The Sacred Manager Life - Chapter 81

SN Entertainment Executive Office —

"Mirinae Entertainment... Honey Pop..."

Executive Director Kim Tae-sang deeply inhales cigarette smoke into his lungs.

"The singers are just Kai and Honey Pop, and they have three supporting-level actors."

"What kind of back-alley shop is this?"

"They used to have lead actors, so things were fine, but after they left and they started focusing on raising a girl group, things got tough."

"So they borrowed money from the vipers?"

"It's not a size that would interest a normal investment firm, right?"

Yang Seok-dae relayed what he had uncovered about Mirinae Entertainment.

Once their actor management stabilized, the CEO got greedy and pushed for a girl group.

Raising the girl group cost far more than expected, draining the company’s funds.

They ended up taking investment from a shell company set up by the vipers.

The girl group, which debuted last year, showed some meaningful results, but not enough to recoup the investment yet.

"There’s a department head named Yoon Tae-hyung who handles all the company’s finances. The CEO just runs around promoting the kids."

"So, we just need to sweet-talk him?"

"No need. He’s already greedy—he’s embezzled investment funds multiple times. When we offered a hefty sponsorship, he folded immediately."

"Keuk keuk keuk, that’s why I love money-hungry bastards. Just dangle cash, and they’ll charge forward without thinking. Where else do you find such easy puppets?"

As he spoke, he pulled up a fancam of Honey Pop.

"This is the one Assemblyman Kim is after, right?"

"Yes."

"Strange. With a girl this pretty, why drool over some half-grown kid?"

"That bastard’s a lolicon. Last time, he got in trouble scouting underage trainees too."

"What a freak."

"Welcome! I really didn’t expect you to reach out—thank you so much."

After calling CEO Lee Dae-hwan, I visited Mirinae Entertainment.

They didn’t have their own building yet, just two modestly sized floors in a shared space.

When I entered the office, Lee Dae-hwan greeted me with a bright smile.

"It’s much smaller compared to Fine Entertainment, right?"

"It’s clean and nice. You’ll keep growing, won’t you?"

"I hope so, but Honey Pop hasn’t exploded like I thought they would. Guess I’ll have to work harder, haha."

He laughed awkwardly.

As the PR team leader said, he seemed like a decent guy.

"Did the Music Bank appearance issue get resolved?"

"No, how could we—"

He didn’t seem to realize I was the one he met in the conference room.

"I heard from PD Hyun Jung-il. He and I had a meeting after you left. The PD said he’s been struggling because of SN too."

"Don’t even get me started. Just because Kai said a few unpleasant things, they’re blocking our girls from appearing? How is that fair?"

There had been some friction when Kai switched agencies.

Though the dispute was settled through court mediation, SN—especially Executive Director Kim Tae-sang—didn’t let it go.

Even the CP got involved, blocking Mirinae’s artists from music shows, but Director Jang Tae-ho stepped in and resolved it instantly.

"Honey Pop almost couldn’t perform, but Director Jang fixed it. Kai said he’s disgusted and will focus on concerts for now."

Thankfully, the music show ban was lifted.

Lee Dae-hwan thought the director solved it, but that didn’t matter.

He’d just gained a top-tier connection—the KBC Variety Department Director.

The office door opened, and someone peeked in.

A man with sharp eyes who looked like a difficult personality.

"CEO-nim, I’m heading out for fieldwork and then off—oh, you have a guest."

He glanced at me briefly before turning back to Lee Dae-hwan.

"Alright, Manager Yoon. Good work, see you tomorrow."

As I kept staring at the door, Lee Dae-hwan explained.

"That’s Yoon Tae-hyung, our company’s financial manager. He handles all the money coming in and out."

[This is bad.]

‘Why?’

[That man reeks of Mammon.]

‘Mammon?’

[The demon who governs the sin of greed among the Seven Deadly Sins. A manifestation of avarice, hoarding without giving.]

‘So, he’s possessed?’

[No. He was born with Mammon’s nature. Stay away—wealth disappears around him.]

Now that I knew, of course I’d keep my distance.

‘If someone like him manages company funds, what happens?’

[All the money will get sucked into him.]

Like entrusting fish to a cat.

"We should’ve calculated everything meticulously, but we were too careless at first. Just dreaming big."

A major agency spends over 3 billion won to properly debut a girl group.

