answer:< The Price Tag (8) > Kang Woojin was back in the van, back to reality. The world was the same as before. It was still the morning of the 2nd, and Woojin's staff, including Choi Seonggeon, were busy with their tasks, and the van he was in was stuck in a traffic jam. The destination was a shop in Cheongdam-dong. Nothing had changed since before he entered the pocket space. It was as if he had blinked. However. "......" For Woojin, who was clenching and unclenching his fist, a lot of time had passed, and something tremendous had happened. It was the world of 'Jang Yeonwoo'. Woojin, expressionless, checked his inner state. Something had changed. It was hard to put into words, but something had definitely been imprinted on him. Something keen, bold, and upright. It was a sensation Kang Woojin had never experienced before. His whole body felt sensitive yet flexible. It was different from vocals, cooking, or languages. If those were gentle, this was sharp and rough. It had a strong sense of wild violence, close to the darkness. The unfamiliar word 'hunting' felt familiar. It was dangerous. In an instant, Woojin, who had deepened his poker face, reminded himself of his persona and fortified his ego. This newly acquired skill had to be handled with certainty. If he was careless, problems would arise. But it was okay. 'It's not hard to control.' Kang Woojin was the master of everything he possessed and had mastered the way to command them. Don't mess around, you just need to make me shine. Kang Woojin mulled over mind control. It was a task he always did. Then. -Swish. He cooled his mind. Then he reviewed what he had experienced as 'Jang Yeonwoo'. Repeated readings (experiences) made the role and its world clearer, and all the derived skills became proficient for Kang Woojin. He could handle them with ease. "Hoo-" 'Martial arts' were no exception. Later that day, around late lunchtime. The location was a building with a photography studio in Gangnam, specifically the large underground parking lot of the building. Kang Woojin's van stopped there. Soon, Kang Woojin got out of the back door of the van. -Swish. Unlike the morning, he was in full makeup, and his outfit and hair were perfect. His hair was slightly swept back, wearing a green knit and black slacks. It looked like he was ready for a shoot, and indeed, in a few dozen minutes, Kang Woojin had a shoot scheduled. It was a shoot for the 'Kang Woojin Sub-Character' channel. He needed to accumulate as many videos as possible before boarding a plane to the United States, and more importantly, today was the official first shoot of the 'Kang Woojin Sub-Character' cooking content. Thanks to that, they had rented a photography studio, and future cooking content shoots were planned to take place there. Anyway. "Woojin." Choi Seonggeon, with his ponytail, got out of the passenger seat and approached Woojin. "Director, let's go up to the studio first." "Yes, President." At that moment. -Creak. A familiar white van entered the underground parking lot, and as it was about to turn left, it smoothly approached Woojin's direction after spotting him. Then. -Thump! A woman with a mole under her eye got out of the white van. It was Hwarin. "Hello- Hello, Woojin." She was also in full makeup. Her long hair was rolled up, and she wore a thick khaki aviation jumper. A gray compact car entered the parking lot entrance behind them, and Woojin, who had briefly checked it, casually greeted Hwarin. "Yes. Hello, you came early." Hwarin, who received the greeting just as calmly. "Ah- There was no traffic." But her heart was pounding nonstop. 'I can't be late when Woojin is cooking for me! Ugh- I'm so nervous.' Her chubby manager, who was next to her, sighed softly and spat out the truth internally. 'She rushed me like crazy and now she's pretending she didn't.' After that, Woojin's team, including Choi Seonggeon, and Hwarin's team exchanged greetings and moved towards the building's elevator to head for the shoot. A scene with about a dozen people surrounding Kang Woojin and Hwarin as they stood side by side. Kang Woojin and Hwarin quickly disappeared. The problem was. "......Again. That bastard Kang Woojin." There were eyes secretly watching Kang Woojin and Hwarin in the underground parking lot. It was a mysterious man in a gray compact car that had entered the parking lot belatedly. But his condition was strange. "Hwarin is mine. She's mine." He seemed