Chapter 1007: Project I.O.A Finals (3)

I gave an order to the security guards waiting beside the stage. "That man causing a scene up there on the stage. Remove him immediately."

The moment I ordered them to drag CP Jo Eun-Chang off the stage, the four TOP Security guards widened their eyes. "Are you sure?"

"Was my instruction unclear?"

"N-No, sir."

The four guards immediately hurried toward the stairways on both sides of the stage.

While SBC was responsible for producing and broadcasting the program, the operation of the event belonged to Hoop Entertainment. In other words, Hoop Entertainment had hired the security staff, so they moved to carry out my orders.

At that moment, Jo Eun-Chang, who suddenly found himself being treated like a disruptive troublemaker who had barged onto the stage, let out an enraged shout. "Jung Yoon-Ho, you little bastard! So you really want to take this all the way, huh? Fine! Hyun-Seung! Why are you just standing there? Everyone, get over here!"

Starting with PD Lee Hyun-Seung, Jo Eun-Chang's right-hand man, members of his SBC variety division team rapidly gathered from all over the stage and backstage. As each person arrived, they formed layers around Jo Eun-Chang.

"Go ahead and try dragging him off, asshole!"

The security guards, who had been about to remove Jo Eun-Chang, looked at me uncertainly.

I raised a hand and addressed them. "Security team, that's enough. You can step back."

The guards exchanged puzzled looks before retreating below the stage.

I continued, "And everyone from Mr. Ji's team, please come down as well."

The members of PD Ji Yung-Sik's staff, who had been standing behind and beside the stage, cautiously descended. Soon, only Jo Eun-Chang's team remained on the stage.

'One, two...'

I counted quickly. The number matched exactly with the forty staff members who had supposedly been dispatched yesterday.

A smile spread across my face. "Looks like everyone's here."

The people gathered on the stage tilted their heads in confusion. Only President Kang Gam-Chan, standing behind me, immediately understood what I was doing.

He quietly explained it to Ji Yung-Sik beside him.

"Chief Jung, honestly. Hahaha. To think he'd gather everyone who lined up under CP Jo in a single move."

Ji Yung-Sik, who had been watching nervously, whispered back.

"Oh... Is that why Mr. Jung ordered the guards to drag CP Jo off the stage? To gather all of CP Jo's people in one place?"

-Exactly. When you hit the head, all the underlings come running to protect him.

'Mr. Kang. I can hear you. And what do you mean by 'head' and 'underlings'?'

I thought "leader and followers" would have sounded a lot nicer. Still, Kang Gam-Chan was right. The reason I had pulled this stunt was to sort through Jo Eun-Chang's team.

Before they arrived, the Project I.O.A production staff had never leaked internal information even once. Yet the rumor that "Go Eun-Seo is guaranteed first place" had started circulating only after they showed up. That meant someone among them was feeding information outside.

The problem was that there wasn't enough time before the final to identify the culprit one by one. So I deliberately created a confrontation with Jo Eun-Chang. If I removed everyone who sided with him, any hidden collaborator would likely be swept away with them.

'All right. Let's begin.'

I immediately addressed the staff gathered on the stage in a cold voice. "I entrusted the direction of Project I.O.A solely to Mr. Ji Yung-Sik. I have no need for any other directors. Therefore, I'd like all of you to step away from production duties and return to your own assignments."

The entire team erupted at once, beginning with Lee Hyun-Seung.

"Hey, Chief Jung! Is this how you treat people who came here to help?"

"Yeah! Do you have any idea how much work there is today?"

"Since when does a talent agent get to order people around on a program produced by SBC?"

Jo Eun-Chang and the others protested, but I ignored every word. "I cannot work with Mr. Jo Eun-Chang, who tells contestants that Project I.O.A is rigged. And since everyone here seems to share CP Jo Eun-Chang's views, I think it'd be best for all of us if you leave the venue immediately."

Only then did several of them realize what was happening. They finally understood that my order to have the security guards remove Jo Eun-Chang hadn't been about dragging him off the stage at all. I had gathered them here for a public execution.

"Chief Jung, no, that's not what we meant..."

"Yeah. What Mr. Jo said wasn't meant literally..."

A few people hurriedly tried to explain that it was all a misunderstanding, but Jo Eun-Chang immediately exploded in irritation. "You idiots! We're SBC employees! Are you really going to lose your nerve just because some talent agent tells you to leave? Get a grip!"

As Jo Eun-Chang barked at them, his team members flinched and fell silent.

"I'll call Mr. Park myself and have this punk thrown out. Nobody move!"

