小火星

Chapter 308: Autumn (9)

‘Whoa- crazy! This is our agency’s overseas branch??!’

He was surprised. Of course, he had heard about it before, but he didn’t expect it to be ready so quickly. Moreover, the office was decently equipped, and even had a large poster of himself on the wall.

‘No, seriously, why did they put that embarrassing up??’

He had zero name recognition in Hollywood, and seeing that poster in LA made him feel several times more embarrassed. Although, due to his heavy concept, it didn’t show at all. And yet, I’m the main focus?

At that moment, Choi Sung-gun, who stood next to Woojin, smirked and asked.

“What do you think?”

What do I think? Isn’t it incredibly amazing? In reality, Woojin felt a strange sense of excitement. He couldn’t help but wonder how things had gotten this big. Not long ago, Kang Woojin hadn’t even thought about LA or anything like this. But now, he was staring at an overseas branch where he was the main focus. A faint sense of responsibility also began to stir.

Choi Sung-gun, pointing to the poster of Kang Woojin on the wall, spoke again.

“Not that you’d feel any pressure, but just in case, let me tell you, that poster is kind of like a charm for us. It’s like saying, ‘Starting with you, we’re going to expand into the Hollywood market!’ Doesn’t that sound good?”

Woojin, keeping his poker face, nodded calmly.

“It’s not bad.”

“Haha, right. If this place feels a bit small, we’re using the office next door too, so once everything is fully operational, it’ll be quite usable. We’ll start here for now, but when you get even bigger, we’ll move to an even bigger place.”

Choi Sung-gun, who was filled with excitement, patted Woojin on the shoulder. The pressure is building?! Woojin muttered to himself but responded casually.

“It shouldn’t take too long.”

Despite his inner feelings, he added a touch of toughness and bravado. Choi Sung-gun’s smile deepened as if he were moved.

“I know, man. Haha, I even dream of you conquering Hollywood! Like, bring it on!”

Choi Sung-gun’s fighting spirit was considerably high. It made sense. From the beginning, he had started bw Entertainment with the dream of entering Hollywood. Initially, his target was Hong Hye-yeon. Whether it took five years or ten, he was determined to charge toward Hollywood.

But everything changed 180 degrees with the appearance of Kang Woojin.

Moreover, it only took two years to reach this point. bw Entertainment had already gained a reputation for its rapid rise in the domestic entertainment industry. Thanks to Chairman Hideki’s solid backing, they were pulling off things that would normally be impossible. And at the core of it all was Kang Woojin.

“With the Miley Cara deal and ‘Leech’ and ‘Beneficial Evil’. It’s just a matter of time. Just thinking about it makes me tingle with excitement.”

Woojin asked in return.

“When will this place be up and running?”

“Ah? We should have it sorted out by September. First, we need to select people from the headquarters to transfer to the overseas branch, and we also need to hire new employees.”

“I see.”

After looking around the office, he and Choi Sung-gun once again got into the van parked on the roadside. Their next destination was the hotel that Miley Cara had arranged for them.

-Vroom!

Late at night, two vans sped through downtown LA. In the front van, Woojin silently stared out the window. Part of him was mesmerized by LA’s night view, which was vastly different from Korea, but another part of him was lost in thought, imagining his future activities in this vast country.

‘LA, huh? Is this for real?’

Hollywood. Me acting in this insanely vast place? No, setting aside acting for a moment—a faint worry arose about whether he would be accepted. It was a mild concern that crept up. It was a misunderstanding, a misconception made by others like Choi Sung-gun, but since he had already become an actor, he had to aim for the top.

That would naturally be Hollywood.

‘Ha—honestly though, it still doesn’t feel real. What is this place? And why am I even here?’

For the core of Kang Woojin, the changes that had come in such a short time were overwhelming, and the world he saw had flipped as if he was living a second life. The strange emotions he was feeling were not surprising at all.

And yet.

‘It’s absurd.’

The fact that all of this started from nothing more than a mere misunderstanding left Kang Woojin dumbfounded. But that wasn’t the only thing that was absurd.

-Screech!

At some point, the two large vans had arrived at the hotel and came to a stop. Soon enough, Kang Woojin’s eyes were filled with an unbelievably grand hotel.

‘C-Crazy!!’

