Debut or Die - Chapter 457

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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 457
Testa’s escape from T1 Stars.
And a contract with a newly established company founded by the former Label CEO who resigned!
The group name is preserved!
Naturally, the fans loved it. It was the perfect scenario—the kind you’d pick after seeing a thousand possible futures—that marked the end of this re-contracting season.
Even if T1 Stars was no longer a subsidiary of T1, that didn’t erase all the nonsense they’d pulled over the years.
It was a dream situation: the label staff would move with them intact, finally breaking free from that insufferable agency.
-Testa’s new agency is insane
-This is like a movie plot lol
Testa’s new agency took its name from the existing label and registered under the name ‘Stars Orbit Entertainment’.
But most people simply called it Orbit.
-Hearing “Stars” just makes me think of T1 Stars and it pisses me off–
-Ah, everything’s changing for the better, I’m so happy
-I’m so relieved. If almost all the original label staff are going with them, the album quality won’t drop, right?
The fandom seemed ready to celebrate, but the problem was the media play T1 Stars had just pulled.
[The True Intent of Independent T1 Stars: “Returning Names to Artists”]
Independence from a corrupt conglomerate, transferring trademark rights to affiliated artists.
It looked like Testa had thrown cold water on the moment T1 Stars was trying to rebrand itself as a “good company”.
-Repaying kindness with betrayal lol wow
-They freed the group name and immediately left. This is too much, opportunists
-The people at the old agency must be in shock
-I heard from someone who works there that this became the final blow and the company’s on the brink of collapse. People are quitting in droves, so if this continues, the other groups’ activities will basically be suspended indefinitely…
Those stirring up controversy worked hard to sway people who only knew the story from articles.
They made constant efforts to emphasize just how devastating a blow Testa had dealt to the company.
They even captured screenshots of despairing posts from T1 Stars employees on anonymous workplace communities.
And when Miry-nay and Spacer fans started reacting to the controversy out of anxiety and impatience, it nearly turned into chaos.
That is, until news broke shortly after.
-Testa Label bought T1 Stars
-??????
It was a development no one had anticipated.
-What are you talking about
└Literally what it says… Orbit Entertainment bought T1 Stars lololol they acquired it
└Insane lololololololol
└What is happening
[“Testa’s Agency” Stars Orbit Entertainment’s Bold First Move: Pursuing M&A of T1 Stars]
The moment the article dropped, communities and SNS erupted.
But no one knew how to react. It was surprising and funny, but no one could figure out what was actually happening.
-Why would they buy it
-Is this a good thing? Should we celebrate?
-Where did all those people go who said Testa destroyed T1 Stars? They saved them lol
-His loyalty is insane, lolololol
-He turned into a hate magnet, had no choice but to click. Orbit’s kids’ agency talking about star power, what’s that about lololol
In any case, the fans of Miry-nay and Spacer finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Testa’s fans were somewhat confused about what benefit this brought them, but they were more relieved and satisfied that the hate magnet had been completely deflected for now.
It looked like a funny happy ending.
However, there were some who harbored this doubt.
‘Wait. If the former agency and employees are the same, and the affiliated artists are the same too….’
-?? So what’s different from the original T1 Stars then?
Swept away by the dramatic situation, but it was the decisive question.

* * *
A new beginning. A new company.
Testa now sat in a new conference room, discussing matters.
We decided not to use the T1 Stars Building. I wanted to draw the line there at least.
However, since we absorbed the subsidiary that T1 had cut ties with wholesale, from their perspective, it would be no different from the same people simply changing the nameplate.
“We’re… still in a state of being cut off from T1, right? Like we were with T1 Stars?”
“That’s right.”
I nodded.
‘We’re still like a kite with a severed string to T1.’
On the surface, it might have looked like we just spent real money and nothing had changed.
But here’s the thing.
“Now we can respond however we want.”
That’s what’s different.
Now we hold the decision-making power.
This company is a private enterprise, and we hold a significant amount of its stock.
‘Now I don’t have to waste energy convincing some useless higher-ups.’
“Wooooow!!”
Cha Yu-jin whistled.
Forever farewell to the boss troll.
And knowing that, they all had refreshed expressions on their faces. Bae Sae-jin looked like he was almost tearing up.
