Debut or Die - Chapter 455

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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A Fatal Illness if I Don’t Debut – Episode 455
The atmosphere at T1 Stars was unsettled.
Having gained independence from their parent company T1 Entertainment, the company was no longer a subsidiary of a sprawling conglomerate.
On the surface, it sounded promising, but in reality, it carried enormous uncertainty.
The meddling superiors who wielded their authority had vanished, but so had the backing that would shoulder responsibility.
-What do you think about this?
-Manager… should we look around together?
Among the staff, concerns about future treatment and tentative jokes about job-hopping circulated freely.
The same applied to their superiors.
With the board of directors arrested and vanished due to political pressure in an unprecedented crisis, only a newly hired Director brought in from a professional CEO firm remained, along with various department heads and team leaders.
Everyone kept a sharp eye on their movements.
If those people saw an opportunity to escape, they had to move quickly too!
-Director, you must be going to another company, right? LOL
-But he might not leave either, right?
Yet there was still something to believe in.
-We still have a solid lineup of affiliated artists
That was true.
What they believed in was precisely their affiliated artists.
Several groups with solid fanbases who toured and had secured their reputation and stable revenue.
And among them, there was one group whose name carried particular weight.
-Testa is said to be renewing their contract too
Testa!
Shining with three consecutive awards, they were unquestionably the top idol group.
Moreover, since they handled their own producing, it wouldn’t be a major problem even if the upper management disappeared.
The staff, unaware of exactly how T1 and its subsidiary had fallen out, were confident that if they could just keep Testa, the company could survive.
-Ah, Testa’s label is going somewhere anyway
-Even if this place goes bankrupt, won’t the label survive?
Perhaps the label would absorb more personnel or the label itself would consume the company, and people indulged in heated, optimistic fantasies.
And so, externally, this atmosphere took shape.
Let’s look at an anonymous workplace community.
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[T1 Entertainment Subsidiary Seniors?]
Curious about the recent atmosphere. Is everyone welcoming the independence?
==========================
Hahaha
-It’s mysterious
-Well, just working at the company. No major issues so far
Instead of airing petty grievances, they dodged the question. It was precisely because there were real problems that such a response emerged.
But within that mysterious atmosphere where hope still lingered…
[Testa Park Moon-dae : Then I’ll visit you tomorrow.]
“…!”
The Director received a text message in his office, finally and inevitably.

* * *
Park Moon-dae of Testa was a madman.
At least, that’s what the Director was certain of.
He’d once thought of him as a spoiled brat, but after signing the Label contract under duress, that assessment had solidified into certainty.
The timing of his actions and words was so cunning and exquisite it was almost unnatural.
‘I should have caught on the moment I learned about his background.’
An orphan who’d placed first in a Survival Show Program at that age—what kind of hardened character must he possess?
I’d been too soft on him, judging only by his youth, and now I’d stumbled right into his trap!
‘Who could have known that kid would pull something like this?’
The Director tried to brush off the humiliation of that Label contract—signed practically under coercion—with little more than a click of his tongue.
He’d never suspected that beneath Park Moon-dae’s soft, youthful appearance lay someone far more mature and seasoned.
In any case, time had passed since that Label incident. Testa had continued their activities without any major incidents, and Park Moon-dae hadn’t reached out separately.
But then.
“I’d appreciate it if you’d read this.”
“….”
The Director barely managed to pick up the stack of papers Park Moon-dae had set down with his rigid hand.
These documents, with crucial sections blacked out, were identical to those from the Label coercion incident.
Lawsuit materials.
The problem was that they weren’t limited to Testa alone.
“Ah, from page seven onward, it’s about different groups.”
Miry-nay, Spacer.
Neatly organized information about the two groups that ranked second in profitability after Testa at this Entertainment Agency.
‘This is….’
This too concerned improper treatment by the Agency. Though it was somewhat less devastating.
For Miry-nay, the focus was on unauthorized tours and America activities; for Spacer, it was member neglect.
Regardless, there was only one reason he’d prepared this.
“Well, next month. We’re planning a class action lawsuit by the month after at the latest.”
