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Inside the closed iron curtain.

What profession could be sent there without any suspicion?

What job could exist where most people wouldn’t receive scrutiny or be doubted?

Someone might say a businessman.

Those who are fiercely driven to earn money would not hesitate to enter hell itself, not just the iron curtain, if it meant making a fortune and would pledge their loyalty to those making them rich.

But sadly, businessmen are, in a sense, people loyal to capitalism.

From the perspective of a place like China, advocating communism, they would undoubtedly be seen as enemies.

Naturally, they would be scrutinized, monitored, and viewed with suspicion.

Restraining them would be expected…. The government would probably keep a close eye on their every move.

So what about travelers?

Travelers wander across the world. They strive to create memories and would not hesitate to pay to obtain good experiences within their budget. Such individuals might be able to enter the land of China, overflowing with sights and delights, without raising suspicion.

But people have seen it plenty of times.

Historically, it’s common to send spies disguised as travelers.

When there is something secretly happening in another country, the easiest disguise is a traveler.

Thus, they too would end up under scrutiny and suspicion.

Any odd behavior would surely raise flags.

So who would attract the least suspicion?

Who could enter China without being questioned?

“Yes. Deity. The work is progressing well.”

The answer to this was what Jinseong thought.

It was celebrities.

Those who struggle to earn money and popularity.

They have clear goals.

Yet, from the perspective of the power holders, they are fundamentally looked down upon!

Jinseong aimed to infiltrate such celebrities into China.

But here comes the issue.

Jinseong’s connections were certainly useful to a point.

However, those connections didn’t reach entertainment agencies in Korea.

Sure, they could, but… there was no real need for that.

Because he could manage with something as effective as a Korean entertainment agency.

That was, the Japanese agency.

“Yes! I, Yasaki Tokitaka! In line with the reputation of the Golden Hand, I’ve definitely elevated the celebrity introduced by the Deity!”

At the villa in Japan that Jinseong owned, he acquired a useful talent.

Yasaki Tokitaka.

A celebrity revered in the Japanese entertainment world as the ‘Golden Hand’ or ‘Midas Touch.’

He visited Jinseong to receive the ‘blessing,’ just like other power holders, and due to his somewhat vague instincts, he couldn’t escape Jinseong’s grasp. To be precise, he had to receive the ‘blessing’ almost involuntarily due to the persuasion of other power holders…. But that wasn’t important.

And now, time has passed.

He had obtained everything he wanted from the villa.

He became even more intertwined with the ‘blessing,’ a mysterious element that connected him with the power holders, allowing him to expand his company further under their protection. Moreover, his wealth and honor, which he adored, also grew, and the extent of wealth he could enjoy was unparalleled—he could now enjoy all that he had never even seen before.

He could order clothes from famous designers who wouldn’t even take commissions if one wasn’t wealthy or socially renowned and could visit exclusive ryokans in Japan, which he could never access, alongside the power holders. Additionally, he could casually order items from artisans and earn their respect.

At first glance, these may seem trivial.

But to Yasaki Tokitaka, this small yet significant difference marked the boundary between the ‘world only they can enjoy,’ reserved for Japan’s power holders. He recognized that he had crossed this boundary and could live a life as a power holder, not just in his time but for generations to come.

Thus, the fearful events he experienced at the villa were romanticized, and the ominous feelings held by the deity morphed into an unfathomable charisma befitting a transcendent being like the Eki-jin or Tatari-gami.

Perhaps this was an unconscious act to rationalize his current situation, which he could not escape from the Deity’s hands….

Well, at least he had no major complaints now.

In fact, he should say he was quite satisfied.

Very much so.

Therefore, he took great care of the celebrity introduced by the Deity.

Yes…. Her name.

“Chaine. That Korean celebrity is worth the effort in refining.”

It was Chaine.

* * *

Byron said.

Happiness and misfortune are born as twins.

And the texts of China, Huainanzi, also stated.

Fortune does not grow without misfortune.

Then, could this luck be recompense for the misfortunes endured in the past?

Just like a child named misfortune came to visit, has a child named fortune embraced her?

Her real name was Kim Sun-mi.

She became more famous under her stage name ‘Chaine,’ and she couldn’t help but think this way.

“This feels like a dream.”

How many misfortunes had tormented her in the past?

She made the decision to become a celebrity with lofty dreams, yet her career didn’t unfold well, and she couldn’t get noticed at all. The agency she signed with fit the image of a malicious one, exploiting Chaine to no end. On top of that, the manager who always followed her was filled with thoughts of bringing her down.

But just as the old adages say, there was certainly luck amidst that.

The agency was wicked, yet at least as long as they made money, they acted cleanly, offering unfair deals while at least sticking to their agreed terms. Even the manager, if unlucky, would have suffered and had to leave the entertainment industry, but a bizarre character—an absolute nutjob who introduced himself as a journalist—emerged and gave her information about the manager, enabling her to deal with him ‘cleanly’ with the assistance from the agency.

And after that enormous misfortune and small happiness came to an end.

She was able to seize great fortune.

A contract with a Japanese agency.

An opportunity that she wouldn’t even have dared to dream of in her former agency, to expand overseas.

Of course, it wasn’t because she gained fame that she was able to participate…. But who cares?

Gaining fame in Korea to enter Japan, or entering Japan to gain fame.

As long as the outcome was similar, there was no issue.

Thus, after thorough consideration, Chaine signed a contract with the Japanese agency.

From the information she gathered to the best of her ability, she recognized that the Japanese agency proposing the contract was a clean and solid place, and she could ascertain that the terms were favorable for someone like her, who had yet to make a name, with no toxic clauses.

Yes.

So perhaps she believed.

To avoid being overworked like in her previous agency, she visited a lawyer’s office to check the contract in detail, and realizing there were no toxic clauses, she confirmed this was a ‘fortune’ that had come to her, one side of the coin between misfortune and luck.

She believed.

Therefore, she grasped the rewards of that belief.

A joint Japanese-Korean audition program.

She achieved immense fame by participating in it.

Of course, she didn’t win.

Too many talented people participated.

Given it was a collaboration between Japan and Korea, many talented individuals gathered, and her skills simply weren’t enough to outshine their brilliance.

They were like stars…. People who seemed to shine on their own.

But fortunately, she managed to perform quite well.

She received lessons from industry-renowned figures in the globally recognized entertainment company she had newly signed with, absorbing their teachings like a sponge. She didn’t want to regress to the past where her efforts went unnoticed, so she practiced tirelessly to master what they taught her.

And that effort bore fruit, allowing her to survive for quite some time on the audition program.

In addition, she successfully flaunted her human charm.

Despite their overflowing talent, she decisively accepted those who had prickly personalities, cared for them, and comforted them.

She managed to imprint the name ‘Chaine’ in people’s minds by showcasing a warm older sister’s demeanor.

Thanks to that, fans poured in, and she gained countless nicknames….

It was truly a dream-like event.

Moreover, the events that followed were incredibly fortunate for her.

So.

[ Chaine? I’ve heard many people in China watch audition programs. And it seems you have many fans there too. They really want to see you! ]

This upcoming trip to China would surely be a fortune for her.

[ After this trip to China, your fame will skyrocket. You’ll be a bona fide ‘Asian’ star. Of course, you’ll make lots of money too. Let’s get ready for the trip to China, Chaine.

“Yes!”

As Yasaki Tokitaka, the Golden Hand asserted, wealth and fame would follow her.

 

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