The Chef From the Apocalypse Enters the Food Industry - Chapter 65

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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 65. Setting a Trap (2)
I turned my head sharply to explain something to Ra-hee, who had been absorbed in the monitor.
“…Huh?”
“…Huh?”
We were close enough that I could feel her breath.
Our shoulders were pressed together.
The tips of Ra-hee’s nose and mine were nearly touching as she turned her head.
I could see her pupils trembling restlessly in the darkness.
‘She’s close.’
In my past life, she always carried the scent of blood and acrid dust.
But now it was different.
A subtle, fragrant shampoo scent tickled the tip of my nose.
But still.
‘She’s still Ra-hee.’
She’s my sister.
My sister and comrade who has been with me from my past life until now.
“Why are your eyes trembling like that?”
“Me? Why? They’re not trembling! You’re mistaken!”
“…Hmm. When you’re startled, your words do get longer—no, you have that habit, don’t you?”
“How did you—no, anyway! I was just blocking the screen too much.”
“That’s true.”
“Ahem….”
Silence fell between us.
Ra-hee hurriedly turned her head away, clearing her throat repeatedly.
‘Why did the atmosphere suddenly become like this?’
* * *
Pat pat!
Ra-hee lightly tapped both her cheeks with her hands.
Then, with a cough, she hastily changed the subject.
“A-ahem! Anyway! Should we upload this video right away?”
“How would you upload it?”
“I’m incredibly confident in editing work like this.”
Ra-hee’s eyes returned to those of a professional in this world.
Her finger pointing at the ruffians floundering on the monitor was brimming with confidence.
“I’ve got the concept down perfectly. You know the classic film 【Home Alone】?”
“Of course. It’s the movie they always play during Christmas.”
“Oh, you’ve seen it quite a bit? Especially during Christmas….”
“…Anyway?”
“That’s exactly it! They’re villains, but they’re not scary—they’re incredibly ridiculous and stupid villains, right?”
“Ah!”
“Let’s go with that approach!”
Ra-hee’s hand swept through the air, sketching out the editing composition.
“We’ll lay down some upbeat, playful background music. For the parts where they fall and tumble, we’ll add slapstick comedy sound effects—splat! Crash! Really punch it up. And we’ll speed up the footage a bit too.”
When discussing editing, Lee Ra-hee was more professional than anyone else.
Her eyes were serious.
“I see.”
“How about making them look like idiots who tried to frame someone but ended up tripping over themselves and getting covered in filth?”
“So you’re thinking it’s better to make them objects of ridicule rather than subjects of criticism?”
“Exactly. When you criticize someone, people defend them. But almost no one will stand up for someone being mocked.”
“Hmm, I see…”
Now that I thought about it, it was perfect.
The public found serious, heavy exposé videos boring.
They got far more excited watching villains become the butt of jokes and objects of ridicule.
It was a clever approach.
‘If we release it like this, it’ll be just like Home Alone with burglars.’
But as I listened to her flawless plan, another thought struck me.
‘Wait. If we’re going to expose them anyway, isn’t it a shame to end it with just one YouTube channel?’
Even if we just threw together a slapstick comedy like this, it would have an impact.
After all, Ra-hee had more subscribers than Hyeon-seung.
But.
‘These guys were sent by Jang On-gyu with malicious intent, right? Incompetent as they are.’
It seemed like they’d taken a desperate gamble trying to pull something off.
When someone takes a desperate gamble, you need to crush them harder for maximum effect.
I needed to expand the board as much as possible and stomp them out completely.
“It really is a brilliant plan. Idiotic slapstick villains.”
“Right?!”
“Yes. Just uploading it will draw people in.”
“So should we start the cut editing right away?”
“No, wait a moment.”
“Hm?”
I stopped Ra-hee and pulled out my smartphone from my pocket.
Then I searched through my contacts and found a number I’d reluctantly saved not long ago.
“Who are you calling?”
“Someone who can give this entertaining film a variation.”
“A variation?”
“Comedy on YouTube. Documentary from far away. What do you think?”
“Hm? What do you mean? I don’t quite follow.”
“Just wait.”
Brrr. Brrr.
Before the dial tone even rang twice.
Click—
An urgent and familiar voice burst through the receiver.
* * *
-Hello?
“How’s it going? You’re handling things properly, right?”
Lee Chae-min’s voice on the phone dripped with anxiety.
The unease of someone backed into a corner.
The Broker on the other end of the line cleared his throat briefly, then responded in his characteristic slick tone.
-Oh man, Team Leader. Of course. Who are my guys? Professionals, right? Professionals?
