<h4>Season 2: Chapter 15. Wave After Wave (3)</h4>


    Joo Ji-Young had boldly confronted a genius with unmatched audacity.


    "What kind of nonsense... how could that have been nned?"


    Team Leader Joo Ji-Young sighed and put down her pen.


    <i>''I just wanted to give it to Almond.''</i>


    That man already decided in advance.


    "I know Almond has been getting a lot of attentiontely. In my opinion, however, his impact on advertising the game will still be less than that of Bubblegum. Their poprity and effectiveness in advertising are different. Above all, Bubblegum will end up doing more even if it''s through Almond. What are you talking about?"


    "Yes, yes. I knew you''d say that. I guess I’ll bother to exin," Kim Yi-Seo poured out his words like a waterfall.


    He looked as irritated as he sounded.


    "Almond is a skilled yer. Hence, super ys are often made and rted clips are generated. Recently, Almond established a deep rtionship with Bubblegum. They won together in the in-house tournament. That was just a week ago. You know that, right?"


    "Yes. Of course..."


    She knew, but how could she be one hundred percent sure that Bubblegum would support what Almond did just because of that?


    "The tournament victory is something that Bubblegum could never have achieved. He really sucks at that game. Even I can''t understand it, but how did they win? It was due to Almond''s super ys. Bubblegum even publicly thanked Almond on stream. Almond also named Bubblegum as the streamer he admires. It''s not just idle chatter. It’s mutual admiration."


    "Yes."


    He disyed a data screen.


    "This is big data calcting the ovep in viewership. Simply put, Bubblegum and Almond have a significant ovep in viewers, about 22%."


    "That''s impossible. Almond and Bubblegum havepletely different streaming styles..."


    "Oh, this..." Kim Yi-Seo sincerely wrapped his face and bowed as if he pitied her naivety. "It''s easy to think that. I understand. In reality, it''s not their streaming styles that are different. It''s their gaming skills."


    "...!"


    "There''s data on that too. I''ll just summarize up to here considering your brain capacity. Almond and Bubblegum have a significant ovep in viewers. The biggest factor is the connection between the two streamers. And..."


    <i>Ding.</i>


    He moved on to the next data.


    "... Their ytime. Almond mainly ys during the day and Bubblegum starts at night as if they’re tagging out with each other. So viewers can watch Bubblegum''s stream right after Almond''s."


    No matter how simr their streams were, viewers couldn’t watch both simultaneously. However, the situation turned outpletely different.


    "Considering Almond''s clip creation frequency and the fact that after they won the tournament, Bubblegum never thanked Almond back yet, and adding on the fact that he likes survival games..."


    Kim Yi-Seo grinned. When he smiled, it seemed like his whole face lit up.


    "Doesn’t that make you happy?"


    <i>Gulp.</i>


    The employee who happened to be standing by the conference room door swallowed hard after hearing this entire speech.


    "They managed to get Bubblegum to y without even paying him. You should probably be thanking me instead."


    His exnation flowed as if everything had been anticipated. Team Leader Joo Ji-Young even began to wonder if she should be the one thanking him.


    "Well, I don''t have a hobby of receiving bows from anyone. Let''s stop here."


    Kim Yi-Seo checked his watch.


    "Marketing, please do well in the direction I''ve indicated. Just listen to me and you''ll make money even in your sleep."


    He left her with that remark and quickly left.


    ***


    As Kim Yi-Seo exited the building, a bulky employee named Ho-Tae asked him, "Sir, did you really anticipate the poop incident would be a highlight clip?"


    That was the most puzzling factor the entire time. It wasn''t an Almond super y that was clipped.


    Instead, an uncharacteristicallyical moment became the highlight. How could the CEO have foreseen that?


    Kim Yi-Seo responded with a look of disbelief, "No way. How could I have predicted such a crazy incident?"


    "<i>Huh?</i> So, you didn''t?"


    "The Red Hat bastards kept saying they loved Almond and wanted to feature him. <i>Ugh... </i>They''re hard tomunicate with anyway."


