Chapter 95

Reincarnation of the Reckless Genius Composer - Chapter 95 (95/482)

Below the stage where the TOP 8 round was taking place, a man was overseeing everything.

Go Hyun-deok, the CP.

He kept his arms crossed, looking around as if something was amiss.

“Mr. CP Go, is there a problem?”

At that moment, PD Kim Young-ho, who was standing beside him, asked cautiously.

“Hmm….”

However, Go CP let out a hum and instead of answering, he asked a question.

“Are we cutting down to five today?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

After today’s TOP 8 round, the TOP 3 who will proceed to the semi-finals will be decided. Additionally, the three participants who will advance in today’s round have already been decided.

Of course, these participants have the skills that the audience can accept, and they were selected considering the pre-vote results, so there won’t be any talk of manipulation.

But….

Go Hyun-deok was deeply thinking about whether there could be a more stimulating scene or production. He felt something was lacking. Could there be a better scene to capture with these participants?

The ratings are already record-breaking for an audition show, but to secure a solid position for the show to continue for multiple seasons, more definitive numbers are needed.

“Sigh….”

Go Hyun-deok ran his fingers through his sparse hair, lost in thought.

A better scene with the participants….

Wait a moment.

Do they have to be the participants?

Go Hyun-deok turned his head and scanned the faces of the judges sitting in the jury seats.

Aren’t they all top musicians and producers in the country?

Yes, using them would be the way to go.

“PD Kim, tell the main writer to revise the script for today.”

“Huh? How should the script be revised…?”

“The next round will be TOP 5 instead of TOP 3.”

Kim Young-ho responded with a troubled expression.

“Mr. CP, to add another round, we need to re-schedule the live broadcast, which would cause many problems.”

“It’s fine. If the next TOP 5 round goes directly to the semi-finals and then to the final round with TOP 2, we won’t need to add another schedule.”

Go Hyun-deok spoke decisively, his eyes gleaming as if he had already seen the headline “K-SingerStar Ratings Break New Record!”

He then put his arm around Kim Young-ho’s shoulder, pointing to the jury seats facing the stage, and asked meaningfully.

“PD Kim, are you going to let these talented judges sit idle while we cook the soup?”

“Huh?….”

“We’ve been focusing too much on the participants so far.”

Go Hyun-deok explained with a sinister smile, like a villain plotting a scheme.

“Each judge will mentor one participant to prepare for the semi-finals.”

“R-Really?”

“Then, with their pride on the line, how hard will they work?”

He patted Kim Young-ho’s shoulder, indicating that he understood.

“Then, the scenes of them coaching will be great to use, and it will also result in much higher quality performances, right?”

“Yes, as Mr. CP said, it will definitely produce great scenes. I’ll go ask the judges for their opinions right away.”

“What opinions are you going to ask for?”

Go Hyun-deok narrowed his eyes and added.

“They’ll probably refuse, being high and mighty. But, if we double their appearance fees, make sure to get their approval.”

Kim Young-ho, who was driven by a desire for ratings, felt his suggestion was like a very tempting fruit.

No, no.

It was definitely a good suggestion. There wasn’t a single flaw in his words. It was a suggestion that could guarantee both stimulating scenes and high-quality performances.

“Yes, I’ll do my best to get their approval.”

Soon.

As Kim Young-ho turned to leave, he looked like a well-trained hunting dog.

* * *

“60 seconds until the results are announced.”

The stage for the TOP 8 had come to an end. For some, it was a satisfying performance, and for others, it left much to be desired.

However.

Since the three participants with the lowest scores from the online pre-vote had already been decided to be eliminated, there was no tension among the judges.

Soon.

As the screen returned to the commercial, PD Kim Young-ho approached the jury seats.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I have an announcement to make.”

He then relayed the changes as Go Hyun-deok had suggested.

“PD Kim, isn’t this a condition that wasn’t agreed upon beforehand?”

The first to object was Won Jin-sub.

“Yes, it’s not a condition that was agreed upon beforehand.”

Kim Young-ho responded very calmly.

“However, the contract states that the judges will cooperate with the production team’s requests.”

This time, Jay B asked in a high-handed tone.

“But isn’t this an unreasonable request?”

“Right, can’t you just announce it and be done with it?”

Lee Young-ah chimed in, and the other judges nodded.

Except for Hyun Seung.

Of course, from the judges’ perspective, this was absurd. If it had been announced when they were first recruited, it might have been different.

