NIS Agent Reincarnated as a Genius Actor - Chapter 135

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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 135. Minesweeper

 

The drinking session began with Director Hwang Min-kwon’s toast.

 

 

 

“Let’s sail through filming safely without anyone getting hurt!”

 

“Cheers!”

 

 

 

With the hearty toast, everyone brought their glasses to their lips, and Yeon-woo looked at Han Byeol sitting across from him.

 

 

 

“This is your first time at a gathering like this, right?”

 

“Yes! It feels strange, like I’ve become an adult.”

 

 

 

After talking during filming, he learned she had only played child roles in short dramas with just a few scenes, and this was her first major role.

 

 

 

Watching Han Byeol like that, Yeon-woo smiled brightly.

 

 

 

“I was also a minor when filming ‘Summer’s Closet.’ So I always drank cider from a cup.”

 

“Oh! I watched that when I was in elementary school.”

 

“Huh? Elementary school?”

 

 

 

At Han Byeol’s answer, Yeon-woo scratched the back of his head.

 

 

 

Since she said she was now in her second year of middle school, when ‘Summer’s Closet’ aired, it would have been around when Han Byeol was graduating elementary school.

 

 

 

‘We had the wrap party on March 1st, so it ended before she entered middle school.’

 

 

 

He felt anew that it had been quite a while since he debuted as an actor, while also realizing the age gap with Han Byeol.

 

 

 

While he was having these thoughts, he heard a voice calling him from beside.

 

 

 

“Hyung-nim.”

 

“Hmm? Yes?”

 

 

 

The one who called Yeon-woo was Dong-ha from XYZS.

 

Yeon-woo looked at Dong-ha and smiled slightly.

 

 

 

“Calling me hyung-nim with just a one-year age difference feels awkward.”

 

“Ah, then may I call you hyung, sunbae-nim?”

 

 

 

Yeon-woo readily nodded and gave permission.

 

 

 

“Sure. I’m fine with that.”

 

“Then please speak comfortably to me too, hyung.”

 

 

 

Come to think of it, he always heard “oppa” since he had a younger sister, but this was the first time he’d heard “hyung” since living his new life.

 

 

 

“Alright. Let’s do that then.”

 

“Yeon-woo hyung. When I was filming music videos, I thought I acted pretty well among the members, but when I actually go to filming sets, my mind sometimes goes completely blank. That’s really bothering me.”

 

 

 

Seeing Dong-ha making a sad face and sighing deeply, Yeon-woo patted his shoulder.

 

 

 

“I had a brief chat with Director Jung Yo-han before the company dinner started, and he said he’s currently editing your individual filming footage.”

 

 

 

At Yeon-woo’s words, Dong-ha’s ears seemed to perk up.

 

 

 

“My filming footage?”

 

“Yeah. He said he was satisfied because you act quite well.”

 

“R-really?”

 

 

 

To Dong-ha who asked back as if he couldn’t believe it, Yeon-woo nodded and reconfirmed.

 

 

 

“Yeah. He definitely said that. And your individual acting scenes are almost finished now, right?”

 

“Yes! I have about five scenes left.”

 

“Then most of the remaining scenes will be ones you film with me, so I’ll help you out when I can.”

 

 

 

Who was the actor in front of him?

 

He was the actor with an undefeated legend who had never failed once since his debut work.

 

 

 

Now, if you were to choose the top among the universally recognized young generation actors, an overwhelming majority would pick Ryu Yeon-woo.

 

 

 

When Yeon-woo said he would help with his acting, Dong-ha felt like he had gained a thousand troops and ten thousand horses.

 

Dong-ha’s eyes sparkled brightly, feeling as if all the worries that had been troubling him lately were being resolved.

 

 

 

“Thank you so much, hyung-nim!”

 

“Come on, I told you calling me hyung-nim with just a one-year difference feels awkward.”

 

 

 

Seeing this, Han Byeol raised her hand high, perhaps feeling a bit jealous.

 

 

 

“Me! What about me?!”

 

“Hmm? Han Byeol, you’re doing well though?”

 

“Still, please help me too!”

 

 

 

At her forceful exclamation, Yeon-woo nodded.

 

 

 

“Alright. I’ll help you too.”

 

“Hehe.”

 

 

 

And Jung Su-yeon, who was watching this scene, looked at them with slightly envious eyes.

 

 

 

“Lucky them. I only do voice acting until the latter half and won’t have any scenes to film together.”

 

 

 

The ‘narrator’ role that Jung Su-yeon took on was an important role, but due to the story structure, her appearance only came in the latter half, so there would be no filming together for the next few months.

 

 

 

Seeing Jung Su-yeon making a dejected expression, Yeon-woo spoke up.

