Became The Leader of a Girl Group Destined To Fail – Chapter 166

Chapter 166

“I have one more suggestion to make.”

After wrapping up the discussion about Moment.

Han Jae-i looked at me and asked.

“I have a PD I’m close to at WBN.”

WBN.

It’s a comprehensive programming channel.

Among the general programming networks, it was the only channel that felt similar to Mnet.

A place idol fans couldn’t be unaware of.

Because they produced many idol-focused planning programs.

However, this place…

“Isn’t it under the All Season network?”

It was also a broadcasting station affiliated with All Season, an entertainment company.

All Season was known as one of the three major entertainment companies along with Colors and Moment.

“That’s right.”

“Why them all of a sudden…?”

“They made a proposal. They want to gather idol groups and do a music variety show.”

“Music variety show?”

“You know, when we appeared on <Shin Hyung-yoon’s Live Cafe>. The response was good. They want to break prejudices by properly showcasing the skills of idols like that.”

“So, you’re saying we need to prepare for another stage?”

“That’s right.”

“No, thanks.”

I was already busy to death preparing for the next album.

Suddenly preparing a special stage?

Absolutely not. Absolutely not.

“At least hear them out.”

“I was the one who collapsed from illness recently. Asking someone like that to prepare a special stage. Do you have any conscience, sunbae?”

Han Jae-i, that rascal.

I knew he was sneaky and tough, but I didn’t expect this.

How can he have no ethics among fellow idols?

“Is there anyone in this industry who hasn’t collapsed before? Both Dan Ha and I lived with IV drips during our activities.”

“Why even bring that up.”

“Shut up, idiot. Don’t manage your image here too.”

No idol hasn’t experienced illness.

He hit the nail on the head, but what’s impossible is still impossible.

“If it were just me, maybe, but you’re saying this is for the whole group, right? Are you asking for the members to collapse too?”

“It won’t be that tough. It’s just a six-episode short program anyway.”

“So, at least three stages to prepare then.”

“No.”

Han Jae-i shook his head.

“Steel Blue’s part is just two episodes. The rest are by the seniors.”

“…Then how many stages do we need to prepare?”

“Two. One is covering another group’s song. The other is a joint stage. Each group’s positions will gather together. Filming will be minimal.”

That seemed somewhat manageable.

….

I shouldn’t waver.

“Hmm.”

“It’s doable. You know it is. We’ve done it enough to know.”

Yes, we’ve done it enough to know.

Just how incredibly hard it is.

“Why are you pushing this so hard? What does it matter to you if we appear on that program?”

“We’re going out too.”

Ugh.

I stared at Han Jae-i in shock.

Now I really didn’t want to go.

I didn’t want to be grouped together.

“A mixed group? Even more no thanks. What kind of program mixes rookies with seniors anyway?”

“A special featuring the three major entertainment companies.”

“!”

Oh.

“You get it now, right? This is huge.”

“…”

“Colors, Moment, All Season. Groups from these three companies will gather to compete. Who’s the best entertainment company?”

“…”

“We’re appearing in episodes 1 and 2. Moment will feature Inleven and NextGen. From Colors, it’s obviously Steel Blue and Burn Ash.”

This kept piquing my interest.

“Don’t you want to properly crush Moment when those jerks act so petty?”

“…I don’t have such strong feelings against Inleven…”

“Why? Are you not confident you can win?”

“It’s not that I’m not confident. I’ve already beaten them once. I just don’t see the point in doing it again.”

This person kept getting on my nerves.

“Then let’s do it. This is a company showdown. Ratings? Guaranteed hit. Buzz? Huge. Scandal? Super huge.”

“…Still, I’m not interested. In a company team battle, even if we win, Burn Ash will take all the credit, right? Everyone knows Burn Ash’s core fandom is powerful. We’ll just end up being their sidekicks.”

For the first time, Han Jae-i closed his mouth.

He must know I’m right.

The fanbases of girl groups and boy groups differ in nature.

Especially Burn Ash, known for their extremely loyal and strong core fandom among boy groups.

Their international fandom was also significantly large.

To side with Burn Ash in this situation?

Even if we won, people would say it was thanks to Burn Ash.

“I think differently.”

At that moment, Dan Ha spoke up.

“Yoon Cheong, you know that Moment has NextGen, right?”

“…”

“NextGen’s popularity is on par with ours. We’re almost evenly matched right now. That’s why it’s hard to predict who will win.”

That’s true.

NextGen, as a boy group Moment has put all their efforts into, boasted immense popularity and fandom.