After calming his team with sheer volume, Jo Eun-Chang glared at me and called Director Park Han-Jong of the Variety Division. However, when nobody answered, his expression stiffened.

At that moment, the door on the right side of the performance hall swung open.

Bang.

Park Han-Jong walked in, waving his ringing phone above his head. "I'm already here, so why do you keep calling?"

Jo Eun-Chang immediately ended the call and bowed. "You're here, sir."

"Yeah."

Behind Park Han-Jong appeared Director Lee Gi-Do and Kang Dae-Woong, the CP overseeing Project I.O.A.

After greeting them, Jo Eun-Chang instantly put on an aggrieved expression and started complaining. "Sir, isn't this going too far?"

"What is?"

"Chief Jung may have brought in a lot of advertising revenue, but this is ridiculous. He's just a talent agent, yet he's gathering broadcasting staff and ordering people around. Now he's even trying to kick out those of us who came to help with the final stage. He nearly had security throw me out too!"

Only moments ago, Jo Eun-Chang had been hurling obscenities at everyone around him. Now he was clutching his chest like the tragic heroine of a melodrama, pouring out his grievances.

At once, his team joined in.

"That's right, Mr. Park!"

"We never imagined we'd be treated like this after coming here to help!"

If this was the extent of Jo Eun-Chang's strategy, it was honestly disappointing. I had expected something far more impressive.

Seeing no reason to listen further, I immediately turned to Park Han-Jong. "Mr. Park. You remember that I have the right to designate the production PD, don't you?"

When the contracts for Project I.O.A had been negotiated with the three major broadcasting networks, the person handling them had been Park Han-Jong himself. He knew I had already secured a production budget worth twenty billion won. Because of that, he worked harder than anyone to bring Project I.O.A to SBC.

As a result, he had filled the contract with provisions that a broadcasting station would normally never surrender due to pride. One of the most important clauses gave me the authority to appoint the program's PD and CP. I had included it because I knew how broadcasters loved exploiting vague contract language to seize control.

Thanks to that clause, within the Project I.O.A production itself, I possessed enough authority that even the network couldn't push me around freely.

Knowing that very well, Park Han-Jong frowned. "Chief Jung. Do we really have to take it this far? CP Jo and his staff came here to help with the final."

"To help? Are you sure they didn't come to interfere?"

"What?"

"Mr. Jo told Eun-Seo that Project I.O.A was rigged and implied that first place had already been decided in her favor. Because of that, the contestants got into an argument today."

"Tch... Is that true?"

"Yes. More importantly, internal information claiming that Go Eun-Seo was guaranteed first place has already leaked outside. How am I supposed to trust staff who can't even maintain basic confidentiality and proceed with today's final?"

At that moment, Jo Eun-Chang hurriedly jumped in. "I may have said something similar to Eun-Seo in passing as encouragement, but I absolutely never leaked information outside the production! Please believe me!"

Park Han-Jong looked troubled. He had belonged to the faction of former Director Han Tae-San, who had already been fired, and his own position had become increasingly unstable. Even though he had secured the contract for Project I.O.A, he had clashed with me several times afterward.

Ironically, those conflicts had been caused by Go Eun-Seo's father and Kudo Minatsu's father, while I had ended up reconciling with both of them. In any case, I had already established sufficient justification and I was about to demand once more that they leave.

That was when Lee Gi-Do, who had been quietly listening the entire time, spoke up. "Chief Jung. If CP Jo Eun-Chang's team leaves, we'll be short-handed. We need at least twenty more people for today's final to run smoothly. What's your solution for that?"

"I have one."

"A solution?"

"Yes. Though I'd like to make a quick phone call first."

"Go ahead."

I immediately called Wang Long, who was currently in a meeting regarding the final.

-Hey, what's up, Yoon-Ho?

"Meeting finished?"

-It just ended. Sasuke and I just arrived at the entrance to the performance hall."

"Oh, good. Come inside quickly."

"All right."

Fortunately, they were right nearby, so I hung up.

Bang.

The large doors swung open, and Wang Long and Sasuke came running in with their staff.

After exchanging brief greetings, I got straight to the point. "We're short on production staff for the final. Could I borrow some of the people you brought?"

"Huh? How many?"

"Around ten. And Sasuke too."

Both Wang Long and Sasuke had brought teams of roughly twenty people each.

Officially, their roles were to provide on-site support if any issues arose during the overseas broadcast of Project I.O.A. However, every one of them also had experience producing audition programs in their respective countries. In other words, they were effectively trainees observing operations on-site and could immediately jump into production work if necessary.

