'Let's see how this goes, President Choi.'

Choi Man-Sik kept his eyes fixed on me as he sat down in the chair prepared on stage.

Kang Ji-Yung, holding the microphone, once again called for applause and support. "Please give a round of applause to the shareholders of Hoop Entertainment who made time to be here today."

Clap clap clap.

The sound of applause echoed through the underground theater.

"Then, we will now begin the merger ceremony."

Kang Ji-Yung began recounting the history of the two companies. If Hoop Entertainment had been a comprehensive entertainment company, then Gwanwoo Entertainment was more music-focused.

Kim Gwan-Woo was a first-generation idol producer who had survived in the industry to this day. Following that, legendary anecdotes from each president's 30-year career as talent agents were introduced.

Ten minutes passed like that.

Kang Ji-Yung turned to Kang Gam-Chan, who would now lead the newly formed Hoop Entertainment. "Then, Mr. Kang, could you please share a few words?"

Kang Gam-Chan took the microphone and stood up with a relaxed expression. "Until last year, no one would have imagined our company growing this much. First, I sincerely thank all the executives and employees who gave their strength to get us here."

Talent agents from Hoop Entertainment clapped with emotion. Cheers and claps intertwined, echoing throughout the underground theater.

Clap clap clap.

Honestly, before the regression, Hoop Entertainment had never dreamed of expanding to this extent. But today, with the merger with Gwanwoo Entertainment, they have become the third-largest company in the industry after TK Entertainment and TNT Entertainment.

Moved by the employees' passionate applause, Kang Gam-Chan stood still for a moment before continuing. "To the colleagues of Hoop Entertainment who walked this hard road together, and to the new colleagues from Gwanwoo Entertainment who join us today, let's unite and aim for number one in the entertainment industry!"

The moment I heard his final words, I began clapping vigorously. At the same time, the employees also clapped again and shouted with energy.

"Hoop Entertainment, we got this!"

"Mr. Kang! Let's take number one this year!"

"Yes, that's right! Let's sweep them all away!"

Kang Gam-Chan raised his hand in gratitude. Then he handed the microphone to Kim Gwan-Woo. Kim Gwan-Woo shared a brief comment, saying he looked forward to working together.

After another round of applause echoed, the microphone was passed to the shareholders.

"Next, we'll hear from Mr. Choi Man-Sik, representative of the shareholders."

Representing four shareholders, Choi Man-Sik took the microphone. "Since Mr. Kang Gam-Chan already gave the congratulatory speech, I'll talk about something more realistic."

Choi Man-Sik looked around and slowly began to speak.

"As some of you may know, Hoop Entertainment is expected to go public in the first half of this year."

At that moment, the employees began to stir, because the long-awaited IPO had finally been mentioned by a shareholder.

However, this was practically a declaration from Choi Man-Sik that he intended to seize Hoop Entertainment for himself. And it was obvious that, in the process, he would try to push out both Kang Gam-Chan's allies and me.

Just as the planner had warned, the storm was brewing. If I just stood by and did nothing, that storm would undoubtedly come crashing down on me.

From that moment, I began calculating the right timing to clash head-on with Choi Man-Sik.

Choi Man-Sik continued, "And next month, or at the latest within the first quarter, our employee stock ownership plan will be issued. I hope you all saved the generous bonuses from the end of last year instead of spending them elsewhere."

As the murmuring grew louder, confidence appeared on Choi Man-Sik's face as if it were only natural that no one could resist the lure of money. Yet, he didn't understand the true meaning behind the murmurs.

Because of the rumors spread by me and Actor Division 2, most employees—except for that division—had already spent their year-end bonuses on things they needed.

Then, my eyes met with Choi Man-Sik's. Looking down at me from the stage, his face was full of arrogance. It was as if he was saying this is how real business works, and that someone like me could never manage it.

Choi Man-Sik, having triumphantly declared the company's public listing, glanced around and asked, "Well then, I'd like to hold a brief Q&A session. And afterward, I want to discuss a few changes I hope to see in the company. If you have any questions, please raise your hand. I'll answer on behalf of the shareholders."

'This is my chance!'

