Rookie Talent Agent Knows It All

Chapter 162: Park Eun-Sung (2)

The next morning after sleeping at the hotel, Park Eun-Sung followed me to my place because he felt uneasy about going back alone and eventually gave in.

"I have to head over to the site now. I hope your agency's re-signing issue gets resolved well. See you next time," I said while getting ready to leave the apartment.

The moment I showed him out, Park Eun-Sung grabbed my arm. "Wait, just a moment. Just a moment! Don't do this and let's talk!"

He was finally starting to come around as he had a schedule to attend today and there was no one to rely on.

Among those who became celebrities at a young age, there were those so socially awkward they couldn't even take the subway alone or buy something in a store. And Park Eun-Sung was exactly that type.

Having been cared for by his mother when he was young and by his talent agent when he was older, it was only natural that he felt utterly lost when left to his own devices.

But here, I had to push him away one more time.

I replied politely, "The people chasing after you yesterday looked like gangsters to me. I'd rather not get further involved in such matters, Mr. Park Eun-Sung."

Park Eun-Sung exclaimed, "Assistant Manager Jung! I want to sign a contract with you. Whatever the conditions are, I'll agree to them. I'm not the type to ask for such favors, but please. Consider it saving a life and help me out!"

The pride of a top star was completely broken. Now was the time to accept his plea. If I were to hurt his pride any further, he might just leave and let things fall where they may.

"Are you sure about this?" I asked.

Park Eun-Sung nodded. "Of course."

"I hope you won't change your mind."

"Never! I will never change my mind. I'll even sign a document stating I insisted on this contract if you want. Please... just get me out of Blue Entertainment!"

It was a success.

With a reluctant expression, I gave the instructions I had already planned in advance.

"Alright. Then let's cancel all of your schedules today."

"Cancel them all?"

Park Eun-Sung had never canceled his schedule even once ever since his debut. He was understandably taken aback by how the first request from the new company he was about to sign with was to cancel all his schedules.

"Oh, that's a bit...I mean, there's a contract at stake..." Park Eun-Sung stuttered.

"You agreed to listen to everything I say, didn't you?" I replied.

"But, but what about the penalty for breach of contract?"

"I will take care of that issue cleanly."

After a moment of hesitation, Park Eun-Sung finally nodded as he had no one else to trust but Hoop Entertainment now.

I reassured Park Eun-Sung and immediately called the company.

It was time to reel in the big fish.

***

[(Breaking News) Popular star Park Eun-Sung attacked by thugs!]

[(Exclusive) Park Eun-Sung admitted to Kangbuk Samsung Hospital! Currently unconscious!]

While selecting a new drama for Woo Sung-Chan, a rookie actor in Actor Division 3, Kim Dong-Soo saw the entertainment news flash and burst into laughter.

"There's never a dull moment in this industry, huh?"

Ju Ho-Sung, who was seated next to Kim Dong-Soo, chuckled and nodded. "Never. But isn't that what makes this job interesting?"

At that moment, Kim Dong-Soo received a call from Nal-Sae whom he had sent to dig up information on Jung Yoon-Ho.

Kim Dong-Soo quickly answered the call. "Did you find something?"

-That guy was once scouted by a gang called Kanghan Inc. back in his high school days.

"Are you sure?"

-I'll send you a photo, take a look.

A photo was sent to Kim Dong-Soo's phone. In the photo, the frowning Jung Yoon-Ho was seen among many other gangsters in a barbeque restaurant.

-It's a photo from Kanghan Inc.'s bonding event. You can see Jung Yoon-Ho on the right side, see?

"Is this supposed to be proof of membership?"

-No, it was his acquaintance who joined, not him.

Knowing Jung Yoon-Ho was from an orphanage, Kim Dong-Soo thought he must have caused trouble at some point. And if any misdeeds were uncovered, he planned to use them as a pretext to fire him.

However, reports from Nal-Sae indicated that Jung Yoon-Ho was an elite athlete who dreamt of being a national representative and led a dull life focused solely on sports. He even ran out after just taking a photo at a dinner with a subsidiary organization of gangsters.

"Then why did you send this photo? You wouldn't have sent it without a reason, right?"

Nal-Sae's laughter could be heard over the phone.

-The guy right next to Jung Yoon-Ho in the photo is Kang Eun-Gi. They grew up in the same orphanage as brothers. But this guy is currently a director at a new company called Kanghan Entertainment.

"Kanghan Entertainment?"

-Yes. You know Park Eun-Sung from the news today, right?

"Of course I do."

-He was with Blue Entertainment, a company that was acquired by Kanghan Entertainment. Kang Eun-Gi is a director there.

