Top Star by Luck

Chapter 74

‘This is strange.’

Lee Min Ki flinched at the sight of the man whose face was deeply hidden by a hoodie.

A hoodie itself wasn’t strange.

However, the man had completely concealed his face with black sunglasses and a mask, and above all, his hands were strange.

‘Is he holding a weapon?’

He was holding a newspaper.

There’s nothing strange about that.

But Lee Min Ki knew what that newspaper was used for.

‘It’s that thing I saw while filming “Forever Green”.’

It was something commonly seen in thriller movies.

A newspaper hiding a weapon inside.

It was often used to catch the victim off guard.

The crumpled newspaper in the hand of the man in the hoodie had that exact shape.

‘No way.’

It better not be someone like a villain from a thriller.

While Lee Min Ki, despite meeting him for the first time, subtly heightened his guard, the man’s heart was also pounding for a different reason.

‘Finally, I found him.’

He had been searching for Lee Min Ki diligently for the past few weeks.

Of course, it wouldn’t have been hard to find him.

All he had to do was visit the studio.

The problem was that he needed to meet Lee Min Ki one-on-one, in a private place.

Why?

‘Just one arm, and I’ll get 30 million won.’

Because he was a hitman who did such work.

His main job was ambushing people and causing physical injuries, usually disguised as accidents.

Like subtly smashing an athlete’s Achilles tendon, for instance.

‘Given who the target is, the pay is really good.’

When he first received the offer, he thought he had hit the jackpot.

After all, a person is a person, whether they are a celebrity or a regular person—made of the same flesh and bone.

In the eyes of an expert, that’s all it was.

Even the client who commissioned the job didn’t seem to care too much about the details.

[They didn’t even ask for him to be killed, just for an arm to be injured. They must really have some grudge against him.]

[Why do you need to know that for the job?]

[No, I was just curious because I saw a movie about something like this. Ah, if you’re uncomfortable talking about it, you don’t have to.]

What the client had said was something to behold.

[Imagine you’re holding a fly swatter, and there’s a fly annoying you. There’s no reason not to swat it, right?]

It was a brutally blunt expression.

Just because it annoyed him, he wanted one of Lee Min Ki’s arms broken.

There must have been more to the story, but there was no reason for a contractor to pry into such matters.

The fly swatter just works according to the money given.

‘Has this rookie actor already made enemies?’

The client was apparently quite well-known in the underworld.

Of all people, it had to be him.

But aside from that, the pay was more than enough.

That was enough for him.

However, despite the initial smooth start, he had been feeling uneasy lately.

Because things hadn’t gone as planned.

‘I thought I was going to die from how our paths never crossed.’

For some strange reason, Lee Min Ki had avoided every place the man had checked beforehand.

If he waited in one alley, Lee Min Ki would go through another alley.

If he waited near the studio, Manager Park Han Mo would drive him home.

If he waited in front of his usual restaurant, he would bring someone else along.

He had prepared and reviewed his plans several times, but Lee Min Ki seemed to avoid him like a ghost.

‘He’s ridiculously lucky. But that luck ends today.’

The hooded man walked past Lee Min Ki without a care, as if he hadn’t even noticed him.

His movements were as if he were just another passerby.

But the hair on the back of Lee Min Ki’s neck stood on end, like the latest high-tech antenna.

Maybe it was because he was so used to misfortune.

Lee Min Ki instinctively knew how to avoid danger.

Step, step.

He subtly changed his direction, naturally avoiding the path the man was walking on.

Hoping that nothing would happen.

While fiddling with his phone in one hand, he kept his eyes alert and on guard.

But, that movement seemed to provoke the man.

‘He noticed.’

The man swiftly lunged.

He moved quickly, trying to overpower Lee Min Ki in one go.

That’s when the problem occurred.

‘Huh?’

It was a coincidence.

A plastic bag happened to be lying where the man stepped.

And, it caused the man to trip.

Rustle.

“Ugh?!”

The man’s body spun through the air in a bizarre arc.

“Gah!”