“…Everyone really worked hard. I… didn’t think something like this was possible before. But I’m so glad it worked out… and it’s great.”
“S-Sae-jin hyung….”
Ryu Chung-woo also laughed in agreement.
“Really. It’s strange and amazing to say ‘our company,’ but it’s good.”
“Right? Good, let’s work hard for the next 5, 10 years and beyond~”
“Yes, I feel I need to cultivate even more sense of responsibility! Thank you for your support!”
“Yeah!”
The atmosphere was passionate because everything was unfolding as planned. I nodded.
The sense of ownership to perform well and manage the company well—that’s good.
…Of course, even if T1 Stars’ price had dropped significantly, the funds to acquire it in such a short time didn’t come entirely from us.
Besides, since my ties with T1 had been severed, I needed to pursue other connections anyway.
I recalled the message from that guy still sitting in my smartphone.
More precisely, the reply that came when I reached out first.
-VTIC Senior Shin Chung-ryeo: You got in touch.
-VTIC Senior Shin Chung-ryeo: As expected.
‘As expected’ of what?
Naturally, I had never intended to sign with LeTi in the first place.
But if I could maintain friendly relations with LeTi and benefit from them, there was no reason not to take advantage of that.
So… setting everything else aside, I only conducted a financial transaction.
-Senior, would you perhaps be interested in just taking the investment returns without going through the trouble of establishing a label at your agency?
In other words, LeTi had invested a substantial amount of capital into this company’s launch.
Of course, they didn’t exceed fifty percent. I had to prevent them from exercising majority voting rights.
However, it did mean I was now on the same line as LeTi.
‘Easy access to platforms friendly with LeTi, and in return, slightly difficult to refuse LeTi’s requests.’
This level of connection was good. Shin Chung-ryeo would also benefit from precisely monitoring the competitor’s movements and being able to interfere if necessary.
Of course, he’d be trying to lock me in with debt.
-VTIC Senior Shin Chung-ryeo: In this matter, it seems like the junior received my help unilaterally.
-VTIC Senior Shin Chung-ryeo: What do you think?
I knew he’d say that.
-Yes. In return, I’ll share some good information about another VTIC senior.
-VTIC Senior Shin Chung-ryeo: Hmm?
-Senior Ju Dan is doing well in the military. He was asking about how you’re doing.
After that, there were no more messages. He called me instead and burst out laughing.
‘Well, that works.’
Rather than him claiming he unilaterally helped me while I thoroughly benefited from this company’s finances and schedule, wasn’t a joke better left as a text record?
I opened my smartphone and shared the conversation history with him. Then messages from other guys who had arrived just before also popped up.
‘Hmm.’
The other group members from T1 Stars who I’d helped escape by even creating a group chat.
I’d told them I could terminate their contracts now… and this is the reply I got.
Haha, what are you talking about, hyung?
-Didn’t we escape together? Hehe, we look forward to working with you going forward, Spacer!!
-(tear-filled emoji)
This was Spacer Kwon Hee-seung, in other words, Gold2.
-If it’s alright with you, senior, we’d like to do our best and continue our activities as is!
-And since Stars Orbit Entertainment is our new agency, we’re thinking of it as a new contract. (salute emoji)
This was Mirinai Park Min-ha.
“…Hmm.”
I crossed my arms.
‘Actually… I did expect Mirinai to stay.’
Since the 【BeMyGirls】 side couldn’t properly promote due to the controversy anyway, there wasn’t really a female idol in this agency who could compete with them in terms of position.
And I figured they wouldn’t deliberately discard a situation where the staff members who originally worked well together were still in place.
But what about Spacer? Is that really okay? If our activity schedules overlap with Testa’s, I have no intention of yielding.
I stared at my smartphone and briefly imagined the public backlash we’d face in that scenario.
-Testa’s so greedy, forcing comebacks like this. When are we supposed to see Spacer? Did you guys swallow T1 Stars for this??
-Favoritism is insane, seriously. The shareholders are eating it all up. No wonder he’s from Ajusa. Ah, my kid’s stuck here because of remaining contract time, so it’s his fault, right~~
“….”
I’d adjust things so neither side took losses.
‘Since it’s come to this, maybe I should reposition Spacer too….’
Along a path that doesn’t overlap with Testa.
