Rookie Talent Agent Knows It All-Chapter 742: Project I.O.A. Begins (1)

Project I.O.A. was the name of the audition program designed to select the final members of the global idol group I.O.A under Hoop Entertainment.

Two members had already been chosen. One was Ling Ling, the younger sister of Chinese supermodel Lily and girlfriend of Wang Long. The other was Seo Hee-Joo, daughter of Yeon Hwa-Seon—a Korean intangible cultural heritage holder.

The rest of the members would be selected around these two leads from a pool of 132 candidates: 66 from Korea, and 33 each from China and Japan.

However, those hoping for the failure of this massive project backed by an enormous investment of twenty billion won had leaked stories about Wang Lina and Minamoto Aoi's alleged thefts to reporters.

The articles hadn't gone live yet, but if they did, Wang Lina and Minamoto Aoi's very first image could become that of criminals. That had to be prevented at all costs. So first, I gave instructions to the team in the VIP lounge. Then I stepped out with Ji Yung-Sik alone.

Ding.

The door to the VIP lounge slid open. The reporters waiting outside rushed forward with their cameras, firing off questions.

"Mr. Jung! Is it true one of the contestants is a criminal?"

"PD Ji, we heard some members were banned from entering Korea?"

"They say someone shoplifted during a previous visit to Korea. Is it true?"

"Wait, are they not through immigration yet? Doesn't that mean the tip-off was real?"

"Come on, stop dodging and just answer us already!"

The reporters looked like they had landed a scoop with their eyes practically glowing. It always made my blood boil to watch them treat kids' futures like tabloid fodder.

I took a deep breath and answered them boldly, just as I had planned. "This is the first I'm hearing of it."

The reporters froze, confused. I usually answered within the bounds of what I knew. Me suddenly pleading ignorance was definitely something new to them.

"Oh come on, we know everything already. Why are you playing dumb?"

"You know if you keep stonewalling, we'll have to write it harsher, right? Just cooperate and we'll spin it soft."

It was pathetic watching them fish for a reaction with incomplete info. If they had the real story, their questions would have been way more specific.

I scoffed. "And where exactly did you hear such absurd claims? Come on, tell me."

"W-we can't say that."

"You can't reveal a source, obviously."

'So it was all secondhand hearsay.'

If this was all they had, I could play them however I wanted.

Then, a sharp voice cut through from the back. It was Reporter Jung Eun-Ok from Entertainment All Times. They called her the Piranha of Bulgwang-dong because once she bit down, she never let go.

"You can deny it all you want. But I've received a specific tip that Wang Lina and Minamoto Aoi were both charged with theft. Are you seriously going to keep lying?"

I could tell that Jung Eun-Ok was the only one here with solid information.

'So you're the one who stirred the others up, huh?'

In that case, I needed to respond accordingly.

I shrugged. "Whatever you heard, if you write an article based on mere allegations, we'll have no choice but to file a lawsuit against both you and Entertainment All Times."

At this point, Lee Myung-Taek's charges against them had already been dropped and their entry bans lifted. That meant the high-ranking officials involved would have already wiped all traces clean. Unless the Ministry of Justice got raided later, there was almost no chance of finding hard evidence.

So I faced Jung Eun-Ok confidently and pushed further.

"W-what did you say? Are you threatening to sue?"

I nodded. "Yes. We're still reviewing our legal options, but the sponsors of Project I.O.A. will likely file lawsuits as well."

At the mention of mass legal action, I saw Jung Eun-Ok flinch.

And then, Ji Yung-Sik from SBC stepped in to back me up. "Yes. Go ahead and run that article. SBC will be airing a segment tonight about Entertainment All Times and its reporting practices. Let's see whose platform has more reach—your paper or our 8 p.m. news. Oh, and of course, the lawsuit's just a bonus."

The moment I questioned whether they could withstand a massive lawsuit, the other reporters started shifting their gaze away.

-I'm out. Chief Jung's way too confident. That's worrying.

-Yeah, he said the entry ban was lifted, so the tip must be bogus.

-Now that I think about it... right. Ugh, and Chief Jung's a total beast. Once he clashes with reporters, he takes it to the end. I'm out, sorry.

