The car rolled to a stop in front of a towering building. Zeno peered out Moby’s tinted windows—a testament that Moby’s financial situation was getting better—and narrowed his eyes.
“Have you been here before?” Jace asked from the backseat, sipping an iced Americano.
Zeno shook his head. “No.”
He had visited Moonrise before, and he also knew that Daebak Entertainment was considered the most prestigious acting company in their country. While Moonrise appeared modern, this building appeared more like it had been air-dropped straight from a sci-fi film.
The structure rose at least twenty stories, sharp curves cutting through the building’s sleek design. Trees were manicured to perfection, and the open driveway stretched wide enough to fit a red-carpet rollout.
Correction.
A gold carpet rollout.
“What the hell,” Moby muttered from the driver’s seat, cutting the engine. “Did we just enter a palace?”
Zeno got out, adjusting his cap low over his brow. His breath caught slightly when he looked up.
At the very front of the building was a massive digital screen playing a looping trailer of Gear of Guardians. The game’s log was plastered across the entry gate. The text blinked below it:
WELCOME TO THE GRAND STAR COLLISION TOURNAMENT.
Even from outside, cheers and the faint bass of music leaked through the glass.
Outside of the gates, people also tried peeking through, wanting to know about the lineup for the tournament. However, the gates were secured, and the artists were provided another entrance.
“They have it good here,” Jace muttered as he rolled down the windows. “But it’s so hard to get in. You can’t audition. It’s an invite-only company.”
“Hmm,” Zeno merely hummed while continuing to observe the exterior.
Meanwhile, inside the grand atrium, a full-scale production was underway. LED panels lined the walls. Fog machines puffed at intervals. Staff with headsets rushed while a couple of cameramen adjusted the livestream angles.
What the artists didn’t know?
The stream had already gone live.
– The first artists are here!
– Ian Seo is in the house, baby!
– Ian’s gonna carry so hard
– He’s always been great at games, right?
– He’s lowkey better than the actual streamers
Ian was surprised to see the cameras aimed at him, but he quickly recovered and waved, followed by some of his company-mates.
Meanwhile, other artists began arriving too, and they were also oblivious to the livestream.
“Jangmoon’s here?” someone whispered, trying to hold in their excitement.
– JANGMOONNNNNNNNNN
– Didn’t he do an Insta Live speedrunning the new PC version?
– He’s such a variety KING. Rapper and gamer??? Husband material
Jangmoon grinned, waving at one of the staff as he walked by. He wore a panda hoodie over ripped jeans, signature chains bouncing with each step.
All around, artists from different agencies—Moonrise, Spiral, H1VE—filtered in, looking equally confused and awed. Several gathered near the back, where rows of PCs had been set up.
“Do we just wait here?”
“No clue. I thought the livestream would start later.”
The entrance doors slid open, and a trio of young men walked in. But they weren’t idols. They weren’t actors either.
They were streamers of the game itself.
– FAZE IS HERE OMGGG
– Idk how the artists are gonna compete. This ain’t fair lol
– Faze said he was gonna sweep everyone.
Faze, the infamous ranked god, wore a headset slung around his neck and a hoodie that said ’Comeback Season.’ He glanced around the room with a half-lidded expression.
He fidgeted with his fingers and nudged his teammates’ shoulders. “I’m itching to play,” he muttered.
His teammate snickered. “Try not to make them cry.”
“I make no promises.”
Elsewhere in the chaos, a group of older men entered, awkwardly adjusting their mics.
“Senior Hyunbin?” a startled younger artist asked. “You’re here?”
Hyunbin waved as he adjusted his jacket. “Yup. I don’t know what I’m doing, though. My manager just said I got invited.”
“Have you ever played the game before?”
“Like—on a computer? No,” Hyunbin said. “Not even Snake on my phone. But I like lights. So this place is cool.”
Next to him, Sangwon adjusted his earpiece and looked around, just as lost. His hair was slicked back, and he wore a crisp black suit, a quiet nod to his role in the Ninth Circle drama. Yes, he was here for a subtle promo.
On the other hand, inside the towering walls of Daebak Entertainment, the representatives of the company gathered prematurely before they decided to head down. Well, they actually just wanted to become the last ones to enter.
The doors parted, and in walked Risa—her high ponytail swaying with every step, face calm but confused. Her manager walked briskly beside her, rattling off a schedule she couldn’t process at all.
“Why am I even part of this?” Risa asked under her breath. “I have played this game, but I’m what you call a newbie.”
Her manager offered her a smile. “They said they needed a pretty face in the team. Don’t worry, Risa. The others are experienced, so it’s all balanced.”
She sighed, adjusting the sleeves of her white crop jacket. This wasn’t what she expected when she signed with her label. But what could she do? It was a favor to the company, and she wasn’t in the position to say no.
The elevator chimed behind her, and two other new actors stepped out. Both rookies from the company, wide-eyed and holding hands like ducklings. They bowed to Risa as they passed. She returned the gesture politely, then turned her head just in time to see Oska entering.
He walked in with a disheveled appearance, a recurring theme for the past month.
However, he offered a smile to Risa, to which she responded with a tight-lipped one.
She scooted further down the couch.
They hadn’t talked since his rumors boomed. Since then, Oska has stayed quiet, less wild, and more composed. Some people said he’d matured. Risa wasn’t so sure.
Before the air could grow any more awkward, the door swung open again.
A familiar cling-cling sound echoed through the lobby.
Risa turned, already knowing what it was.
Phoenix strolled in casually, head down, tapping on his phone. The game sounds of Gear of Guardians were playing on it, loud enough for everyone to hear. He grinned as he looked up, eyes twinkling with ego.
“Y’all nervous?” he asked, flashing his signature cocky smile. “Don’t be. I’m here.”
He leaned against the wall, still playing.
“If there’s one thing I can’t lose at,” he said with a wink, “it’s this game.”