The Crazy Mercenary Commander Goes to Work in the Entertainment Industry

The core of the ’Deja Vu’ that Kang Jae-ha saw from Yoon Da-yeon was this.

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

”Director nim... really?”

”Yes. I’d decided ever since I saw Condensation. There’s a role I want to give you, Da-yeon ssi.”』

The moment the screening of Yoon Da-yeon’s ’Deja Vu’ ended, Kang Jae-ha returned to reality and murmured to himself.

That no one could call her washed-up anymore.

Of course not. Until recently, her future had been a bleak dead end that included erotic films, but this ’Deja Vu’ showed an entirely different tomorrow. Above all, the man in the ’Deja Vu’. The man Yoon Da-yeon had addressed as ”Director nim” was a face Kang Jae-ha recognized.

’Director Yu Gil-tae.’

Director Yu Gil-tae, hailed as one of the nation’s master directors. A legendary filmmaker with a dazzling filmography that included not only ten-million-viewer blockbusters but also awards from prestigious international film festivals. Director Yu Gil-tae’s nickname was the ’Gentleman of Chungmuro’. That was how gentle his personality was.

And such a master director had handed a screenplay to the washed-up Yoon Da-yeon. In person, no less.

When a master director meets an actress one-on-one to offer a project, it means his interest runs deep. At that point, calling Yoon Da-yeon washed-up, a nobody, or a has-been was a stretch.

Kang Jae-ha fixed his gaze on the back of Yoon Da-yeon as she stood in the audition hall.

’I’m not sure exactly when that Deja Vu takes place, but it can’t be too far off.’

The master director Yu Gil-tae had mentioned Condensation, the very film currently being auditioned for. That suggested it wasn’t too distant a future. At most, sometime within the year. And one more prediction could be drawn from it: that the results of Condensation would be quite favorable. Enough for the master director Yu Gil-tae to personally bring it up.

Just then.

”Manager Kang Jae-ha.”

A relaxed male voice reached him. It was CEO Han Tae-sung, seated beside him. He murmured to Jae-ha in a low tone, practically whispering.

”You’ve done well straightening out that Yoon Da-yeon’s ’attitude’.”

Jae-ha replied with a touch of nonchalance.

”I didn’t really do anything.”

”Nothing?”

”Right. Yoon Da-yeon ssi was always strong-willed to begin with.”

He meant she had a tough core. CEO Han Tae-sung let out a small chuckle and turned his eyes toward Yoon Da-yeon.

”True. So strong-willed she was about to snap.”

”......”

”Bringing her this far without breaking her. That’s what deserves praise.”

Kang Jae-ha, who had been watching CEO Han Tae-sung for a moment, opened his mouth. Half to test the waters, half to gauge his reaction.

”Including Yoon Da-yeon ssi, the artists assigned to Team 4 appear to have been gathered simply to be broken.”

The underlying message: wasn’t ”recycling” just a pretense for Team 4? He was practically certain. Everyone was just watching from the sidelines. Even Kang Jae-ha himself, back in his weaker days, had only heard rumors about Team 4 and never paid it any mind.

Just a vague awareness that such a place existed. That was all.

Well, the Jae-ha of those days had been too busy keeping his own head above water. It wasn’t entirely incomprehensible that people would stand by and watch Team 4, watch the washed-up and the nobodies, from a distance. Kang Jae-ha had commanded a Mercenary Corps of over several hundred in another world, after all.

When an organization grows large, the need to choose where to focus comes naturally. Nurture competence, discard incompetence.

Not everyone can be embraced.

Especially in an entertainment agency operating in an industry where trends and everything else shift by the minute. Glamorous but ruthless. Leon Entertainment had far more successful celebrities than washed-up ones, and every agency in the industry invested more capital in the products that made money.

Broken or worn-out products get tossed.

Every agency had a Team 4, the only difference being whether they gathered them in one place or scattered them around.

Soon, CEO Han Tae-sung, his eyes still resting on Yoon Da-yeon in response to Jae-ha’s words, answered quietly.

”So you’re saying Team 4 was created to neglect them.”

”That’s how it looks to me.”

”Maybe so. Sometimes neglect is necessary. Whether it’s employees, executives, or artists.”

