Chapter 331: Bangkok (7)
Translator: Santos
In various parts of Bangkok, numerous vehicles were on the move for the filming of *Beneficial Evil.* The gray minivan that had just exited the hotel was buzzing with conversation about Kang Woojin. Inside were the plump Kim So-hyang, the chief director from Netflix Korea, and writer Choi Na-na.
Wearing a safari hat, Choi Na-na, whose face had reddened from yesterday to today, was in a state of excitement.
“Oh, what should we do!”
The hot weather was less concerning than her mood. Kim So-hyang was the one trying to calm her down.
“Take it easy, writer. The filming won’t stop just because you’re nervous. We just need to enjoy ourselves.”
“But, but, we’re going to shoot the long take scene right after we arrive on set!”
“If anyone should be more burdened, it should be Kang Woojin. Ah, wait. It’s hard to imagine him struggling.”
“He was completely unfazed during the rehearsal yesterday. Of course, we took it slowly, breaking down the movements.”
“Still, he must have at least some pressure inside, considering this is his first action film and a long take at that. Especially if the cut goes over ten minutes... anyone would find it tough.”
“If he makes a mistake in the middle, we have to start over, right?”
“Of course. A long take is meant to maintain the dynamism and liveliness, so if we cut or edit, it loses its meaning. That’s why it’s quite a high hurdle, and the directing team often avoids this kind of shoot.”
At that moment, with her round glasses pushed up, Choi Na-na muttered as she imagined Woojin.
“It’s hard to imagine Kang Woojin making a mistake, though.”
A few hours later, noon.
In a fairly large town about an hour away from downtown Bangkok, the *Beneficial Evil* team had once again set up roots, this time in a rundown factory located on the outskirts of the village. The building was painted in brown and beige tones, but much of the paint was peeling, indicating years of neglect.
In front of this abandoned factory, numerous vehicles used by the *The Good and the Evil* team were parked, while dozens of staff members hurried around in a frenzy.
However, the number of people was fewer than expected.
The reason was simple.
The key filming team, including Director Song Man-woo, was located in a building right behind the factory. It was a five-story apartment building, which was also abandoned and in a pretty shabby state. Broken windows and crumbling bricks were all part of the scene intentionally created by the production design team of *Beneficial Evil.*
Around 150 staff members were gathered on the first floor of this vacant apartment.
“Action team! Over here!”
Miley Kara, who had just finished her makeup, was among them, but today, the entire staff of *Beneficial Evil* tried to suppress their excitement and get to work.
“Director! Please fix the props!”
“Cinematographer! Please double-check the camera work!!”
“Supporting actors! Props are coming! Hey, where’s the interpreter??!”
Among the entire staff of *Beneficial Evil*, the local Korean personnel were fully focused on the initial filming setup, while the Thai local staff and actors moved quickly according to instructions. Among them, several Thai supporting actors wore expressions of extreme nervousness, knowing they would soon be part of a long take scene lasting over ten minutes.
Some of the Thai supporting actors, while receiving AK47 prop rifles from the staff, glanced at Director Song Man-woo, who had a distinct beard.
They clearly recognized the male lead of this drama.
“Kang Woojin said it’s his first long take, too.”
“Have you done this before?”
“Yeah, not a ten-minute one like this, but I’ve filmed a five-minute one. It was a Hollywood movie.”
“How long did it take?”
“That cut alone took over five hours. There were a lot of NGs. If the actors and staff didn’t sync up, we had to keep shooting again.”
“Then today will probably be similar.”
Most of the Thai supporting actors were watching Kang Woojin. He was deep in conversation with Director Song Man-woo, Miley Kara, action director Ethan Smith, and others. It was clear that the conversation included many topics: the crank-in, martial arts, CQC, long takes, and much more.
One of the Thai actors speculated as he observed Woojin.
“If the lead actor is inexperienced with action and long takes, it’s going to take longer.”
---
A few dozen minutes later.
In the center of the first floor of the abandoned building, Kang Woojin stood. He wore a fitted gray short-sleeve shirt and ripped black jeans. His skin tone had darkened slightly. His somewhat messy black hair had been cut a bit shorter. His appearance was no different from that of ‘Jang Yeon-woo.’
But inside, he was still Kang Woojin.
*Hoo— It’s finally starting.*
Aside from the concept, he had hardened his heart. Then he summoned many things. It began with the engraved ‘Jang Yeon-woo’ from *The Good and the Evil.* He pulled everything from him. ‘Jang Yeon-woo’ spread throughout Woojin’s body without any gaps.
*...*
He was calm. Bold. Cool-headed. Dreadful. Cruel. Skilled. Flexible. Intricate. And excited.
*Nice little bastard.* ‘Jang Yeon-woo’ was evil.
