The Crazy Mercenary Commander Goes to Work in the Entertainment Industry

”A killer music director?”

At Kang Jae-ha’s proposal, the bald-headed Executive Director Heo Seong-jin put on an expression of considerable interest.

”If it’s a music director with real chops, you’re welcome to recommend whoever you like.”

Even as he answered, Executive Director Heo Seong-jin muttered to himself.

’A run-of-the-mill music director won’t satisfy that Director Baek Jeong-ha, though.’

Lately, Executive Director Heo Seong-jin had been racking his brains over matters related to the ’One-Act Drama Project’. Sure, Director Baek Jeong-ha was picking up the pace, but she was so stubborn about her work that there were parts where things had stalled and ground to a halt.

The music director, for example.

Most of the key staff for the ’One-Act Drama Project’ had already been secured, and pre-production was in full swing, starting with the sets, but the music director still hadn’t been confirmed.

’Locking in the art director took quite a while too, and the music director is taking even longer.’

Executive Director Heo Seong-jin had recommended music directors he knew or had worked with before, but after listening to a few of their tracks, Director Baek Jeong-ha had shaken her head. Now that the ’One-Act Drama Project’ was taking shape, confirming the music director was becoming essential.

But still undecided.

In a situation like that, with ’MEG’, with Kang Jae-ha bringing up the matter of a ’killer music director’, Executive Director Heo Seong-jin couldn’t help being interested.

”Who is this person, this so-called killer music director? Someone I’d know??”

To Executive Director Heo Seong-jin, whose speech had quickened considerably, Kang Jae-ha gave a faint smile and shook his head.

”You probably won’t, no. They’re still an unknown for now.”

”......Unknown?”

”Yes.”

In an instant, the interest of the bald-headed Executive Director Heo Seong-jin went cold.

’A killer, and then suddenly an unknown? What’s this now.’

Was he planning to pull some kind of bundling? Executive Director Heo Seong-jin let out a small sigh.

”You’re recommending an unknown music director?”

”That’s right.”

Watching Jae-ha answer without a moment’s hesitation, Executive Director Heo Seong-jin scratched his head. Still, an unknown music director was a bit much. Even his own interest was waning this fast, so how much worse would it be for that fussy Director Baek Jeong-ha?

”Hm. Still, an unknown music director would be a bit difficult.”

There it was, right on cue. Having anticipated the response, Kang Jae-ha answered without making much of it.

”I know, I know it’s a hassle. So just check out the tracks from the music director I’m recommending. Listen to them, and if you’re not impressed, you can just ignore the whole thing.”

”......”

”For what it’s worth, this music director is still an unknown for now, but they’ll be involved in quite a few projects before long. I can’t say more than that at the moment, though.”

”Hm.”

”Director Baek Jeong-ha-nim hasn’t been able to pick a music director anyway, so in a situation like this, you might as well give something a listen, no? That way you won’t have any regrets later, either.”

Regrets? Was he really that confident? Executive Director Heo Seong-jin glanced at Lee Chan-hoo, then spoke to Kang Jae-ha.

”How is it that you know this music director?”

”A rough gem I happened to stumble across, you could say. Not just me, our CEO recognized the talent too. Isn’t that right, CEO-nim?”

At the question turned back on him, Lee Chan-hoo pictured Choi Ri-na while flashing his trademark narrow-eyed grin.

”There’s a reason I called it killer. I personally vouch for the skill.”

Executive Director Heo Seong-jin held his tongue for a moment.

’A music director that even the CEO of that ’MEG’, which has been expanding with monstrous force lately, recognizes, huh.’

At this point Kang Jae-ha spoke again.

”Well, we were only ever planning to make the recommendation, so if it’s too much trouble, don’t give it another thought.”

This was a line he’d thrown out having read even Executive Director Heo Seong-jin’s temperament. The Executive Director Heo Seong-jin that Kang Jae-ha had observed was the type who couldn’t rest easy until he’d checked out whatever was nagging at him. The proof of that had come out in spades with Oh Jong-man. As if to confirm it,

”Understood. I’ll at least listen to it together with Director-nim. But it’ll be hard to give you a firm answer.”

Whether it had gone as intended, Kang Jae-ha smiled faintly.

”That’s fine. Just give it a listen, just a listen.”

If they would only listen, then even if he couldn’t be a hundred percent certain, Kang Jae-ha was confident. Or, more precisely, should he say he was confident in Choi Ri-na’s touch?

Soon Kang Jae-ha handed Executive Director Heo Seong-jin a USB drive.

Inside the USB was the music Choi Ri-na had made for the ’One-Act Drama Project’ and ’Murder Is a Qualification Too’, and having received the USB, Executive Director Heo Seong-jin rose from his seat.

”Thank you for the recommendation.”

The meeting wrapped up just like that, and after exchanging suitable goodbyes, Kang Jae-ha was the first to leave the meeting room. Once Lee Chan-hoo had gone out behind him, Executive Director Heo Seong-jin, left alone, let slip a few words to himself.

