Chapter 227: Sacrifice (8)

Translator: Dreamscribe

On Han Ye-jung’s phone screen. No, more precisely, on the YouTube video displayed on the screen, Choi Sung-gun’s ponytailed head grew confused in an instant.

-【Exclusive Scoop!!】The Sensational Rising Actor Kang Woojin!! Secretly Took a Hollywood Screen Test Already?! Hollywood Debut Just Around the Corner! (Decisive Evidence Obtained!)｜FactGuys

-Views: 410,000

It says it was uploaded an hour ago, but it has already surpassed 400,000 views. Why? How did it blow up? Both Kang Woojin and Choi Sung-gun had forgotten about this matter. But suddenly, it surfaced. At that moment, Han Ye-jung asked in her characteristically cold tone.

“This is just tabloid gossip, right?”

Few knew about the ‘Last Kill 3’ screen test. Only Kang Woojin himself, Choi Sung-gun, and two interpreters who were present at the time. Most of Han Ye-jung and Woojin’s team were unaware of this fact.

It was supposed to be confidential, and it was advantageous at the time that few people knew.

“······”

Whatever it was, Choi Sung-gun didn’t respond but pulled out his phone and logged into YouTube. He naturally searched for the video he had just seen. The YouTuber who uploaded it also had a significant number of subscribers, 1.95 million. Looking through the videos, there were a mishmash of news videos involving issues, incidents, exposures, and other eye-catching content.

The frequency of video uploads was not sparse, and each video usually gathered between 500,000 to 1 million views.

Soon.

-Swish.

Choi Sung-gun, with a serious face, touched the screen to play the Kang Woojin video that was uploaded an hour ago. The video naturally began to play and Han Ye-jung murmured again.

“But it’s a bit strange for tabloid gossip.”

“What is.”

“The details are pretty specific? Plus, there’s also a photo of Woojin oppa at a production company in LA included. It doesn’t look photoshopped.”

Indeed, that was the case. The video started with a photo of Woojin inside a Hollywood production company, with numerous foreign staff members in the background. Below that was a subtitle saying ‘Winner Movie Pictures’. Then the screen switched, and a man wearing a wolf mask spoke.

[“We have exclusively obtained information that actor Kang Woojin, who has caused a sensation in the domestic entertainment industry within a year of his debut, has even taken a screen test for a Hollywood movie. According to the obtained information, it seems that it was not Kang Woojin who made the first move, but rather the Hollywood film representatives initiated contact with him.”]

Watching the video, Choi Sung-gun thought,

‘Huh- it seems they really obtained some information.’

He concluded that this YouTuber did not just make this video out of wild imagination.

[“Winner Movie Pictures, the film company that contacted Kang Woojin, is a mid to larger size company even by Hollywood standards. It is a place where many Hollywood stars have gone through, and they are currently filming several projects. The ‘screen test’ mentioned in the video is similar to an audition but slightly different in nature. It is the process just before the official casting, and in Hollywood, the path to even reach this screen test is very arduous.”]

[“Many famous top actors from Korea have challenged themselves to enter Hollywood. However, all of them have failed and returned home without even making it to this screen test. The number of top actors from Korea who have successfully entered Hollywood is very slim. However, seeing that Kang Woojin was directly contacted by Hollywood and has completed a screen test, it seems his Hollywood debut is imminent. For a first-year actor, this situation is nearly unbelievable.”]

In conclusion, this ‘FactGuys’ YouTuber added that Kang Woojin’s side has not yet announced it, either because they are keeping the Hollywood debut a secret or he might have declined due to a busy schedule. However, he seemed unaware of the movie title ‘Last Kill 3’. Still, most of his commentary was based more on facts than mere speculation.

The comments were going crazy.

-OMGgggg this is insane

-Wow… is this real?? So, Kang Woojin is really going to Hollywood after just one year of debut?ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ crazy

-100% bullshit

-Hard to say it’s just rumor, isn’t it? That photo is clearly Hollywoodㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-Wow!!! Hollywood!! Kang Woojin is world-class!!! National pride gauge is full!!!