The Beverly Hills Hotel, one of LA’s five-star hotels. The palm trees growing at the entrance, the building stretching outwards and upwards as if one with the surrounding forest, the hotel staff welcoming Kang Woojin’s team from the entrance, and the red carpet leading from the entrance to the vast lobby.

It was like a palace nestled within a dense forest.

At the sight of its majestic grandeur, Kang Woojin muttered inwardly once again.

‘……Wo- shit, this is just ridiculous.’

Choi Sung-gun, who was standing next to Woojin, gave a thumbs-up.

“Miley Cara booked suites for the entire team. You’ve got a room all to yourself. Isn’t it killer?”

Yeah, it’s freaking amazing, right? Kang Woojin’s mouth was agape on the inside, but outwardly, he remained extremely calm.

“It’s not bad.”

“They say it costs more than 5 million won a night. Makes you realize just how powerful Miley Cara is.”

5 million won a night. Considering Kang Woojin’s team had over a dozen people, they must’ve booked at least three rooms, and with the stay lasting about a week, the total cost would amount to an insane amount of money. Choi Sung-gun, carrying the bags he had brought, muttered.

“Well, for her, it’s probably pocket change. All we have to do is enjoy it and say thank you. That’s the polite thing to do, after all. Let’s go, Woojin.”

Kang Woojin, his face still indifferent, made a quiet resolution to himself.

‘Hell. I’m also going to rise so high that I can spend that kind of money like it’s pocket change.’

The next morning, in a large café in downtown LA.

The time was around 8 o’clock. The café, selling bagels, sandwiches, and various coffees, was filled with foreigners stopping by on their way to work. The place was packed with people grabbing a quick breakfast or a coffee before heading to the office.

Even the hall filled with round tables was crowded with foreigners.

There wasn’t a single seat left unoccupied. So much so that when a gap appeared at a table, it wasn’t uncommon for people to ask to share the table. As a result, complete strangers often ended up sharing a table and striking up conversations. It was a sight quite familiar in LA.

At one of the tables in a corner of that hall, a familiar figure was seen.

“……”

A Black man silently drinking coffee while looking down at his phone. His enormous build made it impossible for him not to stand out, wearing a black long-sleeve shirt rolled up to his forearms. He was Joseph Felton, the famous Hollywood producer. At Joseph’s table, two foreigners he didn’t know were engaged in a conversation, and at this point, a foreign woman with her brown bob tied back approached. It was Megan Stone, the casting director (CD).

Sensing her presence, Joseph looked up from his phone and smiled.

“You’re late.”

Megan, who sat beside the tall Joseph, placed the coffee she had brought on the table and replied.

“I arrived on time, don’t you see that line over there? If anything, I came early.”

Muttering to herself, she retied her brown bob and complained.

“Why did we have to meet in such a chaotic place?”

“Because I’m a regular here.”

With a small sigh, Megan pulled out a tablet from the extra bag she had brought along with her purse.

“I’ve narrowed down the actors based on their images.”

“Mm.”

Nodding, Joseph took the tablet from her and replied.

“Did you hear that Kang Woojin is coming to LA? Ah- he should have arrived by now.”

“I saw it on Miley’s Instagram. It’s been planned for a while, so it wasn’t too surprising.”

Joseph slowly nodded. An enigmatic smile appeared on his face. Megan, watching his expression, crossed her long legs and asked again.

“You’re thinking of meeting Kang Woojin.”

“If he’s willing to meet me. It’s not an opportunity that comes by often, and I’m curious about how he’s been recently.”

Joseph Felton glanced back down at the tablet.

“In about two months, it’s Cannes. Before that, we need to drop a hint to Kang Woojin about our project. You remember him from ‘Last Kill 3’, right?”

“…He rejected the role on set.”

“He even rejected it right in front of the director’s face, without hesitation. There’s no guarantee that won’t happen to us in the future.”

“So you want to give him a heads-up in advance?”

“Something like that.”

Joseph lowered the tablet and picked up his coffee cup, continuing his thought.

“Two years. In just two years, a Korean actor has risen to a position where he’s eyeing Hollywood. There’s definitely a solid plan in his mind. The album collaboration with Miley Cara before appearing at Cannes? There’s no way that’s just a coincidence.”

“……Have you heard? That Kang Woojin used to be in the special forces.”