-No reporter's ever come out ahead going against him. I'll just stick to writing a welcome piece for Project I.O.A. like I planned.

One by one, the reporters backed off under the pressure.

Flustered, Jung Eun-Ok started shouting at her colleagues. "Reporter Choi! Didn't you say we'd dig into it together? Reporter Jung! Why are you silent? Ahn, you said we'd hit them hard!"

However, no one moved and nothing changed. It was time to drive the final nail.

"It seems like you don't believe me, Ms. Jung. Fine, let's hear it from the contestants who were on that flight."

"Y-yeah! Bring them out! Let's hear from them!"

"Of course."

I immediately called Zhou ShiShi inside the VIP lounge. At that very moment, the lounge door opened.

Ding.

Ling Ling led the group. Behind her came Wang Lina; the elegant northern Han beauty, followed by Minamoto Aoi; who looked like a well-bred Japanese heiress, then Yang Bing Bing and Liu Lan.

Stunned by how polished and high-level the Project I.O.A. members looked, the other reporters momentarily forgot about their investigation and started snapping photos.

Flash, flash!

After giving the reporters a moment, I turned to Yang Bing Bing and asked loud enough for everyone to hear.

"Bing Bing. Why did the plane arrive late today?"

Smiling sweetly, Yang Bing Bing answered, "Everyone was nervous about their first debut in Korea, so we couldn't get off the plane right away. We were so excited to become Korean idols that we couldn't sleep at all." 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

Jung Eun-Ok burst out. "L-lies! It was because of an entry ban!"

Yang Bing Bing shrugged her shoulders. "Who was?"

Then I turned to Liu Lan. This time, Liu Lan beamed and answered cheerfully.

Liu Lan played dumb with a perfectly innocent expression. "That's right. And what's an entry ban? What is that? Lina's banned? Does that mean she has to leave Korea right away?"

Yang Bing Bing and Liu Lan were only acting like this because of the trouble they caused on the charter flight, and because they were following my instructions. Still, thanks to them, no reporters seemed to harbor further doubts.

Nevertheless, I didn't let my guard down. I went in for the final blow. Behind the reporters, civilians were starting to gather.

"Please, reporters. I ask you sincerely. These kids are foreigners. They came to Korea only because they love it. They want to become idols here, in this country. I know you all need high-click stories, but just for today, please act like true hosts of this land as Korean reporters. I beg you."

With that, I bowed deeply at a full 90 degrees with sincerity and respect. However, my bow wasn't aimed at the reporters. It was meant for the crowd behind them.

At that moment, Ling Ling and the other kids also bowed deeply.

"Tonight at 10 p.m. on SBC, Project I.O.A. airs. Please tune in!"

"Hope you'll support us!"

"I love Korea!"

"Coming to Korea was my dream!"

"I want to become a Korean idol!"

Their cheerful greetings echoed through Incheon Airport.

The crowd of onlookers responded with cheers.

"Hey, reporters, they all say they love Korea. Write something nice, will you?"

"Yeah. No weird headlines, okay?"

"Come on. Reporters have a conscience too. They wouldn't write trash and earn the Reportrash nickname for nothing."

The civilians started tossing out remarks, and the reporters began to flush red. Now that it had come to this, they had no choice but to portray the Project I.O.A. members in a positive light. Sure enough, the reporters started to shift.

"I-I was already writing a piece on the welcome event anyway."

"Y-yeah. Chief Jung, when are the rest of the kids coming out? Let's get those photos."

"Look, it's not like I was accusing anyone. Just checking on a strange tip, right?"

Fortunately, all the reporters had come around. All except for one. Jung Eun-Ok was still fuming. It looked like I would need to speak with her privately, because it seemed someone else was pulling her strings.

***

Legal team lead Woo Min-Sang entered the president's office on the fifth floor of TNT Entertainment headquarters after visiting Yoo Kang-Seok, the former president now in detention.

"So. How's that bastard Yoo Kang-Seok holding up?" Bang Sang-Yung asked.

Woo Min-Sang answered, "He confessed to orchestrating today's incident on the condition that we get him out quickly."

"You did good."

"Sir, but..."

"If you've got something to say, say it."

"Do you really think President Yoo will keep his mouth shut? The crimes he admitted to today—there's no way he's out in a month."