-This is such BS…. Winner Movie Pictures is mid-tier in Hollywoodㅋㅋㅋ And they’re using a Korean actor who’s only in his first year???

-Damn Kang Woojin really is really killing it

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Overall, the response was overwhelmingly enthusiastic, often bordering on nationalistic pride, of course, but there were plenty of comments questioning the credibility of it all. Regardless, Choi Sung-gun quickly accessed a portal site to check if any articles related to the video had popped up.

‘Not yet—nothing?’

Perhaps because not much time had passed since the video was uploaded, so no relevant articles were visible immediately. However, it was only a matter of time. It was an exclusive scoop about Kang Woojin, after all.

It was clear this news would soon cause a stir nationwide.

At that moment.

“CEO~nim.”

Han Ye-jung asked Choi Sung-gun again.

“Is there going to be a problem?”

Although he didn’t show it, there was a hint of concern. Choi Sung-gun, scratching his ponytail slightly, replied while lowering his phone.

“No. There’s no problem. Regardless of whether this video is true or not, honestly, it’s beneficial for Woojin.”

He was referring to the increase in the brand value of Kang Woojin. Woojin was already a major issue carrier, surrounded by big shots. Adding Hollywood to his aura would only amplify his current presence.

‘It would be troublesome if we leaked it, but we’re innocent, right?’

It was implausible that the calm Kang Woojin would have done such a thing. Then, Choi Sung-gun instructed Han Ye-jung to have the team keep silent about this video. They likely knew nothing, but they were told not to discuss it externally. Of course, Choi Sung-gun soon called bw Entertainment to deliver a similar message.

bw Entertainment was simply to keep quiet.

At this point, Choi Sung-gun’s phone began to vibrate intensely. It was the editor of a media outlet. The local media had caught the scent. However, ignoring the call, Choi Sung-gun passed by the busy ‘The Eerie Sacrifice of a Stranger’ staff and entered the tent where the main actors had gathered. In a brief moment, the number of actors had increased.

Woojin was quietly talking with them.

“Woojin.”

Choi Sung-gun whispered to Kang Woojin, signaling him to come out. Woojin, casually following the CEO, asked in a low voice.

“Is something wrong?”

After moving a few steps away from the tent and checking the surroundings, Choi Sung-gun showed Woojin his phone.

“Take a look at this video first.”

A moment later.

Around the school playground where dozens of ‘The Eerie Sacrifice of a Stranger’ staff were bustling, at the far end of the large tent stood Kang Woojin, lowering Choi Sung-gun’s phone after watching the entire ‘FactGuys’ video.

He had naturally checked the comments as well. Returning the phone to Choi Sung-gun, Woojin’s expression was as cynical as ever, but internally, he was quite shocked.

‘What is this? How did this YouTuber know?? I haven’t talked about it anywhere. So, did that Hollywood production company leak it? It was supposed to be top secret?’

No, it was nearly absurd. They had made such a fuss about keeping it under wraps at the time of the screen test. Suddenly worried, Woojin asked Choi Sung-gun standing before him.

“Is this perhaps something the CEO…”

“It wasn’t me. And it’s not you either.”

“Is that so?”

If it wasn’t either of them, then where did the leak come from? Then Kang Woojin thought, does it even matter? It wasn’t pretense. It was the original disposition of Kang Woojin. His indifference had kicked in.

“Then there’s no need to worry about it, right?”

“Ah- Well, that’s true. I’m just trying to understand the full context.”

“If it’s not us, it must be that Hollywood film company.”

“‘Winner Movie Pictures’? They wouldn’t gain anything by it······ But aren’t you too calm? You being so calm makes me relax too.”

“If there’s no problem, just ignore it.”

“Sure. But within an hour? Maybe even sooner. Korea is going to be in an uproar over this.”

“It doesn’t matter to me.”