half-crazed. The man inside the compact car, reeking of cigarette smoke, wore a black padded jacket and hid his face with a hood. His skin was sallow. His beard was bristly. His pupils were slightly dilated. It was hard to guess his age, but he looked to be in his 30s. In one hand, the man held a camera. "Damn it. Damn bastard. Son of a bitch. Dirty bastard. How dare you, how dare you go near my Hwarin." The camera's screen showed a recent two-shot of Kang Woojin and Hwarin. Soon, the man operated the camera. The photo displayed on the screen changed. There were numerous photos of Hwarin leaving her house, getting into a car, entering or leaving a shop, and so on. "I even put up with 'Best Friend'......Hwarin, you too. You're so easy. Why do you keep making me angry, huh?" He began to bite his nails like a madman. Looking at the state of his fingers, they were already ragged. It seemed he often bit his nails. Regardless, after a few minutes of trembling and biting his nails, he said. "......I can't take it anymore. I can't. She needs to be punished." He threw the camera on the passenger seat and reached into a black envelope on top of it. Various noises rang out. Soon, he pulled something out of the envelope and put it into his jacket pocket. Something silver and elongated. "Hwarin, you betrayed me. Punishment. Yes, this is punishment. You need to be disciplined. You're too pretty." It was an awl. Meanwhile. Around the time Kang Woojin started shooting with Hwarin, the film industry media was spreading an issue that had erupted the day before. "[MovieTalk] 'Director An Gabok' and 'Top Actor Shim Hanho' in a movie, will the two giants of the acting world write a legend together?" "The possibility of Shim Hanho being the lead in Director An Gabok's 100th movie is rising↑" It was quite a buzz. The two individuals had a tremendous presence. "Was Shim Hanho really Director An Gabok's choice? Film industry insider: 'In fact, it would be difficult for Director An Gabok to handle his 100th project without Shim Hanho' due to the pressure" Above all, the media focused not only on Director An Gabok's 100th movie but also on who the other actors joining Shim Hanho might be. "[Issue Check] What will be the theme of the legendary 100th movie by Director An Gabok, which is finally starting?" "Director An Gabok, lead actor Shim Hanho......Who will be the other top actors to join this grand picture?" This was not only the case for the film industry media but also for industry insiders. "President! Did you see the news about Director An Gabok and Senior Shim Hanho?" "Yeah, I saw it. Well, it's a monumental work for Director An Gabok, and considering that, someone like Shim Hanho should be there. They're both legends." "Wow- Still, it's a bit tough. Even if it's not confirmed yet, if Senior Shim Hanho joins......who else will join? It seems like a lot of pressure." "Who will join? It depends on the script, but at least they'll use top actors. Don't you know Director An Gabok? He's the guy who would go to Africa just to check an actor's form." In fact, Director An Gabok's current project was of unprecedented interest to industry insiders and actors alike. "[Movieis] The news of Director An Gabok's film production stirs up Chungmuro... Some top actors also express their confidence on SNS" A few hours later. "[Official] Film company working with Director An Gabok: 'The director's 100th project aims for Cannes'" Taking advantage of the noisy issue, the film company 'Leech' threw out a bait. However, they didn't reveal much information. They kept the casting and other details secret, only revealing the fact that they were aiming for the Cannes Film Festival. Nevertheless, the impact doubled. It meant the work was not just for domestic release but was reaching out overseas. In other words, the work's influence would be tremendous. "[MovieIS] Director An Gabok aims for the pinnacle of legend at the Cannes Film Festival, the stakes are high... Who will be the other actors to join Shim Hanho?" The film industry media's 'fuss' began to intensify. At the same time. In the Gangnam studio where the 'Kang Woojin Sub-Character' shoot was in full swing. In a studio that clearly resembled a kitchen, Kang Woojin and Hwarin faced each other. Specifically, Hwarin was sitting at a straight table attached to the kitchen, and Kang Woojin, looking at her, stood inside the kitchen with an apron on. It was reminiscent of a Japanese