NIS Agent Reincarnated as a Genius Actor - Chapter 109

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 109. Award Ceremony Preparations

‘How ridiculous.’

 

Yeon-woo thought for a moment and chuckled softly.

 

When ordinary people encounter words like intelligence or spy, they naturally think of people thoroughly hiding their identities from each other and throwing away their lives like grass to extract or protect information.

 

But that’s only what’s shown in movies, and the actual world of intelligence was somewhat different.

 

Yeon-woo from his past life was the same, and intelligence agents dispatched from various countries are all human.

Just like everyone else, they worry about what to eat for dinner tonight and whether they’ll get scolded by their boss tomorrow.

 

Due to the nature of constantly producing results and reporting upward, intelligence agents from various countries would unknowingly exchange information with each other.

 

Then at some point, brokers appeared among them, selling information for money or conversely purchasing useful information.

 

‘I never used them even once though…’

 

Since most of the information needed by the National Intelligence Service was about North’s movements, there was no need to buy information from other intelligence agencies.

 

While thinking about various things on his way to the destination, he arrived quickly.

Yeon-woo hurriedly walked after getting off the subway.

 

‘If I want to have lunch with the staff, I need to handle this quickly and return to the hotel by morning.’

 

Making deals with underworld information brokers doesn’t involve going into a shady bar in a back alley like in movies or novels and saying ridiculous code phrases like “The owl cries looking at the moon” to the bartender.

 

Agents from various countries who extremely avoid identity exposure didn’t buy and sell information through such face-to-face methods.

 

“Lichtenberg Library. It’s been a while.”

 

Looking at the magnificent ivory-colored building in front of him, Yeon-woo went inside.

Upon entering the library, the distinctive smell of books wafted through.

 

As Yeon-woo entered the library, he went into the square-structured 1st floor lobby with an open central ceiling and looked up.

 

Through the open ceiling, he could see at a glance the hallways leading to all the galleries and reading room entrances on each floor up to the 4th floor.

 

But surveillance cameras were nowhere to be seen.

 

‘How ironic.’

 

In Germany’s civil revolution that started in 1968, what always protected the protesters was the library.

 

The tradition of not recording visitors to hide the protesters’ identities continued, making it a building rarely seen in modern society without surveillance cameras, but now it’s being used by intelligence agency agents from national institutions.

 

Yeon-woo shook his head and slowly climbed the stairs to enter the 4th floor reading room.

He slowly looked around the books and wandered around for a while.

 

‘Found it.’

 

– Reference to the Establishment of Eisenach in Thuringia.

 

It’s a book that no one would likely read.

It’s not even a book that actually exists anywhere else, and it’s not even registered in this library.

 

Yeon-woo took out the book and sat in a corner seat to open it, but it only contained meaningless words and names listed.

 

Soon he took out paper and a pen from his jacket pocket and began listing numbers while looking at the book.

 

These are numbers indicating the page number and the position where the letter I want is located.

For example, if the thirty-seventh letter on the sixth page is the alphabet A I want, I would write 6-37.

 

In this way, he wrote down many numbers on the paper corresponding to the message.

 

– Information about an organization or individual called ‘Baeksol’ in South Korea.

 

He put the paper filled with numbers that would mean that when decoded, along with a disposable card key for a locker in the basement of Berlin Station, in the middle of the book and closed it.

 

He returned the book to its original place and left the bookmark sticking out.

When the bookmark is sticking out, it means wanting to sell or buy information.

 

‘I don’t know how much information they have about ‘Baeksol’ though…’

 

The speculation that there’s a mastermind called ‘Baeksol’ behind recent incidents using drugs.

And the tail that Han Hae-woon recently found.

Agent Ha Ju-ran who is disguising herself as Ministry of Culture Deputy Minister ‘Jung Chan-suk’.

 

Judging from the fact that she was in charge of Southern China, Myanmar, and Laos, there was a very high possibility she was involved in overseas drug trafficking.

 

‘Then there’s a high possibility that the information merchants here also have some information.’

 

It was worth trying once, separate from Han Hae-woon’s domestic investigation.

 

Yeon-woo, who had put the book back in place, erased his presence and quietly disappeared from the library.

 

***

 

“Actor, where did you go this morning?”

 

While having lunch with the staff, Kim Min-su in front asked Yeon-woo.

In the morning, Kim Min-su had gone to Yeon-woo’s room, but there was no sign of anyone inside and calls wouldn’t connect, so he was worried.

 

“I went jogging in the park nearby.”

