"Are you crazy? What did you say to your superior? That I took money?" Kwak Hye-Jin, the Variety Department Director, snapped and raised her voice.0

Beside her, Chae Jin-Sung, the Programming Director, lowered his tone as well. "PD Ban. The way you're talking today is a bit out of line."0

Even as the two glared sharply at him, Ban Sung-Gyu didn't so much as blink as he faced them head-on.0

"If that's not the case, then how does it make sense to cut a program that already has its production budget fully secured? On top of that, we brought in a top star and the entire budget ourselves, and you're saying it'll be replaced with MeTube content?"0

Kwak Hye-Jin bristled as she shot back. "Hey, you think I'd say this for no reason? What if Chief Jung joins hands with them and CK retaliates by pulling their sponsorships? What are you going to do then? CK alone accounts for about fifteen percent of the sponsorships for the Variety Department. If that disappears, do you realize the whole department will start to collapse?"1

After pushing Lee Tae-Poong out of their own cable channel, CK Entertainment's President Son Hyung-Tae was now exerting influence over terrestrial broadcasting as well.0

Sparks practically flew between Ban Sung-Gyu and Kwak Hye-Jin. I thought it might be time for me to step in.0

Just then, Ban Sung-Gyu stopped me and began pressing Kwak Hye-Jin even harder. "Then do you think everything will be fine if you cut out Chief Jung?"0

"Why? Is Chief Jung going to pull the actors?"0

"No. But the sponsors for our program are Jinseong Inc., Daecheon Inc., and LT Entertainment. If they hear the program got scrapped because of CK, do you think they'll just sit still? Their pride won't allow it. Of course they'll retaliate."0

"Jinseong, Daecheon, and LT?"0

"Yes. The three of them account for thirty-five percent of the sponsorship. And you're saying we should cut out Chief Jung? What are you going to do if...0