restaurant. A setup where the customer could see both the kitchen and the chef's cooking. Of course, the customer was Hwarin alone. Several cameras from the 'Kang Woojin Sub-Character' channel were filming them, and staff members like Choi Seonggeon and the director were gathered around. "Wow- The picture looks good." "Totally a handsome man and a beautiful woman, right?" "Is it because of the 'Best Friend' effect? Am I the only one who finds those two sweet?" "But the two haven't spoken informally yet, right? Usually, after working on one project, they become close enough to speak informally, don't they?" "Who knows?" While the staff whispered quietly, the shoot with Kang Woojin and Hwarin continued. The style was to keep going without cutting even if there was an NG. That's why the shoot was quite long. The current concept of the shoot was talk + cooking. Woojin would cook the desired dish while having a proper conversation with the guest. The one leading the talk was none other than Kang Woojin. "Hwarin, what did you think when you first saw me during 'Best Friend'?" "I was surprised. Back then, we didn't even think we would be cast together. After that, I was surprised by Woojin's personality." "Personality?" "Yes. How should I put it- I didn't expect you to be so reticent. But your voice was nice." "Um-" "Oh my. What's that reaction?" "Do you think I'm reticent?" "Aren't you?" Of course, there was a predetermined list of questions, but the rest of the conversation was improvised by the two. To this, the cynical Kang Woojin asked. "Do I seem reticent now?" He was equipped with a poker face and persona, but he was quite enjoying it. After all, he was in the middle of a talk with Hwarin. 'It feels like having a conversation in a cafe, doesn't it? If I tell the kids, they'll die of jealousy.' Hwarin was struggling in her own way. She had to suppress her fan heart. "Yes. No, you're similar even when you're on variety shows." Wasn't this an opportunity to have a one-on-one conversation with her ultimate favorite? It felt like she was on a date with the person she was a fan of. 'Woojin- Seeing you like this, I can somewhat see your expressions. Ha... Is it almost over? I'm sad.' Thus, the two smoothly continued the shoot. "I'm quite high in tension, though." "No, you can't attach the word 'tension' to Woojin. But it's also a compliment, right? People say you're a cold beauty, a tsundere. Honestly, it feels good, doesn't it?" "It's not bad." Soon, the director outside the studio spun his index finger. It was a sign to wrap things up. Thanks to that, Kang Woojin tightened his apron again and changed the question. "Please tell me what dish you'd like to have." "Um- I've been really thinking about it, but... can you make jjamppong?" "Of course." "Wow, really?? That's amazing. Then I'll have jjamppong." "But why did you choose jjamppong?" "My mom used to make it for me a lot when I was little." "It won't taste exactly the same." "That's okay." Woojin, who nodded calmly, picked up the wok placed nearby and murmured. "Yes, I'll do my best." Soon, the sounds and appetizing smells of Kang Woojin cooking spread throughout the studio. About an hour later. It was already late afternoon, and the shooting of the 'Kang Woojin Sub-Character' related cooking content had finished. Kang Woojin and guest Hwarin exchanged simple greetings and then greeted the dozens of staff members. "Thank you for your hard work-" "Great job-" However, neither Kang Woojin nor Hwarin had the luxury of time. They both had the next schedule to attend to. As a result, Hwarin checked the footage of today's shoot and left the studio, and Kang Woojin also organized the future schedule for the 'Kang Woojin Sub-Character' channel with the director and moved outside. -Swish. Hwarin and her team were standing in front of the elevator in the hallway. They seemed to be waiting for the elevator. Hwarin's chubby manager stepped aside, allowing Woojin to naturally stand next to her. Hwarin, who smiled softly, initiated the conversation. "The jjamppong was delicious." "I'm glad." "Yes. Didn't you see the bowl? I finished it all. Just until now, my manager oppa was nagging me a lot." "Ah. Are you on a diet?" "I have a photoshoot next week, I must be crazy. I ate without thinking." At that moment. -Ding! The arriving elevator opened its doors. First, the chubby manager and a few others, including Choi Seonggeon, got on, followed by Woojin and Hwarin. However, there were still many who couldn't get on, including the stylist. The women said. "We'll take the next one-" So, the elevator with about a dozen people, including Woojin and Hwarin, slid down. A moment of silence spread. Hwarin, who was fiddling with her rolled-up hair, was sniffing discreetly. 