"Of course, a troubleshooter is just someone who solves problems for others. Not someone who starts an entertainment agency to debut lost lambs as idols," Jiho thought to himself.
Still, despite starting with the lighthearted atmosphere of "Let’s give it a shot!" the meeting had stretched on for quite some time. After all, no matter how striking Aisha's appearance might be, her career, objectively speaking, was that of an unpopular idol who quit after just three months.
On top of that, starting as a trainee now would be difficult because, in the idol industry, being in your early twenties was already considered on the older side.
In other words, they had to admit that pouring time into conventional methods wasn’t practical. The best course of action was to take a gamble—one with high risks but potentially high returns.
“What about a TV program?” Alice suggested enthusiastically. “She could join an idol competition show and shoot to stardom all at once! Honestly, with Aisha’s overwhelming looks, winning first place would be a given!”
“I think it’s better to leverage the internet,” David countered thoughtfully. “We could use viral marketing to generate buzz and attract headhunters from reputable agencies. Companies prefer to recruit people who have already proven themselves.”
“Well, considering what happened with Codria,” the manager hesitated, “I still think joining a trustworthy agency would be best. If she rushes into a debut, there’s no guarantee the same thing won’t happen again...”
Each suggestion reflected the distinct personalities of those proposing them.
Alice, ever straightforward and principled, leaned toward showcasing abilities in a competition program, staying true to her belief in fairness and transparency.
David, on the other hand, advocated for a fast, efficient approach using viral and noise marketing, showing his preference for practical, results-driven strategies, even if they bordered on extreme.
Lastly, the manager—whose presence was still somewhat baffling—argued for starting anew with a safe agency. After all, having been burned by Codria, he likely saw safety as the quickest route.
As Alice watched the manager silently, she suddenly spoke up.
“Hey, but are you even supposed to be here? Won’t they call you a traitor?”
“I—I quit completely before I came here! I’m on Aisha’s side now, I swear! Please believe me!” the manager exclaimed desperately.
“Alice, let’s give him a chance,” Aisha said, smiling softly. “If it were before, I might have doubted him, but now I believe the manager is sincere. You’re not going to pull any more stunts, right?”
“Of course not!” he declared firmly.
“...But if you’re no longer her manager, shouldn’t we stop calling you that?” David muttered, half to himself.
Alice squinted at him suspiciously, while the manager responded with fervent determination. Aisha, observing the scene, chuckled softly, showing her usual grace. Though the manager had made mistakes in the past, she seemed to believe that genuine remorse and efforts to improve were enough to redeem him.
Meanwhile, David mumbled something under his breath as if puzzled, while Raven, deep in thought, sighed lightly and brought everyone back to focus.
“Hm. From what I see, those Codria people aren’t going to sit back and watch Aisha debut peacefully. They’ll likely interfere somehow—whether it’s through TV programs or internet campaigns.”
“That’s... true,” Alice admitted reluctantly.
“It does seem likely,” David added.
It was hard to deny that the same people who’d already pulled off underhanded schemes wouldn’t hesitate to do so again. After all, Aisha’s break with Codria hadn’t been amicable, and it was overly optimistic to think they’d just watch her succeed as an idol without interference.
Furthermore, competition programs could easily be manipulated by influential figures, and viral marketing carried the risk of backlash if its artificial nature was exposed. Neither option seemed foolproof.
So, what could they do to avoid Codria’s interference and let Aisha thrive as an idol? The office sank into deep contemplation once again.
‘It’s tricky,’ Jiho mused. ‘Codria is one of the top three agencies in the industry. No matter how skilled a troubleshooter is, challenging their influence as an individual is no easy task.’
Huh? If Codria’s in the top three, why not just go to one of the other two competing agencies?
No, that wasn’t a simple solution either. Since Aisha had already clashed with Codria, the other agencies would hesitate to take her in without a guarantee of success. And if becoming an idol were that easy, everyone would be scrambling to get into big-name agencies, wouldn’t they? Nothing in life is that simple.
Munching on a snack he’d pulled out from somewhere, Jiho thought, ‘They’ll figure it out soon enough. No need to stress about it.’
As if on cue, Raven rubbed his chin thoughtfully, as if recalling something.
“So, basically, we just need to make sure Codria doesn’t interfere, right?”
“Easier said than done,” Alice pointed out. “They’re too powerful.”
“Hmph. No matter how influential they are, they can’t control everything,” Raven replied confidently.
Curious gazes turned toward him. Where exactly in the industry could they escape Codria’s reach?
With a self-assured grin, Raven declared, “I know an idol troubleshooter. Let’s leave it to him.”
This content is taken from freeweɓnovel.cѳm.
“An idol troubleshooter?” Alice tilted her head, confused by the seemingly odd combination.
In contrast, Aisha and her former manager gasped in surprise, clearly shocked that Raven of all people—someone not particularly famous among troubleshooters—had ties to someone like that.
While the room buzzed with curiosity and disbelief, Jiho quietly savored his snack, eyes sparkling with intrigue.
‘An idol troubleshooter? That must be the person from the original story! This is going to be fun!’
Feeling his heart race with anticipation, Jiho let himself enjoy the moment.
*
Night had fallen in Night Haven, and the streets were aglow with vibrant neon lights piercing the darkness. We relocated to a high-rise building in the city center, where we were finally introduced to the idol troubleshooter.