To suddenly ask them to provide one-on-one coaching? And they don’t even get to choose the participants they want to mentor.

‘For me, it doesn’t really matter….’

Hyun Seung glanced at the judges sitting next to him and shook his head slightly.

‘They’re trying to make the judges fight among themselves.’

Whoever came up with this idea, if the judges agree, it will certainly produce a very stimulating scene.

“I understand how you might feel.”

Kim Young-ho continued calmly, without any sign of panic.

“However, we are offering a high advance payment and a high appearance fee per episode to request your cooperation in this situation. I believe you cannot deny this point.”

The judges were momentarily speechless, as they had no real counter-argument.

Indeed, the total of the appearance fees and advance payments, while not enough to buy a house in Gangnam, would be enough to buy a 40-pyeong apartment in the capital region.

Yes.

No matter how renowned the musicians, they couldn’t ignore the ‘billion’ in their pockets.

Soon.

Kim Young-ho, gauging the judges’ reactions, pressed on.

“Of course, the compensation will also be included in the appearance fees.”

He then bowed deeply and added.

“Please consider our situation one last time.”

The judges, looking at each other, cleared their throats.

“Thank you.”

Kim Young-ho, sensing their silence as acceptance, thanked them again.

Sure enough.

The judges neither objected nor agreed. They couldn’t refuse, but they were also not entirely pleased.

However.

HS, wearing a helmet, couldn’t be seen, and he had been silent, so it was unclear if he agreed.

Reflecting on the pre-meeting and the departure incident, it didn’t seem like someone who wouldn’t say anything.

Finally.

Kim Young-ho approached HS and asked gently.

“HS, will you also cooperate?”

“Whatever.”

HS’s indifferent and bored tone made Kim Young-ho momentarily flustered, but he soon stepped back, bowed, and said.

“Thank you. I understand that all the judges will cooperate. Thank you again.”

Kim Young-ho, contrary to his expectations, was relieved that HS, who he thought would be the biggest obstacle, had agreed so smoothly.

* * *

Eight participants stood in a line on the stage, tense, waiting for the MC to announce the results.

“Well, the results are finally in.”

Kang Ha-joon was also tense. He moistened his dry lips and clasped his hands tightly.

He thought he had given a satisfactory performance.

The judges’ scores were not bad, and he had checked the pre-vote results, which placed him in the top tier.

However, competitions are unpredictable.

The whims of the production team and the involvement of various agencies can change the game in an instant.

Even in a safe position, he couldn’t let his guard down.

“The results are based on the pre-vote over the past week, the judges’ scores, and the real-time text votes during the live broadcast. The top five will advance to the next semi-final.”

Top five?

Kang Ha-joon narrowed his eyes, thinking he might have misheard. He had been told that the semi-finals would proceed directly with the top three, but it seemed the rules had changed.

This is why competitions are unpredictable.

Although the rules changed suddenly, the top five was a safer position, so he felt a bit more relaxed.

“Well, who will be the honored participants advancing to the next semi-final? Let’s start with fifth place.”

The MC gestured to the stage screen, and a table with the participants’ names and scoring criteria appeared.

“Fifth place, Kim Seok-hoon.”

“Fourth place, Shim Da-in.”

“Third place, Lee Yu-ju.”

The blanks for the called names were filled with scores.

“Now, only the top two remain. Let’s reveal the second and first place simultaneously!”

Kang Ha-joon turned his head and stared intently at the screen. Since he was almost certain to be in the top five, he was either first or second….

Yoon Jai, of course, would also be in the top five, so they would be competing for the top two spots. Facing an opponent he didn’t want to lose to, his lips dried again.

“Ah!”

With the MC’s exclamation, the audience erupted in cheers.

“The top candidates, Yoon Jai and Kang Ha-joon, have taken second and first place, respectively!”

Kang Ha-joon’s name was marked as first on the screen, but he couldn’t genuinely celebrate, as Yoon Jai had received a higher score from the judges.

Ultimately.

If it weren’t for the pre-vote or the real-time text votes, he might have lost to Yoon Jai again.

“The participants not called, Lee Bo-yeon, Im Ho-jin, and Cha Tae-hee, are unfortunately eliminated from this round. Thank you for your hard work!”

As the MC announced the eliminated participants, the surviving participants comforted them with sad expressions, as if they themselves had been eliminated. It was all part of the carefully crafted image-making.

Additionally.

The eliminated participants, while disappointed