'What's Woojin's perfume? I love it.' Then. -Ding! The elevator quickly arrived at the basement level 1. As soon as the doors opened, Woojin gestured. It meant to get off first. Hwarin bowed slightly and got off the elevator, followed by Kang Woojin. Behind them, Choi Seonggeon, the chubby manager, the guard, and a few others followed. "Woojin." After passing through the glass door leading to the parking lot, Hwarin turned her head and casually asked Woojin. "Woojin, what perfume did you spray today? I want to try it too." It was at that moment. "Hwarin!!!" "Hwarin!!!" The chubby manager and guards behind shouted. Hwarin was startled. "What, what?? You scared me." "No!! In front! In front!!!" Hwarin's eyes widened as she turned her head forward. "Ah." A few steps ahead, between the cars, a man in a black padded jacket with a hood was rushing towards her. What is this? Hwarin instinctively knew she had to dodge, but her body froze. The assailant rushing towards Hwarin was smiling. Then the assailant raised his right hand and shouted at Hwarin. "Hehe, get away! Get away!!!" Three steps. The distance between the crazed assailant and Hwarin. And then. "You bad woman!!" In his hand was an awl. The awl's destination was, of course, Hwarin's face. A critical situation. Everyone was moving quickly, but the man rushing towards Hwarin was too close. Hwarin's scream in terror. "Kyaaak!!!!" The desperate cries of everyone. "Hwarin!!!" "Oh, no!!!" What to do? The deranged assailant didn't care and tried to stab Hwarin with the awl. "Hwarin, you're mine!!" At this moment. -Swish. Someone who had shielded the frozen Hwarin with his body and stepped back caught the hand of the rushing assailant. It was the expressionless Kang Woojin. -Thud! Then he twisted the awl-wielding assailant's hand in the opposite direction and bent it behind his back. "Ugh!! Grrrrr!" The assailant's body naturally spun around. Soon, the assailant was in a position with his arm bent behind his back, and Woojin lifted the bent arm further while tripping him. -Thud! The assailant face-planted onto the ground. Woojin, maintaining an indifferent face, pressed his knee into the assailant's back, pinning him down. The assailant, whose face was planted on the ground, desperately flailed and screamed. "Argh!! My arm!! My arm!!" Kang Woojin nonchalantly took the awl from the assailant's twisted hand. It all happened in an instant. "Aaaah!!! Let go!! Let go of me!!" The situation now, with Kang Woojin subduing the assailant. Thanks to that, Hwarin, who covered her mouth with both hands, her eyes wide open. "......Ah." Choi Seonggeon with his ponytail, the chubby manager, and the others in front were stunned as they looked at Woojin. The scene they had just witnessed was no different from a scene in a movie. Regardless. -Swish. Woojin, who was further pressing down the fallen assailant, lifted the awl as if to hand it over, and spoke to the people in front in a low voice. Without any breathlessness or surprise. "Call the police." His voice was cold as ice. < The Price Tag (8) > The End

answer:Контрабанда – это незаконный ввоз или вывоз товаров через государственную границу, минуя таможенный контроль или в нарушение таможенного законодательства. Само понятие и практика контрабанды существовали на протяжении всей истории эпох, когда налагались торговые ограничения или таможенные пошлины. В различные периоды истории понимание контрабанды и отношение к ней менялось: 1. Древний мир: В древние времена контрабанда связана с торговлей рабами, уклонением от уплаты пошлин и обходом торговых эмбарго. 2. Средневековье: Здесь уже были сложные торговые сети, и контрабандисты пытались обойти пошлины, налагаемые феодалами и городскими гильдиями. Границы были менее четко определены, и контроль за торговлей был сравнительно слабым. 3. Изобретение государства: С укреплением государственности, появлением четких границ и таможенных систем повышался контроль за перемещением товаров, и контрабанда стала ощущаться более активно. В это время контрабанда могла включать в себя торговлю оружием, литературой, религиозными артефактами и роскошными товарами. 