Chapter 29: Condensation (3)

Translator: Dreamscribe

The woman who had slapped Kang Jae-ha on the back among the reporters. The moment she and Jae-ha locked eyes, a woman's voice rang out to both of them.

【Comrade encounter confirmed.】

【The comrade (subordinate) has awakened thanks to Kang Jae-ha-nim's achievement of the Other World objective.】

.

.

.

This was information Jae-ha already knew, but the woman wore a deeply focused expression, as if hearing the message for the first time. Especially.

【Should the comrade (subordinate) commit betrayal, treason, or similar acts against the Commander, it will be regarded as a violation of the applied 'Absolute Obedience', resulting in death.】

From the moment the details about 'Absolute Obedience' came up, betrayal, rebellion, disobedience, acts of harm and the like, her face turned visibly shocked. Her already large eyes widened even further. The reason the comrade (subordinate) message had appeared right after this woman showed up out of nowhere?

Simple.

She was one of the Mercenary Corps' subordinates. Kang Jae-ha, his expression quite serious, responded.

"You."

The woman, having listened to all the messages, glanced around and lowered her voice. A voice straining to suppress her shock.

"Oh my, what? Commander, why are you here?? No way. I never in a million years imagined I'd see you in this world."

"Same here."

"You're way too calm for someone who's supposed to be surprised, you know? I mean, Commander, you were always like that, but... wait, am I not the first??"

"......"

"There are others besides me, aren't there?"

For the record, there were naturally women among the Mercenary Corps' ranks as well. Kang Jae-ha took a moment to size her up. Her eyes, her demeanor, her mental state. Normal or not. Given the recent Kim Ho-yeon situation, it was better to be thorough.

Her eyes were closer to Lee Chan-hoo's than Kim Ho-yeon's. Meaning she was close to normal.

'She looks fine for now, but... it's too early to tell.'

In any case, she was the third subordinate, after Lee Chan-hoo and Kim Ho-yeon. Sizing her up was one thing, but Jae-ha was also quite glad to see her. Kang Jae-ha glanced at the cluster of reporters over there, then brought his gaze back to her.

"You're a reporter."

The woman flashed a grin and pulled a business card from her pocket, holding it out to Kang Jae-ha. She was indeed a reporter.

'Her name is Ha Yeon-ji.'

When he confirmed the name, Ha Yeon-ji looked back and forth between Jae-ha and Leon Entertainment.

"What are you doing, Commander? Why are you going in there?"

Kang Jae-ha slipped the received card into his back pocket, handed over his own business card, and answered calmly.

"I'm a manager. Fourth year."

"What. That's totally unexpected. A manager? Here at Leon? The Commander??"

"Is it that strange?"

"I don't know? It kind of suits you, actually. Anyway..."

Mid-sentence, Ha Yeon-ji stole a glance toward where the reporters were gathered. Someone who appeared to be a colleague waved. Beckoning her over.

"I'll go for now. I gave you my card, so make sure you call me, got it?? I want to see you again, Commander. I've got so many questions. Like who else is here, and what this 'Absolute Obedience' thing is all about."

Having rushed through her words, she dashed off in a flash.

A short while later.

As Kang Jae-ha entered Leon Entertainment, the Ha Yeon-ji he had just met lingered in his mind.

'Compared to Chan-hoo... she seemed to be adapting well.'

Meaning she had blended into this world after returning. Of course, it was too early to jump to conclusions, but her aura and scent were nothing like Kim Ho-yeon's.

'Well, she was always a chameleon of a woman.'

Jae-ha briefly recalled Ha Yeon-ji from the other world. Ha Yeon-ji hadn't been a frontline combatant. She was part of the Scout Unit, whose primary duties were gathering intelligence in advance and conducting reconnaissance. Nobody knew how she'd ended up drifting into the Mercenary Corps.

That was true of most Mercenary Corps members in general, but Ha Yeon-ji was especially notorious for never talking about herself.

'She was always smiling, but there were plenty of times that smile looked sad.'

Ha Yeon-ji had died not during battle, but while out on a reconnaissance mission as part of the Scout Unit, when her cover was blown. It was Kang Jae-ha who had confirmed her body. Regardless, he had met his third subordinate. This time, naturally, not through 'Deja Vu'. Kang Jae-ha's curiosity extended to the next question.

What had she thought after meeting him? And what 'ability' did she possess?

Soon, Kang Jae-ha stepped off the elevator and picked up his phone. To call Lee Chan-hoo. The dial tone didn't last long.

"Yes, sir."

Over the phone, Kang Jae-ha explained to Lee Chan-hoo about the Ha Yeon-ji he had just met. Chan-hoo reacted with considerable shock.

"What??! Her? She's here??!"

"Yeah. Just met her."

"...You're sure? You're not mixing her up with someone else? Big eyes, pretty face. Kind of a honeyed voice."

"What's with that reaction. Did you have a thing for her?"

"Wha, what are you talking about!!"

"Anyway."

Kang Jae-ha brushed past it and gave Lee Chan-hoo an order.

