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Join the ServerDongju was on the larger side among confectionery companies.
Originally, it was a company that maintained its business through several products including the Milk Bar, but it had continued an aggressive expansion since the current CEO took office ten years ago.
Perhaps that was why.
Dongju did not miss the strange phenomenon of the Milk Bar suddenly selling well in November.
“This concludes the report on the upward trend of sales volume.”
The manager who first discovered the phenomenon finished the briefing.
Beside him were the head of the frozen treats division and the sales planning team leader.
“CEO, is there anything in the report you would like to confirm?”
The planning team leader checked the CEO’s mood.
CEO Kwak Yi-hoon, who had led the aggressive expansion of the company, nodded.
“Pantheon? Is that correct?”
“Yes, it’s Pantheon. Specifically, a member named Sun-woo.”
The manager replied immediately.
“I don’t know much about idols.”
“Is this team that impressive? I’ve never heard the name before.”
Top idols who were cultural phenomena usually had their names known regardless of one’s interest level.
It was not strange at all for products mentioned or used by top idols to gain popularity.
The CEO had entered middle age, but he considered himself an entrepreneur who didn’t fall behind on trends.
Even if he didn’t know every idol, he knew the top ones, but Pantheon was a first.
“Actually, they are not top idols.”
“Ah, is that so?”
A slightly ambiguous expression spread across the faces of the reporting manager and the practical staff.
CEO Kwak Yi-hoon tilted his head and then thought of another possibility.
“Then they must be a team with a solid fandom.”
The CEO also knew that groups with so-called ‘fandom firepower’ could boost sales.
It was simply a matter of each individual in the fandom purchasing in bulk.
“That part has not been confirmed yet. Currently, they don’t even have an official fan club.”
The manager’s report continued.
“Their digital chart ranking is in the 60s, they’ve never placed first on a music show, and they have no CF experience.”
“…Is that so?”
It was utterly subtle.
By this point, CEO Kwak Yi-hoon was merely puzzled.
“Then why are you saying sales rose because of that team? Is the analysis not incorrect?”
As a smart individual himself, CEO Kwak Yi-hoon extremely disliked incorrect analyses or data.
He frowned involuntarily and looked at the practical staff below the team leader.
“No, it is indeed thanks to this team, specifically the member named Sun-woo. Please look at this.”
When the planning team leader signaled the CEO’s secretary, the secretary held out a tablet displaying social media photos.
There were a total of four photos, taken separately by the Homma Kim Eun-shik and the student Woo Jin-hyung.
“Ha?”
The photos made even the notoriously cold businessman Kwak Yi-hoon admire them.
A young man receiving the side-glow from a convenience store light at night.
His long black hair was exceptionally dark, as if it had swallowed the light itself.
In that darkness, he was looking into the void with an arrogant gaze.
His pale face contrasted with the thick black hair, revealing an even more vivid presence, and a pure white ice bar was held in his hand.
The chemistry between the model in the photo, Sun-woo, and the Milk Bar was truly the best.
The captions were ordinary for idol photos, saying [Visuals not of this world], but the hashtags caught the eye.
[#ConvenienceStoreGodOfNight #ColdHeartedIceCream #DemonGodsSnack #IsekaiIdol]
CEO Kwak also nodded.
These were photos that didn’t feel embarrassing even with such hashtags.
“You’re saying this isn’t an advertisement photo from our company? Just looking at it, I’d think it was the result of our marketing team’s work.”
“We were all surprised as well.”
The atmosphere seemed to settle into a single direction.
The CEO, who had hesitated until hearing about Pantheon’s standing and performance, hardened his heart the moment he saw the social media photos.
“The Milk Bar is a steady seller passed down from the previous generation and is a product that serves as the symbol of Dongju. It is a product we can never leave behind.”
“Yes, CEO.”
Now, all they had to do was offer a sufficient modeling fee and collaborate with Sun-woo as the model.
Just as the meeting was about to conclude.
“However.”
“?”
CEO Kwak Yi-hoon added a word.
“They aren’t ‘top’ tier, are they?”
In an instant, a look of slight exhaustion passed between the executives and staff.
Behind the aggressive businessman who had expanded the company’s size lurked a cold-hearted miser who slashed prices below their actual value.
“Cheaply. Do it cheaply.”
***
“I refuse.”
The Demon God refused at once.
“Sun-woo? What did you just say?”
