Ahn So Hee leaned close to whisper something into Daejung's ear as the executive sank into his sleek leather chair. Meanwhile, Mr. Xu rose to his feet.
"Well then, I must be going. I have a flight to catch to Bangkok tomorrow—business never rests. I'll be seeing you." He patted my shoulder before heading toward the exit, his android following behind. "Until next time, Mr. Woo," the robot said, its voice echoing with overlapping tones as they left the room. Only the four of us remained.
Manager Bons smiled politely. "It's an honor to finally meet you, sir."
"Marvelous! Your boy here is outstanding—mwah! Seokjeansa, you're just—hmm~ chonna! Daebak! Welcome to OPP4 Entertainment." Daejung clapped with wild energy, spinning his chair around to face me. His face, too perfect to be real, gleamed under the light—like a porcelain doll refurbished with expensive parts. With a wide grin, he gestured for me to take a seat on the velvet sofa.
"We're equally honored, CEO Na Dae Jung," Bonsong replied in his formal tone.
"Oh, no, just call me Daejung. I'm not into that hierarchy nonsense, especially from Mr.White, hehe. So—how's the view? Way better than your old place, huh? Oops, did I say that out loud?" He slapped a hand over his mouth, giggling.
"It's beautiful," I said, nodding.
"Right? You now have access to everything we offer here. I'll see to it personally. I doubt your old agency had these—they were too worried about kids abusing their privileges. But here, we reward excellence. We call it the VIP Program." He pointed at me with a raised brow. "Curious what it means, huh?"
I glanced at Bonsong, who blinked twice—our silent cue from rehearsals. "Uh… yeah. I heard it's, uh… really convenient," I answered carefully.
Clap!
"Exactly! You will get first-class transport cars, yachts, jets, and free meals from cheap steak to million-won fine dining tables. Need new gears? Request it. Every month, we'll replace them with the latest models. And if D8 tops the charts or lands a brand deal, bonuses, baby! I'm a freakin' generous man alive out here. Ask Miss Suhee if you don't believe me."
Suhee, the youthful-looking woman with violet hair, laughed and winked. "He's not lying. You'll never run out of money, sweetheart. Not in this lifetime."
"But—" Daejong raised an index finger. "One condition. Don't question your seniors here. They won't listen. If you've got concerns, talk to Mr. Bons or come to me directly. Be a good boy and we'll take care of you, understood?"
"Y-yes, sir."
"Heh~ Good. I knew I liked you already. Now then, it's about time we revealed our brand's newest product—and you, my prodigy, will be the face of it! I can already see the headlines—'Prometheus, bearer of the flame of passion!' The world will swoon!"
"Well, I'm waiting for a surprise." I asked, wide-eyed.
Suhee grinned and slid a glossy square package toward me. It was a condom—embossed with the D8 logo. My throat went dry. I exchanged a helpless glance with Bonsong.
Daejong crossed his legs and presented the item with a showman's flair. "Ta-da! Our newest ultra-thin line—smooth as silk, lightning in the sheets, and 100% inclusive for the umm~ what do they call it? aaa~ LGBTQ audience! The Westerners will love this. One size fits all, from pinky finger to—well, you get the idea." He leaned back, framed by the skyline like a devil in a painting. "So, what do you think?"
He then stood, resting his palms on his desk as his tone darkened with ambition. "I have a dream, Mr. White. One day, we won't just dominate this country—we'll conquer Asia and eventually the whole world. That's the ultimate victory. When that day comes, we'll be more than idols—we'll be gods. The war may be over, but the battlefield lives on. Capitalism is the new face of modern warfare." He smirked. "You're from SPI, right? Then you know which side you're on now."
I swallowed hard. "Y-yes… sir. Your side, and I'm all in."
"Good," Daejung replied with a whispering tone.
"If he said so," Bonsong nodded slightly. "Then we accept the promotion deal."
I nodded quickly after him. "Thank you for the opportunity."
"Ha! I knew there was something special about you!" Daejung giggled heartily, throwing an arm in the air. "You're now my golden goose, kid!"
He and Suhee shared a smile before she approached to shake my hand.
"From now on, go meet your new bandmates, sweetie. They're waiting at the penthouse across the street. I hope you'll be happy there. Welcome to your new home… and your new world."
A new world, huh?