Former Warrior Turns Into A Million-Dollar Actor [EN]: Chapter 107

The Thug and the Firefighter (3)

* * *

The casting was decided.

The audition lasted a full five days, with the PD [Production Director], the original author, and several production staff members attending as judges.

The staff was primarily composed of experienced individuals who had worked with Na Jong-mo. The remaining positions would be filled by external production companies.

While the production team was busy with constant meetings, the JNBC [Joongang New Broadcasting Corporation] public relations department was also on fire.

“Team Leader Heo, grab the existing fans first. Remember the YTS [Youth Transportation Safety] bus hero incident? Even if it’s based on a webtoon, if we screw up, our bulletin board will be turned upside down.”

“It’s already a mess. As soon as the adaptation writer was revealed, the atmosphere is buzzing.”

“PD Na will handle the writers. Just make sure it doesn’t fall apart during the reading and the first episode. The rest will be taken care of by that huge fandom.”

‘Thug’s Return’ is a super-hit million-seller with over 100 million views.

The author, Yoonbal25, is also an idol in the web novel world, with even a fan cafe.

It’s natural to worry that the drama adaptation might ruin their writer and their work. Heated debates arose among the original fans.

-How will it turn out?

└Since it’s JNBC, it’ll at least be a moderate success.

└└No… it could be a complete flop… think about ‘Bus Hero’ and ‘Sword and You’.

└└└??? : Let’s cut the original work to shreds!

-Surely… ㅋㅋㅋㅋ They wouldn’t mess with a 100 million view original, would they? How would they handle the backlash?

└Who knows? It’s not like the broadcasting station guys haven’t been terrible before.

└└Yeah, they’ll just air it silently and wait for the controversy to die down.

-You nerds who only read web novels ㅋㅋㅋㅋ So what can you guys do? ㅋㅋㅋㅋ

└Don’t feed the troll.

└└Reported comment.

-But the casting this time, except for the Roman three, is almost all villain experts ㅋㅋㅋ

└I guess it’s because it’s a chaebol [conglomerate] story. It seems like they’re trying to portray it as the heyday of villains.

└└Even the protagonist was a complete thug before his regression.

Na Jong-mo gathered renowned character actors, especially those specializing in villain roles, to form the ‘Thug’s Return Crew.’

First, Suk Pil-ho, who plays the role of a corrupt chaebol and politician, the so-called ‘Chairman.’

He is often underrated for having a narrow spectrum due to the same roles he always plays, but his acting skills have already placed him among the stellar seniors.

The rest of the cast is also impressive. Choi Yang-young, who rose to stardom for her roles as a mistress and villain in ‘Conditions of Divorce,’ Jeon Hyun-man, the master of gangster acting, and Im Gi-woon, who devoured Chungmuro [Korean Hollywood] with his serial killer roles······.

“Of course, Suk Pil-ho will play Chairman Eun Gi-hak… Are the Eun brothers still undecided?”

“They must have decided internally. It seems like they’re deliberately not revealing it, trying to keep the suspense until the very end.”

“The third is definitely Park Geon-il. It makes sense in order of age.”

“This person doesn’t know Na Jong-mo yet? Surprisingly, Choi Pil-lip could be the thug role.”

In addition, there are the three sons of the Sunhwa Group who have not yet been revealed.

Choi Pil-lip and Gu Shin-seung already have large fanbases. With the news that the three actors are uniting, even global fans flocked to Roman’s official YouTube channel.

[Finally, the complete team is here?! Guess the identities of the three brothers (Eng Sub)]

“Hello, everyone. I’m Gu Shin-seung, and I’ll be working with these two on a project this time.”

“It’s nice to see you again so soon after the movie. I’m Choi Pil-lip.”

“I’m Park Geon.”

Gu Shin-seung, smiling brightly, Choi Pil-lip, with a subtle smile, and Park Geon, expressionless, are captured in one frame.

Just sitting side by side and exchanging questions and answers makes time melt away. It’s thanks to their beauty, which you could believe was a correction screen poured over by an editing engineer.

While views and likes exploded, some people focused on the production team.

The general director is Na Jong-mo, the original novelist is Yoonbal25, and the adaptation writer is Yeo Jin-ju.

Whether this unfamiliar combination will create synergy… or, more precisely, whether it can be completed without discord.

*

The day before the script reading.

He received a call from an old acquaintance for the first time in a while.

[Writer Eun Hee-wook]: Do you have some time? I’d like to have a simple meal with you.

Geon readily agreed. He was the one who debuted him. Among the colleagues he worked with, the writer of ‘Seoul’s Dog’ was particularly special.

“It’s been a while. It’s someone else’s party, so I only watched the wrap-up party on live stream and congratulated you.”

Writer Eun Hee-wook welcomed him in a grand traditional Korean house. In the past, they would have met at a pub, but now that would cause an accident due to the crowds.

Gondre rice, eosanjeok [royal skewers], tteokgalbi [grilled short rib patties], and deodeok gui [grilled deodeok root]… Greetings are exchanged in front of a table full of food.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t visit.”

