NOVGO.NET Chapter 61: Perks (3)
Translator: Dreamscribe
Kang Jae-ha, seated at the Management Team 4 desk, crossed his legs. Right now, he was thinking about the girl group 'Seriel', the team he'd dropped in on a little earlier.
'They've probably heard it by now. Then again, Ra Yoon might be throwing a fit and blocking it.'
Ra Yoon had been seething right up to the end. She wouldn't listen to the song he'd handed over without a fuss. Especially not since it was a song from Kang Jae-ha, of all people.
'The fact that she gives such a delicious reaction whenever she sees me means the old days are still fresh in her mind.'
Given Ra Yoon's bullshit personality, that was hardly surprising. Honestly, compared to what Jae-ha had suffered back in his softer days, today was nothing. The thing was, for Ra Yoon and 'Seriel' it had only been a few short seconds, but for Kang Jae-ha it had been eighteen years in another world.
And Jae-ha had become a different man.
So why had this version of Kang Jae-ha given a song to 'Seriel', Ra Yoon included? The reason was extremely simple. The market impact a top-tier girl group like 'Seriel' could put out was considerable. And nobody knew that better than Kang Jae-ha, who had handled the 'Seriel' team for several years before crossing over to the other world.
'Work is work. No need to act on emotion. That kind of thing is a waste.'
When one of the most renowned girl groups in the country, 'Seriel', was sitting right there in the same agency, why take the long way around? The songs Kang Jae-ha had handed over were, of course, ones composed by Choi Ri-na, and Jae-ha had decided to use Leon and 'Seriel' as Choi Ri-na's stepping stone.
The songs would probably get picked.
Ra Yoon might jump around making a scene, but Choi Ri-na's songs were unquestionably excellent, so in the end there'd be no choice but to acknowledge them. Ra Yoon's temperament might be a mess, but her skill was the real deal.
'Well, even if they don't pick them, there are plenty of other roads.'
For now, Kang Jae-ha had nothing to regret.
Meanwhile.
In the studio where the A&R Team and the members of girl group 'Seriel' had gathered for a meeting, CEO Han Tae-sung's question spread through the room.
"Who gave you what?"
It was prompted by something one of the 'Seriel' members had casually let slip while they were struggling to settle on a song. The comment had been a suggestion that they listen to the song Kang Jae-ha had left behind. Because Jae-ha's name had popped up out of nowhere, CEO Han Tae-sung reacted at once, and at his low question an A&R Team staffer answered quickly.
"Ah! Earlier, Team 4's manager Kang Jae-ha came by out of the blue and dropped off a song."
A peculiar smile crept onto CEO Han Tae-sung's face.
"...Kang Jae-ha dropped off a song."
"Yes, it was rather sudden, so for now we just set it aside."
Sitting with his arms folded, CEO Han Tae-sung murmured inwardly.
'There's no way that guy suddenly took an interest in 'Seriel'. What's he scheming.'
He fixed his gaze on Ra Yoon, who had her lips pursed in a pout. So she'd been the one blocking the others from hearing the song Kang Jae-ha had given them. Was her pride refusing to allow it? Either way, none of that meant anything to CEO Han Tae-sung.
His curiosity growing, he gave the A&R Team an order.
"Play it."
The A&R Team nodded and moved busily. The USB Kang Jae-ha had handed over contained a total of two songs. There were no set titles; they were simply marked 'Song 1' and 'Song 2'. An A&R Team staffer played 'Song 1' first.
In an instant, the song rang out through the whole studio.
-♬♪
Everyone focused. CEO Han Tae-sung, who tilted his head slightly, Ra Yoon and the 'Seriel' members, the A&R Team, all of them.
"Song 1" opened with a punk feel.
It had the rough texture characteristic of punk, yet the tone was oddly smooth. A thick groove was woven in. It flowed naturally into the ear. Soon the tone of 'Song 1' shifted into easy listening. A quickening beat. Added drums.
Just a few dozen seconds in, Ra Yoon's eyes went wide.
'......Wow, what is this tone setting? This is way too good.'
CEO Han Tae-sung, his smile deepening, must have liked the song too, because he gave a small nod.
'The chords and melody are simple. But the composer used their own signature technique to add variation, making it taste like something new.'
Before they knew it, they'd reached the hook. By this point everyone, CEO Han Tae-sung included, was thoroughly soaked in 'Song 1'. It was then that CEO Han Tae-sung raised his hand.
-Swish.
Catching on, a staffer stopped the song, and CEO Han Tae-sung murmured calmly.
"They kept the energy of punk alive while still pulling it toward easy listening: usually it's hard to make both of those work."
The A&R Team staffer picked up the thread.
"......And yet this song wove them together so harmoniously."
"It sticks right in your ear. More than that, it suits 'Seriel' well."
"Th-that's right."
CEO Han Tae-sung looked over the 'Seriel' members. They seemed to like the song too, chattering away. Chuckling, he recalled the indifferent face of Kang Jae-ha.
