What had been lying dormant in Kang Rojun's bank account was tens of millions of won. Rojun shot up from his bed without realizing it. Wondering if his eyes were playing tricks on him, he checked the money again.
"One, ten, hundred, thousand, ten thousand, hundred thousand, million, te—ten million."
It was definitely tens of millions of won. To be exact, a little over 20 million.
"To think over ten million won was deposited in my account."
He had only ever handled sums in the millions. Yet now, 20 million had suddenly been deposited.
Moreover.
"I-is this the settlement for the money from the early activities??"
It was only the beginning. The tens of millions now were merely from the starting point to the middle phase of Kang Rojun's earnings from his "That 100%" appearance fees, writing, lyric writing, acting, and so on. The backend and the copyright fees that would pour in every time something sold were separate.
Especially the copyright fees—for life.
"Wow—this is crazy."
Of course, early on, Kang Rojun had been a nobody as an idol, actor, writer, and lyricist alike. Usually, in any entertainment industry, unknowns or rookies couldn't even dream of ten million won, and earning even 500,000 won was difficult.
No, it was to the point where they should be grateful and bow just for debuting.
However, Rojun hadn't done just one thing—he had progressed several projects simultaneously, and with many figures besides Woo Hanseok and Jeong Suryeong looking out for him, income of over 20 million had been generated from the start. In reality, the real money Kang Rojun was earning started now, after his recognition had skyrocketed and he had made "That 100%" and "Rental Lover" successful.
Because his worth was properly appraised.
The idol side was still growing, but as a writer, actor, and lyricist, he had hit home runs. The writer side stood out especially. Without results, one had to judge based only on a writer's potential, but once results were out, even bargaining became possible.
The first-episode ratings for "Rental Lover" were a whopping 21%.
On top of that, the writer himself was Kang Rojun.
There would definitely be tremendous synergy, and Rojun was well aware of it.
"If I work hard at my main jobs and side jobs, my worth will keep rising together."
A smile came to his face naturally. Not only the money, but the future ahead promised to be several times more exciting.
"Damn, at this rate I might even touch hundred-million-won money?? No, hundreds of millions?? Really?!"
Hundreds of millions. At the thought that even unimaginable money was no longer a dream, all sleep fled from Kang Rojun.
"Huh?? Rojun, where are you going?"
"I'm going to the break room for a bit."
Kang Rojun chose to work overtime.
"It's fun. Seriously."
After that.
A day passed, and Thursday dawned. Kang Rojun had fallen asleep at dawn and had only slept four hours, yet energy overflowed from him. He was immediately carrying out his daily mission.
Having eaten breakfast, Rojun headed to the large practice room.
In the practice room, Sihu, Gangmin, and Dokyeong were waiting.
"Rojun hyung is here."
"Hyung, did you run here again?? Amazing."
"Now that Rojun is here, let's start right away."
Officially, all the evaluation stages of "That 100%" had ended. Yet the reason the four final winners had gathered in the practice room was simple. PD Woo Hanseok had given a special order. Because of the stages they would show during the final episode of "That 100%" on Friday the 20th of next week—the final episode that would be broadcast live.
When everything was over, Rojun, Sihu, Gangmin, and Dokyeong would present several stages to the viewers.
"Produce," "Survival 100," and even "Bold."
Originally group songs, now in four-person versions.
A final greeting to the viewers as "That 100%"?
Since they were final winners capable of composition, lyrics, rap, and choreography, it wasn't a very difficult mission.
Soon, Rojun, Sihu, Gangmin, and Dokyeong dove into practice.
Then around Thursday noon, a familiar group entered through Gimpo Airport.
"This is the first time we've come to Korea consecutively like this."
"Unlike last time, the subject matter is heavier this time."
They spoke in Japanese. At the head of the group was a foreigner with yellow curly hair. He was General Director Tom Kabil, and this group was Netflix Japan. The reason they had entered Korea again was simple.
It was because of the script "Like a Funhouse Mirror" that Kang Rojun had handed over.
Soon, General Director Tom Kabil declared to his staff.
"Tomorrow, at the meeting with Culture Drawer, we must secure this work."
The meeting with Culture Drawer was tomorrow.
