The Crazy Mercenary Commander Goes to Work in the Entertainment Industry

Translator: Dreamscribe

Oh Jong-man froze on his feet the moment he received the call from Netflix Korea. Even as the staffer on the other end of the line kept speaking.

"You'll need to come by Netflix Korea once. When would be a good time for you, Writer Jong-man-nim?"

Oh Jong-man stood motionless, mouth slightly agape. Beyond disbelief, he was wondering if this was even real. Then the woman on the other end spoke again.

"Writer Jong-man-nim?"

That was when Oh Jong-man finally snapped to his senses and answered quickly.

"Ah! Yes, yes! I'm sorry! What did you say?!"

"Haha, no problem. Um, you'll need to come by Netflix Korea for a meeting. When would work for you?"

"Yes! A time!"

The euphoria swelling inside him scrambled Oh Jong-man's thoughts.

"Uh! Would it be okay if I check my schedule and get back to you??!"

"Of course, but please let us know as soon as possible. We need to coordinate our schedules too."

"Understood!"

"Congratulations once again on being selected for the 'One-Act Drama Project' competition!"

The Netflix staffer offered congratulations one more time and hung up. Slowly lowering his phone, Oh Jong-man abruptly threw both arms up and...

"Aaaaaagh!"

...he roared. Loud enough to make the rented workspace ring. With his rough features, it almost looked like a beast's roar. It was an expression of the elation boiling over inside him. He'd just seen the Busan International Film Festival news right before this, so the joy was doubled.

He'd failed as an actor, but he'd just landed his first success as a writer.

It was only the beginning, but he had every right to be happy. Soon, the still-roaring Oh Jong-man picked up his phone again. To deliver the good news to his wife.

"Honey! That thing! The Netflix competition! I won!!"

From the other side of the call came his wife's voice, jumping with joy. After a few minutes of talking, Oh Jong-man hung up and grew somewhat composed.

'My one-act, on Netflix?? My god.'

For a rookie writer's debut, it was an enormous stage. With his heart still pounding nonstop, Oh Jong-man started sending out a text.

The content was simple.

-I got selected for Netflix's 'One-Act Drama Project'!!!

The recipients were two people: Kang Jae-ha and Lee Chan-hoo.

Meanwhile, at Yoon Da-yeon's officetel.

Inside the cramped but tidy white-toned officetel, Yoon Da-yeon had a sheet mask on her face. She sat on the couch, deep in thought. Soon, she was replaying her recent conversation with CEO Han Tae-sung. It started with Yoon Da-yeon hearing the contract renewal pitch from him.

"...Three-year renewal. Now of all times?"

Han Tae-sung had answered her with composure.

"Because the situation has only just changed."

Yoon Da-yeon, recalling her brutal stretch as a washed-up actress, crossed her legs.

"You all left me hanging this whole time, didn't you?"

"......"

CEO Han Tae-sung kept his smile and met her gaze. His emotions weren't swinging. He was simply still. Speaking with his eyes. Perhaps sensing it, Yoon Da-yeon swept her long straight hair back.

"Sorry. I whined too much. I get it, the market dumps you the moment you stop selling."

The entertainment industry, a wilderness, a jungle. Yoon Da-yeon knew it well. Celebrities were products, and when a product had no value, shelving it in the warehouse was standard practice anywhere. Still, Yoon Da-yeon couldn't quite hide her resentment toward Leon.

Even if she was the "crazy lunatic" Yoon Da-yeon, she was still human.

"Three-year renewal. What are the terms?"

Han Tae-sung murmured softly.

"If there's something you want, just say it."

"Nothing comes to mind right now."

"Think about it. We'll accommodate just about anything."

"Why so generous all of a sudden?"

"You delivered real results. You deserve treatment to match."

Right there, Yoon Da-yeon confirmed yet again the texture of CEO Han Tae-sung. A thoroughly calculating man.

'Well, this guy's always been like that.'

Whatever the case, the fact that Leon's CEO had personally brought up the contract renewal himself meant CEO Han Tae-sung was clearly seeing Yoon Da-yeon's risen value for what it was.

Letting out a small breath, Yoon Da-yeon nodded.

"All right. Three years. I'll think it over."

Suddenly, Kang Jae-ha's face flashed in her mind.

"I'm curious what someone else thinks too."

"...Someone else's opinion. You've changed a bit, Da-yeon."

"How?"

"In the past, you didn't care what anyone else thought. You just bulldozed forward like a tank."

"The situation's different. After coming this far, doing the same thing as before would just make me a crazy bitch."

"Is it because of Kang Jae-ha?"

Caught off guard by the sudden look in his eyes, Yoon Da-yeon stuttered slightly.

"Wh, what? It is not??"

"If you want, Da-yeon, I can assign him to you exclusively."

"No need. He's not the type you can tie down anyway. He's already working with others besides me, isn't he?"

