The Crazy Mercenary Commander Goes to Work in the Entertainment Industry

The ’Additional Perk’ the woman’s voice had mentioned. Kang Jae-ha was now in the position of having to choose.

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

【1. Mask (Ability)】

【2. Additional Pension, 10 billion won】

One of two perks. The Additional Pension of 10 billion won was, by any measure, a straightforward cash payout. And it wasn’t a few hundred million or a few billion either, it was 10 billion. The sum was substantial.

Of course, 10 billion was tempting to Kang Jae-ha as well. But what drew his interest more than money was, naturally, the ’Mask (Ability)’. Like ’Deja Vu’, ’Absolute Obedience’, or the various powers his Subordinates each held, ’Mask’ appeared to be a new Ability.

So what kind of Ability was ’Mask’?

Rubbing his chin, Kang Jae-ha decided to ask the woman’s voice internally, just in case.

’What kind of Ability is Mask?’

If there was no answer, Jae-ha would have to choose between option 1, the Mask, and option 2, the 10 billion, on his own. Besides, the woman’s voice usually said her piece and vanished as she pleased.

’Answer me. I can’t choose unless you do.’

He didn’t have high hopes. Chances were the woman’s voice wouldn’t bother replying this time either. But.

【I will provide an explanation regarding Mask (Ability).】

Surprisingly, the woman’s voice obligingly began to explain ’Mask (Ability)’. Muttering a quiet ”nice” inside, Jae-ha listened calmly.

【’Mask’ is an Ability that allows the user to change to any desired face. As a rule, it can be used once per day, and once the face is changed, it can be maintained until midnight. Of course, reverting to the original face before midnight is possible, but once reverted, the Ability cannot be used again until after midnight.】

【’Mask’ only changes the face. Gender, body, fingerprints, and so on do not change.】

【※Note: When the user has changed faces using ’Mask’ and encounters a fellow Subordinate, the standard mutual notifications between them are omitted.】

【Furthermore, while the ’Mask’ Ability is in effect, Kang Jae-ha-nim’s ’Absolute Obedience’ remains active. Therefore, an encountered Subordinate may fail to recognize him as their Commander and attempt to attack. The Subordinate could die as a result of ’Absolute Obedience’; please exercise caution.】

That was the end of the ’Mask’ explanation. Kang Jae-ha had a rough grasp of the Ability.

’Well, I won’t really know until I use it, but for now, Mask is basically an Ability that lets me change my face once a day.’

Close to a disguise technique, more or less.

It had aspects in common with his Subordinates’ Abilities. But unlike Lee Chan-hoo or Ha Yeon-ji, there didn’t seem to be any prerequisites for using the Ability. Things like needing to know information about the target, or needing physical contact.

’Changing the face and reverting it back can be done whenever. But to use Mask again, midnight has to pass.’

On top of that, only the face changed, not the body or gender. Kang Jae-ha imagined his current body with only the face swapped for those of people around him.

It was a bit grotesque.

’Better avoid changing to the face of someone I know.’

Additionally, if he encountered a Subordinate while wearing the ’Mask’, the familiar announcement would be skipped. The woman’s voice that always rang out when Kang Jae-ha met a Subordinate.

’That part, the skipped announcement, could be used strategically.’

However, while ’Mask’ was active, a new Subordinate might fail to recognize Kang Jae-ha, which could lead them to attack their Commander. And then the Subordinate would die. Because even with a changed face, Kang Jae-ha’s ’Absolute Obedience’ remained active.

Well, Jae-ha could manage that himself.

Even if a new Subordinate didn’t recognize the Commander, Kang Jae-ha would still recognize the Subordinate.

In any case, the new ’Ability’, Mask, would prove quite useful depending on the need.

Especially for Kang Jae-ha, who lived a double life as a Manager and as the owner of ’MEG’, the Mastermind or rather the real power, the hidden Backer. With that, Jae-ha made his choice on the Additional Perk.

’10 billion is a shame to pass up, but money I can earn. An ’Ability’ I can’t get anywhere else.’

Kang Jae-ha addressed the woman’s voice. Internally, of course.

’Additional Perk, give me Mask (Ability).’

The previously silent woman’s voice responded at once.

【Confirmed. The Additional Perk ’Mask (Ability)’ will be granted to Kang Jae-ha-nim.】

【As mentioned, from Segment 2 onward, the longer you maintain encounters with fellow Subordinates, the ’Reality Adaptation Project’, and the ’Pension Program’, the more ’Additional Perks’ you will continue to receive.】

【Then, Fighting.】

That was all. The woman’s voice could no longer be heard.

