Black Label [EN]: Chapter 85

Black Label 85

86. American Dream

Director Song stared, a strange look in his eyes, and spoke with a slightly trembling voice.

“Good heavens. So, there was a reason for your carefree attitude.”

All the worries I had been harboring seemed to fade away in an instant.

How could he orchestrate such a massive undertaking without showing even a hint? So secretive that even his allies didn’t notice at all.

Jaeseung gave a short answer, “Of course,” shrugged once, and continued.

“I’m a bit of a coward, so I try to avoid battles where I don’t stand a chance of winning.”

“Hey, young CEO.”

“Yes?”

“You’re starting to feel really scary.”

It was a sincere statement. One unfamiliar but clear fact stood out.

The emotion lingering in Director Song’s eyes was definitely ‘awe’.

Soon, Jaeseung spoke in a rather serious tone, quietly.

“Depending on the situation, and depending on the opponent, I’m ready to become as intimidating as necessary.”

Even after Jaeseung finished speaking, no one offered an answer.

Director Song and the employees just stood there dumbfounded, like people who had swallowed honey [a Korean expression for being speechless or stunned].

A terrible silence hung in the air for a moment.

“It seems like it’s about time for some bites to come, so why don’t you all loosen up? It’s going to get very busy.”

As soon as Jaeseung finished speaking, everyone reluctantly returned to their places.

As soon as the employees were all gone, Jaeseung plugged earphones into his ears.

The long-awaited ‘show’ was about to begin, so he was preparing to enjoy it properly.

He desperately wanted popcorn, but it was a pity he couldn’t get any right now.

If this show had credit scenes?

The name ‘Lee Jaeseung’ would have been listed in the screenplay, directing, leading role, and production categories.

Of course, there are some supporting actors and sponsors, but I won’t bother listing them.

Click-.

As soon as I clicked the play button, a march suitable as the theme song for today’s victory began to play.

Today’s selection is Johann Strauss The Elder’s ‘Radetzky March’.

As the majestic melody of the introduction began to resonate in my eardrums, I closed my eyes tightly.

I wanted to open the internet news page of the portal site right away and see the articles being updated in real time.

It wasn’t just a big social issue; it was clear that there would be a huge commotion.

Every time the association’s tricks were caught, I felt like my blood was running backwards, but I held back and continued to prepare for victory.

It is natural to want to check it right away.

But, I’ll wait a moment.

As the time of waiting accumulates second by second, the sweetness of the reward increases exponentially.

What should I say? To put it bluntly, it felt like sitting in front of a steak that was cooked golden brown while being very hungry.

I wanted to cut the meat right away and stuff a large chunk into my mouth, but I took a moment to relax.

Would it be right to say that it is similar to poking the steak with a knife for no reason and admiring the flowing juice for a while?

Today’s victory is too good to just chew a few times and swallow it right away. I was going to roll it gently on my tongue and slowly savor the taste as much as possible.

Soon.

Ring ring ring-!

Ring ring-!

The loud office phone rang, seeping through the gaps in the earphones.

It was obvious. It must be calls from various magazines and media companies.

Even Director Song already had her smartphone to her ear and seemed to be talking to some industry officials who knew her personal number.

“Ah, yes. Thank you so much for your words of comfort. First of all, I’m thinking of organizing the situation and preparing a proper press conference….”

The employees were also busy exchanging information about the internet news that was being updated in real time, with very excited voices.

“Oh my god, it’s already on the N company’s internet news portal?” [Likely referring to Naver, a major South Korean search portal]

“It’s on D company now too!” [Likely referring to Daum, another major South Korean search portal]

What a beautiful harmony this is?

Enjoying the melody so beautiful that I felt dizzy, I turned my head out the office window.

It was clear that even the weather was celebrating the victory. Without realizing it, a smile bloomed on my face.

Looking back, I thought that I might have been walking on too smooth a path since my regression [referring to the protagonist’s second chance at life].

I was living in a state where I had completely forgotten the ‘poison’ I had held in my heart when I was dying day by day in an asbestos-filled underground workshop.

I had forgotten that the world is vast, challenging, and full of unpleasantness, and I had been seeing only the bright side of things.

“It’s a really beautiful day….”

After muttering quietly, I turned up the volume of the music again.

Jaeseung, who couldn’t help but feel excited and moved his hands as if he were a conductor, smiled and grabbed the mouse.

Anyway, it seemed like it was time to properly practice his motto.

Repay kindness twice, and grudges tenfold.

* * *

[Is it a sin to dream? What right do the privileged have to exploit blooming youth? Examining the systemic issues of current society through the Korea Fashion Designer Association case.]

[Korea Fashion Designer Association says, “It’s a common occurrence in the adult world.” The greed of the privileged and the tears that young people had to shed.]

[The behind-the-scenes story between the Korea Fashion Designer Association and rookie designer Lee Jaeseung, and all the forces involved.]

