The Crazy Mercenary Commander Goes to Work in the Entertainment Industry

Cha Chung-hyeon had completely mapped out LN Entertainment’s cash flows. LN Entertainment was a major corporation, but with Cha Chung-hyeon’s ’Ability’ and intelligence combined, it hadn’t taken all that long. Smirking through a yawn, Cha Chung-hyeon looked over the results he’d compiled.

”Heh heh, the man’s just that good.”

Praise aimed squarely at himself. Having abruptly launched into his own praises, Cha Chung-hyeon thought of his Commander, Kang Jae-ha. He’d produced the results as ordered, so now it was time to report.

That same night.

About three people gathered in ’MEG’’s conference room. Kang Jae-ha sat at the head of the square table, with Cha Chung-hyeon and Ha Yeon-ji seated on either side. Kang Jae-ha was going over the results Cha Chung-hyeon had put together. Skimming the laptop, the tablet, and the rest, Kang Jae-ha smiled faintly.

”Lot of dirty money here. They’ve skimmed off a hell of a lot.”

Cha Chung-hyeon nodded, oozing boredom.

”This isn’t just a year or two of skimming, is it? That Pig Bastard. CEO Seo Hyun-su, I mean, the man clearly has a serious appetite for money. Production costs, styling costs, overseas promotion costs, all those line items look legit, but the recipients are every last one a shell company.”

”And then they ran it through the laundry a few cycles and it ended up in Seo Hyun-su’s pocket.”

”It’s tightly put together, but it can’t fool my eyes. And in among all the tax evasion, there’s an offshore tax evasion case in there too.”

”There’s a shell company in Hong Kong as well.”

”Yeah, they siphoned money off that way too.”

After that, Cha Chung-hyeon went on, picking out LN Entertainment’s tax evasion, slush funds, shell companies, and various other problems as he explained.

”You can pretty much assume nobody comes out clean once you shake them down hard enough, and entertainment especially is a field where tax evasion runs wild. But here at LN Entertainment, the CEO’s greed got the better of him, so it’s on the heavy side? He’s probably slipped a lot of bribes here and there, too.”

Listening to the explanation, Kang Jae-ha smiled and crossed his legs.

’Even just this much, and it’s obvious both LN Entertainment and CEO Seo Hyun-su are screwed.’

For starters, all the slush funds that had slipped into CEO Seo Hyun-su’s back pocket would have to be coughed back up, and once the tax evasion and all the various illegal matters were piled on top, LN Entertainment was going to be in chaos for a good while. And CEO Seo Hyun-su would get to experience hell.

But Kang Jae-ha had no intention of ending it here.

After talking with Cha Chung-hyeon for a few dozen minutes, Kang Jae-ha turned his gaze to Ha Yeon-ji, whose eyes had lit up with interest.

”The rumors, you dug into them all, right.”

Ha Yeon-ji, her brown hair rolled up and tied back, nodded, her big eyes sparkling.

”I sure did! But isn’t their fall to Rock Bottom already a done deal just from what Cha Chung-hyeon dug up??”

As if to say she was right, Jae-ha’s smile deepened.

”It’s a done deal. But stuff like tax evasion is kind of dry for the public to look at. The rumors you found are actually the better thing to throw at them. The sweet, the salty, the spicy stuff.”

”Oh my, how cruel of you.”

”Let’s do this thoroughly.”

Shaking her head as if he were incorrigible, Ha Yeon-ji abruptly turned serious.

”LN Entertainment, it’s had plenty of rumors and tabloid gossip for ages now. The place is just so big, after all. But once I really buckled down and dug deeper, some recent material turned up too.”

”Keep going.”

”Assault, sexual harassment, Sponsorships, slipping pocket money to PDs, and more. Which one would you care to sample??”

The things Ha Yeon-ji had dug up were desserts. Very sweet, very salty. Listening to Ha Yeon-ji’s briefing, Kang Jae-ha was satisfied.

’The public will be drawn to this side more.’