“Then you should have called me. What if something dangerous happened while you were out alone?”

 

He had just returned from starting early morning with money laundering secret deals and making a request to a broker dealing with intelligence agency agents.

 

He wondered what dangerous things could happen in daily life, but knowing the worried feelings, Yeon-woo looked at Kim Min-su and smiled brightly.

 

“Yes, let’s run together next time.”

 

Actually, thinking about it, there wasn’t anything dangerous.

All they did was take a walk in Tiergarten Park, look at the scenery from a building rooftop, and read some books at the library.

 

That’s when Seo Ji-eun put down her fork and stopped eating to speak.

 

“Whoa, it’s tonight. I’m so nervous.”

“What’s there to be nervous about? You should enjoy it. Winning in the competition section means you’re guaranteed to receive either the Golden Bear or Silver Bear.”

 

The Berlin International Film Festival awards various prizes to works invited to the competition section, giving the Golden Bear to the best work and Silver Bears divided into various categories like Grand Jury Prize, Best Director, and Best Screenplay.

 

So having a confirmed win means receiving at least a Silver Bear.

 

“Still, winning at such a big film festival makes my feet tingle with excitement even now.”

 

Yeon-woo looked at Ji-eun with a smile and turned to Director Park Chan-hong.

 

“Are you nervous too, Director?”

“No, I’m very relaxed.”

 

Director Park Chan-hong spoke with a calm smile, but the cross-section of the steak he cut with his knife was jagged.

 

Seeing him eat with one hand unnaturally placed under the table, his hands seemed to be trembling from nervousness.

 

After finishing lunch that went down who knows where, time flew by quickly and they were about two hours away from the start of the awards ceremony.

 

-Ding dong!

 

Having done many things since dawn before the awards ceremony, he was lying down resting when the doorbell rang in the hotel room.

 

“Hm? There’s still time left.”

 

When Yeon-woo got up and opened the door, there was a truly unexpected person standing outside.

 

“Whoa! Ta-da, here I am!”

“…Huh? Sister Ye-eun?”

 

Outside the door stood stylist Lee Ye-eun with a large suitcase, smiling alongside Kim Min-su.

Team Leader Jeong Hyeok was waving his hand beside them.

 

“I’m here too, Yeon-woo.”

“How on earth did you…?”

 

Team Leader Jeong and Lee Ye-eun smiled as if they had succeeded, looking at Yeon-woo’s truly surprised and stunned expression.

 

“We thought news of an award might come, so Ye-eun and I booked plane tickets and were on standby. Manager Kim Min-su is reliable of course, but we still needed additional manpower.”

“…There’s no direct flight so it must have taken a long time to get here. Please come in first.”

 

At Yeon-woo’s words, Lee Ye-eun and Team Leader Jeong Hyeok entered dragging their suitcases.

 

“It’s lucky we booked everything to fit perfectly, we barely made it on time. If I knew this would happen, I should have followed from the beginning!”

 

Lee Ye-eun grumbled as she opened her suitcase.

 

She pulled out a portable steam iron and clothes wrapped in plastic sheets.

The men in the room were amazed watching Ye-eun skillfully assemble the equipment with incredibly fast hand movements.

 

‘That seems faster than my full-speed rifle disassembly and assembly…’

 

She finished assembling in no time and began touching up clothes at high speed.

 

“Stand right here. Let’s go quickly. I need to do makeup too.”

 

Feeling Ye-eun’s charisma stronger than usual today, Yeon-woo’s body moved as if enchanted and stood in front.

Lee Ye-eun held up various clothes against Yeon-woo’s body, trying different combinations.

 

“Hmm, good. Let’s go with this navy suit and black shirt. Whether it’s Golden Bear or Silver Bear, you’ll shine brilliantly.”

 

It was truly professional how she coordinated not just thinking about Yeon-woo, but considering the award situation and how it would look on camera.

 

‘Hmm, if we win, the Director will go up on stage…’

 

Yeon-woo swallowed his words, thinking of Ye-eun’s passion.

 

As Yeon-woo changed clothes and received makeup with incredible hand skills, he saw unopened clothes still in the suitcase.

 

“Sister. What’s that in the suitcase?”

“Oh, that?”

 

Ye-eun looked at Yeon-woo and smiled brightly.

 

“Those are clothes for Ji-eun. Her agency is small so there definitely wouldn’t have been any staff support, so I brought some. She’s an actress after all.”

