“Let’s think about what would happen if Testa joined LeTi.
First, the advantages.
‘I’ve already tried it once.’
I already know what kind of guy the company president is and how the planning team operates. After all, I went through a debut survival there. Even if it was a few years ago and more like a system-generated simulation.
‘I’ll adapt quickly.’
And since LeTi is a large, publicly traded company, they’re unlikely to mishandle Testa’s name value. Besides...
‘There are no rookie male idols.’
At least while VTIC is serving in the military, Testa is likely to receive solid investment.
‘I’ll buy myself a few years.’
Given that T1 Stars sank, this actually looks like a pretty good option.
‘If I negotiate the contract terms well, I might even preserve Testa’s identity.’
However... there was one decisive problem. Absolutely non-negotiable.
So my answer was obvious.
I finished all that thinking in thirty seconds, then responded immediately.
“Sounds good. Thank you for the congratulations.”
Yeah, I’m not going.
Shortly after, a reply came back.
Oh?
After a brief text, I answered the call.
“Sunbaenim.”
He didn’t need to release the call recording, but just in case, I began politely.
“What do you mean by ‘label’?”
His smooth voice continued.
“...!”
Cheongryeo nailed every itch I had.
Then he pressed again.
“......”
I opened my mouth.
“That label...”
“Are you saying the advantage is that Testa can plan things however we want?”
“Yes.”
There’s a system he has set up. It wasn’t entirely false when he said planning would be autonomous. But—
“But promotions and scheduling would be handled by LeTi headquarters, not the label itself, right?”
“And LeTi is your agency.”
Right. ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) What does it mean to go to LeTi? I lifted my phone from my face and looked at the caller ID.
[VTIC Sunchaeng Ryeo sunbaenim]
...It meant he could hold Testa’s schedule in his hand and manipulate it. Even if I tried to swoop in now, I couldn’t outplay someone who’s been in that agency for ten years in just a few months. Especially someone who’s strategized attacking the same company dozens or hundreds of times.
‘I’m not some idiot.’
Handing over the group’s fate to a competitor is foolish. ‘But it’s a windfall for the competitor.’ No wonder he made the offer.
I recalled Cheongryeo’s strange text from last year’s year-end awards—one with a video attached.
A new cushion.
‘A new company, a new home.’
Perhaps he’d been sizing up the T1 situation since then. It pissed me off to be outsmarted, but his behavior was clear.
‘He calculated it.’
He’s no saint. He offered because it benefits him.
After a short silence, his smooth voice returned.
Isn’t ignorance what’s foolish?
“If it ever comes down to choosing between VTIC and Testa?”
“......”
I stared at my phone. After a quick, intense moment’s thought, I spoke again.
“...I’ll think it over.”
It probably sounded like surrender. His tone grew friendlier.
“By the way, could you spread a little rumor to raise my value?”
“A rumor that insiders think Testa won’t renew our contract.” Just a bit of gossip so the company wouldn’t suspect me, but enough to make outsiders waver.
I gave my reasoning plainly.
“The more competition there is, the better LeTi will treat us. That’s the best way to get good contract terms.”
Cheongryeo acknowledged briefly.
‘Good.’
Once that rumor spreads...
“......”
That bastard had already guessed.
‘I’m not going to LeTi.’ No matter how I spin it, it’s asking for trouble. I doubt he’d smash things over my head now, but from a risk-management standpoint, it’s insane to join VTIC’s agency from Testa’s debut.
‘Fans would be furious.’ Everyone would think the same. Why not pick a better option?
‘I need leverage to get a deal.’
Let’s test the waters. I was about to speak when Cheongryeo cut in.
“...!”
Surprisingly, he accepted without argument. Of course, that wasn’t the main point.
“Yes. I understand.”
He’d secured my commitment to gain momentum. Fine—I’d play along.
As I settled on that, Cheongryeo changed tack unexpectedly.
“What...?”
Laughter touched his voice.
“......”
A few days later, subtle contacts from various agencies began.
“As Mundae said, there really are quite a few offers.”
“...Yeah.”
The members each held their phones, reviewing offers that came through their connections. Bae Sejin had proposals from agencies managing both actors and idols. Ryu Geon woo, as leader, got especially many, and Keun Sejin had several mid-sized idol agencies that idols typically choose at renewal.
