Chapter 659: Collision (1)

"Mr. Kang. Since Director Kang Ji-Yung has taken over domestic affairs, you should assign the Japan operations to Vice President Kim Gwan-Woo!"

A few days ago, Kang Ji-Yung had reorganized Hoop Entertainment's system by instructing all Gwanwoo Entertainment talent agents to report through the proper chain. Now, Choi Man-Sik was arguing that since Kang Gam-Chan's line was managing all operations, the Japan operations should go to Kim Gwan-Woo.

"President Choi. The reason I instructed the Gwanwoo team leads to report properly is because they weren't doing it. That's a legitimate directive. But handing over Japan operations? That's outrageous!"

The argument was so heated that no one—Kang Gam-Chan, Choi Man-Sik, Kang Ji-Yung, or Kim Gwan-Woo—noticed me entering the office.

Then Kang Ji-Yung joined in. "If issuing proper directives is wrong, then you might as well ask me to resign! I've been handling the Japan operations from start to finish. How could I just hand that over? You want me to replace the entire overseas team? Do you think that makes sense? Overseas business is all about connections."

Indeed, personal connections were everything in international business. It was already hard enough working with strangers in your own country, let alone abroad. Especially with the notoriously closed-off Japanese business scene, connections were essential.

Unable to contain her frustration, Kang Ji-Yung grew agitated.

At that moment, Choi Man-Sik spoke like he had been waiting for this. "Don't play dumb, Director Kang. You think I don't know you orchestrated this whole thing to break in and dominate the Gwanwoo agents?"

"What do you mean orchestrated!? Isn't that going too far?"

"Oh come on, we're all industry pros here. You deliberately stepped all over Chief Yoon. Don't pretend otherwise."

"Chief Yoon caused the problem!"

"Sure. But using that as leverage to take full control of Gwanwoo's operations is still a fact, isn't it?"

Kang Ji-Yung tried to respond, but Choi Man-Sik cut in first.

"And let's be honest here. What good is your network if there's no actual work? So just hand over the Japan operations to Vice President Kim here, and you can assist him. Isn't that fair? We're one company now, right?"

Currently, Hoop Entertainment's Japan business consisted of nothing but handling Golden Road, which had been exiled there after causing trouble. In other words, Japan operations were basically nonexistent. However, Gwanwoo's girl group AQUA and boy group RE:MIX had charted in the Oricon top 10 three years ago.

Caught off guard, Kang Ji-Yung hesitated. After all, personal networks only mattered when there was actual business to use them on.

Sensing victory, Choi Man-Sik began to smile. "Besides, our partnership with Aris Production in Japan is stronger through Vice President Kim than it is through you. Isn't that right?"

In the current context, Choi Man-Sik's point was valid. But still, the Japan business couldn't be handed over. Among Hoop Entertainment's Japan subsidiaries was A1 Entertainment, which managed Choi Eun-Tae's slush funds.

'

Wait a second. Is that what this is really about?

'

A1 Entertainment in Tokyo had only five employees, but it managed Choi Eun-Tae's billions in slush funds. To conceal that fact, decoy companies had been set up around the world. Subsidiaries A2 through A6 were based in Yokohama, Osaka, Fukuoka, Nagoya, and Sapporo. A7 and A8 were in New York and LA. A9 and A10 were located in Beijing and Shanghai.

Choi Man-Sik knew one of his foster father's subsidiaries held the slush fund, so now he was trying to probe Japan first. He planned to get control over Japan operations by installing Kim Gwan-Woo.

'

Over my dead body

.'

To stop him, I immediately inserted myself into the conversation.

"Mr. Choi, isn't it a bit much to demand Japan operations be handed over just because there's no work right now?"

Everyone in the room turned to me. Choi Man-Sik, seeing me, snapped with a look of "you again."

"You little shit... Who do you think you are, barging in here? A lowly chief daring to interfere with executive matters!"

I calmly responded to his raised voice. "Mr. Choi, you're just a shareholder here. You don't actually hold any official position, do you?"

Choi Man-Sik was just a shareholder, not someone with an official position. Though treated like part of the leadership because he was one of the company's owners, he was technically just a guest.

"You little punk, how dare you..."

"I'm not your subordinate, so watch your language. And I'm here to meet Mr. Kang, so I'm not trespassing. Also, Mr. Chairman promised to give me 3% of the company shares soon, and I'll be buying the upcoming employee stock issuance. So I'm a prospective shareholder too."

Choi Man-Sik's face twisted. Even if it was only 3%, owning that much gave significant influence in company management.

Realizing he couldn't win this way, Choi Man-Sik switched tactics. "Damn it, fine! You being here, I'll let it slide. But I'm here by invitation from Vice President Kim Gwan-Woo, discussing Japan operations which have nothing to do with you. So get out! Stop interfering in things you know nothing about, got it?"