But Kang Woojin, the master of ‘Jang Yeon-woo,’ summoned another monster. It was ‘Park Dae-ri,’ the profiler with a luxurious life. This was to mix a bit of madness into the ‘nice little bastard.’ ‘Jang Yeon-woo’ was already a completed form.
However, Woojin desired another kind of glamour.
*Ruggedness or rawness.*
Technique belonged to ‘Jang Yeon-woo,’ while the grotesqueness belonged to ‘Park Dae-ri.’ Woojin imagined a half-crazed veteran. He hadn’t taken anyone’s advice. It was his choice. So what? If it was wrong, he could just remove ‘Park Dae-ri’ on the spot.
‘Jang Yeon-woo’ and ‘Park Dae-ri’ blended appropriately.
*Next.*
Having finished his preparation, Woojin called for the necessary weapons: ‘martial arts’ and ‘CQC.’
At that moment—
*Zheek!*
Thick cable ties were fastened around the wrist of the ready Kang Woojin, and two Thai supporting actors stood beside him. One held an AK47 rifle, and the other had a Glock 17 pistol.
Song Man-woo, holding a megaphone, stood where Miley Kara, Ethan Smith, and others had gathered, surrounded by various monitors.
“Camera!!”
Soon, the cameraman, shouldering the camera, stood in front of Kang Woojin. There was one person assisting him. The audio team also had one member.
This was the beginning—the ten-minute long take.
“Standby!!!”
At Director Song Man-woo’s loud call, the numerous staff members surrounding Woojin quickly dispersed. The Thai actors included in this scene settled into their designated positions. By this point, Woojin’s perspective was that of ‘Jang Yeon-woo’ himself.
*The smell is terrible.*
The front camera had long since disappeared. The many staff members around were also out of sight. Only the world and heart of *Beneficial Evil* unfolded. There was a pungent smell. The scent of cigarettes mixed with something else. Drugs? He was tied up now. But loosening it was easy. Assess. Assess. There were five floors. Two guiding him. It was assumed there would be more on each floor.
*This is going to be fun for a change.*
‘Jang Yeon-woo’ had come here at the suggestion of his former comrade L. The mission was to rescue the kidnapped daughter of the drug lord in Bangkok. The kidnappers were rival drug organizations. Both sides were large, and this was where the kidnapped daughter would likely be. Currently, ‘Jang Yeon-woo’ was disguised as a broker for drug transactions.
Meanwhile, Director Song Man-woo, in front of the monitor, opened his mouth again.
“Hi—”
Many gathered at the filming site fixed their gaze on Kang Woojin. Not just the staff, but also Joseph, Megan, and a group of about twenty foreigners, along with Kara and her team, Kim So-hyang, and writer Choi Na-na, among others. Altogether, there were well over 200 people.
Then it happened.
“Action!!”
The first signal of *Beneficial Evil* rang out. It was the moment of crank-in, and Kang Woojin appeared on the camera and monitor. With his wrists bound, his expression was calm. Yet, there was an underlying mischievousness.
*Thud!*
The two male gang members responsible for guiding the broker bumped Kang Woojin’s shoulders.
“Move quickly.”
It was in Thai. Woojin glanced at the AK47 rifle that hung stylishly from the man’s hands before moving his feet. The camera stepped back, then moved behind him as Kang Woojin ascended a swirling staircase. He passed the second floor and reached the third. Eventually, he arrived at the fifth floor. The endpoint of the guidance was the last room on the fifth floor. He could hear the thick smoke of cigarettes and indistinct loud music from an unknown nationality.
*♬♪*
The two gang members shoved Woojin into the room. He did not resist. Standing in the center of
the room, his expression was blank. But his eyes were swift. There were two directly in front, one on the back table, two by the entrance, and one in front of the TV.
A total of six people.
Was that all? He sharpened his senses, but six was all that was in this room. There must be more in another room, but that was not a concern.
*The guy in the back has a knife. Four guns, two knives. I’ll clean this room first.*
The camera moved alongside Woojin. Among the group in the room, a mustached man, who appeared to be the leader, exhaled the smoke from his cigarette into Kang Woojin’s face.
*...*
He maintained his expressionless demeanor. Then the mustached man teased in Thai.
“This guy seems a bit nervous. Is he about to pee himself?”
Kang Woojin replied in English.
“I don’t understand Thai.”
“Shut up!”
Suddenly, the mustached man became agitated and pressed the gun he held roughly against Woojin’s chin. Yet, Kang Woojin’s calmness remained. About five seconds passed. The mustached man, who had been smirking, turned to the nearby gang members.
“This kid’s got some guts.”
Soon, the camera pulled in to capture the two figures at about bust level. Something was about to begin.