Joseph, who had been sipping his coffee, paused.

“Special forces? What do you mean by that?”

Meanwhile, about 30 minutes later, at the Beverly Hills Hotel in LA.

Kang Woojin woke up in the large suite room of the hotel. He stared blankly at the ceiling for a while before groggily getting up. With his hair disheveled, he turned his head. Through the large window beside him, the vast cityscape of LA unfolded.

“Wo—this is amazing, seriously.”

It was indeed the view of a suite room. It was a sight worth taking a picture of. Although Woojin had taken dozens of photos of the night view last night, the morning scenery carried a different vibe. Woojin, upon waking, snapped several photos and stretched as he walked out of the room.

An enormous living room spread out before him.

The size of the suite was easily more than three times that of Kang Woojin’s own home. The living room had luxurious sofas and various pieces of furniture, and the kitchen was spacious as well. In front of him, large windows opened up to a terrace with a table and chairs, and below, a wide swimming pool surrounded by palm trees could be seen.

Kang Woojin had this ridiculous suite all to himself.

“Is this the life of the truly rich?”

With his ‘concept act’ dropped, Woojin let out a slight chuckle. After brewing the complimentary morning coffee, he sat down on the sofa. In front of him, the vast expanse of LA stretched endlessly.

-Slurp.

Kang Woojin took a moment to relax in this absurd situation. But it didn’t last long.

-Knock, knock.

There was a knock, rhythmic and firm. Woojin, quickly slipping back into his poker face, opened the door. Standing there, waving, was Choi Sung-gun.

“Awake?”

“Yes, CEO~nim.”

Choi Sung-gun entered the room and sat down on the sofa as Woojin served him coffee. Taking a sip, Choi Sung-gun pulled out his phone and spoke.

“I got a call a few minutes ago from Megan Stone, the casting director. Remember her?”

The name was familiar, of course. How could he forget? Megan Stone, the famous Hollywood casting director. She had been there for ‘Last Kill 3’, and had even come to see Kang Woojin during the filming of ‘The Eerie Sacrifice of a Stranger’.

“Yes, I remember.”

“She’s asking if you have time to meet since you’re in LA. Doesn’t feel like it’s just a casual request. It’s just a feeling- you know. What do you think?”

“I don’t mind. As long as it fits with the schedule.”

“Alright, I’ll set it up.”

Choi Sung-gun then changed the subject.

“Anyway, today’s schedule is pretty light. Miley Cara is coming to the hotel in the afternoon.”

In other words, until then, Woojin had some free time. Although Kang Woojin’s schedule was still progressing in many ways, that was more Choi Sung-gun and the team’s job, and Woojin didn’t have much to do himself.

Choi Sung-gun put his phone down and asked.

“It’s a short trip, and you’ve got some time off. Since you’re in LA, is there anything you want to do? If not, you can just relax until the afternoon. You saw the pool outside, right? The quality is insane.”

Kang Woojin, with his usual indifferent face, thought for a moment before giving a short reply.

“Would you like to go shooting?”

A few hours later, around late lunch.

The location was a shooting range about an hour away from the hotel. The building itself had a wide layout, with pictures of various firearms on the signs and windows. A large parking lot in front of the shooting range saw the arrival of a big van.

From that van emerged Kang Woojin, Choi Sung-gun, and a few others.

Woojin was dressed casually in a hoodie with a cap pulled down low, but he didn’t bother covering his face. Naturally, he didn’t need to. In this part of LA, hardly anyone would recognize him. Unless he went into Koreatown, of course. Soon, Woojin, with a calm expression, looked at the shooting range.

“……”

On the surface, he appeared emotionless, but inside, excitement was bursting.

‘Hehe, this is going to be so much fun.’

The reason he wanted to shoot was simple. In the void space, Kang Woojin had shot countless rounds, but in reality, he hadn’t fired a gun since his time in the military.

It was closer to curiosity.

Kang Woojin, Choi Sung-gun, and their group moved according to their reservation. They entered the shooting range and spent about 10 minutes listening to the explanations from the chubby owner. The walls inside the shooting range were lined with various firearms and props.

Once the procedures were completed, the owner asked in English.

“What kind of gun would you like?”