'

Did he just say I didn't know anything about the Japan business?'

Before the regression, I did so much business all over Japan that if I strung together all the ramen noodles I ate, they'd wrap around the planet.

With a grin, I answered, "Where should I start? Should I tell you what Aris Production, our current partner, is doing? Or which entertainment companies listed on Tokyo's First Section are running what businesses? Or maybe how AQUA and RE:MIX from Gwanwoo are ranking on the Oricon charts? Or would you prefer an update on what Chief Cha Sang-Jin and Golden Road, banished to our Japan branch, are up to lately?"

After hearing from Choi Eun-Tae that the company's slush funds were hidden in the Japan branch, I had kept my ears sharp on Japan matters. That was the reason I could rattle off details like this.

Choi Man-Sik and Kim Gwan-Woo's faces began to distort. They hadn't expected me to be well-versed in Japan business too.

While they stood speechless in shock, I drove in the final nail. "This year, we're planning to launch Cherry Blossom, Kang Ha-Na, and Seo Yeon-Woo in Japan. The entire project is based on support from Ms. Kang here. So no, we can't hand over Japan operations."

Choi Man-Sik's eyes widened. "What? A Japan debut? You planned that?"

"Yes. We've planned everything from Japanese albums, concerts, fan signings, to handshake events. We're hitting Tokyo, Yokohama, Nagoya, Fukuoka, and Sapporo. Every region where we have branches. We're also prepping fan meetings for the actors."

"That's ridiculous..."

Because they thought I didn't know anything about Japan, Choi Man-Sik and Kim Gwan-Woo hadn't even caught wind of my Japan debut plans. In the end, it was they who were completely blindsided. Their faces tightened and looked at each other in mutual dismay.

Then Kim Gwan-Woo, unable to hold back, snapped. "Are you saying the Gwanwoo people are just supposed to stand on the sidelines from now on?"

I shrugged. "Sidelines? I don't know what you mean by that. We're one company now. Let's just work together. If the Gwanwoo side succeeds in Japan, the weight of the company will naturally shift your way. Then you can lead. But for now... let's be honest. Hoop Entertainment and Division Jung are the core of this company."

Again, Choi Man-Sik and Kim Gwan-Woo were speechless. As I said, the part of the company bringing in the most money became the center. They couldn't respond but only glared at me with boiling eyes.

That's when Kang Gam-Chan stepped in at just the right moment. "President Choi. Since we're on the topic, let me say this. If you want to be directly involved in management, take on an executive title. Rights come with responsibilities, don't they?"

Choi Man-Sik flinched, clearly hit where it hurt. "Mr. Kang... Are you really going to do this?"

"Huh? Do what? This is the first time the company's been running right. Leave management to the executives. The company's doing just fine without you."

With a chuckle, Kang Gam-Chan sided with me. Then he turned to Kim Gwan-Woo.

"Vice President, let's not create divisions. Let's keep running things by department like we are now. And let's step back and support the junior staff. We're one company now, so why fight among ourselves?"

Kang Gam-Chan was telling Kim Gwan-Woo to back off from field operations, saying he himself would be stepping back to a support role. That pushed Kim Gwan-Woo and Choi Man-Sik to their limits, and they both shot to their feet.

"Fine! Got it, Mr. Kang."

Their faces flushed red as they turned away. Kim Gwan-Woo walked out first, with Choi Man-Sik following.

At that moment, Choi Man-Sik stopped at the door and turned back.

Thud.

"In regard to the Japan business, I will formally request a shareholder meeting!"

Even after all that, the fact that Choi Man-Sik wasn't giving up on Japan operations proved my hunch was right. He was trying to uncover which subsidiary was hiding the slush funds of his foster father, Choi Eun-Tae.

Kang Gam-Chan shrugged. "If it's a matter to be decided through a shareholder meeting, I'll comply. The owners of the company are the shareholders, after all. And of course, I'm a shareholder too."

Choi Man-Sik glared at us with venomous eyes, then turned and stormed out.

Bang.

Just like that, I had helped Kang Gam-Chan and Kang Ji-Yung crush the scheme of Choi Man-Sik and Kim Gwan-Woo.

However, I had no intention of stopping here.

***

Outside the company, Choi Man-Sik glared at Kim Gwan-Woo. Because Kim Gwan-Woo had foolishly let the company's control slip away and failed to take over Japan business, Choi Man-Sik was in no mood to be kind.

"What a joke, Mr. Kim. You said you could easily handle a punk like Jung Yoon-Ho, didn't you? So what's this?"

Kim Gwan-Woo had no words.

'

Damn. How is a guy like that only a chief?

'

In the entertainment industry, only a few people could handle global business. But here was the youngest chief, not even thirty-years-old, managing not only China but also Japan. Most of his peers were still scrambling for a shot at becoming team leads.