An enigmatic expression. CEO Han Tae-sung’s, that is. Kang Jae-ha didn’t press further. Right, well, the man hadn’t built Leon Entertainment by playing card games. Whether he came out of curiosity, to see potential, or to judge him personally, CEO Han Tae-sung’s stance didn’t matter much to Jae-ha at the moment.

’I use everything that can be used.’

The more CEO Han Tae-sung’s curiosity grew, the better the situation was for Kang Jae-ha. Right now, Jae-ha was essentially dipping into the man’s pockets. Recycle with Han Tae-sung’s money, and when the broken products reclaimed their shine, take them.

’For now, that’s the play.’

Regardless, Yoon Da-yeon was confirmed for Condensation. A supporting role as ’Jeong-hee’. Around this time, Yoon Da-yeon, having finished her conversation with Director Kwon Sung-min, returned. She stood before Kang Jae-ha, not CEO Han Tae-sung. When Jae-ha glanced up, Yoon Da-yeon wore a rather triumphant expression.

A face that practically said, So? I did great, right?

Radiating an aura that demanded praise be delivered immediately, Jae-ha lifted the corner of his mouth faintly.

”Congratulations. Want me to pat you on the head?”

”Oh, come on. You could just say... ’good job’. What’s with patting my head?”

”You did this yourself, Yoon Da-yeon ssi. Give yourself some credit. Tell yourself you did well.”

”......”

While General Manager Kim Dae-yong and An Ji-hee clapped with heartfelt sincerity, CEO Han Tae-sung simply watched Yoon Da-yeon in silence, his gaze steady.

Now, the next turn. Director Kwon Sung-min announced it.

”An Ji-hee ssi, please come up.”

An Ji-hee, who had been mid-clap, flinched and sprang to her feet.

”Yes!!”

As she walked out, she shot Kang Jae-ha an intense look. The unspoken meaning being something like, ’I’ll do great and come back!!’ CEO Han Tae-sung, who had been watching Yoon Da-yeon, also began observing An Ji-hee with considerable interest, and Director Kwon Sung-min carefully asked her as she stood before him.

”Uh, An Ji-hee ssi, is there a particular role you had in mind?”

An Ji-hee shook her head in a flurry.

”N-no! Any role at all is fine!”

”There wasn’t a role that felt right to you?”

”They were all great. Really. Even the passerby.”

”...Thank you.”

”Huh? N-n-no! I should be the one thanking you!”

An Ji-hee was stiff as a soldier at attention. Not that she could help it. It was her very first acting audition. Soon, Director Kwon Sung-min made his request.

”Then let’s see the free acting you’ve prepared.”

An Ji-hee gulped hard and retied her bobbed hair tightly. In an instant, her eyes changed. A measured despair filled them.

”...Can’t you reconsider? You and I were always a little different from the start. But we still made it work.”

Her gaze stopped somewhere in the empty air. Her voice trembled more and more, urgency bleeding into it.

”I. I remember every little thing, but you forgot so quickly. But I was clumsy and you were meticulous. I laughed easily but you were blunt. I’m, I’m a fool, but you’re smart.”

Gradually, An Ji-hee’s emotions heated up. The composure she’d been fighting to maintain was bubbling over. That was the expression.

”Your... angry face. Your annoyed look. Your tired voice. That bored air about you. It’s fine, I loved all of it. Then and now.”

She smiled. That smile twisted.

”I said I love it, okay? I love it! Why, why am I the only one saying this again! You know you’re a real asshole, right? Not just any asshole, a piece-of-garbage asshole!”

Her swelling emotions exploded. Like a volcano. Boom.

Yoon Da-yeon pursed her lips slightly. Internally, she was grumbling something like, ’What the hell, she’s actually really good’. Meanwhile, Director Kwon Sung-min, pushing his glasses up...

”......”

...was savoring a different kind of moved than he’d felt with Yoon Da-yeon moments ago.

’A slightly rough-around-the-edges vibe. Did she plan her performance to include even that? If so, that’s insane.’

Of course, in terms of pure acting ability, Yoon Da-yeon was still higher. If Yoon Da-yeon’s was a rich, seasoned performance built on experience, An Ji-hee’s was thinner in concentration but stood out with the raw emotion of someone just starting out in the world.

