Debut or Die - Chapter 454

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

A Fatal Illness if I Don’t Debut – Episode 454
Let me think about what would happen if Testa went to LeTi.
First, the advantages.
‘I’ve already experienced it.’
I already know everything about that company’s CEO and how the planning team operates.
I even went through a debut survival there.
Though it was a virtual simulation created by the System from a few years ago.
‘I’d adapt quickly.’
And since LeTi is a large corporation that’s even gone public, there’s a low probability they’d have issues protecting Testa’s reputation.
Moreover….
‘There are no new male idol groups.’
At least while VTIC is in the military, there’s a high probability Testa would receive substantial investment.
‘We’d be buying time for a few years.’
With T1 Stars sinking, this actually looked like a pretty decent option.
‘If we adjust the contract terms properly, it’s worth trying to maintain Testa’s identity.’
However… there was one absolutely critical problem. Something I couldn’t compromise on.
So my answer was ultimately just one thing.
After finishing all this thinking within 30 seconds, I responded immediately.
-That’s kind of you. Thank you for the congratulations.
Yeah, I’m not going.
Soon after, a reply came back.
-VTIC Senior Shin Chung-ryeo : That’s unfortunate
-VTIC Senior Shin Chung-ryeo : What about joining as a label?
Hmm.
-Are you available for a call?
After a brief text, I answered the incoming call.
“Senior.”
-Junior.
This guy wouldn’t necessarily leak a call recording, but since I couldn’t be sure, I started speaking politely.
“What do you mean by a label?”
-Exactly what it sounds like. Um, is it confusing?
His voice continued smoothly.
-I was thinking of creating a label under LeTi.
“…!”
-Most established agencies have their own distinct color. It would be burdensome for Testa to be directly under one of those.
-But if you could stay in an independent label like now, making albums however you want, that wouldn’t be a bad arrangement.
Chung-ryeo’s words hit the mark perfectly, like scratching an itch.
And he made his pitch again.
-Testa seems like the perfect group for this label, so I reached out. Am I wrong?
“….”
I opened my mouth.
“About that label.”
-Yes.
“The advantage is that we can handle planning however Testa wants, correct?”
-That’s right. And the work itself would be much easier. The company’s system is quite well-organized.
“I see.”
That bastard must have established some kind of system.
He wouldn’t be spouting nonsense about planning autonomy if it didn’t exist.
But still.
“However, promotion and scheduling adjustments aren’t handled by the label—they’re handled by LeTi Headquarters, aren’t they?”
-….
“And LeTi is your agency.”
That’s right. What does going to LeTi really mean?
I pulled the smartphone away from my face and looked down at the caller’s name.
[VTIC Senior Shin Chung-ryeo]
…It means this bastard can control Testa’s schedule with his hands.
Even if I tried to do something now, it would be difficult to outmaneuver someone who’s been working at that agency for ten years in just a few months.
Especially if the opponent is someone who’s repeatedly exploited the same company dozens or even hundreds of times.
‘I’m not some kind of fool.’
Handing over life-and-death control of the group to a competitor’s hands would be idiotic.
‘But from the competitor’s perspective, it’s nothing but beneficial.’
That’s why this bastard made the proposal.
I recalled Chung-ryeo’s strange message from last year’s awards ceremony.
The one with a video attached.
-The video showed an unknown dog receiving a new cushion as a gift instead of a broken one.
A new cushion.
‘Did it mean a new company, a new home?’
Perhaps from that moment on, he’d been gauging the situation while roughly understanding how T1 operated.
It irritates me that I’m inferior in information gathering, but regardless, that bastard’s behavioral pattern was clear.
‘He calculated it.’
This guy isn’t some paragon of virtue—naturally, he made the proposal to gain an advantage.
And after a brief silence.
A smooth voice came through again.
-You’re still sharp.
Not knowing is what makes you foolish.
-Well, but there’s nothing for you to worry about, Junior. I have no intention of doing anything harmful.
“Even if a moment comes where I have to choose between VTIC and Testa?”
