The Return of the Legendary Golden-Handed Blacksmith - Chapter 325

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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 325
Episode 325.
Ding-! Ding-!
Dongwoo’s heart leaped.
“M-meeting requests.”
Not just from the Netflix representative, but meeting requests had come in from Enjoyee and Lizni as well.
Each of the company heads wanted to meet with Jin-woo directly.
“Wait, isn’t this normally how it works—the actual operators come, not the executives?”
When discussing business matters like this, it’s always the case that representatives stay in the background. The standard practice is for the operators to come directly, with just a brief moment for the representative to meet after the contract is finalized.
“That’s how it went in the movies too.”
In the movies Dongwoo had seen, it was the same way.
He hadn’t often seen scenes where the representative came forward so eagerly. Especially not from companies this large.
“Jin-woo!”
Dongwoo quickly found Jin-woo.
“Netflix, Enjoyee, Lizni—all three contacted us. They all say the heads want to meet you.”
“What about the specific terms?”
“We’ll find out when we meet, I guess. Lizni already sent their rep though!”
Jin-woo smirked.
“That makes me want to give Lizni a good score. Go ahead and send confirmations to all of them.”
“You’re going to reject them again?”
“No.”
Now wasn’t the time to refuse.
‘Dongwoo’s joined the team now.’
Producer Han In-gu had already left JBS and established his own production company. The preparation was complete.
‘The anticipation in the community is already amplified.’
The communities were bursting with people anticipating the fourth Netflix series.
Through the JinTube and Positano conflict, it had been proven that Jin-woo had created new subordinates and new equipment.
‘Traces of Elementia are visible in the JinTube videos, so people can’t help but be curious.’
Those rewatching the third series were also hungry for new content.
‘Now the facts will gradually come to light.’
It would eventually be revealed that Han In-gu had resigned and that Netflix hadn’t signed an additional contract with Jin-woo.
‘Random opportunists might start crowding in.’
Jin-woo wanted to prevent such annoying situations before they happened.
This was precisely the right timing.
‘I’ve drawn enough attention.’
All three company heads would want to close this deal quickly.
“Let’s schedule all three meetings on the same day. For the times…”
Jin-woo began seriously arranging meeting times with the three company heads.
‘Let me see what they’re offering.’
* * *
A building in Samseong-dong.
In an elegant conference room sat two tall Westerners.
One of them was a man with distinguished whiskers, and he appeared quite displeased.
“And the meeting with Jin-woo?”
“I apologize. We haven’t been able to schedule it yet.”
“Hmm.”
The bearded man was Philip Trong, the representative of Enjoyee.
He furrowed his brow and clicked his tongue.
“Can’t we cooperate through Suomi Company? We still can’t get a meeting scheduled?”
“That’s the thing…”
Currently, Suomi Company maintained close ties with Netflix.
Because of that, they had sent word that they couldn’t assist with Enjoyee’s business collaboration request.
Enjoyee was a massive corporation. There were hardly any companies that would outright refuse a collaboration proposal from such a giant.
It made sense. Refusing Enjoyee’s proposal meant losing out on the countless future offers and advertising deals from them.
“Tch.”
Philip had entered Korea around the same time Rod Paradox had arrived in the country.
There was no way that heavy player would come to Korea without good reason.
As expected.
The contract between Jin-woo and Netflix ended with exactly three series.
That meant with the third series now live and Jin-woo at his peak value, he was now incredibly free.
At this moment, Jin-woo was a walking bar of gold.
Rod Paradox likely came in person to negotiate precisely because he understood that.
Because of this, Philip had been desperately trying to meet Jin-woo by any means.
He’d tried various routes and methods, but Jin-woo remained difficult to reach.
After even the Suomi Company approach failed, Philip became convinced that Rod was behind all of it.
“Rod’s already made his move. There’s no way it should be this hard to arrange a meeting.”
It seemed they were trying to recruit Jin-woo alongside Rod. If that were true, it explained why Enjoyee’s proposal had been blocked.
If they’d decided to go with Netflix, why would they fear Enjoyee?
“Hmm.”
Philip exhaled heavily. This wasn’t the time for passivity.
Right now, Enjoyee needed Jin-woo.
He had to recruit Jin-woo and turn the situation around at any cost.
“Lizni’s apparently moving fast too. I doubt they’re having any better luck either.”
But as long as they kept approaching Jin-woo through various channels, they’d eventually get their chance.
“He definitely won’t be swayed by money. That much is certain.”
Then it all came down to persuasion.
All three were major platforms, and money—they could offer as much as needed.
But Jin-woo was already making enormous sums from New Gene.
“His MiTube channel’s doing quite well too, I hear?”