"So what? Are you suggesting that I should be good to him just because his friend is a director at an entertainment company? Huh?"

-Come on. Do you think I called just for that?

"Then?"

-The two were almost like brothers, but now they've become enemies to the point of not seeing each other's faces.

That's when a spark of interest flashed across Kim Dong-Soo's face.

Many questions ran through Kim Dong-Soo's mind. 'The relationship between two people who were like brothers has soured? Why?'

Kim Dong-Soo thought there might be an opportunity to uncover information amidst the fallout between the two who used to be intimately acquainted with each other's secrets, particularly given Kang Eun-Gi's position as a director at Kanghan Entertainment.

He thought he could leverage this opportunity to obtain information about Jung Yoon-Ho.

The excited Kim Dong-Soo asked Nal-Sae, "Do you know why the two fell out?"

-I haven't dug that far. But with Kang Eun-Gi, maybe you can find out something nobody else knows about Jung Yoon-Ho.

"Okay. Then I'll meet with Kang Eun-Gi myself. Send me his profile first."

-I've already sent it by email. Check it out.

"Alright."

As soon as he hung up, Kim Dong-Soo checked the email Nal-Sae had sent. Kim Dong-Soo couldn't help but exclaim in amazement at the information about Kang Eun-Gi.

"Wow, this guy is no joke. What a formidable career."

That's when the door burst open and Kang Myung-Gil rushed in.

"M-Mr. Kim! Actor Park Eun-Sung is transferring to Actor Division 2 in our company!"

Angered by the series of bad news, Kim Dong-Soo shouted angrily, "What kind of nonsense is that now? Didn't the news just report he's in the hospital?"

"It's true. And to protest this matter, President Lee Yung-Cheol from Blue Entertainment and Director Kang Eun-Gi from Kanghan Entertainment are here at our company," Kang Myung-Gil replied while trying to catch his breath.

"Director Kang Eun-Gi?"

"Yes."

The opportunity had rolled right to Kim Dong-Soo. He did not expect Kang Eun-Gi to show up at the company.

After a brief pause, Kim Dong-Soo said, "Team Lead Ju. I'll be back in a bit."

"Where are you going?" Kang Myung-Gil asked.

"To see Kang Eun-Gi!" Kim Dong-Soo exclaimed as he hurriedly opened the door and dashed out.

***

In the meeting room of Actor Division 2, Lee Yung-Cheol of Blue Entertainment and Kang Eun-Gi of Kanghan Entertainment were looking at us across the table.

Lee Yung-Cheol was wearing large sunglasses, but there were still some visible bruises on his face. I figured those bruises were probably made by Kang Eun-Gi.

'It's been a while. Kang Eun-Gi,' I thought to myself.

Kang Eun-Gi and I were the same age and grew up like brothers in the orphanage. He was left at the orphanage at the age of ten by his mother who became a shaman after receiving a divine calling. Supposedly, living under his mother would have brought harm or something.

We ended up sharing a room since we were the same age and we got into fights from the very first day. We fought because I told him to think about how to live his life from that day on since there was nothing that could be done about being abandoned.

Of course, I easily dodged his punches and made him come to his senses.

About a year into our life at the orphanage, he had adapted well and became my best friend, colleague, and brother. He even risked his life to save me when I fell into the water during a summer trip to a stream for a swim.

From that day on, we became sworn brothers and got along like a real family together with Lee Yeon-Sil, another kid three years younger than us who always followed us around.

But everything changed after we got into high school.

As I started to pursue boxing seriously and aimed for the national team, I had to distance myself from Kang Eun-Gi because hanging out with him who mingled with thugs would have made me fall out of favor with my coach.

Around the time we were about to graduate from high school, I was frustrated by my thwarted dream of becoming a national representative. As a result, Kang Eun-Gi invited me to a barbecue place to cheer me up.

The barbecue place turned out to be an office of a gang in Ansan, where I was scouted by a mid-level boss of the Kanghan Inc.

I snapped to my senses and apologized before leaving the place immediately.

Kang Eun-Gi who followed me out, grabbed me and said,

-Yoon-Ho, our lives are no different from that of a ragged beggar's. No matter how much I think, I see no other way to climb up but this path. Let's do it together. If you and I join forces, we can make it to the top ranks. Let's live a bit more comfortably, shall we?"

But I turned my back on Kang Eun-Gi and left.

As soon as I graduated from high school, I headed to Seoul. It was time to leave the orphanage anyway, and I felt that staying there would eventually drag me into that world.

Kang Eun-Gi visited me occasionally after that and even stayed over at my dormitory. On the surface, our friendship remained unchanged, but I no longer considered him a friend after that day five years ago.