"That he is."

"Even you, CEO, are just saying that. You think it's better to keep Kang Jae-ha unleashed too, don't you?"

As if to say she'd nailed it, CEO Han Tae-sung lifted his coffee cup with a pulled-up smile.

"Because he's exceptional."

Letting out a faint snort, Yoon Da-yeon was about to admit it, then shook her head, then shot up.

"Yeah, a character like nothing I've ever seen before, definitely exceptional... anyway! I'm leaving."

Around then, returning to reality, to her own officetel, Yoon Da-yeon recalled what Kang Jae-ha had said to her recently.

'Leon doesn't suit you, Da-yeon.'

Pulling the sheet mask off her face, Yoon Da-yeon furrowed her brow and muttered to herself.

"Then where does suit me?"

At present, beyond the Leon contract renewal CEO Han Tae-sung had mentioned, quite a few other offers had landed on her doorstep. They'd come the very day BIFF ended, and after that, contact had been pouring in from various entertainment agencies.

Because she was the Yoon Da-yeon who'd staged a spectacular comeback at BIFF.

Still, her market value wasn't all that high yet. But with the momentum she had, it would shoot up fast. Hence the rush to lock down Yoon Da-yeon as quickly as possible before that happened.

The entertainment industry. Among agencies in particular, news traveled fast.

It seemed everyone knew Yoon Da-yeon's contract with Leon was about to expire. But honestly, Yoon Da-yeon wasn't particularly interested in the other agencies.

The reason was simple.

'...He isn't there.'

Because Kang Jae-ha wasn't anywhere else.

'I know he can't be assigned exclusively to me. With those ridiculous abilities of his, he's only going to get busier. He'll take on more clients too. But still, if possible, somewhere he's also at...'

Mid-thought, Yoon Da-yeon abruptly shot up and shook her head. Since when had she become so dependent on this man? Yet she couldn't shake the thought of Kang Jae-ha.

In that moment.

-♬♪

Her phone let out a ringtone. Startled, Yoon Da-yeon checked her phone. Her eyes went wide. Because the caller was Kang Jae-ha. Slightly flustered, she cleared her throat and answered.

"Yes, it's me."

On the other end, Jae-ha was calm.

"Are you home."

"I'm home. Where else would I be? Out gallivanting?"

"Let's talk."

"Talk?"

"Yes."

"That's fine, but going out right now is a little..."

She murmured, scanning the area around her place, then answered.

"If you don't mind, want to come to my place?"

About two hours later.

Kang Jae-ha stepped into Yoon Da-yeon's officetel. Greeting Jae-ha at the entryway, Yoon Da-yeon awkwardly looked away and feigned indifference. Trying to act as casual as possible.

"You're the first guy to come here."

After watching her for a moment, her long hair tied back, Kang Jae-ha replied flatly.

"It's an honor."

"There's no soul in that."

"Should there be?"

"Forget it. What did I expect from you. Come in."

"Did you put on makeup?"

"Wh, what are you talking about! Makeup, my foot! It's just basic makeup?? I might be heading out a little later."

Kang Jae-ha nodded indifferently and sat on the couch she'd guided him to. Wondering where to sit, Yoon Da-yeon dithered for a moment, then dragged a kitchen chair over and settled in front of Jae-ha.

"So, what do you want to talk about?"

"A few things. First, your next project."

"My next project?"

"Don't go thinking you've made it just because you got some face time at BIFF."

"Oh! What the! I know that already! That I still have a long way to grind upward!"

"Well, that's a relief. It's not exactly a next project, more like a stop on the way. Something I want to recommend."

"Like what?"

"Netflix Korea's 'One-Act Drama Project'."

Yoon Da-yeon's eyes widened slightly, having seen the news on it too.

"The 'One-Act Drama Project'? Hm, I just need to audition for that, right?"

"If you want to."

"If you say jump, I jump. Drop the ego and walk the path you set, that's what you said. I'll do it. The 'One-Act Drama Project' won't have a long shoot, and that's why you think it's a good fit, right? Like with 'Condensation'. Are you going to recommend it to Ji-hee too?"

"Probably."

"There it is again, the rivalry setup."

Kang Jae-ha changed the subject.

"Are you getting a lot of contact from agencies."

"...You really don't miss anything. Quite a bit."

"And CEO Han Tae-sung must've brought up the renewal."

"He did."

"What do you want to do."

"What do you think?"

Smiling faintly, Kang Jae-ha answered.

"Somewhere new would be better than Leon. Somewhere that can focus its attention on you, Da-yeon."

"But... if I leave Leon, you won't be there."

"You talk like you've been making decisions with me in mind this whole time."

"I, no! I just, you told me before that you'd be the one setting my direction!"

"Wherever you go, I'll keep setting your direction. I take responsibility seriously."

"...You know your character is impossible to pin down, right?"

"Try the agency I recommend."