‘I can see the network personalities.’
And Kim Rae bin...
“...? A hip-hop label. Why are they offering...?”
“Hmm, are they aiming to become an idol group?”
Apparently from the AR team’s network that treats Kim Rae bin like the youngest. I glanced at my own phone.
‘And me...’ I had some contacts, too, but mostly from bad past ties.
‘They reached out, too.’
Golden Age Group, which Gold 1 and Choi Won-gil belong to—the one notorious for industrial espionage. I saw a long KaKaoTalk pop-up from “Traveler Entertainment, Team Leader Park Min-jung,” apologizing again for past incidents. I didn’t click to open it.
Annoying as hell, but definitely a capable agency—worth remembering.
‘If Testa joins, Golden Age’s positions and seniority line up perfectly and it’ll be a disaster...’
As I thought that, a question came from beside me.
“But Mundae, how did you spread that rumor?”
“......”
“Hm?”
It was time to share. I explained the offer I’d received a few days ago. The reaction was explosive.
“Le...LeTi??”
“...Cheongryeo sunbaenim....”
“I hate that place. [He seems to love the creepiest people he’s ever met in life. Seriously, you’re not considering going there, right, hyung?]”
I summarized briefly.
“I said I’m not going. But since I said I’d consider it, I spread the rumor.”
“Phew.”
Keun Sejin let out a deep sigh on the sofa. I furrowed my brow.
“Would I decide to go alone when we all move? Of course we should discuss it....”
“Okay, okay—let’s vote! Who doesn’t want to go to LeTi?”
All five hands went up. I pressed my palm to my forehead.
“Wait, Mundae, you’re not going?”
I am, you bastard.
Thus, in the middle of the living room’s decisive ‘no LeTi’ verdict, Kim Rae bin looked at me in slight confusion and asked quietly,
“...I remember it as a good agency, though. Isn’t it?”
“......”
He really was LeTi’s type from head to toe. We had a few meaningful contacts after that, but the problem was the time limit was looming.
‘I need to choose quickly.’
Each member had different “must-have” criteria, and few agencies could satisfy all. Plus, every option had a drawback or risk: too small to manage us, too large with redundant male idols, too quirky to handle Testa.
In hindsight, LeTi’s independent-label pitch was indeed a godsend.
‘Damn.’
I ran my hand through my hair. No wonder Cheongryeo was so confident.
‘Alright, let’s say we go to LeTi.’
Even so... the fundamental issue is unsolvable wherever we go.
‘...The Testa name.’
That name and concept, the trademark and copyright—all owned by T1 Stars, the agency. How could we handle that?
“Um... are you still deciding?”
Seon Ah hyun sat across the table. I shoved aside my scribbled keyword paper, but he’d already seen it.
He meant that keyword.
“Oh. You’re debating because you want to keep the name.”
“......”
“Maybe, if we negotiate well with the company, it could work... if we could buy the rights...it’d be great.”
“...It would.”
But they wouldn’t agree unless we offered astronomical sums. And the decision-makers aren’t just one person—they’re multiple stakeholders.
I explained that to Seon Ah hyun, and he nodded thoughtfully.
“Still, even if it’s hard, let’s try.”
“......Okay.”
“Yeah. Maybe the company will have other circumstances and grant permission...!”
“......”
Other circumstances? In that instant, a lightning thought struck me.
‘What if they won’t sell the trademark?’
Then... we just have to create “other circumstances” to make them sell.
I nodded.
“That’s right. Thanks.”
“.......”
“When I thought it through, I had my answer.”
“...Huh?”
I told Seon Ah hyun, who looked puzzled, with calm certainty,
“This company has to fail.”
“...!?”
It was that simple to conclude.
“M-Mundae?”
Thank you, Seon Ah hyun.
The next day, I reached out to two guys in the same situation.
[Spacer Kwon Hee-seung]
[Mirinae Park Min-ha]
Both were groups from agencies in a similar bind.
I got straight to the point.
If there’s nothing to eat, even a straw hut will be sold.
‘Let’s cut off their lifeline.’
The answer... is to ruin the company.
