Chapter 137: Mastermind (5)

Translator: Dreamscribe

The Commander was calling nearly 10 billion won cheap. Ha Yeon-ji's eyes widened slightly as she looked at Kang Jae-ha.

"Oh my, 8 billion won is cheap? And that's not the end of it, 8 billion won is just the initial funding?"

Jae-ha smirked.

"I mean it's cheaper than I expected."

The projected funding for 'K:FESTA' was roughly 50 billion won. Naturally, it looked cheap to Kang Jae-ha, who had already seen 'K:FESTA' through his 'Deja Vu'. With just 8 billion won in initial funding, he could become 'HG ENM's Running Mate while also taking control of 'K:FESTA'.

'Of course, 8 billion won is only the initial funding, and once 'K:FESTA' gets underway, it'll probably cost over 10 billion.'

Whether it was a movie, drama, or any other kind of content, the initial projected production budget rarely stayed the same all the way to the end. Most of the time, more money was needed. 'K:FESTA' would be no different. Funds would be injected during the early and middle stages, and even the projected total of 50 billion won was highly likely to change.

But Kang Jae-ha intended to pour money into 'K:FESTA' whether 8 billion became 10 billion or even 20 billion. He already knew 'K:FESTA' would become a massive hit, and he had already laid out in advance the ways he could profit from it.

By this point, Ha Yeon-ji found herself getting nervous.

'Whew. The Commander knows what he's doing, but hearing him talk about 8 or 10 billion won like he's talking about a few hundred won is kind of scary, isn't it? I could never do that.'

Ha Yeon-ji, who couldn't even imagine handling tens of billions of won, continued.

"If we leave them alone a little longer, we might be able to push down the amount 'HG ENM' wants from its Running Mate even further. They've already shown they're willing to lower it from 10 billion to 8 billion......Maybe it'll drop to 7 billion, or even 6 billion??"

"Well, if we keep acting uninterested, that could happen."

Kang Jae-ha crossed his legs and answered Ha Yeon-ji evenly.

"But if the price gets cheaper, guys who weren't interested before could naturally start circling."

"Ah."

"There's no point waiting for the price to drop only to create more competitors, and if somebody else snatches it away, we'll be left with nothing. It's a hundred times better for me to take it while everyone else is still lukewarm than wait for a price cut."

Cha Chung-hyeon, who had been listening with a languid expression, agreed as well.

"I think so too. One or two billion won isn't what's important. Well, I can't say I know exactly what the Commander is thinking."

Jae-ha spoke again.

"Besides, we need to approach 'HG ENM' while there's no competition and they're having a rough time. That's how we'll get treated well too. We'll look like the saviors of their massive project, won't we?"

Ha Yeon-ji, having understood, asked something else.

"Commander, I get that you're trying to set the board, but the more I look into 'K:FESTA', the worse the corporate response and market sentiment seem. Most of them think it's just going to fail again."

Since he couldn't exactly explain his 'Deja Vu' in detail, Kang Jae-ha shrugged and answered.

"Let's call it targeting a niche market. I've got a good feeling about 'K:FESTA'. You could say it smells like something tasty?"

"......You're burning 8 or 10 billion won on a gut feeling? I couldn't do it."

After voicing her fear, Ha Yeon-ji went on to recite more of what she had investigated regarding 'K:FESTA' and 'HG ENM'. Eventually, the subject turned to the CEO of 'HG ENM'. Her name, her current situation, and so on and so forth.

Then Ha Yeon-ji mentioned something interesting about 'HG ENM's CEO.

"And the CEO of 'HG ENM', it looks like her position is pretty shaky."

Jae-ha smirked.

"She must be desperate, one way or another."

It was useful information he could exploit.

After that.

Kang Jae-ha compiled Ha Yeon-ji's report on 'K:FESTA' and revised the rough plan he had already laid out, then called Lee Chan-hoo and Cha Chung-hyeon in two days later, on the night of the 19th.

Kang Jae-ha explained how he intended to handle 'K:FESTA'.

First, they had more than enough money to take 'K:FESTA'. Enough to comfortably cover even any unexpected variables.