Choi Sung-gun glanced at Kang Woojin, indicating he’d leave the choice to him. Woojin responded quickly in fluent English. He had already decided beforehand.

“Glock 17.”

“Oh—excellent choice.”

The main character of ‘Beneficial Evil’, Jang Yeon-woo, also used a Glock 17 first. Soon, a Glock 17 and a box of bullets were handed to Kang Woojin, and the group was guided to an indoor shooting area. About ten shooting lanes could be seen ahead. The layout was similar to that of a bowling alley. At the end of each lane, a human-shaped paper target was hung.

It was a typical shooting range setup.

Kang Woojin’s lane was the third one. He was also given a pair of shooting earmuffs. An employee gave additional instructions, and the human-shaped target was moved to the far end.

At this point, Woojin—

“……”

—silently touched the Glock 17. Although it was the first time he had ever physically seen a Glock 17 in his life, it didn’t feel unfamiliar. That was 100% thanks to the void space’s power. He felt like he could handle the pistol and go on a rampage right away. But Woojin, the owner, suppressed that feeling.

A bit further back, a translator from bw Entertainment asked Choi Sung-gun.

“But why suddenly shooting-”

“No idea. Woojin said he wanted to. Maybe it’s to get some experience related to ‘Beneficial Evil’. After all, the last time we shot guns was probably during military leave.”

“Ah……”

“Well, while we’re here, we might as well try it too. When else are we going to shoot guns?”

Meanwhile, Kang Woojin, with his earmuffs around his neck, had finished preparing. The employee had also stepped back. As Woojin raised the Glock 17 with both hands—

“Is he Chinese?”

—he heard a voice speaking English beside him. Looking over, he saw three men, likely in their 30s, a mix of white and Black, grinning as they watched him. They were other customers who had arrived earlier and seemed to be regulars, judging by their demeanor.

“No, looks like he’s Japanese.”

“He’s handsome. He’s definitely not Chinese.”

“He’s probably just visiting LA and trying out shooting for the first time. By the look on his face, he’s nervous.”

“Great. Let’s take a break and watch.”

“How about we make a game out of it? Let’s bet on how many shots that Japanese guy can hit. How about a beer wager?”

“Sounds good.”

Their amused murmurs seemed to indicate they assumed Kang Woojin didn’t understand English. But their laughter was interrupted by a low, firm voice speaking in fluent English.

“I’m Korean.”

The three men looked surprised. Ignoring them, Woojin, still with a calm expression, spoke again in perfect English.

“Let’s make the game between you and me. You guys versus me, whoever gets the higher score.”

“……Ah, Korean.”

“If I lose, I’ll give you $500. If I win, you’ll give it to me.”

The three foreigners exchanged whispers, then suddenly smirked. They seemed to think they had caught an easy mark. The man in sunglasses spoke.

“Alright, $500. And let’s add a round of beers at the bar in front of this place.”

Woojin nodded.

“I’ll go first.”

There was no mental preparation needed.

-Bang!

Woojin, now wearing his earmuffs, immediately fired the Glock 17.

-Bang! Bang! Bang!

The expressions of the previously grinning foreigners changed.

“He’s just shooting wildly, like he’s playing a video game.”

“H-Hey. That—”

“What? What is it?”

“!!!”

The smirks started disappearing from their faces.

On the other hand, Woojin, with a firm expression, fired at the target without any emotion. After five shots, he tilted the Glock 17 slightly to the side and fired again.

-Bang bang bang bang!

The deafening sound of ten shots echoed through the range. Woojin then lowered the Glock 17. The distant target automatically moved closer. At the same time, the smiles on the faces of the three foreigners vanished entirely.

“……?”

“???”

The reason was simple.

“H-Holy shit.”

The large red dots that had been on the head and chest of the human-shaped target had disappeared. The bullets Kang Woojin fired had completely erased the red spots. The five shots each at the head and chest hit their marks perfectly, without a single miss. Every bullet had landed right on the red dot. Even the employee at the range widened his blue eyes in disbelief.

Woojin then turned his head and spoke lowly to the three foreigners.

“It’s your turn.”

From behind, at the entrance of the shooting range, came a stranger’s voice in English.

“Oh my gosh……” (TL: This line is in English in the original version.)

It was the giant producer Joseph Felton, with his mouth slightly agape.

****

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