The Crazy Mercenary Commander Goes to Work in the Entertainment Industry

Translator: Dreamscribe

Kang Jae-ha had been thinking about it for a while now, ever since he'd first met Lee Chan-hoo. That there had to be subordinates of his in countries other than Korea too. After all, the people who'd been in the Mercenary Corps came in every shape and form.

There had even been mercenaries who weren't of the Human Race.

But Commander Kang Jae-ha hadn't cared in the slightest. Whatever they looked like, if they were useful, if they had a purpose, if they had drive, Jae-ha put them to work.

In any case, when Kang Jae-ha had Returned, those mercenaries had each opened their eyes again in their own worlds.

Their original world, yet unfamiliar.

In Korea, subordinates were already gathering under Kang Jae-ha. But unless Jae-ha went abroad, meeting his foreign mercenary subordinates was nearly impossible.

But now.

'Japan, huh.'

A possibility of meeting a subordinate from another country had opened up. Japan had reached out to An Ji-hee.

'Well, the main thing is obviously An Ji-hee, but meeting a Japanese subordinate on the side would be fun too.'

It wasn't a hundred percent. He might not meet anyone. In that case, oh well.

'Come to think of it, even if I meet the overseas subordinates, the language is going to be a problem.'

Kang Jae-ha figured he'd deal with that when the time came, and lowered his gaze. He looked again at the information sent over from Japan. At the same time, Jae-ha went back over the plans he'd drawn up for An Ji-hee.

'I had two projects lined up for An Ji-hee.'

One was Netflix's 'One-Act Drama Project', and the other was 'Condensation: Euphoria'. Once this Japanese project was confirmed too, that would make three total. A pretty heavy schedule for a newcomer.

Currently, An Ji-hee was working through other schedules besides acting.

'Looking at the pace, Netflix's 'One-Act Drama Project' will probably be the fastest, and 'Condensation: Euphoria' will take longer than that.'

The Japanese schedule would fit right in between the two, he thought. The timing of the contact from Japan wasn't bad. An Ji-hee's filmography right now was the short film 'Condensation' and nothing else. And even that wasn't exactly mainstream.

She'd gotten pretty hot, but at this point in time, An Ji-hee needed to push even harder.

So even if her body got a little worn down, packing in as many projects as possible at this timing was the right call.

'The entertainment industry changes rapidly. Take even a brief break, and the public forgets you in no time.'

That was how washed-up celebrities got mass-produced, and some of them ended up dumped in Leon's Team 4. Having organized his thoughts, Kang Jae-ha picked up his phone. He called An Ji-hee's team. She was scheduled to film a YouTube channel after her ongoing interview wrapped.

But there would be about a two-hour gap in between.

"Then come to the company. We'll eat together and head out after."

An Ji-hee arrived at Leon Entertainment about an hour later. Kang Jae-ha was already seated in the meeting room, and An Ji-hee burst in rather urgently.

"Manager-nim! I'm here."

What was she running in like that for. Kang Jae-ha muttered flatly.

"Is someone chasing you."

"Huh? Ah, no, that's not it. You called for me, so."

Maybe because of the interview schedule, An Ji-hee was in full makeup, her bob styled with soft waves. She flushed slightly.

"H, have you eaten??"

"Not yet. Let's talk first, then eat together."

"Yes! I'd like that."

Answering brightly, An Ji-hee carefully sat down across from Kang Jae-ha. The moment she sat, Jae-ha cut to the chase in an even tone.

"This isn't confirmed yet, but we got an offer from Japan."

An Ji-hee made an involuntary 'Huh?' sort of sound.

"J, Japan?? For me??!"

"Yes. I just received it myself."

Staaaring at Jae-ha across from her, An Ji-hee wondered if she was dreaming. Not domestic, but contact from Japan.

'Does that... make sense? No, it doesn't make sense.'

For someone who had only just debuted, the lack of reality was inevitable.

"......No way."

"I don't lie."

"No no no, Manager-nim, I'm not saying that! I'm just so shocked."

Once she'd barely managed to calm down, An Ji-hee asked.

"So you're saying Japan wants to cast me?"

"They seem pretty interested."

-'Spring at the Borderline'

"The role they're offering you, An Ji-hee-ssi, is a sub-character. The feel is of a college student who came to Japan to study, and looking it over, the role's solid, it's got charm, it's cute. If you act it well, the public can absolutely fall in love with you."