4. Колониальный период: Торговые ограничения, налагаемые метрополиями на свои колонии, приводили к бурному развитию контрабанды. Классическим примером является британская политика в отношении американских колоний, которая способствовала росту контрабанды и стала одним из факторов Американской революции. 5. Промышленная эпоха: Возросшая потребность в ресурсах и расширение международной торговли усилили масштабы и значимость контрабанды. Также появились новые виды контрабанды, такие как торговля запрещенными химическими веществами. 6. Современная эпоха: В 20-21 веках контрабанда принимает всё более организованные формы, включая наркотрафик, продажу оружия, торговлю фальшивой продукцией и человеческого трафика. Технологическое развитие, усиление правоохранительных структур и международное сотрудничество формируют новые методы борьбы с контрабандой. Отношения между государствами также значительно влияют на контрабанду – в периоды конфликтов и санкций она может усиливаться, так как стороны пытаются обойти экономические блокады.

answer:Hello! It looks like there's some text missing from your request. Could you please provide the text you need translated into English? Once you provide the text, I'll be able to assist you with the translation.

answer:< Ransom (9) > When Kang Woo-jin first spotted the assailant rushing at Hwarin, his instincts were quick. The situation was urgent, after all. His brain and body operated reflexively. But his reason intervened quickly as well. 'Is that enough? I can stop it. If I grab that ice pick-wielding arm first.' Kang Woo-jin quickly assessed the assailant's posture, size, and weapon, and the answer came to him immediately. The assailant was just charging. No technique was apparent. Woo-jin blurred the assailant's vision by shielding Hwarin with his body for a brief moment. Every human has a moment of hesitation. The assailant was no exception. Hide? What to do? Should I stab Kang Woo-jin first? The assailant's pupils flickered briefly. Woo-jin didn't miss that moment. He immediately caught the hand holding the ice pick and subdued the assailant in an instant. What to do next was already clear in Woo-jin's mind, so he didn't hesitate. It was thanks to the 'martial arts' he had ingrained. And now. "Argh!! Let go!! Move!! Get out of the way!!!" The assailant was flailing on the ground with his face buried. Woo-jin quietly looked down at the back of the head of the assailant he was pressing down. It was then that he realized. 'Wow, crazy? That was startling.' What he had just accomplished so nonchalantly. 'Did that work?? It really worked. That was awesome just now.' He wasn't flustered. It was just surprising to him how well his abilities worked in reality. 'Martial arts' were different from languages or vocals. They could strike and attack the opponent. Moreover, the 'martial arts' ingrained in Woo-jin were not mere 'imitations.' What Kang Woo-jin possessed was also the real deal. But imagining something and seeing it in reality were worlds apart. Such incidents were not frequent to begin with. Kang Woo-jin had acquired 'martial arts,' but he didn't expect to use them so directly. Therefore, Woo-jin's heart thumped belatedly. At that moment. -Swish. The subdued assailant struggled even more on the ground. Woo-jin felt the assailant's strength, the texture, the screams. A fine chill ran up his forearm. A sense of wonder and a feeling of accomplishment enveloped him. Perhaps an emotion similar to pleasure. But Kang Woo-jin was different. 'But... I don't feel good about this.' He didn't like violence. The situation itself was something to be proud of, but did he want to experience it again? This was the honest feeling of the real Kang Woo-jin. But well, the situation was resolved for now, right? Then Kang Woo-jin firmly set his concept and solidified his ego. Now was the time to hide his throbbing heartbeat and lower his voice, given the situation. Surprisingly deep voice came out, which even startled Woo-jin. "Call the police." Soon, several burly guards rushed over. One grabbed the arm of the assailant Woo-jin had caught, while the others grabbed the fallen assailant's body and legs. The assailant, who couldn't move just by Kang Woo-jin's hold, was now like an iron fortress. "Argh! Move!! Get out of the way!!!" But the assailant's mad struggle showed no signs of ending. Then, people like Choi Seong-gun with a ponytail and the chubby manager rushed to Woo-jin. "Woo-jin, are you okay??!" "Are you alright??!" The stylists who arrived late clung to Hwarin, wondering what had happened. At this point, Kang Woo-jin, who had slowly gotten up. -Swish. While adding more coldness to his face. 