Chapter 146: Absorption (2)

Translator: Dreamscribe

“Hmm? ‘The Cooking Teacher of Joseon’? I feel like I’ve heard that somewhere.”

“You may have seen it in an article or somewhere at some point.”

“Maybe?”

Moon Ji-a raised her lowered gaze, met Jae-ha’s eyes, and smiled faintly.

“You’re giving me another project right after ‘Condensation: Euphoria’ ended? You’re really working me hard, huh?”

“You don’t have to do it.”

“What?”

“I’m not forcing you or pressuring you like your previous Agency did. I’m simply suggesting that you read it once.”

In truth, Kang Jae-ha was fine whether Moon Ji-a did ‘The Cooking Teacher of Joseon’ or not. Whether she took the project or not, Kang Jae-ha intended to take ‘The Cooking Teacher of Joseon’ for himself.

‘But while I’m at it, I might as well grab everything that could benefit ‘MEG’.’

He also planned to give it to Yoon Da-yeon, who was currently in the middle of filming ‘Mask of Murder’ with Director Yu Gil-tae.

‘Well, it’s common for actors from the same Agency to appear in the same project.’

So even if Moon Ji-a didn’t do ‘The Cooking Teacher of Joseon’, it wouldn’t be much of a problem. Either way, at Kang Jae-ha’s detached demeanor, Moon Ji-a murmured inwardly.

‘I felt it when he saved me last time too, but this man is strangely cold. Is that why I keep finding myself drawn to him? This is seriously the first time I’ve met someone I can’t get a read on no matter how many times I see him.’

To Moon Ji-a, Kang Jae-ha was both her benefactor and a man she wanted to unravel. Maybe it was because he was unlike anyone she had ever met before.

‘More than anything, he isn’t a Director at the Subsidiary ‘MEG Enter’, he’s a Director at the Head Office, ‘MEG’. But seeing how he still takes care of things down to the smallest detail, he’s kind of like a tsundere too.’

Moon Ji-a, who had been murmuring to herself, let out a small breath.

“Why do you always jump straight to saying I don’t have to do it? I was just joking a little.”

“I’m giving you the freedom I promised you from the beginning.”

“......Fine. Explain the project to me. I feel like I’ve heard the title before, but I can’t remember.”

“First, that project. I’m going to give it to Yoon Da-yeon ssi too.”

Moon Ji-a immediately furrowed her brow.

“To Da-yeon too?”

“Yes. Does that bother you?”

“A little. We clash on a lot of things. If I say I’m doing this, Yoon Da-yeon probably won’t do it, you know?”

“She will. Both of you are professionals.”

“Seriously, one moment you’re cold and the next you’re complimenting me- it’s confusing, so could you stick to one? Anyway, I’ll keep in mind that you’re giving it to Da-yeon too.”

Kang Jae-ha nodded and changed the subject.

“For now, our ‘MEG’ isn’t involved with that project, ‘The Cooking Teacher of Joseon’, yet. We’ll be making a move soon, though.”

“Hearing you say you’re going to make a move makes me feel like you’ll have it in your hands in no time, Director-nim.”

Jae-ha chuckled.

“For now, based on what we’ve confirmed, the Broadcasting Station for ‘The Cooking Teacher of Joseon’ is LBS. It’ll be an Outsourced Production, and while the Production Company hasn’t been finalized, ‘GOO Production’ is the most likely candidate.”

“Ah- ‘GOO Production’.”

“They’re probably coordinating with the Broadcasting Station right now. They should be in the final stages. If things are left as they are, ‘GOO Production’ will definitely get it. Same goes for the Investment.”

“And?”

“Jeon So-hee is the leading candidate for the Female Lead.”

“Ah.”

“That’s right, Jeon So-hee’s Agency is ‘GOO Production’.”

Moon Ji-a’s brow furrowed again. Her reaction was stronger than when she had heard about Yoon Da-yeon. There were probably all sorts of reasons. Among Korea’s most prominent Top Actresses, Moon Ji-a and Jeon So-hee were always mentioned together and frequently compared.

“Jeon So-hee- yes, Jeon So-hee.”

At Moon Ji-a’s flat response, Kang Jae-ha asked.

“Are you two on bad terms?”