“You sent a mountain of Korean beef, so what are you talking about? Oh, by the way, my uncle was sad.”

“Uncle as in…”

“He’s the director of KBC [Korean Broadcasting Corporation]. Mr. Hwang, who said Park Geon and Roman were nothing special, got thoroughly beaten. He didn’t lose money with Hyperion, but his pride was quite hurt.”

Geon picked up his chopsticks. He had no feelings for the broadcasting station that competed for viewership.

Unless they reached out directly like DG, they were just a channel that provided money, so there was no reason to like or dislike them.

“As a sign of regret, I should send something to the director’s office tomorrow. The same Korean beef would be fine.”

“…I think he’ll grab his neck and throw it away.”

The meal ended in a friendly atmosphere. Eun Hee-wook looked around at the completely emptied dishes with satisfaction.

“You’re still the same.”

“I’ve been eating a little less lately. I ate so well after being discharged.”

“Writer Yeo doesn’t discriminate either. She thinks all the manuscripts she gets are her own work.”

The main point comes without warning. He remembered the name he had heard in passing.

“Writer Yeo Jin-ju.”

“Yes. To be exact, it’s not a writer but a team… I was worried when I heard you were working together. I heard it was a pick from above, and I didn’t understand why Jong-mo hyung [older brother/term of endearment] agreed.”

“The reason you’re worried is…”

“Personality and skill, and an inflated sense of self as a writer.”

Writer Eun Hee-wook, who criticized harshly, continued.

“I know her personally. Since we work in the same field, we’ve clashed a few times.”

“With fists?”

“…No, on social media. We sniped at each other and fought, but it fizzled out as we started our next projects.”

“I can’t imagine you fighting, writer.”

“It’s good to have assistant writers. But she uses ideas from her subordinates and her own people as if they were her own. There’s no professionalism or anything.”

Geon crossed his arms.

“How is someone like that still working?”

“She has a lot of hardcore fans. She’s also skilled, and her career, which she built by stealing other people’s scripts, is solid.”

“Career?”

“In the early days of JNBC… when the cable channel was on the verge of collapse, she had a few hits. Just like Park Geon saved CVN [Cable Vision Network] as a relief pitcher. From the broadcasting station’s point of view, she’s a founding contributor.”

Founding contributor… those traditional families were more vicious than the nobles in the outskirts.

How many of those old men who were screaming that they had laid the cornerstone of the Iron Kingdom, those old monsters of the Elder Council who were extending their lives with sorcery, had he cut down?

“I understand. Writers are all a little twisted.”

Eun Hee-wook stared at the paper door for a moment.

“She’s definitely skilled, so this could all be unfounded. But just in case… if something happens, I thought there might be a situation where the lead actor has to resolve it.”

“I’ve been holding up well so far.”

A servant knocked and entered, setting up a tea set. Writer Eun Hee-wook smiled as he poured tea.

“There’s no need to worry about a head-on collision. Given Park Geon’s personality, he’s not good at sneaky tactics or media play.”

Geon pondered. He thought he had already done quite a few dirty tricks by his standards.

It would be different if only his livelihood was at stake. Since it was related to the long-cherished wishes of his past life, he couldn’t be picky about means and methods.

“Then what should I do?”

“The actor doesn’t need to be the king even outside the play. It’s enough to function as a kingmaker.”

He’s saying to give him strength. As if he knew he would understand, Eun Hee-wook smiled slightly and emptied his tea.

“Sometimes, being a mastermind is also a virtue of a leader.”

*

“Director, Jang Deuk-young is a little late. Should we proceed as is?”

“Hey, Lee Han-sung! Where’s Lee Han-sung!”

“Senior Kang, the cameraman needs some help!”

The reading room is always crowded.

Even if it’s not the actual filming set, cameras are installed and people come.

Even if the topicality of the script reading has decreased compared to the past, it should function as a preview of the work.

The space where the reading will take place is JNBC’s small hall, and name tags of the actors are placed on the desks divided by floor.

“Hyung [older brother], I’ll go see the PD for a moment. He’s coming in from the front.”

Today, the Park brothers are the first to arrive among the actors. Park Geon, who scanned the inside, asked.

“Where’s Writer Yeo?”

He was originally quick-witted, but after spending two years with his brother, he could tell just by looking at his expression.

Park Seon whispered.

“I asked on the way here. She’s not coming today.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know. According to the assistant director, she said she only needed to fix the work and didn’t need to see the reading…”

Park Geon nodded and erased Yeo Jin-ju from his mind. He received a hint from an old colleague, but it hasn’t happened yet.

‘There’s no need to prepare for discord.’

Soon, welcome faces appeared. A slender man is next to PD Na.

It’s martial arts director Hyun Do-gyun, who gave Park Geon his first audition as the opposing role in the legendary bath scene.

“The armored shark has returned as a great white shark. It’s the honor of my life to have crossed swords with Park sabumnim [master].”

“What are you talking about? Geon was a killer whale from birth.”