'Is Hwarin okay???' He spoke to the shocked Hwarin in front. "Hwarin, are you okay?" Still covering her mouth with both hands, Hwarin snapped out of her daze and managed to speak. "...Ah, yes?? Ah, yes, I'm okay..." Only then did Woo-jin calmly nod to the people around him, including Choi Seong-gun. "I'm fine." With an indifferent look without any sign of being shaken. At this, Hwarin's chubby manager was slightly impressed. 'What, how can he be so calm? Everyone else is excited, but he's acting like it's nothing... And what was that movement just now?' Choi Seong-gun, standing next to Woo-jin, also had a moment of distraction. 'That's why he pretends to be ordinary. If he hadn't, would people have approached him? No, but what did I just see?' Then Choi Seong-gun snapped back to reality. "Ah!" He looked at Woo-jin with worry in his eyes and started to feel Woo-jin's forearm and other parts of his body. "Hey, are you really okay?! Look! Do you have any injuries or anything?!" Hey, where are you touching? Woo-jin lowered his voice. "Manager." "Here? How about here?" "Manager, I'm fine." "Ah, really you!" Choi Seong-gun, who had his ponytail wrapped, looked down at the subdued assailant. Anger flickered in his eyes. "Who are you!! What is this guy! A stalker??!" Choi Seong-gun had a similar experience a few years ago. The victim was Hong Hye-yeon. Besides her, there were quite a few celebrities who had experienced such incidents. Surprisingly, such things often happened in the entertainment industry. For example, sasaeng fans. Whatever the case, Woo-jin approached the shocked Hwarin. The stylists were supporting her, and she was trembling slightly. Kang Woo-jin, who made eye contact with Hwarin, did not add any comfort or worry. 'What should I say at times like this? I really have no idea.' He had no clue. Would any words he said calm her startled heart? In the end, Kang Woo-jin, unable to find an answer, turned his gaze to the stylists around him. "It would be better for you to go to the car, Hwarin." The stylists quickly nodded and moved slowly with Hwarin. At that moment. "Hwarin." "...Yes?" Woo-jin spoke lowly to Hwarin as she passed by. "Chanel Allure." "Ah?" "You asked about the perfume." Woo-jin gestured for Hwarin to show her wrist, then took out an empty perfume bottle from his pocket and lightly sprayed it on her wrist. "The perfume, Chanel Allure." Soon, Woo-jin watched Hwarin for a moment and then walked towards Choi Seong-gun. Hwarin, while getting into the white van, still smelled her wrist. "...It smells good." She felt a little calmer. Behind. The atmosphere in the underground parking lot where the assailant appeared was in chaos. The police had already been called, and the assailant was subdued by the guards, unable to do anything but breathe. The screams had stopped as he seemed to have lost his strength. Then Choi Seong-gun, who was scratching his ponytail, asked Hwarin's chubby manager. "What is this guy?" The chubby manager, with a mix of panic, annoyance, and apology, replied. "I'm sorry, it seems like he's a sasaeng or stalker of Hwarin." "Ah-" "Things have been ominous recently. Strange letters have been coming to the company. Sasaengs are always around Hwarin or 'Elani,' but... I never thought a crazy guy with an ice pick would pop out." The manager trailed off and clenched his teeth before turning his head sharply towards Woo-jin. "Woo-jin, are you really okay?" "Yes. I'm fine." Hearing the answer, the manager bowed politely to Kang Woo-jin. "Thank you very much. If it weren't for you, Woo-jin, I don't know what would have happened... If you feel any pain or discomfort later on, please let us know immediately." "Yes, I understand." The chubby manager sighed deeply and then seemed to remember something, asking Kang Woo-jin. "But how did you do that, Woo-jin?" "Hm?" "That thing just now. How did you subdue the assailant?" "..." Ah, that? I received it as a gift from the void. But he couldn't say that, so Woo-jin cynically changed the subject. He pointed to the assailant on the ground with his index finger. "Shouldn't you search his pockets?" "Yes?" "Maybe he came by car. If he did, there might be evidence inside." "Ah!" The manager's eyes