Former Warrior Turns Into A Million-Dollar Actor [EN]: Chapter 115

Former Hero is a Ten Million Actor – Episode 115

To Stop the Spreading Flames (4)

* * *

Episodes 3 and 4 aired.

And, as if planned, the viewership ratings broke records again.

[Episode 1: 13.3%, Episode 4: 17.2%… Unbroken Growth, Following ‘What Doesn’t Break Me Makes Me Stronger,’ ‘What Doesn’t Stop Airing Makes Me Stronger’?]

If Episode 2 was just decent, this time the adaptation truly shone.

Eun Seon-in’s role increased, and an episode directly confronting the main villain, Eun Seon-chang, early on was added, where the actors’ synergy exploded.

[Choi Phillip, a Crazy Scene Stealer… Reminiscent of His Debut Villain Role in ‘The Prince’s Acting’]

[Is Park Geon the Top of the ‘Returnees’? The Older Actors Unanimously Say, “Don’t Leave Me Out Either”]

The grammar of web novels and the grammar of dramas are inherently different.

If the original work focused on success, reward, and speed, the drama captured rich episodes based on various characters.

The drama’s core concept of ‘regression’ was also properly leading the returnee craze.

It’s a common cliché in the industry, but for drama viewers who haven’t encountered web novels before, it’s truly ‘groundbreaking,’ breaking stereotypes.

Thanks to this, JNBC [a fictional broadcasting station] was enjoying a long-awaited boom since ‘The Dogs of Seoul’.

“This is a bit scary. Is it the Park Geon effect, or does every work Park Geon takes on just explode? It’s like he knows the future.”

“Is drama the same as reality? Don’t make a fuss.”

“No, why that expression after making such a splendid comeback… Is it because of the original author?”

The overthinking AD [Assistant Director] waved his hand.

“Don’t worry about it. Even if it’s a fandom, it’s just a handful compared to the total viewership. The work is well-made, so they can’t be more aggressive, right? If the female writer maintains this form, it’ll be smooth sailing until the end.”

Ignoring someone else’s situation and getting excited comes with a price.

PD [Production Director] Na Jong-mo shouted.

“Hey, is it all good if you just do well? Is it the end if you bury someone and get results? How long have you been in this water that you’re already blinded by viewership ratings, huh?”

The assistant director, hit by the sudden outburst, grumbled quietly.

“He’s the one blinded by viewership ratings…”

If the broadcasting station was blinded by viewership ratings, the original author’s insides were twisted with frustration.

Rumor has it that Yoonbal25 [pen name of the original author] has even put his new work on hiatus and is bedridden. It would be one thing if the drama’s performance was bad, but it’s soaring, so it’s understandable that he’s upset.

“I heard he’s completely reclusive, and he’s stopped criticizing the drama on his fan cafe.”

Kim Seong-woon, a middle-aged actor playing the role of Chief Secretary Woo Jong-sik and a source of news on set, releases intelligence.

Unlike his taciturn appearance, he is a sociable and well-connected person.

“The shock must be great. He must feel like his work has been stolen before his eyes.”

A supporting actor playing the president of Eun Han-seom’s defense company, ‘Sunhwa Shield,’ asked.

“Isn’t it not stolen? He sold the rights for money.”

“That’s right. But that’s how he’ll feel. Even he thinks the adaptation is better than the original. If the quality was bad…”.

Jo Woo-jung trailed off and chuckled.

“We would have been worried too, right? Now, only the original author is suffering.”

Other supporting actors chimed in.

“Sales must have increased. There must be many fans who watch the drama and look up the original work.”

“What’s money to him? His artistic pride is scratched.”

“Well, there’s nothing we can do to help. It’s a bit much for Teacher Seok to step in…”

At someone’s words, everyone nodded. It’s because they know the power structure of this industry well.

The writer holds all the power over the script. Unless pressure is applied from the director or CP [Chief Producer], things will escalate if a veteran actor makes contact.

Moreover, if it’s Yeo Jin-joo, who is known for her temper? She might overturn a successful work, claiming it’s the authoritarianism of old actors.

“Oh, right. Come to think of it, the female writer is the vice president of the Drama Writers Association. She might think a junior writer is trying to fight her.”

“What kind of association is that?”

Park Geon, who had approached unnoticed, asked, but everyone wasn’t very surprised.

The lead actor’s stealth, appearing without a sound, is already a specialty of the set.

“It’s literally a writers’ association. It protects the rights and improves the treatment of drama writers… something like that?”

“Can they cut actors as they please?”

“No, not that kind of thing…”

“Thank you. Thanks to you, I can move comfortably.”