Even mid-sized agencies have to budget at least 800 million to 1 billion.

Not an easy sum for a small actor-management company to raise.

"By the third year, even my personal savings weren’t enough, but Manager Yoon found an investor. Without that, debuting would’ve been impossible."

Lee Dae-hwan laughed, but he looked pitiful.

｢...You even took gangster money. You think they’ll just sit back?｣

The words of the division chief from the Prophecy gift came to mind.

The company Yoon Tae-hyung brought in—that money was trouble.

"Can you tell me which investment firm provided the funds?"

"Why? Are you looking for investors too?"

"I have a hyung running a small agency. Always complaining about money—thought connecting him here might help."

Lee Dae-hwan brightened and rummaged through documents.

Seemed happy to help.

"Here it is. A company called Mirae Investment. There’s a contact and manager below—just reach out. You can even drop Yoon’s name."

"Thank you, CEO-nim."

A knock sounded, and the door cracked open.

"CEO-nim, we’re heading back to the dorm..."

Our eyes met.

It was Honey Pop’s leader, Seo Yuna.

‘Wow.’

Now I understood why the comments were going wild about her being sexy.

Without realizing it, I gaped and stared.

Rude for a first meeting, but she was doing the same.

For some reason, her eyes were wide, fixed on me.

"Really... glowing..."

"Glowing?"

"S-Sorry! I didn’t know you had company."

As she hurried to leave, Lee Dae-hwan stopped her.

"Yuna, wait. Say hello. You’ve seen him on screen, right? Manager Shin Joo-won."

"Yes, hello. I’m Seo Yuna... from Honey Pop."

She started to bow like an idol but seemed embarrassed and just lowered her head.

I greeted her too, saying I enjoyed their music.

Pleased, the golden light behind her flickered brightly.

After she left, Lee Dae-hwan couldn’t stop praising Honey Pop.

"They’re young, but even the trainer was amazed by their synchronization."

"The maknae line plays instruments well. Yuna and Sae are top-tier—we even considered a ‘pretty girl band’ concept at first."

"Yuna’s voice is unique. The first time I heard it, I was mesmerized. Ugh."

But his words barely registered.

Seo Yuna’s earlier muttering stuck in my mind.

‘She saw the glow, so she said that, right?’

[Probably.]

‘Does that mean we’re connected?’

[No idea. She might’ve felt drawn to you or just be sensitive to gifts. Like that bald guy—he was just sensitive.]

Team Leader Baek only warmed up after I saved his family.

At first, he told me to get lost.

After saying I’d visit again, I left.

I needed to look into Mirae Investment, the gangster-run firm funding Mirinae.

Getting tangled with them could cost the company.

But I didn’t need to investigate personally.

I knew someone well-versed in this world.

"Aigoo, hyung-nim! What brings you?"

The viper answered immediately when the bell rang.

"Yeah, got something to ask."

The viper also ran loan sharks and investment firms.

If anyone knew about gangster fronts, it’d be him.

"Look up a company for me. An investor in an agency I know—seems like a gangster operation. You guys keep tabs on those, right?"

"If it’s not regional, I probably know it. What’s the name?"

"Mirae Investment."

"......"

Silence.

"Why aren’t you answering? Didn’t hear me?"

"Uh, hyung-nim."

"Yeah."

"That’s... my company."

"What?"

I was speechless.

The investor in Mirinae was the viper’s firm.

"Wait... the agency you mentioned—Mirinae Entertainment?"

"Right. So you know Manager Yoon Tae-hyung?"

"Only by name. The underlings handle investments—I just review reports. Unless they skim, I don’t get involved."

Then he’d step in.

"But why invest in an agency?"

"Smart singers or idols in small agencies can be lucrative. If they flop, we take equity and run it ourselves. The Kangbuk crew does it—figured I’d try."

Pure investment, then?

I thought it was tied to Honey Pop’s sponsorship.

"Lucky me. Not only is Seok-dae hyung-nim eyeing it, but now you’re interested too. What’s so special?"

"Seok-dae? Yang Seok-dae?"

"Yeah."

Kim Tae-sang’s lackey.

Meaning the assemblyman’s sponsorship traces back to Kim Tae-sang.

‘This smells fishy...’

"Hyung-nim, you there?"

"Where are you? Let’s meet."