Chapter 9: Manager Kim Jang-bung! How do you manage your writers?!

Manager Park leaned over Jangbung’s desk.

“Manager, I think there’s a novel with some potential among the new bestseller lists.”

Manager Choi raised an eyebrow.

“If it’s a novel on the bestseller list this time, it’s a novel about raping a woman from the beginning?”

Manager Park gasped, mockingly.

“Oh my, Mr. Jangbung, do you read novels like that? Oh my goodness.”

Jangbung’s face tightened.

“Still, it’s our company’s bestseller, so it’s my job to read it.”

Manager Choi shook her head.

“Even so, that’s true. Isn’t it too early to say something like that has potential? Manager Kim Jangbung still needs to hone his critique skills.”

Manager Park nodded.

“That’s right. Mr. Jangbung, please refrain from mentioning such trivial novels. We have a lot of female employees, right?”

Jangbung lowered his gaze.

“I’ll be careful.”

Jangbung tapped his keyboard.

“Manager, I’ve uploaded the list of recipients for the upcoming writer support event. Please approve it.”

Manager Kim squinted at the screen.

“Huh? I see a strange novel?”

Jangbung blinked.

“Huh? They all fit the criteria.”

Manager Kim’s voice sharpened.

“This novel here, isn’t it about raping a woman and having sex with a minor?”

Jangbung hesitated.

“But this one is overwhelmingly at the top of the bestseller lists these days…”

Manager Kim’s eyes narrowed.

“Manager Kim Jangbung. Don’t you know that novels with problematic content need to be weeded out? Delete them immediately and make a new list. Right now.”

Jangbung nodded slowly.

“Yes… let’s proceed again.”

The meeting room buzzed with tension.

“This year’s novel will be Pseudo-bi. Everyone has a complaint, right?” Manager Kim announced.

Jangbung raised a hand.

“Manager.”

Manager Kim sighed.

“Why? Manager Kim.”

Jangbung’s voice was steady.

“No matter how much I think about it, it still doesn’t seem fair to select this year’s novel except for the work that almost consistently won first place last year.”

Manager Kim groaned.

“Hah~ What’s wrong with you again?”

Manager Choi chimed in.

“Manager Kim Jangbung, did you fall asleep during the meeting? Why are you striking the clock again at the end of the meeting?”

Jangbung lowered his head.

“Manager Kim, Manager Choi, I’m sorry. But excluding it from all awards this year…”

Manager Kim cut him off.

“Manager Kim. Haven’t I told you this many times? Do we really want to choose a work that routinely features rape by force and sexual intercourse with a minor as our company’s flagship novel?”

Jangbung tried to argue.

“But if we don’t receive any benefits or awards, there could be contractual issues later.”

Manager Kim scoffed.

“A reservation? Who would sign a contract with a novel like that? A novel that can’t even be published because of censorship?”

Manager Choi nodded.

“That’s right, Chief Kim Jangbung. It’s our platform, so we’re protecting it with a fence. In any other place, that novel would be slammed and censored.”

Manager Kim continued.

“Seriously, you’re worrying for nothing. And that phony who decided on the award this time. You barely got my approval because you kept singing the national anthem to me every day, insisting on signing a contract. If that’s how it went, you should think about giving the contracted writer a piece of cake before worrying about that novel!”

Jangbung’s shoulders slumped.

“Okay, I understand. I think I was mistaken.”

Manager Kim’s tone softened.

“Let’s do better, please!”

Manager Choi pointed at her phone.

“Huh, look at these guys?”

Manager Park leaned over.

“Oh my, what’s going on, boss?”

Manager Choi scrolled.

“It’s a new platform company. They’re advertising a novel that’s being serialized at the same time at our company, spending millions of won on social media.”

Manager Park laughed.

“Oh my, what’s going on? Aren’t they idiots? They’re getting millions of won in advertising for absolutely free. Haha.”

Manager Kim nodded.

“Wow, boss? Then if we just temporarily release that work for half the price, wouldn’t people flock to us?”

Manager Park grinned.

“Manager Park, that’s a good idea. Should we try to pursue a contract with the writer like that?”

Manager Choi sighed.

“Haa, Manager Kim. Manager Park. It’s good because it’s free advertising. Do you think our company would be okay signing a contract with a work like that?”

