Chapter 79

< Extension (8) >

The reason Jin Jae-joon unknowingly tensed up was due to the gaze of Kang Woo-jin across from him. It was a gaze that seemed to have lost some of its intensity but still probed every corner of his body.

It was just a rehearsal now.

That's why the knife Kang Woo-jin held was fake, and there was no blood that should have been there. The distance between the blade and his eye was about 3 cm, much farther than expected. Originally, it should have been almost 1 cm away from his eye. Kang Woo-jin's costume and face were also clean.

Yes, Kang Woo-jin was clearly holding back.

It was just a simple rehearsal, after all. The problem was Kang Woo-jin as seen by Jin Jae-joon. No, it was that Lee Sang-man was too realistic.

‘Now I understand why the director was glued to the monitor.’

Of course, Jin Jae-joon had also been impressed by Lee Sang-man yesterday. Even as a spectator, he couldn't look away. The clean execution, the vivid movements, the detailed dialogue. But today was different. Sitting in front of Lee Sang-man as his co-star, Jin Jae-joon felt a sense of being overwhelmed.

‘Is it just his eyes? Is it just a natural talent?’

The difference between those who were aware of Lee Sang-man and those who weren't. His eyes were deep. Yesterday, they weren't, but today, Lee Sang-man's eyes were filled with Jin Jae-joon. More precisely, 'Jeong Sung-hoon.' Jin Jae-joon couldn't help but be drawn into that gaze.

Is that why?

“...”

As Jin Jae-joon watched Lee Sang-man, his vision changed. The scenes he had seen or would see as 'Jeong Sung-hoon' overlapped like a panorama. The emotions Lee Sang-man projected had become a trigger.

The abandoned warehouse became even darker.

The running staff disappeared, and men in black suits filled the space. Among them was Lee Sang-man. With his shirt sleeves rolled up to his forearms, he was torturing a subordinate tied to a corner of the warehouse. The weapon was a sashimi knife.

It was unclear where he was cutting, but Lee Sang-man was slowly slicing the flesh of his subordinate.

The subordinate's screams, Lee Sang-man's low laughter, the smell of blood.

Jeong Sung-hoon's throat felt dry and twisted. He had that feeling. All the hair on his body stood on end. Blood dripped from the feet of Lee Sang-man, who was facing away. Jeong Sung-hoon kept watching it.

And now, Lee Sang-man, with blood on his face, was right in front of him.

“Fucking eyes, you're a fucking prick.”

Even with the sashimi knife pressed to his eye, Lee Sang-man was a man with a soft madness. He was sloppy but had a quick weapon at his back.

However, Jeong Sung-hoon was also risking his life.

After all, this abandoned warehouse, the act of cutting his subordinate with a knife, the shower of blood, and this knife were all just a setup to strip him bare. Jeong Sung-hoon held back the urge to urinate and adjusted his posture. He relaxed his shoulders, which had tensed up, and crossed his legs.

A low posture was not good for tightrope walking.

“Then stab it. Try to cut the ink-sucker.”

Jeong Sung-hoon, instead, pressed his eye even closer to the nearby blade. That crazy thug had a good sense. There was no answer except to push hard. In contrast, the smile disappeared from Lee Sang-man's face.

Instead, a look of fatigue spread across his face.

“Spit in my eye, and openly curse me, you prick.”

“Fucking prick. Yeah, I'm a fucking prick.”

“...”

“Let's not do this pointless test, let's do business. After all, you must have been thoroughly searched before you met me, right?”

Lee Sang-man moved the knife from Jeong Sung-hoon's eye to his forehead.

“Even your intestines were pulled out. Your resume is a fraud. You went to school while selling drugs, right? Your backer is Choi Joon-ho. But Mr. Jeong.”

Lee Sang-man tapped Jeong Sung-hoon's forehead with the knife. His eyes turned snake-like.

“Seeing you in person, your eyes are intelligent. You're a thug, but an intelligent thug, according to your eyes.”

“Shut up, you bastard. I'll go and plant drugs in the ass of those Japanese monkeys.”

“Mr. Jeong, are you trying to survive here on your own?”

“Fucking prick. What do you want?”

Lee Sang-man, who had yawned, gently scratched Jeong Sung-hoon's cheek with the knife that had been tapping his forehead.

“I don't trust people. I trust events. To do business, trust must be the foundation, right?”

“...”

