Genius Idol’s Strategy to Conquer the Entertainment Industry

Chapter 262

—

Lee Young-min’s huge body hit the floor with such a loud noise that I worried it might trigger a noise complaint from the neighbors. However, the sound didn’t register immediately.

The visual impact of what was happening right before my eyes was so strong that I thought, ‘Should I run away right now?’ Fortunately, before I could act, the doll spoke.

“It’s me.”

Despite the androgynous voice that made it hard to guess the gender, I immediately knew it was Larry due to the unmistakable tone of contempt laced within the short statement.

This jerk who once boasted about protecting my life’s genre was now derailing it. Could I lodge a complaint with the Administration for this?

“What are you doing without saying a word?”

“You seemed fine.”

I wasn’t sure how, but it seemed he had transferred his body from Lee Young-min to that thing.

There was a cracking sound, and the doll’s previously battered state looked much better.

“It can be fixed right away. It’s convenient.”

“Though I feel extremely uncomfortable, some managers find this convenience appealing.”

After straightening his somewhat disheveled clothes, he said,

“Then I’ll deal with this doll and return.”

“Will it take long?”

“No. I won’t be far.”

Larry left, leaving Lee Young-min’s body where it was.

Finally, I had a moment to properly look around the room.

Thanks to that guy’s abilities, the hideous bugs and blood had completely disappeared, and the officetel looked much like it did the last time I visited.

I didn’t think the landlord would have anything to complain about.

‘Ah, the landlord is my mother.’

In any case, the lingering chill brushing the back of my neck wasn’t just my imagination.

‘It’s strange to feel comfortable with strangers in my house.’

Empty and half-empty bottles of alcohol were strewn about, and among them lay two fans, clearly drunk, in comfortable positions.

The clothes scattered near the entrance and the names floating above their heads confirmed they were the same intruders from the CCTV footage.

Both seemed to be breathing fine.

They must have fallen asleep without any major issues after escaping Zero’s influence.

At least they weren’t dead.

Thinking that they’d remain asleep until someone woke them up made me feel incredulous.

‘Where did the other one go?’

There were four intruders in the CCTV footage, but including the one Larry had possessed, there were only three here in the officetel.

I couldn’t find the fourth one even after checking the bathroom and other rooms.

Did they wake up and leave on their own after coming to their senses?

Since their names were intact in the footage, it didn’t seem like they had been affected by Zero.

If managers could possess anyone at will, they wouldn’t have bothered creating something as cumbersome as a ‘doll.’

‘Well, if we call the police and check the CCTV, we’ll know.’

Suddenly overwhelmed by fatigue, I crouched down where I was.

‘I need to contact Sang-hyun hyung and the police about the fans being here…’

I didn’t care.

I looked at the people lying around, who I thought, until just before sunset, were definitely fans who liked me.

These people were the ones I saw on my way to work today.

Not just today, but also at the showcase a few days ago, at the music show two weeks ago, and at the fan signing event before that, they had shouted my name enthusiastically with normal faces.

“…Why did you do it?”

I knew that their bold and malicious actions were influenced by Zero.

I asked why despite my resolve not to because I realized they had stayed here even after the brainwashing was undone, which meant it was their own choice.

Didn’t you say you loved me?

Though it probably wasn’t a deep emotion, they had said they loved me with smiling faces, yet they did something like this. I couldn’t understand it.

“Why did you do it…”

Of course, there was no answer.

—

On Raon, who had asked a meaningless question, sat still for about 30 seconds before standing up.

If he delayed any longer, Gwak Sang-hyun, who was nearby, would contact him or come up directly to check.

He had something to do before that.

After manipulating the doll to ensure it was caught on CCTV leaving for a secluded area, Larry quickly returned to Lee Young-min’s body and observed On Raon’s busy movements with a sigh.

No matter how cleanly the area was cleaned and purified, it was still a place where a corpse had just lain in a pool of blood.

Moreover, there were still intoxicated, unconscious fans sprawled nearby.
—

The reason the ill-tempered manager didn’t stop On Raon from going inside wasn’t because he thought it would be okay for him to see the gruesome scene inside.

He knew that even if he tried to stop him, On Raon wouldn’t listen anyway.

However, being able to do his job in such a situation made the manager evaluate him as someone with an extraordinary mental fortitude.

“What are you doing?”

On Raon coldly responded, finally noticing the manager’s presence.

“…It’s gone.”

“What?”

“The letter, it’s gone.”

While the problematic medical certificate was found on the desk, ‘On Raon’s’ last letter, which had been carefully placed in a locked drawer due to the lack of a proper place, was missing.

The lock seemed to have been forcibly twisted and broken from the outside.

