The Healing Solaris Cleric-Chapter 319: Stroke of Genius (4)

After telling Helik he had urgent business to attend to, Kai hurriedly left the Celestial Garden and returned to his mansion located in Libertia. Despite the welcome from the fairy maids, he told them he didn’t want to be disturbed, locked himself in his office, and organized his thoughts before the sudden inspiration disappeared.

First, the territory concept is fine.

Kai chose entertainment as the concept for the new city.

Entertainment, but in a way that feels different from existing cities.

Haran, where the Monster Arena that once kidnapped Blizzard and enslaved him had been located, was also an entertainment city. However, the city Kai envisioned looked very different from Haran.

Not a gambling-focused entertainment city, but a cultural city that everyone can enjoy. A city of excitement with theater, movies, singing, and dancing. That’s the direction I should pursue.

Since it was a concept that didn’t exist before, it felt fresh and promising enough to be confident it would succeed.

“Well then, let’s organize this.”

When he first heard Helik’s words, he thought about just trying out theater, but his thoughts changed on the way.

If I plan this well, it’ll be an incredible project that can capture both NPCs and players.

Perhaps because he inherited the blood of his businessman father and mother, Kai’s mind worked sharper than ever while planning this business.

Lightly tapping the paper with his index finger, he murmured, “Alright, let’s split it up.”

To capture both players and NPCs, a vague approach wouldn’t work.

I need to clearly separate the parts targeting players and the parts targeting NPCs from the start.

Once his thoughts reached that point, everything that followed proceeded smoothly.

“Done.”

A faint smile appeared on Kai’s lips as he finished organizing everything. He looked at the two business proposals laid out before him.

First, the NPCs.

In Kai’s opinion, they found joy even in rather childish plays that were popular in MID Online.

If that’s the case, targeting NPCs is actually easy. I just have to push theater and film as major industries.

Hiring many famous modern scriptwriters and directors to create plays and movies was one of the new city projects Kai prepared for the NPCs.

“The problem is the players...”

Players, like himself, were heavily influenced by modern media. Of course, theater and film in the game could feel new at first, but it was uncertain whether they would become a sustainable consumer base.

That’s why players... should be captivated through music and dance.

There was a reason songs were called a universal language that transcended generations and cultures. On top of that, Kai planned to play his best card without hesitation for the players.

“Elves and mermaids. We’ll form groups focused on these two races, known for their singing talent.”

He planned to create a unique idol group that could only be encountered in his territory in MID Online.

Let’s make one male and one female group, build up popularity, then hold a concert tour... make merchandise too...

For something created in just a few hours, it was an impressively well-structured plan. But no matter how good it looked to him, there could still be flaws from a professional business person's point of view.

“I’ll just ask the experts about that.”

Fortunately, Kai had connections with business people he respected the most, and there wasn’t just one, but two of them.

***

“Hm. A new business, huh?”

“I’m pretty picky when it comes to business matters,” Han Jung-Woo’s mother said.

Han Jung-Woo was facing his father and mother at his family home, which he visited after a long time. They were the very business people Han Jung-Woo respected most.

“I know. That’s why I came to see you.”

“Hmm.” Sensing the confidence in his son’s expression and tone, his father nodded. “I like your confidence.”

Then, the two of them picked up the proposal and began reading it slowly and carefully.

After a while, his father placed the paper on the table and asked, “Did this idea come from your head?”

“Yes.”

“Not bad at all.”

It was acknowledgment from a veteran businessman.

Then his mother added, “You’ll need to polish some of the details, but overall, I’m liking the big picture. It seems to have potential.”

With their help, Han Jung-Woo perfected every detail of the proposal.

“It’s perfect. I won’t fail.”

“Don’t get complacent. There’s no such thing as a business that never fails in this world.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

His father, who left him with a final lesson, took a sip of coffee and said, “If there is one concern, it’s that the entertainment business heavily relies on experience.”

“Yes, I’m aware. In fact, the reason I came to see you today was to get help with that part.” Han Jung-Woo smiled sheepishly. “Both of you have done a lot of brand endorsements, so you must have some connections with talent agencies.”

“Listen to this boy. Are you asking us to just hand over the foundation we built with our blood and sweat?”

“Oh my, turns out my son’s a thief.”

Both of them laughed in disbelief.

Thus, Han Jung-Woo acted cute for the first time in a while in front of his parents. “Come on, isn’t that what family is for? Just help me this once... please?”

“Hah.”

Chuckling at their grown son’s shameless display of affection, Han Jung-Woo’s father shook his head and asked, “Alright, let’s hear it. What exactly do you want?”