I had to make my move before he spoke about those changes, because those changes were likely to favor the Suhyaejong line and disadvantage Kang Gam-Chan's side and mine.

'Life is all about the right timing.'

I didn't hesitate to raise my hand. As the only one raising a hand in the spacious theater, Choi Man-Sik's face twisted. Since no one else raised their hand, he had no choice but to call on me.

"Yes, Mr. Jung. What's your question?"

I took a deep breath and confronted Choi Man-Sik head-on. "Will there be no financial issues with listing Hoop Entertainment? I heard that after the merger with Gwanwoo Entertainment, the company's balance was left with less than one billion won."

That's when the murmuring grew much louder than before. If a company the size of Hoop Entertainment had less than a billion won in reserve, it was practically on the brink of bankruptcy.

Upon hearing directly about the company's shaky financial state, the talent agents grew increasingly uneasy.

Caught off guard by the unexpected blow, Choi Man-Sik clenched his teeth and shouted, "It's just a temporary cash flow issue. Things will improve soon!"

For a moment, I almost couldn't stop myself from smirking.

'President Choi. You just made a mistake.'

What he should have said in that situation was, "There's no issue at all." But instead, he admitted to a cash flow issue, and that single word planted deep unease in the employees' hearts.

-See? The people from Division 2 were right.

-I knew this would happen. That's why I went all-in on crypto at year's end. Want me to tell you how much it's gone up?

-Lucky you. I spent mine on a trip with my wife.

-I paid off my credit card debt as soon as the money came in.

-But isn't this cash problem pretty serious? With all the money Division 2 earned last year, and there's only a billion won left? Where did all the money go?

-Did all the money we earned just get funneled into Gwanwoo Entertainment?

-Ah, I saved a little, but... seeing how management is handling things, I don't think I can buy any stock.

The murmurs grew louder.

Finally, hearing what the employees were saying, Choi Man-Sik began to panic. He hadn't realized how the average employee viewed the employee stock ownership plan.

Watching the seeds of my long-ago plan finally sprouting and blooming was quite a sight.

Suddenly, a flustered Choi Man-Sik grabbed the microphone again. "Everyone quiet!"

As a sharp sound rang out, the employees quickly fell silent.

Then Choi Man-Sik raised his voice and asked me, "Chief Jung. Just what do you think you're doing right now?"

To his agitated question, I began laying out my plan just as I had waited for. "First, please give us some reassurance."

"Reassurance?"

"Yes. The reassurance that the shareholders will not abandon Hoop Entertainment. For example, if you were to personally inject your own funds... wouldn't that give us faith in the employee stock program?"

Caught off guard by the completely unexpected demand, Choi Man-Sik began to panic. "You... want me to put in my own money?"

This was exactly what I had expected. Since Hope Hospital land purchase had failed, it wouldn't be easy for him to bring out any money.

Choi Man-Sik's face flushed red and pale in turns. However, since all the employees of the company were gathered, in the end, he had no choice but to respond, trembling.

"If a problem arises... I'll inject my personal funds into the company..."

Choi Man-Sik tried to slip away with that vague answer, but I pushed him once more. "Doesn't it already seem like a problem has occurred? The employees already know, and it's only a matter of time before the actors find out. Why not make a clear investment promise here and now?"

Choi Man-Sik clenched his teeth and glared at me. If he made the promise now, the money he intended to use elsewhere would be tied up in Hoop Entertainment.

As his answer delayed, the commotion grew louder. Eventually, from Choi Man-Sik's mouth came the words that he would invest his personal money to make up for the company's shortfall.

Choi Man-Sik's voice trembled as he said, "Fine... I'll contribute an additional five billion won from my personal funds immediately. Is that enough?"

'Got him.'

I had heard that Choi Man-Sik was currently preparing campaign funds for his future father-in-law, Assemblyman Park Sang-Gon. So no matter how much money he had, it wouldn't be enough.

However, after publicly promising a personal investment of five billion won in front of all Hoop Entertainment's employees, he was now in a situation he couldn't back out of.

With money unexpectedly flying out left and right, Choi Man-Sik couldn't hide his rising agitation. The hand holding the microphone trembled, and his expression looked as if he would come down and throw a punch at me any moment.