That same afternoon.
In the practice room, Rojun, Sihu, Gangmin, and Dokyeong sat in a circle looking at paper bundles. Various entertainment company names were written on the covers of the bundles. In other words, these bundles were summaries of the self-PR the agencies had presented yesterday. There were ten of them.
The kids were having quite a deep discussion.
"Listening to the PRs, EY Entertainment definitely seems the best."
"Wasn't GN Entertainment okay too?"
"That's true, but when I searched yesterday, there was an article saying GN Entertainment is scaling down their idol division."
"Really?"
"Wouldn't it be better to choose among the Big Three—GN, EY, and Big Star?"
"I think so too. For idols, you can't ignore agency size, power, and experience."
"True, and KRO and Eoullim felt a little untrustworthy."
Sihu, Gangmin, and Dokyeong talked mainly, while Kang Rojun was largely observing.
"I searched too in my own way, but the breadth of what they know is different."
It was the nest where he would be for the next few years. Contract conditions were a matter for later; for now, choosing an agency was the urgent priority. Around this time, Sihu, whose hair was styled in a baby perm, let out a wry laugh.
"To think we're choosing among agencies this big..."
Gangmin and Dokyeong agreed intensely.
"I know. Normally, we'd have to audition like crazy just to get into one of these as trainees."
"Now the agencies are the ones auditioning for us, and we're the ones deciding—it's a bit surreal."
As the conversation seemed to drift off topic again, Kang Rojun cut in.
"It's a bit much to decide on one place right now, isn't it? We have to see the viewer vote results anyway."
"Right."
"Then let's just set rankings from first to fifth. From sixth place onward, we won't pay attention at all. Too many choices make you overthink."
"Good idea!"
Thirty minutes later, the agencies' first-round rankings were decided. Sihu, the eldest, took charge of organizing.
"First place EY Entertainment, second place Big Star Entertainment, third place GN Entertainment, fourth place Eoullim Entertainment, fifth place KRO Entertainment. Like this."
"As expected, the Big Three are first, second, and third."
"Honestly, other agencies are big too, but in idols, you can't beat the Big Three."
"They're the dream agencies of countless aspiring idols. I was one too. And we're going there with a free pass."
"There are definitely amazing idols at EY, Big Star, and GN."
"EY Entertainment's Bambidi seemed to be preparing for US concerts this time."
"Will it go well?"
"I don't know, but entering the Billboard chart is already a huge hit."
"Was it 40th?? A girl group first? That's amazing. A Korean girl group ranking on the Billboard chart."
First through third place were decided as EY, Big Star, and GN Entertainment—the so-called Big Three of the idol market—but GN in third place received poor evaluations.
"GN Entertainment's atmosphere is kind of bad. The boy and girl groups they recently launched all flopped."
"Honestly, same. You can't ignore the flow—GN Entertainment is still the Big Three, so it's third place for now, but it looks like it'll be overtaken by other agencies soon."
"I like EY and Big Star too, and GN is a bit..."
Compared to GN Entertainment, EY and Big Star Entertainment received high evaluations, with EY Entertainment especially being hot. Rojun folded his arms as he listened to the kids' conversation.
"The kids are leaning heavily toward EY Entertainment. About seventy percent? EY Entertainment gave the longest PR, right? Their briefing was certainly good."
He too was leaning toward EY Entertainment.
Honestly, the agencies called the Big Three were all amazing in scale; from here on, it would be a contest of details.
"If it goes on like this, it'll probably be awarded to EY Entertainment."
At this moment, at a large media company in Seoul.
The office was rowdy with countless reporters. Sounds of people taking calls and tapping on laptops filled the air. Around this time, a disheveled-haired man entered the office. He was a reporter too. Passing his messy desk, he knocked on the bureau chief's office door.
Knock, knock.
Inside, a man with salt-and-pepper hair was on a call. He gestured to wait a moment, and as soon as he put down his phone, the bureau chief spoke simply to the disheveled-haired reporter.
"What is it?"
The reporter smirked.
"Chief, I've obtained an exclusive."
At the word "exclusive," the salt-and-pepper-haired bureau chief narrowed his brow.
