I was Mistaken as a Monstrous Genius Actor [EN]: Chapter 307

BW Entertainment’s overseas branch in LA. Kang Woo-jin casually surveyed the office, which was still in the process of being set up. His usual solemn expression remained unchanged.

But internally, it was a different story.

‘Holy crap! This is our agency’s overseas branch?!’

He was genuinely surprised. He’d heard about it, of course, but he hadn’t expected it to be ready so quickly. The office was reasonably well-equipped, and there was even a large poster of himself on the wall.

‘Seriously, why did they put that up? It’s so embarrassing!’

He had no recognition in Hollywood yet, and seeing that poster in LA made him feel ten times more self-conscious. Though, his intense poker face hid it well. And he was the main focus?

At that moment, Choi Sung-gun, with his signature ponytail, who was standing beside Woo-jin, grinned and asked,

“So, what do you think?”

What did he think? It was incredibly amazing. In fact, Woo-jin was feeling a strange thrill. He was amazed at how far things had come. Not long ago, Kang Woo-jin hadn’t even considered LA or anything like it. But now, he was standing in an overseas branch where he was the main attraction. He also felt a slight sense of responsibility.

Choi Sung-gun snapped a picture of Kang Woo-jin’s poster on the wall and said again,

“Not that you’d feel any pressure, but just in case, that poster is kind of like our good luck charm. We’re going to break into the Hollywood market starting with you! That’s the vibe, right?”

Woo-jin, maintaining his poker face, nodded calmly.

“It’s not bad.”

“Hehe, yeah. If it feels a bit small, we’re also using the office next door, so it’ll be fine once we’re fully operational. Let’s start here, and when you become a bigger deal, we’ll move to an even bigger place.”

Choi Sung-gun, clearly excited, patted Woo-jin’s shoulder. ‘The pressure is overwhelming, though?!’ Woo-jin muttered inwardly, reacting nonchalantly.

“It won’t take that long.”

Contrary to his inner thoughts, he added a touch of bravado and bluff. Choi Sung-gun’s smile widened as if he was deeply moved.

“I know, man. Hehe, I can already see you conquering Hollywood in my dreams! Everyone, bring it on!”

Choi Sung-gun’s fighting spirit was sky-high. It was understandable. He had originally started BW Entertainment with the dream of making it in Hollywood. However, his initial target was Hong Hye-yeon. He was determined to reach Hollywood, whether it took 5 or 10 years.

That changed completely with the arrival of Kang Woo-jin.

And it had only taken two years to get here. BW Entertainment was already known among domestic entertainment agencies for its incredible speed. With Chairman Hideki as a reliable backer, they were achieving things that would normally be impossible. And at the heart of it all was Kang Woo-jin.

“With this Miley Cara thing and ‘Leech’ and ‘Beneficial Evil’ too. It’ll be quick, quick. Just imagining that day makes me want to pee! I’m already thrilled.”

Woo-jin asked,

“When will this place start operating?”

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

“I see.”

After looking around the bustling office, Kang Woo-jin and Choi Sung-gun got back into the van parked on the side of the road. Now, their destination was the hotel arranged by Miley Cara.

-Vroom!

Late at night, two vans were driving through downtown LA. Woo-jin, in the front van, was silently looking out the window. He was captivated by the night view of LA, which was completely different from Korea, but he was also lost in thought, vaguely imagining his future activities in this huge country.

‘LA, huh? Is this really happening?’

Hollywood. Could he really act in this incredibly vast place? No, putting aside acting, he had a slight worry about whether he would even be accepted. It was a misunderstanding and a delusion that Choi Sung-gun and others had, but since he was an actor, he had to reach the top anyway.

And that would probably be Hollywood.

‘Ha—but seriously, it doesn’t feel real. What is this? Why am I here?’

For the real Kang Woo-jin, too many big changes had happened in a short period, and the world he was seeing had been turned upside down, almost like a second life. The unfamiliar feelings he was experiencing now were not strange at all.

Even so.

‘This is ridiculous.’

Kang Woo-jin was once again dumbfounded that the beginning of all this was just a misunderstanding. But that wasn’t the only absurd thing.

-Screech!