He crashed dramatically onto the concrete, groaning in pain, and the newspaper bundle slipped from his grasp.

It rolled directly towards Lee Min Ki.

‘This…’

Lee Min Ki kicked the newspaper aside.

The object that tumbled out from inside was baffling.

‘A flashlight?’

It was a flashlight.

Not just any flashlight, but one that looked like it could be used for self-defense.

Its reinforced plastic parts, plastered all over, made it look menacing.

The grip was designed so that it wouldn’t slip, even during intense movements.

On top of that, it was longer than most ordinary flashlights.

Its exact model was the [Iljijeonsan HX-1].

How did Lee Min Ki know this?

‘It’s the one I saw during the shoot.’

It was one of the props used on set during the filming of “Forever Green.”

Though they ultimately didn’t use it because it didn’t seem intense enough, he still remembered its intended use.

‘It’s supposed to blind people with its light and then be used like a club to beat them.’

It was a self-defense tool.

Its long shape made it suitable for swinging like a baseball bat to hit someone. It may look like this, but it was definitely capable of cracking someone’s skull.

However, what made this tool truly dangerous was something else.

It wasn’t considered a weapon.

‘It’s more threatening than a standard baton, but since it’s not classified as a weapon, it’s often used in crimes.’

What was it again?

People would use it to assault others and, when caught, could easily make excuses.

According to the director, professionals in the industry often use it.

Even if caught, they could pass it off as mutual violence.

‘Why is this here?’

Lee Min Ki hesitated for a moment, then picked it up and examined it.

His suspicion soon turned into certainty.

It was exactly what he thought it was.

‘I thought the director was joking.’

But it turned out what he had heard back then was true.

As he stared in disbelief, the man, who had already regained his stance, was glaring at him with bloodshot eyes.

Gulp.

Lee Min Ki swallowed nervously.

Step.

Holding the flashlight in one hand, he began to step backward slowly.

It was clear from his actions that he was on high alert.

The man clenched his teeth.

‘Damn it.’

This was beyond frustrating.

How could a professional lose his equipment to the target?

It was utterly pathetic.

Was this even a situation that made sense?

His face flushed at the thought that this had never happened in all the time he’d been doing this job.

If anyone found out, he wouldn’t be able to show his face.

‘Still, a job is a job.’

The man gritted his teeth.

‘If you don’t have teeth, you bite with your gums.’

Just because he lost one tool didn’t mean he couldn’t finish the job.

There was no way he couldn’t handle one actor barehanded.

…At least, that’s what he thought as he charged forward.

“Ah!”

“…!”

Suddenly, Lee Min Ki shouted loudly and switched on the flashlight, pointing it directly at the man’s face.

Whoosh!

In an instant, the entire alley lit up like broad daylight.

A powerful beam of light, just short of blinding, shone directly into the man’s face.

It was the HX-1 self-defense flashlight.

Designed to blind an opponent with its light, giving the user time to strike or escape, the tool was working as intended.

“…Ugh!”

The unexpected counterattack caused the man to stagger backward, momentarily losing his vision.

As the man flailed in confusion, two thoughts raced through Lee Min Ki’s mind.

‘Do I run? Or do I subdue him and hand him over to the police?’

If he wanted to escape, now was the time.

But if he ran, he wouldn’t be able to uncover the man’s identity.

On the other hand, if he subjugated the man on the spot, it would be ideal.

However, in doing so, he would have to take on extra risk.

As an actor whose image would suffer greatly from even the slightest injury, it was not a good gamble.

Moreover, since the man hadn’t actually inflicted any harm yet, it would be difficult to justify a confrontation.

‘There’s no need to take unnecessary risks. I’ll just run and report it to the police.’

Lee Min Ki had made up his mind when—

“You bastard!”

The man had regained his composure, glaring at him with wide, angry eyes.

Thanks for not running away.

Even though the situation had taken an unexpected turn, it wasn’t too late.

‘You’re dead.’

The man gripped the knuckles in his pocket tightly and glared at Lee Min Ki when—

“…!”