“A talent agency and a film director. Just one of each who is reliable.”

“No particular conditions?” His mother, Mrs. Kim Hyun-Jung, asked with a bright smile.

Sensing a testing tone, Han Jung-Woo shook his head. “Of course I do. I’ve heard that the industry is especially full of dirty people who’ve sold their souls for money and fame. But in my territory, I can operate without anyone’s interference, so I’d prefer someone talented who hasn’t stepped into the mud. If I’m going to bring someone along, it might as well be someone decent.”

“Haha, exactly. That way, there won’t be trouble later. You really take after me—so sharp and sensible.”

“What are you talking about? Sons take after their fathers.”

As if satisfied with his answer, his parents smiled and nodded cheerfully.

“Let’s see...”

His father rummaged through his business card wallet and pulled out a worn and unimpressive business card, and handed it over.

“He’s one of my college friends. Runs a small entertainment company. Like you said, that industry can be... messy, but he never gave in to it and always played fair.”

“What was the result?”

“I told you. That industry’s like that. Because of it, he completely failed and now he’s looking into handing over the company and moving to the countryside to farm. But his skill is undeniable, and his hands are clean.”

“I’ll try meeting him.” Han Jung-Woo accepted the card carefully with both hands and turned to look at his mother.

“Someone might think we owe you this.” His mother let out a soft sigh at his actions, but in the end, no parent could win against their child.

She also pulled out a card from her wallet. “He’s a talented director who swept up every award you can imagine since his student days. But because he stubbornly refused to make films the way investors wanted, all investment offers completely dried up.”

“He’s exactly the kind of person I was looking for.”

“But since he’s an artist, his personality is a bit difficult. For example, if he doesn’t like a scene, he’ll keep filming it over and over until he’s satisfied. Naturally, that eats into the budget. In short, he’s expensive.”

“That’s not a problem,” Han Jung-Woo responded nonchalantly.

For the sake of quality, he was willing to invest whatever amount it took.

“My wallet is currently suffering from indigestion anyway.”

Han Jung-Woo’s wallet was still screaming, begging to be emptied before it burst.

***

A man with a small frame stepped into an empty thirty-two pyeong office. Perhaps due to neglect, his beard was thick.

The man pressed the office’s light switch, but the lights didn’t come on.

“Hmm, did I forget to pay the electric bill too?”

Scratching his head, the man looked around the office with a gaze full of lingering attachment. The once lively office was now quiet and cold, with no warmth left. The space had been so cramped that employees often bumped into each other during busy times, but now only the partitions marking their spaces remained.

At least I paid everyone’s salary... I guess that’s something.

The man walked over to the wall and gazed at the letters hanging on it. Pure Entertainment. He had named it that when he entered the entertainment world, determined to compete with pure skill, without shame before his wife and child. That name made him proud before, but honestly, he wasn’t sure how he felt about it anymore.

Do I... regret it?

Should he have paid to get songs pushed to the top of the charts on music platforms? Should he have arranged a dinner meeting between the actress and the drama writer as requested? Should he have created a copy song similar to that of a foreign indie band, just as the composer suggested? If he had done those things, would he be standing somewhere else now?

Those moments of choice, now turned to regret, surfaced on his face and tormented him.

“Sigh...”

But now, it was all over. He had emptied his personal savings to pay off overdue salaries and sent the actors and singers he had been managing to good agencies he knew.

“Now... I’ve really done everything I could.”

He was tired now.

Thankfully, his parents had left him some land in the countryside, so he figured he would go farm there.

What should I plant?

As he pondered over which crops to grow and was just about to leave the office, someone entered. He was too young to be considered a new tenant... no, he actually looked more like a boy.

“Oh! Are you...” The young man, dressed in a luxurious suit that stood out even at a glance, pulled out a worn business card from his inner pocket and read it, then looked up at his face. “Are you, by any chance, Mr. Choi Myung-Hoon, the CEO of Pure Entertainment?”

“Huh? Y-yes... that would be me.”

Was he from the district office, here to collect overdue electricity bills? No, his clothes were far too fancy for that.

As Choi Myung-Hoon tilted his head in confusion, the young man smiled brightly and extended his right hand. Instinctively, Choi Myung-Hoon reached out and shook it. The man looked young enough to be his son, but there was a strange charisma flowing from him.

The young man, gripping Choi Myung-Hoon’s hand, shook it and greeted him with a cheerful voice, “Nice to meet you, sir. My name is Han Jung-Woo.”