widened as he searched the pockets of the assailant on the ground. Indeed, car keys were found. Then Kang Woo-jin pointed to a corner of the parking lot with his index finger. "Press it." -Beep! A car alarm sounded from somewhere. It was a gray compact car parked in the corner of the parking lot. Inside the car, many things were discovered. Among them, the most notable were the back seat filled with Hwarin's posters and goods, and a camera whose memory was entirely filled with Hwarin. The chubby manager was furious as soon as he checked inside the car. "This son of a bitch!!!" The guards had to hold back the chubby manager as he charged at the assailant. At this point, Woo-jin, who had been quietly observing the situation, concluded his thoughts. 'Not many witnesses, right?' Then he casually spoke to Choi Seong-gun standing next to him. "Manager. I would like to be left out of this incident." He wanted his story of subduing the assailant to be omitted. "It would be rather uncomfortable if it gets noisy. It's not a good thing either." Honestly, Woo-jin had no intention of using the 'martial arts' he had acquired for anything other than acting, and he didn't expect such an incident to occur. But it happened. Kang Woo-jin's thoughts were simple. 'It smells of misunderstanding.' He had a hunch that another different kind of misunderstanding might arise if he wasn't careful. Already, Woo-jin's surroundings were overflowing with misunderstandings. Well, even if it was too late to correct them, there was no need to add fuel to the fire, right? If this got out, acquaintances who knew him would surely bombard him with questions. In short, it was bothersome. Kang Woo-jin was already struggling through a tumultuous life. So, let's not make things bigger. He wanted to be at least a little more comfortable. Just that much thought. However, Choi Seong-gun, looking at Woo-jin, had no way of knowing this. '...He must feel uncomfortable using such a dangerous incident to gain fame.' With that thought, Choi Seong-gun turned his gaze away from Woo-jin and scanned the interior of the parking lot. The CCTV cameras on the ceiling and a few parked cars. 'The witnesses and CCTV can be dealt with by talking to Hwarin's side. However, dealing with those cars would be difficult.' Anyway, if Kang Woo-jin himself disliked it, Choi Seong-gun had to agree and take action. '...Right, let's do as Woo-jin says for now, and let the rest flow naturally afterward.' It would cause a stir if he exploited this incident without consideration, but unnatural intentions wouldn't help the current Kang Woo-jin. There was nothing to regret. 'There could be a slip-up. Like with Hwarin's relationship.' After making a rough calculation, Choi Seong-gun once again met Woo-jin's gaze. "Got it. Leave the aftermath to me. I'll go over there and talk. But the incident itself will probably be reported extensively. Hwarin's company will have to deal with the incident, but they also need to send out a general warning. It's necessary to remind the public to be vigilant." "That doesn't concern me." "Alright, you should also get in the car for now." A few minutes later, the police arrived at the scene, and Choi Seong-gun climbed into the passenger seat of the van. Inside, only Kang Woo-jin, looking at his phone, was visible. The rest of the staff were outside. Soon, Choi Seong-gun, who made eye contact with Woo-jin in the back, let out a small sigh. "Phew- Woo-jin, things are pretty much settled." "Is that so?" At the question, Choi Seong-gun's sigh deepened. "Honestly, it's great that nothing serious happened to Hwarin, but you're more precious to me, you know?" Wow, touched. Woo-jin hid his emotion and replied softly. "Yes, Manager." "Next time, use me as a shield instead. I'd rather have my body hurt 100 times more than see you get hurt. Got it?" Woo-jin let his words slide. There wouldn't be such an occasion. "How was it handled?" "What do you mean how? The evidence is clear-cut. Hwarin's side is ready to punish that stalker bastard, and the incident will probably be reported by tomorrow or the day after at the latest. I did convey what you said, but that manager over there said he had to report it to the CEO of JML Entertainment. The CEO is a decent person. I'll take care of that part." "Understood, Manager." Suddenly, Choi Seong-gun opened and closed his mouth. He seemed to be struggling with what to ask. Then, scratching his head, he decided to just ask. "But... what exactly did you do?" "What." "What do you mean what, the way you subdued that assailant." "Ah." "That's something I feel crazy for asking, you know? Woo-jin, are you like some kind of secret agent or... Ha, really. What is this." Hearing the question, Woo-jin was genuinely dumbfounded. Huh? What? A secret agent? He almost lost his composure. But he managed to hold back. Thinking about it, he could understand the question. 