Faced with this unexpected situation where I was now thinking about other groups’ positions, I pressed my temples.
“Moon-dae, what’s wrong? Something on your mind?”
“No, it’s not that. …The other groups want to stay.”
“…!”
“Didn’t you all want to leave?”
I explained the situation adequately.
Most of them nodded readily. They were the type who’d agreed to salvage a sinking agency because they found it distasteful to let it sink, after all.
“Yeah, it’s better if we go together.”
“Yes, since the staff members are staying as they are… I think I would have done the same.”
In summary, it was ‘ah, I see.’
Only Big Sae-jin shrugged his shoulders.
He seemed dissatisfied, but since we’d already acquired the company, he didn’t want to create variables by getting involved in other groups’ contracts, so he didn’t push back.
He just said this:
“Right. We’ll just do what we were doing, do what we were doing~”
Meaning if they crossed the line and coveted our personnel, we’d cut them off.
‘Got it.’
That’s settled.
I left a reply to Kwon Hee-seung and Park Min-ha to the effect of ‘understood, so they’re staying.’
And just like that, all the complicated company talk and other people’s business was finished.
“Thank you for your hard work!”
“Thank you~”
With the headache-inducing talk over and a comfortable atmosphere settling in, the members grinned widely.
And finally, the topic they’d originally wanted to discuss came up.
“So… should we start preparing our new album right away!”
That’s right.
Those hungry for activities didn’t care about circumstances or anything else—they just wanted to make an album.
“That’s a really good idea!”
“We only did a little activity! Let’s make it quickly this time and do even more!”
“…Wait, we’re also moving dormitories…, hmm, ah, forget it. Ahem, yeah! Let’s work hard!”
“Ooooh!”
Even Bae Sae-jin, who’d been about to pump the brakes, joined in, and the conference room erupted into chaos.
Me?
“I think we should pick out songs right away.”
“Oh, Moon-dae~”
“I’ll contact the AR Team!”
I pulled out “Magic Boy” in just a month starting from absolutely nothing, so what’s the difference here?
‘There’s nothing I can’t do here.’
If I decide to do it, it gets done.
Short on funds? If it comes down to it, I can throw all my remaining settlement money at it. I can handle a couple of albums.
‘…Of course, there are some things that bother me.’
But I’ll figure those out as they come. For now, let’s move forward.
Instead of wasting time hesitating, I smiled and looked around the conference room.
That’s when it happened.
Ding—
A reply came to the KakaoTalk I’d sent earlier.
‘Kwon Hee-seung.’
-Of course, of course! Looking forward to working together as family, hyung!
I figured you’d respond something like that.
But the next message was somewhat unexpected.
-Ahh, I’m going to use that wish ticket now! Hahaha
-Hyung, please help our company grow! And then take us with you! I trust you!
-(heart emoji)
‘Seriously.’
Even if you don’t use that wish token, I’ve already poured so much of my own money into this company that I’m unlikely to cut ties with it.
I chuckled and typed back “Got it.”
That’s when it happened.
[Holder of ‘■■■ Fragment’ confirmed!]
[【Wish】 Registered]
…A status window appeared.
I reflexively stood up from my seat.
“Moon-dae?”
“…Grab him right now!”
Popups continued.
[Item: ■■■ (ver. Beta) Used]
“…!”
No, no, no.
‘That’s the damn System.’
My head felt like it was turning white. Even so, I instinctively connected what Kwon Hee-seung had just said with the popup.
‘The wish token.’
…The System is trying to grant a wish. If that’s the case…
‘Could it be for Kwon Hee-seung?’
This won’t do.
What the hell—why is my exclusive item being used without permission!
“Cancel!”
But the moment I shouted, the Popup had already shifted its text.
Specifically….
[Searching for target….]
[Target: Stars Orbit Entertainment]
Huh?
[Company Name: Stars Orbit]
Recognition: C+
Performance: (-)
Revenue: (-)
Affiliated Artists: Testa (★★★★★), Miry-nay (★★★★), Spacer (★★★) ….
Overall Rating: D+
Above it, another Popup drifted into view with casual indifference.
…peacefully.
[‘Item: ■■■ (ver. Beta)’
Would you like to cancel usage?]
“….”
What is this.

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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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