"Name's Ha Yeon-ji. Before I reach out and meet her again, do a quick background check."

After the order, Kang Jae-ha ended the call and entered Team 4. Team 4 was quiet as ever today, and as if he'd been waiting, the good-natured Senior Manager Kim Dae-yong greeted Jae-ha.

"Oh! Jae-ha ssi, did you not sleep well? You look tired."

For the record, Senior Manager Kim Dae-yong's energy had been consistently high lately. Partly thanks to Yoon Da-yeon, and partly because even though 'Condensation' was a short film, the on-set energy had been solid for the first time in a while.

In any case, today too, Yoon Da-yeon and An Ji-hee were shooting 'Condensation'.

So they needed to start by picking up the two actresses. Jae-ha looked around for Road Manager Ryu Jin-woo.

"Where's Jin-woo ssi?"

"Ah, Jin-woo's supporting Team 1 today. I'll drive today."

Jae-ha didn't object.

"If you're offering, I'll leave it to you."

Just then.

-Swish.

The team leader's office door opened, and Team Leader Jang Hyung-su, looking haggard, called out to Kang Jae-ha.

"Jae-ha ssi!"

When he turned, Team Leader Jang Hyung-su was with a rather rough-looking man. Quite tall, too. With his intimidating features and solid build, he could easily pass for a gangster at first glance.

Team Leader Jang Hyung-su pointed to the man.

"Leave today's set to Senior Manager Kim. Jae-ha ssi, I'd like you to have a chat with Oh Jong-man ssi here."

The man called Oh Jong-man was a face Kang Jae-ha recognized. From the Team 4 roster he'd looked through several times.

In other words.

"Sure."

Another washed-up member of Team 4.

Several dozen minutes later.

Kang Jae-ha sat face to face with Oh Jong-man, whom Team Leader Jang Hyung-su had introduced. The venue was a cramped meeting room. Oh Jong-man, with his gangster-like features, stared blankly at Jae-ha.

"......"

To put it bluntly, the man's face was god-awful. With his large build and rough energy, he didn't look like someone with a friendly personality. Then Oh Jong-man suddenly burst out laughing. The bashful hand scratching at his head was a bonus.

"I guess it's been too long since I last came to Team 4. I didn't know there was a new manager. Have we met before?"

Compared to his rough appearance, his tone was as pleasant as could be. What a gap between looks and personality. Kang Jae-ha mused to himself, then answered evenly.

"No, this is our first time meeting."

"Right?? Thank goodness. I was worried we might have met before and I just couldn't remember. Well then, I should introduce myself first. Nice to meet you, I'm Oh Jong-man."

Jae-ha pulled out a business card before the introduction.

"Team 4. Kang Jae-ha."

Seeing this, Oh Jong-man sensed a coldness.

'A bit... chilly, isn't he.'

Outwardly, he said something different.

"Oh, Manager Kang Jae-ha. How should I put it, you've got a different vibe from the other managers in Team 4. Ah! I don't mean that in a bad way. I meant it's a cool vibe. Hahaha."

Oh Jong-man laughed awkwardly. With his mouth shut, he was the spitting image of a gangster. Enough to make people edge away. But the moment he opened his mouth, he was unmistakably a gentleman, with warmth and courtesy ingrained in his bones.

Having finished the brief introductions, Oh Jong-man spoke again.

"Um, do you happen to remember me? As an actor, I mean."

Of course Kang Jae-ha knew him. He'd seen the name on the Team 4 roster, but beyond that, Oh Jong-man had been a supporting actor who'd made quite a name for himself in the past.

"Of course. I enjoyed 'Foul Play Pastor'."

"Oh! Thank you! It's been a long time since I've heard someone mention 'Foul Play Pastor'."

He hadn't been a top-tier actor, but in his prime, Oh Jong-man had appeared in quite a number of productions. Not in leading roles, but supporting ones. As a supporting actor, he'd been very much in demand. He was exactly the type of actor the public would describe as "I don't know his name, but I know his face."

'But then the incident hit.'

Around that time, an incident had engulfed Oh Jong-man. Assault and sexual harassment. Since Oh Jong-man had been fairly well known, the articles were copied and spread instantly, and it took no time for public opinion to snowball.

The comments were all the same.

-I knew that bastard would do something like that. He's got a textbook criminal face.

Cursing, pointing fingers. The media kept fanning the flames, and the situation only grew. But Oh Jong-man was innocent. He continued pleading his case to the press and the public. Yet the uproar never died down.

Oh Jong-man plummeted overnight.

He was dropped from every project he'd been confirmed for and expelled from the entertainment industry. It had taken years to build his recognition, but it crumbled in an instant.

Yet Oh Jong-man kept fighting.

In the end.

《Oh Jong-man cleared of all charges in 'assault, sexual harassment' case》

He was cleared. But it had taken far too long. By then, Oh Jong-man's name had already been erased from the entertainment industry, and in the public's eyes, he was simply branded as an assailant and a sexual harasser. That was where it ended. Oh Jong-man drifted for three years after that, arriving at the present.