'It could look like that?' Fluent in various languages and even sign languages, possessed with a passion for acting that could consume his life, and the martial arts skills he showed earlier. What about Kang Woo-jin's cold personality? Even his past was shrouded in mystery. 'Wow- What is this? It's like the setting for a spy movie protagonist?' Indeed, the misunderstanding was rippling. It was a moment that solidified the reason for keeping today's incident a secret. Therefore, Woo-jin sincerely denied it. "Not at all." "Ha ha ha, right, right. Just forget it. Think of it as nonsense." "I am just an actor, nothing more, nothing less." "Sure. But how did you subdue that guy earlier? It was brief, but... that's not something you can easily do." Woo-jin chose the truth as his answer. "I practiced a little Hapkido when I was young." "...Hapkido? A little?" Since Kang Woo-jin had indeed practiced Hapkido in his youth, Choi Seong-gun decided to just accept this absurd answer. "Ah- I see, Hapkido. Right, Hapkido. Hapkido it is." There was no point in trying to understand. The next morning, December 3rd, inside a meeting room. In a medium-sized meeting room, Choi Seong-gun, wearing a black blazer, was present. It was a rather formal look for him, who usually preferred a casual style. In front of him was. "Heh, my movie has become quite the talk, hasn't it?" Director An Ga-bok, with his short white hair, was sitting there. Of course, he wasn't alone. Around Director An were the film company's CEO and staff. In other words, this was a meeting related to the movie 'Leech.' However, Kang Woo-jin was not present. The reason was simple. Currently, Woo-jin was busy with his schedule, and this place was expected to have very realistic discussions. Woo-jin had expressed his intention to appear in 'Leech,' but it was only a verbal confirmation. Therefore, Kang Woo-jin's formal contract was to be finalized here, along with his ransom. Then Choi Seong-gun, with a business smile, responded. "I was a bit surprised. Sim Han-ho? I read the article so suddenly without any notice." Director An Ga-bok showed a wrinkled smile as if he understood. "You must have been. But I was surprised too. I didn't know there was a reporter at that restaurant." After some superficial conversation, Choi Seong-gun took the lead. "Director, is there really a thought about casting actor Sim Han-ho? Or was it just a false alarm by the reporter?" "I have a deep friendship with Sim Han-ho. But it wasn't just a meeting for a meal. I think it's better for CEO Choi to know. Of course, I gave the script to actor Sim Han-ho as well." "......I see. Did you also talk to Sim Han-ho about our Woo-jin?" "I explained everything. That he was the second one to receive the script." Suddenly, Choi Seong-gun cursed inwardly. 'That, you had to tell him that?? It's supposed to be a scenario where Sim Han-ho should be the first to receive it?!' But the veteran Director An Ga-bok was unfazed, maintaining his wrinkled smile. "Well, shall we start?" Director An signaled to the film company's CEO, who then spoke the core content. "First, take a look at this." A transparent file was handed to Choi Seong-gun. "We've drafted a preliminary proposal for Woo-jin's appearance fee. We plan to finalize it here today." "Yes, I'll take a look." Choi Seong-gun's eyes caught several letters, but the core was this. -Kang Woo-jin / Appearance fee: 150 million won / Running guarantee: an additional 100 won per audience member after breaking even "!!" A fixed appearance fee of 150 million won and a running guarantee of 100 won. Simply put, if the audience exceeds 5 million, the money falling to Woo-jin would total over 600 million won. It was an absurd amount for a first-year rookie, and compared to the previous 'Island of Disappearance,' his ransom had skyrocketed. He was being treated well enough. However. 'I can inflate this further.' Choi Seong-gun was confident he could raise Woo-jin's ransom even higher. < Ransom (9) > End