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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 17
Chapter Title: The First Subordinate (2)
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"I'm just going to use the restroom, Manager Jo."
"Alright, go ahead."
I returned to my chair.
'It's about time I started drafting the storyboard properly….'
I took out a notepad and reread the rough storyboard I had put together.
I wracked my brain, trying to come up with as many ideas as possible on what parts to fix and flesh out.
However, despite the vast number of thoughts swirling in my head, my hands couldn't seem to translate them properly onto the storyboard.
It felt like my mind and hands were out of sync, a jarring disconnect.
'Hmm… should I use my points now?'
Then it hit me. I had five developer points left over from my recent level-up.
Just like last time, I accessed the status window for my Planning ability.
[Planning / Detailed Abilities]
Story - 37(+1) / Direction - 28(+1)
....
'The gap between my Direction and Story stats is pretty big now.'
The moment I saw the status window, I understood why my ideas weren't easily translating into actual direction.
Having invested five points into Story last time, bringing it to 37, a gap had formed with my Direction ability.
That was the source of this disconnect—my directing skill couldn't keep up with my story-crafting ability.
'So it's more efficient to keep the stats balanced as I level them up.'
A good storyboard required both a good story and the directing skill to support it. It seemed I needed to close this gap to some extent.
Without much hesitation, I poured all my points into Direction.
<
At that moment, a cooling sensation spread through my brain, and richer images than before began to surface.
It wasn't perfect, but I felt I could now better materialize the ideas in my head into concrete images.
I started filling in new details on top of my existing rough continuity draft, applying the emerging images and the feedback from the meeting.
Of course, I didn't forget to periodically ask Go Jinho, the cinematic team leader, for pointers via the company messenger.
[Me: Team Leader Go, may I ask you a quick question?]
[Senior Manager Go Jinho: Yes, yes, feel free to ask~]
[Me: For the scene where the phoenix hatches from its egg and fire erupts, I was wondering if our company currently has a preset for that FX. I want to align the storyboard in a way that minimizes your team's workload as much as possible.]
[Senior Manager Go Jinho: Once you give us the storyboard, we can make adjustments on our end, so you don't need to worry too much about it. But if you'd like to see, I can send you some video samples?]
[Me: Yes, please. :)]
[Senior Manager Go Jinho: Effect_fire_01_sample.mp4]
[Me: Thank you!]
[Me: Oh, and I have a few more questions….]
I persistently asked questions, communicating with Team Leader Go.
Part of it was to align our working tones, but more importantly, his team were experts in video production, incomparable to me.
Taking this opportunity to absorb as much knowledge as I could would benefit not only the project but also my personal growth.
To ask 'Why?' to fill my head with as much input as possible, use that to create a solution in the form of a document with 'How?', and then communicate based on that.
That was what I considered the fundamentals of a planner.
'By the way, why isn't Assistant Manager Son back yet?'
Just as my hands stopped after a long stretch of brainstorming for the storyboard, I realized it had been almost thirty minutes since the meeting ended, and Assistant Manager Son still hadn't returned.
I wondered if he was constipated, but then I recalled that he wasn't the type to be away from his desk for long during work hours.
I continued working, puzzled.
Around 12:40 PM, Assistant Manager Son shuffled back to his desk.
His expression was inexplicably dark, his head slightly bowed.
The hopeful energy he had just a short while ago, as if he could do anything, seemed to have vanished, leaving him looking completely deflated.
'I have a pretty good idea what happened….'
If my guess was correct, this wasn't something to be discussed openly in the office.
I waited quietly until lunchtime, and around 12:55, I tapped Assistant Manager Son on the shoulder.
"Let's head out a little early, Assistant Manager Son."
"Ah… oh, okay…."
I deliberately avoided the basement food court and found a Chinese restaurant with private rooms, a few blocks away where there were fewer company employees.
It was a bit pricey, but since I was paying, it didn't really matter.
"Pick one main dish and one entrée you'd like. My treat, to celebrate you becoming my subordinate."
"Th-thank you."
We exchanged some light conversation, and soon the food arrived.
As I took a spoonful of my dish, I casually broached the subject.
"Assistant Manager Son, did something bad happen?"
"Uh… what? What do you mean?"
He jumped as if he'd been caught, his lips trembling, unable to speak easily.
Something was definitely up.
And it was probably…
"You ran into Team Leader Go Yeongmi, didn't you?"
"*Gasp*, h-how did you know?"
Son Seokjin stared at me, looking as if he'd seen a ghost.
"She lost her team member in a single day and her control over him as well. The only person who could change your excited expression like that at this particular moment… would be her."
Well, with enough years in the corporate world, this kind of thing was impossible not to know.
It was an open secret that Team Leader Go Yeongmi, who came from QA, had a complex about her shallow skills. Because of that, having her authority undermined would be her greatest fear.
I thought she had meekly listened to PD Oh Gwangseok, but it seemed her pride was more important.
"So, what did she say?"
"If I tell you, it feels like I'd be snitching…."
Son Seokjin hesitated.
Well, it wasn't like I couldn't understand; he was in a difficult position, caught in the middle.
But I didn't have the luxury of standing by and watching such an ambiguous situation unfold.
I took a slow sip of water, then spoke in a cold voice.
"Assistant Manager Son, you seem to be mistaken. This isn't a request, it's a report."
"Yes…."
"You may have worked with Team Leader Go Yeongmi until yesterday, but for at least the next three months, you'll be swamped with work alongside me. If we're not in sync on matters like this, do you think anything good will come of it?"
"I don't think so…."
"The decision for you to work with me wasn't just my directive; it was an order from PD Oh Gwangseok and the Director."
Every word of that was true.
