Chapter 20
Chapter 20
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 20
Chapter Title: Last Outgoing Number
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Director Son Tae-min diligently filmed the scenes that needed to be shot in daylight. President Lee Tae-ho waited patiently without complaint until the shooting wrapped up.
Son Tae-min scratched his head vigorously while reviewing the footage he'd just captured.
"I hate that I have to call this okay as is. We could get some great shots if we did a few more takes."
The cinematographer chimed in.
"Still, everyone knows their lines from the previous shoots, so they're matching the acting pretty well."
"If they couldn't even manage that, the movie would be doomed. Anyway, aside from that action scene earlier, nothing else lives up to par."
Son Tae-min finished shooting and headed back toward President Lee Tae-ho of THO Entertainment.
Lee Tae-ho apologized first.
"Director Son, I'm sorry. After seeing that footage, I finally get why you insisted we'd be fine as long as we had Na Gang-in."
Son Tae-min grinned.
"If you still didn't get it after that footage, I'd have thought you were just being stubborn as hell. Heh."
"You're right. As someone in the film industry myself, how could I not understand?"
Son Tae-min spoke in a subtle tone.
"That's why I'm bringing this up, President Lee. There's an issue you'll need to handle."
Lee Tae-ho had replayed the footage several times and already caught on.
"Using actual accident footage in the movie, right?"
"You got it right away. For our film to succeed, we need that clip, but it'll stir up a storm."
"Obviously, it'll bring a ton of issues."
President Lee Tae-ho of THO Entertainment declared loudly.
"That's exactly the kind of buzz we can turn into promotion. Our PR team's top-notch."
The previously subdued atmosphere on set brightened considerably.
Na Gang-in passed out bags of mixed crackers to the staff.
He didn't hand them out individually but gave one bag each to a few staff members.
The reaction was explosive.
"Whoa, what is this? How's it so delicious?"
Na Gang-in replied.
"Just threw a bunch of stuff together."
"Doesn't taste like it was thrown together."
"Share with the others."
"Huh? Oh, right... I should share."
Na Gang-in handed a bag of mixed crackers to the assistant director and asked.
"The mood on set's improved, huh?"
"The studio president fully backed our director's plan. But seriously, what are these? They're amazing."
Na Gang-in filled a paper bag to the brim with mixed crackers and took it to Lee Tae-ho. He packed more than for others, but not because Lee was the president.
Lee Tae-ho's daughter, child actress Lee Min-ji, loved mixed crackers. She'd even hidden some in his car to sneak eats past her mom.
His office was a better storage spot than the car. That's why he brought the overflowing bag to Lee Tae-ho.
Lee Tae-ho had been about to seek out Na Gang-in himself. He greeted him with a wide smile as he approached.
"Whoa, Na Gang-in! You saved my ass."
"Don't remember saving you from the set earlier?"
"You saved our movie! Haha!"
Na Gang-in held out the bag.
"Just made 'em."
Lee Tae-ho took the paper bag. It was a standard fish-shaped bread bag, but packed with unfamiliar crackers.
"What's this?"
"Kinda like hardtack."
It looked a bit different from hardtack, but the size and basic shape were similar.
Lee Tae-ho thought.
'I hate hardtack.'
He'd eaten it during his military service. But that was over twenty years ago. Seeing it brought back grueling memories from the barracks.
Since discharge, he'd never touched the stuff.
Still, he couldn't refuse. For the movie to hit theaters on schedule, he needed Na Gang-in's help with the action scenes.
"Hahaha. Looks delicious."
Lee Tae-ho flashed a business smile and plucked out one cracker.
'Smells good.'
He popped it in his mouth and chewed.
It was delicious.
His eyes widened.
"Huh? It's good! Wait, I mean... yeah, knew it would be. Ha, haha."
Lee Tae-ho fumbled in surprise and grabbed another.
The crackers had a salty, umami savoriness. A hint of green onion pancake, but not greasy-fried.
"Wow, this is seriously good... My daughter would love these."
Na Gang-in said.
"She already had some. And I packed extra for Min-ji's share too."
"Ah, got it. Haha. Not sure if that kid even said thanks properly."
He glanced around.
"Where's my daughter?"
She wasn't in sight.
Na Gang-in scanned the set too.
"Where is she?"
AI Jeon Ji-in sees the world through Na Gang-in's eyes.
But processing what Na Gang-in sees doesn't yield the same level of info.
She turns his view into video, analyzes it, and can pinpoint specific people in crowds easily.
Yet even after analysis, no sign of Lee Min-ji.
Na Gang-in felt a chill.
