小火星

It was as he had thought. The bundle of papers was the completed script by Director Kyotaro Tanoguchi. With this, Woojin now had two masterpieces of scripts, one from Director Kwon Ki-taek and another from Director Kyotaro. One domestic and one foreign.

‘Oh, did that Japanese director really send his script?’

Woojin’s last meeting with Director Kyotaro had been at the company. There, Director Kyotaro had spoken a bit ambiguously, but ultimately, he had wanted Woojin to join him for a venture in Japan.

‘What did he say? Hmm, something about the script being adapted and it was based on a famous Japanese novelist’s work?’

That was a few weeks ago. Frankly, Woojin had assumed that it had all fizzled out due to lack of communication. Considering the nature of the entertainment industry, with all its complex interests, Woojin had thought that the director might have changed his mind after returning to Japan.

But he hadn’t gone silent.

The actual script from the Japanese maestro had truly arrived. If this news reached the Korean media, they would go wild. But for now, it was confidential. An excited Woojin then shifted his gaze from CEO Choi Sung-gun to the script.

The title and director’s name were written on the script cover, of course, in Japanese.

– ‘The Eerie Sacrifice of a Stranger’

– Director/ Kyotaro Tanoguchi

After confirming the title, Woojin murmured to himself,

”The Eerie Sacrifice of a Stranger’? It sounds profound. But I feel like I’ve heard it somewhere.’

The title wasn’t entirely unfamiliar. Maybe because it was based on a famous novel? Woojin felt like he had heard it somewhere, but he wasn’t particularly familiar with books.

‘Is it just my imagination?’

At that moment, Choi Sung-gun tapped Woojin’s shoulder.

“The email said to have a meeting after you’ve read the script. So that means Director Kyotaro will come back to Korea. Just by looking at this, I can tell this project is big.”

“Is the director coming back to Korea?”

“Yes. I’m not sure if he’ll change his mind later, but for now, that’s what you should know. I don’t know when he’ll arrive.”

Really? Because of me? Seriously? At the slightly surprised Woojin, Choi Sung-gun smiled and said.

“I felt it when Director Kyotaro visited the company last time. He’s genuinely interested in you. He’s known to favor those he likes, but from his actions, it seems like there’s another reason beyond casting.”

Choi Sung-gun signaled Woojin to get into the car, barely containing his excitement. Woojin, trying to remain expressionless, climbed into the van. Jang Su-hwan and Han Ye-jung were not there. Choi Sung-gun, who was in the driver’s seat, explained why.

“They’ll join us around lunchtime today. They’ve had some intense days, so I told them to rest a bit and then come.”

“Oh, okay.”

Woojin nodded, and Choi Sung-gun slowly started the car. As he turned the steering wheel, he occasionally glanced at Woojin in the rearview mirror.

‘I hope he decides to do this after reading the script. I wish that instinct within him activates again.’

He chuckled softly.

‘If Woojin decides to join Director Kyotaro’s project, it will really shake up Korea.’

In just a few months, Woojin had joined Director Kwon Ki-taek’s team. If he also joins a masterpiece from Japan, the media would be all over him.

This would truly be a first.

No rookie had ever joined masterpieces like this. In other words, Woojin was making unprecedented history.

‘Just the thought of it gives me chills.’

Woojin, who was looking at the script with an indifferent expression, had already flipped through a few pages. Naturally, the entire script was in Japanese. Did they send it in its original language because I know Japanese?

But it made sense.

Translating the script might result in deviations from the director’s intent. While a translation would be close, it was better for Woojin, who had learned Japanese, to read it in its original state.

Soon…

– Swish.

Unnoticeably, Woojin raised his index finger. Why? To enter the void-space. Woojin pressed a black rectangle attached next to the script.

In an instant, he arrived in the boundlessly dark void-space.

A place now as familiar as home. Woojin stretched briefly and moved around. The number of white squares had increased to seven.

Among them,

“Hmm-”

Kang Woojin’s last checked item was Director Kyotaro’s script titled ‘The Eerie Sacrifice of a Stranger’. What was amusing was that as soon as Woojin saw the white square of ‘The Eerie Sacrifice of a Stranger’, he was openly surprised.

“Whoa- shit.”

The reason was simple.

-[7/Script (Title: The Eerie Sacrifice of a Stranger), Grade A]

-[*It’s a highly completed movie script. 100% reading is possible.]

From the beginning, ‘The Eerie Sacrifice of a Stranger’ was grade A. It was rare to start with such a grade. Woojin smiled, half in surprise and half in anticipation.

“I have to go for this.”

