The Crazy Mercenary Commander Goes to Work in the Entertainment Industry

CEO Han Tae-sung quietly sized up Kang Jae-ha standing before him. An expressionless face. Indifferent, or perhaps unfazed. At a glance, he might have seemed completely without any emotions inside.

’Those sharp eyes are the same as ever.’

Still the eyes of a predator. More than anything, despite the head of Leon showing up out of nowhere, Jae-ha showed no sign of surprise. He simply asked back in a calm voice.

”Should I be surprised?”

CEO Han Tae-sung smiled faintly and shook his head.

”No. There’s no need for that.”

”Yes, sir.”

”Did you perhaps expect that I’d come?”

”No.”

Kang Jae-ha answered only in yeses and nos. That piqued CEO Han Tae-sung’s interest. Kang Jae-ha’s composed reaction. His collected responses.

’Either he’s always prepared, or something like this just isn’t worth being surprised over.’

They existed from time to time, people whose lives had been so turbulent that ordinary events could barely draw an emotion out of them. CEO Han Tae-sung was that type himself, and he suspected Kang Jae-ha was much the same. That was why those eyes carried the scent of someone who had danced along the line between life and death.

In that moment, CEO Han Tae-sung’s assessment of Kang Jae-ha rose another notch.

Meanwhile.

”C-CEO Han Tae-sung??”

”Huh? CEO Han Tae-sung-nim?”

Moonbak Film’s CEO Jeong Tae-woo and Director Kwon Sung-min, seated at the judges’ table, had their jaws hanging open. It was nothing short of shocking. They never could have dreamed that CEO Han Tae-sung would show up at this audition venue. CEO Jeong Tae-woo, in particular, was hit the hardest. Awe was mixed in.

CEO Han Tae-sung was a legendary, self-made figure in the industry, and for CEO Jeong Tae-woo, a role model.

Director Kwon Sung-min, pushing his glasses up, had widened eyes as well, though his reaction was milder.

’Whoa, so that’s CEO Han Tae-sung-nim. He’s reeeally handsome... He could be an actor.’

He’d only heard the rumors; it seemed this was his first time seeing CEO Han Tae-sung in person.

On the other hand, Lee Chan-hoo, narrowing his already slit eyes further.

’Hmm, so that guy is CEO Han Tae-sung. Look at that build, would ya?’

He didn’t react much. He too was aware of who CEO Han Tae-sung was, but like Kang Jae-ha, he’d accumulated far too many experiences. Mostly ones steeped in blood.

Around this point.

-Swoosh.

With leisurely steps, CEO Han Tae-sung brushed past Kang Jae-ha and extended his hand to the frozen Director Kwon Sung-min.

”Director Kwon Sung-min-nim of ’Condensation’?”

”...Huh? Oh! Yes!”

”Pleased to meet you, I’m Han Tae-sung of Leon Entertainment.”

”Ah, hello, sir!”

Director Kwon Sung-min grabbed CEO Han Tae-sung’s hand with the rigid posture of a fresh recruit. CEO Han Tae-sung then exchanged handshakes with Jeong Tae-woo and Lee Chan-hoo in turn. Notably, his handshake with Lee Chan-hoo lasted a bit longer. Because CEO Han Tae-sung had caught a familiar scent from him, one similar to Jae-ha’s.

’Different shade from Kang Jae-ha, but curiously similar eyes.’

Releasing his hand, CEO Han Tae-sung asked Lee Chan-hoo.

”What role do you play in ’Condensation’?”

Lee Chan-hoo shrugged and answered loosely.

”Ah, well, I’m just an associate.”

”An associate.”

”Yeah.”

Neither Director Kwon Sung-min nor CEO Jeong Tae-woo, who had been reading the room, mentioned that Lee Chan-hoo was the investor. Before long, Han Tae-sung withdrew his gaze from Lee Chan-hoo and offered a smile to Director Kwon Sung-min.

”Since it’s an audition for our Leon’s actresses, would you mind if I sit in and watch?”