“Stop dancing around it and just give me the results. They’re inside that restaurant right now, correct?”
-They’re not inside right now. What time do you think it is?
“Then?”
-They went in and came back out. Went to the scene, did the job, and returned.
“Phew….”
The Broker’s words were only half the truth.
Sure, a report had come back after visiting the restaurant.
The problem was that the contents were a complete mess.
Something about his hand slipping and dropping an entire roll of toilet paper instead of a bug.
Something about tripping over his own feet and knocking over a trash can, asking if insurance would cover it.
All sorts of ridiculous stories came out.
A complete disaster, in other words.
But there was triple pay on the line.
No fool would confess that things went wrong here.
‘Even if it wasn’t a bug, we still planted tissue, right? Even if it wasn’t hair, we planted something dark. Ahem… we did the job.’
The Broker finished his rationalization, true to form.
-It’s absolutely perfect. All the preparations are complete.
“You’re sure? You really captured everything without a single flaw, right?”
-Come on, so much doubt. We captured everything beautifully—from the moment of planting to sanitation violations so severe it looked like garbage was overflowing and people would trip.
“Is that enough?”
-Geez. Why are you being like this with a fellow pro? When you pile up small things and light the fire, people naturally swarm in, right? That’s common sense.
“That’s exactly why it hasn’t worked before.”
-Ah, come on. The guys handled it cleanly without a single mistake, so don’t worry.
“…Sigh.”
Only then did a deep sigh of relief escape from Lee Chae-min’s lips.
His throat, which had felt constricted even without a tie, finally loosened.
His wildly racing heart finally found its proper rhythm.
“When are you going to release it?”
-Everything’s set, so we’ll start soon. We’ll jab here and there, one or two a day.
“Quick strikes?”
-Yes, we’ll go with quick jabs like that, and once the stage is set, we’ll throw a straight—finish them off completely.
“Good. If you wrap this up cleanly, I’ll triple the promised bonus and deposit it right away. Triple? You think this is the only job we’ve got?”
-Kk! That’s our Team Leader for you! Sleep soundly knowing you can count on me!
Click. The call ended.
Lee Chae-min’s lips curled upward as he gripped his smartphone tightly.
‘I’m saved. I’m saved! That’s it!’
The crisis of being completely abandoned by Jang On-gyu.
But with this, I could make a complete comeback.
No, beyond a comeback—I would prove my value once more to that meticulous representative Jang.
‘Kim Seon-woo. Even if you can handle one or two guys, what are you going to do when they come in like this? How will you clean up when things blow up this big? Hehe.’
Soon he’d be ground to dust.
Lee Chae-min smiled with certainty of victory.
That arrogant smile looked exactly like Jang On-gyu’s above him.
* * *
“Yes, hello.”
-Yes! This is KBN PD Ga! Owner, have you finally changed your mind?!
The big fish that had bitten the bait and waited eagerly.
Now it was time to use the firepower of those prideful broadcast station people as I saw fit.
“I haven’t changed my mind.”
-Ah… Then what’s this call about?
“Something came up that might change my mind.”
-Oho… What is it? Just tell me.
“An exclusive story that most PDs would absolutely love. It’s not related to entertainment, so I wasn’t sure if you’d be interested…”
-Hmm, so it’s not entertainment? Still, if it’s something that could change your mind, that’s good. But exclusive material you say?
“Yes. High-definition footage of ruffians who snuck into my restaurant trying to fabricate evidence.”
-Hmm… Just one incident seems a bit light though?
“They happened to swarm in as a group. Like someone deliberately escalated things?”
-Ooooh…
I heard rough breathing from the other end of the receiver.
He’d caught the scent.
I wondered how far ahead he’d calculated.
He quickly steadied his breathing and spoke.
-I’m coming right now!
“Right now?”
-Yes. Right now. Don’t give that footage to anyone else and just wait a moment! I’ll make sure your mind changes completely by the time you’re done waiting.
Click. PD Ga hung up first.
‘Wow. That action speed is no joke.’
I was the one who threw out the initial lead.
But he’d definitely bring back something beyond what I’d imagined.
After the call ended, Ra-hee was staring at me with wide eyes.
“Owner. You’re not actually handing this footage over to a public broadcast station, are you? We work together.”
“Of course we’ll work together.”
“Then why the broadcasting station….”
“Doesn’t the picture look good? We create a teaser on YouTube to draw attention. Then the main broadcast on public network news and exposé programs. And after that, we show a slapstick comedy?”
“Ah…!”
“The picture doesn’t come together properly? As a drama series?”
“!!!!”

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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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