Chapter 80

# Chapter 080

"I'm sorry."

"No, it's not."

Hanguin smiled and bowed. He walked out of the building with a refined gait.

Looking back with a sense of regret, he saw a magnificent building that couldn't be fully taken in at a glance.

'This has failed again.'

A song came to mind.

Hanguin had been actively seeking investors and investment firms for some time now.

But how many people would invest in a small and medium-sized enterprise that had already failed?

Even those who had invested in his previous group, 'Supress,' were struggling to recover their money.

At least, thanks to Hong Gyuheon's background, he had a chance to talk to investment firms.

'Let's see the next one...'

Hanguin checked the map and headed to his next destination.

"Hmm, we've reviewed it internally."

Hanguin knew what was coming next.

"I'm sorry."

"No, thank you for considering it."

As expected, there was no significant gain this time.

Now, only the last appointment of the day remained.

Hanguin stood in front of the BG Investment building.

The towering presence of the investment company seemed to symbolize the power it held.

'Let's go in.'

Hanguin's tension wasn't just due to the reputation of BG Investment.

They were the first investors in Garo Entertainment.

"Long time no see, Manager."

"Hello. It's been two years, hasn't it?"

After shaking hands, Hanguin and Garo Entertainment's manager, Moon Jae-hyung, sat down and faced each other.

Hanguin felt uncomfortable under Moon Jae-hyung's gaze.

Garo Entertainment owed money to BG Investment. Specifically, they hadn't repaid the investment funds.

This was because 'Supress' hadn't generated any profit.

"Here, I've brought the materials you requested."

Moon Jae-hyung carefully read the materials Hanguin had provided.

Production company introduction, investment artists and music introduction, promotion plan, sales plan, investment proposal, financial data, owned music, marketing channels, and more.

The materials Hanguin had meticulously prepared didn't seem to make any impact.

Moon Jae-hyung read only the overview and neatly placed the materials on the table.

"The third round of investment..."

Moon Jae-hyung began.

Hanguin swallowed hard.

BG Investment's first investment was 20 billion won. That 20 billion was used to create 'Supress' and was exhausted within a year.

The second round of investment was a reduced 5 billion won.

That too disappeared quickly.

In the end, 'Supress' disappeared into history without any profit.

'I came here hoping, but there's no way they'll invest.'

BG Investment might as well grab him by the collar and demand the money.

If it weren't for Hong Gyuheon's background, Garo Entertainment would have closed down long ago.

"There are additional conditions."

"Are you saying you'll make a third investment?"

"Yes. The condition we propose is an additional 10% equity."

BG Investment already held 30% of Garo Entertainment's equity.

If Garo Entertainment's value increased, they could sell it for a profit.

Or...

'Are they seeing the growth potential of Garo Entertainment?'

Equity is essentially decision-making power.

BG Investment effectively held 3 out of 10 decision-making votes in Garo Entertainment.

With an additional 10%, that would become 4 votes.

'BG Investment has been continuously investing in entertainment companies recently. Are they trying to increase their market share?'

Whatever the case, it's good news that Garo Entertainment is included in their plan.

Hong Gyuheon hopes to put all her efforts into every album. She doesn't want to just make do and spend money.

If her decisions and plans are followed, Garo Entertainment will collapse in two years.

So, whether they give more equity or not, Garo Entertainment needs the money.

"10%..."

That would bring BG Investment's total equity to 40%.

It's generous.

To invest so much in equity that might become worthless is truly surprising.

"Is that all?"

"That's all."

After a few formal exchanges, Hanguin left the meeting room.

'Are we... getting an investment?'

For months, he felt like there was a rock in his throat.

Everyone was working hard on their own paths, but he felt he wasn't contributing to the company.

But now, it's different.

Hanguin has secured the investment. Of course, he needs Hong Gyuheon's approval.

'I'll go tell her right away.'

Just before leaving the first-floor hall, Hanguin looked at his wristwatch.

He then turned his gaze to the hall's view.

Many people were moving around.

Without realizing it, he sat down on a chair to observe more.

'I used to... in the past...'

Hanguin had worked at an investment firm in the United States.

After completing a master's program in business administration, which was designed to train highly skilled business leaders, he joined as an analyst.

He lived in harsh conditions, working 120 hours a week. It was a time when he was treated like a machine, doing nothing but work.

But even among that, Hanguin stood out.

As a rookie analyst, he proved to have unparalleled insight and ability.

When his two-year internship ended and he was about to return to Korea, the manager personally tried to keep him.

Hanguin, who was on a path to the top of the golden pyramid, left the road to success with the dream of becoming a founding hero of a company.

'...Let's go.'

Perhaps due to nostalgia, he had been lost in thought for too long.

Hanguin left the building and opened his phone album, which was filled with photos of Garo Entertainment's people.

The path to the golden pyramid?

Looking at the photos in this album, the missed opportunities seemed insignificant.

* * *

Hong Gyuheon had siblings, which he already knew.

But he never imagined he would meet one of them directly.