[Are people in the global fashion industry angry? Revealing all the misdeeds and disgraceful acts of the Korea Fashion Designer Association. Full disclosure of recorded data.]

[Global designer crew ‘The Real Artist’ says, “We will take active legal action with our advisory law firm, so you must be prepared.”]

[An official in charge of store openings at an outlet says, “Due to repeated pressure from the association, Wall Flower should never be allowed to open in the future….”]

Click.

Click.

Every time I pressed the refresh button, a new article related to this situation was being updated.

Chairman Heo Moon-cheol, who was staring blankly at the monitor screen with a dumbfounded expression, picked up the receiver he had placed on his bedside table and suddenly shouted.

“Damn it! Call Director Kim right now, no! Call Kim Geun-tae-!”

New articles are being released every second.

Even the recorded data, as well as concrete circumstantial data on the pressure exerted so far, are supporting it.

The forces involved were also revealing the detailed inside story as if they were victims, worried that the blame would fall on them.

First of all, the chief executives of the SPA [Specialty store retailer of Private label Apparel] brands announced that they would dismiss all personnel officials involved in enticing Wall Flower employees, while at the same time denying that they had anything to do with it.

The same goes for the fashion magazines involved in this incident.

Regarding all the transactions that had taken place, they began to play the victim, claiming that ‘it was an unavoidable situation due to pressure from the association, and we will gladly take responsibility for it’.

Was that all?

Outlet and department store employees were also revealing every detail about their contact with the association.

Chairman Heo Moon-cheol, who was covering his face with both hands, began to mutter in a low voice like a crazy person.

“When things are good, we do it together, but now you turn your backs like this? I can’t go down alone. No, I can’t go down alone….”

The situation was seriously wrong.

Unexpected big shots were involved, and the tears that designer Lee Jaeseung shed at the official press conference became the catalyst.

Thanks to this, public opinion, which usually had no interest, began to boil with terrifying momentum.

At that time, Director Kim Geun-tae, with a bleak face, appeared as the door to the chairman’s office opened.

“Chairman, you called….”

That moment.

Smash-!

The glass ashtray that flew across the air hit Director Kim Geun-tae’s forehead.

Soon, Director Kim Geun-tae began to groan, holding his forehead with both hands.

Blood was already running down his face from the cut.

Soon, Chairman Heo Moon-cheol got up from his seat and asked back in a very agitated tone.

“What are you going to do! What are you going to do now!”

“I’m, I’m sorry….”

“Sorry? Sorry? Did you just say sorry?”

I could hear my heartbeat vividly in my ears.

Every time I exhaled, I felt an unpleasant hot breath above my philtrum [the vertical groove between the upper lip and the nose].

Soon, Chairman Heo Moon-cheol shouted, raising the veins in his neck.

“You stupid bastard! Did you even find out who was behind him before trying to handle things like that?”

Soon, Director Kim Geun-tae suddenly knelt down.

“Ch, Chairman. If you give me one more chance, I will try to resolve it somehow.”

“What? Resolve? How are you going to resolve this? How are you going to resolve it-!”

“It wasn’t an instruction from the association, but an independent move….”

Smash-!

Again, a dull noise echoed inside the chairman’s office. This time, he picked up the nameplate and threw it.

Director Kim Geun-tae, who was kneeling, ended up falling backwards.

“You son of a bitch! Is that all you could think of as a countermeasure?”

“Ch, Chairman….”

“I’ve been stuck with such a stupid guy all this time….”

Chairman Heo, who was continuing to speak, grabbed the back of his neck and slumped back into his chair.

After groaning like that for a long time, he began to continue speaking in a dazed tone.

“Kim Geun-tae. Do you even know which law firm Lee Jaeseung’s backers are using?”

“W, well….”

“It’s ‘Reader Smith’, not just any other place. They’re cold-blooded people who create losses and get them back somehow!”

In the first place, what kind of organization is the designer crew ‘The Real Artist’ that Lee Jaeseung belongs to?

Isn’t it a huge crew that boasts a scale large enough to easily exceed trillions of won if you add up the sales of its affiliated designers?

It is a force that is fully qualified to become a client of Reader Smith, one of the top 10 law firms in the United States.

Thanks to a momentary wrong choice, not only the association’s existence but also everything he had built up throughout his life was about to disappear.

Of course, not only legal action and damages issues, but also the boiling public opinion was a problem.

It was clear that it would subside soon, but at this rate, it wouldn’t be strange to be hit by a rock while walking down the street.

After accepting reality, I was about to laugh. It was a laugh full of emptiness.

Soon, Chairman Heo took out a cigarette and said quietly.

“It’s all over now.”

In fact, it wasn’t just Director Kim Geun-tae’s fault. He was just acting according to the instructions of the higher-ups.

Also, if Lee Jaeseung was a talent, he would have become a target of the association at any time.

However, a series of ‘careless’ actions occurred in the process.

It was carelessness that would have occurred no matter who was in charge.

Chairman Heo was also complacent.