Soon, Cha Chung-hyeon leisurely asked Commander Kang Jae-ha.

"Commander, if we bet on 'K:FESTA', how many times our money do you think we'll make?? Just curious."

Jae-ha answered immediately.

"Hard to say, counting the money and all the other side benefits, I'd say we'll make at least two to three times our investment. Of course, that's assuming 'K:FESTA' becomes a hit."

"If it fails, all the money we bet on it evaporates?"

"Not all of it, but more than half probably would."

"That'd be kind of a waste."

Kang Jae-ha smiled as if telling him not to worry.

"It won't fail, as long as things go the way I expect."

Then Kang Jae-ha shifted his gaze from Cha Chung-hyeon to the narrow-eyed Lee Chan-hoo.

"Lee Chan-hoo, it's about time we promoted Kim Ha-jae to Director."

It was an order to promote General Manager Kim Ha-jae, the persona that appeared when Jae-ha used his 'Mask', to a Director-level executive position. Quick-witted Lee Chan-hoo immediately caught the reason.

"Got it. With the scale of what we're handling getting bigger, including 'K:FESTA', there's only so much he can do as a General Manager."

"Yeah, after a while, I'll promote him all the way to Vice President."

"Yessir. I'll work my ass off even harder too. Just don't fire me from my Figurehead CEO gig."

Lee Chan-hoo had known for ages. For a Commander who could easily change his face with the 'Mask', whether it was General Manager, Director, or CEO, he could play every role by himself. Kang Jae-ha, however, had absolutely no intention of doing that.

"Don't overdo it, you're staying the Figurehead CEO."

"I love you, Commander. Loyalty, loyalty."

Soon, Kang Jae-ha tapped the desk in front of him with his index finger.

"And start looking into moving offices."

As though he'd been waiting for that, Cha Chung-hyeon chimed in.

"Yes- we do need it. This office is starting to get cramped. We need more employees too."

Lee Chan-hoo agreed.

"We've got a lot more subsidiaries now, and we need to hire more bridge employees to coordinate with them. So naturally, the office needs to get bigger too."

The time had come. 'MEG' already had seven subsidiaries. The number of people involved with it, and the number of eyes watching 'MEG', had risen sharply in turn. On top of that, 'MEG' had become an issue in the market several times, so the company itself needed to grow larger.

Kang Jae-ha looked around the entire 'MEG' office.

'Bittersweet.'

It had been about a year since 'MEG' first put down roots here. In that time, many subordinates had joined, and the number of subsidiaries had grown to seven. An incredible pace by anyone's standards. For some reason, Kang Jae-ha recalled the first time he had set foot here and gave Lee Chan-hoo an order.

"Once the office move is finished, call a cleaning company and have this place and the conference room cleaned up properly. I don't like leaving behind a dirty place after we've used it."

Time melted away after that.

Before long, the fourth week of February began.

《Still Red-Hot One-Act Drama Project, 'Murder Is a Qualification Too'. Third Title Released Following 'The Noble Man and Woman'!》

The 'One-Act Drama Project' released the final title of Season 1. Naturally, its popularity was still explosive, while 'Murder Is a Qualification Too' and 'The Noble Man and Woman' traded places between first and second. As a result, everyone from Director Baek Jeong-ha to Yoon Da-yeon, An Ji-hee, Oh Jong-man, and Choi Ri-na saw their stock skyrocket.

Meanwhile, the projects Kang Jae-ha had gotten involved with and poured money into were also progressing smoothly without issue.

"Cut!! Nice! We're going straight into the next shot!"

'Condensation: Euphoria', with Director Kwon Sung-min, Moon Ji-a, and An Ji-hee giving it their all, had passed the midpoint of its shooting schedule and entered the latter half.

-♬♪

'Moonless Village', now deep in final sound work, was on the verge of completing production. Besides that, other projects, including Director Yu Gil-tae's, were moving at an extremely fast pace.

And so February ended, and the first day of March dawned.

Good news reached Kang Jae-ha when he arrived at Leon for work. It came from the production company handling 'Kisera's music videos.

"Editing on the 'Kisera' music videos will be finished sometime next week."