He then suddenly shouted, “Exit!” Before he knew it, Woojin returned to the moving van and immediately picked up his phone. It was to search for ‘The Eerie Sacrifice of a Stranger’. Some adaptations’ original sources often share the same titles.

The result was quick.

‘There’s a book with the same title.’

Indeed, there was a Japanese novel titled ‘The Eerie Sacrifice of a Stranger’. It was even a bestseller. It also had many reviews in Korea, suggesting its popularity. Woojin touched the screen to check the book’s details. Soon, the name of the novelist appeared.

‘Takikawa Akari? Oh! I know her! I think I’ve heard of her. She’s famous in both Japan and Korea, right?’

A masterpiece by a Japanese master director, based on a famous novelist’s original, and grade A. It was truly impressive just looking at the core elements. At that moment, as Choi Sung-gun braked at a red light, he turned his head.

“How is it? After a quick skim, do you think it’s good for a venture into Japan?”

With a deep poker face, Woojin added a bit of bravado.

“It seems not bad.”

Meanwhile,

While Kang Woojin was on the move, for some reason, the number of individuals infected with misunderstandings was gradually increasing in various places. It was spreading even more from an already widespread state.

The source was the ‘Profiler Hanryan’ team.

Dozens of staff members or actors. Of course, it wasn’t the ‘Profiler Hanryang’ team that spread it directly. Others took action. Because they received calls from various places.

“Hey, you know that guy, Kang Woojin, right? How was he during the Hanryang shooting? Like his personality?”

“Huh? Oh, right? Didn’t Woojin join your ‘Drug Dealer’ set as a substitute?”

“Yes. He’ll join the shoot in a few days. I was wondering what he’s like.”

“Haha, I only had a few words with him while setting up the lights, but he seemed nice. Oh, and he spoke English incredibly well. I heard he lived in an English-speaking country.”

“Huh?”

Those inquiring about Kang Woojin were from the productions he was set to join. Among them, many were from the soon-to-be-shot ‘Drug Dealer’ production.

“Speaking of Kang Woojin, his acting tone seemed unique. How did he convey the emotion on set?”

“Well, watching him, it’s just baffling. To anyone, he looks like a newcomer who has only debuted a few months ago, but to me, he seemed like someone who has been in the acting scene for at least a decade. No, he definitely had experience somewhere.”

“Is he that mysterious? So much so that you can’t judge?”

“It’s strange. He’s like a ghost. His emotional transitions are insanely quick. But when you’re watching him, it’s confusing whether he’s the actor or the character.”

“Wow.”

“But he said he self-taught his acting. He said it himself during script reading.”

“What? What does that even mean?”

Older actors who were close friends, gatherings, actors from the same agency, and production staff with established relationships weren’t all moving together. They each had their own way of communicating.

There was both concern and curiosity.

The situation with ‘Drug Dealer’ was very unusual, and the information on Kang Woojin, who was coming to cover it, was extremely scarce. If he had been cast from the beginning, they would have learned more about him, but since he was added suddenly, they needed any bit of information they could get.

“Kang Woojin? I don’t know about other things, but his stamina is amazing. Everyone was exhausted by the middle and end of the shoot, but he was the only one fine. From dawn to night, it was a tight schedule, but his acting didn’t falter. He’s a monster, seriously, a monster.”

“He’s still a rookie, right? He would’ve been unknown back then.”

“See for yourself. I thought so too, but the more I see, the more he seems like a veteran, if not more.”

Thanks to this, the number of individuals infected by misunderstandings related to ‘Drug Dealer’ was increasing.

“He might seem a bit cold, but he’s sharp. Who is this? Ah! Is this the Cameraman? He’s a bit weird, but he’s kind. Exactly that. He doesn’t talk much, but even if it seems like he’s not watching, he sees everything.”

“He was unknown when shooting Hanryang, but he was that composed?”

“No- It’s beyond being relaxed. He doesn’t act like a rookie at all. He was the most comfortable one on the set. Like he was at home. Maybe it’s because he was influenced by foreign cultures, he has a different mindset.”

“Foreign cultures?”

A baseless assumption was making its rounds.

Two days later, in the afternoon of the 8th, inside Kang Woojin’s van.

Around 6 o’clock. A black van was speeding on the highway. Inside the van were Kang Woojin and his entire team. Jang Su-hwan was focused on driving, while Choi Sung-gun was constantly on the phone, and Han Ye-jung was intently looking through Woojin’s coordinator book.

And Kang Woojin, with his checkered shirt sleeves rolled up, was…

“……”

– Flip.

Reading the script. His face was very serious. It might be partly the persona, but it was also an expression of pure concentration.

