Qualifications for the Award
“What the hell have you done, you lunatic!!!”
Harry Gordon’s manager was basically polite and courteous by nature. But of course, that personality alone wouldn’t have let her survive in this cutthroat industry.
When someone flew off the handle, she got tough. And if their tantrum was on another level, she got even tougher.
Harry Gordon’s meltdown right now was so epic it could turn the manager shaking him by the collar into a McClane.
In the agency conference room, the manager practically had him by the throat as she shoved her phone screen in his face.
“If you have eyes, look! How many retweets!!”
“A bit over 50,000. Considering the time since posting, that’s gotta be top-tier historically—”
“A human with eyeballs does this shit!!!”
Another roar erupted.
The public is a creature starved for gossip.
Kang Min was one of the hottest potatoes in America right now.
And this idiot in front of her had picked a blatant fight with him.
The reaction was massive, and the pressure raining down on the agency was even more massive.
The manager was losing her mind, hopping mad.
But Harry Gordon just coughed and grinned confidently.
“Calm down, Jessica. I’ve got this thought out.”
“Thought? What thought!”
“Everyone’s forgotten because of that damn William White, but this is that actor’s first awards season! Why’s no one factoring that in?”
“Well...”
Jessica’s grip loosened slightly.
True enough. Shockingly, Kang Min was still a rookie who hadn’t even hit one year yet.
Anyone searching his name had to rub their eyes a couple times at the bizarre results, sure.
Gordon, barely escaping, puffed up.
“Think about it, Jessica. With a bit of exaggeration, the guy got nominated for a major Emmy Lead Actor category right after debuting. You think he can move easy after I trash him?”
“That’s...”
“Hell no! Not even Geisler would breathe wrong. He can’t do jack that might screw his chances!”
“.......”
Just as Hollywood movies were, American TV shows served as a global cultural epicenter. And among the flood of programs, the Emmys held a position leagues beyond any domestic awards in other countries.
Kang Min had snagged a nomination at nine months in. Unprecedented didn’t even cover it.
Who wouldn’t get ambitious in his shoes?
“The nomination was half-forced thanks to William White’s hype—that’s his weakness. Sure, everyone bought it, but flip it: one slip, and it’s gone.”
“Hmm...”
“I’m saying he can’t move. Whatever I say, he has to eat it. Why waste this golden setup?”
Faced with the actor’s swagger, the manager was speechless for the first time.
He was right. Kang Min couldn’t step up now.
No, anyone who did wouldn’t be sane. Not with an Emmy Lead Actor on the line in his debut year.
The manager’s feeble counter was all she had.
“...Still, think of your image, Harry.”
“Oh, Jessica. Do I have any image left to trash?”
“Nope.”
“Feels weird getting that instant reply... Anyway, that’s the situation.”
Harry Gordon chuckled.
“I take a hit? No damage. He does? Big damage. Can’t even hit back. What’s the problem?”
“Ugh...”
“Looks like I win this round, Jessica?”
“Sigh, fine. Fine, so keep it moderate.”
The manager sighed and raised both hands.
“If they flip out and escalate, we’re the ones screwed.”
“Think they would?”
“...No. No one would.”
“Exactly.”
Infuriating, but Harry Gordon was spot-on this time. No one could swing at an opponent with an Emmy nod at nine months in.
Anyone who could was beyond insane.
This time, there was no stopping this swaggering actor...
“Alright, watch. Needling people’s my specialty.”
“God...”
The manager shook her head at the smirking actor but said no more.
Or, put another way.
Neither of them understood Kang Min at all.
“Uh, Harry...? He says let’s throw down...”
“.......”
“Wants a live-stream judgment so there’s no backtalk...”
“.......”
A day later,
While the internet burned with cheers and applause, Harry Gordon sat there blankly, speechless.
He was like a corpse.
But even that situation was just the beginning.
#
“Hm, still no dice, huh.”
Looking back, Kang Min had felt some mysterious sensation twice before.
Once was stepping onto the Unbelievable set for the first time. After enduring countless gruesome deaths in King and Sovereign to reach his goal, his mind had been utterly serene, and Russian poured out unbidden.
The other was, obviously, the recent incident. He’d dragged out William White after dying a deliberate hundred times, but this time, mere thought summoned him.
Once could be coincidence or illusion.
Twice? No.
Kang Min sensed some kind of intuition.
Maybe my abilities are evolving...
If so,
As my Death Acting reaches mastery, my powers grow too...!
Kang Min clenched his fist.
It was a glimmer of hope.
He could summon the William White who’d screamed through the night. Someday, maybe he could play a character like Hui-yul from King and Sovereign—who only dies at the end—without nightmares.
A slim chance still.
But Hui-yul, whom he’d once embodied, said, “A swordsman speaks with a real blade if worth even three jeon.” The King of Death Acting could stake his life on that sliver.
