182. Rival or Companion (1)

Detective has met several well-known content producers, directors, and writers as Song Jae-ik’s influence grows. It was probably after the success of the third film, two films, and the first drama, Black Arrow.

very secretly.

While estimating whether he will be able to replace Song Jae-ik. If possible, to find out how much it will cost and what you need.

After all, isn’t there a proverb that says don’t put all your eggs in one basket? Besides, the contract with Jaeik wasn’t that long.

But the answer comes back.

‘It’s too much.’

‘It can be done, but it will take a lot of money, time and people. And I don’t have the confidence to produce that quality.’

‘Replacing Song Jae-ik? Don’t talk nonsense. To be honest, even if I search the entire earth right now, is there anyone who can take over the task on behalf of Song Jae-ik?’

All I asked was a negative answer. You can. However, the same level as Song Jae-ik cannot be guaranteed.

As a detective, it was just embarrassing. Because the entire company was colored by the success that Song Jae-ik gave.

Aren’t you finally following in the footsteps of Bable after ten years of filming? While pursuing it too.

Of course, we have to build a narrative through more movies and dramas to stand on the same line as Bable, but the current situation itself was impressive for Detective.

However, it is a problem even if Song Jae-ik’s contract ends here, and it is a problem even if they cut it. In a word, the problem was that Song Jae-ik was too good.

I just thought of it as a creator who just makes his own IP. Starting with the Challenge Everything Universe, I suddenly started hitting and climbing to the point of being annoying.

But there was no end in sight to the possibilities. That’s why internally, it was to the point of saying that it wasn’t catching up with Detective or Bable.

In the midst of that, a question popped up about what to do if you prioritize your own work over Detective’s work.

(Do you see them as companions or as rivals? That is the question.)

Everyone shut up at Sean O’Connell’s words. But the silence was short.

(Rivals. There are no permanent allies. Detective employees also go out and become rivals.)

(A rival? If so, you’re saying that because you have a plan to replace him, right?)

(…)

In the end, it was an infinite repetition of the same words. Will you see Song Jae-ik as a rival or a partner? There was a point in both words.

A decision that is not easy to make. In this situation, it was Detective’s interests and Sean O’Connell’s decision that came first in the end.

(It would be nice to have a chat. Try to get a seat early.)

If we talk, the answer will come.

James Zhu nodded. Because he was the closest person to Song Jae-ik and the only one he could talk about was himself.

—

(President Sean O’Connell himself?)

The way to the president’s office. At James’s words, Jaeik nodded his head for a moment.

‘Was the incentive too high? Still, it’s a contract. And he made dozens of times more than that.’

I was already receiving incentives that exceeded my annual salary. In other words, it meant that the movie and drama were very successful.

(Recently, there is a lot of talk about the general manager challenge, everything within the company.)

Hearing that, Jaeik smiled and nodded as if he knew what was going on.

On the one hand, I was also happy. Because it meant that his company and his work were growing that well.

(You seem very worried. There is still about a year left on the contract.

(Don’t say that. Ugh, it’s a process. Anyway, the moment Director Song quits Detective, there will be a fan riot. That’s public opinion. Some directors don’t seem to be seeing it properly.)

Internet opinion was like that. Detective fans are literally holding up Song Jae-ik like a savior.

They also had a lot of dissatisfaction with the gap that was widening after Bable hit the jackpot with its film adaptation.

Even in the US, Detective originally had a higher fan base than Bable, but it has been around for a long time with the film adaptation.

(Anyway, that’s it. I’m straddling both Challenge Everything and Detective. That’s dissatisfaction and anxiety.)

(In summary, yes.)

As of now, it doesn’t matter anyway. What if you are fired before the end of the contract? Or not extend the contract? Then wouldn’t it be okay to get a penalty and leave coolly?

Isn’t it the detective that is disappointing in one way or another?

(I hope that the relationship between Director Song and Detective will continue in the future, as it was before.)

(I wish it continued.)

‘Of course, it depends more on the actions of the detective than on my intentions.’

Upon arriving in front of the president’s office, James Joo opened the door to the president’s office and slightly bowed his head.

The meeting with the chairman was Song Jae-ik alone, and it was not the place for him to enter.

–

smart-

With a knock, the door opened and Sean O’Connell, who was sitting in the top seat on the sofa in front of the huge desk, got up and greeted Jae-ik.

(Long time no see.)

(Yes, see you soon.)

There was a brief silence until the secretary served the tea.

Sean O’Connell was biased to one side, but still because of his troubled mind. Jaeik didn’t have to bring up the conversation himself first.

As the secretary set the tea on the table, Sean O’Connell took a sip and spoke slowly.

(This company is in a big mess because of you.)

(That’s right. I’ve heard this and that.)

