Possessed 10 Million Actors

10 billion yen, 100 billion.

It's not the name of a house or a dog, not even a cat. It's a vast amount of money that most people around the world would never lay eyes on in their lifetime.

At the mention of investing such a huge sum by Oh Haneul, Katahiro trembled.

"10 billion yen for my work?"

Just thinking about it made his heart swell. With that kind of money, he felt he could create a truly perfect piece of art in every aspect.

That's why, if it were most directors, they would have accepted Oh Haneul's proposal without hesitation.

"Can I take on that responsibility?"

It's not ten million or one hundred million yen; it's 10 billion yen. Investing a lot of money doesn't guarantee a good piece of work, but when given a substantial budget, a director is fated to produce something outstanding.

Even with ample funding, if Katahiro couldn't create good work, he would become a director without skill – "Director Katahiro."

Katahiro clenched his fist. The warmth and moisture of sweat clung to the tips of his nails.

"Let's make a decision."

Would he give his best with a reasonable budget, or would he create the best with the best budget?

The answer was clear.

Looking straight at Oh Haneul, Katahiro spoke.

"10 billion yen, I'll use it well. I won't waste a single yen, and I'll control everything. No, I'll prove it through the results, as you suggested."

It was a resolute voice, like a general making a pledge to a king before heading into battle. Oh Haneul, seemingly pleased, smiled so broadly that his gums showed.

"If you didn't hesitate and accepted the money right away, I was going to set the ‘total production budget' at 10 billion yen. But…"

"…?"

"If the director had simply taken the money without thinking, it seemed like he wanted to take responsibility for the money. I'll support you with a ‘production budget' of 10 billion yen. We can discuss the total production budget, including promotion and marketing expenses, after completing the work."

With the increased budget, Katahiro blinked and asked with curiosity.

"Can I know why you're supporting me to this extent?"

"Of course. I mentioned it earlier. This project is our company's monumental first original."

"…"

"If I'm going to spend money anyway, I prefer to spend it decisively. In case you thought I was stingy about money because I'm bald, change your perception of bald people from now on."

Speaking solemnly until the end, Oh Haneul's mention of baldness at the last moment brought an awkward expression to Katahiro's face.

Seeming to find the reaction amusing, Oh Haneul, satisfied, chuckled lightly before rising from his seat. Jang Sunho followed suit, and Katahiro, too, stood up somewhat unsteadily.

"Well, I'll be going now. Don't see me off."

Oh Haneul waved his hand casually and left the reception room with leisurely steps. Watching his retreating figure in a daze, Katahiro received a comment from Jang Sunho.

"Well, Director. Now that the fundraising is over, it seems appropriate to discuss the practical matters with me. But before that, shall we have a meal?"

"Oh, yes! I'll treat you to the meal. I've received such a grand reception."

"No, it's not necessary. The CEO gave you a personal card to use during your stay in Korea."

Jang Sunho took out a black card from his wallet and spoke.

"Actor Kang Jinseok has also arrived at the hotel, so let's go. Is there anything specific you'd like to eat?"

***

A Japanese restaurant on the top floor of ‘THE OS HOTEL Gangnam.'

I, Jang Sunho, and Director Katahiro were seated in front of a rotating sushi conveyor belt, contemplating our choices.

‘What should I eat?'

To be precise, I was the only one in confusion. It was my first time at a rotating sushi restaurant, and as I pondered what to eat, the sushi kept passing me by.

When I finally decided to grab one, Jang Sunho would deftly pick it up first.

So this time, I made up my mind to unquestionably eat the red plate that caught my eye from a distance.

‘Hurry up.'

At the moment I aimed for the tempting red sushi plate…

"…?"

Jang Sunho once again picked up the sushi I was eyeing. Always getting along like a well-matched couple, today they seemed to be especially in sync, making it challenging for me.

Unable to reach for anything and frozen in place, Jang Sunho asked with a concerned tone, "Aren't you eating, Actor? Do you happen to dislike sushi?"