The kind of character who’d tense up even if a pen dropped.

That was precisely why Director Kwon Sung-min naturally thought of the role that suited An Ji-hee, and he whispered to CEO Jeong Tae-woo seated beside him.

”CEO nim. An Ji-hee ssi is perfect for the role of ’Ji-su’.”

”...You’re right.”

”If I decide on the female lead role of ’Ji-su’ for Condensation right here and now, would that be alright?”

CEO Jeong Tae-woo smiled warmly, as if there were no issue at all.

”If you decide it, Director nim, then it’s decided.”

”Thank you.”

Condensation was a story about women driven to the gutter. And in that Condensation, the role of ’Ji-su’ was the female lead. Following Yoon Da-yeon, Director Kwon Sung-min...

”An Ji-hee ssi.”

...decided on a role for An Ji-hee as well, right then and there.

”I’d like you to take the role of ’Ji-su’.”

An Ji-hee’s eyes went round.

”Huh? What? The role of ’Ji-su’ is... the female lead, though.”

”Yes. That’s right.”

An Ji-hee, whose brain had briefly frozen, managed to ask again.

”...I’m, I’m the female lead??”

A short while later.

Both Leon Entertainment actresses cast in the Condensation audition had their roles confirmed. The role of ’Ji-su’ and the role of ’Jeong-hee’. Female lead and supporting role. Central roles in Condensation. And yet Director Kwon Sung-min had decided on the spot.

Of course, Director Kwon Sung-min hadn’t given a single thought to the Leon name behind them. The two actresses’ performances had simply been that brilliant.

An Ji-hee, back in her seat, bounced up and down, riddled with shock and joy.

”Manager nim! Me, me! He said I’m the female lead!”

Surprisingly, Yoon Da-yeon was the first to congratulate her.

”Your acting was good. You must have practiced a lot?”

”Oh, yes! Thank you, sunbaenim! Congratulations to you too, sunbaenim!”

”I’ve got the experience to back me up. If I hadn’t landed it, I would’ve fled.”

During the two women’s exchange, General Manager Kim Dae-yong didn’t clap with much enthusiasm. Of course he was pleased. But he’d been reading Yoon Da-yeon’s mood.

Because it was a peculiar picture.

Kang Jae-ha murmured that very thing to himself.

’Yoon Da-yeon, washed-up but loaded with experience, gets the supporting role. An Ji-hee, a complete unknown who just started acting, gets the female lead.’

Naturally, this was exactly the picture Jae-ha had engineered.

’This is how it has to be.’

For Yoon Da-yeon to awaken, she needed to take the supporting role, not the lead. And it absolutely had to be the role of ’Jeong-hee’. That was why Kang Jae-ha had specifically pointed Yoon Da-yeon toward that role. Conversely, he hadn’t told An Ji-hee anything in particular.

’I knew the moment I saw it. That An Ji-hee would land the female lead.’

Because An Ji-hee was a perfect fit for the female lead of Condensation.

Just then.

-Swish.

CEO Han Tae-sung, who had been watching the audition, quietly rose to his feet. He offered a subdued congratulations to the two actresses.

”Well done, both of you.”

He didn’t neglect to greet the Condensation team either, including Director Kwon Sung-min.

”I apologize again for showing up so suddenly. Thank you for letting me sit in on the audition.”

”Oh, not at all!”

CEO Han Tae-sung gave a small bow and left the audition hall. Just before stepping out, he glanced once at Kang Jae-ha but didn’t say anything. Watching him go, Lee Chan-hoo stretched broadly and muttered.

”The guy’s, like, super nice.”

CEO Jeong Tae-woo, disappointed that his role model had vanished, replied.

”That’s what it takes to be the CEO of Leon. Self-made, no less. He carries serious weight in the industry too.”

Outside the audition hall, staff who had been waiting in the corridor fell in beside CEO Han Tae-sung. His secretary, a general manager, asked first.

”How was it, CEO nim.”

CEO Han Tae-sung answered the question with a question.

”The Condensation screenplay. Is it ready?”

”Yes, it’s in the car.”

CEO Han Tae-sung stepped into the elevator and shoved both hands into his pockets. Then he thought of Kang Jae-ha.