"Oh..."

"Especially in Japan right now, with the Korean Wave at its peak."

"B, but why would they offer this to me."

To her question, Kang Jae-ha didn't hesitate for a second, spitting out what he'd inferred from the limited information.

"We'll see once we have the meeting, but what they probably want is 'a Korean-style look with decent acting but not too famous.'"

"Ahh..."

"So they turned their eyes to Korea, and there's a high chance they spotted you at BIFF, An Ji-hee-ssi."

As An Ji-hee nodded along like a devotee, Jae-ha calmly tossed her a question.

"An Ji-hee-ssi, how's your Japanese?"

"Uh...... my Japanese is... a little? When I was an idol Trainee they said I needed it, so I studied some."

"That's good."

"Huh? What is? It's really just a tiny bit!"

Jae-ha shook his head.

"Actually, the side that contacted us would prefer your Japanese to be a bit lacking rather than fluent."

"Eh?"

"A Korean college student whose Japanese is a little clumsy. That's the image they want. Still, keep studying Japanese, English, and other languages, you never know when you might need to go abroad."

"......Yes, yes! But what if, like, really what if, this works out and I'm actually cast, what about you, Manager-nim??"

Kang Jae-ha, legs crossed, answered with what he'd already decided.

"For the Japan project, I'll be going with you."

Around the afternoon.

Inside one of Leon Entertainment's studios, which doubled as a workspace and meeting room, quite a few people were gathered. About fifteen or so. Mixed in were the A&R Team that handled all aspects of album production, and aside from the A&R Team, there were also some women who anyone could tell at a glance were a girl group.

Five in total.

Pretty by default, each one flaunting her own charm.

They were, without question, Leon Entertainment's flagship idols and the industry's Top-tier Girl Group, 'Seriel'. Among them was a very familiar face. Lips plump but sharply defined, proportions almost criminal, a member who could pass for a doll.

It was Ra Yoon, Visual Center and leader of 'Seriel'.

'Seriel', including Ra Yoon, was familiar to Kang Jae-ha as well. The team he'd belonged to before crossing over to the Other World had been 'Seriel'.

What's more, Jae-ha had told Ra Yoon to shut her trap or wise up and basically dragged her through the dirt.

Thanks to that, Leon Entertainment had once been turned upside down.

That was also the reason Kang Jae-ha had been kicked over to Team 4.

Well, even now, Ra Yoon hadn't forgotten Kang Jae-ha. The moment his name came up she'd grind her teeth. With talk of Kang Jae-ha flying around Leon Entertainment lately, that sight had been showing up often.

Anyway, right now Ra Yoon, the rest of the 'Seriel' members, and the A&R Team were gathered listening to songs.

-♬♪

It was for top-tier girl group Seriel's next Single Album. They were going through the songs they'd collected to pick the next single. The process had already been dragging on for quite a while, and as Ra Yoon listened, she scowled hard.

"Ugh, this one's no good either. Everything we heard today is no good!"

At Ra Yoon's irritated assessment, the A&R Team kept their mouths shut for now. Adding any words here would only fuel Ra Yoon's irritation further. Soon, Ra Yoon swept back her long hair and asked the 'Seriel' members.

"What about you guys? The songs are total trash, right??"

"Hmm... I wouldn't go as far as trash, but they're not great."

"The last one was okay, I thought."

With a sigh, Ra Yoon stood up.

"Is 'okay' going to satisfy the CEO-nim? No way. Anyway, let's take a little break."

"Should we??"

"How many songs are left?"

"About twenty?"

"They're not all going to suck, are they?? Ugh... I'm exhausted. My skin's gonna take a hit."

Brows furrowed, Ra Yoon moved toward the door as if to leave the studio. She wrenched the door open, and standing in front of it was some man. He, too, looked like he'd been about to come into the studio.

"Hm?"

Ra Yoon absentmindedly checked the face of the man blocking her path. Black hair, an expressionless, indifferent face. Cold eyes.

Kang Jae-ha of Team 4. Jae-ha looked down at Ra Yoon in front of him without a flicker.

"......"

The moment she saw Kang Jae-ha, Ra Yoon let out an involuntary scream. Part of it was sheer shock.

