The Crazy Mercenary Commander Goes to Work in the Entertainment Industry

After hearing about Choi Ri-na’s ’Ability’, Kang Jae-ha’s mind was working overtime. Her ability would be useful to ’MEG’, and it was an ability uniquely suited to Choi Ri-na herself.

’A child born for music.’

An upgraded version of perfect pitch? No, in Kang Jae-ha’s eyes, Choi Ri-na’s ’Ability’ wasn’t just an upgrade.

’Think of any experience or image and a melody comes to mind instantly. Just listen to a song and the notes naturally lay themselves out in her head. Handling all kinds of instruments is just a bonus.’

When it came to music, it was on par with the touch of a god. On top of that.

’She’s got PTSD issues right now, but as a vocalist, she’s exceptional too.’

She was a former main vocalist with killer singing skills. Sure, there were some issues at the moment, but those could be solved gradually. Kang Jae-ha planned to help with her recovery as well.

’During recovery, she keeps up music activities outside of composing, and ultimately, I debut Choi Ri-na as a singer-songwriter.’

In today’s music market, male and female singer-songwriters, that is, solo artists, were rare. Not nonexistent, but extremely few compared to idols. So if it hit properly, it would be quite unique. On top of that, Choi Ri-na could even write her own songs herself.

A singer-songwriter who wrote her own music.

If she succeeded, the revenue would multiply several times over. Composer and singer in one. Of course, Kang Jae-ha wasn’t only thinking about that.

’If I use Choi Ri-na’s ’Ability’ well, the directions are limitless.’

Meaning it would be a huge boost to MEG’s current development too. For example, she could handle the music for the projects ’MEG’ was running now, or for the works of people Kang Jae-ha was paying attention to.

The music for films, dramas, and animations.

Several things flashed through Kang Jae-ha’s mind. Director Kwon Sung-min, Director Yu Gil-tae, Director Hong Man-seop, Oh Jong-man, Leon Entertainment, and so on.

In other words, Choi Ri-na could juggle being a singer, composer, and music director, among other things, all at once.

Having sketched out a rough outline regarding Choi Ri-na, Kang Jae-ha smiled faintly. The fun and intrigue had only intensified. Then Jae-ha said to Choi Ri-na,

”Got a lot of songs you’ve made up till now?”

”Lots! I make them whenever I’m bored.”

”What about your vocal videos?”

”Got those too, the company has them as well.”

”Let me see them.”

”Yes! It’d be an honor if you took a look, Commander-nim... ah, but my dedicated laptop is at home. Can I bring it next time??”

Kang Jae-ha chuckled and nodded.

”Bring it whenever’s convenient once you’ve sorted things out.”

The LX Entertainment acquisition came before her.

The next day.

Kang Jae-ha gave Lee Chan-hoo his orders.

”Go meet CEO Park Ja-hee with Cha Chung-hyeon.”

”You’ve decided?”

”Yeah. The agency acquisition’s going to be LX Entertainment.”

He had decided that the company that would become MEG’s first subsidiary would be LX Entertainment. The fact that Choi Ri-na was signed there was a big factor, and CEO Park Ja-hee, whom he had met with, also had decent skills. Whatever else might be said, she had recognized Choi Ri-na and tried to nurture her.

Soon, Lee Chan-hoo and Cha Chung-hyeon set to work on matters related to acquiring LX Entertainment.

Meanwhile.

Around the time the entertainment industry was buzzing about Woo Jeong-cheol’s drug case, the film world was gradually stirring with a different story.

《Domestic Animated Film ’House of the Daytime Moon’ Achieves #1 Pre-sale Rate After Release! A New Hope for Domestic Animated Film?》

It was because of ’House of the Daytime Moon’, which had released a few days earlier.

《[Movie Check] Domestic Animated Film ’House of the Daytime Moon’ Sees Pre-sale Rate Steadily Climb, Audience Reviews Unanimously Positive / Photo》

《Everyone Said It Would Flop... ’House of the Daytime Moon’ Defies Expectations and Charges Down the Box Office Hit Highway》

On releasing day it hadn’t been particularly hot, but as word-of-mouth gradually spread.

[@__OOPW29__]

[no wayㅋㅋㅋㅋ I went to see House of the Daytime Moon at the early morning showing and there were way more people than i expected ㅋㅋㅋㅋ anyway House of the Daytime Moon is sooooo good ㅋㅋㅋㅋ it’s my first time watching an animated film and the quality’s great and i don’t regret a single won???]

House of the Daytime Moon’s momentum was growing fiercer by the day.

That momentum peaked today, the weekend.

People who had already seen ’House of the Daytime Moon’ shared their impressions through their mouths and fingers, on community sites and social media.

-fk i creamed myself watching House of the Daytime Moon ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-haven’t seen it yet, is it worth watching??

-aren’t domestic animations trash??