Bang Sang-Yung had told Yoo Kang-Seok that if he took the fall, he would be released within a month. However, that was impossible. As a lawyer, Woo Min-Sang estimated it would take at least three months or maybe up to a year if things went badly.

Yet Bang Sang-Yung only wore a sly smile. "Why? Are you thinking of telling him the truth? Wow, Team Lead Woo. I guess you're not interested in a promotion to director, huh?"

That's when Woo Min-Sang realized he had crossed a line he couldn't go back from. At the same time, he understood that the man in front of him would say or do anything if it suited him. Saying no now would put him in danger too.

In the end, Woo Min-Sang had only one choice.

Gulp.

"No, sir. I only meant... if the former president decides to retract his confession, what then?"

Only then did Bang Sang-Yung break into a grin. "He's already taken the money and already confessed in his own words. He's not getting out of this. And if he tries to back out now, the big shots above me won't just sit still. Why do you think they paid such a high price for his shares?"

There was no such thing as a free lunch. Yoo Kang-Seok might be celebrating selling his shares to the Jin siblings at a premium, but he hadn't realized that he had actually sold his freedom.

"Anyway, for now, let's stop worrying about Yoo Kang-Seok. Our priority is taking down that bastard Jung Yoon-Ho."

"Yes, sir."

"By the way, when are the reporters supposed to post their articles?"

"It should be happening right about now."

"Good. And what about Reporter Jung Eun-Ok? You handled that well, right?"

"Yes, sir. I promised she'd get all exclusives first and that we'd keep paying her monthly under the table."

"Nice work."

Just then, the articles were finally posted.

"The articles are up, sir."

Grinning in satisfaction, Bang Sang-Yung unlocked his phone, expecting a flood of headlines about Project I.O.A participants being thieves.

"Even old news can land a fatal blow when used right."

But contrary to his smug declaration, every article popping up was glowing.

[Project I.O.A qualifiers arrive in style on chartered flight!]

[A mega audition connecting three nations, Project I.O.A ignites anticipation from the start.]

[Ling Ling of Project I.O.A revealed to be the younger sister of Chinese supermodel Lily.]

[Striking visuals and diverse personalities—inside the arrivals of the new cast.]

[I.O.A hopefuls dominate Incheon Airport.]

[A bold first step toward greatness. Sixty-six Chinese and Japanese contestants share their passionate dreams of ruling K-pop.]

[Project I.O.A—who will you vote for?]

Bang Sang-Yung frowned. "Are they all out of their minds? What the hell is this?"

Tabloid reporters usually didn't care about timing or facts. They just attacked. But now, articles praising Project I.O.A flooded the web. It was as if they had all been paid off. Social media was on fire.

Bang Sang-Yung shouted, flustered. "Hey! Woo Min-Sang! What the hell did you do?"

Caught off guard, Woo Min-Sang stammered. "I-I... I'm not sure..."

Then, Woo Min-Sang's phone started ringing.

[Caller ID: Reporter Jung Eun-Ok]

As soon as Woo Min-Sang had someone to vent to, he snatched up the call.

"Reporter Jung! You took our money, and what the hell is this? You said you were confident! You said to leave the other reporters to you!"

However, an unexpected voice came from over the line.

-Is this Attorney Woo Min-Sang?

Thanks to a recent ad campaign from Jinseong, a voice more recognizable than most celebrities' was Jung Yoon-Ho's.

"J-Jung Yoon-Ho? Y-you... how did you..."

-If President Bang is there, please pass the phone to him. I heard everything from Reporter Jung.

Bang Sang-Yung heard the voice through the phone and clenched his teeth. "Idiot. Give me that!"

Woo Min-Sang, shaking, handed Bang Sang-Yung the phone.

Smack.

Bang Sang-Yung yanked it out of his hands and responded.

"Whatever this is, I know nothing. Don't go making assumptions."

-I figured it was odd how fast the response was for someone like Yoo Kang-Seok, locked up in jail. But if you're involved, it all makes sense. You're behind this, aren't you?

Knowing full well Jung Yoon-Ho always recorded his calls, Bang Sang-Yung tried not to say anything incriminating.