"Hmm... As long as SBC approves, sure. We can support up to twenty people," said Wang Long.

Sasuke nodded beside him. "We can provide twenty as well."

I immediately turned back toward Lee Gi-Do. "Staffing problem solved, sir."

"Good grief. You really do make things happen the moment you say you will." Lee Gi-Do smiled meaningfully before addressing Jo Eun-Chang and his team. "You heard him. We don't need you, so return to the station."

Jo Eun-Chang shouted in disbelief. "Mr. Lee! Even if you're kicking us out, why are you bringing in Chinese and Japanese staff instead of SBC employees? Since when does SBC take orders from some talent agent? This is SBC!"

Lee Gi-Do let out a short laugh. "Did you leave your brain behind in Japan during that one-year sabbatical? Wake up, Jo Eun-Chang."

"...Pardon me?"

"Maybe things would be different on another program, but for this one, Chief Jung secured the production funding, the advertising, and the overseas distribution himself. SBC practically got handed everything for free—well, that's a little embarrassing to admit. Let's just say we added PD Ji Yung-Sik's name to it and packaged it as our own. If you're going to pick a power struggle, at least know who you're dealing with. How can you miss the mark this badly?"

"But..."

"But what? And Shanghai New Media Inc. and AMOSE are joint investors, so of course they can supply staff. Besides, Daechon Inc. and Jinseong Inc. are both on very good terms with Chief Jung these days. Want me to make a quick call to their executive offices? We can have all of their advertising pulled from your future programs."

Jo Eun-Chang visibly flinched before turning toward Park Han-Jong for support. However, Park Han-Jong had apparently reached his limit as well.

"Hey, CP Jo! Take everyone on that stage and get the hell out of here!" Park Han-Jong's shout echoed through the hall.

"Mr. Park!"

"They said they don't need your help! Didn't you hear?"

Grinding his teeth, Jo Eun-Chang shot me one last glare before leading all forty staff members away.

Stomp, stomp, stomp.

After watching the fuming Jo Eun-Chang disappear, I quickly checked my phone. However, what I saw on Everyday was unexpected.

[Everyday V13]

[Date: June 1, 2021]

-11:30 p.m.: [NEW. Woo Yeon-Hee]

[Weekly Star] Daughter Go Eun-Seo voluntarily withdraws from the competition, while her father, Go Joon-Taek, ultimately loses the election amid suspicions that he exerted pressure on Project I.O.A. However, special judge Woo Yeon-Hee strongly insisted that no such pressure had ever existed.

I thought I had filtered out most of them, but apparently it still wasn't enough. In that case, there was only one option left.

'Time for a second round of disinfection.'

***

The moment Jo Eun-Chang left the venue, he calmed his agitated subordinates and told them to wait at a nearby restaurant. Once they were gone and he was alone, he immediately made a phone call.

"This is Jo Eun-Chang calling."

-Yes. How are things progressing?

"I'm sorry. Jung Yoon-Ho caught on. Not only was I thrown out, but all of my people inside who were supposed to stir things up got kicked out too."

The other side remained silent for a moment before a low chuckle came through the phone.

-Chief Jung seems to have exactly the instincts I've heard about. And if he has enough influence to throw a network CP out of his own production set, then even the great Mr. Jo wouldn't be able to do much more. I understand the situation.

To Jo Eun-Chang, that amused voice sounded more frightening than ever. It was practically a declaration that the man intended to cut ties with him.

-Then I'll be hanging up—

"Mr. Mayor! Please don't worry. There's still one person left."

The caller paused briefly before speaking in a noticeably sharper tone.

-Didn't I tell you not to mention my title during phone calls?

"I-I'm sorry."

-Hmm. Remember that. And this remaining person—can they still influence things on-site?

"Yes. They're someone who'll remain there until the end of the final."

-Good. Then continue as before. Keep stirring things up from the inside and feeding us information. Most importantly, don't forget to make it look as though Assemblyman Go Joon-Taek is exerting pressure.

"I'll pass that along."

-Excellent. And if this works out, I'll make sure both you and that person are rewarded.

***

Once everything settled down, Ji Yung-Sik resumed control of the set. "Once the jib crane parts are replaced, please oil it one more time. And be careful not to fall while replacing the back-screen panels."

"Yes, sir!"

With the harsh shouting gone, the atmosphere became noticeably lighter. Laughter even began to return to the set.

Just then, as everyone prepared for rehearsal, Kang Gam-Chan leaned toward me and whispered, "Looks like we've filtered out all the insiders now, don't you think?"