 

***

 

“Huh? What? Really? Uwaa…”

 

Seo Ji-eun opened the door at the doorbell sound and froze in place.

 

“Ah! No way! Ji-eun, you absolutely have to hold back those tears! It’ll be tight if I have to redo your makeup now.”

 

Lee Ye-eun rushed into Seo Ji-eun’s room holding a dress in one hand, cutting off crybaby Ji-eun’s tears at the source.

 

“…Thank you so, so much. I never imagined this.”

“I’m supposedly actor Ryu Yeon-woo’s stylist, but I haven’t been earning my keep as much as expected. I had nothing to coordinate for a while since he was filming a historical drama, and right after that work ended, this time it’s an independent film so he has to wear his own clothes for realism…”

 

Lee Ye-eun chuckled as she quickly laid out the dress on Seo Ji-eun’s bed.

 

“And I’m part of this film’s cast too. I’ll probably appear as an extra at the airport about five times? Anyway, there’s not much time left, so Ji-eun, hurry up and come sit here.”

 

Like Yeon-woo, Seo Ji-eun walked over as if entranced and took her seat.

 

Seo Ji-eun usually did her own styling and makeup alone, so she had prepared reasonably well on her own, but with the expert’s touch, she was transforming to shine even brighter.

 

After finishing their preparations, time had passed and Yeon-woo and Seo Ji-eun came down to the hotel lobby.

 

Director Park Chan-hong, who had come down early and was waiting, smiled warmly.

 

“Hyeok, it’s been a while. Was the last time when we cast Actor Ryu for 「Master Plan」?”

“Yes, Director. It’s really nice to see you in a foreign land for such a good occasion. Congratulations. Haha.”

 

Director Park Chan-hong shook hands with Team Leader Jeong Hyeok and continued speaking.

 

“I’m completely ignorant about fashion and such. But still, you can really tell when an expert has worked on someone.”

 

Manager Kim Min-su, who had nothing to do while the others were getting ready, had chatted with Director Park Chan-hong and informed him in advance, so he wasn’t surprised to see Team Leader Jeong Hyeok and Lee Ye-eun.

 

“But aren’t you going to style this old man at all?”

“Huh? Oh… Director, you look great without any styling! How about just a quick skin tone touch-up?”

 

Director Park Chan-hong laughed seeing the flustered Ye-eun.

 

“I’m just joking. What would an old man do with all that makeup?”

 

Watching Director Park Chan-hong, Team Leader Jeong Hyeok approached Yeon-woo and whispered.

 

“Director Park’s personality has become incredibly gentle. This is the first time I’ve seen him joke around. He’s usually like a tiger.”

 

Yeon-woo remembered how Team Leader Jeong Hyeok had repeatedly emphasized Director Park Chan-hong’s personality when they went to the 「Master Plan」 audition.

Then Yeon-woo tilted his head in confusion.

 

“A tiger? He’s always been kind and funny though.”

 

Team Leader Jeong Hyeok recalled Director Park Chan-hong’s notorious reputation for his fiery temper that had made several actors cry, and shook his head.

 

“If everyone’s ready, we’ll be departing now.”

 

A local staff member assigned by the office came to the hotel lobby and took charge of the group.

 

“Well then, let’s go. It’s time for the Berlin International Film Festival awards ceremony.”

 

At Director Park Chan-hong’s words, Yeon-woo and the rest of the group all stood up from their seats.

 

***

 

“This is the site! Mom, Dad! I found it.”

 

When Ryu So-hyeon shouted from her room, Ryu Cheol-woong and Lee Seon-ok came running over.

 

“You found it?”

“Yeah. This site seems to be broadcasting it live.”

“Why aren’t Korean broadcasters covering it?”

 

Yeon-woo’s father, Ryu Cheol-woong, brought two chairs from the living room and answered his wife’s question.

 

“Because they didn’t secure the broadcasting rights. Korea probably only covers things like the Academy Awards ceremony.”

 

Sitting down on the chairs, the family of three stared at the computer monitor.

 

“Oh? There he is. Isn’t that oppa right there?”

 

When a wide shot briefly appeared, So-hyeon pointed to a corner of the monitor, making both parents tilt their heads.

 

“I’m not sure. It’s too dark and small. Dad should get his reading glasses.”

 

Meanwhile, Yeon-woo’s family wasn’t the only one watching the Berlin International Film Festival awards ceremony via internet broadcast.

 

Not only acquaintances supporting Yeon-woo, but countless film industry professionals in Korea were also holding their breath and watching.

 

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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