'

But when did that guy even go on a business trip to Japan?

'

It bugged him, but he kept quiet. He couldn't admit to Choi Man-Sik that he lost to someone who hadn't even been to Japan.

Then, Choi Man-Sik snapped. "So what now?"

Kim Gwan-Woo answered urgently. "AQUA and RE:MIX got a good response in Japan, but they're not top-tier. So... please let me take over Golden Road, who are in Japan now. I'll bring them back to life and turn them into a money machine. We can postpone the Japan business takeover until after that."

"Golden Road? Aren't they practically done for?"

"Only in Korea. In Japan, their past albums still sell and their fan club is still active. If we gain traction in Japan, coming back to Korea might be easier. Like how athletes become heroes when they succeed overseas."

"Are you talking about national pride?"

"Yes! Exactly!"

Choi Man-Sik narrowed his eyes. "Can you really do it? Or is this just more talk?"

"I can do it, no matter what. And Chief Yang's Berry Six members are all fluent in Japanese. If we send both senior and junior groups together, the image will work."

"Really?"

"We're also planning to form one more boy group. There are some promising trainees now."

"You want the lineup solid before Cherry Blossom debuts in Japan, huh?"

"Exactly. And then, I'll go after control of the Japan business again. But I urgently need funding."

Choi Man-Sik, arms crossed, nodded. "Since Chief Cha Sang-Jin is already managing Golden Road in Japan, we'll hand it over to him. Prepare a proposal and bring it to me. I'll get you the funding through our Japan affiliate."

"Thank you, sir!"

Bowing deeply, Kim Gwan-Woo began grinding his teeth. He was humiliated that his decades-long career as a talent agent had been disgraced by Jung Yoon-Ho. But at the same time, he had to admit that Jung Yoon-Ho was a rival worth putting everything into. Even his last weapon, Japan business, was already within Jung Yoon-Ho's plans.

Watching Kim Gwan-Woo, Choi Man-Sik was also fuming. He needed access to the Japan subsidiary to find Choi Eun-Tae's slush funds, but Jung Yoon-Ho had blocked him again.

'

Damn it. Nothing's going my way.

'

Choi Man-Sik figured he would have to reach out to their Japanese partner, Aris Production. They had worked with Hoop Entertainment's Japan subsidiaries for years, so perhaps they could help locate the slush funds.

Yet right now, he had no motivation to do anything. Thanks to Jung Yoon-Ho, he was burning with frustration.

"

Sigh

... I can't take this today. Mr. Kim, let's grab a drink."

It was still morning, but Choi Man-Sik needed a drink to calm his nerves.

Kim Gwan-Woo didn't hesitate to respond. "Of course, it's my treat."

The two of them headed to a nearby Japanese restaurant to cool their tempers.

***

In the president's office, Kang Gam-Chan let out a deep sigh. "Yoon-Ho, you showed up at just the right moment."

Kang Gam-Chan had been troubled with no good countermeasure in sight, but the moment I brought up the Japan expansion, the situation turned around.

Kang Ji-Yung asked, "Are you really going to pursue the Japan debut?"

I replied with a grin, "Not right away."

Even for me, expanding into Japan wasn't that easy. To be precise, it was always possible to start, but succeeding would take time. Because the personal connections I had in Japan were only from before the regression, I would have to build them all over again.

"So you lied?"

"Come on~ It wasn't a lie. I said I'd start it, but I never said when."

Kang Gam-Chan chuckled heartily. "

Hahaha

. You're right. Well done. If we're going to do it anyway, saying it a bit early doesn't change anything."

I nodded and then said to Kang Gam-Chan, "So what will you do now? The shareholder meeting is one thing, but if President Choi Man-Sik heads to Japan and starts plotting something with Aris Production, it'll be trouble."

Before the regression, Choi Man-Sik had a very close relationship with Tanaka, the head of Aris Production in Japan. Now that his schemes in Korea had been blocked, with his impulsive nature, it was certain he would rush to Japan and start something.

Kang Gam-Chan's smile disappeared. "Yeah, I think the same. I can block the shareholder meeting by combining my shares with Mr. Chairman. But if President Choi makes a move with Aris Production, it won't be easy for us to stop it."

Kang Ji-Yung nodded as well. "That's right. We recently renewed the contract with Aris Production. While we secured more profits, we also gave up a lot of rights. So we have no idea where things could blow up."

Kang Gam-Chan leaned back on the sofa, furrowing his brow. "To stop President Choi's interference, the best option would be to cut ties with Aris Production completely... but we have no solution. No answer at all."

'

No answer? I am the answer.

'

Looking at the two worried faces, I grinned and said, "I have a way to terminate the contract with Aris Production!"