“I’m not a sabumnim.”

No matter what Park Geon said, the living witness of history is filled with emotion. While Director Hyun wipes his eyes, PD Na argues with the cinematographer.

“You’re covering the Sunhwa Group headquarters, Sunhwa Shield, and Chairman Eun Gi-hak’s house all with the set? Ha, isn’t that too much penny-pinching?”

“What’s wrong with that? We’re not Hyperion. We can just cover the high-rise view with CG [computer graphics].”

“Oh, Director Na. Now the viewers’ eyes are sharper than the youngest member of the directing team. You’re going to make them shoot down from all angles again, saying it’s beautiful.”

“Then get permission to film at Hanjo Tower. Don’t you know that Ji-hwan went out to scout and got rejected miserably?”

Park Geon, who was listening to the two directors’ bickering, asked.

“Why can’t we scout Hanjo Tower?”

“The top floor is owned by the Hanjo Group, that old man. We begged for just one penthouse floor, but it didn’t work. No broadcasting station has ever gotten permission.”

Although they didn’t plaster money like Hyperion, they still got quite a bit of investment.

Enough to realize Chairman Eun Gi-hak’s main residence, Eun Han-seom’s defense company, and other affiliate office buildings in the play.

They scouted the tallest tower in Jamsil as one of them, but it seems they were rejected nicely.

It was when Park Geon was about to open his mouth.

“Park Geon, the actor?”

A giant old man with white hair spread over his shoulders strode up.

“It’s Suk Pil-ho, Suk Pil-ho!”

“Wow, how can he be so big? An old man over sixty is about the same height as Park Geon.”

The handsome man who swept through the Daehan Theater in his youth has become an irreplaceable chairman. The wrinkles around his eagle-like eyes narrow.

“I heard about it from Old Man Baek. Let’s do well.”

“Yes, thank you.”

“Oh my! Hanseom oppa [older brother/term of endearment]!”

This time, an affectionate voice melts into people’s ears.

Choi Yang-young, the granddaughter of the rival group who seduces the protagonist in the play, has also finished her commute.

“I’m Park Geon.”

“Then Yang-young will be Park Geon- 바라기 [sunflower; someone who only looks at Park Geon]. Oh, Choi Yang-young is my name.”

What is this again? Even as Park Geon looked at her with that expression, Choi Yang-young said with a smile.

“I saw the script and we’re together a lot. I’m playing the role of a bad vixen who seduces oppa [older brother/term of endearment], so please work me really hard!”

“I’ll try my best if I get directions.”

People who know, know, but Park Geon is basically more blunt with female celebrities. The manager who rushed over quickly pulls Choi Yang-young out of the dangerous area.

“…Yang-young, what’s ‘work me hard’…”.

“Umm, then what should I say? 졸라게 [jollage; a slang term for ‘really hard’]?”

“It’s going to be uploaded on the internet, please!”

The murmurs of the receding actress and manager are heard. With his senses quietly set, Park Geon felt the boiling Hapki [Korean martial art] in his hands.

New team, new beginning.

There are more than enough 풀 떡밥 [pul tteokbap; rice cakes with lots of toppings, meaning ‘lots of hype’]. The reunion of the ‘Seoul’s Dog’ director and actor, the simultaneous launch of the Roman three, the drama adaptation of the mega-hit web novel······.

And, the protagonist is a regressor. He got the chance to go back to the past and wash away his old mistakes.

‘If it’s just once… it might be a blessing.’

While the filming rehearsal was going on several times, Gu Shin-seung and Choi Pil-lip also arrived.

Soon, actors took their seats at every desk on each floor. A team leader from another entertainment company, who was watching while standing, whispered in a low voice.

“It’s as expected.”

“Gu is the first, Choi is the second, and Park is the youngest. That’s the right balance.”

“Shh, it’s starting.”

There’s no need to poke him in the side to be quiet. The moment Park Geon’s lips parted, the audience was sucked into silence.

Is it the regret of a thug who has experienced 업화 [karma]? A voice that sounds like it’s been decades tells a desperate recollection.

“I was the youngest of a fallen kingdom.”

Having survived alone in a burnt-down group.

*

That day, the roles of the Eun family were spread through the people involved.

Chairman of Sunhwa Group Eun Gi-hak, actor Suk Pil-ho.

President of Sunhwa Electronics Eun Seon-in, actor Gu Shin-seung.

President of Sunhwa Heavy Industries Eun Seon-chang, actor Choi Pil-lip.

Vice President of Sunhwa Shield Eun Han-seom, actor Park Geon.

On the same day at dawn, the cover was also uploaded to the ‘Thug’s Return’ section of the JNBC website.

Black brush lettering on a white background. The sentence written in a majestic style was as elegant as if it had been written directly by the head of the chaebol.

業火의 鮮火, 人和를 향하여

(The 선화 [seonhwa; fresh fire] of 업화 [karma], towards 인화 [inhwa; harmony])

The return of a thug trying to revive his family,

The first filming is six days away.

* * *