I couldn't just say, "The manager ate everything I wanted to pick," so I just laughed.

"Haha, no, I like sushi. I'm just struggling with what to eat."

"Rotating sushi is like a good piece of work. If you hesitate too much with a good piece, other actors might snatch it away, don't you think?"

Yes. And now it's the manager who's snatching that good piece of work, right?

I covered it up with a smile, not revealing my thoughts.

Katahiro, looking at me apologetically from the left side of Jang Sunho, said, "I'm sorry if you don't like sushi. I mentioned wanting to try Korean sushi."

"Oh, no, Director. I really like it."

Feeling like I was burdening both Jang Sunho and Katahiro, I randomly picked up a passing plate.

It happened to be an egg roll. Choosing an egg roll as the first sushi among all these high-quality options wasn't the most polite thing to do, but knowing it wasn't courteous to put it back, I ate it right away.

"It's delicious, maybe because it's an expensive place."

After finishing the egg roll, I immediately picked up another passing sushi. Now that Katahiro seemed a bit relieved, he started talking to Jang Sunho again.

Most of their conversation was related to the production of "The Most Painful Predestined Relationship in the World," and I didn't have much to contribute. Occasionally, I would answer questions about acting or confirm how proficient I was in Japanese.

"There aren't many customers."

In reality, I was a bit worried when Jang Sunho suggested eating here.

The rotating sushi restaurant I had seen in pictures was generally a public place, and since the release of "Absolute Unlicensed Counseling," I had gained quite a few fans who might recognize me.

Well, maybe there was no need to worry. The manager probably had everything planned. More importantly, could I have a meal here with the applicants for the "Let's Become an Actor" audition? It seemed like a good idea.

Putting those thoughts aside, I grabbed another passing sushi. It looked delicious, probably tuna.

"Director, then, do you plan to audition for the role opposite Kang Jinseok in this project?"

"Yes. I mentioned there was an actor I had in mind for the role opposite Kang Jinseok, didn't I?"

At that moment, I heard Jang Sunho's conversation, tuning my ears out.

"Yes. It was an actor named ‘Himari.'"

"That's right. However, after seeing Kang Jinseok in person, I felt that the atmosphere wouldn't match with that actor."

After wiping his hands, Katahiro hesitated for a moment, then continued decisively.

"Actually, when I came to Korea, I happened to meet an actress by chance. She's not very famous, but her appearance and way of speaking were exactly what I had imagined for the role."

"Then, why not proceed with the audition for that actress?"

"Yes, I'd like to do that. However, I don't have the contact information for that actress."

"Hmm…"

"She mentioned that she had an audition at a certain agency, and I asked for her to contact me whether it went well or not. But… there's still no response."

A sense of disappointment lingered as Katahiro repeatedly turned the phone screen on and off. Jang Sunho, touching his chin in thought, asked,

"She didn't mention which agency's audition it was?"

"Yes."

"You don't know the name of the agency either?"

"No, I don't."

Jang Sunho's expression brightened at the confirmation that Katahiro knew the actress's name.

"If you tell me the name, I can personally look into it. There shouldn't be many Japanese actresses who recently auditioned, so I might be able to find her."

"Ah…! That would be great!"

As if relieved, Katahiro clapped his hands. Jang Sunho smiled subtly and asked,

"If you tell me the name, I'll instruct my staff to look into it right away."

"Yes. It's Inoue. Inoue Masaki."

Jang Sunho entered ‘Inoue Masaki' on his phone. After discussing a few more details with Katahiro, they left the sushi restaurant.

"Thank you for your hard work today, Director. Take a good rest, and I'll contact you again."

"Hard work? No, not at all. I'll be waiting for your call, Team Leader. I'll see the actor soon as well."

"Oh, yes! See you again!"

Katahiro went back to his room, and Jang Sunho and I headed to the lobby on the first floor using the VIP elevator.

