Let’s move past the part where I am rembering strange past mories.
I conveyed my scouting intentions to Yang Gilsang and showed him the contract.
It wasn’t needed to be an imdiate decision, so I gave him a few days, and next we had a eting in the new office.
Young Yang Gilsang was flipping through the contract in front of .
Then he said,
“Even after looking at it several tis, you’ve put together so really favourable conditions.”
“I value Mr. Gilsang highly.”
“? How do you know?”
“You’ve been in the newspapers before, haven’t you? I vaguely rembered your face, and after we moved our headquarters to Pangyo, I prepared this contract when I found you.”
The tiline was a bit off, but what I said was accurate.
At so point, Yang Gilsang had shown old articles stored on his smartphone, ntioning that he had been in the newspapers.
I ntioned it to reassure his suspicions.
Yang Gilsang doubts indeed started to dispel.
However, apart from that, he was soone who had dabbled in money gas.
He didn’t make a hasty decision.
“Studio Rewind is essentially a start-up.”
He poked a hole.
Yang Gilsang’s eyes had beco that of a businessman.
“I think the company has a very high potential value. As soone who has played your gas, I have high hopes for the potential of your next project. It will probably grow steadily. It’s an excellent choice to start recruiting managent positions at this stage. The foundation of a company should be well-established even when it’s small.”
Flipping through the contract again, Yang Gilsang spoke.
“It’s still a good offer upon reconsideration. In fact, I’ve had an interest in this industry, so I’m quite drawn to it.”
His expression didn’t match his words.
It was different from when we had dinner together, and that made think.
“Hmm…”
Yang Gilsang seed to be deep in thought, and I couldn’t help but feel tense.
“I can’t offer better conditions at the mont.”
Hiring Yang Gilsang was the best I could do at this point.
So, I emphasized various advantages and conveniences throughout the contract, starting with the salary. It was a contract that had also been reviewed by a lawyer.
“I’ve left safety asures.”
He wouldn’t be unaware of that.
In addition to the clause for safety asures in case the company was taken over, I removed everything that seed like a grievance clause.
I emphasized this point once again.
“Studio Rewind may not have a very high reputation as a company yet, but we have unique advantages.”
“Yes, your career.”
Yang Gilsang smiled.
“A career that can be used anywhere from a start-up to a large corporation. It’s an S-class career that you can use anywhere in the future. It’s also a company with the potential to make it a reality.”
Why is he hesitating like this?
On the surface, I praised him, but I couldn’t see any positive signs.
It was a ntal battle in the negotiation room.
In that context, I was indeed at a disadvantage.
He and I were coming from different perspectives.
“There’s nothing I can do.”
I had no choice but to go straight ahead.
“Mr. Gilsang.”
“Yes.”
“I’m not good at beating around the bush. Let ask you directly. Are there any terms in the contract that you’re not happy with?”
“Wow, that’s very straightforward.”
“I’m the one who makes gas, not negotiations.”
“Well, that’s refreshing. Okay, there are so clauses that bother .”
He pointed to one corner.
“It’s about the shares.”
It was one of the safety asures.
A clause regarding ownership after the company goes public.
The tension rose.
“The company is often taken over by those suit ones, and directors lose their autonomy.”
Is Yang Gilsang eyeing the shares?
The decision was made the mont that thought crossed my mind.
“Should I give up?”
I don’t need soone who threatens the autonomy of developnt in my company, no matter how skilled they are.
Unfortunately, Yang Gilsang…
“Director, this is risky. You need to hold it tighter.”
“?”
“You may not know because you are young, but us suit folks easily bypass such clauses. I can think of at least ten ways to circumvent this clause myself.”
What’s going on?
“Here, you need to tighten the reins even more. If you want to avoid being taken for a fool, you have to fill in the clause right up to the brink of poison.”
Yang Gilsang rotated his pen and made revisions to the contract.
He looked excited.
I couldn’t understand it.
“Mr. Gilsang?”
“Yes.”
“Isn’t this unfavourable for you?”