It had taken some time because Kang Jae-ha had asked them to put their utmost care into the work, but the finish line was finally in sight. Temporary Team Leader Kang Jae-ha immediately summoned the 'Kisera Rebuilding' team.

Jae-ha gave them their orders.

"Once both 'Kisera' music videos are finished, we'll review them and immediately begin the overseas viral campaign."

Naturally, the ammunition for the viral campaign. In other words, the videos were already fully loaded.

At the same time.

The location was a large conference room. At least twenty people sat around a round table. A logo was mounted on the wall at the front of the room.

-'HG ENM'

In other words, this was the main conference room of 'HG ENM', an affiliate of 'HG Group' and the organizer of 'K:FESTA'. Naturally, the gathered people were Director-level executives, and at the focus of everyone's gaze was.

"Hmm."

A middle-aged woman whose expression wasn't particularly good. She looked to be in her late forties and had neatly tied back hair that fell just past her shoulders. Her features somehow carried both warmth and coldness. She was Seok Ji-yeon, CEO of 'HG ENM'.

CEO Seok Ji-yeon was currently receiving a report regarding 'K:FESTA'.

And the situation, in the end, was not particularly good.

"We sent sponsorship proposals to as many places as possible, including companies that participated in the first event, but far more places haven't responded than have. Even the ones that did respond are lukewarm. At least CEO Han Tae-sung of Leon Entertainment seems fairly interested."

To put it bluntly, they had either received no response or simply been ignored.

At that, CEO Seok Ji-yeon's expression turned grave.

"......"

Among the Directors, one who resembled a gorilla spoke openly.

"At this point, shouldn't we ask headquarters for help."

Judging by his blunt tone and the look in his eyes, the Director who had just spoken did not appear to trust CEO Seok Ji-yeon very much. Perhaps he was even after her position.

In any case, the discussion had gone as far as bringing up headquarters, 'HG Group'.

Well, it was the simplest and easiest way out of the current situation. But CEO Seok Ji-yeon was in no position to go asking headquarters for help. Her own position was hanging by a thread.

"...Let's keep looking for sponsors a little longer. I intend to exhaust every avenue myself as well."

The gorilla-like Director let out a subtle sigh.

"CEO, as you know, if we delay any longer, we won't be able to hold 'K:FESTA' this year. If this keeps dragging on, the whole thing will be scrapped."

"I know, more importantly, what about the main investor rather than the sponsors?"

She was asking about their Running Mate, and the Director's answer was quick and concise.

"It's much the same as the sponsorship side. No, actually, the response from potential main investors is even worse."

"...Even after we lowered the initial funding requirement to 8 billion won?"

"Yes, if we cut it to 6 billion, we'd probably get quite a few responses. Some companies have actually said as much."

CEO Seok Ji-yeon narrowed her brow and murmured.

"Six billion is- too low."

The gorilla-like Director shot back.

"With this kind of response, we don't have much choice but to lower the amount."

Six billion won. Going from 10 billion to 6 billion was nearly a fifty-percent discount. CEO Seok Ji-yeon lightly bit her lower lip. Her heart told her they couldn't go as low as 6 billion, but reality said otherwise.

'Delaying things any further......would be the worst option. Do I have a choice, we may have to drop it to 6 billion.'

That was when it happened.

-Knock knock.

After a knock echoed through the conference room, a rather handsome man entered. He was CEO Seok Ji-yeon's secretary. After briefly asking the Directors' pardon, he approached CEO Seok Ji-yeon and whispered into her ear.

"CEO, we've been contacted by a company interested in the main investment for 'K:FESTA'. In other words, becoming the Running Mate."

CEO Seok Ji-yeon's eyes widened sharply, and she immediately asked back.

"Really?? Where?"

The secretary continued whispering.

"It's a company called 'MEG'."

CEO Seok Ji-yeon blinked, then repeated the name to her secretary as if to make sure she'd heard correctly.

"Ah, 'MEG'?"

*****

For more extra chapters, you can check out my Patreon here --> patreon.com/dreamscribe

If you enjoy this novel, please review and rate it at Novelupdates. Thanks! 😊

To receive the latest update notifications or report mistakes, join our Discord server linked below.