“Ease up with your eyes. I might just stab you. Tsk, I don't deal with second-rate people, so make an interesting event. Something that will make the front page of the newspaper.”

“What kind of event?”

“If you slice open your 'backer' and remove all his organs, I'll believe you.”

Jeong Sung-hoon's backer was the drug kingpin Choi Joon-ho, who was in prison. In other words, Lee Sang-man was proposing that Jeong Sung-hoon kill Choi Joon-ho, whom he had worked hard to gain trust. This was a dilemma for Jeong Sung-hoon, who was undercover.

He was still a police officer, after all.

Even if he somehow managed to kill Choi Joon-ho, the police would eventually suspect him. On the other hand, Lee Sang-man was not an easy opponent either.

“But if that drug kingpin keeps living, you'll be the one to die. Without anyone knowing. Because you fooled me. Expect it, starting with your family and even the dogs you keep.”

Lee Sang-man was the boss of the largest gang in Busan, the 'Sang-man faction.'

It was clear that many gang members would be after Jeong Sung-hoon. He had to make a decision. First, he had to survive this place. Only then could he come up with any plan.

“Understood.”

“Indeed, you are intelligent.”

Lee Sang-man, who smiled sarcastically, threw the sashimi knife he had been holding against Jeong Sung-hoon's cheek onto the table in front of him.

“Take it. Next time, bring your factory. There's a professor, right?”

“There is.”

Lee Sang-man, who had already put on his suit jacket, waved as he collected the diamonds Jin Jae-joon had brought.

“See you again as the drug kingpin?”

For a moment, Jeong Sung-hoon stared into Lee Sang-man's eyes. Lee Sang-man was smiling slightly, but his eyes held a violent future. Jeong Sung-hoon couldn't speak to him any longer.

At that moment.

“...Mr. Jun. Mr. Jae-joon?”

The voice of Director Kim Do-hee echoed in the ear of top actor Jin Jae-joon, who had been glaring at Lee Sang-man.

“Mr. Jae-joon.”

Only then did Jin Jae-joon turn his head.

“Ah- Yes, Director.”

Director Kim Do-hee, holding the script, gave a thumbs up.

“Ha ha, it's just a rehearsal, isn't it? You were more intense than usual.”

“...Because of Mr. Kang Woo-jin's acting.”

“Right? Even with the relaxed approach, it was that good.”

“Yes, even in the rehearsal, I couldn't help but get drawn in... I mean, I was more intense.”

Jin Jae-joon, who had muttered softly, turned his gaze. Across from him, Kang Woo-jin was already calmly checking his costume with the staff. For a moment, Jin Jae-joon frowned and let out a hollow laugh.

‘What’s going on now.’

It was the first time during the entire filming of 'Drug Lord.'

‘It felt like I was in the work itself.’

He was so immersed in the acting. Especially in a rehearsal.

Of course, it all started with.

‘I’m going crazy, can this even be called acting?’

It was something beyond Kang Woo-jin's method acting.

On the same day, around noon. Incheon Airport.

The bustling airport, filled with countless people. A place brimming with chaotic comings and goings, whether for departure or arrival. For some reason, several reporters with cameras were stationed there. They lined up at the arrival gate as if they had made a pact. As a result, the surrounding people were puzzled.

Regardless, the reporters grumbled as they checked their watches.

“What, it's past the time, why isn't she here?”

“Yeah, maybe the information was wrong?”

“No way.”

At that moment.

“She's here!”

One of the reporters pointed towards the arrival gate and shouted. Indeed, a woman in her 60s appeared at the arrival gate. She wore glasses perched on the tip of her nose. She was none other than Takikawa Akari, the super-popular Japanese novelist.

The appearance of the woman prompted a dozen reporters to start snapping photos.

-Click, click, click!

They shouted in the Japanese they knew.

“This way! Look this way!”

“Ms. Author! Why are you visiting Korea?”

“Say hello to your fans!”

In contrast, Takikawa Akari, mixed among several teams, simply waved to the reporters as she passed by. She didn't make any comments.

Regardless, one thing was certain.

The world-renowned, super-popular author Takikawa Akari had arrived in Korea.

A few dozen minutes later.

Takikawa Akari, who quickly left the airport, got into a large minivan waiting in the parking lot. Interestingly,

“Ms. Author.”

A familiar man was already in the minivan. It was the legendary Japanese director Kyotaro, with a head full of gray hair.

“You arrived earlier than expected.”

