Chapter 84
After finishing my hellish lunchtime gym session and returning to the office, I found an unexpected early visitor had arrived.
“...”
Suyeon was looking at me with a sullen expression.
Sitting on the sofa with her arms crossed, she seemed to have a lot to say.
“CEO, what brings you all the way here...?”
“I have a few things to ask Hojin.”
“If you had called, I would have come up.”
“It’s fine, it’s only a few floors away anyway. More importantly...”
Suyeon stopped herself mid-question and paused for a moment.
She seemed to be deep in thought, then continued speaking.
“So, just in case, I wanted to ask...”
“Rumors?”
“Have you recently received a Job Offer or considered one?”
I couldn't help but tilt my head at Suyeon's sudden question.
Since transferring from ND Soft to EnsonGT, I hadn't even considered moving to another company.
Of course, I had received offers a few times, but whether it was the treatment or anything else, there was absolutely no reason to move, so I firmly rejected them.
“Not at all.”
“A lie.”
At my answer, Suyeon looked at me with a distrustful expression.
It was the first time I'd seen such an expression from Suyeon, so I couldn't help but feel nervous too.
“Just today, someone said they saw Hojin exchanging business cards?”
...Was that it?
Well, of all places, it happened at the most famous Gym in Pangyo Technovalley.
It was bound to spread quickly.
After all, Pangyo Technovalley, where EnsonGT Headquarters is located, was a neighborhood filled with prominent Game Industry people.
Reflecting internally on the complacency of my past self, I opened my mouth.
“In the early days of my gym attendance, a few people really approached me about headhunting.”
“And?”
“Since I had no intention of transferring, of course, I refused a few times, and they stopped making offers after that.”
“...Then what about the rumors circulating today, or recently?”
“Perhaps because the game is doing well, I've been getting a lot of Collaboration offers from various places lately.”
“Collaboration...?”
As if it were a completely unexpected answer, Suyeon had a blank expression.
“Yes. What people probably saw back then was people who came directly to propose a Collaboration. And the offer I received today was this.”
To show proof, I handed Suyeon the fresh business card I had received an hour ago.
The name Father's Touch was written on that business card, along with an appetizing Chicken Burger image.
“Father's... Touch”?. I've never heard of that brand before?
“That's probably right. It's a brand that has recently started to grow explosively with its cost-effective Chicken Burgers.”
“Hmm... But why would a fast-food company approach Hojin?”
“From what I gathered, the Company's President/CEO is a user of our game, and they anticipated positive synergy from this collaboration, so they proposed it.”
“Really? What do you think, Hojin?”
“For me, it doesn't seem like a bad idea, so I plan to hear them out and then decide.”
Even though I said that, I intended to accept the Collaboration request unless the conditions were exceptionally bad.
Before Regression, the collaboration between fast food and games was one of the never-fail cheat codes.
Fast food is a perfect match for the young, male-dominated users of Subculture Mobile Games.
It was an absolutely unbeatable combination.
Of course, the current timing was quite early compared to Before Regression, but I wasn't particularly worried.
The perception of Subculture Mobile Games had changed significantly compared to Before Regression,
and most importantly, I had faith that our game's popularity could easily overcome any public aversion.
“There's probably a Collaboration Meeting scheduled for tomorrow for the Collaboration... How about the CEO also attends?”
At my sudden suggestion, Suyeon blinked.
That would be great for me, but... Is that okay?
“It's fine as long as the other party doesn't realize you're the CEO during the meeting.”
“Really? Then... I'll shamelessly ask for this one favor.”
At Suyeon's request, her expression having returned to normal, I responded by nodding my head.
***
It was in the Conference Room located at Father's Touch Headquarters Office the next day.
Suyeon and I visited the place together.
As expected of a fast-food company's headquarters, the conference room was decorated with human-sized chicken drumsticks and chicken burgers,
and the quality was surprisingly realistic, making them look appetizing.
“First, CEO, you just need to summarize what we say and write it down during the meeting.”
At my words, Suyeon nodded with a slightly nervous expression.
As I tried to ease Suyeon's tension and waited for a while, Choi Hyeonseok, the Chairman of Father's Touch, entered the Conference Room soon after.
He carried a tray full of Father's Touch's menu items with both hands.
“It's an honor to meet you like this, Director Ji Hojin!”
After placing the tray on the edge of the table, Hyeonseok extended his hand for a handshake.
“I also consider it a great honor to collaborate with Father's Touch this time.”
After handshakes were exchanged, the Full-fledged Collaboration Meeting began.
First, Collaboration Menu selection.