Manager Park backtracked.

“Now that I think about it, that’s true. I was just wondering because Mr. Jangbung kept singing that we should sign a contract for that work”

Manager Choi waved a hand.

“Yeah, let’s just not spend a lot of money and be happy when something good happens. Why are you thinking of spending more money? Just quickly upload the Bell Bell event materials.”

Manager Park nodded.

“Yes.”

Jangbung muttered.

“Yes, I understand…”

Manager Kim’s voice boomed.

“Manager Kim! How do you manage the writers!!”

Manager Choi joined in.

“That’s right, Manager Kim Jangbung, you always say we have to protect male-oriented novels, but now that a fake has passed, is this even real?”

Manager Park added.

“Mr. Jangbung, there’s no problem with the female-oriented side, but isn’t the outflow of male writers too severe?”

Jangbung’s voice was low.

“That’s because the writer has received very good terms from the other platform, so he has no intention of changing his mind.”

Manager Kim’s face reddened.

“You keep making excuses, Manager Kim. That novel is the best-selling work on our platform. You’re making excuses after losing such a precious work? Huh?”

Jangbung tried to explain.

“But since you said the conditions are very good, I don’t think we can do anything.”

Manager Kim slammed his hand on the desk.

“Why not? Our conditions are good too! How can you say you have better conditions when you’re taking 10 million won every month?”

Jangbung sighed.

“They said they guaranteed profit protection for various advertisements and cover contracts.”

Manager Kim groaned.

“Sigh, we could have done the covers a long time ago. Kim Jangbung, what the hell have you been doing all this time contacting the author?”

Manager Choi crossed her arms.

“Manager Kim Jangbung, did you know that our male-oriented subscription sales have noticeably decreased this month? You keep suggesting pointless solutions, but what are you going to do if you can’t even keep one author? Are you even working?”

Jangbung hesitated.

“Well, we even offered you a revised e-book, but you rejected it, so we decided to move on without processing the practice work for now.”

Manager Kim’s eyes widened.

“Oh my, this is ridiculous! Seriously~. He gave me 10 million won to serialize a novel that I couldn’t even serialize anywhere else, and now he’s not even going to keep the three-month practice period? That guy?”

Manager Park tilted her head.

“Really? What kind of guy is that?”

Jangbung explained.

“Well, the author wanted to process it as a practice, but I barely managed to persuade him to stop.”

Manager Kim frowned.

“Why?”

Jangbung’s voice was steady.

“I thought that rather than having customers who can no longer see the work move en masse because it was processed as a practice, maintaining it as is would prevent the current customers from leaving.”

Manager Kim shouted.

“Manager Kim!! Why! You! Are you deciding that??”

Jangbung lowered his head.

“I’m sorry. I had to talk to you like that because the notice was so sudden. We agreed to contact you if anything changes.”

Manager Kim pointed at him.

“If you’re going to treat a writer like that, tell them to pay back all the money I’ve been paying them! How can you just move without even processing your practice? Is taking money a joke you can do whatever you want?”

Jangbung nodded.

“Then I’ll contact you again.”

Manager Kim’s voice was firm.

“Yeah! Whether you persuade them, threaten them, or threaten them with money, I’m telling you to keep them from going!”

Jangbung sighed.

“Okay, I understand.”

Manager Kang approached, grinning.

“Oh my, who is this? Isn’t that Manager Kim Jangbung, who’s been so depressed since morning?”

Jangbung looked up.

“Manager Kang.”

Manager Kang laughed.

“Wow~ The office has been a battlefield since morning, lol. Don’t just sit there like that. It makes people depressed.”

Jangbung rubbed his neck.

“I’m trying to do something, but it keeps failing, so that’s why I’m like that.”

Manager Kang leaned back.

“That’s just how the company works. That’s why I told you to do it like me. If I were you, you’d think of pressing the yes and applause buttons without a no button.”

Jangbung shook his head.

“That’s not your personality. Really.”

Manager Kang nodded.

“Yeah, that’s true. If you were, would you have been that famous? By the way, all the writers left, so the company atmosphere is tense, and I heard you’re using up your annual leave next week? Where are you going on a trip?”

Jangbung’s voice was quiet.

“I have somewhere to go, too.”