”Fighting again, huh.”

With a small smirk, Kang Jae-ha murmured to himself and assessed his situation.

’At this rate, sticking with Leon Ent is sweet. They’re handing over 25 billion won and now they’re saying more Additional Perks will keep coming.’

In any case, Kang Jae-ha had already been planning to stay at Leon Ent as long as nothing particularly irritating came up. As things stood, the gains far outweighed any losses. And now the woman’s voice was saying that if he properly maintained the ’Reality Adaptation Project’ and ’Pension Program’, more ’Additional Perks’ would keep coming.

He had, in fact, just acquired a new Ability.

’Doesn’t really feel like much yet, though.’

Kang Jae-ha grew increasingly curious about what other ’Additional Perks’ might be in store. Either way, that question would answer itself in time, and Jae-ha steered his thoughts back to the ’Ability’, Mask.

He headed for the restroom first.

He checked whether anyone was inside. Fortunately, no one was, and after settling into a stall, Kang Jae-ha mulled it over for a moment. How exactly was he supposed to use the ’Ability’, Mask? Come to think of it, his ’Deja Vu’ and ’Absolute Obedience’ had just activated on their own.

After briefly scratching his chin, Kang Jae-ha mentally announced, in rough terms, that he would be using Mask.

And then a voice rang out again.

Not the woman’s voice, but a man’s. Mechanical and deep in tone.

[Please envision the face you wish to assume.]

Kang Jae-ha relied on the help of his phone. Searching through it, he gradually pieced together a single face. Might as well make it good-looking. But keep the cold atmosphere. That was Jae-ha’s taste.

And so Jae-ha finished envisioning the face.

Designating it as ’Face A’, Kang Jae-ha instructed the man’s voice to switch to Face A right away. Soon the man’s voice replied.

[Confirmed.]

That was it. The man’s voice fell silent, and before long, a faintly chilly aura settled over Jae-ha’s face. Did it work? Kang Jae-ha wondered aloud.

”Did it change?”

He stepped out of the stall and stood before the restroom mirror. At the same time, a bemused laugh escaped him.

”It really changed.”

Right now, Kang Jae-ha wore the ’Face A’ he had envisioned. His voice even seemed slightly deeper. Having seen plenty of his own and his Subordinates’ ’Abilities’ by now, Kang Jae-ha felt less awe than amusement.

Then back to his original face.

In an instant, he had his own face again. Having felt the power of the ’Ability’, Mask, Kang Jae-ha smiled.

”Useful. Definitely.”

Meanwhile.

In the studio that doubled as a meeting space, briefly swept through by Kang Jae-ha, the A&R Team and the members of the Girl Group ’Seriel’ had taken their seats again.

Among them, Ra Yoon’s expression was souring by the second.

That Nutjob Kang Jae-ha had suddenly shown up, mocked her, and vanished.

’No, seriously! Isn’t he a complete Crazy Bastard!!’

No matter how she thought about it, Ra Yoon was speechless. Then her mind drifted to her past with Kang Jae-ha. To when she had been completely shut down. The things Jae-ha had coldly said back then flashed through her mind.

’Grow up a little, and stop your yapping.’

That wasn’t all. He’d told her she’d Kick the Bucket, told her to Shut Her Trap. Anger surged in Ra Yoon. But somehow, she swallowed it down.

’Calm down. Getting worked up over crap like that is what amateurs do.’

The mind control kicked in. That was when the studio door opened. The one peeking in was Kang Jae-ha, the same one as before. The moment she saw him, mind control be damned, Ra Yoon shot up and yelled.

”Oh, for real!! What the hell are you doing!”

Meanwhile, Kang Jae-ha laughed internally.

’Yeah, her reactions really are delicious.’

He answered in a level tone.

”What.”

”Are you actually insane? What are you even here for?”

”I came because I have business.”

”...Business?”

Ra Yoon was startled. She’d sensed it before, but Kang Jae-ha was no longer the Pushover Manager she used to mess with. His expression, his tone, his whole presence told her so.

’I heard he’d changed, but can a person really change this much???’

By now, the rumors about Kang Jae-ha had spread throughout Leon Ent. That he’d changed, that he’d revived Team 4. But seeing it in person hit harder, and with her brow furrowed, Ra Yoon found herself sneaking a glance at his body for some reason.

’His body even looks more solid somehow... no, I’m sure of it. He’s definitely different.’

Whether she noticed or not, Jae-ha breezed right past Ra Yoon and walked over to the A&R Team. A slightly flustered female staffer asked.

”K, Kang Manager-nim. What brings you here?”

Kang Jae-ha drew close and answered impassively.