The two huge vans stopped, having arrived at the hotel. Soon, an unbelievably enormous hotel came into Kang Woo-jin’s view.

‘Wh-what the heck!!’

The Beverly Hills Hotel, one of the five-star hotels in LA. The lush palm trees at the entrance, the building that stretched out sideways and upwards as if it were one with the forest, the hotel staff welcoming Kang Woo-jin’s team from the entrance, and the red carpet leading from the entrance to the vast lobby.

It was like a palace nestled in a lush forest.

At the magnificent sight, Kang Woo-jin muttered to himself again.

‘······Wow—seriously, this is ridiculous.’

Choi Sung-gun, who was next to Woo-jin, gave a thumbs up.

“Miley Cara booked suites for our entire team. You have a private room. Isn’t it awesome?”

‘Yeah, it’s mind-blowing,’ Kang Woo-jin thought, his mouth agape, but outwardly, he was very calm.

“It’s not bad.”

“They say it’s over 500 a night, that’s Miley Cara for you.”

500 a night. Since Kang Woo-jin’s team was over a dozen people, they must have booked at least three rooms, and since this schedule was about a week long, it was a sum of money that would make your jaw drop. Choi Sung-gun muttered as he carried the bag he had brought.

“Well, it’s probably pocket change for her. We just have to enjoy it while saying thank you. That’s the proper etiquette. Let’s go, Woo-jin.”

With a nonchalant face, Kang Woo-jin made a faint vow in his mind.

‘I’m screwed, I’m going to rise to the point where I can use hundreds of millions of dollars like pocket change too.’

The next day, morning. A large cafe in downtown LA.

The time was around 8 a.m. The cafe, which sold bagels, sandwiches, and various coffees, was filled with foreigners who had stopped by on their way to work. It was packed with people trying to grab a quick breakfast and those buying coffee before work.

There were many foreigners at the round tables in the hall.

There wasn’t a single empty seat. So much so that it was common to see people trying to share a table if there was any space. As a result, complete strangers would end up sitting together and talking. Well, it was a very familiar sight in LA.

In a corner table of that hall, a familiar figure was visible.

“······”

A black man was silently drinking coffee and looking down at his phone. He was a giant, so he couldn’t go unnoticed. It was Joseph Felton, a famous Hollywood producer who had rolled up his long black sleeves to his elbows. At Joseph’s table, two foreigners he didn’t know were in the middle of a conversation, and at this point, a foreign woman with a tied-up brown bob approached. It was Megan Stone, a casting director.

Joseph, who was looking at his phone, raised his head at her presence. Then he smiled.

“You’re late.”

Megan, who sat next to the tall Joseph, put the coffee she had received on the table and replied.

“I arrived on time, can’t you see the line over there? I’m actually early.”

She muttered, tying up her brown bob again.

“Why did you want to meet in such a chaotic place?”

“Because I’m a regular here.”

Megan, who sighed softly, took out a tablet from the auxiliary bag she had brought with her bag.

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

“Hmm.”

Joseph nodded and took the tablet, replying.

“Did you hear that Kang Woo-jin is coming to LA? Ah—he’s probably arrived by now.”

“I also checked Miley’s Instagram. It was a scheduled event from the beginning, so it’s not surprising.”

Joseph slowly nodded. A subtle smile appeared on his face. Megan, who was watching him, crossed her long legs and asked.

“You’re planning to meet Kang Woo-jin.”

“If he’ll meet me. It’s not a frequent opportunity, and I’m also curious about his recent appearance.”

Joseph Felton looked back at the tablet.

“Cannes is in about two months. Before that, we need to drop hints about our project to Kang Woo-jin. Do you remember him from ‘Last Kill 3’?”

“…He rejected the role on set.”

“He even cut it off sharply while looking at the director’s face. There’s no guarantee that our future won’t be like that.”

“So you want to give him a hint in advance?”

“That’s about it.”

Joseph put down the tablet and raised his coffee cup, continuing.

“A Korean actor who has risen to a position to look over Hollywood in just two years. He must have a clear plan in his head. The album work with Miley Cara before appearing in Cannes. There’s no way that’s a coincidence.”

“…Did you hear? That Kang Woo-jin is from a special forces unit.”