“Yes, that’s correct. It seems unlikely he’d be swayed by money alone.”
“Then we need to approach him with a different benefit.”
He’d need something other than money to tempt him.
“He’s a blacksmith. He probably values materials above all.”
“New Gene materials, you mean?”
In this era, there were very few people who didn’t engage with New Gene.
Each company representative played New Gene too.
Philip was no exception.
“But that won’t be enough. Jin-woo is already an exceptional blacksmith, isn’t he? He probably obtains most materials on his own.”
“Yes, that’s right. Which is why he’d need carefully curated materials.”
“Hmm.”
Netflix wouldn’t be ignorant of that.
Moreover, Lizni is a company that cuts brilliant deals. When they stole that massive project from us not long ago, I can’t tell you how much it stung.
Despite being a late entrant compared to Enjoyee, Lizni’s growth has been formidable.
He couldn’t let his two competitors snatch Jin-woo away.
He needed a solid contract offer.
“Then let’s start by securing those materials first. From what I hear, Netflix doesn’t seem to be moving either. It looks like they’re just flatly refusing everyone.”
So neither Enjoyee nor Netflix and Lizni were able to approach Jin-woo.
In that case, it was better to secure the negotiation materials quickly.
“Let’s start the meeting.”
The moment Enjoyee began their conference, Lizni was already in the thick of theirs.
In a business suite at the Sesunra Hotel in Jongno, Seoul, where Lizni was currently staying.
The presenter was rapidly explaining the current negotiation.
“We at Lizni possess a Magic Forest. The materials from that location are currently under our exclusive monopoly.”
They held a private forest in New Gene through enormous investment and aggressive play.
From that forest came unique materials found nowhere else, and these were the very materials that countless blacksmiths and craftspeople coveted.
“If we contract to provide Jin-woo exclusively with everything that comes from this Magic Forest, I believe we genuinely have a chance. Netflix and Enjoyee are likely to come forward with massive contract fees or excellent real-world contract terms.”
The presenter was a user who understood Jin-woo extremely well.
“I remember Jin from the Eternal Sunshine days. Perhaps I’d be uncertain about that Jin-woo. But the current Jin-woo won’t be swayed by money.”
In terms of value, billions of won.
Yet the profit from recruiting Jin-woo would be far greater, so it wouldn’t be wasteful.
“Let’s make the entire Magic Forest the contract payment.”
Boris, Lizni’s representative, smiled.
Lizni was in a precarious position on multiple fronts.
Famous directors and IPs they’d hired at enormous cost were flopping badly.
They were even investing more aggressively than rival competitors, yet running deficits every time.
If things continued this way, they might have to withdraw from the OTT platform market altogether.
The seemingly formidable growth was only possible because of the vast sums they’d poured in.
Since money wasn’t infinite, that growth would eventually stall, and when it did, they’d lose users back to Netflix and Enjoyee.
Which was why they desperately needed a true cash cow—a massive flagship IP.
Boris believed Jin-woo could be that for them.
“Excellent. Prepare that proposal right away.”
Boris stood, thumping the desk twice.
“We’re facing a crisis. A very grave crisis indeed.”
The balance among the three platforms had already shifted.
Before the overwhelming force of Netflix, Lizni was effectively finished. If they couldn’t overcome these enormous losses, they faced a future where not only would they fail to secure third place—they might be locked out of the market entirely.
“Jin-woo settled everything with just three series. That powerful IP is what we need to focus on.”
Boris spoke.
“And then there’s JinTube. The growth is absolutely terrifying. We’ll definitely hit ten million subscribers by year’s end, and the view counts relative to his subscriber base are staggering.”
There was one more thing worth noting.
“His ability to produce engaging content is exceptional. That charisma that captivates audiences—that’s what matters most in exclusive content.”
Right now, Lizni desperately needed that powerful force Jin-woo possessed.
Jin-woo’s loyal readership was absolutely essential to Lizni.
As a latecomer buoyed by massive investment, Lizni had conspicuously few loyal customers.
OTT platforms fundamentally depend on steady payments from loyal customers.
Without killer content, viewers simply abandon the platform for another or cancel their subscriptions.
“He’s someone who can change everything alone. We absolutely must. We really, truly must!”
Boris spoke with force.
“We at Lizni have to be the ones who bring him in!”
Three powerhouses were each deploying their full arsenal to bring Jin-woo into the fold.
And then.
“Representative! A message has arrived!”
All three representatives received contact simultaneously.
It was a proposal to schedule a meeting to coordinate dates and discuss the specific details.
“It has to be.”
Each representative uttered the same words.
“We have to be the ones who land him!”

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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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