"Which one."

"Let me look into it. There's still some time. Wait it out."

Crossing his legs, Kang Jae-ha now brought up the matter of the master Director Yu Gil-tae.

"Director Yu Gil-tae spoke to you at BIFF."

"Oh! Right! Director Yu Gil-tae-nim told me my acting was impressive and that we absolutely have to meet again, you know?? Crazy, right?"

"When he reaches out to set up a meeting, drag the meeting time."

"Drag, why?"

"Roughly upto a week from when he contacts you."

When Yoon Da-yeon couldn't make sense of it, Kang Jae-ha answered evenly.

"Because something's nagging at me."

His face said the design was already in place.

That same day, late afternoon. The 'MEG' office.

At 'MEG', Kang Jae-ha and his subordinates Lee Chan-hoo, Go Chun-seok, and Ha Yeon-ji were all gathered. Across from them sat the newest addition.

It was Cha Chung-hyeon, scratching his head awkwardly for no real reason.

"Uh, nice to meet you all. I'm the new guy. Humble though I may be, I'll devote myself to MEG's growth from here on out."

Ha Yeon-ji clapped lightly, and Lee Chan-hoo and Go Chun-seok also wore welcoming faces. Then Cha Chung-hyeon asked the Commander.

"What'll my work be? It's overwhelming if a lot piles up at once, so please ease me into it."

A faint smile playing on his lips, Kang Jae-ha spoke.

"Don't start whining from day one. Your job, like I said, is managing MEG's accounts. Your position's a bit different from theirs. Money management and so on. You'll be talking to me the most."

"Already feels brutal, but I'll give it my best."

"First, you need to handle the tax side. After that, just process whatever I throw your way as it comes. I'll walk you through 'MEG' and the operations I run in detail."

"Yep. But, Commander. If I slack off, do I die? That 'Absolute Obedience' thing is kind of scary."

"Would I really kill you? Don't be dramatic. Just do what you did back in the Mercenary Corps."

Kang Jae-ha didn't particularly press Cha Chung-hyeon about the situation with his mother. Instead, he asked something else.

"And your 'Ability'. What is it."

"Ah, mine's nothing compared to my colleagues here. For me, the flow and routes of money, supplies, and the like, they appear to me already optimized."

"Keep going."

"In an instant the cash flow becomes visible and gets fed into me. Then it gets optimized and the answer comes out in whatever direction I want. Things like, well, taxes are easy. Tax evasion, slush funds, paper companies, that stuff isn't hard either. I can also trace them."

He'd need to keep watching, but Cha Chung-hyeon was, in every sense, a subordinate specialized as a accounts manager. And of course, beyond that, there seemed to be other ways to put him to use as well.

'Add his 'Ability' to Cha Chung-hyeon's own intelligence and the synergy will be considerable.'

Cha Chung-hyeon had become a tax accountant by his own merits before being pulled into the other world. Meaning he had a sharp mind. Combine that with an 'Ability'? For Kang Jae-ha, it was nothing short of satisfying.

Here, Ha Yeon-ji jumped in.

"What the heck, as a vault keeper that's basically a broken cheat character? So that's why you breezed through your work in the Mercenary Corps and slept your way through everything!"

Cha Chung-hyeon scratched his chin.

"My 'Ability' has a condition. I have to sleep a lot. I have to charge up through sleep to use my 'Ability'. Though even without my 'Ability', my head's pretty good."

Slipping in a brag through the gap, Cha Chung-hyeon turned to Kang Jae-ha.

"Hand over MEG's financial records first. I'll start by squeezing as much as I can out of taxes."

Jae-ha answered.

"No tax evasion. The world's different from the Mercenary Corps days."

"Shame. Tax evasion's the more fun side. Whatever, doesn't matter."

Shrugging, Cha Chung-hyeon wore an expression that said it was no trouble. Mixed with a touch of boredom, of course.

"Tax Optimization to the extreme through optimizing and streamlining. That's my specialty."

Around this time. A high-end hanjeongsik restaurant.

Roughly four or five people sat in the private room. Three men were seated side by side, and across from them was the bespectacled Director Kwon Sung-min.

One of the men spoke to Director Kwon Sung-min.

"Director-nim, you turned BIFF on its head with a short film, so now you've got to do a feature. Whatever project you take on, our agency will get behind it as an investor, and of course we'll set you up with a generous signing bonus on top of that."

"......"

It was clear at a glance the men were trying to scout the freshly hot Director Kwon Sung-min from BIFF. The terms they laid out were significant. Enough to stir most anyone's heart. More so for someone young. But Director Kwon Sung-min, pushing his glasses up, wore a firm face.

"...I'm truly sorry. The offer is more than I deserve, but..."

Recalling the moment that first call from 'MEG' came in, and Kang Jae-ha and the others...

"There's a place I owe a debt to."

He turned the offer down without hesitation.

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