 

 

 

“Even though we don’t have scenes to film together, come to the filming set to cheer us on when you have time. Su-yeon, wouldn’t your acting be more vivid if you watch the scenes being filmed in front and then do the dubbing?”

 

“Really? Is it okay for me to come hang out?”

 

 

 

At Jung Su-yeon’s words, Yeon-woo chuckled.

 

 

 

“Hang out? You’re also a member of the School Meal Expedition Team, so how can you talk about it like it’s someone else’s filming set?”

 

 

 

At Yeon-woo’s words, the actors around him all tilted their heads in unison.

 

 

 

“School lunch expedition?”

 

“School lunch?”

 

 

 

At the questioning actors’ words, Yeon-woo nodded his head.

 

 

 

“Our average age is under 20, isn’t it?”

 

“Wow. That’s right.”

 

 

 

Jung Su-yeon chuckled and pinched Han Byeol’s rice cake-like cheeks.

 

 

 

“It’s because of Han Byeol, isn’t it?”

 

“Ugh─. Sister.”

 

 

 

At that moment, Jeon Ki-hoon, who played ‘Dipangdal’ and had been enthusiastically discussing stocks with the camera director at the next table, turned around.

 

 

 

“Juniors, I’m also part of the expedition, so wouldn’t that raise the average age significantly?”

 

 

 

At his words, the staff around laughed.

 

At Jeon Ki-hoon’s joke, Yeon-woo also smiled coldly and nodded his head.

 

 

 

“That’s right, senior.”

 

 

 

As he turned his back again and picked up his soju glass to resume the stock discussion, Yeon-woo stared at Jeon Ki-hoon’s back with emotionless eyes.

 

 

 

‘This guy is definitely it. The landmine Baek Sol planted.’

 

 

 

He had felt it from the moment he walked in.

 

 

 

Due to increased body temperature, excessive sweating leads to chills or dehydration, and muscle atrophy weakens teeth making them brittle, so he doesn’t open his mouth wide when eating and chews carefully.

 

 

 

And when moving from a bright place to a dark place, it causes temporary visual disturbance like waves rippling, dulling depth perception.

 

 

 

When Jeon Ki-hoon entered the store and reached out his hand for a handshake, he made the mistake commonly made by those taking drugs, reaching out to shake hands with empty air where Yeon-woo’s hand wasn’t, then shaking his head to regain his composure.

 

 

 

And most of all.

 

 

 

‘The smell of a drug addict is reeking from him.’

 

 

 

There are two operations that the National Intelligence Service’s overseas department performs most frequently.

 

 

 

Intelligence missions to monitor North’s movements.

 

And apprehending drug criminals who fled overseas.

 

 

 

To find someone in Korea who had caught more drug criminals than Yeon-woo in his previous life, you’d really have to thoroughly search through all prosecutors and police and count on one hand.

 

 

 

Various characteristics were also noticeable, but the moment he saw him, the feeling came strongly.

 

 

 

That this person was exactly the drug-addled landmine of Baek Sol.

 

 

 

Jeon Ki-hoon, famous as one of the celebrities who does a lot of volunteer work.

 

 

 

Considering his usual reputation, even LN Entertainment, which cross-checks two or three times to avoid casting-related controversies, could have easily missed it.

 

 

 

‘The problem is how to catch this guy.’

 

 

 

First, he needed a search and seizure warrant issued through proper legal procedures.

 

 

 

‘That should be easily resolved since Han Hae-woon transferred to Seoul.’

 

 

 

Still, to get a warrant issued, there had to be appropriate evidence.

 

He couldn’t just suddenly point him out as a drug criminal as if he had received divine revelation.

 

 

 

‘First, I’ll thoroughly monitor him on the filming set, and I should also have Han Hae-woon assign someone to him.’

 

 

 

When those guys use the card called Jeon Ki-hoon, it would probably be either at the end of filming or when the Netflix launch is imminent.

 

 

 

‘If it were me, I’d choose the latter.’

 

 

 

That way, they’d be stuck with no way out and suffer the greatest damage.

 

 

 

Conversely, in a situation like now where he knew their moves in advance, it meant there was plenty of time to respond.

 

 

 

‘We haven’t even started filming scenes with Jeon Ki-hoon yet.’

 

 

 

While Yeon-woo was making various plans, time passed and it was almost 10 o’clock.

 

Han Byeol, being a minor, left early during the dinner when her father came to pick her up, and looking around, it seemed time to wrap up.

 

 

 

“Hiccup. Oh, we started so early that it’s only ten o’clock but I’m tired.”

 

 

 

Director Hwang Min-kwon, who had quit drinking to focus on filming with renewed determination, took this opportunity to drink to his heart’s content today.

 

 

 

Director Jung Yo-han, who was watching him from the side, stood up and clapped his hands to gather attention.

