Martial Arts Returnee’s Game Broadcast

Chapter 271

The powerful Asan Guild in the entertainment world.
Their company, Asan Entertainment, had long been a place where aspiring trainees dreamt of debuting, and they never lacked hopeful faces.

"When do I get to stop just training? You know my skills are definitely not lacking."
"Yeah, you’ve got the skills. But debuting isn’t just about skill."
"What do those other guys have that I don't?"
"Desperation? If we’re done talking, you can go. I’m busy."

So-young.
Once a child actress, beloved as the "nation’s younger sister," she had gradually become a trainee who couldn’t even get noticed anymore.
She knew it herself.
The director might pretend to be oblivious, but she knew that what he wanted was a sponsorship contract.

‘Those guys didn’t come back until dawn yesterday.’

Realizing that trainees less skilled than herself had been chosen for the next debut group, So-young secretly dug into their schedule.
And she discovered the truth.
The night schedule they were supposed to have didn’t exist—it was a fake schedule.

‘If I’m not desperate enough to sell my body, will I never get to debut, even with talent?’

Rather than watching this happen, she decided to take a gamble.

"I'm going to go for the competition program."
"Young-a, there aren’t many slots for that. The people who are going this time…"
"Or I’ll quit being a trainee altogether. Are you just going to throw me away without even trying?"

Those who desperately wanted to corrupt her weren’t going to stay still.
As expected, the ones who had always used every excuse to stop her from progressing quickly gave her a spot, not wanting to lose the fish they had already caught.

“I had a feeling this would happen~”

The chance for a fair evaluation.
The only audition not managed by Teen Entertainment.
The only competition they couldn’t control.
This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
If she didn’t make it here, debuting would be impossible forever.
So-young put her life on the line for this competition.

?So-young’s Personal Record?
[First Round - 7th place]
[Second Round - 4th place]
[Midterm Task: Composition Mission - 5th place]
[Third Round - 3rd place]
[Midterm Task: Group Dance Battle - 5th place in group ranking]

As a result, she achieved one of the best scores, a rarity in the struggling world of Teen Entertainment.

"You’re the reason we managed to pull through, Young-a. I’m so glad you decided to join. I always knew you’d do well."
"This is all thanks to me recognizing Young-a’s talent."
"That’s right, the director’s words are spot on. Haha."

This was the moment when the manager, who was talking nonsense, and the director, who was messing with her, both irritated her.

"Only Young-a gets treated like this."
"Didn’t she do it?"
"Oh, that? If she has the looks and body like that, it’s a cheat. Acting all high and mighty."
"Trashy girl."
"Hehe."

The trainees who came from Asan were just as crazy.
All of them blinded by jealousy and envy.
Just like the Asan Guild, who used desperation as a weapon, the trainees they sent to the competition were a mess.

‘Fix that creaky dance before talking. Useless cans.’

After the filming of the program ended, came the intermission.

"Young-a, what’s your plan? Want to go back to the dorm?"
"No. I’ll practice alone."

The entertainment industry insiders couldn’t believe it.
The other trainees from the same company were even more distrustful.
But she couldn’t go home either.

‘If they knew I was being treated like this, they’d force me to quit right away.’

No one was supporting the path she wanted to take.
The world around her was full of enemies.
Late at night.
Using the moonlight as a spotlight, she danced, using the shadows of the amusement rides as her audience.
Spin, once.
Spin, again.
In the fourth round, to get into the finals, every move, every flaw, had to be perfect. She worked even harder, refining her dance to perfection.
A true desperation that wouldn’t allow even the smallest mistake.

Clap. Clap. Clap.

The sound of clapping came from the entrance of the playground.

‘Were you watching me?’

The heat that had risen so high that she’d forgotten the cold night air immediately cooled down.

"I’m sorry for coming so late. I must’ve startled you."
"Who are you? Do you know me?"
"I’m the only one who can take you out of Asan Entertainment."

Min Woo-sung smiled.

Min Woo-sung, with a huff, showed the messenger records and some photos to the visitor.

"These company presidents are touching the hands of trainee daughters. If a scandal breaks, it’ll cause quite a stir."
"Wh-where did you get that photo?"
"The source? It’ll be your phone."
"What?!"
"Do you want me to repeat that? I’m going to make you pay."

Jo Hwi-jun, the director of Asan Entertainment’s Entertainment Department 3.
He immediately realized that the records that should never be leaked were now in Min Woo-sung’s hands.

"What do you want?"
"So-young is too good to rot away in nightclubs. I’ll pay a penalty fee, so just let her go."
"But I have to report this to the CEO…"
"Report it. But the decision should be quick. We’ve got 20 hours before this information leaks to the media."
"!!"

In a panic, Jo Hwi-jun rushed to the headquarters.
He hurriedly caught a taxi, and his wireless earphones picked up a report.