Joseph, who was drinking coffee, paused.

“Special forces? What are you talking about?”

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

Kang Woo-jin woke up in a large hotel suite. After staring at the ceiling for a while, he got up groggily. He turned his head, his hair a mess. Through the large window right next to him, the vast cityscape of LA unfolded.

“Wow—this is amazing, really.”

It was indeed the view from a suite. He had to take a picture. Woo-jin had already taken dozens of pictures of the night view last night, but the morning view had a different vibe than yesterday. After taking several pictures as soon as he woke up, Woo-jin stretched and left the room.

A huge living room unfolded.

The size of the suite was easily more than three times the size of Kang Woo-jin’s house. The living room was filled with luxurious sofas and various furniture, and the kitchen was also large. In front was a wide-open window, outside was a terrace with a table and chairs, and below was a large swimming pool with palm trees.

Kang Woo-jin was using this absurd suite all by himself.

“Is this the life of the real rich?”

Woo-jin, who was grinning because he had dropped his poker face, made a morning coffee that came as an option and sat on the sofa. In front of the sofa, the vast LA stretched out endlessly.

-Slurp.

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

-Knock, knock.

A rhythmic knocking sound spread. Woo-jin, who instantly put on his poker face, opened the door, and Choi Sung-gun, with his long hair tied up tightly, was waving his hand.

“Did you wake up?”

“Yes, CEO.”

Choi Sung-gun, who entered the room, sat on the sofa, and Kang Woo-jin offered him coffee. Choi Sung-gun, who took a sip of coffee, took out his phone and said,

“A few minutes ago, we got a call from casting director Megan Stone. You remember her, right?”

It was definitely a familiar name. He couldn’t not know her. Megan Stone, a famous Hollywood casting director. He had seen her during ‘Last Kill 3’ and she had also come to find Kang Woo-jin during the filming of ‘Gisaeng’ [a Korean term for a female entertainer].

“Yes, I remember her.”

“She asked if you have time to meet while you’re in LA, but it doesn’t seem like a casual thing. Something—it feels like that. What do you want to do?”

“It doesn’t matter. As long as it fits my schedule.”

“Okay, I’ll let her know.”

Choi Sung-gun changed the subject.

“Well, there’s nothing much on the schedule today, right? Miley Cara is supposed to come to the hotel in the afternoon.”

In other words, he was free until then. Of course, even at this moment, Kang Woo-jin’s schedule was progressing in various ways, but that was the work of Choi Sung-gun and the team, and Woo-jin didn’t have anything specific to do.

At this, Choi Sung-gun put down his phone and asked,

“Even though it’s short, you have some free time, and you’re in LA for the first time in a while, is there anything you want to do? Or you can just rest until the afternoon. You saw the pool in front, right? The quality is insane.”

Kang Woo-jin, with a nonchalant face, thought for a moment and then replied briefly,

“Shall we 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 felt wide, and the sign and windows were decorated with pictures of various firearms. A large van stopped in the spacious parking lot in front of the shooting range.

Kang Woo-jin and Choi Sung-gun, along with a few others, got out of the van.

Woo-jin was wearing a comfortable hoodie and a hat, but he didn’t cover his face. It was natural. In the first place, there were very few people who would recognize him in LA. Well, unless he went to Koreatown. Soon, Woo-jin, with a calm face, looked at the shooting range.

“······”

Outwardly, he seemed to have no emotions, but inside, his anticipation was exploding.

‘Hehe, this is going to be fun.’

The reason he wanted to go shooting was simple. He had fired countless guns in the subspace through his readings (experiences), but the real Kang Woo-jin had not fired a gun since his military service.

Yes, it was more out of curiosity.

Behind him, Kang Woo-jin and Choi Sung-gun’s group moved as scheduled. They entered the shooting range and listened to the explanation from the chubby owner for 10 minutes. Inside the shooting range, numerous firearms and props were hung on the walls.

Then, the owner, who had completed the procedure, asked in English,

“What kind of gun will you use?”

Choi Sung-gun with his ponytail looked at Kang Woo-jin. It meant he was leaving the choice to him. Woo-jin’s fluent English was quick. He had already decided before coming.