What he was looking at was the script for the movie ‘Drug Dealer’.

The reason was simple. Currently, Kang Woojin was on his way to the filming location of ‘Drug Dealer’ in Suncheon. Starting today, Kang Woojin officially began shooting for ‘Drug Dealer’. The schedule was set for about 2 weeks, but it could be shorter or longer.

Regardless..

– Flip.

Kang Woojin continued to read the script. It felt more like a review. He had already read it several times, and he had completed the reading of roles that interacted with Woojin’s character, ‘Lee Sang-man’. In Kang Woojin’s mind, the world of ‘Drug Dealer’ was firmly established. He probably could depict it with more vitality than the scriptwriter, director Kim Do-hee.

It was as if he owned the essence not just of ‘Lee Sang-man’, but the entire ‘Drug Dealer’.

The backdrop of the movie ‘Drug Dealer’ was Busan in 1999. After the financial crisis erupted, South Korea faced a crisis, but ironically, the number of drug criminals increased. The number of people looking for drugs also skyrocketed.

In other words, the drug market was booming.

It was an opportunity in the midst of a crisis. Moreover, foreign countries also entered this market. Russia, China, Japan, and others. Where there’s demand, supply increases. Drugs manufactured from various places flooded into the country.

The Busan Police Department was at its wits’ end.

The drugs were multiplying endlessly, and drug criminals increased like parasites. Moreover, they went deeper into the shadows. If they missed the timing, the problem would grow too big to handle. On top of that, corruption was rampant within the police force.

Some had even joined hands with the drug cartels.

Eventually, several senior police officers came together and made a decision. They decided to go undercover. They decided to infiltrate the drug market with undercover police. However, only a few knew about this project, because there was corruption within the police.

From there, the decision was made about ‘Jeong Seong-hoon’, a character who was both a drug dealer and a detective.

He was already a detective with deep ties to thugs. Thanks to that, Jeong Seong-hoon tilted his head in confusion. Why me? Why get involved in such a bothersome task? However, due to threats regarding his past behavior and promises of a reward upon success, Jeong Seong-hoon agrees to undertake the project. It begins with him being incarcerated undercover in prison.

His objective is to win the favor of the drug lord ‘Choi Jun-ho’ who’s in that prison.

Becoming a member of drug kingpin Choi Jun-ho’s gang was the crux. Of course, leveraging his unique thug-like tendencies and cooperation from the police, Jeong Seong-hoon barely manages to join Choi Jun-ho’s gang. Later, with the drug lord backing him, Jeong Seong-hoon is released and starts a drug operation in Busan. At the same time, he secretly provides information on hidden drug criminals to the police.

At this point, he encounters ‘Kim Hyun-soo’, known by the alias ‘Professor Kim’.

Professor Kim was a drug manufacturer, and together with him, Jeong Seong-hoon grows into the largest drug distributor in Busan. From here, the conflict with the police arises, as they earn vast amounts of money. Ultimately, the ambitious Jeong Seong-hoon starts eyeing the Japanese market.

But how? How will he expand into Japan?

This is where ‘Lee Sang-man’, played by Kang Woojin, comes into the picture. He was the boss of Busan’s largest thug organization, the ‘Sang-man Clan’. Having deep ties with the Japanese Yakuza, Jeong Seong-hoon strikes a deal with Lee Sang-man and manages to expands into Japan.

Thus, ‘Drug Merchant’ is a crime thriller packed with numerous keywords.

Fast-paced, betrayal, action, brutality, and more. Anyway, the role of ‘Lee Sang-man’, which Woojin will portray, serves as a stepping stone to the backdrop of Japan and is a crucial role that elevates tension and anticipation in the early and mid-stages of the plot.

However, there were no issues. Kang Woojin was already halfway prepared.

‘Phew- Filming a movie is nerve-wracking, especially since my last time was in ‘Exorcism’. With unknown actors, it’s going to be quite intimidating, right? Looking at the list they sent, there are many top-tier actors involved.’

Still, he couldn’t help but feel excited. Perhaps he would feel this way forever? The entertainment industry still felt incredibly vast and unfamiliar.

‘Whew-‘

Kang Woojin took a quiet deep breath and made a resolution to himself. He decided to stick to his concept but be more profound on set.

‘Let’s speak as little as possible. It’d be awkward to make a mistake in front of unfamiliar actors. Someone who knows me might pop up, just like during the meeting.’

Determined to emphasize his cynical persona as much as possible, it was then that Choi Sung-gun spoke to Woojin.

He was smiling faintly.

“Woojin, we’ll arrive in 10 minutes. Be ready.”

*****