"What exclusive?"
"Hehe."
The reporter, who had been laughing almost like a pervert, stuck close to the chief and answered in a near-whisper.
"It's EY Entertainment's tax evasion."
Instantly, the chief's expression changed.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, it's offshore tax evasion, so the scale is big. I'll organize it and report to you soon."
"How long?"
"It'll be quick—two weeks at most. I've only obtained the source so far, so I need to investigate a bit."
"EY Entertainment..."
Since it was one of the domestic Big Three, the chief knew EY Entertainment well.
"Didn't an article come out there before the year before last with a tax evasion angle?"
"Yes. But whether EY Entertainment worked behind the scenes or not, it quieted down quickly. So this time, I'm going to prepare properly and strike."
"If it's a miss, they'll sue, and it'll be annoying?"
"I know. Don't worry. With the tax evasion case from the year before last, and if I wrap this one up well..."
The disheveled-haired reporter's perverse smile deepened.
"EY Entertainment will probably stagger."
Hours later, night fell.
Kang Rojun, having finished practice with the kids and taken a shower, moved not to his room but straight to the break room. Seeing him carrying his laptop and guitar, it seemed he would work overtime today as well.
"Starting song composition from today."
It was something he had discussed with Sihu before. Kang Rojun trying to compose a song by himself—nothing complicated, just a simple track.
"Will it work? I don't know, I'll just try."
Rojun settled into the empty break room and set up his laptop and guitar.
Then.
"Hmm—"
Just before diving into proper work, Kang Rojun suddenly fell into thought.
"Our agency. The agency I'll belong to."
Truthfully, since talking with Sihu, Gangmin, and Dokyeong earlier, Kang Rojun had kept thinking about the agencies. Worries and concerns that any human would naturally feel. Because it was the main base where he would take responsibility for at least the next few years, it was even more so. Then he scratched his black hair.
"Since they're all big, will any of them be fine? The answer doesn't come out just because I think. As long as I run like now, wherever I belong, it'll be fine, right."
He seemed to cleanly move past it, befitting Kang Rojun's personality. However, Rojun was still young and had absolutely no experience with this. The thoughts didn't erase cleanly.
"Sigh—it would be nice if 'AI Automation' could analyze this too."
Could it? "AI Automation" was basically a cheat, but could it do something like this? Without much expectation, Rojun picked up his phone. He tapped on "AI Automation" in the "AI Simulation" app. It was just a what-the-hell attempt.
["AI Automation" can derive desired results through analysis. What would you like to derive? (Only things related to the desired profession of idol are possible)]
For the first time, Kang Rojun wrote a request different from his usual ones in the blank. First, he listed a total of ten agencies, including the Big Three—EY Entertainment, Big Star Entertainment, and GN Entertainment—and basically asked to be told in scores how well each agency matched him or the members. The longest request he'd ever written was complete.
"What am I doing, like this would even work—"
Kang Rojun smiled faintly and pressed confirm.
But.
[AI analyzing... analysis complete!]
The "AI Automation" analyzing the request showed an unexpected result.
[To derive the desired results, 150 coins are needed.]
150 coins were needed? That meant...
"This works? It works??"
It meant "AI Automation" could give Kang Rojun the answer he wanted. And it was rather expensive—150 coins. However, Rojun's expression turned slightly serious.
"It's 'AI Automation.' If it's 150 coins, it must be worth it."
Well, 150 coins wasn't a small amount, but for the current Rojun, it was something he could earn in just over a week. More than that, Kang Rojun's curiosity was greater. In the end.
Swish.
He pressed allow.
[Using 150 coins.]
[Applying... application complete!]
The loading circle spun round and round on the phone screen again. The interesting thing was that there was none of the sharp pain in his wrist. "AI Automation" merely displayed a message on Kang Rojun's phone screen.
[EY Entertainment / 3 points]
[Big Star Entertainment / 28 points]
[GN Entertainment / 95 points]
[KRO Entertainment / 73 points]
[Eoullim Entertainment / 69 points]
·
·
·
·
Kang Rojun skimmed through the listed results and slightly furrowed his brow.
"EY Entertainment is 3 points?? Why is this the only one with a garbage score?"