    Red Hat, <i>Kingdom Age’s </i>productionpany, was <i>Zombie School''s</i> main investor and nner. Naturally, they were heavily involved in its creation.


    "That''s why I did it. All the other indicators were based on oues. I just fit them into the discussion before the meeting."


    "Wow... So it was all a bluff?"


    "Not a bluff, dude. It''s just a different recipe of information."


    Kim Yi-Seo was a genius in another sense.


    "But what if marketingpanies start advertising with Almond thinking that Bubblegum will automatically be included? She seemed to have bought it."


    Kim Yi-Seo shrugged off Ho-Tae''s question as if it wasn''t a big deal.


    "Then he’s being taken advantage of. Who knows if he’s really worth it?"


    He gazed at his watch.


    "By the way, I was supposed to see JeonJaPa today. What time was it?"


    "Oh, one o''clock."


    "Perfect timing."


    He readily agreed to this meeting today for a reason. He already had business to take care of nearby.


    ***


    Not only did the HighGames meeting room grow heated because of Almond, but a meeting also took ce in SCB Broadcasting''s meeting room at around 2 P.M. after lunch. They convened because of PD Jang, the main producer of<i> Evening Wide</i>.


    "This is the draft for the edit."


    <i>Thud.</i>


    Heid out the edit’s nearlyplete first draft, which he''d been tirelessly working on since the live broadcast.


    "<i>Evening Wide</i>, right?"


    PD Lee, who was also assistant director, had argued against focusing on Almond and favored In-Ho.


    "Yes."


    <i>"Hmm..."</i>


    PD Lee reviewed the draft and his expression hardened.


    <i>''The edit is focused on Almond...''</i>


    PD Jang was pushing his own agenda and wanted to focus on Almond.


    <i>''Why is he doing this?''</i>


    PD Lee skimmed through the plot with a frown.


    <i>''But...''</i>


    PD Jang was right. It seemed entertaining.


    <i>''It''s fun.''</i>


    Everything flowed smoothly if they centered the talk show around Almond. The unusual main guest, Almond, was supported by familiar faces and scene-stealers like Lil Grass in between. If this were a dish, it would be fusion cuisine with tangy spices, familiar seasoning, and high-quality beef as the main ingredients. It would be universally liked even though it was expensive.


    <i>''It''s pricey. That''s the issue.''</i>


    Yes, this dish was costly. It was expensive for its return on investment from an economic standpoint. Even if it was worth the same amount, it was expensive. However, once someone smelled the aroma in the kitchen...


    <i>''I still want to eat it...''</i>


    People would pay even if it cost more. It seemed worth it despite making one regret the credit card billter.


    "Wow, it flows so well," PD Lee said as if he was under a spell.


    PD Jang anticipated this. He knew they''d change their mind once they saw the dish in front of them, especially when the head chef served it. It was hard to decline even out of obligation.


    Really, he had used a cheap tactic.


    PD Lee was aware of the trap, but still fell for it.


    "Really? You think it''s good? You had a different reactionst time."


    PD Jang grinned while stroking his beard.


    "Do my opinions even matter? We''ll go with whatever you decide."


    PD Lee averted his gaze, not wanting to ride that ship. Even the mightiest fleet could sink. He didn''t want to be responsible.


    PD Jang would bear the burden and nodded with understanding.


    "Just go with this. I''ll take responsibility."


    <i>p. p.</i>


    He pped to signify the start of their work.


    "Okay, get to it! Start the final edits!"


    "Yes!"


    And so, Almond''s face began to fill the edited version of <i>Evening Wide</i>.


    PD Jang watched the nearlyplete edit with a smile spreading on his face. It had been a while since he felt this pleased.


    After a long time, he was now watching a fun talk show again.


    ***


    The next day, PD Jang sincerely prayed with both hands sped together after staying up all night.


    "<i>Ah</i>, please don''t check it."