At that moment, Choi Man-Sik grabbed the mic again and launched a ridiculous counterattack. "Chief Jung. Then do you intend to share in the company's burdens as well?"

So this was the best he could come up with—a desperate attempt to drag me down with him.

Hoop Entertainment was like home to me, so I was willing to share its burdens. But this was only when the company was truly in crisis, not after they carelessly squandered the money that Division 2 and I had earned through relentless effort.

'You blew all the money Division 2 and I worked our asses off to make, and now you have the nerve to pull this crap?'

I was about to grab the microphone and respond, but someone else stepped in before me.

Choi Eun-Tae, who had been quietly observing until now, finally spoke. "President Choi Man-Sik. That's not something you should be saying."

At that moment, every eye in the theater turned toward Choi Eun-Tae.

Kang Ji-Yung hurriedly handed over the microphone. "Sir, here you go..."

"Thank you."

Receiving the microphone, Choi Eun-Tae began pressing Choi Man-Sik with a calm but firm voice.

"From what I've heard, Division 2 and Chief Jung brought in the best results last year. If there's a problem with the company's reserves despite that, then the fault lies with management and the shareholders who failed to supervise, not Chief Jung. So why are you blaming him?"

As the harsh rebuke continued, Choi Man-Sik's face grew flustered. As far as I knew, Choi Eun-Tae had never scolded Choi Man-Sik before. In the past, it was because Choi Man-Sik had been his adopted son, and after it was revealed that Kang Eun-Gi was his biological son, he avoided confrontation to keep tensions low.

Now, at this very moment, Choi Eun-Tae was publicly reprimanding his son for the first time.

"S-Sir..."

Choi Eun-Tae continued, glaring at Choi Man-Sik. "And while I may not know much about the entertainment business, I pride myself on knowing money. The ones who should bear the company's burdens right now are the executives. If anything, Chief Jung deserves an even bigger incentive."

"Mr. Choi, Chief Jung already received over one billion won in incentives last year. And now you're saying he should receive even more..."

That's when Choi Eun-Tae raised his voice and began scolding Choi Man-Sik. "President Choi! You may be a shareholder, but do you not even know that what you just said is confidential?"

"Ah, that's..."

Choi Man-Sik fell silent.

Choi Eun-Tae glared at him for a while, then slowly spoke. "And I've heard that originally, ten percent of an entertainer's net profit was supposed to go to incentives. But Director Lee Gi-Cheol and a few others reduced it to three percent, didn't they? Instead of apologizing to Chief Jung for giving him less, you're asking him to take more responsibility? Is that what a shareholder should be saying?"

At the thunderous reprimand, Choi Man-Sik tightly shut his mouth and bowed his head. "I... I'm sorry."

Since they were in front of all the employees, Choi Eun-Tae accepted the apology. "Be more careful from now on."

That was when Kang Gam-Chan bowed his head and took responsibility for the poor management. "I apologize, Mr. Choi."

"Ahem. As long as you understand."

Before today, I had planned to ensure that Kang Gam-Chan wouldn't be blamed for any of this, but he voluntarily chose to take responsibility. He said a little tarnish on his name would make my plan perfect. Kang Gam-Chan didn't hesitate to bow his head for the sake of the plan I created to bring down Choi Man-Sik.

'Thank you, Mr. Kang.'

After rebuking Choi Man-Sik and Kang Gam-Chan, Choi Eun-Tae looked at me. But unlike before, his gaze now held warmth. "Chief Jung. You worked hard last year. No matter what happens, you will not be held responsible. And since President Choi Man-Sik promised to contribute personal funds, you can stop worrying."

"Yes, sir."

"And about changing the net profit incentive rate for entertainers from three percent—it will be difficult going forward. Giving ten percent was only possible when the company was smaller. With a company of this scale, it's not feasible. I hope you understand."

"Yes. I never expected more than that."

Choi Eun-Tae chuckled. "Good. In that case, I'll make sure you're compensated in another way. For you, I've prepared..."

The reward Choi Eun-Tae mentioned was beyond anything I could have imagined.