Yet it seemed Kang Eun-Gi still thought of me as a friend.

"It's been a long time, Yoon-Ho." Kang Eun-Gi greeted me.

Our group was puzzled and surprised when Kang Eun-Gi greeted me.

"Team Lead Jung. Do you know Mr. Kang?" Gu Seong-Cheol asked.

It was Kang Eun-Gi who answered Gu Seong-Cheol's question instead of me.

"We've been close since we were kids," Kang Eun-Gi replied.

But I immediately countered Kang Eun-Gi's words. "We're not friends. I'd rather not see him if possible."

"Look at you get all prickly and stuff. But I didn't know you were involved in this until I came. I wouldn't have come here like this if I had known," Kang Eun-Gi replied.

"What do you mean I'm involved?" I asked.

"Why are you playing dumb? The Merciless Bends that day. That was you," Kang Eun-Gi retorted.

I feigned ignorance. "I don't know what you're talking about."

Kang Eun-Gi sighed deeply. "I understand that you want Park Eun-Sung in your company. But it's not honorable to poach such a prized asset like that, is it?"

'A thug, and not just any thug but one who rose to be a close aide to a gang leader in Gyeonggi, talking about honor. What kind of world am I living in?' I remarked inwardly.

"Anyway, I don't want to fight with you, Yoon-Ho. So back off now. I'll make sure you're well compensated," Kang Eun-Gi added.

But that wasn't an option. At my signal, Gu Seong-Cheol handed over a document.

"Before you talk about honor or compensation, please take a look at this."

[Request for Termination of Exclusive Contract]

Kang Eun-Gi's eyes widened as he saw the document, and Gu Seong-Cheol began to reveal information we had dug up.

Through a private security camera, it was revealed that those who followed Park Eun-Sung were employees of Kanghan Entertainment. Our information team also found evidence that Kanghan Entertainment owned shares in Blue Entertainment.

The photos of the men who had followed Park Eun-Sung were also part of the evidence.

With each piece of evidence presented, Lee Yung-Cheol of Blue Entertainment shouted, "This, this is a fraud! It's a breach of contract!"

"Is that so? Do you think such excuses will work even if it's revealed that Kanghan Entertainment and Blue Entertainment were behind the attempted abduction of Park Eun-Sung?" Gu Seong-Cheol questioned.

Lee Yung-Cheol was left speechless.

Kwak Moo-Hyuk presented another document and said, "Mr. Park Eun-Sung has expressed his intention to sue all related parties if Blue Entertainment does not comply with the termination of his contract. The lawsuit is right here."

Kang Eun-Gi sighed and turned to Lee Yung-Cheol. "President Lee. Is this document legitimate?"

"Ah, that's...well..." Lee Yung-Cheol stuttered, unable to give a reply.

"Judging by how you can't give a clear answer, I guess I know enough. Please see yourself out first," Kang Eun-Gi replied coldly.

"W-wait, Mr. Kang! Let me talk about this before..." Lee Yung-Seok pleaded.

Barely able to contain his anger, Kang Eun-Gi replied, "There's no need to. It's all over. Go back to the office and wait. We'll talk later."

Kang Eun-Gi's eyes flashed like those of a wolf. The twitching of the scar above his right eyebrow indicated he was extremely angry.

Taking a deep breath to calm himself, Kang Eun-Gi spoke again.

"Let's not drag this out and make it messy. Let's wrap it up cleanly."

"What do you propose?" I asked.

"We'll hand over Park Eun-Sung. But in return, take down all the articles by tomorrow. And make sure our company's name is never mentioned again," Kang Eun-Gi replied.

As expected, Kang Eun-Gi and Kanghan Entertainment were extremely wary of media exposure.

Only a few people knew that Kanghan Entertainment was a company founded on the backbone of a major organized crime group. Having been established to launder the dirty money of Kanghan Inc., its parent organization, Kanghan Entertainment needed to avoid media attention.

Knowing this, I had deliberately left room for negotiation by publishing the articles by not informing the reporters that the newly established Kanghan Entertainment was behind this incident.

"Understood. As a gesture of goodwill for stepping back gracefully, we'll transfer the profits corresponding to the remaining three months of the contract period to your company. We'll send over the documents, so please have your lawyer review them and get back to us." I replied.

Kang Eun-Gi nodded. "Okay. Let's do that."

Then, he turned to those around him and said, "Could everyone please leave the room? I need to have a word with my friend."

There was a moment of murmuring, but no one left.

At that moment, Kang Eun-Gi frowned and said sharply, "Take the hint and leave. Otherwise, forget about the contract and I'll turn everything upside down."

The atmosphere began to tense up at Kang Eun-Gi's sudden outburst.