Lucas, a reporter for the powerful media outlet ‘BNC,’ had proudly secured his press pass.
“Hmm.”
Soon, walking leisurely past the reporters waiting in the hallway for clearance, Lucas entered the venue and flipped open his laptop.
Swish.
He then slowly scanned the room where the press conference was about to take place.
Contrary to his expectations, the interior was simple. Just a high podium standing alone and a single gooseneck microphone.
There wasn’t even a single banner to speak of.
However, even a quick glance at the reporters filling the room revealed faces that anyone in this industry would recognize.
Which meant the protagonist of today’s press conference possessed enough power to move these kinds of journalists.
“Everyone, please be quiet. There will be a separate time for questions, so please refrain from asking any until then.”
It was time for that protagonist to appear.
Click, click!
Camera flashes began to go off incessantly even before he made his entrance.
“Hmm.”
Inside the room, the air had settled into a calm state, but it was laced with a sense of anticipation.
Except for Lucas.
He sat with a crooked posture, legs crossed, his face full of grumpiness.
As if saying, ‘Go ahead, show me what you’ve got,’ his gaze, tilted up to his chin, was even fierce.
Soon.
The door next to the podium opened slowly.
Click, click!
Everyone began pressing their shutter buttons repeatedly.
Click, click!
This time, Lucas also adjusted his camera focus and pressed the shutter.
His superiors had told him to get a shot of the guy’s face no matter what, so what choice did he have?
Click, click!
However, the finger that had been rapidly clicking the shutter soon stopped.
And for good reason….
“Huh?”
It was because the protagonist’s attire was strange.
Not just strange, it was more like bizarre.
From the neck down, it was certainly perfect.
If a man like that passed by on the street, even another man would turn his head to look.
Yes.
The deep wine-colored suit fit his body perfectly.
His shoes were so shiny a fly would slip off them.
Swish.
Even the logo engraved on his shirt collar, the watch on his wrist, and the briefly visible tie pin—they were all high-end luxury goods boasting exorbitant prices.
Swish.
The problem was the helmet worn above it all. And not just an ordinary helmet, but one engraved with a flashy flame mark.
Even if…
Even if that helmet was a symbolic item representing that person.
‘Crazy.’
It didn’t fit the current place or situation.
Didn’t it?
This wasn’t a private concert or a personal exhibition.
It seemed Lucas wasn’t the only one thinking this.
The other reporters looked equally bewildered, standing dazed with their cameras in hand.
“Please, everyone, take your seats.”
As the man standing to the left of HS spoke, the reporters sat down one by one.
That man had a physique so massive it made ordinary bodyguards look cute.
“Please stop filming for a moment as well.”
The man standing on the right also had a frame that was far beyond that of a normal person.
Not only that.
The helmeted protagonist standing in the center was slim, yet his forearms looked solid enough to burst through his suit.
‘What is up with those guys’ bodies? Is there a muscle mass limit in the hiring requirements or something?’
To Lucas, who had the shabby body of a middle-aged man, the three men looked like members of a dark organization.
Of course, Lucas surely wasn’t the only one thinking that.
Perhaps that was why the noisy room instantly regained its calm.
Before long, the protagonist in the helmet spoke.
“More people have filled the room than I expected.”
His first words were not a cliché greeting.
Even though his face was invisible because of the helmet, the way he slowly scanned the room while leaning both hands on the podium looked considerably arrogant.
As if…
As if he were looking down on the many reporters gathered here. Moreover, he looked quite accustomed to it.
“This is the first time I am greeting you through such an official setting.”
The man then stepped out from behind the podium and stood tall.
“I am HS, the CEO of VINCIS and a composer from Korea.”
He introduced himself with a slight bow.
‘From Korea.’
Judging by the heavy emphasis on those words, it seemed he really wanted them to take note. That they had all rushed here to see a composer from Korea.
Probably.
Even though his popularity and recognition had skyrocketed, those words were likely aimed at certain racists.
“The reason I held this press conference and asked you all to come is….”
Moving back to the center of the podium, HS lightly gripped the microphone with his fingertips.
“To announce that from now on, if anyone touches me or anyone related to me, I will respond without tolerance, no matter who they are.”
He added calmly, his tone devoid of any fluctuation.
“This is not a bluff, nor is it a threat to scare you.”
However, the room became so quiet that even the sound of someone swallowing could be heard. It was because HS’s statement was something no one had expected.
Usually, a press conference is held for a major announcement or to clarify involvement in an incident, right?
And yet….
He had essentially dropped a warning out of nowhere.