So what? After all, ‘Last Kill 3’ had already been rejected. During his time in the entertainment industry, Woojin realized one thing about dealing with the media: if it’s not worth responding to, silence is the answer.

That’s when it happened.

‘Huh?’

Among the staff of ‘The Eerie Sacrifice of a Stranger,’ a group of foreigners standing on one side of the sports field caught Kang Woojin’s eye. More specifically, it was one of the women among them, with brown bobbed hair. He definitely knew her. Soon, Woojin pointed his index finger at her.

“That woman—”

Choi Sung-gun, who had thought he recognized her from somewhere, immediately agreed.

“Yeah. She just showed up today. I was also thinking since earlier that I had seen her face somewhere… Do you know her?”

“She was there during the ‘Last Kill 3’ screen test.”

“Ah.”

“She said she was the casting director. I remember because she spoke to me towards the end of the test.”

Suddenly, a light bulb went off in Choi Sung-gun’s head too.

“Right. I saw her there. She’s definitely from ‘Winner Movie Pictures.’ I spoke with her over the phone, but I only saw her face briefly, so my memory was a bit hazy.”

“But why is that woman here?”

“That’s the question. Why would people from Hollywood be all the way in Japan— But is it a coincidence that they’re here when the video about your screen test surfaced?”

Strange, isn’t it? It fits too neatly to be a coincidence. Muttering to himself, Woojin quietly observed the group of foreigners and then suddenly started walking towards them. Choi Sung-gun’s voice asking where he was going could be heard in the background, but Kang Woojin did not stop.

Well, isn’t that the case? When it’s like this, it’s best to just ask directly. Striding forward with determined steps.

This was not just an act of bravado; it was typical of Kang Woojin.

Then.

-Swish.

With a poker face, Kang Woojin passed dozens of staff members and arrived in front of the group of foreigners. Sensing someone approaching, the group of foreigners noticed Woojin standing close by. The foreign woman with the brown bobbed hair, no, the casting director Megan Stone, showed a relaxed smile.

“Oh, Mr. Kang Woojin? It’s good to see you. I knew you were here, but I didn’t want to greet you prematurely.”

Woojin replied casually in English.

“Hello.”

Soon, the surrounding ‘The Eerie Sacrifice of a Stranger’ staff glanced over at Kang Woojin. Megan Stone stepped a bit closer to Woojin and spoke softly.

“It’s better if no one knows about our relationship. How about we talk separately later?”

“It’s your side that came here.”

“That’s true. The director here and I have some connections, I came to Japan for work and decided to visit the director’s set. Of course, I knew you were here too.”

Is that so? Well, that’s that. Woojin took out his phone and showed it to her.

“This video just came out on YouTube in Korea.”

He explained in a low voice.

“It contains details about the ‘Last Kill 3’ screen test I attended. Did you happen to share it? I heard it was supposed to be confidential.”

The foreigners around, hearing his fluent English, suddenly widened their eyes. Megan Stone especially.

“…This video is revealing that matter?”

“Yes.”

“That, that can’t be.”

“It’s not your side either?”

“No, not at all.”

Megan Stone, visibly flustered, spoke with her team members and then made a phone call. She seemed somewhat urgent. Woojin, feeling somewhat resolved, quietly watched her and then turned away. A few steps behind him stood Choi Sung-gun.

“What did she say.”

Kang Woojin’s response was low and simple.

“It seems we can just ignore it.”

At this point, in LA.

It was morning in Japan, but afternoon here. The location: Hollywood in LA, and specifically, a major film company. The film company was more like a giant amusement park with its vast internal company offices and massive set constructions.

A black van was parked at the entrance of the film company.

A man passed through the entrance and caught the eye—a black man of towering height and robust build. It was the famous Hollywood producer Joseph Felton. He seemed to have finished his work and climbed into the waiting van.

The van started immediately.

Inside the van, there were roughly six people, among whom a bald foreigner, subordinate to Joseph, handed a tablet to Joseph Felton and reported.