A person nobody sought out, nobody remembered, who had once been an actor.

If someone brought up Oh Jong-man, the other person would probably say this:

'Him? Isn't he a criminal?'

Even telling them he'd been cleared would just get an 'Oh, really?' and nothing more. If not, whatever. What could he do, no matter how unjust it was? People like Oh Jong-man were hardly rare in the entertainment industry.

Soon, Oh Jong-man got to the point.

"The thing is, Team Leader Jang said he'd share some audition information with me, so I came by. I've been auditioning continuously, but it hasn't been easy. Haha."

His acting skills probably weren't bad, but few production companies or directors were willing to take on his hardened public image. On top of that, up-and-coming actors were everywhere. Kang Jae-ha thought coldly.

'A comeback is going to be damn near impossible.'

Oh Jong-man, on the other hand, was positive.

"Still! I can't give up! I'm not the only one having it rough. I've got a wife and a kid."

"How have things been for you lately?"

"The kid's growing up and all, so... I've been doing loading and unloading, anything I can get my hands on."

"Not an easy situation."

"Well, that's how it goes. Hahaha! But seeing my wife and kid smile is what keeps me going. When I have a bit of spare time, I write and just hang in there. If I keep hanging on, the sun'll shine someday!"

Kang Jae-ha liked Oh Jong-man's resilience. As for that gangster face, well, it was cute by Jae-ha's standards. The Mercenary Corps had faces several times more intimidating than Oh Jong-man's.

"Understood. I'll compile the audition information and send it over. More importantly, could I see some of your acting?"

"Huh?"

He'd been out of the game for quite a while, so Jae-ha needed to gauge what level his skills were at. Oh Jong-man was a bit startled but quickly nodded.

"Of course!"

He launched into free acting on the spot. Having been to so many auditions, it flowed out effortlessly. Watching Oh Jong-man's performance intently, Kang Jae-ha reached a verdict in his head.

'Not bad. But... it's deteriorated.'

His acting was worse than it had been in his prime. That was to be expected. Even honing his craft wouldn't have been enough, and he'd been knocked down right when he was at his peak as an actor. The time he'd spent adrift was long, too.

'No wonder he keeps failing auditions.'

Acting is something where practice alone can't maintain your edge. At this rate, Oh Jong-man would only continue to regress and eventually retire. He was already on that trajectory.

Having finished his performance, Oh Jong-man watched Jae-ha's face for a reaction.

"How... was it?"

"Not bad."

A bitter smile crossed his face almost immediately.

"I know, too. That I'm lacking a lot. But thank you!"

"For what?"

"I haven't even been able to audition lately, so this feels like the first time in ages I've performed in front of someone! It gives me strength!"

"......"

Kang Jae-ha clicked his tongue inwardly. Oh Jong-man weighed on his mind. Soon, Jae-ha changed the subject. He picked out one thing Oh Jong-man had mentioned earlier, hoping to lighten the mood.

"You said you write when you have spare time."

"Yes."

"What kind of writing?"

"Do you have anything you've written?"

"Sure, I've got some. Short drama type stuff, and the diary entries too."

Kang Jae-ha crossed his legs and picked up his phone. Intending to show a bit of interest in the man's hobby.

"Could I take a look at something you've written?"

"Haha, this is a bit embarrassing."

"If it makes you uncomfortable, it's fine."

"It's not that I'm uncomfortable, just a bit, you know, embarrassed. If the manager's willing to read it, I'd be grateful."

Oh Jong-man then sent a file to Jae-ha's number and offered his parting words.

"Well, I should get going. I need to head straight to work."

"Sure. I'll compile the audition information and send it to you."

"Thank you!"

After parting with him, Kang Jae-ha gathered the audition information Oh Jong-man was looking for, then.

-Swish.

"Hmm..."

He began reading quite intently.

The next day, early morning.

A large distribution warehouse. Countless delivery trucks sat parked, and a crowd of workers were busy stacking boxes. The notoriously grueling loading and unloading shift.

Among them, one man stood out.

It was Oh Jong-man, sleeves rolled up. Already large in build, with a focused expression his features looked even rougher. Enough that people around him kept stealing glances.

Whether they looked or not, Oh Jong-man.

"Hrrgh! Hff!"

Kept at the loading and unloading with gusto. Then a short break was given, and as Oh Jong-man wiped his sweat, the first thing he checked was his phone.

"Hm?"

A text had come in. From Manager Kang Jae-ha, whom he'd met yesterday. The contents were simple. Call back once he'd seen the message. Tilting his head, Oh Jong-man called Jae-ha.

"Yes, Jong-man ssi."

Oh Jong-man responded to Kang Jae-ha's blunt voice on the other end.

"Manager-nim, did you already finish compiling the audition information??"

"I did finish compiling it, actually. But more importantly."

Out of nowhere, Kang Jae-ha said something unexpected.

“Oh Jong-man ssi, did you know you have writing flair?”