”I keep seeing a lot of projects with their hands in ’Moonless Village’ too... ’MEG’, I’m getting more and more curious about who’s backing you.”

He hadn’t the faintest idea, even in his dreams, that he’d just had a meeting with that very backer.

Friday morning, the 25th. Leon Entertainment.

Kang Jae-ha could be found in Management Team 4. Many of the desks in Team 4 sat empty, and Kang Jae-ha, seated with his legs crossed, wore a rather grave expression.

”Hmm...”

It wasn’t that the matter was serious, so much as that he was organizing his schemes. Right now, Jae-ha was reviewing the matters he was juggling on the ’MEG’ side along with Leon Entertainment.

On top of that, the things he’d seen in ’Deja Vu’.

’For now, Yoon Da-yeon and An Ji-hee are progressing well.’

On top of that, Oh Jong-man was moving according to the plan as well. There was no sign of any variables cropping up.

’What I saw through Deja Vu was ’Condensation: Euphoria’, the ’One-Act Drama Project’, ’Mask of Murder’, and Choi Ri-na on top of that.’

None of it posed any major problems. The money-scented domestic stock market was also fattening Kang Jae-ha’s pockets, and as for LN Entertainment, which he’d recently seen through Deja Vu, all he had to do was drop the nuke when the timing was right. Likewise, ’Moonless Village’ had closed its deal with Netflix Korea two days ago.

Next, Kang Jae-ha went back over everything tied to his subordinates, to ’MEG’, and to MEG’s subsidiaries.

Countless matters wove together like tangled threads, taking shape inside Jae-ha’s head.

The kind of thing an ordinary person wouldn’t even dare attempt.

But for Kang Jae-ha, it wasn’t all that difficult. Soon, deciding this was enough, Jae-ha’s thoughts stretched toward ’Seriel’, the top-tier girl group that had bought one of Choi Ri-na’s songs, before,

’Hm, Kisera...’

they moved on to the ’Kisera’ rebuilding. He was still going to the training center regularly, but from the debut team down to trainees who weren’t even on it, there wasn’t a single one Kang Jae-ha particularly cared for.

He could consider Choi Ri-na as a member, but,

’Slotting her into Kisera would be too much of a waste of her talent. Choi Ri-na’s meant to go solo. Whether as a composer or a music director. Even if she debuts as a singer.’

If Kang Jae-ha nurtured her properly, Choi Ri-na was a kid who could blow up plenty on her own. More than anything, Jae-ha wanted to make her dream of becoming a singer-songwriter come true.

Next, he checked the date.

Today was the 25th. On Monday the 28th, after the weekend, Kang Jae-ha would head to Japan with An Ji-hee. Once there, he’d have to get through a schedule that could stretch to three days, two nights.

Stroking his chin, Kang Jae-ha picked up his phone and made a call.

The party on the other end was Leon’s training center.

”Hello, this is Kang Jae-ha. Sometime around early October, I’d like to set up an audition.”

At this hour, in a production company’s conference room.

Director Baek Jeong-ha, Executive Director Heo Seong-jin, and others, roughly more than twenty people, were gathered. Naturally, since this was the conference room of the production company making the ’One-Act Drama Project’. Thanks to that, various key staff were listening to Director Baek Jeong-ha talk.

The whole thing had the strong feel of a production meeting.

”Like I said, take good care of the props, and I’ll keep going out to check on the sets myself too. And about the location scouting, how’s the securing going?”

”About two spots are fixed. We’ll sort out the remaining locations as soon as possible.”

”Let’s hurry. No issues on the actor side?”

The production meeting, which had been going strong, ended after about an hour, and as the key staff dispersed, Executive Director Heo Seong-jin sidled up to Director Baek Jeong-ha.

”Director-nim.”

Director Baek Jeong-ha, her skin even rougher now, nodded.

”Yes, Executive Director-nim.”

”The music director, have you decided?”

She let out a sigh right away.

”Hahh. No. I suppose I’ll have to compromise a bit after all, won’t I? I’m sorry. I’m too greedy.”

”No, there’s nothing to apologize for. I asked you to direct precisely because of that greed of yours, Director-nim.”

”I’m thinking I’ll lock in the music director within the next day or two.”

Executive Director Heo Seong-jin nodded and spoke again.

”That, actually, I had a meeting with ’MEG’ recently, and they recommended a music director.”

Director Baek Jeong-ha furrowed her brow slightly.

”A recommendation for a music director? Who?”

”They’re an unknown, but he said the talent was killer and left a batch of music behind.”

Having often gotten recommendations through connections, Director Baek Jeong-ha waved her hand as if to dismiss it.

”Forget it. What unknown.”

”I thought the same thing......but just give the tracks a listen first.”