The man suddenly bit his lip as he noticed someone appear at the far end of the alley.

Damn it.

A person he didn’t want to be seen by was standing there.

Long limbs and a face that looked like he found everything in life to be a bother.

It was someone the client had repeatedly emphasized not to be discovered by.

‘Ugh.’

Things had gone terribly wrong.

So wrong that it couldn’t have gone worse.

The man hesitated for a moment before—

“Damn it!”

He turned around and bolted, kicking off the ground forcefully.

Without even glancing back.

“…”

Left standing in the middle of the alley, Lee Min Ki stared blankly at the spot where the man had fled.

‘What just happened?’

I was about to run, but the other guy ran first.

What was that about?

What was that person trying to do to me?

I have no idea.

‘Could it be that I’ve started getting targeted just because I’m a celebrity?’

Were they planning to kidnap me, threaten me, and take my money?

What was the name of that movie I watched before?

‘Ah, a hostage situation.’

Yeah, like a hostage situation.

The one where criminals kidnap a superstar actor and hold them hostage.

Was I almost involved in something like that?

‘I guess I should report this to the police. I should also notify JC.’

As his thoughts raced in confusion, making it difficult for him to focus on just one thing,

“Hey, what are you doing there?”

A man called out from behind him.

Flinch.

Startled by the previous encounter, Lee Min Ki turned around as if he had just seen a ghost.

“Ji Hwan?”

Yes.

Standing at the opposite end of the alley was Kim Ji Hwan.

He was looking at Lee Min Ki with a puzzled expression.

“Are you filming a movie? A thriller?”

“It’s not that, but… it almost turned into one.”

Although he wasn’t sure if this was the right moment to be cracking jokes, Lee Min Ki, still feeling unsure, asked,

“By the way, what are you doing here? Do you live nearby?”

“No, I live in Yeoksam.”

Ah, Yeoksam.

That’s a nice neighborhood.

But why did you come all the way here?

Unable to grasp the situation, Lee Min Ki frowned.

“Do you really not remember?”

Kim Ji Hwan chuckled and said,

“You’re funny. You’re the one who suggested we watch a movie and study every Friday night.”

“Ah.”

That.

For a moment, Lee Min Ki was caught off guard.

‘Doesn’t it seem weird to show up without making proper plans?’

Just because he casually mentioned it over a meal, he came without any further contact?

His sense of timing was off.

But right now, Lee Min Ki appreciated Kim Ji Hwan’s strange behavior.

‘It feels a little safer with someone around on this dark street.’

Feeling a strange sense of relief, Lee Min Ki said,

“Let me call the police first. Oh, and I need to go to the gym as well.”

First, the gym.

* * *

However, even after reporting the incident, there wasn’t much help the police could provide.

There wasn’t any solid evidence left at the scene, and there were no CCTVs.

‘It feels like I’ve been haunted by a ghost.’

The police said they would investigate, but advised him not to expect too much.

In the end, it felt like he just got his face remembered by the police.

They were surprisingly friendly too.

‘I thought Korean police were supposed to be rude, but I guess not.’

Anyway, the matter seemed to be coming to a close without much progress, but there was someone who reacted differently.

“…So that happened.”

JC Entertainment.

Seo Jung Woo, one of the key figures representing this company.

He was also known as the strategist of JC.

He was highly sensitive to what had happened to Lee Min Ki.

“I didn’t expect things like this to still happen.”

It didn’t seem like he was merely concerned because an actor under his company had nearly been involved in an incident.

Rather, it seemed like he had some specific idea of what was going on.

He even seemed to know who the culprit was.

“Has this happened often?”

Lee Min Ki asked, trying to hide his nervousness while his heart pounded at the thought of hearing some inside scoop.

“It used to happen quite frequently. Not anymore, though.”

Director Seo Jung Woo sighed and said,

“I’ll need to have a word with the CEO.”

“The CEO?”

Goo In Mo of JC Entertainment?

The name of someone he had never met before caused Lee Min Ki to flinch, but Director Seo continued.

“When it comes to things like this, the CEO is an expert.”