The Parachute Hire is Too Competent Chapter 37 : I Will Prove It in One Year (2)

I Will Prove It in One Year (2)

Choi Hyena took a deep breath. At that, life returned to her eyes. It was as if she was signaling that she was fully prepared for battle.

On the other hand, Kim Junho looked like death ward over.

I knew he was worried about Hyena, but at this rate, anyone watching would think Junho was the one giving the presentation.

Choi Hyena spoke up.

"Our Reform Division focused on the core reason for implenting the 115km project—that is, the essence."

Though her tone wavered slightly, it was okay. It would surely stabilize very soon.

If the other side had shown the textbook example of a presentation, we countered with the fundantals of business.

"I think using 'Your Touch' for the zones, popup stores, and rchandise production are all good ideas. We also confird that the External Business Division is deeply invested in this project. However!"

Choi Hyena tucked her hair behind her ear and spoke with strength in her voice.

"Will all that truly increase the number of visitors to Next Planet? The reason we're implenting the 115km project is to increase visitor numbers."

"Hyena-nim, your view is too narrow. 'Your Touch' is a proven IP. I can guarantee it'll attract visitors."

"Who is the main target for 'Your Touch'?"

"Well, since it's an IP portraying the fresh love stories of middle and high school students, the first group is obviously won in their mid to late teens. The second group is won in their mid to late twenties."

Lee Ji-young, the division director, continued in a biting tone, as if she had expected this line of attack.

"The reason won in their mid to late twenties are a secondary target is because they watched 'Your Touch' ten years ago. And since the main target of the recruit promotion proposed by the Reform Division is young n and won in their early to mid-twenties, that's the closest demographic group, which gives us an advantage in terms of scalability. We crafted our strategy after thoroughly considering these factors."

Nods of agreent could be seen here and there.

"There is no scalability."

Choi Hyena's firm tone resonated throughout the eting room.

Everyone showed signs of anxiety at those strong words. Was it really okay to speak so assertively?

I felt a twinge of concern, but then I realized...

That's exactly how I've always been. I have nothing to say.

"What are you talking about...?"

Lee Ji-young, the division director, flared up, but Choi Hyena hurriedly spoke before giving her a chance.

"The reason is that we haven't solved the fundantal problems of the the park. No matter how powerful the IP may be, the custors you've targeted will have a hard ti coming."

"It's more than possible. Why do you always think so negatively?"

"Think about the characteristics of your target demographic. The ti and cost required to visit Next Planet are too much of a burden for them."

"I'd like to respond this way. The Reform Division is tangled up in contradictions just to attack others."

"What do you an by that?"

"I acknowledge the achievents of the Reform Division."

As Choi Hyena beca more pointed in her remarks, Lee Ji-young deliberately slowed her tempo and softened her expression—clearly a strategic move.

"The emotional photospots designed by the Reform Division truly shocked . People visited just to take pictures there. At that ti, I reflected a lot. That we should've worked harder, too."

"Emotional photospots and the 'Your Touch' IP are completely different cases."

"Are you saying 'Your Touch' is inferior, then?"

"It's not a matter of superiority or inferiority. The photospots worked because they were tied to the recruit promotion. It spread like a trend because of that."

"So, you're saying you've never considered that a 'Your Touch' challenge could also go viral as a trend?"

"Why should we bet on such a slim chance?"

With Lee Ji-young's composure shaken, Choi Hyena pressed even harder.

"The recruit promotion worked because every year, a hundred thousand boot camp recruits have to co to Nonsan. 'Have to co' and 'must be made to co' are completely different issues. Plus, you must have already calculated the custor acquisition cost for your 'Your Touch' challenge. Didn't you gloss over it because the number was astronomical?"

"Custor acquisition cost" refers to the total expense a company incurs to secure a new custor.

As competition intensifies in every industry, this cost rises sharply each year.

Lee Ji-young hesitated.

At that mont, Choi Hyena, both in logic and montum, had the upper hand over Lee Ji-young.

"I don't want to hear things like, 'This can't be done.'"

It was the chairman.

"So what has the Reform Division prepared?"

With the chairman's forceful energy, not only Lee Ji-young but Choi Hyena also seed frozen in place.

I whispered,

"Be confident. That's all you need."

Choi Hyena turned pale for an instant, but straightened her posture after regaining her composure.

"The Reform Division's goal for the 115km project is not to create a temporary spike in visitors to Next Planet, but to increase them consistently over ti."

"So, what you're saying is, no matter how well Lee Ji-young's plan goes, at best, it would only result in a temporary increase in Next Planet's visitors."

"Yes."

"So what's next? Speak as if it's your last chance."

The tension in Choi Hyena spiked again.

In fact, it wasn't just her—everyone in the room felt the sa.

With the chairman's words, as soon as his interest faded even a little, he would surely walk out.

"We're betting everything."

Choi Hyena nodded slightly and declared,

"If there's anything more important than 1 billion won, it's Next Planet's future."

The chairman's eyes glead.

"We made it so that the new song from 115km would align with the values Next Planet pursues, not just serve as a promotion for Nonsan city. Let's play the video."

A video started playing on the screen.

"The video was prepared by Kim Junho-nim."

Choi Hyena made sure to give Kim Junho a nod for his efforts—a warm display of camaraderie.

Kim Junho had worked hard to prepare the video in a short ti. He had used AI to create an animated short, and it was very well made.

The video showed a young man and woman in their late teens enjoying a date at Next Planet.

The concept was connected to 'Your Touch'.

The scene shifted.