The Team Leader doubted his own ears.
He had personally visited the mansion to deliver the good news.
Even if the modeling fee was low, it was the first advertisement model offer.
He had gathered the members together and brought it up, but what now? Refusal? Why?
Tae-young and Yoon-seo also asked.
“Sun-woo, why are you refusing the modeling gig?”
“Is it because the modeling fee is too low?”
Ha-gyeom and Ji-ho also raised questions.
“If you model, your face will be out there, Sun-woo. Doesn’t that feel good?”
“It’s promotion, too. There’s no logical reason to refuse?”
To everyone’s questions, the Demon God replied firmly.
“My taste has changed.”
“Hmm?”
“I prefer dark chocolate bars now.”
“What?”
It was a reason the Team Leader and members had not expected at all.
“Oh, come to think of it, he has been eating chocolate bars lately? I haven’t seen him eat a Milk Bar.”
Yoon-seo testified while rummaging through his memory.
While it was true he liked the Milk Bar, his exploration of taste continued. Then one day, he encountered the dark chocolate bar.
The Demon God had switched sides without any loyalty.
“Since when is a CF decided based on personal taste!”
The Team Leader protested.
“Since now.”
And he was naturally ignored.
“Team Leader, you know it doesn’t work that way.”
The Team Leader snapped out of it at Tae-young’s whisper.
“R-right.”
He took a deep breath.
No, he didn’t know why he had to take a deep breath in front of a member, but he did it anyway.
“Sun-woo.”
“Hmm?”
“This is Pantheon’s first modeling contract. You’re the one winning it.”
“…First?”
The Team Leader pulled out his know-how.
When dealing with an artist with a massive ego, you have to do it gently. Like shaking a toy at a cat, gently.
“So, you are achieving the first grand feat, Sun-woo.”
“Hmm, hmmm. A feat?”
“Origin Ent’s first group is Pantheon, so it will remain in the company history.”
“Hmph, hmmm. History?”
He enticed Sun-woo by gently waving the justifications.
Thinking this was the chance, he also gently waved the contract.
“Since we’ve finished the review. We’ll sign, alright?”
But then.
“No.”
The Demon God, who seemed to have been won over, spoke unexpectedly.
“I heard such things must be reviewed meticulously. That one might ruin their life by signing the wrong contract.”
“…You know about that too?”
“I study the human world a great deal.”
‘If you study so much, why are you like this…’
Unexpectedly, the Demon God knew how to observe procedures.
“Ji-ho, review this.”
He was entrusting it to Ji-ho according to the Demon God’s procedure.
“What exactly do you think of me?”
Ji-ho grumbled but took the contract and actually started reading it word for word.
The Demon God smiled with satisfaction as he watched Ji-ho perform the task, then suddenly remembered something and spoke.
“Confirm two things. First is the money, which I have heard.”
At those words, Yoon-seo and Ha-gyeom each added a word.
“The amount is important, after all.”
“Are you also into capitalism, Sun-woo?”
The Demon God narrowed his eyes.
“It is the fault of you humans. That I have become like this.”
Then he stated the second review item.
“Second, I have been wondering since earlier; confirm if all of Pantheon is signing as models.”
“Eh?”
“We must do it together.”
“!!!!”
Tae-young, Yoon-seo, and Ha-gyeom, as well as Ji-ho who was in the middle of the review, all raised their heads.
Even the Team Leader stared at the Demon God.
“Sun-woo?”
“You said it was the first modeling offer.”
“That’s right.”
“You said it would be recorded in the company history.”
“Right.”
The Demon God never forgot those who fought beside him when he achieved merit on the battlefield. He always shared the credit and distributed the spoils.
Because that is what a true commander does.
“Sigh, I cannot simply leave my subordinates behind.”
The Demon God shook his head as if he had no choice, but in the eyes of the Team Leader and the members, he somehow looked a bit less annoying for some reason.
“Ji-ho, have you finished the review?”
“There’s nothing to review. Team Leader, you brought up the offer to Sun-woo in the first place, didn’t you? They only want Sun-woo, don’t they?”
The Team Leader nodded.
“In that case, I refuse.”
The Demon God’s conclusion did not change.
The Team Leader could not just tell him to accept it this time.
Since he wanted to look after his own members, it wasn’t something to tell him to abandon his will.
“Alright. I’ll try negotiating that again.”