"Hyaaak!!"

Thanks to Ra Yoon's PTSD-induced flailing, the eyes of the A&R Team members and the 'Seriel' members all landed on Ra Yoon. Then, naturally, they all spotted Kang Jae-ha standing in the doorway.

"Ah."

"Oh."

The short reactions ended, and then a brief silence.

"......"

"......"

Same with Jae-ha and Ra Yoon. Kang Jae-ha gazed evenly at Ra Yoon, and Ra Yoon, frozen mid-scream in a bizarre pose, snapped back to her senses. After hastily fixing her ridiculous posture, she crumpled her face into a glare.

"Wh, what is it! Why are you here??"

Kang Jae-ha had come here with intention, with purpose. But right now.

'Her face is hilarious.'

The thought of teasing Ra Yoon a bit crossed his mind. Before crossing to the Other World, back when Jae-ha had been a weak pushover, this kid had been seriously difficult and uncomfortable for him. But to the current Kang Jae-ha, Ra Yoon was about as significant as a small, trivial insect, or something like that.

Then Jae-ha answered Ra Yoon in a low voice.

"Must have reason to be, if I'm here."

"Hah! Unbelievable? Oppa. No, you've got some serious nerve, huh??"

"Your makeup's got more layers than my nerve."

Just as Ra Yoon, her face flushed red, was about to fire back.

【Hello, Kang Jae-ha-nim.】

A familiar woman's voice suddenly rang in Jae-ha's ear. So Kang Jae-ha ignored Ra Yoon's tantrum.

-Swish.

Kang Jae-ha abruptly turned and began moving away. Watching Jae-ha walk off without a word either way, Ra Yoon's face shifted to disbelief.

"......Wh, what?"

The 'Seriel' members closed in around her in sympathy.

"Right? What's with Jae-ha oppa?"

"He just shows up and leaves like that??"

"But he really has changed a lot, the vibe and everything."

Irritation surged up in Ra Yoon.

"Don't tell me, that nutjob came here just to mess with me? Seriously??"

The studio-slash-meeting room was in an uproar, but Kang Jae-ha didn't particularly care. Walking down the hallway, he was focused on the woman's voice he could currently hear.

【The seventh month's Pension of 700 million won is being deposited.】

A line he knew well. Followed by the 700 million transferred in his bank account.

-[Deposit/ 700,000,000 won]

Before he knew it, Kang Jae-ha had received about 5 billion won in Pension. After confirming the 700 million, Jae-ha smiled faintly.

'700 million topped up.'

The natural progression was for the woman's voice to throw out a 'Fighting' line about seeing him at the next Pension payment. It had always gone that way. Kang Jae-ha figured it would go that way again and started to head back to where Ra Yoon was.

But then.

【Kang Jae-ha-nim, you have maintained the 'Reality Adaptation Project' for over half a year.】

Strangely, this time the woman's voice delivered a different line. Kang Jae-ha came to a sudden halt. The 'Reality Adaptation Project' referred to working at Leon Entertainment for three years. Only then would the Pension be sustained.

But had there ever been a line like this before?

No, there hadn't. In an instant, a serious expression settled over Kang Jae-ha's face as the woman's voice continued.

【Having maintained the activated 'Reality Adaptation Project' and 'Pension Program' for over half a year, you have fulfilled the Segment 1 condition.】

【With this, the Tutorial has ended, and you are entering Segment 2.】

【An 'Additional Perk' will be granted to Kang Jae-ha-nim.】

Jae-ha's eyes widened slightly as he listened.

'Additional Perk granted?'

When it came to perks, Kang Jae-ha already had 'Absolute Obedience'. But now they were giving him another one. Sensing something out of the ordinary, Jae-ha focused on the woman's voice.

【From Segment 2 onward, 'Additional Perks' will continue to be granted as you encounter comrades (subordinates) and maintain the 'Reality Adaptation Project' and 'Pension Program'. 】

【Please select the 'Additional Perk' you wish to receive.】

【1. Mask (Ability)】

【2. Additional Pension of 10 billion won】

There was a lot to think about, but Kang Jae-ha started by considering the 'Additional Perk'.

'I more or less get the Additional Pension of 10 billion, but, Mask?'

'Mask' seemed, in all likelihood, to be a new 'Ability'.

*****

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