'So he's got a good eye and a good ear: but more than that, Team 4 going so far as to pay attention to 'Seriel'?'
Or maybe there was some other intention behind it. The Kang Jae-ha that CEO Han Tae-sung knew was no good guy. Perhaps the same breed as himself. Well, even if there was some other intention, for the moment CEO Han Tae-sung didn't much care. For now, the result in front of him was what mattered.
Being the kind of character he'd always been, CEO Han Tae-sung gave another order.
"Play 'Song 2' too."
The song rang out through the studio again. Compared to 'Song 1', 'Song 2' was far more in the dance vein. With intensity and rap added in. Having heard 'Song 2' as well, Ra Yoon, 'Song 1' included, was practically drooling.
'Damn, why are they both good.'
It pissed her off that Kang Jae-ha was the one who'd given them, but both songs were vastly better than the dozens she'd listened to up to now. Even as she listened, Ra Yoon's girl-group blood ran hot.
'I want to sing it right now, want to choreograph it and dance to it too.'
None of the other songs they'd collected had stirred feelings like this. But the moment she heard the two songs Jae-ha had given them, she started getting restless. She wanted to start working on the songs that very instant. Ra Yoon immediately thought of Jae-ha.
'What the hell is this?? Where did he dig up songs like these!'
Then, the moment 'Song 2' stopped, CEO Han Tae-sung made his decision right away.
"Seriel's single album. Go with these two songs."
The single album songs for 'Seriel', which had been dragging on with no progress, were confirmed with a single word from CEO Han Tae-sung.
"Release 'Song 2' first as a teaser and opening track, then bring 'Song 1' as the follow-up."
"Yes, understood, CEO-nim."
Having given his orders, CEO Han Tae-sung met the eyes of the 'Seriel' members. To be precise, he was looking at Ra Yoon.
"Got something to say."
"......"
Ra Yoon, biting her lower lip lightly, didn't particularly answer. Throwing a fit at this point would be nothing more than empty bravado. Apparently deciding that was that, CEO Han Tae-sung rose smoothly to his feet.
"Then start work on the single album right away."
He was about to leave the studio when he paused and asked the staff.
"Who's the composer."
A staffer who'd scanned the information Jae-ha had saved on the USB answered.
"Rina? It says Rina."
"Rina, huh. Is that a composer anyone's heard of."
"No, it's the first we've heard of them."
"Same for me."
As he stepped out of the studio, CEO Han Tae-sung murmured as if to himself.
"An unknown, then. Where did he find them."
The next day, late afternoon, the 'MEG' office.
Kang Jae-ha had summoned all of his subordinates. Jae-ha sat at a six-person table, with Choi Ri-na and Go Chun-seok right beside him and Lee Chan-hoo and Ha Yeon-ji standing around. Cha Chung-hyeon was yawning faintly, watching the Commander from his own seat.
While every one of his subordinates had their eyes on the Commander, Kang Jae-ha gave a strange order.
"Everyone close your eyes for a moment."
The fastest to react was the squinty-eyed Lee Chan-hoo.
"Huh? All of a sudden?"
"No backtalk."
Lee Chan-hoo, Ha Yeon-ji, and the others traded glances. Because they were all thinking, what's this about? But it was the Commander's order, so they all closed their eyes for now. A few seconds passed, maybe? Then Kang Jae-ha's voice spread out again.
"Open them now."
The voice was a touch different in tone, but the subordinates opened their eyes without much suspicion. And they looked at the Commander. In that instant, Choi Ri-na, her purple hair swaying, got a fright.
"Huh??! Uh-uh-uh??"
It was the same for the other subordinates.
"???"
"Wh-who?"
"What the?"
"......?"
Everyone was flustered. It wasn't strange that the mercenaries' eyes filled with question marks. The seated Commander's face had abruptly changed. Kang Jae-ha had vanished without a trace, and a different man was sitting there.
No, the man was still Kang Jae-ha.
He'd merely switched to Face A using the 'Mask' Ability. A grave-faced Go Chun-seok rose smoothly.
Watching him, Jae-ha murmured in a low voice.
"Don't tense up, it's me."
A brief silence. The first to open his mouth was the sharp-witted Lee Chan-hoo.
"...Don't tell me, Commander??"
"That's right."
Ha Yeon-ji and Choi Ri-na reacted in much the same way.
"What?"
"What!!!"
Go Chun-seok unclenched his fists and froze. Cha Chung-hyeon, who'd risen at some point and was strolling over lazily, pressed up close beside Kang Jae-ha. He studied the Commander's face as if fascinated.
"Whoa, your face changed, and you're even super handsome."
Lee Chan-hoo, who'd likewise drawn close to Jae-ha, opened his small eyes as wide as he could.
"Commander......are you sure?"
"Yeah, it's me."
"Cut the bullshit, you bastard, who are you."
"You wanna die? Be my guest."
"Ah, yeah, it's the Commander."
Lee Chan-hoo rubbed his squinty eyes and spoke again.
"...Commander, don't tell me, is this your 'Ability'?"
"Correct."