“…!”
It was a thunderbolt from a clear sky.
And this was utterly unethical! Especially for Testa.
He barely managed to suppress the rising sense of crisis. Then, with practiced ease, he shook his head.
“No… showing me something like this…”
The Director tapped the papers once and forced out a laugh.
Deliberately letting anger seep into his expression.
“Testa, last time you already added a Label contract to this, and if you keep doing this, the company faces serious difficulties too. If you make proposals this recklessly, who’d want to work with Testa?”
It was true.
And it was also a subtle threat that if they sued, he’d drag the Label matter into it and expose everything.
“And honestly, with other groups—this isn’t really lawsuit material, is it? You’re nitpicking over mistakes anyone could make while working. Judges aren’t idiots.”
There was half a truth to that.
But… Park Moon-dae remained composed.
“Winning isn’t what matters here.”
What?
“What matters is what happens to this company the moment all three of these groups stop working together.”
“…!!”
“The cash flow stops.”
That was the crux of it.
The moment they file suit… activities cease.
And album sales and other merchandise would plummet vertically. The fans wouldn’t buy anything.
And reflexively, the Director found himself imagining that scenario.
‘If this mid-sized entertainment agency—not even a T1 subsidiary—loses all its revenue streams….’
It’s over.
The longer the lawsuit drags on, the longer they generate no revenue, while fixed costs like the building keep bleeding them dry.
But T1, which had provided the initial capital, had already cut ties with the company, so they can’t pull in more funds.
No other investor would touch them the moment the company’s three most successful groups unite to file suit.
Which means….
“Bankruptcy. Sooner or later.”
Park Moon-dae delivered the verdict.
“And once the company collapses, we automatically become free agents.”
“….”
A chill ran down his spine.
It was that sharp, sinking feeling that came from hearing the truth—a prediction about the future with terrifyingly high accuracy.
The kind that could be summed up as ‘we’re screwed’.
These bastards could destroy the company just by filing suit.
‘Damn it all….’
The Director swallowed a few curses mixing English and Korean, then pivoted the conversation as casually as he could manage.
First, he had to play it off and appease them.
“That’s quite a leap in logic. Ha, well, Testa can leave just by not renewing their contract, right? I really don’t understand why you’d want to take the hard route.”
Park Moon-dae, who had caught perfectly what the Director was really saying—please just ask for better renewal terms instead—nodded slightly.
“We want to help the other groups. As seniors.”
These crazy bastards!
They’d been making money hand over fist—what grievance could possibly justify pulling this stunt?
‘The moment you say you won’t renew, your reputation ends too.’
The Director, now savvy enough to understand how entertainment companies operated, made his decision: he’d mobilize public opinion and destroy them no matter what it took.
And just as he was about to lay out a warning disguised as casual conversation—
“That’s actually why I’m bringing this up with you first, sir.”
Park Moon-dae added quietly, breaking the silence.
“You’ve been good to our label before, after all.”
There was a hint of goodwill mixed into that voice.
“I’m suggesting you leave first.”
“….”
“Before we file a lawsuit.”
The Director was momentarily flustered.
Park Moon-dae showed no particular contempt or arrogance toward him.
He’d hesitated before speaking, and though it might backfire, there was a subtle hint that he’d decided to say it anyway.
‘…That’s right.’
If he’d devised such a plan, telling someone like a company executive was itself a risk.
The fact that he’d taken that risk to speak… it might actually be genuine goodwill!
No matter how much money he’d earned, he was still barely a rookie in society. Perhaps he felt apologetic toward an adult he’d already burned once with that additional contract. That’s the picture the Director painted.
…Of course, that wasn’t the truth.
‘This bastard took the bait.’
That’s what I was thinking as I looked at the Director.
I’d never had any intention of filing a lawsuit in the first place!
In fact, we’d discussed it among ourselves in Testa before, but suing the company itself dealt a massive blow to an artist’s image. In industry parlance, you get “blacklisted.”
However, the Director, who hadn’t originally worked in entertainment, lacked the experience to catch such nuanced details.
Instead, he caught the signal I was sending.