The snowball of public opinion could not be ignored. The public would probably react far more strongly to what Ha Yeon-ji had dug up than to what Cha Chung-hyeon had brought. Because it was sensational.

Soon, having heard out his subordinates’ briefings in full, Kang Jae-ha switched which leg was crossed over the other and gave his orders.

”Cha Chung-hyeon, you’ve got connections at the National Tax Service, right.”

”I do.”

”Toss them some sources. But you have to be positioned as the benefactor.”

”Those guys are obsessed with results and squeezing out cash, so they’ll come charging in, practically drooling. I’ll wrap it up nice and hand it over.”

Jae-ha nodded and jabbed his index finger toward Ha Yeon-ji.

”You’re important too. First, break the Scoop with the offshore tax evasion, then stagger the attacks and drop them one by one, gradually. I’ll let you know when to start.”

Ha Yeon-ji nodded, inwardly marveling.

’Picking a fight with the Commander when they didn’t have to... LN Entertainment’s going to poke a monster and get blown to pieces.’

Around the following afternoon.

Narrow-eyed Lee Chan-hoo met Director Hong Man-seop at the subsidiary ’FilmMEG’. Naturally, it was over matters tied to ’Moonless Village’, the Next Work following ’House of the Daytime Moon’, and Director Hong Man-seop had already heard Lee Chan-hoo explain in advance where ’Moonless Village’ was headed.

The idea being to launch it on Netflix rather than give it a theatrical Release.

Naturally, that also included the ambition of aiming for the world as a domestic animated film, and the thick-browed Director Hong Man-seop, fired up with fighting spirit, agreed to the plan put forward by the agency ’MEG’ as well.

And today, Lee Chan-hoo had a meeting scheduled with Netflix Korea, together with Director Hong Man-seop.

Because Executive Director Heo Seong-jin had boldly declared he’d seize the chance to lock down ’Moonless Village’ first. A great deal would be decided and set in motion at today’s meeting.

Then, about an hour later.

In the parking garage of the building where Netflix Korea was located, Lee Chan-hoo, Director Hong Man-seop, and the others waited for someone. Before long, a familiar vehicle pulled into the garage.

The one who stepped out of that car was.

-Thunk!

It was Kang Jae-ha, who had clocked out of Leon and swapped to his A-face. He looked around the garage and spotted Lee Chan-hoo.

-Swoosh.

He came closer and greeted him.

”I’ve arrived, CEO-nim.”

With many eyes watching, Kang Jae-ha put on a suitable act, though the Commander speaking in polite form still felt thoroughly awkward.

’There’s a bit of catharsis in this, isn’t there? The Commander himself, no less, speaking politely to me.’

Having decided to enjoy it, Lee Chan-hoo smirked.

”Mm, yeah, General Manager Kim. Have you eaten?”

Perhaps finding his subordinate’s showing off cute, Kang Jae-ha answered loosely.

”I have. And you, CEO-nim?”

But with his eyes, he sent a different message.

’You wanna die?’

Laughing awkwardly, Lee Chan-hoo managed an answer.

”I, I haven’t yet. I’ll eat with the Director after the meeting. Hahaha.”

And again, with his eyes, he sent the Commander a different message.

’I don’t wanna die, please spare me.’

Watching the two of them talk, Director Hong Man-seop stole a glance at the face-changed Kang Jae-ha. That cold-eyed man was the one he’d seen once before.

’The two of them look quite close. He’s probably something like CEO Lee Chan-hoo’s right-hand man.’

A considerable misunderstanding was piling up, but it wasn’t all that important, and after Kang Jae-ha finished greeting Director Hong Man-seop, they headed for the Netflix Korea office.

Ten minutes later, everyone, Jae-ha included, was seated in a fairly spacious meeting room.

It was a meeting room enclosed in glass with a large Netflix logo emblazoned across it, and Kang Jae-ha, Lee Chan-hoo, and Hong Man-seop sat in a row. Across from them sat the bald-headed Executive Director Heo Seong-jin and team-leader-level executives.