In some ways, their fandom was even more cohesive than Burn Ash’s.

Burn Ash was in their third year.

NextGen was in their fifth year.

“The groups All Season is sending are X-Days and WicStart. For a large company, both have mediocre results. Both are newcomers compared to Moment and Colors, meaning their performance isn’t as strong as ours. They likely want to use this program to reinforce the perception of the Big 3 Entertainment companies.”

“…”

“I think this program’s key lies with the girl groups, not the boy groups.”

I couldn’t deny it.

Burn Ash and NextGen would likely draw similar numbers of votes.

All Season was slightly weaker.

…This meant.

Rather than the girl groups being sidekicks…

We’d actually hold the casting vote?

It’s likely we’d play a significant role.

“Steel Blue. Still weak in international fandom, right?”

Han Jae-i, sensing he almost had me, delivered a counterpunch.

“A Big 3 Entertainment special. This will be a hot topic among international K-POP fans. The promotional effect will be huge.”

“…”

“You must have felt it during your activities that your international presence is weak. Didn’t you?”

He was right.

That was exactly what worried me the most.

“WBN is very proactive about exporting their programs. In fact, this program is practically made for export. It’ll be distributed to various overseas OTT platforms.”

From his words alone, it sounded like there was no reason not to do it.

But

“Still… We have a comeback in July. There’s only three months left to prepare. Plus, Baek-young unnie and Geum are set to participate in a survival show. It’s too much for the two of them.”

“What if those two want to go? Would you allow it then?”

“…Why are you asking?”

Something felt off about this.

Han Jae-i smiled slyly.

“Actually, I just sent a text. Summarizing the benefits of participating.”

Han Jae-i waved his phone.

“Here’s the reply. Let’s see. Seo Baek-young said… ‘I can do it, but Cheong has to approve.’ And Kim Geum said, ‘Why ask me via text when I’m in the next room? If the leader approves, I’m in.’”

“…”

My members were of no help.

“If it’s a six-episode shoot, we’ll be filming for about two weeks. Please take care of it. We can’t afford to lose while representing Colors, right, junior?”

“No.”

I pretended not to see Han Jae-i’s outstretched hand.

“Colors doesn’t matter. I just can’t afford to lose with the name Steel Blue.”

If we’re going to participate, we must win with the name of Steel Blue.

Establishing a peculiar partnership with Burn Ash, I entered another studio.

It was the studio opposite to Kim Geum’s, one I often used.

‘First of all… should I use <Detective Mode>?’

[Detective Mode:

Want to uncover someone’s corruption?

Then the <Detective Mode> item will help you.

We don’t give you the answers. Instead, we provide hints.

Required Points: ?,??? points

(The more extensive the corruption you want to uncover, the more expensive it will be.)]

It was the item I used during the Midbless incident.

Even then, it cost a hefty 900 points.

The uncertainty of the cost was concerning.

But I could guess it would be very expensive.

Until now, I hadn’t considered using the <Detective Mode> item against Moment.

I felt sorry for Dahin, but it was an extremely costly item.

I had to save points in case an incident happened to Steel Blue.

I couldn’t spend a fortune on someone else’s group.

But now, it had become my problem.

Thinking of framing us with chart manipulation accusations.

What a bunch of creative scumbags.

[Would you like to purchase <Detective Mode>?]

[First, please specify the target you want to investigate.]

[Points will be calculated based on the target.]

“Moment.”

[Calculating….]

[Points have been calculated.]

[Required Points: 1,900 points]

“Crazy.”

1,900?

I opened my points to check.

I’ve gathered quite a few points recently, thanks to releasing an album and gaining traction on <Phillip Show> and oTube….

[Current Points: 2,300 points]

It’s tight.

Spending almost all my points, leaving only 400, was too risky. Who knows what might happen in the future?

This was too big a gamble.

I’ll save up until I have at least 3,000 points, then use it.

In the end, I decided not to use <Detective Mode>.

Not on Moment, anyway.

There’s no rule saying I can’t use it elsewhere.

I searched for the name of the company run by Ryu Bo-ra’s father.

Hmm.

PurpleLove, huh.

That’s blatant.

“How much for PurpleLove?”

[Calculating….]

[Points have been calculated.]

[Required Points: 200 points]

200?

I could easily spend that.

“I’ll buy it. Clean them out.”

[Purchase complete!]

[Current Points: 2,100 points]

Now.

It’s time to rescue Ryu Bo-ra from the clutches of her family.