-FREAKING AMAZING!! watch it twice no, watch it three times

-just got back from seeing it, it’s good, taking questions

-it was fucking trash why is everyone overhyping this? of course i haven’t seen it yet

-this is the first domestic animation to hit #1 pre-sale rate damnnnn

At this hour, many people had gathered at ’Cheong-yeon Studio’, the producer of ’House of the Daytime Moon’. Of course there was the thick-browed Director Hong Man-seop, as well as the CEO of ’Cheong-yeon Studio’ and the key staff. Roughly twenty people sat around a U-shaped table.

Among them, the CEO of ’Cheong-yeon Studio’, a white laptop in front of him, exhaled with a tense breath.

”Whew, then I’ll check it now.”

Soon a page appeared on the laptop screen.

[KOPIC Movie Theater Ticket Integrated Computing Network]

It was the official homepage where domestic box office results could be checked. In short, Director Hong Man-seop and the ’House of the Daytime Moon’ team were about to confirm their performance up to this point. Today was August 2nd, and ’House of the Daytime Moon’, which had opened on July 28th, had been out for five days as of yesterday, the 1st.

Director Hong Man-seop swallowed hard and leaned in beside the CEO of ’Cheong-yeon Studio.’

”Let’s see it.”

Soon, the performance of ’House of the Daytime Moon’ was displayed before the eyes of Director Hong Man-seop and many others.

[August 1, 2020 Audience Count Inquiry]

[Daily Domestic Box Office]

1. House of the Daytime Moon / Release date: July 28 / Audience count: 263,949 / Cumulative audience: 1,895,587

2. Truck Driver / Release date: July 15 / Audience count: 141,221 / Cumulative audience: 3,129,113

.

.

.

A figure approaching a full 1.9 million in audience count. Adding today’s audience count, hitting 2 million was a certainty. 2 million viewers in just one week. On top of that, #1 at the domestic box office. By the numbers alone, ’House of the Daytime Moon’ was running away with it.

A complete 180 from the somewhat quiet early days of release.

Above all, the fact that ’House of the Daytime Moon’ was a domestic animated film carried huge significance.

Soon the ’Cheong-yeon Studio’ staff around Director Hong Man-seop began jumping for joy.

”Two million! We’ve hit two million viewers!!”

”And we hit those two million in just one week!!!”

”Hahaha! Congratulations, Director-nim! Our ’House of the Daytime Moon’!! Finally, finally!!”

”Opening day was a bit quiet! But the situation now is completely different! Isn’t this turning into a real mega-hit??!”

”Director-nim, you’ve truly accomplished something huge! If ’House of the Daytime Moon’ puts up proper numbers!! It’ll bring about a major change in the domestic animation market!”

The final tallies weren’t in yet, but ’House of the Daytime Moon’ had already, for all intents and purposes, achieved a record that left a mark as a domestic animated film. And of course, since it was only week one of release, those numbers would only grow larger.

Additionally, ’House of the Daytime Moon’ had long since surpassed the break-even point [BEP].

In other words, the profits headed to investor Kang Jae-ha were swelling at a rapid pace.

So overcome was Director Hong Man-seop that his eyes grew red. The Chinese capital troubles and other hardships of the past must have flashed through his mind. Director Hong Man-seop pictured the face of Lee Chan-hoo, who wasn’t there.

”It’s done. It’s done, Investor-nim.”

The next day, the 3rd, the film industry press also began covering ’House of the Daytime Moon’ in earnest.

《Domestic Animated Film ’House of the Daytime Moon’ Surpasses 2 Million Viewers in One Week of Release, Unstoppable Box Office Storm》

《’House of the Daytime Moon’, Past 2 Million Viewers, Writing New History as a Domestic Animated Film》

The word-of-mouth was set to spread even further.

Sometime in the afternoon of the 3rd. ’Moonbak Film’.

The small conference room of ’Moonbak Film’, which had handled production of the short film ’Condensation’. Three people could be seen seated. Narrow-eyed Lee Chan-hoo and Go Chun-seok, with Director Kwon Sung-min seated across from them. Director Kwon Sung-min pushed up his glasses and stole a glance at Go Chun-seok.

’Holy crap, the guy’s huge.’

Go Chun-seok had been introduced as a bodyguard, and his enormous aura kept drawing Kwon’s eyes. At that moment, Lee Chan-hoo smiled.

”Director-nim, what brings you to call this meeting?”

Lee Chan-hoo already knew why Director Kwon Sung-min had asked to meet. He had been briefed in advance by Commander Kang Jae-ha. He had also heard about the bait Jae-ha had scattered ahead of time.

’The key is absorbing the feature-length Condensation and Director Kwon Sung-min.’

But Lee Chan-hoo’s act of feigning ignorance was first-rate, and Director Kwon Sung-min swallowed hard before pushing the bundle of papers he had brought toward Lee Chan-hoo.

”CEO Lee Chan-hoo-nim, this, this is the feature-length screenplay for ’Condensation’ that I mentioned to you once before.”

”Ah.”

”I’m still going through revisions... but I’d be grateful if you could take a look and get a rough sense of it.”

