The Aurelius phoenix logo hung on the wall of Kael's temporary office inside Radiance Entertainment. The ink on the design was barely dry, yet every time he looked at it, he felt his pulse quicken.
But names and logos were easy. Building something that lasted—that was the real battle.
Morning at Radiance HQ
The office buzzed with the sound of clicking keyboards and muffled phone calls. Hana, the operations director, entered Kael's office carrying a neat folder.
"Mr. Frost, we've finalized the dorm renovation budget. It's… not small," she said carefully, sliding the papers across the desk.
Kael skimmed the numbers—furniture, gym equipment, contractor fees. It was a lot.
He exhaled. "If they're going to train fourteen hours a day, sleeping on creaky bunk beds and eating cup noodles isn't going to cut it. We invest in them, they invest in us."
Hana gave him a long look. "Most CEOs only see trainees as disposable. You're treating them like family. It's… unusual."
Kael smiled faintly. "Maybe that's why most CEOs can't keep their talent loyal."
Later that afternoon, when the first group of idols entered their upgraded dorms, the reactions were priceless.
"Oh my god—there's a washing machine in every unit?" one trainee gasped.
Kael, watching from the hall, chuckled under his breath. At least they're happy. Worth every cent.
The Audition Hall
The next week, Radiance's main hall echoed with nervous chatter. Dozens of actors sat waiting, flipping scripts or pacing.
Kael sat on the panel with Hana and a casting director, a bottle of water in front of him.
The first performer walked in, stumbling over his introduction, then over-acted every line until Hana politely cut him off.
Kael leaned toward her, whispering, "He's sweating more than talking. Is this a drama or a sauna?"
Hana stifled a laugh.
But then came Eun-ji—a quiet girl with sharp eyes. She performed a short monologue about loss, and the room fell silent. No theatrics, no exaggeration. Just raw pain.
Kael tapped his pen slowly. "Real," he murmured. "She's not acting, she's bleeding."
Then Dae-hyun, broad-shouldered and confident, delivered his lines with charisma that made even the staff stop writing.
And finally Min-soo—a rookie who forgot half his script but improvised with such natural emotion that Kael actually leaned forward.
When the session ended, Kael stood. "You three. Stay. The rest, thank you."
The chosen ones froze, stunned.
"From today, you're Radiance actors," Kael said, his tone steady. "But don't mistake this for a free ticket. I'll be harsher on you than anyone else. Understand?"
"Yes, sir!" they shouted in unison, bowing so low their foreheads nearly hit the floor.
The Music Division
In the recording studio, the smell of coffee mixed with faint echoes of rehearsal tracks. Kael sat with the music producers, stacks of demo CDs scattered across the table.
"We'll release three albums this year," Kael announced.
One producer nearly dropped his pen. "Three?! Sir, the market is brutal. Even one debut can sink millions if it fails."
Kael leaned back, eyes sharp. "If we're scared of risk, we'll never lead. The key is to make each album unique, not copy-paste trends. I'll approve the final concepts myself."
The room went quiet. Then one younger producer muttered, "Well… at least I won't be bored."
Kael smirked. "That's the spirit."
BrewFi Expansion
Back at BrewFi HQ, the smell of roasted beans filled the air. Mia presented a new menu draft: gourmet sandwiches, seasonal desserts, even a matcha cheesecake.
"I hired two pastry chefs," she said proudly. "Also… four more branches are almost ready to open."
Kael scanned the designs—each shop had its own theme. One café styled like a cozy library. Another with neon-lit art for students and night owls.
He nodded approvingly. "Good. Coffee shops shouldn't all look the same. They should tell a story. Make customers feel something."
Leo, sitting nearby, raised a brow. "So, when do we open a BrewFi with karaoke machines? I'm just saying—coffee plus singing equals genius."
Kael gave him a flat look. "You'll sing, and the customers will sue us."
The room burst into laughter. Even Kael allowed himself a rare grin.
Night Reflections
By evening, Kael returned to Skyline Heights, collapsing onto the couch with a sigh. The city glowed outside his windows, headlights weaving like veins of light.
His phone buzzed:
[Entertainment Division: 3 Actors Signed]
[Music Division: 3 Albums in Production]
[BrewFi Expansion: +4 Shops Completed]
[Staff Growth: +22 Employees Hired]
The system's interface shimmered faintly at the edge of his vision, almost like it was watching.
Kael rubbed his temples, exhaustion mixing with satisfaction. "Step by step… Aurelius will rise."
He glanced again at the phoenix logo on the wall.