From the feel of it, Director Kyotaro seemed to have gotten into the minivan before Takikawa Akari. Soon, as the minivan started, Takikawa Akari smiled and replied.

“I'm not good at press conferences. They make me uncomfortable.”

“Ha ha, that's not appropriate for a world-renowned author.”

“You're the one who used me as a shield and secretly entered the country, right?”

“No way. I just wanted to make your entrance more impressive.”

“Cheeky.”

Takikawa Akari, who muttered softly, received her schedule from an agency employee while asking Director Kyotaro, who was sitting across from her.

“Still, there was no need for you to match your schedule with mine from the beginning. You gave the script to the Korean actor a few days ago, which seems a bit rushed. I have a two-week schedule, so I have plenty of time.”

Director Kyotaro smiled as if it didn't matter.

“I plan to spend today with you and then move separately with my team from tomorrow. I have to meet the Korean distributor and do some location scouting. I also need to check the situation in Korea regarding actor Kang Woo-jin.”

“You seem excited.”

“I do want to meet him soon, but I have to wait. I won't meet him immediately. Of course, you'll like actor Kang Woo-jin too.”

While Director Kyotaro was the overall director, Takikawa Akari had enough influence to replace a few actors or even overhaul the entire production. She shrugged with a smile.

“Of course, it would be a problem if I didn't like him.”

“You'll definitely be tempted.”

Director Kyotaro, with a very excited expression, was a new sight for the legendary director from Japan. At least, that's how it looked to Takikawa Akari. To be so purely tempted. Soon, Takikawa Akari, who had folded her arms and adjusted her glasses, asked.

“Director, can I see actor Kang Woo-jin's performance?”

“Huh? Oh, of course. On the hotel TV.”

“No.”

She requested from Director Kyotaro.

“Not on TV, with my own eyes.”

In the afternoon, back in Suncheon.

A medium-sized hotel near the large set of 'Drug Lord.' This hotel was being used as accommodation for the actors and staff of 'Drug Lord.' Due to the nature of the production, much of the filming took place in the regions, and during the Suncheon set filming, they almost always stayed at this hotel, so it was booked long-term.

Therefore, from the hotel lobby to the surrounding area, actors were often seen. Into this hotel lobby,

-Swoosh.

A stoic Kang Woo-jin, accompanied by the burly Jang Su-hwan, entered. Soon, a few people who had been brushed by Woo-jin quickly turned around.

“Oh, who is that man? He's an actor! Han Yang Park Dal-ri!”

“Huh? Oh! Kang Woo-jin?”

“Oh! Isn't that Kang Woo-jin? I saw him briefly, but it looks like him!”

“Really? Should I go see?”

It wasn't just the guests. The hotel staff at the front desk and elsewhere also glanced at Woo-jin. The filming of 'Drug Lord' was already a hot topic, and the news that Kang Woo-jin had joined was already widely known.

“Wow- Kang Woo-jin, Kang Woo-jin is here.”

“Wow, what a real-life person? He's so cool!”

“Is it okay to take a picture?”

“Doesn't he look better than Jin Jae-joon?”

“Shh, shh, you'll get in trouble with the manager.”

The lobby quickly became bustling. Noticing this, Jang Su-hwan cleared his throat and whispered to Kang Woo-jin.

“Sir, you should put on a mask.”

“Why?”

“People are starting to recognize you.”

“Oh-”

Only then did Kang Woo-jin, who had been looking at his phone, look around. Although not many, a dozen or so guests and staff were clearly staring at Woo-jin. Despite having experienced this before, Kang Woo-jin still felt a bit awkward.

‘It feels good but a bit embarrassing.’

Regardless, Kang Woo-jin, wearing a mask, arrived at his room, and Jang Su-hwan, who said he would contact him when the time came, left. Entering the room, Kang Woo-jin put aside his character work. His room, with a bed and a simple table, wasn't very large.

“Well, it's not bad to have a room to myself-”

Muttering softly, Kang Woo-jin threw himself onto the bed. Lying there for about three minutes, he turned over and picked up his phone. He checked the time.

“5 PM.”

It was 5 PM. However, the day's filming for 'Drug Lord' wasn't over yet. They had shot a few scenes from the morning until just before, and there were still scenes left, but the schedule was delayed due to Jin Jae-joon's scenes.

Roughly two hours?

In such cases, actors usually wait in their cars or somewhere on the set, but since 'Drug Lord' had separate accommodations,