What? Question marks appeared on people’s faces. When the actors looked back, Park Geon was already walking far away.

The actor playing the team leader of Sunhwa Shield muttered.

“Our vice president, his disappearing act is crazy.”

*

Even if something big happens, filming must go on.

If you get injured, you only shoot bust shots. If an actor does drugs or gets caught drunk driving and leaves the show, you change the face with a new protagonist.

In this harsh world, a fight between the original author and the adapter is a very minor problem.

-What’s wrong? Why are the company’s indicators so messed up?

No matter what happens in the outside world, the narrative of Eun Han-seom in ‘Returnee’ progresses without a break.

– …It’s a mess. No shares, no power. Living so pathetically, you couldn’t do anything to prevent the group from falling apart.

Sitting in his penthouse, Eun Han-seom realizes how powerless he was in the past.

He’s returned, leaping over 20 years, but all the power he has is the title of vice president of an affiliate.

He doesn’t even reach the power of his grandfather, the owner of the giant empire, or his two brothers, who have each built their own families.

But… this thug doesn’t have the hobby of being afraid of impossible things and sitting down.

– So what? I wouldn’t have died and come back to life if I was going to give up.

Soon, the returnee jumps into a fierce power struggle.

Using the memories from before his regression, Eun Han-seom obtains ‘Chief Wang,’ who was a close aide to his mother.

He was from the secretarial office that assisted Eun Jae-young during her lifetime, and he was also a capable person who was in a rivalry with Chief Secretary Woo Jong-sik next to Chairman Eun Ki-hak.

– I never thought the young master would change like this. What kind of change of heart did you have?

– My mom appeared in my dream and told me. She said I’d be in big trouble if I kept living like a bum.

– …That’s not the way you used to speak.

– Just kidding, I changed because I came back from the dead. From a trash that’s worse than a dog to a dog bastard that’s similar to a human.

A strange light shines in the eyes of Chief Wang, a man whose real name no one knows.

Soon, the thug’s instructions are given.

– You know the slush fund I mentioned before? Collect shares in Seoil Construction and AF Steel without being noticed.

– It will take time. Concealment is possible, but there is not enough capital.

– Earn it or borrow it, or I’ll rob my grandfather’s safe if I have to. And for the defense industry… civilian approval for multipurpose firearms will be granted soon. We need to start behind-the-scenes work that will be beneficial from now on.

It’s as if he knows the future.

Whether Chief Wang makes a puzzled expression or not, Eun Han-seom doesn’t stop ordering.

– Before long, the Italian mafia guys will cause an accident. When the security in Seoul rapidly deteriorates, we must extend a helping hand to the Defense Acquisition Program Administration [DAPA]. Regarding the wearable robot currently being developed by Sunhwa Shield, accelerate the integration of security within two years as a foregone conclusion.

Chief Wang’s eyes widen.

– It’s a top-secret project even internally, how did the young master know that…

– Why, does a scarecrow not have ears? There’s no time to explain, let’s move.

After that, an unstoppable move continues.

What the thug regained by regressing was not only youth. With extraordinary memory, Eun Han-seom recalls the SH-1 supplied by Sunhwa Shield, the tank explosion incident called the heart of Korea.

He cracks down on all subcontractors and beats up the Ministry of National Defense generals and former generals involved in third-party corruption like dogs.

Eventually, a few days later.

Eun Seon-in, who most resembles his grandfather’s temperament and doesn’t bat an eye even when his cousin dies, comes to visit.

– Oh, Eun-dung [a derogatory nickname]. What’s wrong?

– …Eun-dung?

– The thing you’re carrying must be heavy. In about ten years, you’ll get that nickname. I don’t know now, though.

As if seeing something dirty, the ends of Eun Seon-in’s neat eyebrows twitch.

– I didn’t come here to joke with you. Settle down what you’re doing now. If it gets bigger, Grandpa will step in.

– Why would I? They’re dogs who are ripping off the defense industry, our group, and this country?

– Keep doing that…

– Take good care of your wife. If you knew who Songil Group’s eldest daughter, our sister-in-law, is meeting, your blood would run cold.

Before the regression, Eun Seon-in was betrayed by his wife during a total war with Eun Seon-chang.

The losses incurred there had a major impact on the group. The eldest brother, who doesn’t know the future, only blinks his simple-minded eyes and asks.

– What are you talking about? Who is Min-young meeting?

– Do I have to spoon-feed you? You don’t have to believe it, so just for a month… no, just put a wiretap on for a week. Especially when your sister-in-law goes to her parents’ house.