At the request, laid-back yet dignified, Director Kwon Sung-min fluttered with nervous energy and nodded.

”O-of course! The managers who came along were going to watch too, anyway.”

”That’s a relief.”

When CEO Han Tae-sung turned, his eyes took in the two actresses. Yoon Da-yeon and An Ji-hee. Da-yeon had been surprised at first but now wore a hardened expression, while Ji-hee looked utterly unable to calm herself.

Between the two, the first to speak was, of course, Yoon Da-yeon.

”...It’s been a while, CEO-nim.”

”Has it?”

”We haven’t met since I went to Team 4.”

Without answering, CEO Han Tae-sung gazed steadily at Yoon Da-yeon, then patted her shoulder.

”Do well. The audition.”

His eyes then reached An Ji-hee.

”An Ji-hee ssi?”

”Y-yes, yes! Hello, CEO-nim!”

”I’m looking forward to it.”

Kang Jae-ha, in the back, didn’t particularly open his mouth. He simply watched CEO Han Tae-sung. By contrast, General Manager Kim Dae-yong, who had come with him, was flustered from head to toe, eyes and all. Stammering, he whispered to Jae-ha.

”Wh-what is this situation? No, why is CEO-nim here of all places...... Jae-ha ssi, did you hear anything?”

”No.”

”Ugh, I don’t know. My brain just froze. Sh-should we tell Team Leader-nim? Or not?”

”Not really. We just need to sit tight.”

Even as he answered casually, Kang Jae-ha smirked inwardly.

’As expected, he’s been digging around about ’Condensation’ one way or another.’

In truth, Kang Jae-ha had expected CEO Han Tae-sung to show up eventually. That was precisely why he’d kept the ’Busan International Film Festival’ under wraps. Still, the timing of CEO Han Tae-sung’s appearance was a bit earlier than expected.

’Must have been curious. He probably already knows that ’Condensation’ was picked up from Leon’s open competition too.’

Director Kwon Sung-min’s name, the audition location, the time... CEO Han Tae-sung would have figured out just about everything regarding ’Condensation’. Natural enough, since it had started drawing attention. But it wasn’t an unexpected variable. Nothing would change significantly.

’He’ll just keep watching from the sidelines for now.’

For the time being, keeping it in his field of vision and observing how things played out would be all he’d do. The chances of CEO Han Tae-sung intervening were low.

Soon.

-Sshk.

At the back of the audition room, CEO Han Tae-sung settled into a folding chair and crossed his legs. Then he gestured to Kang Jae-ha and General Manager Kim Dae-yong.

”Everyone, sit.”

A short while later.

The audition room, which had been buzzing from CEO Han Tae-sung’s sudden appearance, calmed down somewhat. Director Kwon Sung-min, Jeong Tae-woo, and Lee Chan-hoo sat in a row at the judges’ table, while Kang Jae-ha, CEO Han Tae-sung, and the others took seats on the folding chairs in the back.

The first to stand before the judges’ table was Yoon Da-yeon.

An Ji-hee, who was next after her, sat behind Kang Jae-ha with her eyes closed, deep in the middle of calming herself.

’Settle down. Just think about the performance I prepared. Yeah, that’s all I need to think about. The CEO is... yeah, he’s just some middle-aged guy. Just some guy.’

Right around the time CEO Han Tae-sung had been demoted to ’just some guy’ in her mind, before watching Yoon Da-yeon’s Free Acting, the question of whether there was anything to ask first.

”Da-yeon nim.”

Director Kwon Sung-min cleared his throat and spoke while looking down at Yoon Da-yeon’s profile.

”We’ll be watching your performance first, Da-yeon nim... You must have seen the ’Condensation’ synopsis and screenplay we sent over. You’re thinking of the lead role, right?”

The assumption was that even if she was washed-up, Yoon Da-yeon still had the name recognition from her past and would be aiming for the lead. But this was wrong.

”No.”

Yoon Da-yeon’s answer came without a single second of hesitation.

”I’m thinking of the ’Jeong-hee’ role.”

Director Kwon Sung-min’s and CEO Jeong Tae-woo’s eyes went wide. Understandably so.