In the fast-descending elevator, Jang Sunho asked me.

“Manager, next week, we're going to have a meal with the applicants for ‘Let's Become an Actor.'”

“Yes. Since you hadn't mentioned it yet, I took the liberty of making reservations here and there.”

He made reservations without me asking. I couldn't bring myself to suggest filming at the Japanese restaurant we ate at today.

“Is there a place you had in mind?”

When I remained silent, Manager Sunho continued the conversation.

“Oh, no. Nothing like that. I was just thinking, if there were no reservations, we could go to the Japanese restaurant we ate at today.”

“At first, you didn't eat much, so I was worried. Did the food suit your taste?”

“Haha… Yes.”

“Then, let's go to this place. It's one of the places I've reserved anyway.”

“Really?”

“Yes. The CEO will probably like it. Since our company's restaurant is getting featured on TV. It's a restaurant the CEO cares a lot about, but the sales have been low, making him upset.”

Sunho nodded with a subtle smile.

“Alright then, let's proceed like that.”

***

OS Entertainment, Team Kang Jinseok.

The team, which initially only consisted of Jang Sunho and Go Seoyeong, had grown to more than ten employees. Currently, the members of Kang Jinseok's team are busy answering phone calls.

“Yes, hello. This is OS Entertainment.”

“Have you recently auditioned for an actress at ‘SIN8 Entertainment'? … Oh, you haven't?”

“Then why, have you auditioned for a Japanese actress recently?”

“Hey, your company has a lot of foreign actors, right? Do you know a Japanese actress named ‘Inoue Masaki'? No? Haven't even heard of her?”

Everyone was searching for the actress ‘Inoue Masaki that Katahiro had mentioned. Sunho thought he could find her quickly, but it was taking longer than expected.

“Team leader, I asked the reporters, and they haven't heard of the actress either.”

Frustrated, Go Seoyeong, unbuttoning the top of her blouse, spoke.

“The name is Inoue Masaki. Does that sound right?”

“Yes. I confirmed it with Director Katahiro.”

“It's not a stage name or alias?”

“If you've seen auditions at planning companies in Korea, she wouldn't be famous enough to use a stage name.”

Seoyeong answered, and Sunho checked his monitor. There was a list of companies that the team had contacted.

“I've checked almost all of them. Now, all that's left is here.”

Sunho's ‘here' referred to KL Entertainment. Although it was a large company and the most suitable one to contact first, he deliberately instructed me to contact them last.

Not to gauge KL Entertainment's reaction, but simply because there wasn't anyone at KL Entertainment worth contacting.

OS Entertainment, and especially between Kang Jinseok's team and KL Entertainment, relations were not particularly good.

“Um… Team leader, assistant. I apologize in the midst of your conversation. I contacted all the agencies in Seoul, but it seems Inoue Masaki is nowhere to be found.”

At that moment, a new employee with a handsome appearance cautiously spoke. After Sunho nodded as if understanding, the new employee returned to his seat.

‘No choice. I have to contact KL Entertainment.'

While Inoue could contact Katahiro herself using Katahiro's business card, waiting passively was not an option. Sunho scanned through his contacts and found the contact information for ‘KL Entertainment' on his phone.

‘It's hard to contact Manager 1. As for Managers 3, 4, 5, and 6, they might not give us accurate information since we had a bad experience with them. That leaves Manager 2.'

Jang Sunho recalled Manager 2 at KL Entertainment. She was a woman with a snake-like demeanor, a style he really didn't like. The actions of the actors in Room 2 were annoying, to say the least.

‘Even so, it's probably better than other options.'

After some contemplation, just as Jang Sunho was about to call Manager 2 at KL Entertainment, his phone rang. It was a call from Katahiro.

"Yes, Director. I'm sorry. We're still looking for Inoue…"

[A call came in!]

"Yes?"

[Inoue Masaki has just been contacted!]