The butterfly effect created by the thug begins to spread throughout Korea.

And Eun Han-seom faces the guest waiting for him in the Sunhwa Tower parking lot.

– Did your house go bankrupt? Why are you imitating a private investigation agency?

– Bankrupt? Construction has already surpassed your sales this year and the first half of this year.

Even with the bone-crushing words, Seonwoo Hee, the young president of Daeyang Corporation, smiles and retorts.

She’s the same youngest child, but she’s a prodigy who even completed the Paris Fashion School early. Items worth tens of millions… no, hundreds of millions of won sparkle on her perfectly managed body.

– Have you thought about my proposal last time?

– Ah, the funny story about strangling the second brother with Daeyang’s help? And the helper is the granddaughter of the Seon family, who only has a few department stores.

– Oh my, you have to say it right. Your little brother was going to hit your big brother in the back of the head first, I just told you in advance about the traitor of the group.

Traitor.

How many times has he chewed on that word? A thorny blood vessel rises on Eun Han-seom’s Adam’s apple, who said he had the most emotional expression among the roles he has played so far.

– Yes, there is a traitor. There are also rats that hit me in the back of the head several times.

Seonwoo Hee flinches at the sudden change in momentum, but Eun Han-seom walks towards her.

– What are you doing to the lady… Keheok!

The bodyguard who tried to stop him rolls on the floor with a single overarm throw.

Eun Han-seom, who came right in front of Seonwoo Hee. With his forehead against her forehead, he whispers like a beast.

– Don’t say you know in advance in front of me.

– ……

– Because it’s ridiculous.

The violent reconstruction project starts now.

*

“Oppa [term used by a younger female to address an older male, usually a brother or close friend], look at this. If you search for ‘Returnee,’ our name comes up fourth!”

“What’s above that?”

“Returnee Park Geon, Returnee Three Brothers… But it’s higher than the others, so I’m very satisfied. I would have hurt my pride if I, the female lead, was missing from the search terms.”

Choi Yang-young makes a fuss and shows the screen. She flirts with everyone on set, so she’s not a fox but a mood maker, regardless of gender or age.

‘Jin Ji-yu has a different feeling… If I put the two together, the set will never be quiet.’

Choi Yang-young, who was more immersed and looking for articles, covered her mouth, exclaiming.

“At this rate, aren’t we going to be called to JNBC at the end of the year and receive the Couple Award? PD Na will sweep the Directing Award and the Grand Prize.”

“I wish that would happen.”

“Oh… I see you know that a casual remark is exciting. As expected, The Fact selected you as the No. 1 bad boy in the entertainment industry!”

“I didn’t mean to. I’ve never won an award either.”

Come to think of it, I heard that I was in some entertainment gossip magazine called The Fact.

I was told that I was selected as the No. 1 in some kind of survey… As I traced back my memories, PD Na Jong-mo intervened between them.

“Actress Choi, I’m sorry, but can I borrow Geon-i for a moment? We have something important to talk about.”

“Ah! We were also having an important conversation!”

“Sorry, excuse me, sorry.”

Ignoring Choi Yang-young’s protest, PD Na dragged Geon to a corner where there was no one.

After checking his surroundings, he lowered his voice.

“Geon-i, are you okay?”

“What do you mean?”

“I’m talking about the Hanjo Magazine pictorial. Our PR team contacted me and I saw it, and they said you mentioned the original work. You and the Roman actors.”

That day, there was a brief interview during the photo shoot.

The three Roman actors had all seen the original work of ‘Returnee,’ and it was interesting as expected of a popular work. After reading the ending, they were looking forward to how it would change again.

“…Actually, I was a little worried. I only brought up the adaptation and he got angry, so I wondered if something would happen. That guy is notorious for reducing the screen time of actors he doesn’t like.”

An interview that respects both the original author and the adapter. It’s not a controversial content. The problem was that it was already a controversial situation.

If the lead actor even participates, the fight enters a new phase. There’s a reason why Na Jong-mo PD ran over in surprise as soon as he saw it.

“It’s okay, I didn’t mean to. The thing you’re worried about won’t happen.”

Was he really expecting me to crash into him? Na Jong-mo PD, who had a nervous expression, stroked his chest.

“Phew, right? I’m just saying this in case, but Geon-i should never contact him directly. If you poke an authoritarian person like that at times like this…”

“Ah, I already contacted him. I told him to take good care of me in the future.”

“…Huh?”

“Then I got a reply. He said let’s meet sometime soon, so I said yes.”

The soul left Na Jong-mo’s face after hearing the whole story.

“…This, a big deal has happened.”

*