    He fervently prayed for the edited version of <i>Evening Wide</i> that he submitted for approval that day to not be checked.


    Live broadcasts usually didn’t undergo verification because they were live, but edited versions always underwent review by the higher-ups.


    They thoroughly reviewed some shows, but skipped over others given the sheer number of programs.


    It was about an eight to two split. Eight out of those programs didn’t get reviewed.


    "Normally, they wouldn''t check. They should be more worried about it after it airs," another producer reassured PD Jang.


    "Really...?"


    "Yes."


    That was wishful thinking.


    <i>Ding!</i>


    A message popped up on PD Jang''sputer screen via their internal messaging system.


    <i>[Secretary''s Office: Mr. Jang, the director is asking you toe up. He has something to say about the segment you submitted for approval.]</i>


    PD Jang blinked in disbelief.


    "What... why now...?"


    How unlucky could he be? The guys who usually didn''t bother to check suddenly wanted to now.


    The director himself called. Wasn’t the director just supposed to sign off at the very end?


    "Why is the director checking it himself? It’s not the head of department or the editor-in-chief...?"


    "Oh no," an employee muttered in shock from behind.


    PD Jang felt that he knew something and whirled around to ask, "What is it? What do you know?"


    "Well..." the employee hesitated for a moment before answering, "In-Ho went up with his manager to meet the higher-ups."


    "... What?" PD Jang couldn’t hide his astonishment. "That young blood without a hint of maturity is meddling already..."


    He felt frustrated. Even if he was just producing a talk show at the level of an ad agency... even if their subsidiary simply did ads... He couldn’t bear the fact that such a novice meddled in his broadcast.


    <i>"Ah..."</i>


    PD Jang let out a sigh and gripped his long hair in frustration.


    "It would be better if the old guys had something to say..."


    Should his program be swayed back and forth by such a person?


    "I''ll be back."


    PD Jang headed toward the director''s office with fiery eyes.


    <i>''I must speak up about this.''</i>


    No matter how much they looked down on him, he didn''t want to be bossed around by someone like In-Ho. He would listen to the director''s personal opinion, but he didn''t want to be struck by the hammer that In-Ho handed them. He was determined to express his own opinion.


    "Hello, he''s waiting for you."


    The secretary opened the door and he entered the director''s office.


    <i>''...''</i>


    PD Jang''s determination seemed to vanish as if it never existed.


    "... You called for me?"


    He felt an overwhelming feeling as if he had always been under this person''smand since birth. It was an ingrained obedience to authority ingrained since elementary school. This barrier couldn''t be ovee by a moment of anger. No, thispany probably only hired those who couldn''t ovee this in the first ce.


    "<i>Ah</i>, you''re here."


    The director gestured for him to sit on the sofa in front. PD Jang took a seat in front of him with a tense expression.


    "I watched the video."


    "... Yes."


    The secretary briefly stepped in to serve tea, but PD Jang only held the cup without drinking.


    <i>''Should I say something...?''</i>


    He suddenly felt he needed to muster the courage to speak, but couldn''t find the right timing. The tense atmosphere didn''t allow him to interject.


    "You did well."


    "... Pardon?"


    What was the director talking about? Was this a build-up toter criticize him?


    "You chose Almond as a guest, right? You''re always quick-witted. I''ve always felt you had good judgment."


    "What...?"


    The director heartilyughed and spoke as if everything was obvious.


    "That guy received a sponsorship, right? A big one, I heard. And they''ve been on good terms with ourpany for a while. I heard it''s all thanks to that guy''s manager, who has connections."


    PD Jang''s mind went numb. He hadn’t anticipated this turn of events and couldn''t grasp what was being said, but the director’s next words made everything clear.


    "They’re called Divers. They''re doing very well, so their price is steep. We''ll earn a significant amount this time. You tailored it perfectly for their tastes."


    So it was all about that.


    Almond’s sponsorship was much more significant than the one from In-Ho’s side. It wasn''t even aparison.


    In short, Almond won. Producer Jang had won.