Why would he willingly do sothing that’s not in his favour?
The answer ca back when I asked.
There was a hint of amusent in his words.
“I think building trust between people is not about favours, but about constraints. It’s when we hold each other’s leash that we can truly show our loyalty. Do you know what co-conspirators are? It’s like people with the sa vulnerabilities can’t easily betray each other.”
“…”
“I don’t trust visible favours. So, let’s each have a knife at each other’s throat.”
Yang Gilsang’s change in attitude was bewildering.
But there was sothing evident in his intention.
“Its kind of strange for to ask this but?”
“Please tell .”
“Why did you decide to co to join my company?”
“It’s certainly strange for soone who was scouting. Well, I understand. I’m a bit unusual.”
Yang Gilsang extended three fingers.
He folded one of them.
“First, as I said, there’s a low risk of you turning a knife on .”
He folded another one.
“Second, I really like the Hellic series. I had a blast playing it.”
And with a wide grin, he folded the last one.
“Lastly, because you seem like soone who would enjoy eating my mom’s bibimbap. It’s not sothing just anyone can appreciate. So, there you go, honestly, there’s no need to ntion anything about the work-related aspects because the conditions are too good.”
With that said, Yang Gilsang extended his hand for a handshake.
“Let’s do our best. I’ll review the parts I’ve marked once more, and… Let’s finish the contract and start next week. Oh, by the way, what work will I start with?”
I looked at his hand for a mont.
Finally, I shook it and said, “We need to hire so people. Quite a few.”
“Sounds good. Shall we keep it informal between us?”
“Just make it formal for . I’m the CEO.”
“?”
I couldn’t bow down to soone in a suit.
I had to establish clear hierarchies when recruiting soone in a position where they had no choice but to wrestle.
…Well, in any case, it seems like the recruitnt was successful.
However, Gilsang had the ability to ease this atmosphere.
“Wow, you all look so polished. I thought it was an entertainnt agency, not a ga developnt company.”
Gilsang said nervously, bowing politely.
“Nice to et you. I’m Yang Gilsang.”
The profiles had already been provided by Yeonho.
Gilsang went on, introducing to himself each mber of the team.
“Han Seorim.”
Founding mber and Art director. It seed like she would have more authority as the company grew.
Given the nature of the field, there would probably be frequent clashes with the Art team due to budget issues. To get along without any emotional strain, it would be necessary to make a good impression in advance.
“Next, the programrs…”
“Goh Myungkyu.”
Programrs can be expensive, especially soone with high academic qualifications and practical experience like him. As one of the early developers, he would likely gain even more authority as the company expanded. It would be essential to coordinate with him well. Social skills would be important here, but they were of the sa age, so getting closer shouldn’t be too difficult.
“Next…”
“Jo Ayoon.”
She was a young woman in a green tracksuit with a slightly mischievous look, probably in her early twenties.
“You’re Ayoon, right? Nice to et you.”
Gilsang extended his hand for a handshake.
The reason he was unusually friendly was that Gilsang was a fan of Ayoon personally. While playing Hellic 2, he had particularly liked the ending BGM, which was a music box lody. He had even obtained the separate music file and listened to it before going to sleep. Ayoon seed a bit surprised at first but then shook his hand twice before letting go. She seed very shy and cautious.
“It’s nice to et you,” Ayoon said with a twinkle in her eye. “Wow, your forehead is so wide…”
Gilsang was taken aback. He wasn’t sure how to interpret this or what to make of the strange feeling that welled up inside him. What was this emotion, and how should he express it? Suddenly, Gilsang realized that he needed so ti to understand this unfamiliar emotion.
Thankfully, it didn’t last long. Yeonho intervened, saying, “Alright, we’re done with the introductions. Let’s focus on the task at hand. Yang Gilsang, please follow . We have sothing to discuss right away.”
Yeonho led Gilsang away from the group, and Gilsang’s gaze remained fixed on Ayoon.
He could sense a pure malice emanating from her, and a sense of foreboding washed over him.