No matter how much Team Leader Go was in charge of the planning team, meddling in a decision that had already been made was an overreach of her authority.
"Well, it wasn't anything major… She just told me to think about who I'll be working with longer. That… Manager Jo is someone who will be leaving after this project is over…."
"Someone who will be leaving?"
"I heard you were offered a PD position… and would be leaving."
Oh, so that's the kind of crap she spouted?
I frowned, stroking my chin lightly.
"...Yes, I did receive such an offer."
"I knew it."
"The Director said that if I can properly flesh out the overall scenario and details for the Phoenix project and it achieves at least moderate success, he would give me a PD position. That's why I'm still at this company."
There was no point in making excuses; he was bound to find out anyway.
What was irritating was that Go Yeongmi had used this to prey on the anxiety and fear in Assistant Manager Son's heart.
Office life was rife with backstabbing over the smallest of advantages, but this was a particularly nasty move.
It seemed I would have to take proper action on this matter soon and fix the problem for good.
"Did Team Leader Go Yeongmi tell you that when I move to another team, things will get difficult for you?"
"Um… well…."
Son Seokjin couldn't answer my question.
The fact that he didn't deny it immediately meant it was true.
Essentially, she was applying unspoken pressure, telling him that his shield—me—would be gone in a few months, so he should properly judge who his real superior was and pick a side.
A few weeks ago, I might have let it slide since she was a team leader, but now that I had nothing to lose, it wasn't hard to dismantle such a shallow ploy.
"Well, if you're uncomfortable, you don't have to answer. I can guess what was said. But you know, Assistant Manager Son, you're mistaken about something."
"Mistaken about what…?"
"If this project ends up being a failure, you'll be pushed out of the company one way or another. You know this, but even though our company is still holding on thanks to 'League of War,' our performance has been declining for years. And let me be clear, this project will fail spectacularly if you and I don't give it our all."
"...I'm not sure what you mean."
"Assistant Manager Son, you remember the Oparts Team being disbanded at the end of last year, right? Do you remember how many of its members were successfully transferred to other teams?"
The Oparts Team was a studio that had been developing a soccer game.
After their new title was released to abysmal results, they underwent massive restructuring just six months after launch, leaving only a skeleton crew for live service.
I was telling him that the same thing could happen to Phoenix.
"I remember it was less than… ten people."
"When that happens, who do you think will be the first to get cut? Programmers, graphic artists? No, I think the first heads to roll will be the planners with low job specialization."
Hearing this, Son Seokjin realized he was one of those planners with low job specialization.
In truth, he had only ever done general concept and system planning at a superficial level.
He knew very well that if the team faced a crisis in his current state, he would undoubtedly be a primary target for dismissal.
"If I were you, Assistant Manager Son, and I wanted to continue working as a scenario planner, I think it would be right to worry less about me leaving in three months and more about what you can learn from me before I go. You might think I'm being arrogant, but I believe there's no one in this company more specialized in concept and scenario work than I am. And it was with those skills that I made 'Forgotten Andersen's Story.' If we successfully launch the Phoenix project, and you can say you were in charge of the overall scenario and concept, you'll be able to get a job anywhere, regardless of whether Team Leader Go Yeongmi harasses you or not."
"I understand what you mean."
I picked up a piece of chili shrimp from the plate and continued speaking slowly.
"Of course, I know what you're worried about. I know what Team Leader Go Yeongmi's personality is like. But, putting all that aside, just look at skill alone. If you take this opportunity to learn properly from me, you'll definitely be able to reach the future you dream of much faster."
"...Yes. I think you're right, Manager Jo."
In that instant, Assistant Manager Son's expression changed as if he had made a decision.
This industry has high turnover anyway, and for a planner, the 'titles' they have launched speak to their market value.
If he was going to specialize in scenario and concept work, it was crucial to give him the confidence that if he just trusted and followed me, I would provide him with both the title and the skills to match.
Exceptional skill and a corresponding title.
It's the foundation of a game developer, but it's something you can lose sight of when you get caught up in the routine of working at one company for a long time.
I knew that feeling well, as I too had hidden myself, acting as if I would give my all for this company before I created 'Forgotten Andersen's Story.'
"Let's do this right, together. I may not be able to promise much else, but I'll make sure to add a solid line to your resume."
"Yes, I'll trust and follow you, Manager Jo."
It concluded on a good note.
At least with today's talk, Assistant Manager Son wouldn't be swayed no matter what tricks Go Yeongmi tried to pull before the game's launch.
'As expected, the fastest way to handle people is to show them what's in it for them.'
From a distance, a company looks like a single entity, but inside, the individuals that comprise it are all busily moving to pursue their own interests.
Words like noble causes, loyalty, and trust are just empty platitudes.
If Assistant Manager Son and I had built a relationship of trust over a long period, the story might have been a little different, but for now, this kind of drastic measure was the best option.
If I delivered the promised reward to Assistant Manager Son, he would trust me, and seeing him, the other planning team members would envy him.
'And that will lead to my own influence growing.'
Why would I care about my influence within the Phoenix team when I'm set to become a PD in three months anyway?
It would definitely be helpful.
Trust in me would make it much easier to pull in talented individuals when I form a new team.
At the very least, more people would start to think that working with me offered a better future than working with PD Oh Gwangseok and Team Leader Go Yeongmi.
"Now, cheer up. If we have to work, we might as well enjoy it."
"Yes, sir!"
At my words, Assistant Manager Son finally relaxed and began to properly eat the food in front of him.
I also lightened the mood, consciously bringing up casual topics to return to a normal conversation.
'That's that, but I still need to deal with Go Yeongmi somehow.'
Of course, at the same time, my mind was already calculating how to cleanly remove the obstacle in my path.