”...The ’Jeong-hee’ role?”

”Yes.”

”B-but that’s a supporting role.”

”Yes. I know.”

Because the ’Jeong-hee’ role was blatantly a supporting role. At this point, CEO Han Tae-sung’s smile deepened slightly.

’Yoon Da-yeon going for a supporting role... and a supporting role in a short film, at that. Unexpected.’

He glanced at Kang Jae-ha seated to his right.

’Doesn’t seem like she decided this on her own from the start. Must be Kang Jae-ha’s doing.’

How on earth was he managing Yoon Da-yeon, the one they called ”the crazy lunatic”? What was he doing to make that proud Yoon Da-yeon volunteer for a supporting role in a short film? A faint curiosity rose in CEO Han Tae-sung, but he let it pass for now. Director Kwon Sung-min, his eyes still wide, asked Yoon Da-yeon.

”A supporting... no, is there a reason you’re thinking of the ’Jeong-hee’ role? As you know, the screen time isn’t exactly generous.”

This time too, Yoon Da-yeon’s answer was quick.

”Just. The ’Jeong-hee’ role appealed to me the most. Worn down by a hellish reality, so that emptiness has become her entire life, and she’s settled into that emptiness. It’s both heartbreaking and monstrous.”

”......”

”Setting aside screen time, I can’t get the ’Jeong-hee’ role out of my head. She feels like she resembles me, somehow. I mean, it’s not like I don’t care about screen time at all, but my Manager Kang Jae-ha-nim recommended it too.”

Director Kwon Sung-min’s expression turned serious, and his heart raced. The ’Jeong-hee’ role. Yoon Da-yeon had precisely nailed the image of ’Jeong-hee’. The point was ’the image of someone who’s become a veteran at living in a hellish life, a hellish routine.’

”...Understood, thank you. Then let’s see the Free Acting you’ve prepared.”

”Okay.”

After a short exhale, Yoon Da-yeon glanced toward the back. Not at CEO Han Tae-sung, but at Kang Jae-ha. A look that said: I’ll give it my best, so watch me.

She closed her eyes, then slowly opened them.

”Unnie.”

She called softly. Her gaze was directed as if she already knew no one would answer.

”You always said, unnie. That if a person doesn’t give up, a chance will come someday. But I’ve forgotten what a chance even is now.”

The corner of Yoon Da-yeon’s lips lifted just slightly before quickly falling apart.

”It’s strange. I definitely start each day with a fresh mind, so why does reality just keep repeating? But it’s okay.”

She smiled. No, it wasn’t really a smile; it was more like a face where a breath had simply leaked out.

”I know what I have to do. I won’t stop. But still... still, at times like this, I miss you, unnie.”

The tips of Yoon Da-yeon’s fingers trembled slightly as she gathered her long, straight hair back into a tie. It was, of course, a crafted performance. Gradually, little by little, Director Kwon Sung-min was drawn into her acting.

’...She’s incredible. This, this isn’t a level I should even be judging.’

CEO Jeong Tae-woo was equally in awe. Lee Chan-hoo had already fallen completely under Yoon Da-yeon’s spell. Internally murmuring things like ’Damn, she’s killing it, oh.’

The smile vanished from the face of CEO Han Tae-sung, arms folded.

’Yoon Da-yeon, her acting was always good. The emotional side feels even richer now.’

But the current Yoon Da-yeon had lost her past glory. Treated like a nobody. Bad luck, terrible timing, and so on. For a multitude of reasons, she had become washed-up. No matter how well someone acted, no matter how beautiful they were, not everyone could make it in the entertainment industry.

CEO Han Tae-sung briefly recalled the past.

Yoon Da-yeon. Where had things started going wrong for her?

Regardless, Yoon Da-yeon was absorbed in her Free Acting. No, she didn’t even realize she was absorbed. She had become so one with the character that she’d forgotten she was in the middle of an audition. She was soaring.

’This is good. I really do want to keep acting.’