(What do you think?)

(Do you have any thoughts. It’s just according to the contract.)

(Khaha- that’s right. It’s a contract. It’s a contract.)

At the word contract, Sean O’Connell laughed out loud.

The moment I heard Jaeik’s words, things that were blurry became clear. In this business world, nothing is as clear as a contract.

(What do you think? Are you willing to work with Detective? I think that’s the most important thing. No matter how much we try to extend the contract, it’s useless if you don’t have the heart.)

At those words, Jake smiled softly.

As Sean O’Connell said, if you don’t have a heart, you don’t have to do it. But Jae-ik was definitely doing it because he had a heart.

I was a longtime fan of Detective, and now I have developed affection for the brand called Detective.

Didn’t he plow everything from the ground up by himself and rebuild it from the groundwork? How can you not have love?

‘Besides, compared to the work I do honestly, the salary and allowances I receive are more than I thought.’

It was not at all difficult for me to create a new IP and write a script in the content field, even if others did not know.

Besides, whether it’s because of the correction of the ring or because of the various talents absorbed, the clearly improved memory is excellent for planning IP in various areas and fusing with other materials.

(I have enough heart. It started as a contractual relationship, but I am also raising Detective’s visual works from the ground up. How can I not develop affection?)

Besides, like Sean O’Connell’s request in the beginning, I was fully cooperating with Detective’s filming.

‘Besides, this is definitely a great opportunity to catch a bubble.’

(I think this is a great opportunity to catch a bubble.)

Jaeik opened his mouth slightly at Sean O’Connell’s words, which matched his thoughts.

‘Babble has grown too big and sluggish. The story is weak compared to the invested capital, and we are focusing too much on the characters rather than the visuals, which were our strengths in the past.’

(It doesn’t show the awesome visuals like in the past, nor does it have a fight scene, and it seems to be mainly focusing on building the character’s narrative. Accordingly, the fans are turning their backs little by little.)

I don’t know if it was a report or an individual’s opinion, but that was the correct answer.

Now, because all the stories of Bable are so hugely connected, there were a lot of parts that were omitted, and people were complaining of fatigue.

The Anti-Name Detective was different. It was because Jae-Ik had written a script that took into account a single worldview while connecting big stories from the planning stage to create a single worldview.

In particular, dramas and movies had many elements that would be liked by fans who knew them, but people who did not know them could also enjoy them on their own.

‘Is it seasoned? Is it an insight?’

(Personally, I hope you will work with Detective more in the future.)

And Sean O’Connell handed out a prepared contract. companions and rivals. It was a contract written after thinking about those two things.

(Not just as the head of production for Detective, but also as the president of Challenge Everything. I want to see even the IP exchanges between Detective and Challenge Everything.)

(Are you talking about the collaboration between Challenge Everything and Detective?)

(It would be even better if that happened earlier.)

A crossover universe of two completely different IPs.

(Two stories that seem completely unrelated, but you have enough ability to connect them.)

Instead of replying, Jae-ik just smiled. As soon as I received Sean O’Connell’s proposal, dozens of stories and methods came to mind.

It could be a new character, a new worldview, or a crossover through movement between characters.

(Such a partnership.)

When Sean O’Connell finished speaking, he gulped down his tea as if thirsty. Partnership was also right.

Though he had been thinking deeply since the meeting that day, his feelings were still telling him to choose a companion.

There was no reason. I just made a basis for that feeling. I looked at the scripts of the films and dramas that Jaeik has made so far, and the works scheduled to be made in the future.

How long has it been since you stepped down from the front line and became the chairman? My eyes were stiff, but I was more certain.

‘Song Jae-ik must be caught unconditionally.’

Because that was Detective’s biggest weapon right now.

It didn’t matter if it looked a little bent down. If that’s the way to make a group called Detective succeed, then what does that matter?

Jaeik took his eyes off the contract with a satisfied look. The contents of the contract were several times better than the previous contract.

This time, it was a contract in which the basic salary was greatly reduced, but the running guarantee was paid according to the degree of involvement.

The time of the contract was not specified. It just says that it will be automatically extended through negotiation every year.

(It’s okay if you give an answer after thinking about it enough. It won’t be an easy decision.)

At those words, Jaeik, who grabbed a pen and tapped the armrest of the chair, opened the lid and signed it coolly.

Of course, if we were to break up, we could have parted ways coolly, but it was good in many ways to maintain a good relationship with Detective.

It was a personal interest, but the crossover between universes that Sean O’Connell talked about was also a subject of considerable interest and aroused a sense of challenge at the same time.

(Are you coming to the convention this March?)

(Surely I have to go? Even if I can’t go, I’ll send James Zhu the director.)

(That’s good. I’ll show you the result you mentioned earlier.)