She was a strikingly beautiful girl with deep purple hair tied into high twin-tails. Her mischievous expression, paired with her slightly upturned eyes, suggested she delighted in teasing adults.
Judging by her appearance, she seemed to be somewhere between middle school and high school. Not only her face but also her adorable outfit commanded attention, exuding an irresistible charm that shone like a star.
This was Rurika, the one and only idol troubleshooter in Night Haven. She greeted us with a sly smile and spoke in a voice that carried a sharp edge.
“So, tell me, which country’s etiquette says it’s okay to drop by unannounced at this hour? Or could this be lingering aftereffects of a bullet lodged in someone’s skull?”
The atmosphere in the office turned icy, as though a blade of frozen steel had grazed our backs.
Her lips curved into a smile, but her eyes were cold, nearly expressionless. It was astonishing how someone so cute could look so terrifying.
Perhaps it was the overt displeasure in her tone that made Alice cling to me like a frightened child. The weight pressing on the back of my head felt heavier than usual from the proximity.
However, Raven, unfazed by Rurika’s sharp words, casually picked at his ear with his pinky and replied without missing a beat.
“You said I could drop by anytime. Don’t tell me you forgot? You were crying your eyes out when we disbanded and said so yourself.”
“Y-You idiot! That was just me being emotional! I didn’t mean it! Moron! Go die!”
Rurika’s face turned bright red as she launched herself at Raven with a flying kick.
Was she really just a cute middle schooler? Her strength and speed were terrifyingly potent, enough to make anyone shiver just watching.
But Raven, having clearly dealt with this more than once, casually sidestepped her attack with a single, effortless step.
“Die! Die! If you were going to come, you should’ve come sooner! Damn crow bastard! Just because you’re a senior doesn’t mean you can do whatever you want!”
“Sorry, sorry. You looked busy. I can’t just go chasing after someone who’s on TV all the time, can I?”
“Ugh! Damn it... You know I wouldn’t kick you out if you showed up, right?”
The room echoed with the sound of her punches and kicks tearing through the air. Eventually, when she was too exhausted to continue, Rurika flopped to the floor, breathing heavily.
Watching her throw bare punches and kicks with such raw power, I couldn’t help but marvel at human potential.
Meanwhile, Aisha, who had been quietly observing with wide eyes, cautiously asked Raven,
“Um, excuse me... What exactly is your relationship with her?”
“Hm? Oh, well, we used to work together. To be precise, I was her senior back in the day.”
“Huff... huff... That’s a story from over ten years ago!” Rurika interjected between labored breaths.
Aisha seemed thoroughly surprised by their unexpected connection.
Frankly, I couldn’t blame her. Rurika was a top-tier troubleshooter, one of the rare elite in the business, and a living legend even as an idol.
And now she was somehow connected to Raven, who we’d only hired because he was affordable? It was a lot to process.
After catching her breath, Rurika wiped the sweat from her forehead and spoke to Raven.
“So, why are you here? Showing off your girlfriend or something? She’s pretty.”
“W-What? No, that’s not it!” Aisha stammered.
“Hmm, then her?” Rurika turned to Alice. “Oh, she’s cute too. That’s a kimono, right? Nice vibe.”
“Wha—No! Why would I be involved with him? That’s ridiculous!” Alice snapped, clearly appalled.
Rurika scratched her cheek awkwardly, clearly uncomfortable with their vehement denials.
And just like that, Raven, rejected twice in a row without even trying, pressed his hand to his forehead in mock defeat before brushing it off.
“Enough of that. I’m actually here to ask you for a favor. Here’s the deal...”
Raven succinctly recounted the situation: Aisha’s stalker, the revelation of Codria’s involvement, her decision to cut ties with the agency, and her unwavering dream of becoming an idol again despite the looming threat of Codria’s interference.
After listening to the story, Rurika replied with a flat expression,
“Okay, I get it. So why should I care?”
Her response was cold and pragmatic, devoid of any emotional investment.
It wasn’t surprising. Sure, Aisha’s situation was pitiable, and Codria’s actions were despicable, but that didn’t mean Rurika had any obligation to help. As both an idol and a businesswoman, her decisions were guided by logic, not sentiment.
Raven, seemingly expecting this reaction, gestured for Aisha to step forward. Hesitant, Aisha slowly approached him, and Raven pointed to her face.
“Just take a look,” he said confidently.
“...What do you—oh... um... ah...” Rurika’s gaze darted to Aisha’s face. Her words faltered as she stole glances, her resolve visibly shaken.
The closer she looked, the more Aisha’s striking features seemed to chip away at her composure.
Sensing that Rurika was halfway convinced, Raven urged Aisha to “do that thing from before.”
“That thing?” Aisha tilted her head, then nodded as if it were no big deal. Clearing her throat, she bellowed,
“Listen up, you punks! If anyone gives you trouble, tell this pretty lady, and she’ll bash their heads in! Got it?”
“Pfft—HAHAHA! Oh my god!”
Rurika collapsed to the floor, clutching her sides as uncontrollable laughter overtook her.
The harsh, almost threatening energy she’d exuded moments before was replaced by unrestrained amusement.
David and Alice exchanged glances.
This might just work.
The once red-lit path ahead now gleamed with a promising green light.