Soon, brief greetings were exchanged.

How much they’d enjoyed ’House of the Daytime Moon’, or congratulations on its smash success. Thanks to that, the mood loosened up nicely, and around this point Executive Director Heo Seong-jin looked back and forth between the two across from him.

The face-changed Kang Jae-ha and Lee Chan-hoo.

’The CEO of that ’MEG’, and even General Manager Kim Ha-jae. This negotiation’s going to be a bit tough.’

Executive Director Heo Seong-jin sensed instinctively that the meeting wouldn’t go smoothly. It was understandable. This meeting was called a meeting, but it was no different from a negotiating table. That Netflix Korea would hold exclusive rights to ’Moonless Village’ was already a verbal agreement; from here, the fine-grained terms had to be hammered out.

The first to speak was Executive Director Heo Seong-jin.

”Then shall we get to the heart of it? First, as I mentioned to General Manager Kim Ha-jae-nim over the phone, the matter of ’Moonless Village’ has already received approval from Netflix headquarters. So the plan is to launch ’Moonless Village’ domestically first, and if the response is good enough, to widen the rollout to Netflix in other countries as well.”

Perhaps not having known this part, Director Hong Man-seop opened his eyes quite wide.

’S-so, if it goes well, this could mean a worldwide rollout??!’

Executive Director Heo Seong-jin continued.

”Of course, the condition is that ’Moonless Village’ be exclusive to our Netflix Korea as an Original Series. In addition, we’d like you to give us first dibs on the Secondary Distribution of ’House of the Daytime Moon’ as well.”

In other words, it was a request to secure the Distribution Rights to ’Moonless Village’ while also being granted first claim on ’House of the Daytime Moon’, which would soon be released to OTT platforms and the like. The sequence being that ’House of the Daytime Moon’, once its theatrical run ended, would open first on Netflix Korea, hold exclusivity for roughly a few months, then gradually be released to other platforms.

Having heard the conditions, Kang Jae-ha didn’t react much.

’They’re buying ’Moonless Village’, the spin-off version of ’House of the Daytime Moon’, as an Original Series, so it’s a natural enough request.’

It was within the range of what he’d expected. After that, Executive Director Heo Seong-jin laid out several more conditions, and to Jae-ha’s mind, there was generally nothing that would be a problem. Just about the level of ’eh, that much we can give.’

Soon, arms folded, Lee Chan-hoo nodded slowly.

”That’s fine, that much.”

Because he’d already heard as much from the Commander. Executive Director Heo Seong-jin, on the other hand, found it unexpected.

’What’s this, cooler than I’d thought.’

It was because of Lee Chan-hoo, who simply accepted when Heo had expected a counterattack. That same Lee Chan-hoo opened his mouth again.

”That part can proceed just as you say, Executive Director-nim. However...”

Trailing off, he turned his head toward Kang Jae-ha in the next seat. A choreographed move. Soon, starting with Executive Director Heo Seong-jin, the gazes of everyone gathered in the meeting room fixed on Jae-ha. The face-changed Kang Jae-ha spoke in a low voice.

”’Moonless Village’ has already had investment capital poured in, and production has begun. We’re fine covering any additional production costs that come up beyond that investment, too. And the investment doesn’t need to be recouped, either.”

Put simply, the gist was something like, the investment, we’ll just sprinkle it out for free.

”Oho... that’s quite the bold offer.”

”In exchange, give us a bit more in the Licensing Fee, and the Soundtrack Revenue that comes in after ’Moonless Village’ launches down the line, our ’MEG’ will take that.”

”!!”

”On top of that, should there be revenue from merchandise and the like, we’d request a profit split, and how about throwing Director Hong Man-seop-nim a bonus tied to view counts as well.”

The natural IP Licensing Fee, plus ’Moonless Village’’s Soundtrack Revenue, a profit split on merchandise and such, right down to bonus payments based on view counts. At this level, it would more than recoup the investment.

