Chapter 63 - Exclusivity Vs Publicity

AN could not understand why the teen in front of her wanted to know the information of the press company, nonetheless, she still swiftly looked for the scribbled notes on her hand.

Her delicate fingers flipped through each small page while glancing diligently at Sofia from time to time. Focusing her attention on Sofia and the notes on her palm.

Sofia also gave a glance at the overall appearance of AN while the staff was busy looking at her notes. With her meticulous soul, she quickly realized that this staff might be an intern or a new employee.

And she could also tell that AN had a special status in the industry, based on the jewelry that she was wearing, the smoothness of her skin, and the way she stood upright.

Most of the staff who had enough experience would not be mindful of their posture. But the lady could level how Sofia stood straightly with an air of authority.

The only difference with her was that, Sofia had backed up this sense of authority with high confidence.

Not everyone could carry this type of presence.

Also, AN had put a set of branded gold, not the most expensive set, but still enough to give a subtle hint that whoever wore the jewelry was rich. This meant that she was from an elite family.

For some reason, Sofia could remember and recognized the design of jewelry almost in an instant. Perhaps, it was because of her lavish past life that made her see and observe things that would usually not be seen by ordinary people.

Claire leaned closer in Sofia and whispered, "Sof, what do you think are the questions they will ask us in the interview? Should we answer them directly?"

"Not yet, let's know who are the interviewers first," Sofia whispered right back at her.

AN opened her mouth and wanted to speak a suggestion, however she gulped and dismissed the idea. For some reason unknown to her, she was slightly nervous.

'I'm sure I scribbled the name of the press company here. Where is it? AH! Why am I nervous?' she mentally cried as she felt her palms started to get sweaty. This was the limit of her confidence.

While Sofia was done assessing the lady, AN was still flipping the pages of her notebook. It would seem that she could not find the exact page where she had written the information...

"Is there a problem, sister AN?" Sofia softly asked when she noticed that the staff's hand was trembling. 'What makes her nervous?' she also wondered.

"Ahh--, nothing, nothing," AN secretly inhaled to calm herself. Then, she continued to go with her suggestion, "Uhhmn, I'll check the details of the company. Is it okay if we go there now while I scan the information on my notes? I'll tell you once I find it."

It turned out, AN wanted them to head towards the interview room right away.

Sofia smiled warmly at the lady and looked around the audience area.

"No need to rush," she muttered before her teammates could agree to the staff.

No need to rush! Upon hearing her response, AN immediately understood that Sofia would not move her feet unless she would tell her the company!

'Why is this squad so particular with the press company!?' she asked in her mind while nodding at Sofia. This kind of interest totally baffled her.

"B-but, I was instructed by my team leader to get you as soon as possible for the interview. Please, I don't want to get in trouble. I'm just new here," AN modestly informed Sofia of the situation.

Her words confirmed Sofia's assessment with her. She was a new employee but her family was not also simple. In fact, her family only allowed her to work so that she could learn the details of organizing an event. To give her the right experience on the field.

"Sister AN, you won't get in trouble," Sofia assured her.

"Sighs! May I know why you want the company details? Since I am just new here and I am not familiar with the press personnel, so, I have written the notes, however, I cannot find the information now," AN admitted.

"Hmmn, could you call the team leader and asked the details please? My team is very particular with our publicity," Sofia suggested.

"AH! Okay, okay," AN agreed and quickly dialed her team leader. She even stepped a few feet away from the Chronos squad to give them a room for the members to talk privately.

In just a few rings, her call was quickly received.

"Hello, how can you take so long?! Did you get lost?" the voice of the team leader on the other line was agitated.

"Sorry, it's like this, the Chronos squad wants to know which press company will interview them? Team leader, please give me the details," AN humbly responded.

"Why are they interested in the company?! How troublesome! Wait for a moment, I will check in our files!" the team leader stated and their line became dead air.

Indeed, for most teen gamers, things like company information do not matter at all.

As long as there would be a chance for publicity offered to them, they would quickly think of the questions and how they would answer in front of the camera. Just like how Claire instantly worry after knowing that they would go in an interview.

It does not matter which press would give the publicity. The only important thing was that they would get the opportunity to get exposure and be famous.

But to Sofia, she had her last life as former CEO, hence, she had already experienced the brutality in the press business.

How could she allow just a random press company to exploit her team easily?

"Sof, what's wrong with being interview? I've seen tournaments before and participants are usually asked for interview. This is normal. Why do we need to know the press company?" Clark inquired out of curiosity. He was also confused with Sofia's insistence as this thing does not seem to be connected to their squad.

"I have checked the social media earlier. We have enough publicity in the social media platform," Sofia answered.

On their way back to the venue of the tournament from the Rosen Club lunch, Sofia made a quick evaluation of what was happening in social media. She could tell that her team had already gained a large number of audience more than she expected.

Although she had not yet examined thoroughly all the press companies of District 7, she knew that only exclusivity and not publicity would make their squad raise a more meaningful value. That's right! She was aiming to build a value of her team because she knew that fame is just a passing. Fame could be lost any time.

"Then, what is your plan, Sof?" Clark asked while scratching the back of his head. Stephen and Joey were silently listening behind him.

"Our team must establish a sense of exclusivity," Sofia answered.

The rest of her group listened and nodded their heads but in fact, they don't quite understand what Sofia really meant. They just nodded at her in agreement with her exclusivity idea.

"I like that sound. We will be exclusive. Wow, it's like a rich mindset," Joey commented without thinking too much of what he said.

Sofia just smiled and explained, "Imagine if you own a car that was mass retailed anywhere, then, you also own another car that is limited edition... which car will you take care more?"

"Hmm, of course, its the limited edition. The other can be obtained easily," Joey replied.

"That's right. So, our target is the value of a limited edition car. We must be establish exclusivity so that the public will value us greater than the others," Sofia muttered.

As Sofia was granted a past life as a CEO, she was well aware that there are two routes for her team to choose towards the peak of being famous. One was to go public without any restrictions. They would accept all interviews and publicity.

However, it would be troublesome for them to agree with this arrangement. They were still students and it was important to build their privacy despite a part of a public figure!

But how could they attain such status while maintaining a private life?

To others, it may seem a complicated thing to achieve this feat. It was even almost impossible as privacy was usually the cost that public figures needed to compromise as they go along with their career.

However, for Sofia, things like this were just too simple to do...

AN finally ended her conversation with her team leader and returned to Sofia's team maintaining an enthusiastic smile.

"Uhmmn, it is the known press company in the district. The company name is FDS Press Company. My team leader said that this company will be hosting this tournaments' overall publicity." the staff placed her phone in the pocket and looked at Sofia attentively waiting for them to move.

"Sister AN, please decline the FDS Press interview on our behalf and inform your team leader that my squad has our own press," Sofia calmly told the lady before she turned around and sat back on the couch of their booth.