Kang Woojin spoke again.
“I don’t understand Thai.”
This time, the mustached man replied in English as well, though not fluently.
“How much do you want?”
*The more, the better.*
“Money?”
*As much as I want.*
“Okay, let’s see the goods first.”
As he attempted to show the drugs, Woojin asked about something else.
“Are there kids?”
“What?”
“I heard you’re selling kids, too.”
*...Do you need them?*
“I need them. If they’re here, show them to me.”
“Boys? Girls?”
*Doesn’t matter.*
At that moment, the mustached man turned his head back and gestured to two gang members by the entrance.
*Swish.*
Kang Woojin raised his bound hands and suddenly brought them down. The thick cable tie snapped with a *pop!* The camera smoothly moved behind Woojin, and the gang members, realizing something was off, screamed.
“That guy!!”
“It’s dangerous!!!”
The mustached man turned his head back. Simultaneously—
*Thump!*
A short blade pierced his neck. It was Kang Woojin who had seized the knife hanging from the man’s waist. Embracing the collapsing man, he grabbed the pistol.
*Bang bang!*
This chapter is updat𝙚d by freeweɓnovel.cøm.
The sound of two gunshots echoed. Intense muzzle flames. And flying shell casings.
“Ugh!!”
The bullets struck true, embedding themselves in the chest. Blood erupted. It was the gang member near the entrance. He collapsed weakly. The AK47 rifle tumbled to the floor.
*Bang!*
One more shot. Blood and brain matter splattered from the back of the head of the gang member holding the pistol. Three out of six were dead in an instant. The guy who had been watching TV jolted upright in shock. He also held an AK47 rifle. The gang member with the knife in front rushed toward the downed Kang Woojin.
“Ahhh!!!!”
“Get back! Get back!!!”
This was a stroke of luck for Woojin. He blocked the view of the guy watching TV. But the gang member behind was quicker.
*Swish!*
He swung the long blade. Kang Woojin, lying down, tilted his head to the right and dodged, then quickly rolled over to grab the AK47 rifle that had fallen by the entrance. He shouldered it. The camera had now positioned itself behind Woojin. The gang member wielding the long knife rushed in.
*Bang bang bang!*
His chest was pierced. *Splash!* Blood sprayed everywhere. Woojin fired one more shot into the head of the downed guy.
*Bang!*
The head exploded. Kang Woojin quickly raised his gun. He twisted the rifle he had shouldered.
*Bang bang!*
The startled guy in front of the TV had his face and head obliterated. Blood splattered onto the television.
“Ughhhhh!”
The last remaining gang member swung his long knife at Kang Woojin. There was a *thud* sound as Woojin blocked the knife with the barrel of the AK47. Kang Woojin shouldered the rifle again.
*Bang bang!*
The side and face of the gang member were shattered.
“!!!”
“!!”
There were shouts from below. Other gang members were coming up. The camera followed Kang Woojin. He reloaded the AK47. He also picked up the pistol. He stood by the door, counting the steps he heard.
*Tap tap tap!!*
They were close. Kang Woojin dashed out.
*Bang bang bang!!*
The heads of two gang members who had just stepped into the hallway exploded. Woojin dashed down the hallway, the camera harshly trailing behind him. He then kicked the closed wooden door. Two gang members wielding knives rushed in. Four gunshots, and their hearts and brains turned to blood and splatter.
The camera smoothly moved in front of Kang Woojin’s face.
Although blood splattered on his cheeks—
*They’re coming again.*
He was smiling. But the smile revealed a glimmer of madness.
*I love this feeling. Taking a break was definitely the right choice.*
He was the embodiment of grotesque “evil.”
Yet, there was still time for him to run wild. Only about five minutes had passed in the long take. By this point, Director Song Man-woo, in front of the monitor, was caught up in a frenzy.
*This crazy!! It feels like ‘Jang Yeon-woo’ has jumped into reality and is running around! The speed! The impact!*
Blonde Miley Kara covered her mouth with one hand. It was a scene that defied imagination.
*What? What the heck?? It’s the first scene and the first take, right? How is he so skilled??! And while filming the first action scene in a long take, how can his CQC be better than the Hollywood actors I’ve seen?! Is this even possible?!*
Feeling a massive shock inside, she turned her head to the right. The towering Joseph, Megan, the stunt team, and executives from Universal Movies were all there. All of them were frozen, as if questioning what they were witnessing.
Kara sympathized with them intensely.
*It feels like my brain has stopped, like the basics have been shattered. It’s natural to feel this way when you see something outside of common sense. I know it well.*
The renowned figures of Hollywood were barely able to move their mouths.
*...*
*...*
*...*
The monster’s CQC had everyone malfunctioning.