Since Everyday's schedule entry still hadn't changed, I answered carefully, "I hope so. But if the person behind this rumor campaign is the Mayor of Incheon, there's always a chance another insider was planted."

"Hmm... That's certainly possible."

"Still, don't worry. I'll find them before the final begins."

"All right. I'll keep my eyes open too, just in case."

While we were talking, the contestants appeared beside the stage. The twelve remaining girls were dressed in comfortable training clothes, each wearing a rehearsal name tag.

At that moment, Park Eun-Chae, who was walking at the front, spotted Lee Gi-Do and hurried over with quick steps before bowing cheerfully.

"Mr. Lee! Have you been well?"

Lee Gi-Do smiled and greeted her. "Oh, Eun-Chae. You really made it all the way to the end."

Park Eun-Chae shrugged confidently. "Broadcasting stations are basically my second home. Something like this is easy."

Because Park Eun-Chae had started as a child actress, she was acquainted with Lee Gi-Do, who had originally come from the drama division, and the two exchanged warm greetings.

With Park Han-Jong, however, she merely offered a brief bow. "Hello, sir."

Without even really looking at Park Eun-Chae, Park Han-Jong shook her hand and replied, "Keep up the good work."

"Yes, sir."

'Something's off.'

The atmosphere was awkward enough that it felt as though the two shared some unpleasant history. While I was puzzling over it, Go Eun-Seo finally arrived and politely greeted everyone before heading toward the stage.

I quickly called out to her. "Eun-Seo. Come here for a second."

"Yes, Mr. Jung!"

Go Eun-Seo hurried over.

I lowered my voice so only she could hear. "No matter what happens today, don't lose your temper. Just smile and apologize."

Celebrities often found themselves blamed for things simply because they were famous. In situations like that, enduring it was often the only way to survive.

"You want me to just endure it?"

"That's right. No matter what they do, endure it. Leave the rest to me."

I didn't have time to explain further, but fortunately Go Eun-Seo nodded without hesitation. "I won't disappoint you!"

After I told her that the greatest disappointment for a talent agent was when a celebrity stopped trusting them, she had clearly took those words to heart. The sight brought an involuntary smile to my face.

"You brat. You remembered."

"I did."

"All right. Go on up."

"Okay!"

Go Eun-Seo bowed and climbed onto the stage.

Soon, the twelve contestants who had survived the Project I.O.A competition stood together on stage. Ling Ling and Seo Hee-Joo, who were already I.O.A members, took positions on either side of them.

With all fourteen girls in formation, Ji Yung-Sik picked up the loudspeaker. "All right, everyone. Take it easy during rehearsal, okay?"

"Yes, sir!"

As Ji Yung-Sik signaled with his hand, the instrumental for 'IDOLS,' the first competition song, began to play. The girls started moving with the music.

At that moment, the entertainment rumor account I had been following posted another update.

Buzz.

[@ENT_jjirasi]

[Posts 4,992 | Followers 1.569 million | Following 0]

-Anyway, Go Eun-Seo is guaranteed first place.

(Additional information) During rehearsal, Go Eun-Seo allegedly intentionally collided with Park Eun-Chae in an attempt to eliminate last week's fourth-place contestant.

It is also said that Go Eun-Seo became angry at Park Eun-Chae afterward.

However, because Go Eun-Seo's father is an Incheon mayoral candidate, none of the staff dared criticize her.

'Why is this being posted right now?'

At first, I dismissed it as another ridiculous rumor. Then, the cry from the stage made me look up.

"Ow!"

Park Eun-Chae was sitting on the floor, glaring at Go Eun-Seo.

"Hey! You did that on purpose, didn't you? You were trying to hurt me!"

The rumor had become reality. Only unlike the rumor, the one who had deliberately initiated the collision wasn't Go Eun-Seo. It was Park Eun-Chae.

Knowing Go Eun-Seo's usual personality, I tensed immediately, worried she would explode at being falsely accused. However, Go Eun-Seo remembered exactly what I had told her. She even bent down on one knee to check Park Eun-Chae's condition.

"I'm sorry. I must've messed up my positioning. Let me help you. Let's get you to the emergency room right away."

Park Eun-Chae looked completely caught off guard. "Y-You... What's wrong with you? Why are you acting like this?"

"What do you mean...?"

Go Eun-Seo's reaction was so different from her normal behavior that everyone at the scene was stunned—except me.

Thanks to what Go Eun-Seo had just done, I finally realized who the hidden insider was.