And among all of it, the Soundtrack Revenue was the one thing Kang Jae-ha absolutely had to have.

’Choi Ri-na’s involved, and domestic is one thing, but if ’Moonless Village’ launches overseas and hits it big... the Soundtrack Revenue could swell to an enormous size.’

Well, if ’Moonless Village’ flopped, there’d be nothing, sure. Not just the Soundtrack Revenue; recouping the investment overall would likely be tough as well. If it was a gamble, then it was a gamble, but Kang Jae-ha had something he was banking on. The Korean Wave reaching out across the world, Director Hong Man-seop’s craft, the quality of ’Moonless Village’, the potential of the domestic animated film, that was it.

Then, having heard Kang Jae-ha’s conditions, Executive Director Heo Seong-jin stroked his chin.

’Hmm, it seems suitably excessive yet not so much that it can’t be granted...... that fellow really is good.’

He slowly went back over the conditions he’d heard. Broadly, the feel was that ’MEG’ was investing in ’Moonless Village’’s future. At this level, there was nothing bad in it for Netflix Korea either, holding exclusive rights to ’Moonless Village’.

But.

”Hmm. We’ll need to talk this through a little more after all.”

Executive Director Heo Seong-jin did not agree right away. That was how negotiation went: a fierce battle of moves passing back and forth, with each camp trying to squeeze out as much of its own gain as possible. This meeting room was no great exception, and the negotiation dragged on for roughly over an hour.

Lee Chan-hoo, watching Kang Jae-ha, was freshly amazed inside.

’Whew, brutal. He’s really let off the reins and is ramming straight in.’

Before long.

”Well then, I look forward to working with you, Director Hong Man-seop-nim.”

”Likewise, the honor’s mine. The Netflix launch, I’m already a little nervous.”

The negotiation was complete, and while there had been some adjustments, nearly everything Kang Jae-ha had stated was accepted. Soon Executive Director Heo Seong-jin shook hands with Kang Jae-ha as well.

”Good work, General Manager-nim. I felt it last time too, your skill is really something. How should I put it, when you listen, you just get pulled right in? Hahaha.”

It was the moment ’Moonless Village’’s fate was settled with Netflix Korea.

A little later.

In the meeting room, Director Hong Man-seop and the Netflix-side staff had cleared out, leaving just three. Kang Jae-ha, Lee Chan-hoo, and Executive Director Heo Seong-jin. It was to discuss not an after-party but concrete matters like the contract date.

When the conversation was roughly wrapping up, Executive Director Heo Seong-jin smiled, running a hand over his bald head.

”The globalization of the domestic animated film. I’d like to properly take part in it too, so going forward, if you have other animated film screenplays besides ’Moonless Village’, do show them to me. I intend to push aggressively and pitch them to headquarters.”

Of course, Kang Jae-ha, too, intended to actively use Netflix as a means of expanding the domestic animated film scene.

”Let’s do that. When a new screenplay comes along, I’ll show it to you.”

”I’m looking forward to it.”

The face-changed Kang Jae-ha cast a glance at Lee Chan-hoo, seated beside him. Catching his intent, Lee Chan-hoo spoke up right away.

”More to the point, Executive Director-nim.”

”Yes, CEO-nim.”

”The ’One-Act Drama Project’, I heard from Writer Oh Jong-man-nim that it’s coming along well.”

”No one can stop Director Baek Jeong-ha-nim once she’s rolled up her sleeves, haha.”

”But I hear the Music Director for the ’One-Act Drama Project’ hasn’t been finalized yet?”

His expression turning slightly grave, Executive Director Heo Seong-jin let out a low hum.

”Mm... Director Baek Jeong-ha-nim will handle it as she sees fit, but it does seem she’s been wrestling with it quite a bit.”

At this, Jae-ha, who had been waiting, cut in, calling Choi Ri-na to mind.

”Shall we recommend you a killer Music Director?”

*****

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