NIS Agent Reincarnated as a Genius Actor - Chapter 213
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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 213. Fishing Boat
The sports drama that Director Kim Han-su had taken charge of seemed to be progressing smoothly.
I heard that Writer Choi Mi-hyeon, who had worked on “Yeo-reum’s Wardrobe,” had begun adapting the synopsis about amateur basketball that I had seen last time.
‘That work was also originally based on a webtoon, so Writer Choi’s ability to adapt other people’s ideas has been somewhat proven.’
Four days later, we were scheduled to have a meeting at Saebyeol Media with the main cast including Dong-ha and Jin Yu-han, along with the directing team.
Of course, there was still a long way to go before script reading or production announcements.
Since the drama’s story only had a skeleton without flesh, it seemed Writer Choi Mi-hyeon wanted to establish the story’s direction to some extent by exchanging opinions with each other before producing a detailed script in earnest.
When casting, most producers tend to look for actors who best suit the roles.
However, in the case of this drama, since the casting for major roles had already been confirmed, they could create characters that perfectly matched the roles.
And among those confirmed cast members, there were no less than three actors who could take on male lead roles in any drama.
‘Come to think of it, this is the same combination from that photo that became a hot topic as a still cut during the filming of “Stars Beyond Garam.”‘
I recalled the photo that captured the moment when Son Jin-wook had his arms around Yeon-woo and Jin Yu-han’s shoulders, smiling brightly.
Since they were all seasoned actors in both movies and dramas, meeting and directly sharing various ideas could help create a rich story.
‘Then I need to make progress on the Okinawa operation during these four days when I have the most free time in my schedule.’
Of course, that didn’t mean it needed to be rushed.
Originally, reconnaissance should be handled carefully with the mindset of checking even a stone bridge two or three times, erasing traces as much as possible.
Yeon-woo looked at Kim Su-hyeok’s field of vision shared through the monitor.
Then he sent an address to Han Hae-woon.
“Tell Kim Su-hyeok to start from here first.”
– Understood. But where is this address? There was so little information that I was wondering where to instruct him to go first.
Yeon-woo chuckled at Han Hae-woon’s words.
“It’s the address of the most delicious ramen shop in that area.”
– Excuse me?
“Kim Su-hyeok, I mean. It’s good to eat something before starting, right? He’s been on a boat for a full 25 hours, so he’s probably seasick.”
It had been over ten years since I went to Okinawa, but when I just searched, it was still doing business in the same place.
Since it was ramen made with a special meat broth that was richly stewed, drinking the soup would probably settle Kim Su-hyeok’s queasy stomach.
– Team Leader, do you know something?
“What?”
– I think you’re a tsundere.
Yeon-woo frowned slightly at Han Hae-woon’s words coming through the headset.
“…Stop talking nonsense and just deliver the address quickly.”
– Oh. You know what tsundere means?
Han Hae-woon had expected Yeon-woo to ask what that meant, so it was surprising that he understood.
“After going to that variety show filming last time, I thought I needed to learn more about songs and new slang, so I’m studying.”
– Well, calling tsundere a recent slang term is a bit…
“It’s the latest information to me.”
While Yeon-woo and Han Hae-woon were chatting, Kim Su-hyeok rented a car and headed to the address.
After arriving and getting out of the car, Kim Su-hyeok looked at the address written on his smartphone and the store in front of him, tilting his head.
– Alpha Beta. Is this the correct address?
At Kim Su-hyeok’s question, Han Hae-woon opened the communication channel and answered with authority.
His voice was a low baritone with no emotion, sounding dry and matter-of-fact.
– You’re probably seasick by now, so wouldn’t it be good to settle your stomach before starting the operation? It’s the most delicious place in that area.
– Ah… Yes. Thank you.
Kim Su-hyeok seemed slightly moved by the consideration that contrasted with Alpha Beta’s emotionless voice, expressing his gratitude.
Hearing those words, Yeon-woo chuckled.
“Nice. Why are you using that tone and voice like that?”
Han Hae-woon’s answer came back immediately.
– Huh? I copied Team Leader’s speech pattern from your previous life exactly.
Hearing that answer, Yeon-woo scratched his cheek.
“Hmm, was I like that?”
As the time living as Ryu Yeon-woo grew longer, how he was in his previous life gradually became blurry.
In fact, the hobby of enjoying opera and musicals in his previous life was only until his 7th year after being assigned to the overseas division.
During the last few years after that, his mind gradually wore down, and at some point, like a robot, he stopped thinking about anything other than mission-related matters.
Probably Baek Yu-hyeon, Han Hae-woon’s previous life, was dispatched around that time.
Yeon-woo, who had been reminiscing about the past for a moment, opened his mouth.
“Come to think of it, so many things have changed. Have most of your memories from your previous life returned? If you’re still having a hard time with headaches or dreams, I know a skilled hypnotist…”
Yeon-woo recalled the mysterious smoke therapy that Jeong Cheol-min had performed with candles lit.
– Yes? A hypnotist? It’s fine. I’ve remembered most of it now and the headaches are almost gone.
“Good. That’s a relief then.”
Meanwhile, Kim Su-hyeok had ordered ramen and started eating.
Come to think of it, after finishing the CF shoot, the other members went to a company dinner, but Yeon-woo had made an excuse because of the Okinawa operation and came home, so he was on an empty stomach.
“Hmm, watching this makes me hungry too. Have you eaten?”
– I already ate.
“Then I should order some ramen delivery too.”
Han Hae-woon was surprised.
– Team Leader, you know how to use delivery apps?
“…Just how low do you think of me.”
