I Will Raise This Family to Greatness - Chapter 355

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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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Chapter 355
Muhammad bin Salah’s early teenage daughter likes Min-guk’s videos?
I smiled faintly to myself.
[As expected, Sevens is extraordinary from the very beginning.]
Muhammad bin Salah quickly tucked his daughter’s photo back into his pocket.
“Hearing about your daughter’s interest, it seems the reason you wanted to meet me today is because you’re quite interested in this entertainment business I’m investing in, correct?”
“Of course.”
Muhammad bin Salah nodded vigorously.
But I couldn’t share this golden goose with him.
At the same time, it wouldn’t be wise to offend Muhammad bin Salah, who was the cornerstone of oil money connections.
Life had taught me that the world was small, and people’s relationships were such that you could meet again anytime, anywhere.
I arranged my expression to be as ambiguous as possible.
“I think being honest might be the best approach.”
At my words, Muhammad bin Salah tilted his head in confusion.
Oil money beginning to invest was essentially like giving a Porsche to someone who’d never driven before.
“I believe that idol groups like the one Muhammad bin Salah has seen will need storytelling going forward.”
“What do you mean by storytelling?”
“I think idol groups need a narrative of growth. Currently, the group my younger brother belongs to is honestly affiliated with a mid-sized production company in Korea’s entertainment industry.”
“I looked into it. It’s a production company run by a composer named Bang Mu-hyuk, right? The finances aren’t great either, and from what I saw in the videos, they haven’t properly debuted a group yet after the girl group controversy. Even from the videos, the practice conditions look quite poor.”
“Yes… but this story will become their greatest stepping stone as they grow.”
Muhammad bin Salah’s face showed complete incomprehension.
Born as royalty in an oil-rich nation, Muhammad bin Salah had never experienced financial hardship—his reaction was perhaps only natural.
Muhammad bin Salah took a sip of tea and opened his mouth.
“Wouldn’t they grow more advantageously if they practiced in better environments and received songs from expensive composers? CEO Jeon Sung-guk?”
“As I mentioned earlier, I’m currently writing the narrative for this group. The story of a mid-sized production company, practicing in a moldy underground studio, living each day earnestly toward debut.”
“But that only becomes a narrative if they succeed. If they fail, it means nothing.”
“Muhammad… this group will definitely succeed.”
[Because it’s a group I invested in!]
* * *
As I stepped out the door, Secretary Park Sung-hee, who had been waiting, quickly approached me.
“Sung-guk, are you alright?”
“Yes… let’s talk outside.”
“Young Master Tae-guk is waiting downstairs as well.”
I wiped the beads of sweat forming on my forehead with my hand.
The meeting with Muhammad bin Salah had been that taxing.
* * *
As I got in the car, Jeon Tae-guk leaned forward eagerly and asked.
“Sung-guk, what did you talk about? Is he investing in Alpha? Or FaceNote?”
I took a moment to catch my breath.
“Hyung, I need to contact someone first.”
“Yeah… okay.”
I called Bang Mu-hyuk. His voice came through moments later.
– Sung-guk, what’s going on?
“Sir, would it be possible to watch Min-guk and the trainees practice tomorrow morning?”
– They practice every day anyway, so that’s fine. But what’s this about?
“There’s someone who really wants to see them.”
– Alright…. I’ll let the kids know when I stop by the practice room in a bit. But who exactly is this person you want to see?
“You’ll find out when you see them tomorrow.”
Bang Mu-hyuk didn’t press further.
Jeon Tae-guk and Secretary Park Sung-hee, who had been listening to the call beside me, simply widened their eyes.
“Sung-guk, Muhammad wants to invest in Min-guk’s company?”
“Yes….”
“That’s huge! Now Min-guk won’t have to worry about oil money anymore!”
Jeon Tae-guk was delighted as if it were his own brother’s success.
“I turned him down.”
In that instant, both Jeon Tae-guk and Secretary Park Sung-hee were left speechless.
“Sung-guk… you’re not jealous of your brother’s success, are you?”
“Brother, I’m not like you.”
“Then why did you refuse?”
“Oil money doesn’t guarantee that the group will succeed.”
At that moment, Secretary Park Sung-hee jumped in eagerly.
“But Sung-guk is also an investor in that company. If oil money comes in and they succeed, your stake would be diluted, wouldn’t it?”
[Of course that matters too, Park.]
I nodded slightly.
Then Jeon Tae-guk tilted his head.
“Sung-guk, you need big investments to succeed.”
“Brother, idol groups aren’t semiconductors. Of course, that doesn’t mean we won’t invest. But I want Min-guk’s group to have a South Korean identity.”
“What do you mean by that?”
Jeon Tae-guk looked at me with confusion.
[There’s no way he’d understand that.]
I began explaining to Jeon Tae-guk carefully.
“Min-guk’s group will be composed entirely of pure Koreans with no foreigners.”
“Sung-guk, these days it’s trendy for male idol groups to include one or two foreigners because of military service issues and overseas expansion.”
“That actually causes a lot of problems. Once Chinese members become popular, they immediately move to China, the bigger market. Military service is a risk, but ironically, this unique situation can make their existence more unique in the eyes of the international market.”
“I see….”
Jeon Tae-guk nodded.
“Lately, following Adam, I’ve been into several idol groups, and I’ve started noticing that pattern.”
“I’m going to develop Min-guk’s group into one that allows them to take pride as South Koreans. Even if it’s difficult now, once they succeed, that will become an even greater driving force, and they’ll be recognized worldwide.”
Secretary Park Sung-hee shook her head.
“When Sung-guk talks like that, I really can’t tell if you know the future or if you’re just saying what you’re going to do…. It’s confusing sometimes.”