Judging by his expression, Executive Director Heo Seong-jin had apparently already listened to the tracks Kang Jae-ha had handed over. Thanks to his face giving off something out of the ordinary, Director Baek Jeong-ha let out a sharp sigh.

”Good grief, fine.”

The two moved to a studio in the same building. It was a studio capable of editing, and Executive Director Heo Seong-jin handed the USB to the staff member stationed there.

”Play the tracks for us.”

”Understood...”

The staffer began operating the equipment, and Director Baek Jeong-ha sat down toward the back with no real expectations. Arms crossed, she even let out a small yawn. It was just as Executive Director Heo Seong-jin took his place beside Director Baek Jeong-ha.

-♬♪

Music began to spread through the studio. They were, of course, the tracks Choi Ri-na had made. It started with the main OST. The moment she heard the track, Director Baek Jeong-ha’s indifferent eyes flew wide open.

”...!”

As time passed, shock settled over her expression, and by the opening and ending tracks that followed, she was practically bolting up from her seat.

”Hold on! That track just now, play it again.”

Director Baek Jeong-ha pressed in close to the staffer to take in the music. Unlike at the start, when she’d been yawning, she now had both eyes shut, absorbed in concentration.

In the end, Director Baek Jeong-ha,

”Hah.”

had listened to all of it, from the first track to every last sound effect, and after staring blankly into space for a moment, she turned to Executive Director Heo Seong-jin.

”......Unknown? Are you sure this is really an unknown? This music director?”

”I looked into it a bit myself, and it seems to be true.”

”If that’s the case, it’s even more astonishing.”

”Do you like it?”

”Yes...so much. Every single track lands right in your ears, the music is delicious.”

Muttering things like Unknown? Really? to herself, Director Baek Jeong-ha asked Executive Director Heo Seong-jin again.

”What’s their name, this music director?”

Executive Director Heo Seong-jin recited the information he knew.

”It seems they work under a stage name rather than their real name. The stage name is ’Rina’.”

”’Rina’?”

There were quite a few music directors who worked under stage names. But more than that, Director Baek Jeong-ha wanted to meet this music director called ’Rina’ right away.

”Contact ’MEG’ or whoever, tell them I want to meet this music director ’Rina’ immediately.”

Two days later, Sunday afternoon.

A short red carpet had been rolled out at a fashion show venue in Seoul. Dozens of reporters swarmed around that red carpet, and behind the reporters, an even larger crowd of onlookers held up their phones.

The reason was simple.

”Kyaa!!! Unnie!! You’re so pretty!!!”

”Whoa! Lee Jeong-ha is freaking gorgeous!!”

It was because the many stars attending the fashion show venue were passing along the red carpet and greeting them.

”Kyaaaaaa! Over here! Look over here too!!”

While idols, actors, and various other stars brushed past, the reporters’ shutters fired off like mad too.

-Pabababak!

At this moment, more flashes than ever burst, and the screams of the onlookers strung together.

It was warranted.

”Ji-a-ssi!! Moon Ji-a-ssi!!”

”A cheek heart! Just do a cheek heart once, Ji-a-ssi!!”

Because Moon Ji-a, counted as the very best among top actresses, had made her entrance. Dressed in a slightly suit-styled outfit, she gave the reporters a smile.

Soon the onlookers were snapping photos of the top actress Moon Ji-a like mad with their phones.

”Whoaaaaaa!! Moon Ji-a! Freaking unreal!!”

Since it was a short red carpet, Moon Ji-a soon disappeared into the venue. But among the onlookers, the top actress’s aura, her lingering presence, seemed to still hang in the air.

”That’s insane, Moon Ji-a. Seriously the freaking best.”

”Agreed. Whoa, one look and she didn’t even seem human.”

”No wonder she’s top-class...”

Then, about two hours later, the fashion show event ended and the attending stars began to leave one by one. The same went for one top actress. None other than Moon Ji-a. She climbed into the white van waiting for her.

The van set off right away.

Moon Ji-a immediately took off the suit jacket she’d been wearing and rolled up her shirt sleeves. Then, out of nowhere, she even put on a hair band. Checking her in the rearview mirror, her manager muttered,

”Ji-a, doesn’t it feel like a waste of those two hours they spent on your hair?”

Smoothing down her long hair, Moon Ji-a answered offhandedly.

”So what? I’m headed straight to set to put on a wig anyway.”

”That’s true.”

Soon Moon Ji-a picked up a bundle of papers lying nearby. As if there were already a part she’d been reading, she flipped open to somewhere around the middle, and seeing this, her manager sighed and spoke again.

”I’m telling you, there’s no need to look at that screenplay. Who casts actors on running guarantee alone in this day and age? It’s pointless.”

But Moon Ji-a only gave a curt reply, as if to say don’t disturb her.

”Shh. I’m concentrating.”

On the cover of the screenplay she was looking at, a title was stamped like this.

-’Condensation: Euphoria’

*****

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