-That won’t happen. I’ll choose good schedules so we don’t interfere with each other. Then you simply get a good agency.
“….”
-Isn’t that good for everyone?
I looked down at my smartphone. After thinking hard and briefly, I opened my mouth again.
“…I’ll think about it.”
-Ah.
It probably sounded like a surrender declaration.
His tone became even more gentle.
-You thought well.
“But could you spread some rumors to raise my market value?”
-Hmm?
“A rumor from industry insiders that Testa won’t be renewing with the company.”
In a way that wouldn’t make the company suspicious—just as gossip. But ideally, outsiders would be half-convinced.
I added the reasoning calmly.
“If there’s some competition, LeTi will offer better terms, won’t they? That seems like the best way to get good contract conditions.”
-Mm.
Chung-ryeo gave a short acknowledgment as if he understood.
‘Good.’
If the rumor spreads like this….
-Junior, you have no intention of coming, do you.
“….”
The bastard reads minds.
‘He figured it out right away.’
That’s right.
I have no intention of going to LeTi if I can help it. No matter how I think about it, it’s like putting my head into that bastard’s mouth.
I think he won’t pull any tricks now. But this isn’t about that—it’s a matter of risk management.
Besides, think about it. Testa, who fought like dogs with VTIC’s LeTi since debut, going to LeTi?
‘The fans’ hearts would rot away.’
They’d all think the same thing I’m thinking, so naturally I want to choose the better option.
‘If I’m going to make a deal out of spreading this rumor, I need to put something on the table.’
Let me test the waters first.
I was about to open my mouth while shaking my head, but the person on the call spoke first.
-Well… sure. It’s not difficult.
“…!”
Surprisingly, he agreed readily.
Of course, that wasn’t the main point.
-But I want you to remember that my proposal is valid until the contract renewal.
“Yes, I understand.”
So he agreed readily to gain the momentum to say that. But I’ll accept it willingly.
As I was coming to terms with it, Chung-ryeo suddenly changed the subject.
-Mm. I don’t think there’s even a need to say something like this.
“What do you…”
mean.
Then, a voice tinged with laughter came through the smartphone.
-The more contact offers you receive, the more you’ll remember this proposal.
“….”
-I’ll send the contract terms via email. Again, congratulations, Junior.
And a few days later, subtle contact began arriving from entertainment agencies both large and small.

* * *
“Just like Moon-dae said, they’re really coming in quite a bit.”
“…Yeah.”
The members each held their smartphones, examining the offers that had come through their personal networks.
The offers coming to Bae Sae-jin were from several agencies that managed a wide range—from actors to idols.
Ryu Chung-woo, being the leader, received particularly numerous contacts, and Big Sae-jin had many offers from the kind of moderate agencies idols typically chose during contract renewals.
‘I can see the pattern of their connections.’
And Kim Rae-bin….
“…? It’s a hip-hop label. Why would they be sending an offer from there…?”
“Hmm, did you suddenly develop ambitions for an idol group?”
I’d bet my smartphone that it was a contact from the AR Team side, who treated Kim Rae-bin almost like their youngest member.
‘And as for me….’
I did receive some contact, but there were quite a few troublesome connections among them.
‘These bastards sent one too.’
The Golden Age group that Gold 1 and Choi Won-gil belonged to. The place that had been in an uproar over industrial espionage.
I read without clicking on the long KakaoTalk popup that started with “Hello. I’m Park Min-jung, Team Leader at Traveler Entertainment. I sincerely apologize again for past matters….”
It was somewhat irritating, but I decided to remember them as an agency that certainly did good work.
‘If Testa goes there, the positions and seniority would align perfectly with Golden Age, which would be a disaster… that’s the negative factor.’
As I was thinking that far, a question came from beside me.
“But Moon-dae, Moon-dae, how did you spread the word?”
“….”
“Huh?”
Now… it was time to share.
I explained the proposal I’d received a few days ago.
And an explosive reaction followed.
“Le, LeTi??”