-I don’t want to cause harm to others, especially people I know.
That sort of thing… the kind of tender-hearted, immature sentiment of someone not yet tainted by society.
So the Director interpreted the situation roughly like this.
Logically, if Testa wouldn’t gain much from a lawsuit….
‘Did another group subtly manipulate them into taking the fall, and now there’s no way out?’
Because they stepped up for others, they’d also become concerned about the ‘other people’ who might suffer as a result!
So his words came out reflexively stronger.
Because he’d spotted an opening.
“I mean, changing companies isn’t child’s play… Do you think transferring companies happens overnight, Moon-dae?”
He intended to push forward and get Testa to back out of the lawsuit.
And I blinked.
“Is it difficult?”
“Logically, it’s impossible. I mean, when exactly are you planning to file the lawsuit?”
“Hmm.”
I fell silent, slowly enough to tear at his heartstrings, then spoke carefully.
A lifeline.
“Come to think of it, what if we didn’t file a lawsuit and did it this way instead?”
“…!”
“How about this?”
As if I’d just thought of it, I furrowed my brow and threw out a few words like I was deducing something.
In that moment, the Director’s eyes snapped open.
If we did it that way!
“…This way, we buy time, and when you move on, there shouldn’t be any issues with your portfolio or anything like that.”
Park Moon-dae finished speaking and stared directly at the Director.
“You already know this, Director. There’s no future in this company anyway.”
T1 has already let go.
Yes, the Director already knew this fact.
He’d been wondering if he could squeeze out a bit more with Testa still around, but now that things had come to this.
‘…Right. All business is about timing.’
The person who makes the first move suffers the least damage and gains the most.
The Director made his decision and opened his mouth.
Park Moon-dae smiled faintly.

* * *
The next evening.
“Hyung~ What are you saying?”
Ryu Chung-woo hung up the direct call from the company’s upper management and chuckled.
It was a smile tinged with surprise and refreshment.
“The company wants to discuss something about the group name, but it seems like they’re going to sell the trademark rights.”
“…!”
“R-really…?”
“Yeah.”
“WOW!!”
At the signal of operation success, the living room immediately filled with excited noise. Bae Sae-jin waved his arms in excitement.
“It actually worked?”
“Yes.”
Didn’t I say it would work?
I chuckled and recalled my conversation with that Director.
‘That selfish bastard.’
He knew how to take the money and run.
I didn’t make some grand proposal. It was like this.
‘The company’s going under anyway, so make one last killing before it does.’
-The trademark rights will go to auction after bankruptcy anyway. So instead of that happening, you sell the trademark rights to the groups for a fee beforehand.
Once the company goes under, the trademark rights that go to auction can be bought. But I was giving the Director a chance to sell them first and disappear.
Short-term profits and beautiful image-making for the entertainment agency that gives artists their names—milk it all dry.
And the Director completes the final page of his portfolio right before the company collapses and bails.
Us? We’ve made excuses for having this much benefit.
-If other groups get this deal, wouldn’t they feel secure staying at this company? It means they can take this name and go elsewhere even if the company goes under.
-Rather than wait while pushing hard until the company goes bankrupt, it’s better for us to just buy it now.
It means everyone benefits.
“…So then?”
“Yes.”
I let out a soft chuckle.
“You don’t need to pursue the lawsuit.”
“…!”
“Oh!”
“Then we can leave peacefully without renegotiating our contracts!”
“Okay~ That’s the best!”
Everyone started high-fiving without context, as if the company was the only thing left to handle.
Sun Ah-hyun quietly raised his hand.
“Um, but then… the other groups, they’re staying with this company…? If we can’t pursue the lawsuit?”
“…!”
I let out a quiet laugh.
And I remembered Gold 2, who had shouted to go all-in, yet seemed anxious enough to bite his nails throughout the entire process.
-Brother, will you save us?? How dare you just leave Testa like this…??ㅠㅠ
“No.”
I said I’d help them escape, so that would be a scam if I didn’t.
“It’ll happen gradually.”
The great agency exodus.
Now all that was left was to wait.

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