I Became the Cute One in the Troubleshooter Squad

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.”

“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.” 𐍂åℕŐ₿ĚṠ

“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.

Right on cue, Raven stroked his chin, as if recalling something important.

“So, the problem is avoiding Codria’s interference, right?”

“Yes, but their influence is massive—it won’t be easy to avoid,” David replied.

“Hah. No matter how powerful they are, they can’t have their hands anywhere.”

Curious gazes turned toward him, wondering what loophole he had in mind. Raven smirked confidently.

“I know an idol-specialist fixer. We can leave it to them.”

As night fell, the neon lights of NightHaven illuminated the city. We relocated to a high-rise building where Raven’s contact, the idol fixer, awaited us.

She was a striking figure: a young girl with deep purple hair tied into twin tails, reminiscent of red grapes.

Her mischievous expression, framed by upturned eyes, gave her the look of someone who delighted in toying with others. 

She appeared to be somewhere between middle and high school in age, though her presence suggested she was far more capable than her youthful looks implied.

Her outfit was as charming as her demeanor, drawing the eye and radiating charisma.

This was Lurika, NightHaven’s one and only idol fixer—a dazzling, unpredictable star in her own right.

With a sly smile, she greeted us.

“Showing up unannounced at this hour? What manners. Could it be lingering effects from a bullet wound to the head?”

The air in the room grew icy as if a blade made of frost had suddenly pressed against our backs.

Though Lurika’s lips curved into a smile, her cold, expressionless eyes belied her amusement.

Her adorable face somehow exuded a menacing aura that made her seem far scarier than she should have been.

Startled by her intensity, Alice clung to me tightly, trembling.

The closeness of the scene made the atmosphere heavy, as if the tension itself was pressing down.

Despite Lurika’s sharp and menacing words, Raven remained unfazed, casually cleaning his ear with his pinky as he responded.

“Didn’t you tell me I could drop by anytime? Remember how you cried like a baby at our disbandment, saying that?”

“Y-you idiot! That was just me being emotional! I didn’t mean it, you moron! Go die!”

Flushing red with embarrassment, Lurika launched herself at Raven with a high kick.

She might have looked like an adorable middle schooler, but her strength and speed were far from ordinary. Even from a distance, her sheer power was chilling to witness.

However, Raven simply sidestepped her attack with a practiced ease, as if he had dodged her strikes countless times before.

“Die! Die! If you were going to come, you should’ve come sooner, you damn crow! Seniority doesn’t make you God!”

“Sorry, sorry. You seemed busy. I mean, I couldn’t just barge in on someone who’s on TV every other day, could I?”

“Ugh! Damn it… like I’d throw you out if you showed up!”

Lurika unleashed a storm of punches and kicks that seemed to explode in the air. It was only after she was panting and thoroughly worn out that she flopped down on the floor, seemingly satisfied.@@novelbin@@

Watching this chaotic scene, Aisha—still stunned by the dynamics between the two—timidly asked,

“So… um… What exactly is your relationship?”

“Ah, well,” Raven began nonchalantly, “we used to work under the same organization. I was her senior.”

“Huff, huff… That’s ancient history! Over ten years ago!” Lurika snapped.

Aisha’s eyes widened in surprise at how close they seemed.

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.