“Is that team in a position to negotiate?”
In the chairman’s office of Dongju Confectionery.
CEO Kwak Yi-hoon furrowed his brow.
“It seems Origin Ent doesn’t know much about business?”
“Yes, CEO.”
We are grateful that sales increased because they became a hot topic.
However, a modeling offer would clearly be a huge benefit to Pantheon as well.
The entire group when they aren’t even famous idols?
“Shall we withdraw the offer?”
“Hmm.”
CEO Kwak Yi-hoon fell into thought for a moment.
What to do with these amateurs.
They didn’t even seem to know the basics of negotiation.
Soon, having formulated a strategy, he opened his mouth.
“Let’s go with a hold rather than a clear withdrawal. Make them wait without giving an answer.”
“Are you planning to make them anxious?”
“Yes, if they contact us, just reply that it’s under discussion.”
“You are wise, CEO.”
Until a contract is finalized, there are many intermediate processes like this. Sizing each other up, setting conditions and then withdrawing them, dragging time to make the other party anxious.
“Because eventually, the lower-ranked side will have no choice but to bow down and come in.”
CEO Kwak Yi-hoon’s eyes sparkled.
The executives and staff burst into laughter in unison.
There, at the lowest seat.
The assistant manager who was the first reporter laughed and said.
“Hahaha. Their digital chart ranking did rise, but how far can it really go?”
At those words, the surrounding laughter grew slightly quieter.
“Hahahat. But their buzz volume is unexpectedly high because they’re constantly mentioned in communities, entertainment blogs, and various social media.”
The laughter grew a bit quieter again.
“Hahahahat. And the views on their YouTube videos and Shorts keep rising too.”
Hahahaha.
The assistant manager suddenly realized he was the only one laughing.
***
“A hold?”
“Yes, Sun-woo. We aren’t in a position to set conditions yet. We should have accepted from the start.”
The Team Leader spoke with an anxious voice.
Pantheon had arrived at an interview location following their schedule.
While preparing for the interview, they were still discussing the modeling offer.
“Hmph. Team Leader. You are an impatient person.”
“I’m impatient because of who!”
“So you’re saying that the photo of me eating an ice bar had that much influence?”
It was the Demon God checking once again.
“That’s right.”
“I see.”
“Is that all?”
“I have been feeling something while doing various interviews lately.”
“?”
The Demon God spoke seriously.
“It is all a rigged… what was it? Gos… what was it?”
“Go-Stop. You don’t necessarily need to know that.”
“Yes, that. Do interviews not have many parts that are predetermined?”
Cases like [Assault! The Waiting Room] that proceed raw were extremely rare.
Usually, there is a script, and questions and answers are agreed upon.
“So what are you trying to say?”
The Demon God closed his eyes for a moment before speaking.
“Tell the interviewer to bring up the story about the Milk Bar.”
“!”
The Team Leader’s eyes widened.
Including the Milk Bar story in the interview.
Since it was a hot topic on social media lately, it wouldn’t be awkward or seem like an advertisement. In fact, they hadn’t signed the contract yet.
However, if Dongju saw it, they would be pleased, and there was a high possibility that the held contract would return.
“Sun-woo, how did you think of such a great idea!”
“Admire my brilliance.”
The Demon God laughed, and the Team Leader went to see the interviewers.
The interview proceeded according to the Demon God’s plan.
“Sun-woo, I heard the Milk Bar is enjoying a flash of popularity lately thanks to you? Oh my, that must be nice.”
The requested content came out.
The Team Leader smiled with satisfaction, waiting for Sun-woo’s praise of the Milk Bar.
“Hmm? It is not good.”
?
A question mark appeared over the Team Leader’s head.
“Pardon? Why is it not good? We even bought Milk Bars for you to eat, Sun-woo.”
In that moment.
The Demon God laughed.
Quite ruthlessly.
“Because I like dark chocolate bars now?”
***
A few days later.
CEO Kwak Yi-hoon checked the result of synthesizing the reports coming up from the field.
Setting aside the numbers, if summarized in one sentence.
[Nobody eats them anymore.]
“Hmm…….”
And then.
Origin Ent received a contact from Dongju Confectionery.
– – [ Is there any way we can make this work? ]
Along with a much higher modeling fee and a modeling offer for all the members.
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Lol
It had to be chocolate.. another loss for strawberry