Seong Pil sat on a sofa with the members, talking to Hong Gyuheon's older brother, Hong Jihun.

"Is your brother also a CEO?"

"Yeah, I'm a CEO too."

"An entertainment company?"

"I sell souls."

No one had the courage to respond to his middle-school-like statement.

Hong Jihun, seemingly upset by their reaction, pulled out a paperback from his jacket.

The clean red cover read 'Alice in Wonderland.'

"Oh, you sell books."

Hong Gyuheon owns a paper factory.

One of her siblings runs a business that requires a lot of paper, and it seemed to be Hong Jihun.

"Isn't it great? Personally, I think it's one of the most meaningful jobs in the world."

"It's great!"

"Right? Books are the best medium for conveying emotions. Whether it's music, dance, paintings, videos, or anything, they all lack the power of books."

As he said this, Hong Jihun gave Seong Pil a condescending look.

'...What's he trying to say?'

Since the beginning, Hong Jihun had subtly belittled idols, singers, and dancers.

Though not directly, everyone could feel it.

If it weren't for Rika, the room would have been filled with silence long ago.

"Brother?"

At that moment, Hanguin finished his work and entered the company.

"Oh, Hanguin. Long time no see."

"Why are you here..."

"Don't be so cold. I'm an investor here. Isn't it strange for an investor to come and see the products?"

Product.

Everyone in the room understood the meaning behind that word.

Hong Jihun had been looking over the members as if evaluating merchandise.

"Since you're here, let's go up. Hey, guys, it was nice talking to you. Why don't you go buy something to eat?"

Hong Jihun took out 200,000 won from his wallet and placed it on the table.

"Let's go. Oh, and Manager Park?"

"Yes?"

"Manager Park, you're not really a manager, right? Just a title, right?"

"Manager Park is an executive at Garo Entertainment."

Hanguin quickly interjected, sensing that he was trying to belittle Seong Pil.

"Oh, right. If you're an executive, you should come with us."

The three of them went up to the CEO's office.

Sure enough, Hong Gyuheon seemed surprised to see her brother.

"Brother? What is it? Why are you here?"

"You told me to consider investing. So, I came to see the company and the products."

Again, Hong Jihun referred to the members as products.

"Where should I sit? There's a separate meeting room, right?"

"Hong CEO."

"Yes?"

"Me?"

"Hong Gyuheon CEO, not Hong Jihun CEO."

"What?"

Seong Pil felt a burning sensation in his stomach.

It had been like this since the beginning.

The way Hong Jihun talked about the members as products was unbearable.

If the members weren't there, and if Hong Gyuheon wasn't there, he would have shouted right away.

"Our members are not products. Please be more careful with your words."

Hong Gyuheon gave a bitter smile and stood up.

She didn't want a confrontation to break out if she left Seong Pil alone.

"Let's go to the meeting room. Everyone..."

"What? If they're not products, what are they?"

"Brother."

"No, I'm really curious. Wait a moment. Manager Park? They are products, right?"

"They are people."

"Oh, right. People who make money. You make money by selling people."

Seong Pil felt like his head would explode.

He had never known that such a way of humiliating people and getting angry existed until he was born.

Products? Products? Talking about people as products?

"When you do the accounting, don't you treat training costs and album preparation costs as long-term development costs? You shouldn't deduct them from operating income. You treat them as intangible assets and include them in the cost of sales, right? Those guys."

Hong Jihun pointed at the direction where the members on the first floor were gathered, as if he could see them.

"Assets. You treat them as intangible assets, right? Or do you treat them as operating development costs? To show a reduced profit to investors?"

In fact, Hanguin had been handling the accounting as Hong Jihun described.

In economic terms, the members are assets.

Products. Objects.

But if that logic were true, who in this world would not be a product?

'This is just a person who hasn't become one.'

Seong Pil, forgetting that he was in front of Hong Gyuheon, was about to raise his voice.

He couldn't just let such words pass.

"Oh, this brother!"

Hong Gyuheon slapped Hong Jihun's back.

"Ouch!"

"Still haven't come to your senses? Stop showing off in front of others! Why do you keep calling them products when they clearly don't like it!"

"Oh, sorry. Sorry, stop hitting me!"

Hong Jihun, after being hit, headed to the meeting room.

Seong Pil, in shock, heard Hanguin say,

"He likes to feel superior in this way."

"His personality is hard to believe, even though we're from the same family."

Hong Gyuheon patted Seong Pil's shoulder, as if to say she had done well to hold back.

When they entered the meeting room, Hong Jihun was sitting with a sullen face, clearly upset after being hit by his sister.

Hanguin gave him the investment-related materials.

He had invested in Garo Entertainment in its early days.

He had given 10 billion won to Hong Gyuheon, saying, "Do your best," as if it were pocket money.

The investment was in the form of MG, meaning there was no obligation to repay the principal if the break-even point was not reached.

It was a high-risk investment for the investor.

Hong Jihun quickly skimmed through the dozens of pages of documents.

"Have you met the members?"

"Yeah,