His first encounter with Jo Ayoon was turning out to be the worst.
***
After Yang Gilsang’s recruitnt, the first order of business was to organize the managent and administration of the company and begin the recruitnt process in earnest.
Recruiting a large number of employees all at once presented many challenges, but Gilsang efficiently tackled them.
“Until now, you’ve managed things well. We just need to fill a few gaps. I’ll send you the necessary paperwork, so please review it carefully.”
He started by cutting unnecessary expenses that were draining the studio’s finances.
Then, he assisted in expanding the team.
“We need to gather programrs first, right? Oh, I rember there’s a console release coming up. Okay, let’s start by recruiting for the programming team. Fortunately, we’re in Pangyo, so finding people should be relatively easy. You’ll be conducting the interviews yourself, right? I’ll prepare the docunts for you.”
He began recruiting programrs urgently.
The programrs he recruited were mostly young, fresh talent. It seed that Gilsang had personally scouted them, especially people like Myungkyu, who had high qualifications and practical experience.
“Let’s all get along. Just call ‘Team Leader’ casually. If you have any questions, feel free to ask. We need to start porting to the console in two weeks, so let’s focus on getting familiar with the work until then.”
“Yes!”
Yeonho found that Myungkyu had a knack for handling people well. It was a noticeable change from the timid and uncertain person he had been before. He wondered why he hadn’t seen this side of himself before.
He realized the reason the next day.
“Myungkyu, Myungkyu oppa!”
“Ta-da! I brought a cake!”
“Myungkyu oppa, let’s try this!”
“Oh, um…”
“Hahaha! You’re like a hamster!”
“Myungkyu oppa, you’re so cute!”
Whenever the lively duo appeared, Myungkyu transford into a completely different person. He blushed and trembled, acting like a girl.
Yeonho felt a mixture of sympathy and an unfamiliar emotion that quickly disappeared.
Next was the art team, and it was taking longer because Han Seorim was ticulous in reviewing portfolios.
“Just looking at drawings isn’t enough. I need to know what they usually draw, what they can contribute, and how they can fit in. In those aspects, this person doesn’t make the cut. They draw well, but they don’t match my style. Oh, right. Motion-related work, I’ll handle separately…”
She was so proficient that there was no need for Yeonho to worry.
They didn’t hire additional sound personnel for now. There was no imdiate need, and more importantly, it would be challenging for Jo Ayoon to manage the team mbers who were older and more experienced.
“Ayoon, focus on your studies. How’s university?”
“It’s fun!”
Jo Ayoon had managed to get into a prestigious music college, and she seed to be thriving.
For a while, they would leave things as they were.
Yeonho finished his tasks and sat down at his desk. Although the managent and administration staff hired by Yang Gilsang occasionally ca to the developnt team’s office, there weren’t many face-to-face encounters. They worked on different floors.
It was ti for him to get back to his own work.
Handling the tedious tasks had put his mind at ease.
But apart from that, he observed the growing office, the changing scenery, and the increasing number of people, making him realize that things were changing from the indie days.
There was a rush of emotions, but he couldn’t afford to be swept away by them.
He had only just begun; this was just the start.
The imdiate task at hand was the console port of Hellic 2. He didn’t have much involvent in this part, as it was primarily the responsibility of the programming team.
But did that an he could relax until it was done?
No.
The studio was on an upward trajectory, which ant there was more room for additional tasks.
It was ti to start.
“Hellic 3.”
Finally, the ti had co to plan for an AAA title.
From the mont he founded the studio, or even before that, this had been a dream he held close to his heart.
He opened a blank docunt, and this empty space would soon be filled with the frawork of a ga.
It was an exhilarating feeling, like leaving the first footprint on a pristine field of snow.
Yeonho placed his hands on the keyboard and typed in the title of the first AAA title he had been thinking about for a long ti
[Hellic 3: Demon Sword]
At that mont, he revisited the past.
When I was still wandering in hell.
Hell of /RomanceMTL
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