– Ahem, I didn’t mean to look down on you…
Yeon-woo felt that saying anything more would just give Han Hae-woon more ammunition to tease him, so he turned his attention to his smartphone and placed a delivery order.
Meanwhile, Kim Su-hyeok, who had started eating at a ramen shop in Okinawa, was inwardly exclaiming in admiration.
Though he appeared blunt on the outside, he was simply poor at expressing himself.
‘Wow, the rich, hot meat broth going down my throat and into my stomach is gradually calming the queasiness. This place is amazing. I must make a note of it.’
With the unexpected consideration and the taste of food that matched it, Kim Su-hyeok felt his mind becoming more relaxed as his stomach felt secure, even though he hadn’t even started the operation yet.
‘Ah, could it be that Alpha Beta planned even this? To maximize my efficiency…’
He had felt it every time he looked at the manual during operations, but he was once again amazed by the small consideration hidden in the ramen.
And the mastermind behind that consideration was casually going out to get the food that the delivery person had left at his door in Seoul.
***
After filling his stomach, Kim Su-hyeok headed to the coastal road that the people presumed to be from Baeksol had commonly passed through.
Han Hae-woon had found that there was a small harbor where local fishing boats departed based on satellite photos and pictures taken by tourists, but Kim Su-hyeok headed to that location to go and actually confirm it in person.
Having arrived in Okinawa at sunset and finished eating, it was already dark, and the coastal road had no streetlights, making it pitch black without the car’s headlights.
On the monitor that Han Hae-woon and Yeon-woo were watching through screen sharing, Kim Su-hyeok’s location information was displayed on the map.
While investigating and cross-referencing with the points they had checked, as Kim Su-hyeok’s location got as close as possible to the area where they expected the harbor to be, Han Hae-woon spoke up.
– According to GPS, it’s around there. Park the car somewhere suitable and check it out directly.
– Understood.
Kim Su-hyeok parked his car in a temporary parking lot on the shoulder of the coastal road and got out.
Though it was dark all around, it was actually good since he could move stealthily.
Kim Su-hyeok, dressed entirely in black, approached the coordinates he had received from Alpha Beta.
– It hasn’t been long since sunset, but being in the countryside, it’s quite dark. I’ll turn on night vision.
When Kim Su-hyeok activated the device, the transmitted screen began emitting a green light, making the dark areas visible.
After walking along the coast for a while, a small dock appeared.
At the small dock made of stacked bricks finished with gray concrete, six fishing boats were moored.
Watching that screen, Han Hae-woon spoke up.
– Six boats are confirmed now, but there must be more boats using this harbor besides those, right?
“That’s possible. But looking at the weather forecast for the nearby sea, they say the waves will be high on tonight’s sea. Even at dawn, the sea fog will be thick, so they probably won’t set sail unless absolutely necessary.”
Then Kim Su-hyeok’s voice was heard.
– What should I do next?
– First, thoroughly check if there are any people around, then examine the exterior of the moored boats.
– Understood.
After Han Hae-woon closed the communication channel, he asked Yeon-woo.
– Do you think there’s a boat those guys use among those boats?
“Hmm, I’m thinking about that part.”
The ultimate purpose of this operation is to find out what they’re plotting in Okinawa.
To do that, they need to know where their base is, so finding the boat they ride is the priority.
While Yeon-woo was pondering, Kim Su-hyeok climbed on top of a wooden bus stop near the harbor and used a thermal imaging camera to check that there were no people within a 200-meter radius.
– Area clear. No people or surveillance cameras. Beginning boat search.
Then Kim Su-hyeok began examining various things by boarding the moored boats with stealthy footsteps that made almost no sound.
He examined all the moored boats in the same way, but no particular unusual features were discovered.
Naturally, it seemed that neither Baeksol nor the fishermen carelessly left navigation logs or other materials on the boats.
Watching this through the monitor, Yeon-woo rested his chin on his hand and fell into thought.
‘Hmm, what’s the difference between fishermen and Baeksol? It would probably be whether they catch fish or not.’
Fish…
After thinking for a while, Yeon-woo reflected on his past days when he had infiltrated Okinawa in disguise.
At that time, he had disguised himself as filming a documentary about marine ecosystem pollution, so he actually had to produce that result as well.
‘When I boarded a fishing boat to go to the somewhat distant sea, surely…’
Yeon-woo, who had been thinking about the past, smiled as if he had gotten some hint.
“Hae-woon.”
– Yes.
“I once rode on a fishing vessel near Okinawa, and there was one characteristic feature of fishing in these waters.”
– …Why on earth did you ride on a fishing boat? What characteristic?
Yeon-woo looked at the fishing boats shown through the monitor and continued speaking.
“The fish caught through fishing operations near Okinawa have one thing in common – they have a lot of silver scales.”
It’s an area where a lot of grouper called miibai and skipjack tuna called katsuo are caught.
“When these fish are pulled up with nets, whether set nets or drift nets, they bump into each other and rub against one another, scattering silver scales all over the boat. So much that you have to sweep them up with a broom later.”
– Ah! Then there would be scales and debris stuck in various crevices of the boat and around the storage hold where the caught fish are kept.
Han Hae-woon, who immediately understood Yeon-woo’s words, gave instructions to Kim Su-hyeok.
– Check if there are any fish scales near the storage hold on the deck of the boat or in the corner crevices.
– Understood.
If it was a boat those guys were using, it would likely be clean since it would only be used for simple transportation or drug smuggling.
And after searching for a while, Kim Su-hyeok spoke up.
– I think I found it. Only one of these boats is completely clean.
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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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