’So the ’real thing’ has been pretending to be ’fake’ this whole time. In any case, he’s useful for now.’

Meanwhile, inside the audition hall, Director Kwon Sung-min was briefing Yoon Da-yeon and An Ji-hee on several matters. A rough outline of the upcoming Condensation schedule.

Roughly forty minutes later, the Leon team, Kang Jae-ha included, could be found at a nearby pork belly restaurant. A modest celebration. No alcohol, but everyone was drunk on the mood, inhaling pork belly.

”Hahaha! Da-yeon! Ji-hee ssi! Congratulations, seriously, both of you!!”

Only now did the good-natured General Manager Kim Dae-yong clap to his heart’s content. Jae-ha, on the other hand, was deadly serious. His attention had been captured by the pork belly.

’Right now, I need to give this pork belly my all. It loses flavor once it cools down.’

General Manager Kim Dae-yong suddenly pointed at Jae-ha, who had stuffed a massive wrap into his mouth.

”Then! A few words from Manager Kang Jae-ha, who handled this whole Condensation operation!!”

He couldn’t speak. His mouth was packed full of wrap. Yoon Da-yeon, witnessing this, marveled.

”What are you, a squirrel? How huge did you make that wrap? Are you storing it in your cheeks to nibble on later?”

An Ji-hee was amazed too.

”Wow, Manager nim, you really like pork belly.”

Obviously. Who doesn’t like pork belly? Kang Jae-ha, chewing his wrap with indifference, seemed to find a moment of breathing room and muttered briefly.

”Let us devote ourselves entirely to the pork belly right now.”

Afterward.

The Condensation audition ended, and Moonbak Film officially announced the accepted cast the following afternoon, on the 9th. It was a short film, so there weren’t that many actors, but they called each one individually.

Within Leon, news of Condensation was quiet.

A short film audition wasn’t exactly a major event.

Even so, Team 4 Team Leader Jang Hyung-su was pleased without a hint of reluctance.

”Oh, Yoon Da-yeon and An Ji-hee both got in?”

He gave Kang Jae-ha a thumbs up.

”Jae-ha ssi. You come in and deliver right away.”

Yoon Da-yeon and An Ji-hee signed their contracts with the Condensation side two days later. Wednesday, the 11th. Many contracts were exchanged that day. Not only Yoon Da-yeon’s and An Ji-hee’s, but ’MEG’ and Cheong-yeon Studio for House of the Daytime Moon also finalized their official contracts.

Investment funds were disbursed as well.

Condensation had already surpassed 50 million won, and 1 billion won was injected into House of the Daytime Moon on the 12th, one day after the contract was signed. Following Condensation, House of the Daytime Moon as well.

”We’re resuming production immediately. We’ll be picking up the pace compared to before. So our investor will be satisfied with what they see.”

Production was restarted. Judging by the blazing look in Director Hong Man-seop’s eyes, he seemed ready to push even harder than before.

Then, the following morning. Friday, the 13th.

Kang Jae-ha had just arrived at the Team 4 office and was in the middle of a wide yawn when his phone rang. The caller was Moonbak Film, on the Condensation side.

”Yes, this is Kang Jae-ha.”

On the other end, CEO Jeong Tae-woo informed him of a finalized matter.

That was when it happened.

【Hello, Kang Jae-ha nim.】

A familiar female voice reached Kang Jae-ha.

【We will be disbursing your second month’s pension of 700 million won.】

Along with it.

-Vrrm.

A short vibration pulsed through his phone.

-[Deposit/ 700,000,000 won]

700 million won had been loaded in. Kang Jae-ha smirked, and a thought suddenly occurred to him.

’Using Leon is using Leon, but considering the time I’ll be investing... swallowing Leon whole might not be a bad idea either.’

Kang Jae-ha traced back through the statements the female voice had made.

’She said don’t quit or get fired. She never said anything about not taking it over.’

The starting point was Team 4. Standing in that very Team 4, Kang Jae-ha looked upward. The CEO’s office. In other words, he looked at CEO Han Tae-sung.

’Until then, it’s better if that man stays CEO.’

Which meant that later, swapping out the CEO was an option.