"Reason?"
Na Gang-in's smartphone rang. He checked the caller.
Incoming: 'Cool Kid Lee Min-ji'.
Na Gang-in relaxed.
"Ah, it's Min-ji."
Lee Tae-ho was mildly surprised.
"How do you have my daughter's phone number?"
Na Gang-in switched to speaker and answered.
"Min-ji wanted my number to score more mixed crackers later. Hello?"
No voice. Just a brief thud, then the call dropped.
Na Gang-in's face hardened.
Lee Tae-ho asked.
"Call dropped, so you're upset? Why the grim look over something like that..."
Na Gang-in turned and headed toward the set.
"Chance Min-ji just dropped and broke her phone?"
"Dig for more info."
"What sounds?"
This was a set in a clearing in Gangwon Province mountains. No buildings here.
Na Gang-in said curtly.
"Inside a car."
He pivoted straight toward the temporary parking lot.
Lee Tae-ho sensed something wrong and followed.
"What's going on? You answer her call and suddenly look so serious?"
The makeshift parking clearing came into view. Cars from actors, staff, and film company folks were parked there.
It might not be kidnapping. Still, had to check.
Lee Min-ji had been suddenly kidnapped.
Her mouth was covered during the grab, so no screams, but once dragged into the van, she struggled and managed to dial her phone.
The call connected to her last contact, Na Gang-in.
But her mouth was clamped shut—no talking. The kidnappers snatched and smashed the phone.
The boss in the front seat turned.
"Hey, we weren't made, right?"
The underling muffling Lee Min-ji answered.
"Smashed it right away, so they'll think it just dropped."
"You idiot! Why smash it? If they call back and it doesn't connect, they'll get suspicious!"
"It happened in the rush..."
"Fuck. Who'd the brat call?"
"Saw before smashing—screen said 'Cracker Uncle'."
"Some bakery?"
"Probably."
The boss eased up a bit.
"Then if they call back and no answer, they'll assume it's off."
"Obviously. Heh heh heh."
The boss ordered.
"Get the van out quietly. Slip away before anyone notices."
The driver checked the side mirror.
"Uh, boss. Someone's coming this way."
The boss snapped.
"Shit! Everyone duck! Play dead van! They haven't seen us yet! No clue what's up. Gag that kid tight!"
Lee Tae-ho panicked seeing Na Gang-in head alone to the parking lot.
"Wait, why..."
Before seeing Na Gang-in's set heroics footage, he'd have suspected embezzlement flight. But post-footage? No way.
He'd been beside Na Gang-in for the speaker call. It rang, noise, dead.
Dropped calls happen all the time.
Yet Na Gang-in went dead serious instantly.
Lee Tae-ho's gut twisted. It involved his daughter.
He yelled after Na Gang-in toward the lot.
"Why scare everyone like that?!"
On-set folks turned at the commotion. Some sensed trouble.
"Scan surroundings. Locate hostage position."
AI Jeon Ji-in's tone grew grave.
"Adult footprints from disappearance point?"
"Which car?"
He eyed the parked vehicles. AR Lens highlighted three in translucent red.
Na Gang-in headed there.
"Check directly."
The driver man blurted urgently.
"Boss! That guy's heading our way!"
"We made?"
"What now?"
The boss peeked back. Na Gang-in strode right at them.
"Fuck! No clue. Go! Peel out!"
"I know!"
Na Gang-in sprinted at the van.
Simultaneously, tires spun wildly, spraying dirt. The van lurched forward.
This wasn't asphalt city—mountain set clearing. The access road zigzagged, not straight.
A signpost stuck in the parking clearing—leftover from set build, steel pipe with plywood.
Chasing the fleeing van, Na Gang-in yanked the pipe free with his right hand. It came out easy despite deep embed.
Plywood sign atop—he ripped it off mid-stride.
The van shot forward, then hit a steep downhill curve without slowing enough—swerved hard.
It fishtailed wildly.
"Pop tire and it flips—the kid gets hurt!"
Mountain clearing. Single dirt road V-bent midway down slope.
The van U-turned sharply, regained balance, sped downward.
Na Gang-in didn't follow the road. He cut straight across the hillside.
Humans downhill sprint faster than flat. Falls hurt bad, but he didn't stumble.
Each ground push lifted him airward. Next step lower, farther leap than normal.
His path perpendicular to van's road. Distance closed fast.
The fleeing van crew spotted Na Gang-in bounding down the slope and yelled.
"Boss, that guy's jumping down!"
The boss scoffed.
"Crazy bastard. Catch a car on foot? Some fools chase impossibles."