“Joseph, a video about Kang Woojin has surfaced in Korea. About an hour ago.”

Joseph, smiling slightly, nodded.

“It’s later than I thought but the timing isn’t bad. What’s in it?”

“I’ll have to translate it properly, but it includes most of the information we sent. But—Joseph. Is this really okay?”

“What is?”

“I heard it was supposed to be confidential.”

Joseph chuckled.

“There are no secrets in Hollywood. It’s just a matter of time. Whether you use it or get used.”

“······”

“An actor being cast, the screen tests being conducted carefully. Stuff like that isn’t really secret. It’s not uncommon news. It’s just that Director George Mendes and the ‘Last Kill 3’ team are a bit proud, so they spun it that way. But as a producer, I saw it more beneficial to disclose this matter.”

“What benefit is there?”

Joseph, arms crossed, answered simply.

“Korea is a cultural powerhouse not to be underestimated. There’s even talk of releasing Hollywood movies in Korea first. By raising the profile of ‘Last Kill 3’ and while also taking care of Kang Woojin’s prestige, it’s useful for raising his market value.”

The bald foreigner scratched his chin after hearing the explanation.

“Kang Woojin—why go to the trouble for him?”

Joseph Felton shrugged.

“It’s a preliminary preparation in anticipation of meeting him again.”

He then picked up the tablet again and murmured.

“Just in case, paving a path for him to Hollywood in advance.”

The same day, around early lunchtime, back in Japan.

It was taking a long time for the filming team to prepare the ‘The Eerie Sacrifice of a Stranger’ shooting at the high school. There had been some technical issues with the filming equipment, and now Director Kyotaro’s directing was taking a bit longer. As a result, there was about a one-hour delay.

Nevertheless, Director Kyotaro went around each shooting location, calling necessary actors for a pre-rehearsal.

Dialogue, movement, direction, camera angles, etc.

However, since Kang Woojin was called first, he was currently sitting alone in the tent. He just needed to be on standby to join in immediately.

“Hmm—”

Woojin, legs crossed, was checking the media situation in Korea on his phone.

‘As expected, articles are starting to pop up. Get too greedy and you’ll get burned? Ah, those journalists are having a field day, aren’t they?’

Indeed, journalists who discovered the scoop on Kang Woojin’s Hollywood move were eagerly spreading articles, and Woojin’s phone was receiving a flood of calls. Meanwhile, things were still quiet on the Japanese front. Megan Stone, whom he had seen earlier, seemed like she might leave after talking with Choi Sung-gun but stayed on the set.

Well, she can do whatever she wants.

Stopping his thoughts, Woojin put down his buzzing phone that was still receiving group chat messages. The tent, emptied of actors, was quite peaceful. With no one around, he yawned, momentarily dropping his guard.

Then.

“Hmm—might as well relax in the void space.”

Kang Woojin picked up ‘The Eerie Sacrifice of a Stranger’ script from the desk next to him, intending to press the black square attached to it.

-Poke.

Entering the void space for a break, as always, was like stepping into endless darkness. Yet, for Woojin, it was no different from home. Soon, Woojin stretched out and casually walked towards the place lined with white rectangles. He was checking if there had been any changes in ranks before resting.

Fortunately, everything was the same.

After briefly scanning the works and ranks written on the white rectangles, Woojin suddenly lay down. He couldn’t sleep but could rest. Lying flat in the void space, he fell into meditation. Naturally, the roles of the works that needed to be filmed and had already been filmed came to mind, from ‘Exorcism’ to the current ‘The Eerie Sacrifice of a Stranger’ and ‘Leech’ and so on.

Then suddenly.

“Hmm—can I mix roles together that have been imprinted?”

Kang Woojin carelessly muttered to himself. It was a question born out of sheer curiosity. What if roles, not worlds, could purely merge?

Would that seem completely crazy?

At that moment, suddenly, the robotic-like female voice resonated.

[“Acquiring understanding of role synthesis.”]