Sae-ri's Next Big Project

The next morning, Sungjun left his daughter at the estate and joined Sae-ri as she was picked up by her manager. The sleek black car waiting at the entrance reflected the morning sun as the tinted window rolled down. Inside sat a man in his late thirties, his sharp suit and neatly styled hair presenting a polished image.

Sae-ri smiled and gestured towards Sungjun. "Jun-ah, this is my manager, Lee Sangwoo."

Sangwoo nodded politely, offering a handshake. Sungjun took it, his grip firm but unreadable. "Pleasure to meet you," Sangwoo said smoothly.

Sungjun barely acknowledged the greeting. Instead, he mumbled under his breath, "Neo, scan him."

Beneath his contact lens, his bionic eye glowed faintly for a brief second. Data streamed directly into his brain, breaking down Sangwoo's profile in precise detail:

Name: Lee Sangwoo

Age: 38

Criminal Record: Clean

Net Worth: Approximately 850 million Korean won

Current Salary: Around 92 million Korean won

Stock Holdings: 120 million Korean won (currently in decline)

Habits: No smoking, high alcohol consumption

Health Status: Generally good, but signs of excessive liver strain

Seeing that Sangwoo's information looked good, Sungjun finally responded, shaking the man's hand firmly.

Sae-ri introduced him casually. "Sangwoo-ssi, this is my younger brother, Han Sungjun."

Sangwoo blinked in surprise. "Younger brother? I thought Sae-ri-nim only had two elder brothers."

She nodded but didn't elaborate. "I didn't tell the company. No one needs to know for now."

Sangwoo raised an eyebrow, intrigued but not pressing further.

"He'll be your assistant from today onwards—a road manager alongside Yuna," she continued. "Teach him everything he needs to know."

Sangwoo exhaled sharply, shaking his head with a small chuckle. "Well, that's unexpected." He studied Sungjun for a moment before commenting, "Sungjun-ssi, you have great looks. Photojournalists might not care much if it is a good-looking female manager accompanying an actress, but male managers are different. They will definitely take an interest in who this good-looking manager was, all in the search for a scoop. In this era, it's easy for people to dig into your background. Not to mention, your family is super high profiled one. So, I don't think it can be hidden for long."

Sae-ri glanced at Sungjun, her expression turning serious. "He's right. If you don't want any exposure, you'll need to wear a mask and a hat at all times."

Sungjun simply nodded, already used to keeping a low profile.

Sangwoo let out another chuckle and started the car. "Alright, let's get going."

Together, they went to Vesta Entertainment, Sae-ri's agency, located in Genesis Entertainment Town in the same city of Incheon. The moment they stepped on the third floor, the air buzzed with the energy of assistants rushing about, directors discussing upcoming projects, and actors going through their scripts. It was a world Sungjun was unfamiliar with, but he observed everything quietly, blending into the background.

The staff member, as if waiting for the actress, led them directly to a meeting with Song Wooseok, a famed director known for his critically acclaimed historical epics. He was in the middle of pre-production for his upcoming film, Silla—The Dying Light, the final installment in a movie franchise depicting the fall of the Silla Dynasty.

Sae-ri sat across from him, listening intently as he explained the role he had in mind for her. "Queen Jiseong," Wooseok said, tapping on his script, "is one of the most tragic figures in Silla's history. She ascended the throne during an era of absolute chaos—facing betrayal from nobles and generals alike."

He leaned forward, his voice passionate. "She's often dismissed in historical records as weak, but in this version, we reimagine her as a ruthless survivor. A queen willing to fight, manipulate, and sacrifice to hold Silla together. But despite her efforts, she's overwhelmed by rebellion and war, eventually forced to abdicate in 897 AD. Her fall symbolizes the end of Silla's once-glorious rule."

He paused before adding, "Her downfall ultimately sets the stage for King Gyeongsun, Silla's last ruler, and the final moments of the dynasty."

As the director spoke, Sae-ri's expression shifted—her initial politeness giving way to genuine intrigue. Sungjun, standing silently behind her, observed the interaction like a subordinate. But in reality, his mind was elsewhere.

Neo, analyze.

His artificial intelligence immediately processed everything—the historical inaccuracies, the political implications of the movie, and how Sae-ri's involvement in such a role could influence public perception. However, Neo extracted something far more concerning. It is the details she got by scanning the director's profile.

Unlike the manager who had a clean record, the director had several questionable records. Tax evasion flagged in multiple reports, and suspicious financial transactions uncovered through hacked data from the National Tax Service. Offshore accounts. Monthly transfers worth tens of millions of won to an unknown recipient in Poland.

His official net worth stood at approximately 68.5 billion won (~47 million USD). But Sungjun was sure that it is much more. A guy who was taking 10-18% profit share from many of his films that ended up as box office records couldn't just have such a low amount. Not to mention the fact that out of that net worth, half of that value was his apartment in Hannam-dong itself.

Beyond financial dealings, Neo also pulled up archived internet articles. A troubling allegation: a rookie actress named Bora had once accused Song Wooseok of sexual harassment in exchange for a role. Though no official complaint had been filed with the police, the story had briefly circulated before disappearing from public attention.

Another pattern emerged—Wooseok had a history of having inappropriate relationships with actresses from his films, like having one-on-one dinners with them during the movie shooting time period. Several names surfaced in past entertainment reports, though at present, he appeared to maintain a stable relationship with his wife—an investment banker.

Sungjun made a mental note. Keep an eye on the famed director.

Sangwoo, unaware of Sungjun's analysis, asked, "Director-nim, are you holding auditions, or is it a direct cast?"

Wooseok scoffed, waving a hand dismissively. "Of course, it's a direct cast. Who would dare audition a seasoned actress like Kang Sae-ri? And why would I directly visit your agency if it is simple calling her for auditions?" He smiled at Sae-ri, admiration in his tone. "If you ask me what made me think to cast you for this role, it is your performance in the Gatekeepers of Goryeo movie. That character of the princess turned a rebellious swordswoman—it was mesmerizing. The perfect balance of strength and tragedy. That's exactly what I need for Queen Jiseong."

Sae-ri offered a small smile, "thank you." After a brief pause, she nodded. "And I have always wanted to work in one of your films, Wooseok-nim. I would gladly accept the role."

As Sae-ri accepted the role, Director Song Wooseok elaborated further. "Even though Queen Jiseong was a ruler, the movie will depict her defending herself in a palace coup, riding into battle during Silla's last stand, and training in the hwarang style."

He leaned forward, emphasizing, "Since the Silla Dynasty was distinctively Korean—unlike Goryeo, which was heavily influenced by Chinese Confucian courts—you will need to adopt hwarang customs. Silla kings and queens were seen as semi-divine due to their connection to the Bone Ranking system. Their warriors used shorter, curved swords called Hwandudaedo, unlike Goryeo's longer swords. They wore lighter armor and relied on speed, precision, and Buddhist influence in their speech and ideology."

His eyes gleamed as he continued, "For the next one to three months, you'll need to train with short swords, emphasizing swift strikes and high-speed combat. Of course, you should also become familiar with Buddhist teachings and the warrior codes, as Silla rulers often incorporated them into their speeches."

Sae-ri nodded, unfazed. "I understand. That won't be a problem."

Wooseok grinned. "I knew I came to the right person."

They shook hands, and he assured her, "The production team will contact you in the next few days for formal negotiations. And believe me, you won't be disappointed by the offer."

"Well, I hope so." Sae-ri smiled, rising to her feet. The director also rose to his feet to conclude this meeting.

Sungjun remained silent, his gaze lingered on this famed director's back. "Hmm..."