 

 

 

“Alright, everyone get up now. We have filming tomorrow too.”

 

 

 

***

 

 

 

The next day when Yeon-woo woke up and checked his smartphone, there was a message from Han Hae-woon that had come in early in the morning.

 

 

 

– Han Hae-woon : I’ve assigned someone to the target you designated, Team Leader. I assigned someone skilled, so if anything comes up, they’ll report immediately.

 

 

 

After reading the message, Yeon-woo nodded and got up to prepare to go out.

 

 

 

Today, filming was scheduled to start in the afternoon due to the dinner party, and he had arranged to have lunch with CEO Kim Ju-seong after a long time using that gap.

 

 

 

‘Hmm, the location is the usual place.’

 

 

 

I drove directly to the upscale Korean traditional restaurant where I had dined twice before with CEO Kim Ju-seong.

 

 

 

Following the staff’s guidance into a private room located deep inside, CEO Kim Ju-seong stood up from his seat with a smile.

 

 

 

“Actor Ryu.”

 

“CEO, have you been waiting long?”

 

“No. I just arrived myself.”

 

 

 

As we took our seats, the dishes were served and CEO Kim Ju-seong began to speak.

 

 

 

“How is the filming of ‘White Blood’ going these days? I personally assigned Team Leader Yoon Mi-yeon to handle things so everything would proceed smoothly.”

 

 

 

At CEO Kim Ju-seong’s question, Baeksol’s landmine ‘Jeon Ki-hoon’ momentarily came to mind, but Yeon-woo smiled and nodded.

 

 

 

“All the staff are top veterans and the set is perfectly prepared. Thanks to your attention, CEO, filming is proceeding very smoothly.”

 

“That’s a relief then.”

 

 

 

CEO Kim Ju-seong smiled with satisfaction and continued speaking.

 

 

 

“What do you think about this project? Do you think it will be a hit? Actor Ryu’s insight was what predicted the success of ‘Sketch’ just from reading the scenario.”

 

 

 

In fact, I had accepted without even reading the scenario, but Yeon-woo smiled slightly.

 

 

 

“Your insight is far more excellent, CEO. However, I’m even more confident about this project than I was with ‘Sketch’. I’m putting quite a lot of effort into it.”

 

 

 

Not only acting efforts as an actor, but also pouring effort into various aspects due to Baeksol’s schemes.

 

 

 

“Haha. Is that so? That’s reassuring.”

 

 

 

After picking up a bit of the premium sea bream dish with his chopsticks and eating it, CEO Kim Ju-seong frowned slightly and spoke.

 

 

 

“As a company grows in scale, naturally there are too many cooks in the kitchen. The board isn’t looking favorably upon this project due to their skeptical reaction to the fantasy genre.”

 

“I see. I’ll have to work even harder then.”

 

 

 

At Yeon-woo’s words, he picked up his chopsticks again with an indifferent expression as if to say not to worry about it, taking some sea bream dish.

 

 

 

“I have no doubt about Actor Ryu’s insight and abilities. It’s just that the board is a bit bothersome. Where am I supposed to recruit outside directors from? There aren’t even suitable candidates.”

 

 

 

Hearing CEO Kim Ju-seong’s words, which he muttered to himself without particularly expecting an answer, Yeon-woo asked back.

 

 

 

“Do you need to appoint outside directors?”

 

“Hmm? Oh, that’s right. The board has quite a talent for making people tired. They want me to find prominent figures who aren’t from this industry from somewhere. The board needs to appoint one person, and I need to appoint one from my side.”

 

 

 

Hearing CEO Kim Ju-seong’s words, Yeon-woo thought of someone.

 

 

 

Someone who wouldn’t be difficult to control, a fairly prominent figure who wasn’t from this industry.

 

Professor Kim Tae-kyung, his university classmate from his previous life and his advisor in this life.

 

 

 

“Then I have someone I could recommend. For the outside director position.”

 

 

 

At Yeon-woo’s completely unexpected words, CEO Kim Ju-seong tilted his head.

 

 

 

“Actor Ryu? An outside director?”

 

“Yes. He’s a professor in the Economics Department at Korea University where I attend.”

 

“Oh ho, that’s right. Of course. Actor Ryu was a Korea University student.”

 

 

 

Anyway, the company would handle the procedures regarding faculty concurrent positions.

 

It’s quite common for university professors to serve concurrently as outside directors.

 

 

 

Given Kim Tae-kyung’s personality of enjoying external activities, there was a high possibility he would accept the proposal.

 

 

 

With Baeksol’s recent movements toward LN Entertainment seeming unusual, placing someone Yeon-woo could easily control in one of the outside director positions in advance would only help and certainly wouldn’t cause any harm.

 

 

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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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