“As Director Ji emphasized, we've composed it only of the best-selling menu items from our store.”
There were indeed Set Menus that were cost-effective and consisted only of popular items inside the tray Hyeonseok brought.
Burgers that were unnecessarily expensive and poorly rated were skipped.
They were sets consisting of the classic Chicken Burger, a steady seller, and popular side dish combinations.
Before Regression, I wouldn't have paid attention to each menu item like this, but I had no choice.
If the first Collaboration was ruined and the image was negatively impacted, it would clearly be troublesome for future Collaboration contracts.
“Speaking of which, Director Ji, we have an idea from our side.”
“An Idea?”
“Yes, so—”
Hyeonseok explained that it was an idea thought up by the Junior Staff in Marketing Planning.
“So, if you order a Collaboration Set and follow the Part-timer's gesture, it's an event where you get additional merchandise... is that what you're suggesting?”
“Exactly.”
“If there are any predetermined chant examples, could I see them by any chance?”
“They're not finalized yet, but after sifting through the proposals, we came up with these.”
When I checked, the note I received from Hyeonseok seemed to be a refined selection, and five chants were written.
Starting with simple phrases like *Reverse Arcadia, Arcadia, Fighting!*,
to more difficult ones like “*Enjoy, even in the Underground City! Delicious Chicken Burger, Father”s Touch!*'
and even such bizarre chants.
After pondering for a moment while looking at the note, I finally nodded.
Even if this might be a barrier to entry for many introverted users, I was certain it would help the collaboration's success.
There were several cases where it evolved into a meme, even by Before Regression standards, so its effectiveness was clear.
The collaboration was successfully confirmed with the unanimous decision to finalize the secret code event's secret codes.
Two types of Collaboration burger Set Menus bundled with popular items and one type of chicken set are available.
Finally, there is an additional Secret Code Event for Users.
It was the prelude to a Collaboration trend that would make both the food service industry and the Game industry scream with joy.
***
It is inside a Father's Touch Store located in Seoul.
The current time was 9 AM, and the store hadn't even opened yet, but it was bustling more than ever.
The reason was the Collaboration Event for the Mobile Game called Reverse Arcadia, which was starting today.
Arin, a Part-timer at Father's Touch, grumbled to the Store Manager about the endless tasks piling up after her Early Work Arrival.
“Manager Oppa... No matter how I think about it, aren't there too many tasks?”
The Store Manager, who had been moving frantically, sighed with an expression of helplessness and replied to Arin's grumbling.
“What can we do? Headquarters said this Collaboration would be no joke, and told us to prepare this much.”
“What a mess this is, first thing in the morning... Since it's come to this, please tell the Store Owner not to forget about the 1.5x pay. Got it?”
“Alright, alright. I'll definitely tell the Store Owner, so just bear with it for a few days. Okay?”
“Got it.”
Arin grumbled but still hurried with the Launch Preparation, and thanks to that, all preparations were completed before the Collaboration began.
Warmers are full of hamburgers and chicken.
And French Fries piled up like mountains.
It was literally a feast for the eyes, but Arin felt like throwing up.
That's because the smell of oil she'd been inhaling since morning was almost paralyzing her sense of smell.
“We've prepared all this—what if it doesn't all sell...?”
“Well, the Store Owner will figure it out, right?”
The Store Manager spoke as if it were nothing, but the cold sweat on his forehead suggested he was uneasy.
Even if it was a Headquarters directive, it was clear that he would face some disadvantages as the Store Manager if there were losses.
“By the way, Oppa, is the game we're collaborating with really that famous this time?”
“Probably. I don't really know since I'm not interested in games, but seeing as all my younger siblings who like games are playing it, it seems pretty famous.”
“Really? If it's that famous, why have I never heard of it?”
“That's because you, Arin, have no interest in games, just like me. Anyway, let's stop chatting and start to finish up. It's almost time to open.”
“Got it~.”
30 minutes later.
Are there any special posters left?
Where are the limited edition goods?
“Can I exchange the merchandise for a different character...?”
[Baedal Minjok Delivery Order!][Baedal Minjok Delivery Order!][Baedal Minjok Delivery Order!]
The incessant sounds of Delivery Orders and customers' requests continued among the customers who instantly filled the store.
After the storm-like lunchtime ended, Arin, leaning against the counter as if about to collapse, finally realized.
The stingy Store Owner, who never gave a penny for lunch expenses, had called her in, even offering Extra Pay.
Looking at the empty warmers, which were unlike the mountain of food from the morning, she muttered softly.
I should've asked for double pay...