Given the circumstances, it was likely either Zero took it, or the unseen intruder had taken it. However, it didn’t feel like the intruder.

If someone could twist and break a lock like this without any tools, they should be a strongman, not an intruder.

Thus, On Raon judged it was likely the work of Zero, who had some special powers like Larry, who handled fire, and Larry agreed.

Larry further explained that Zero probably hadn’t possessed the body of a regular person who couldn’t handle the manager’s mental strain.

After hearing the explanation, On Raon stared blankly at the empty drawer and asked,

“Why did he take it?”

“Is that the only thing missing?”

“Why did he take it?”

Larry, seeing On Raon muttering about the letter as if he hadn’t heard anything else, showed him his constantly ringing phone.

“I’m also very curious, but Gwak Sang-hyun has been trying to contact us, so let’s call him now.”

They were about to get scolded for not answering sooner.

Seeing the intruders in the officetel, Gwak Sang-hyun almost fainted.

That reaction was normal, thought Larry, observing Gwak Sang-hyun’s response.

“You guys! Really!”

“I’m sorry. I was too shocked to think about contacting anyone.”

Gwak Sang-hyun closed his mouth upon seeing On Raon’s face, which was literally devoid of any color.

Seizing the moment, On Raon pulled out a premeditated excuse.

“There was one more intruder, hiding in the bathroom. They suddenly jumped out and ran away, so I couldn’t catch them. That person whose gender we couldn’t tell. That’s why I was even more shocked…”

Gwak Sang-hyun accepted On Raon’s excuse without suspicion.

“It’s okay as long as you’re not hurt. See? I told you it would be a big problem if I went alone.”

“Yes…”

“From now on, if something like this happens, don’t even think about going alone. Always call someone to go with you. Not that it should happen again, but…”

At that moment, On Raon thought that to move more freely in the future, he had to find a way to reinstate Lee Young-min as the manager of Orca, no matter what.

Shortly after, the police arrived, called by Gwak Sang-hyun, and began handling the situation.

The police forcibly woke up the still sleeping intruders and took them to the station.

There was a brief scuffle because the intruders, loudly complaining without considering others, claimed there was a corpse in the seemingly fine officetel and demanded On Raon be brought there. However, with clear evidence, the arrests proceeded without issue.

“Thank you for your cooperation.”

One of the intruders had been reported missing to the police.

Incidentally, the rumor that a whole group of intruders had disappeared overnight and had been collectively reported missing was exaggerated.

In reality, only one intruder had been reported missing.

“We’ll find the other two soon. We’ll contact you once we do.”

“Please do.”

“Thank you for your cooperation late at night.”

“Oh, it’s nothing. The kids did all the hard work.”

Following Gwak Sang-hyun’s advice not to listen to unpleasant things from the intruders, On Raon rested in the car.

He lacked the energy to stand firm on the scene, perhaps because he had run out of stamina or because Larry had drained his abilities on his own.

Even the grace, which had been a great help at times like this, was currently useless.

“Phew, it’s chaotic.”

At that moment, Gwak Sang-hyun opened the car door and got in.

“You’re back? How did it go?”

“They’re all arrested, and you’ll probably have to go in for questioning later. But I’ll adjust the schedule for you, so don’t worry about it for now.”

“Okay.”

“I’ll make sure those intruders get a prison sentence this time.”

“What about Young-min hyung?”

Lee Young-min, who had remained at the scene with Gwak Sang-hyun, did not return with them.

—

“He said he would stay at a relative’s house nearby and contact us later. Though it seems a bit strange, he’s a thankful person, especially regarding your matters.”

Gwak Sang-hyun didn’t seem to dislike Lee Young-min, so On Raon’s resolve to bring him back as a placeholder manager became even stronger.

“By any chance, did the intruders have any letters on them?”

“Letters?”

Gwak Sang-hyun, misunderstanding On Raon’s question as referring to the fan letters he usually received, asked back as if wondering how he could think of such a thing in this situation.

“No, not fan letters. It’s a letter given by someone I know that was originally at home.”

On Raon’s calm explanation seemed to ease Gwak Sang-hyun’s expression.

“Ah… it’s something like that? They didn’t mention anything about it, but I’ll check later.”

“Thank you.”

Gwak Sang-hyun lamented, saying it was hard to believe they had performed a comeback stage just yesterday, as he started the car.

A while later.

“Hyung, by any chance…”

On Raon, who had been quiet since they started driving, called out to Gwak Sang-hyun.

Gwak Sang-hyun, who thought the kid was asleep, widened his eyes at On Raon’s words.

* * *

Around 2 AM.

Aeri members, who had stayed up all night worrying about Orca, received a notification on their phones.

[Orca (ORCA) has started a live broadcast.

Orca (ORCA): (silent megaphone emoji)]