“Not great.”

“Worse than Yoon Da-yeon ssi?”

“Compared to Jeon So-hee, Da-yeon might as well be my best friend.”

“So she’s less your polar opposite and more an outright enemy. I won’t bother asking how it got that way.”

“But if that’s the situation with ‘The Cooking Teacher of Joseon’......then I’d be stealing the Female Lead Role that Jeon So-hee is supposed to get.”

Kang Jae-ha crossed his legs and spoke.

“‘Jeon So-hee is the leading candidate for the Female Lead’, it isn’t confirmed. Besides, this industry has always been a market where people take things from each other. Let your guard down for even a moment and you can get left behind. But this is unexpected. I didn’t think Moon Ji-a ssi would have such a soft attitude about it.”

“No! I-I was just asking if it was okay. If I like the Role, I’ll steal it too! If I want it, I should take it!”

“How ruthless.”

“Ah- shit, what is this? You want to fight?”

“I’m joking.”

“Why do you make jokes like they’re documentaries?”

Moon Ji-a let out a sigh, cleared her throat, and calmed herself down.

“Anyway, if the Setup is already that far along, it sounds like it’s practically finalized. Is there even an opening for ‘MEG’ to infiltrate? You’re thinking about Investment, right??”

“Who knows. It’s difficult to tell you yet, but if we want ‘The Cooking Teacher of Joseon’, we’ll have to push ‘GOO Production’ out.”

Then Kang Jae-ha repeated the line Moon Ji-a had said.

“Well, if we like it, we steal it, and if we want it, we take it.”

Narrowing her eyes, Moon Ji-a replied somewhat coldly.

“You really love teasing people, don’t you, Director-nim.”

“I do enjoy it.”

“Ha- whatever. Talking to you is exhausting, Director-nim.”

Half giving up, Moon Ji-a lowered her gaze to ‘The Cooking Teacher of Joseon’ again.

“Yes. Moon Ji-a ssi only needs to read it and tell me whether you’ll do it or not.”

“I’m asking just in case......even if I say I won’t do it, everything else will still go ahead, right?”

“That’s right. Either way, give it a read. It’ll be entertaining.”

“Sounds like you’ve already read it. What did you think? Do you think this project will do well?

Kang Jae-ha rose from his seat, apparently about to get out of the van.

“Personally, I smell a smash hit.”

That same night, ‘MEG’.

All the Subordinates had gathered in ‘MEG’s now larger conference room, centered around Commander Kang Jae-ha. A few routine reports were exchanged before the subject of the ‘New Light Truth Church’ came up. Ryu Hyuk, who had been reporting, asked the Commander.

“What happened with Bureau Director Lee Chan-jin??”

Kang Jae-ha had briefly told Lee Chan-hoo, but the other Subordinates still didn’t know. He had planned to tell them once everyone was gathered together. Kang Jae-ha swept his gaze across all his Subordinates and spoke.

“A few days ago, I met Bureau Director Lee Chan-jin.”

Jae-ha briefly explained the conversations he had with Bureau Director Lee Chan-jin and recited the information he had extracted from him.

“From what I heard, the ‘New Light Truth Church’ definitely has a firmly established system. There’s a headquarters and branches, and as for the branches, if a place is big enough to count as a city, you can basically assume there’s one there.”

Cha Chung-hyeon, who had been listening seriously, spoke in a languid voice.

“So they’re spread all across the country- like cockroaches.”

“Right. It looks like around 80~90% of the Followers are at the branches. Then they scout people from those branches who are especially devout, have social standing or power, and have been with the ‘New Light Truth Church’ for a long time, and bring them up to headquarters.”

“So Bureau Director Lee Chan-jin doesn’t know where the headquarters is either.”

“Right. I wrung him completely dry, and I’m pretty sure he genuinely doesn’t know. But the Chairman. In other words, he does seem to know what the Vice-Commander looks like. Apparently, they show him over video during worship services.”

“Then I guess he’s never seen him in person.”

Ha Yeon-ji snorted.

“For a damn Cult, their system is ridiculously strict.”

Go Chun-seok, arms folded, cut in.

“Considering the Vice-Commander’s personality, that’s only natural.”