“Now, I will take questions.”
As if he had said everything he wanted to say, HS placed the hand that was holding the microphone back onto the podium.
‘What?’
He held a whole press conference just to say that?
Lucas let out a hollow laugh in disbelief.
“Yes, reporter from CMA, please ask your question.”
Because of that, the first turn went to another reporter.
“I understand that your younger sister recently sued Baddy. Is that incident related to this announcement?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“Do you have any intention of showing leniency toward Baddy?”
“No, I don’t.”
HS continued to answer without a single moment of hesitation.
Flick!
Lucas immediately thrust his hand into the air to get the floor.
“Yes, BNC reporter, please ask your question.”
Once chosen, he asked with sharp eyes.
“The CEO’s announcement today could provoke a backlash from the general public. Do you have anything further to add regarding this point?”
In fact, the one expressing the backlash was Lucas himself.
And for good reason.
He didn’t like HS’s attitude, which seemed to ignore and look down on the prominent reporters gathered there.
Especially.
He couldn’t tolerate the way such a venue was being used simply as a personal warning letter.
“Hmm.”
HS tapped the podium lightly with his slender fingers and hummed for a moment.
“A few days ago, Baddy went to my sister’s house with a weapon to threaten her for suing him for racism, and he was arrested.”
Once again, he laid out unexpected words.
“Furthermore, circumstances such as illegal drug distribution and being the culprit behind the recent hit-and-run involving singer JS have been confirmed, requiring a thorough investigation. Thus, the press release was delayed.”
Just then, urgent vibration sounds were heard from all over the room.
Vrrr, vrrr, vrrr, vrrr!
As if waiting for those vibrations, HS took a leisurely break and added.
“Just now, the investigation into all of Baddy’s crimes has been completed, and the official articles should have been uploaded.”
As soon as HS finished speaking, reporters pulled out their phones to check the news.
In an instant, the room was filled with the sound of murmuring voices.
“And.”
HS gripped the microphone once more.
“VINCIS has decided to join hands with Unice Music Group. And in future press conferences, I will be greeting you as the next CEO of Unice Music Group.”
Reporters, without exception, raised their hands and poured out questions.
“Is what you just said already a confirmed fact?”
“Then, is Austin resigning from the CEO position?”
“Who will take over as the CEO of VINCIS?”
Due to HS’s announcement, order had long since collapsed.
“It is a matter that has already been finalized internally, and CEO Austin currently wishes to retire.”
However, HS slowly added further explanation with strength in his voice, as if he had even considered this situation.
“And VINCIS will be led by Vincent Mah, an internal director and an artist under the label.”
Then, as if something had occurred to him, he snapped his fingers and added.
“Ah, and I recently hired an employee. Someone you all probably know well.”
At those words, the reporters tilted their heads and waited for HS’s next words.
Which meant that the flow of this press conference was already entirely in HS’s hands.
Yes.
HS had complete control over the room.
The reporters could do nothing but wait with their necks craned like baby birds to swallow whatever came out of HS’s mouth.
“I cannot reveal the name, but I believe he was known to you all as something of a ‘top informant.’”
Before long, at the mention of the ‘top informant’ from HS’s mouth, all the reporters thought of the same person.
Gulp.
The sound of dry swallowing could be heard from here and there.
‘He hired him…?’
Lucas couldn’t even swallow; his throat was so parched. If the ‘top informant’ HS mentioned was….
‘Wales.’
The junior reporter he had pushed forward to take all the credit, only to pin everything on him and kick him out when trouble arose.
And now….
He was a person whom Lucas had to be wary of as an informant, yet also had to entice back into a friendly relationship with BNC at all costs.
Yes.
Because Wales was the one who held information that reporters currently affiliated with media outlets wouldn’t even dare to dream of.
And HS…
He was saying he had that Wales as his own person?
Tap, tap, tap.
Lucas adjusted his posture and stared intently at HS, wondering if he might add any more details.
His attitude had shifted completely within five minutes of the press conference starting.
“Anyway….”
Just then, HS flipped up the goggles that were covering his face.
“Huh? What?”
In that instant, when everyone was so distracted by HS’s face that they couldn’t even grab their cameras.
“I simply hope, most sincerely, that there will be no unfortunate incident where I have to swing this informant like a blade.”
HS added his final words.
“This concludes the press conference.”
Simultaneously, with a “clack,” the goggles closed.
“Hey, did you catch that just now?”
“It was too fast….”
“Damn it, the focus is out!”
Soon, sighs of regret erupted from all over the room.
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