”’Seriel’ is preparing a single, I hear.”

”Ah- yes.”

”You’re in the middle of song selection. Has anything been decided?”

”No, not yet.”

”I’d like to recommend a song.”

”...Pardon?”

The A&R Team members all opened their eyes wide. Understandably. Kang Jae-ha had just shown up out of nowhere to recommend a song. The same went for the ’Seriel’ members and Ra Yoon. Kang Jae-ha then handed the female staffer a USB.

”Check the song. If it’s good, give me a call.”

”Eh? Uh... yes, yes.”

”It’ll probably be a good fit.”

At that moment, Ra Yoon, who had been zoning out, snapped back to attention.

”W, what makes you think you can recommend a song??”

Kang Jae-ha’s reply was brief and quick.

”Just thought it’d suit you.”

”......”

She furrowed her brow, but for some reason a small swell of emotion rose inside Ra Yoon. Naturally, she denied it.

’What is this? Why am I touched? Have I lost it too??’

After briefly glancing over the ’Seriel’ members and Ra Yoon, Kang Jae-ha left the studio. Silence followed. The one who broke it was the female staffer holding the USB.

”Hmm... s, should we give this a listen??”

Ra Yoon immediately leapt up.

”Are you crazy?! Why would you listen to it!”

Afterward.

The ’Seriel’ team continued reviewing the remaining songs, setting aside the USB Kang Jae-ha had given them. Of the songs they’d gathered, about twenty were left. But no matter how many they listened to, none of them felt quite right.

After roughly fifteen songs, Ra Yoon buried her face in both hands.

”What the hell... seriously, nothing’s grabbing my attention.”

The other ’Seriel’ members sighed, apparently feeling the same. ’Seriel’ was a Top-tier Girl Group. Even at this very moment, countless rookie Girl Groups were debuting, and other Top-tier Idols were everywhere.

The moment they got complacent, they’d be left behind.

That was why Ra Yoon and the ’Seriel’ members had to be many times more careful in choosing their next single. By the time they’d gone through all twenty songs, the air in the studio was heavy.

”......”

”......”

After all, they still hadn’t picked a song. A few were decent, but none were satisfying. Soon, one of the A&R Team staffers spoke up with difficulty.

”...Th, then just in case, want to check out the songs Manager Kang Jae-ha left behind?”

Ra Yoon immediately shot to her feet.

”Ugh! Forget it! You saw how he treated me, didn’t you??”

In that very moment, the studio door opened again. Everyone wondered if it was Kang Jae-ha again, but it wasn’t Jae-ha who appeared.

-Swish.

Stepping into the quiet atmosphere, dressed in a crisp suit, was CEO Han Tae-sung.

The head of Leon, appearing without warning.

The entire A&R Team shot up and greeted him.

”C, CEO-nim!”

Ra Yoon and the ’Seriel’ members did the same. Acknowledging their greetings appropriately, CEO Han Tae-sung scanned the mood of the studio.

”Hmm-”

Today too, CEO Han Tae-sung radiated his usual gravitas and weighty aura. Slipping one hand into his pocket, he spoke.

”Song selection. How’s it going.”

The A&R Team was quick to answer.

”Th, that, it’s still in progress.”

”Is that so?”

”Yes, CEO-nim.”

”I went to the trouble of getting songs from well-known Composers. Are they all unsatisfactory?”

”......”

CEO Han Tae-sung quietly studied the staffer’s expression before his gaze shifted. Past the ’Seriel’ members, to the leader, Ra Yoon. She was avoiding his eyes, her lips pursed in a slight pout. CEO Han Tae-sung smiled faintly.

’Is Ra Yoon shooting them all down? A bit of ambition isn’t a bad thing. So long as it doesn’t cross into whining.’

CEO Han Tae-sung turned back to the A&R Team.

”Not even any that came close?”

”Ah... there are a few in that range.”

”Play them.”

Soon, a handful of songs were played in the studio.

-♬♪

Seated with his arms crossed, CEO Han Tae-sung gave his low verdict the moment all the songs had finished.

”Not bad, but not good either.”

The A&R Team staffers bowed their heads deeply.

”We apologize. We’ll secure more songs as quickly as we can.”

That was when one of the ’Seriel’ members tentatively offered an opinion.

”Let’s listen to it. The song Jae-ha oppa left behind.”

Ra Yoon reacted instantly.

”Ugh! Seriously! Not you too!”

”Wait.”

But Ra Yoon’s outburst was cut off mid-shout. CEO Han Tae-sung’s demeanor turned serious in an instant as he interrupted her.

”Who left what?”

*****

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