The teen couple had now grown into a married couple in their thirties, returning to Next Planet with their child.

The two told their child about the mories they had created on earlier visits to Next Planet.

Why was this concept so appealing to 115km?

Because their strength lay in stirring tender nostalgia, but even they needed sothing new by now.

That's a common problem for artists and content creators, isn't it?

Their image or concept gets used up and eventually grows dull.

But you can't just change your essence in a flash. So we proposed a new perspective.

Is nostalgia a feeling that only cos from teenage or college days?

Or does it only get completed through reminiscence? Life in your thirties can also be youthful.

If you're living that mont beautifully, it's part of your youth. And nostalgia can be created in the present, too.

If those emotions are carried forward into the future, it's even more possible.

When we explained this concept, 115km was inspired and decided to completely overhaul their plan for the new song.

Choi Hyena exclaid,

"The strategy of the Reform Division has always been consistent: At Next Planet, people create beautiful mories and return again—either with the next generation or with the people living in the sa era."

She spoke even louder than before,

"When do the best results co? Is it when the business division's strategy is superb? Or when the artist's abilities are respected to the fullest? The Reform Division doesn't believe in either. We believe the best results co when business strategy and artistic needs align—and that's what we fought to achieve."

Though the explanation wasn't detailed, everyone understood.

They realized who our next target was and how we would recruit them to lower acquisition costs.

Choi Hyena's ssage was clear:

Next Planet isn't just a place for temporary events, but a destination people return to again and again to create beautiful mories.

At that, Lee Ji-young stood up from her seat, veins bulging in her neck.

"I can't believe what I'm hearing, chairman! Isn't this a teamkill? I'm furious—it's reached my limit!"

Suddenly the mood of the room shifted. Everyone knew where her argunt would lead.

"You're breaking deals that were painstakingly set up with Nonsan city just to boost your own achievents. How can Next Planet function as one team after this?"

The chairman nodded slightly. Others also showed signs of agreent with Lee Ji-young's logic.

Division Director Oh Kang-il, muttered,

"Internal sniping really is intolerable."

In reality, there have been countless companies that failed at projects because competing internal teams put self-interest above teamwork.

Whether it's hoarding credit or a lack of information sharing, those kinds of fractures prevent a team from functioning as one.

Choi Hyena looked at with trembling eyes.

Right, there was no way her limited experience could've prepared her for this turn.

I stood up, and, so only she could hear, whispered,

"Don't worry. Did you think I wouldn't have prepared for this?"

"Director..."

"You did great, really. To here on, leave it to ."

I straightened my tie and addressed the room.

"There's an important distinction between internal competition and teamkill. If our bickering led to outside companies stealing results, or if we caved to negotiation partners and paid more, sure, that's teamkill."

Lee Ji-young looked flustered, while the chairman looked amused.

"We are not abandoning the 'Your Touch' IP business altogether. So ideas will be applied as the circumstances call for it. But we prioritize Next Planet's core values. To that perspective, the Reform Division's proposal is the better one, and that's the positive effect of internal competition. We call that improvent."

Imdiately, Lee Ji-young shot back,

"How can you call giving up all the support from Nonsan city a positive result? Do you have a conscience? It's 1 billion won! Everyone here knows Next Planet has no financial leeway."

"As I said before, once you add up custor acquisition costs and the costs of creating the zones and popup stores, most of that 1 billion will be canceled out."

Lee Ji-young flinched.

In the end, a lot of money would go into building facilities that wouldn't even be that effective...

I shrugged and continued.

"And that 1 billion won? Can't we just find an investor?"

"Exactly who would hand over that kind of money to Next Planet? You have to be realistic. No one but an organization like Nonsan city—a governnt office burning through money—would ever do it."

Lee Ji-young lost control and lashed out. That was her limitation.

I looked straight at the chairman.

"Anyone who truly wants to save Next Planet will invest."

Everyone's attention shifted to the chairman. They were all so shocked, you could say they were completely frozen.

Even Division Director Oh Kang-il, spilled his orange juice.

"This one's out of his mind."

The chairman crushed everyone's montum with one remark.

"Let say just one thing. The way the Reform Division cares for Next Planet is beautiful. I feel so sorry—and proud—that you're trying so hard, I feel like I want to lavish you with that 1 billion. But do you think I'd really just throw it at you, saying 'Good job'?"

"There are too many irrational expressions, which clouds the real point."

"Are you saying I talked too much nonsense?"

"If we can just clearly define the aning of investnt, that'll resolve everything."

The chairman slamd the table. Despite his age, he had a solid build and brimming energy; the "bang" echoed through the eting room.

"You're saying that maintaining a consistent concept while focusing on change is true investnt if it brings more visitors—and that's what the money is for, right?"

"Thank you for the clear definition."

"Fine, fine. Let's say the Reform Division's strategy is worth more than 1 billion—how will you prove it?"

"Just give us ti."

"You seem awfully confident."

"When you use soone else's money, you'd better be confident."

"Fine, I'll stake my own 1 billion then."

At that, the startled vice CEO jumped to his feet.

"C-chairman. That's going too far."

"Sit down."

"It'd be more prudent to deliberate before getting excited—"

"I said sit."

With a sharp voice, the vice CEO sat back down.

"Why do people invest? To get their money back. In one year, the Reform Division will have to prove that this project's effect is worth more than 1 billion."

"I'll prove it in one year."

"What do you think will happen if you can't?"

"If a parachute doesn't deliver, there's only one ending, isn't there?"

I definitely saw it—a fleeting smile at the corner of the chairman's lips.

"I'll look forward to it."