“…Senior Shin Chung-ryeo….”
“I don’t like that place. [Among all the people I’ve met in my life, I’ve noticed they like the most gloomy types. Seriously, you’re not actually considering that, hyung?]”
I didn’t expect Cha Yu-jin to speak so eloquently and thoughtfully.
I simply clarified the situation.
“I said I wasn’t going. But since I said I’d still consider it, they spread the word anyway.”
“Sigh.”
Big Sae-jin let out a deep sigh and sat on the sofa. I also pressed my brow.
“In the first place, if we’re all moving together, would I have concluded that I’m going alone? Of course I need to discuss it with you all….”
“Alright, let’s vote now! Who doesn’t want to go to LeTi?”
Five hands went up. I pressed my forehead.
“Hey, Moon-dae isn’t raising his hand?”
I am, you bastard.
Right there in the middle of the living room where the conclusion “No to LeTi” had been reached so decisively, Kim Rae-bin asked me quietly with a slightly bewildered expression.
“…I remember them as a reputable agency, am I mistaken?”
“….”
Indeed, he was exactly the type who would be tailored to LeTi’s preferences from head to toe.
There were a few more meaningful contacts after that, but the problem was that the time limit was rapidly approaching.
‘I need to decide quickly.’
Since each member had different aspects they considered “absolutely necessary,” there weren’t many agencies that could satisfy all of them.
Moreover, most of them had drawbacks or risky elements.
Either they were too small to provide proper care, too large and already had male idols in the same position, or their identity was too strong for Testa to handle.
Looking at it this way, LeTi, which had brought an independent label from the very first pitch, was certainly a fairy’s blessing.
‘Damn it.’
I ran my hands through my hair. Chung-ryeo’s confidence earlier wasn’t for nothing.
‘Yeah, let’s say we go to LeTi.’
Even so… the fundamental problem couldn’t be solved no matter where we went.
‘…The Testa name.’
That name, the group concept. All the trademark and copyright for these were already in the hands of this T1 Stars agency.
How was I supposed to deal with that?
“Hey… are you still, organizing things?”
“Yeah.”
Sun Ah-hyun sat down across from me at the table. I hastily pushed aside the paper where I’d scribbled keywords haphazardly, but he’d already seen it.
-Continue with Testa name
…That keyword, specifically.
“You want to keep using the name… so you’re thinking about it.”
“….”
“If you talk it over with the company, would it really be impossible…? If we could buy the rights… that would be great.”
“…Yeah, it would be.”
But they likely wouldn’t give it up. Even with an astronomical sum, the chances were slim.
Because the decision-maker wasn’t just one person but multiple stakeholders were involved.
I explained that part to Sun Ah-hyun. He listened calmly and nodded.
“Still, even if it’s difficult… let’s try.”
“…Okay.”
“Yeah. Maybe the company will have other circumstances and give us permission…!”
“….”
Other circumstances?
At that moment, a thought struck me like lightning.
‘What if they won’t sell the trademark?’
So then… wouldn’t I just need to create a ‘different circumstance’ that would force them to sell?
I nodded.
“Exactly. Thank you.”
“….”
“I know what to do now.”
“…huh?”
I spoke calmly to Sun Ah-hyun, whose expression had turned puzzled.
“This company needs to collapse.”
“…!?”
It was so simple when I laid it out like that.
“W-what are you talking about?”
Thank you, Sun Ah-hyun.
And the next day, I reached out to those two.
[Spacer Kwon Hee-seung]
[Miry-nay Park Min-ha]
They were guys from agencies in the same predicament as me.
-Spacer Kwon Hee-seung : ???
-Spacer Kwon Hee-seung : What is this group chat even for
-Spacer Kwon Hee-seung : Is this some kind of variety show?
-Miry-nay Park Min-ha : Hello, Senior!
I started typing bluntly.
-Hello
-Do you like this company
If there’s nothing to eat, I’d sell even a thatched house.
‘Cut off all their lifelines.’
The answer was… the company’s destruction.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————