“Leave it. It seems Sung-guk’s dream is to make Min-guk a national representative.”
[A national representative group! That’s Min-guk’s path!]
* * *
The Underground Practice Studio reeked of mold and the sweat of male trainees from early morning.
Bang Mu-hyuk had apparently come in early to coach Min-guk and the other trainees.
As I entered, Bang Mu-hyuk greeted me warmly.
“Sung-guk, welcome.”
“Uncle, you’ve been practicing since this morning?”
“Yeah… The kids have been working hard lately. The debut lineup is almost finalized, and we keep receiving songs. Come by later when we’re choosing our title track and give us your opinion too.”
“Of course.”
“By the way, who’s coming today?”
I smiled faintly.
“Muhammad bin Salah.”
“Huh?”
Bang Mu-hyuk’s small eyes widened.
“He’s one of the Saudi Arabian royal family. I had a meeting with him yesterday, and his daughter has already seen Min-guk’s videos and is a fan. He said he wanted to invest in this company, so…”
Bang Mu-hyuk looked at me with eyes full of anticipation.
“He wanted to invest?”
“Actually, I turned him down.”
The hopeful gleam in his eyes instantly froze cold.
“Sung-guk, how can you tell me this now?”
His voice was full of disappointment.
“Uncle, I want to see this group that Min-guk and his friends are in grow without a single foreign investor.”
Despite my explanation, Bang Mu-hyuk still looked regretful. Then again!
“Actually, I’m hesitant about taking Saudi Arabian money. Muhammad bin Salah is royalty, but Saudi Arabia always has bloodshed over succession disputes. If we took money from royalty whose fate is uncertain, it could cause problems later.”
I provided reasonably sound justification.
Of course, I didn’t mention that Muhammad bin Salah would become the dominant force in the future.
Bang Mu-hyuk nodded then.
“Ah, that’s right… These kids are just starting out, so it’s better not to get entangled in such matters.”
“Exactly.”
“Yeah, it’s your brother’s group, so I figured you’d handle it wisely.”
[Of course, Bang Mu-hyuk. I need to make sure Min-guk earns his keep too!]
Just then the music ended, and the sweat-drenched trainees sprawled across the floor.
I distributed the drinks I’d bought in advance to the trainees.
Min-guk also sprawled on the floor and reached his hand toward me.
“Hey, me too.”
I went over to Min-guk and held out the drink. The moment he reached for it, I pulled it back sharply.
I could see Min-guk’s face contort with irritation.
“Hyung, what are you doing?”
“Min-guk, do you remember before your first audition when you were little?”
“Hyung, are you asking me to earn my keep?”
“Yeah.”
I nodded in agreement.
“Since then, I don’t recall you ever earning your keep.”
“Once I debut, I’ll earn my keep right away!”
Min-guk grumbled.
“Min-guk, I’m going to give you that opportunity today.”
“What do you mean?”
“Dance and sing as if today is your last chance. Understand?”
“Ugh… fine. Give me a drink.”
I handed Min-guk a beverage.
As he took it, Min-guk raised his right hand high just like he used to do as a child and shouted.
“Earning my keep!”
* * *
Muhammad bin Salah was diligently recording Min-guk and the trainees dancing on a Samjeon phone.
Soon the music ended, and the trainees stood panting heavily, drenched in sweat.
Muhammad bin Salah clapped with satisfaction.
“Bravo!”
Min-guk and the trainees seemed slightly flustered by the cheers from the veiled foreign stranger and stood awkwardly, unsure what to do.
I quickly approached Muhammad bin Salah.
“Muhammad, this is my younger brother, Jeon Min-guk.”
“My daughter really loves him.”
Muhammad responded naturally in English, and Min-guk, whose language training had not gone to waste, replied fluently in English.
“Thank you so much for coming all this way. I can’t believe we have fans in Saudi Arabia…”
“I’ll support you until your debut.”
“Thank you so much!!!”
Min-guk and the trainees answered in unison.
“By the way, this is a small gift from me.”
Before Muhammad bin Salah could even finish speaking, his secretaries entered carrying seven large luxury handbags.
“Jeon Sung-guk said sponsorship was unnecessary, so I prepared this instead. Please accept this as a heartfelt gift for filming this video for my daughter today.”
The trainees stared at Bang Mu-hyuk with bewildered expressions.
“Sung-guk, it’s okay to accept this, right?”
“Of course. It’s earning our keep today.”
At that moment, the trainees quickly accepted the handbags.
* * *
I rode with Muhammad bin Salah in the car heading to the hotel.
We had more to discuss.
“Jeon Sung-guk, I don’t know how to thank you for allowing me to give such a precious gift to my daughter.”
“Muhammad, we made a promise, didn’t we?”
“Of course. I’ll give this video as a gift to my daughter… and when these trainees become a world-class group in the future, you’ll open Saudi Arabia’s doors to them, right?”
“Yes, Muhammad bin Salah.”
Muhammad bin Salah wore an inscrutable expression for a moment before looking at me.
“Sung-guk… but that’s not something you should ask me. It sounds like something you should ask the person with actual political power.”
“I have a feeling that person will be you.”
Muhammad bin Salah smiled enigmatically.
“Are you a prophet, Jeon Sung-guk?”
“No. I simply read people’s desires a little.”
I answered calmly.
Then Muhammad bin Salah extended his hand.
“Jeon Sung-guk, I will never forget your kindness. And the fact that you read my heart—I’ll remember that too.”
I grasped Muhammad bin Salah’s hand firmly.
* * *
A message arrived as I was heading back after parting with Muhammad bin Salah.
It was from Jeon Tae-guk.
What could it be?
– Sung-guk, Min-guk’s video is now number one on YouTube’s trending videos in the Middle East!
So this is how the history of Sevens begins….

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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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