It was obvious: fixers were people who solved problems for others, not talent agents launching idols into stardom.

    So, while we started with a lighthearted “Why not give it a shot?” attitude, we ended up discussing plans for much longer than expected.

    No matter how striking Aisha’s appearance was, the reality was that her career amounted to being a failed idol who quit after just three months.

    Starting over as a trainee wasn’t ideal either—at her age, early twenties, she was already on the older side for an idol.

    In short, the safest route would take too long, and the best path forward was a gamble: a high-risk, high-reward strategy.

    Alice spoke first.

    “What about a TV competition? Like an idol survival show! Aisha unnie’s stunning looks will guarantee her the top spot!”

    David countered with a more unconventional suggestion.

    “I think we should focus on internet-based strategies, like viral marketing. It’s fast and effective. We could draw enough buzz to attract recruitment from a major agency.”

    Finally, the former manager, now tentatively part of the group, chimed in.

    “Well, considering what happened with Codria, isn’t joining a reputable agency the safest route? Rushing to debut again could lead to the same problems.”

    Their personalities shone through their arguments.

    Alice, true to her upright nature, leaned toward an honest approach, relying on skill and effort.

    David, ever pragmatic, favored aggressive but efficient tactics, staying within legal limits.

    The manager, burned by his experiences, sought stability and caution.

    Alice eyed the manager with skepticism.

    “By the way, are you even supposed to be here? Isn’t Codria going to label you a traitor?”@@@@

    “I-I quit! Completely! I’m on Aisha’s side now, I swear!” he stammered.

    “Give him a break, Alice,” Aisha said with a small laugh. “I trust him now. You won’t do anything shady again, right?”

    “Of course not!” the manager exclaimed earnestly.

    “...But if you’re no longer with Codria, shouldn’t we stop calling you ‘manager’?”

    While Alice continued to glare, Aisha defended him with a magnanimous smile.

    “People make mistakes. What matters is that they truly regret them and want to improve.”

    Watching their exchange, David murmured something under his breath, clearly unconvinced.

    After listening to the proposals, Raven let out a sigh and summarized the situation.

    “Hm. I doubt Codria will just sit back and let Aisha debut without interference. No matter the method—TV or internet—they’ll find a way to sabotage it.” ????a?NO??E?S?

    “That’s... likely,” David agreed.

    Given Codria’s past actions, expecting them to suddenly play fair would be naive.

    Even a TV competition could be manipulated by powerful industry figures, while viral marketing carried the risk of backlash if people saw through the strategy.

    So, the question remained: how could Aisha pursue her idol dreams without Codria interfering?

    I silently nibbled on a snack, reflecting on the complexity of the situation.

    Codria was one of the top three agencies in the industry—a giant with influence that even a fixer couldn’t easily sidestep.

    Sure, the other two top agencies might be options, but convincing them to take Aisha after her fallout with Codria wasn’t a sure thing.

    The harsh reality was that becoming an idol wasn’t easy; otherwise, everyone would simply try their luck at a big agency.

    Still, I was sure Raven would come up with something, so I didn’t worry too much.

    Frankly, I couldn’t blame her.

    Lurika was a top-tier fixer in the industry, a legend even among idols. And to think Raven, the fixer she hired simply because he was available, had such a history with her?

    The shock was understandable.

    After catching her breath, Lurika wiped the sweat from her brow and fixed her gaze on Raven.

    “Fine. So why are you here? Showing off your girlfriend or something? She’s pretty, I’ll give you that.”

    “M-me? No, not at all!” Aisha stammered, flustered.

    “Really? Then her?” Lurika gestured toward Alice. “Oh, she’s cute too. That’s a kimono, right? Nice aesthetic.”

    “E-Excuse me?! I’d never—why would I even?!” Alice exclaimed, her voice rising.

    “Ah, my bad. I’m a little dense with this stuff. You really don’t like the idea, huh....”

    Lurika scratched her cheek awkwardly as Aisha and Alice both vehemently denied any romantic connection to Raven.

    Meanwhile, Raven briefly rubbed his forehead before shrugging off the embarrassment.

    “Enough about that. I’m here to ask for a favor.”

    He summarized the events so far: how Aisha had hired him to deal with a stalker, how the stalker turned out to be orchestrated by Codria’s management, and how Aisha, though free from her contract, still dreamed of becoming an idol despite the looming shadow of Codria’s interference.

    After listening to his story, Lurika replied with a detached expression,

    “Yeah, I get it. But why does that involve me?”

    Her tone was cold, almost uninterested. It wasn’t that she didn’t understand the situation—she just didn’t see why she needed to get involved.

    It was hard to blame her.

    Sure, Aisha’s plight was tragic, and Codria’s actions were reprehensible, but Lurika was both an idol and a businesswoman. Decisions driven by sympathy alone weren’t her style.

    Raven, unbothered by her cold demeanor, gestured for Aisha to step forward.

    “Come here. Let her get a good look.”

    Aisha hesitated but eventually approached. As Raven motioned toward her face, Lurika’s sharp eyes darted toward Aisha.

    “Alright, so what’s—uh... hm... well....”

    Each glance at Aisha’s face seemed to shake Lurika’s composure. Her confident, dismissive demeanor began to crack, and her words faltered.

    Raven, sensing that her reaction was already a victory, smirked and urged Aisha.

    “Go ahead. Do that thing you did earlier.”

    “Thing? Oh, that,” Aisha murmured, understanding. Clearing her throat, she suddenly shouted with an unexpectedly rough and boisterous tone,

    “Listen up, you punks! If anyone’s bothering you, tell this gorgeous lady about it! I’ll split their heads open for you, got it?!”

    “Phahahaha!”

    Lurika burst out laughing, collapsing onto the floor in hysterics.

    The juxtaposition of Aisha’s elegant and delicate appearance with her coarse, loud proclamation was too much for Lurika to handle.

    Moments ago, Lurika had been radiating irritation, but now she was clutching her stomach and rolling on the floor.

    Watching her reaction, David and Alice exchanged a knowing glance.

    “This... might actually work,” David whispered.

    Where the path had seemed blocked by red lights, a green signal finally appeared.