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

-Come on. That greasy vibe, that smug tone...it reeks of someone who thinks they're the smartest guy in the room. Just like you.

"Watch your mouth!"

-Watch. Your. Mouth.

"You bastard!"

-Anyway. Today's stunt along with what you pulled last time at Hoop Entertainment—I'll pay it back with interest. Get ready.

Click.

The call ended abruptly. Fuming, Bang Sang-Yung hurled the phone.

Crack.

His Galactica Fold 2 shattered, but Woo Min-Sang didn't dare say a word. Bang Sang-Yung was already stomping around, seething with anger.

"What the hell is with that Jung Yoon-Ho punk? How did he stop something that even involved the Ministry of Justice?"

Bang Sang-Yung had made bone-deep sacrifices to get revenge on Jung Yoon-Ho. However, the man exceeded all expectations like a phantom.

Still raging, Bang Sang-Yung began calculating his next move. He had only become TNT's president because of a promise made in blood.

'You think this is the end? No way. I'm not going down like this, Jung Yoon-Ho.'

He was ready to do anything to bring Jung Yoon-Ho down.

***

Reporter Jung Eun-Ok had once taken money from TNT to write a slanderous, fake article about the TK Entertainment boy group Iron Man. However, that article ended up breaking the group apart.

The problem was that TK Entertainment was backed by President Kim Tae-Kwon and operated like a gangster-run agency. If they ever found out what Jung Eun-Ok had done, there was no telling what they would do to her.

Jung Eun-Ok glared and said, "Chief Jung. Hey, I told you everything, right? You're not gonna say anything to TK Entertainment, right?"

"I won't. You can go now."

Jung Eun-Ok fled in a panic.

Immediately, I called Seo Jae-Ill. "Mr. Seo, the one behind today's entry ban incident was Bang Sang-Yung."

-Not TNT's President Yoo Kang-Seok? Wasn't Bang Sang-Yung previously a director at Hoop Entertainment?

"Yes, that's right. He got fired from Hoop, and now he seems to be the new president pick at TNT, replacing Yoo Kang-Seok. He's been getting help from inside TNT to pull this off."

I relayed everything I had learned from Jung Eun-Ok.

-Understood. Then we'll start by confirming the connection between Bang Sang-Yung and Yoo Kang-Seok, and dig into Bang Sang-Yung's background too.

"Please do. I'm swamped with today's broadcast, so I can't look into this any further."

With the premiere of Project I.O.A. right around the corner, I had no time to spare.

-Don't worry. What you've done already is more than enough.

Seo Jae-Ill told me to trust him from here on out.

"Thank you, sir."

I ended the call and climbed into the van with the kids who had just left the airport.

***

At the SBC broadcasting station's main gate, 66 Korean prelim winners stood in a line led by Seo Hee-Joo. They wore white tees printed with the Project I.O.A. logo and flare skirts, holding floral garlands as they waited for us.

Vroom.

Twelve massive Binz Sprinters came to a halt in a line. Stepping out onto the red carpet, the SBC in-house orchestra played a welcome fanfare. As I and the escorts stepped aside, the Chinese and Japanese prelim winners walked down the red carpet. At its end, the Korean prelim winners offered floral garlands to the Chinese and Japanese groups.

"Welcome to Korea!"

"Xièxiè! Thank you!"

"Arigatō! Kansha shimasu!"

With greetings exchanged, we followed Ji Yung-Sik's cue and lined up at the SBC steps.

"Okay, on the signal we shout the slogan. Get ready. Three, two, one. Action!"

All the kids raised their voices together:

『Project I.O.A! Your choice, your idol. Vote now!』

"Okay!"

At Ji Yung-Sik's shout, staff organized the lines.

"We'll move your luggage straight to the dorm. Take two sets of uniforms plus your tablet."

"China gets red outfits, Japan gets blue."

"One set is for performance dresses, the other for practice training wear. After receiving, change in the waiting room. Extra sets will be delivered at the dorm, so move fast."

As staff shouted instructions, the kids began to line up.

Just then, I spotted one girl I couldn't help but notice among the Japanese group: Minamoto Aoi. She looked isolated with a hollow space around her.

At that moment, I realized immediately what was happening.

'They dare bully her?'