From Ashes to Empire
The fall of Kang Seonwoo had been swift and brutal, but from those ashes, a new force was rising.
K — cold, calculated, and relentless — was no longer the boy broken by scandal. He was a man who understood the language of power and the currency of secrets.
His vision was clear: to build an empire that no one could destroy.
The Network Expands
K began by consolidating his existing connections — trainees and insiders disillusioned by the industry's cruelty.
He reached out to those cast aside: forgotten talents, marginalized staff, and even disgraced executives. Each alliance was forged not by friendship but by mutual benefit and necessity.
Information became his most potent weapon, a web woven from whispers, half-truths, and carefully concealed threats.
Shadows in the Boardroom
As K's influence spread, so did his reach within Everlight Entertainment and beyond.
Behind closed doors, he negotiated deals and brokered power plays.
He was both respected and feared — a ghost whose presence was felt but rarely seen.
His moves disrupted established hierarchies, unsettling rivals and allies alike.
Sangmin's Retaliation
Lee Sangmin, aware of K's rising threat, mobilized his own resources.
Sangmin's faction intensified their attacks, using media leaks, financial pressures, and sabotage to destabilize K's growing influence.
Each strike was met with cold, precise countermeasures.
The rivalry escalated beyond personal vendettas into a full-scale war for control.
Jiho's Role
In the midst of this, K found in Jiho not just a protégé but a symbol.
Jiho's innocence and raw talent were carefully honed into a weapon — the Innocent Villain.
Together, they crafted a narrative that captivated the public while masking the brutal undercurrents of their rise.
Jiho became the face of K's new order, but behind the scenes, the lessons were harsh and unrelenting.
The Personal Cost
Power came with a price.
K's relationships became transactions; trust was a luxury long lost.
He sacrificed friendships, love, and even pieces of his own humanity.
The man who sought to control the industry now battled loneliness and the ghosts of his past.
A Turning Point
A critical meeting with Everlight's board marked a turning point.
K presented an audacious plan to reshape the company's future — consolidating power and eliminating Sangmin's influence.
The stakes were higher than ever; failure meant ruin, but success promised domination.
The Game Intensifies
As the battle lines hardened, alliances shifted.
Enemies became allies and allies turned foes in a volatile dance.
K and Sangmin's war was no longer just about power — it was about legacy, revenge, and survival.