Kang Min felt his mind clear infinitely.
This path was right! I wasn’t wrong!
He brimmed with conviction, more than a detective obsessed with sweets.
Losing Unbelievable but pushing through with the Public Service Announcement Quartet and Die to Live had elevated him higher. Then the Kang Min Special would bring even greater results.
What to do next was crystal clear!
Die more!
Kang Min gripped his fist tight.
Die more perfectly, more pathetically, more horrifically! It’ll all nourish my future!
Having reached a tearjerker conclusion for some, Kang Min laughed freely.
The sky was clear, the shining future bright.
No clouds in his plans.
Until some American actor openly picked a fight.
“...........Hm.”
A tiny circle of close ones begged him: “No need to rise to this nonsense,” or “Critical time—hold back.”
Han Ye-seul PD, Shim Yu-hyeon director, Hong Ji-ho principal, Kim Kang-hyun executive, Baek Chae-i writer, actors Yi Hoon and Park Seong-ho—few, but they tried.
Kang Min thought differently.
He wouldn’t call anyone who swallowed this provocation a King of Death Acting.
No, just a moron!
“What you’re about to do is even more insane!! I’ll grovel if you just hold back!!!”
Even Han Ye-seul, clinging tearfully with rare sanity, couldn’t stop his epiphany. Kang Min sought Lloyd Gonzalez right away.
The director greeted him with an oddly peculiar expression, unlike usual.
“Lloyd, sudden, but I’ve got good news.”
“Oh, they call me a bit mad, but the real madman’s always elsewhere.”
“?”
“Never mind. So, what’s your idea?”
“That thing, obviously.”
“Hm?”
At that thing, Lloyd rarely looked flustered, stroking his chin.
His voice sounded troubled.
“We shelved that for now, as I recall...”
“Reasons, right?”
“No fitting actor. Synopsis needs someone with the weight for the role in front of me, but William White’s ripple... Oh, no way?”
“Yes, exactly.”
Kang Min smiled gently.
“Claims he’s a thousand times better. Even one-thousandth should be fine, no?”
“...Hoo.”
Kang Min was one thing, but Lloyd Gonzalez wasn’t exactly sane either. They soon huddled, conspiring.
Unaware, Harry Gordon flew in four days later, feigning calm.
#
“Ha, no need to freak! That guy’s just bluffing!”
“You’re the one looking scared, Harry...”
“What! Bet once I land, Kang’ll be sweating, begging for mercy! Obvious!”
“Sigh...”
On the plane, Harry Gordon shrugged, pretending nonchalance.
Even the manager didn’t think Kang Min was seriously escalating—maybe just a stern word.
Not comfy for him either, but pride stings more. Actor with strong ego. Gotta watch it.
Still, she didn’t see it as dire.
Nine-month rookie. Stunned by sudden fame. Bow low, flatter—he’ll eat it up.
“Ha, I can already see him groveling!”
Or better—play it as friendly banter...
“If they call it a joke, we can play along!”
Actor and manager, in vague sync or delusion, strutted into Korea boldly.
Their hopeful delusions seemed to hit early. Only Kang Min and a few met them at the airport.
Gordon, hugely relieved, crowed.
“Ha, see? Told ya! Real showdown? He’d drag reporters like clouds! Doesn’t wanna blow it up!”
“Yeah, lucky. Just don’t poke more.”
They sighed in relief, shaking Kang Min’s hand.
In person, Kang Min had way more presence than the William White video. Harry shrank a bit.
“Ahem... Harry Gordon.”
“Kang Min.”
“Oh, uh... buddy. Some unfortunate misunderstanding between us...”
“Then let’s go. Be there soon.”
“?”
Kang Min brushed off the olive branch, loaded them and security in the back, took the wheel.
Drive was jaunty; the woman clutching her head in the passenger seat was weird.
Backseat pair? Just dazed.
What.
Where’s he taking us—
Answer came quick.
“Here! We’re here!”
Stepping out, reporters swarmed.
Eyes gleaming, mics thrust forward.
“Mr. Gordon! One word on your mindset for today’s shoot!”
“Still confident you’re a thousand times better than Kang Min?!”
“Live stream not too burdensome?!”
“Hear there were backroom talks for this—thoughts?!”
“······.”
Normal? Plenty disorienting, reason to dodge.
But Harry Gordon and manager? Couldn’t.
Couldn’t retreat from the horde.
Just gawked upward blankly.
Huge broadcast vans galore.
Bigger cranes, massive gear.
Chattering reporters up close.
More staff buzzing.
Overwhelming set swallowing them all—
William White Series Part 2
Filming Set & Showdown Arena
Witnessing the massive fluttering banner, the pair’s minds went blank.
This crazy...