”It’s finally here. So you’ve decided on ’Condensation: Euphoria’ as the feature-length title?”

”Yes.”

”I like it. It carries over the color of the short while having a feature-length flair to it.”

Lee Chan-hoo nodded and leafed casually through the ’Condensation: Euphoria’ screenplay as he continued.

”I’ll read it over.”

Director Kwon Sung-min wet his lips, and tension swelled inside him. It was time to bring up the main point.

”Um... I know I’m still nobody, and nothing’s been decided, but if you happen to like ’Condensation: Euphoria’, could you consider investing in it like you did with the short?”

”Nobody? Straighten your shoulders, Director-nim, you’re someone who took the Grand Prize in the short film category at BIFF.”

”S, still.”

”You’ve been on TV, and I know contacts have been flooding in from all over lately. Even without me getting involved, this ’Condensation: Euphoria’ will get released eventually.”

”CEO-nim! I want to do this one with you too!”

”Honestly speaking, I was giving you the option to choose, Director-nim. Things can get confusing, business is business, and if attachment gets mixed in with business, it can become a problem.”

”Ah.”

Lee Chan-hoo closed the screenplay he had opened and let a moment of silence stretch. There was Kang Jae-ha’s advice too, but lately Lee Chan-hoo’s skill at steering the flow of conversation as a figurehead CEO had grown considerably.

”Without even reading the screenplay, I can tell you I’m fine with investing in this ’Condensation: Euphoria’ on my own.”

”R, really?!”

”Yes. If other places are drooling over it, it has that kind of value. It’s your next work, Director-nim.”

”If you’d do that, I’d be so grateful! I really want to do this one with you again, CEO-nim. You were the very first to recognize me... I want to repay the favor a bit.”

Director Kwon Sung-min spoke each word clearly, looking Lee Chan-hoo in the eye. Sure, the whole framework was the Commander’s design, but watching Director Kwon Sung-min, Lee Chan-hoo felt a quiet thrill.

’Has he grown some more? Nice. This must be the kind of taste the Commander gets to enjoy so often.’

To the slightly excited Director Kwon Sung-min, Lee Chan-hoo tossed out another offer. It was the natural next step.

”Director-nim, if you haven’t decided on an agency yet, how about our ’MEG’? Right now we’ve only got one writer, but we plan to keep growing. If you’re interested.”

”I’m interested! I’ll join ’MEG’!”

As if he’d been waiting, Director Kwon Sung-min eagerly snapped it up.

”That Manager Kang Jae-ha-nim told me, if I want to keep making the films I want, joining ’MEG’ would be a good idea.”

”......”

”Besides, being the first director signed to ’MEG’ sounds better than going to some other agency!”

At this moment.

-Swish.

Suddenly Go Chun-seok extended his massive hand toward Director Kwon Sung-min.

”Welcome aboard.”

The gravelly voice startled him a bit, but Director Kwon Sung-min took Go Chun-seok’s hand.

”Ah... t, thank you.”

Lee Chan-hoo was next.

”Then let’s not drag this out and proceed with the contract right away.”

Lee Chan-hoo and Director Kwon Sung-min met again the next morning, the 4th. The location was the ’MEG’ office. Naturally, it was for the contract, with Cha Chung-hyeon attending as a helper. Since this was something that had been in the works for a while, Director Kwon Sung-min’s contract didn’t take long.

”I’m in your hands!”

Following Oh Jong-man, Director Kwon Sung-min officially became part of ’MEG’. This brought the total number of writers and directors signed to ’MEG’ to two. Of course, Kang Jae-ha had more people in mind.

Later that night, Lee Chan-hoo met with Commander Kang Jae-ha and reported on Director Kwon Sung-min.

”Director Kwon Sung-min joined without any issues.”

Kang Jae-ha, listening to various reports starting with the contract, smiled faintly.

”Good. Then it’s about time to start making changes at ’MEG’ too. We’ll need to hire office staff as well.”

”For now ’MEG’ is doubling as an agency, but you’ll be splitting that off soon, right?”

”Have to. ’MEG’ and the agency will be run separately.”

Lee Chan-hoo nodded and changed the subject.

”There’s something I wanted to mention related to that.”

”What is it.”

”’Moonbak Film’. On the surface they put on an act, but the financial situation doesn’t look so great. I had Cha Chung-hyeon confirm it too.”

’Moonbak Film’, which had handled the production of the short film ’Condensation’.

’Moonbak Film’ had originally been a film company centered on indie and short films, and their cash flow had never been good to begin with. The short ’Condensation’ had been a success, taking the Triple Crown at BIFF, but it only brought a moderate boost in reputation. It wasn’t as if money came pouring down on ’Moonbak Film’.

”My sense is that ’Moonbak Film’, the short ’Condensation’ is likely going to be their last work.”

Whether ’Moonbak Film’ had been factored into the design here too, Kang Jae-ha’s reply came quick and clean.

”Buy it. We need a film company anyway.”

In other words, MEG’s second subsidiary would be a film company.

*****

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