• The target has entered our taxi. Surveillance has started.
• Communication signal detected. Currently on the phone with the Asan Entertainment CEO.

In front of the National Security Agency’s surveillance, no tricks could be played.
Although the abuse of the NSA’s power for personal gain shouldn’t be done, using it to gain Ha Eung Eung’s favor was an easy excuse.

‘What will the Guild Master think of this? Will he be happy, or will he be angry for making a foolish move?’

Either way, it was too late to turn back.
The deed was done, and now it was time to wait for the result.

‘The first move has been made, now it’s time for the next one.’

Min Woo-sung’s goal was five.
So-young’s recruitment was just the beginning.

An unexpected emergency mission was added to the competition program.
On the surface, it was a mission to select losers, designed to bring tension to the relaxed program, but in reality, it was a mission to eliminate trainees who had been dismissed by their companies.
Park Eun-ji, a trainee who was cut from her company, was now unsigned.
With a caption like this, how could she come to the set and avoid all the awkwardness?

"Thanks to Woo-sung’s tip, I survived. If I hadn’t realized in advance, we would have broadcasted the mess without knowing anything."
"Considering the ratings, it might have been more exciting."
"Don’t even mention it. Would Teen Entertainment just let itself be humiliated? It’s better to make a few concessions here; otherwise, both sides will suffer."

Because Min Woo-sung had given the trainees the heads-up, the PD in charge of the competition program avoided the crisis without too much trouble.
In the chaos, So-young’s agency was quietly switched from Asan Entertainment to Haenam Faction, but it didn’t make any headlines since Asan Entertainment kept quiet.

"I can’t believe it’s over so easily…"
"Do your best. We decided to bring So-young in, so don’t regret it."
"Thank you, Director Min. I’ll really work hard."

As So-young, who was following Min Woo-sung around like a shadow, smiled brightly, Han-na ran up to him.

"Why is the powerhouse trainee following Director Min? Is it an abuse issue? A personality issue?"
"...I don’t know where you learned that word, but you’d better be careful with it. And So-young is officially part of our family now."
"Director Min, are you abandoning us? Am I going to be replaced by this talented outsider trainee?"
"Don’t use the word ‘discard.’ I don’t know where you learned such terrible words, but I think we’ll need to investigate your surroundings soon."
"Wow! Let Han-na have the freedom of speech! Give it to her!"

Avoiding Han-na’s chatter, Min Woo-sung led So-young into the Guild Master’s office.

"I’m sorry. I had to act quickly on this one and report afterward."

Min Woo-sung gave So-young a proper kiss.
He had intended to recruit an idol from Asan Entertainment and turn her into a sponsor, and realizing Min Woo-sung had figured it out first, he took action to steal So-young away.
Naturally, So-young returned the favor.

[Well done.]

If you mentioned that So-young had come over from Teen Entertainment, you’d quickly learn how much clutter was on the Guild Master’s desk and how painful a blow it could be if hit in the head.
It was because of the fear.
The invisible and tangible damage he would face from making Teen Entertainment an enemy.
Since the entertainment industry had become a promotional tool for each guild’s image, it was inevitable that they had to pay attention to the powerful guilds.

‘Incredible confidence. Does this mean he’s that strong?’

Ha Eung Eung wasn’t afraid of Teen Entertainment.
She didn’t shy away from fighting them.
Her indifferent response felt like a simple approval from the subordinates, as if signing a document.
So-young envied that strength.

[Do you like games?]
"Yes? Ah, yes. I’ve never tried it, but I’ll do my best if you tell me to!"

Anything.
Min Woo-sung knew how dangerous those words were in front of her, and his usual expression nearly cracked, but he held it together.
So-young, oblivious to what she had just said, simply nodded and bowed when Ha Eung Eung told her to leave.

[Woo-sung, stay for a moment.]

It would have been better if it had ended here.
But Ha Eung Eung kept Min Woo-sung behind.

‘Do you think this was too much?’

By not scolding So-young in front of her, she had already saved face. Min Woo-sung should be thankful for the careful consideration she gave him.
As he steeled himself for any punishment, Ha Eung Eung’s gaze toward him took on a strange hue.

[You seem to like taking care of things.]
"Sorry."
[I'm not asking for an apology.]

Ha Eung Eung flipped open her notebook.

[It’s the latest trend for guilds to set up their own entertainment companies, right?]
[If we were to create Haenam Entertainment, we’d need someone to be the representative.]
[It’s also embarrassing to have all our promotional activities dumped on Royal Club.]

Min Woo-sung’s eyes widened.

[Please take the role. Haenam Entertainment's CEO.]

A promotion everyone dreams of.
But for Min Woo-sung, it was a thunderous blow—he would have to step down from his position as Ha Eung Eung’s assistant.