“You think? Well, if he was already the Chairman of a Cult before going to the Other World, I guess that makes sense.”

Kang Jae-ha spoke again.

“Even if we get into the headquarters, we probably won’t be able to see the Vice-Commander immediately. We’ll have to build up a certain amount of trust before we can meet him face-to-face. Or if the Vice-Commander decides someone looks useful, he might summon them himself.”

Then Kang Jae-ha spoke while recalling Bureau Director Lee Chan-jin.

“Anyway, we’ll embed Lee Chan-jin as deeply as possible inside the ‘New Light Truth Church’, both as a loyal dog and as a Landmine. We’ll keep increasing the number of guys like him, increase the number of planted Landmines, and gradually seize control of the ‘New Light Truth Church’.”

“But what if Bureau Director Lee Chan-jin betrays us?”

“We eliminate him. If he loses his power, the ‘New Light Truth Church’ will abandon him too. Well, when the time comes, I’m planning to ruin him socially anyway.”

Kang Jae-ha chuckled as he recalled the Vice-Commander’s face.

“That bastard Vice-Commander probably doesn’t even realize the noose is tightening around his neck.”

Afterward.

The weekend ended and Monday dawned. After getting off work at Leon, Kang Jae-ha immediately changed his face and headed to the filming location of ‘Mask of Murder’. First, after meeting Director Yu Gil-tae and briefly talking with him.

“Haha. My phone’s practically on fire these days, on fire. I’m getting flooded with questions, from how I ended up moving over to ‘MEG’ to what kind of investment firm ‘MEG’ is.”

“Moon Ji-a as the Female Lead?”

She clicked her tongue briefly, but surprisingly didn’t react all that strongly.

“It’s a little annoying, but I don’t care. A project is a project, and I know how to separate business from personal feelings. But is Moon Ji-a really going to do it?? I feel like she wouldn’t if I said I was doing it.”

“She said she would if the project was good.”

“Really? Hmm-”

For reference, Yoon Da-yeon had been receiving plenty of project offers lately. Given the massive success of the ‘One-Act Drama Project’ and the fact that she had joined a project by master Director Yu Gil-tae, it was only natural.

“Got it, I’ll read it whenever I get the chance.”

Well, she did intend to ask Kang Jae-ha about it at some point. All while having no idea he was standing right in front of her.

At the same time, Director Kwon Sung-min, who had finished filming ‘Condensation: Euphoria’ a few days earlier.

“Whew- let’s get started. I’m counting on all of you.”

Without wasting any time, he immediately holed himself up in the editing room for Post-production. He had every reason to be tired, yet his eyes were shining instead. Perhaps he had gotten a second wind.

‘The target is June. It’s tight, but it’s doable.’

And so, Editing officially began on the Low-budget Commercial Film ‘Condensation: Euphoria’, made with a Production Budget of 1.5 billion won.

Meanwhile, articles on all sorts of topics were being published online. Among them, the story gaining the most traction was the news about ‘Condensation: Euphoria’.

《[Movie IS] Moon Ji-a ‘Female Lead’ ‘Condensation: Euphoria’, reaches Crank-up and enters Editing》

《Moon Ji-a, An Ji-hee, and others celebrate by posting scenes from the final shoot of ‘Condensation: Euphoria’ on SNS/ Photos》

The news was that ‘Condensation: Euphoria’, which had drawn anticipation thanks to Moon Ji-a, An Ji-hee, Director Kwon Sung-min, and others, had reached Crank-up. With Director Kwon Sung-min and An Ji-hee, who had both scored big at BIFF, plus Moon Ji-a in the mix.

《‘Condensation: Euphoria’, packed with hot names, finishes filming...when will we see it in theaters?》

The articles multiplied in no time.

The considerable buzz continued through the next day, Tuesday the 23rd, and around morning, News M, ‘MEG’s megaphone. In other words, Ha Yeon-ji dropped a new bombshell regarding ‘Condensation: Euphoria’. Naturally, it was under the Commander’s orders.

《[Exclusive] ‘Condensation: Euphoria’, produced with a Total Production Cost of 1.5 billion won》

For the film industry, the news was both baffling and shocking.

“......The Total Production Cost is 1.5 billion won? What kind of bullshit is that.”

*****

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