He was now venting his anger on Director Kim Geun-tae, using that fact as an excuse.

Of course, nothing would change by venting his anger like this.

At that time.

“Ch, Chairman!”

Again, the door to the chairman’s office opened, and a somewhat chubby young female secretary burst into the chairman’s office.

Soon, Chairman Heo smiled helplessly and asked quietly.

“Yes, what is it now?”

“R, reporters are all over….”

It was a natural development. What’s the big deal, why are you making such a fuss? Chairman Heo clicked his tongue and said, waving his hand.

“Okay, go out.”

“And….”

“What else?”

To Chairman Heo’s somewhat nervous question, the female secretary answered with a pale face.

“The designers who belonged to the association….”

Chairman Heo, who had heard the words to the end, covered his face with both hands and lowered his head.

All kinds of misdeeds that even he had forgotten were showing signs of surfacing.

“Heo….”

It was a groan full of all kinds of regrets.

What was I chasing and living so wickedly?

It was all just a fleeting dream.

* * *

Several more days passed.

A huge storm had passed, causing a significant upheaval in the fashion world, but the world continued as usual.

It snowed on Christmas, and soon we welcomed the New Year again.

Before we knew it, 2012 had dawned.

In the meantime, there were really many things that happened. First of all, with the help of ‘Reader Smith’, we were able to proceed with a lawsuit for damages.

Calculating all the damages so far, we filed lawsuits individually against the association, as well as various media companies, magazines, and designers.

Was it because punitive damages were claimed and ‘Reader Smith’s’ patented ‘miracle calculation method’ was introduced?

Even just looking at the amount of compensation to be received, it was several times the annual sales of Wall Flower.

Suddenly, I thought that the saying ‘a blessing in disguise’ might be referring to this situation.

Although not all compensation has been recovered, once the recovery is complete, it will be such a huge amount that you can live comfortably for the next ten years.

The financial gains weren’t the only benefits.

Perhaps because of the tears that Jaeseung shed at the official press conference, words of concern poured out from around him.

In addition, he also received offers from several agencies abroad. Perhaps because this incident received international attention, they all expressed their desire to give him the treatment he deserved.

Even some famous designers expressed their personal respect through magazine interviews.

It was quite thrilling to receive the respect of those I had admired in my previous life.

The employees had to be buried in work again.

This was because the previously sluggish sales not only recovered but began to rise significantly.

It all seemed to be the effect of ‘noise marketing’ [a marketing strategy that generates buzz through controversy].

Director Song was busy comparing and analyzing the conditions presented by each agency, and Jaeseung himself was busy preparing to leave for Parsons [Parsons School of Design] before starting classes.

A fierce storm had passed, but surprisingly, the brand ‘Wall Flower’ was thriving.

Clatter-.

[Korea Fashion Designer Association ‘Chairman Heo’ and 6 others arrested. In addition to exploiting designs from designers belonging to the association, they also committed sexual harassment….]

[Established designers involved with the association are being exposed one after another, a designer says, “We had no choice but to follow orders….”]

[Korea Fashion Designer Association, virtually disintegrated.]

While waiting for his flight, Jaeseung searched for related articles on his smartphone and nodded in satisfaction.

Some of the association’s designers, who were inspired by his actions, were working hard to reveal the truth.

Their misdeeds, which were revealed in more detail, were so terrible that they could not be ignored.

Not only all kinds of corruption but also sexual harassment, assault, and extortion. The charges were numerous.

Soon, Director Song, who was waiting for the flight time with him, put his arm around Jaeseung’s shoulder and asked.

“By the way, when are you coming back after you leave?”

“Well? I’ll be back soon for work.”

“Tsk, a young man is completely devoid of romance….”

“That’s how the younger generation is.”

“Anyway, take care of yourself and come back healthy.”

“I have to.”

Jaeseung, who answered briefly, checked the time. In an hour, he will be leaving Korea.

Was it because he had finished a year that was particularly eventful? Or was it because of the excitement of ‘going to America’?

I felt my heart pounding for no reason.

At that time.

Buzzzing-!

The cell phone in his hand began to vibrate violently. It was a call from Alexander King, who had become even closer after this incident.

– Lee, what time are you arriving?

“I think it will take about 13 hours.”

– I miss you, and I have a lot to talk about.

“Same here, Alexander. About the last time….”

– If you’re going to thank me, don’t.”

After saying “We’re friends” once, Alexander immediately began to explain fluently.

He said that all preparations for living in the United States, including apartments, studios, and personal vehicles, were completed.

He also added that when he arrives at John F. Kennedy Airport, a group employee will be waiting.

– You can get settled with her guidance. After you unpack, I’ll come to where Lee is.

The starting point of American life is right in front of me. Soon, Jaeseung answered quietly with eyes full of anticipation.

“Okay, see you later. Alexander.”

A crisis became an opportunity. And now, it was time to leave in search of new opportunities.

To the land of opportunity, where countless possibilities await.