Even as he answered, Kang Jae-ha judged that the Mask's performance was clearly the real deal at this level. If even his own mercenaries couldn't recognize him, that said it all. Then Jae-ha gave his subordinates another order. They closed their eyes. When Lee Chan-hoo and the others opened their eyes again,
-Swsh.
the man from a moment ago was gone, and Kang Jae-ha was sitting there with his original face. Interest in Jae-ha's new Ability welling up, Ha Yeon-ji fluttered about.
"Commander Commander Commander! What is that 'Ability'??! When did you get it??"
"Eh, just sort of happened along the way."
Kang Jae-ha gave a brief explanation of the Ability 'Mask'. The subordinates had a lot they were curious about, but they had to hold back, and Lee Chan-hoo, sweeping back his short hair, let out a stunned laugh.
"Heh, doesn't this mean that if the Commander hides, we'll never be able to find you?"
Ha Yeon-ji chimed in.
"Right, especially since on you, Commander, us subordinates... I mean, our 'Abilities' don't work."
Cha Chung-hyeon, still pressed up close to Jae-ha, murmured leisurely.
"But, what if we attack without knowing it's the Commander? Like, disobey an order. Wouldn't we just be done for then?"
Kang Jae-ha chuckled and answered.
"To you all, you'll mostly see either the changed face you just saw or my original face. If it comes to it, we could set a countersign."
"Ah, a countersign. That'd work. Just like back in the Mercenary Corps."
Jae-ha informed his subordinates of the things that would change from here on because of the Ability Mask.
"With my Mask, moving around has gotten a little easier. So I'm splitting up the work."
What he meant was that rather than standing back with his hands behind him as a hidden Commander, he would go out into the field while keeping his identity as Commander concealed. Well, it wasn't much different from how things had been. Lee Chan-hoo was the figurehead CEO, and Kang Jae-ha being the Mastermind, the Real Power, remained unchanged.
It was simply that when he stepped into the field, he'd change his face and conceal only his identity.
Ha Yeon-ji, still staring at Kang Jae-ha as if fascinated, opened her mouth.
"......So you'll be running wild properly now, with the Mask on?"
"Who knows, my activity level's bound to go up compared to before. With the Mask on, I might be able to act a bit more like myself, too."
What he meant was that he'd be loosening the reins to some degree. In that instant, every one of his subordinates, Ha Yeon-ji included,
'I thought he'd gone a bit quieter since coming to this world...'
recalled Kang Jae-ha from his days as Mercenary Corps Commander.
'But now he's saying he's releasing the seal and going back to being the genuinely crazy Commander??'
Morning of the 19th, Netflix Korea.
In a meeting room with production posters on the walls, about two people were seated. The bald Executive Director Heo Seong-jin and the heavyweight directing figure, Director Baek Jeong-ha. Director Baek Jeong-ha, with her slightly angular jaw, had skin that had grown even rougher, perhaps from pulling so many all-nighters over the 'One-Act Drama Project'.
The two seemed to be chatting briefly while waiting for someone.
It was then.
-Swish.
The glass door opened and a man with a fierce look about him entered. It was Oh Jong-man. Oh Jong-man greeted Executive Director Heo Seong-jin and Director Baek Jeong-ha.
"Hello."
Executive Director Heo Seong-jin and Director Baek Jeong-ha welcomed Oh Jong-man.
"Welcome, Writer-nim."
"Have a seat."
This meeting seemed to center on Oh Jong-man, the Main Writer of the 'One-Act Drama Project'. The interesting part was that Oh Jong-man hadn't come alone. Right behind Oh Jong-man, a man in a black blazer was visible.
Director Baek Jeong-ha scanned the man quickly.
'Somewhat cold eyes......and pretty good-looking? No, on the handsome side. Is that man someone from Oh Jong-man's agency.'
Likewise, the bald Executive Director Heo Seong-jin made a similar assessment. They must have been contacted in advance, because neither was much surprised by the man's appearance, and the cold-eyed man, seated alongside Oh Jong-man, was the first to speak.
"Pleased to meet you, I'm here from 'MEG', Writer Oh Jong-man's agency."
The man took out a business card and held it out to Executive Director Heo Seong-jin and Director Baek Jeong-ha. At the same time, he murmured inwardly.
'This is fun, coming out to the field with a Mask on.'
The Mask. In other words, the man was Kang Jae-ha switched into 'Face A'. Laughing inwardly, Jae-ha got straight to the point without beating around the bush. The small smile was a bonus.
"I understand you've made a few requests to Writer Oh Jong-man regarding the 'One-Act Drama Project'? I've received the details of those requests from the Writer."
Director Baek Jeong-ha answered faster.
"That's right, what does Writer Jong-man's agency think?"
"Roughly speaking, my read is that you want to use Writer Oh Jong-man to scale the 'One-Act Drama Project' up several times over."
Kang Jae-ha, his face changed, gave a straight-shooting reply.
"That's going to be hard to do for nothing, though."
The unleashed, crazy mercenary Commander had begun to run wild.
*****
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