Even though it was just an audition for a short film, Yoon Da-yeon was pleased with herself as she acted. By now, whether ’Condensation’ was a short film or whether she was taking a supporting role in that short film, none of that mattered anymore.

She felt a thirst. A thirst for acting.

A desire for more, for a greater variety of roles and works. Opportunities that had never been given to her because of her background. In that instant, Kang Jae-ha’s indifferent face flickered through Yoon Da-yeon’s mind.

’He’s annoying, but why do I want to trust him?’

It felt like following behind him would carve out new paths that had never existed before. Wasn’t that exactly what was happening right now? Around this time, General Manager Kim Dae-yong’s eyes reddened at the rims. He must have been moved. By the sight of Yoon Da-yeon like that.

As time went on, Yoon Da-yeon’s performance deepened, and a smile hung on CEO Han Tae-sung’s lips.

He looked at Kang Jae-ha, chin propped on his hand.

’Impressive. He made Yoon Da-yeon that desperate. An actor’s original passion. Did he make her hit rock bottom first?’

Soon.

”That’s everything I prepared.”

Yoon Da-yeon announced the end of her Free Acting. The audition room fell silent for a moment. So quiet that the ticking of the clock could be heard clearly. The first to break that silence was.

”Ah, th-thank you. I was truly absorbed watching that.”

Director Kwon Sung-min, eyes layered with multiple emotions. He made a decision on the spot that no one had expected.

”And I’d like to confirm it right now. The ’Jeong-hee’ role, I’m giving it to Da-yeon nim. No, please, you have to take it.”

He had given her the part, the role, right there and then. Normally the process was to finish the audition, hold a proper meeting, and then contact individually, but Director Kwon Sung-min’s expression was resolute. There was absolutely no room for the decision to change.

Moonbak Film’s CEO Jeong Tae-woo was slightly surprised, but.

”......”

He looked at Director Kwon Sung-min and nodded as if in agreement. Casting was ultimately the director’s prerogative. Lee Chan-hoo, recalling Jae-ha’s words that ’as decisions pile up, responsibility accumulates, and commitment deepens’, was also satisfied.

’Director Kwon Sung-min is growing bit by bit too. Must be because he’s got talent. Anyway, things are rolling exactly the way the Commander wants. Whether it’s people or situations.’

Then Yoon Da-yeon, staring straight at Director Kwon Sung-min, asked bluntly.

”Did I pass? Me?”

Director Kwon Sung-min, pushing his glasses up, finally looked a bit self-conscious. His resolute expression softened somewhat.

”Yes. I sincerely ask you to do this.”

”I’ll do it. The ’Jeong-hee’ role.”

In that moment, as Kang Jae-ha watched Yoon Da-yeon with his chin propped up, his vision swayed. A sense of déjà vu surged up. Before long, what appeared before him were not scenes of reality but something else entirely.

It was ’Deja Vu’, and the subject was Yoon Da-yeon.

『A fairly spacious room. Movie posters lined the walls. Two people sat facing each other. One was Yoon Da-yeon, her long hair let down. The one looking at her was a man, wearing a gentle smile.

”Da-yeon ssi, it’s been quite a while.”

”Yes, Director-nim. I think the last time was at the Blue Dragon Film Awards, about seven or eight years ago.”

The man called Director had a gaunt appearance overall and wore round glasses. He held out a stack of papers to Yoon Da-yeon.

”The reason I wanted to see you, Da-yeon ssi, is because I wanted to show you my screenplay.”

”Director-nim... really?”

”Mm. I’ve had it decided since I saw ’Condensation’. There’s a role I want to give to you, Da-yeon ssi.”

Joy, emotion, and similar feelings blended across Yoon Da-yeon’s face.』

Before long, Jae-ha returned to reality. Comparing Yoon Da-yeon’s previous ’Deja Vu’, which had included an erotic film, with this new ’Deja Vu’, he let out a small smirk.

’At that point, nobody will be calling her washed-up anymore.’

Because Yoon Da-yeon’s bleak fate had been flipped 180 degrees.

’She received a screenplay. And from a master director, at that.’