“Glock 17.”

“Oh—excellent choice.”

The main character ‘Jang Yeon-woo’ of ‘Beneficial Evil’ used the Glock 17 as his first gun. Soon, Kang Woo-jin was given a Glock 17 pistol and a box of bullets, and Kang Woo-jin and his team were guided to the inner shooting range. There were about 10 spaces visible. In front of them, it was similar to a bowling alley. At the end of the lane, a paper target in the shape of a person was hanging.

It was exactly like a shooting range.

Kang Woo-jin’s lane was the third one. Woo-jin was also given shooting earmuffs. Behind him, a staff member gave a brief additional explanation and operated the human-shaped target. The target moved to the end.

At this point, Woo-jin was.

“······”

He silently touched the Glock 17 pistol. Clearly, it was the first time he had ever seen a Glock 17, but it didn’t feel unfamiliar. It must be 100% the power of the subspace. He felt like he could pick up the pistol and go wild right away. But the owner, Woo-jin, suppressed that feeling.

Behind him, a BW Entertainment interpreter asked Choi Sung-gun,

“But why suddenly shooting—”

“I don’t know. Woo-jin said he wanted to do it. Well, it’s probably to experience something related to ‘Beneficial Evil’. He and I have only shot guns in the military to get leave.”

“Ah…”

“Let’s shoot too while we’re here. When else would we get to shoot a gun?”

Meanwhile, Kang Woo-jin, who had earmuffs on his neck, was ready. The staff also left. Just as Woo-jin was about to raise the Glock 17, which he was holding with both hands.

“Is he Chinese?”

English was heard next to him. Looking over, there were three foreign men, a mix of white and black, who looked to be in their 30s, grinning at Kang Woo-jin. They were customers who had come earlier to enjoy shooting, and judging by their demeanor, they seemed to be regulars.

“No, he looks Japanese?”

“He’s handsome. He’s not Chinese.”

“He must be trying to shoot a gun while visiting LA. Judging by his expression, it’s his first time, he’s very nervous.”

“That’s good. Let’s take a break and watch.”

“How about we make a game out of it? How many shots will that Japanese guy hit? How about we bet on beer?”

“Okay.”

Judging by their laughter-filled whispers, they seemed to think that Kang Woo-jin couldn’t understand English. A low and firm English voice penetrated them.

“I’m Korean.”

The three foreign men were surprised. Regardless, Woo-jin, with a nonchalant face, spoke again in fluent English.

“Let’s play a game with me. Which side will score higher, you or me?”

“…Ah. Korean.”

“If I lose, I’ll give you 500 dollars, and if I win, I’ll take it.”

The foreigners whispered to each other and then suddenly grinned. It felt like they had caught a sucker. One of them, wearing sunglasses, said,

“Okay, 500 dollars. And we’ll buy beer at the bar in front of here.”

Kang Woo-jin nodded.

“I’ll go first.”

There was no time for preparation.

-Bang!

Woo-jin, wearing earmuffs, immediately fired the Glock 17.

-Bang, bang, bang!

From the faces of the foreigners who were grinning.

“He’s just shooting randomly like he’s in a computer game.”

“H-hey. That—”

“Why? What?”

“!!!”

The laughter began to disappear.

On the other hand, Woo-jin, with a firm expression, fired at the target without emotion. After five shots, he even shot the Glock 17 slightly tilted.

-Bang, bang, bang, bang!

Ten gunshots that seemed to tear the ears rang out. Soon, Kang Woo-jin lowered the Glock 17. The distant target automatically came closer. At the same time, the smiles on the faces of the three foreigners completely disappeared.

“······?”

“???”

The reason was simple.

“Oh, my god.”

The fairly large red dots that were printed on the head and chest of the human-shaped target had disappeared. The bullets that Kang Woo-jin had fired had erased the red dots. The bullets he had fired at the head and chest, five each, had not missed a single shot. They had all hit the red dots. At this, the staff member at the shooting range also opened his blue eyes wide.

Then, Kang Woo-jin turned his head and spoke softly to the three foreigners.

“It’s your turn.”

From the back, at the entrance of the shooting range, a strange man’s English was heard.

“Oh my gosh······”

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

End