“......”

    On the first day of filming, Seoyeon stood aghast, staring at the large pig''s head in front of her.

    “Seoyeon, it''s your turn,” someone said.

    “Oh, yes.”

    Seoyeon, along with a few other actors, bowed deeply to the pig''s head.

    It’s a common practice in film or drama productions to perform a ritual before starting, to pray for the project’s success. Seoyeon found it interesting because she had never experienced this during her time on The Moon Embracing the Sun.

    ‘A pig''s head...’

    Seoyeon felt an indescribable emotion as she looked at the pig''s head, which seemed to be smiling at her. It reminded her of the creature she saw in If You Switch It On, You’ll Be a King.

    ‘Could it be that I’m easily scared?’

    Seoyeon had never considered herself mentally weak, but the fear she experienced for the first time was so shocking that it lingered in her mind. It would fade with time, but for now, it was still there.

    “Seoyeon, are you feeling okay?”

    “Yes.”@@@@

    Seoyeon nodded in response to her manager Park Eun-ha''s question. To others, Seoyeon seemed calm and composed, with no change in her expression. Even though she was startled by the pig''s head, her only visible reaction was a slight trembling in her eyes.

    ‘Indeed...’

    Park Eun-ha gazed at Seoyeon intently. Actors, especially exceptional ones, are different from ordinary people.

    Hwang Min-hwa, who Park Eun-ha had previously managed, was the same. She exuded a sophisticated aura and an overwhelming presence that made it difficult for others to speak freely in her presence, often leading them to feel suppressed.

    And Seoyeon?

    “Filming might take a while, so why don’t you rest in the van?”

    Contrary to her cold appearance, Seoyeon was very kind-hearted, the complete opposite of Hwang Min-hwa.

    Or perhaps not the opposite, since Hwang Min-hwa''s image didn’t exactly scream kindness.

    ‘I thought Seoyeon would be similar.’

    When Park Eun-ha first met Seoyeon, she froze. Seoyeon had an expressionless face that was hard to read, making her seem like a doll.

    Like Hwang Min-hwa, or perhaps even more so, Seoyeon possessed an aura that proved the title of "genius child actress" was no exaggeration.

    She had something overwhelmingly captivating, perhaps the greatest quality an actor could have. And when she acted, her aura could change in an instant.

    The surprise Park Eun-ha felt when she first saw Hwang Min-hwa up close was now surpassed by Seoyeon.

    ‘That''s why even Hwang Min-hwa couldn’t act recklessly around her.’

    Actors who have reached the top often have keen insight. Hwang Min-hwa had an eye for spotting people who would rise and those who wouldn’t. Seoyeon must have passed her test.

    So, Hwang Min-hwa pretended to be a kind older sister, hiding her true intentions.

    “It’s fine, I’ll stay here and watch. Where else would a manager go?”

    “Hmm, I don’t think it would be a problem.”

    “Just focus on the filming.”

    Park Eun-ha smiled as she spoke. The Chaser was Seoyeon’s first film.

    And its release date coincided with that of a film starring Hwang Min-hwa: Utopia. Just as GH Group had put their all into The Chaser, Utopia was backed by a giant corporation. In fact, Utopia had even more financial support, including international funding.

    Although The Chaser had a better-known director, Utopia boasted a higher number of top-tier actors.

    While The Chaser wasn’t small in scale, Utopia was an even bigger blockbuster.

    ‘Still...’

    As Park Eun-ha watched Seoyeon preparing herself, she silently wished for Seoyeon to surpass Hwang Min-hwa.

    She believed it would happen.

    “Today’s shoot is the scene where Detective Im Seung-chul coincidentally sees the murderer, Cha Seo-ah, escaping and chases her.”

    This was scene number 30. After the confrontation between Cha Seo-ah and the detectives at the bus stop, the night patrol scene happens where they meet again by chance. This was the first encounter with the murderer, Cha Seo-ah.

    ‘So, he doesn’t shoot in sequence.’

    Hearing that it was scene number 30, Seoyeon checked her physical condition. She hadn’t expected her first shoot to involve running.

    Each director has a different shooting style. Director Gong Jung-tae of The Moon Embracing the Sun preferred shooting scenes in order.

    However, Director Bae Jin-hwan of The Chaser preferred to shoot scenes that matched the mood of the day or, alternatively, to start with the most challenging scenes.

    A pile of trash next to a utility pole tumbled over. Detective Im Seung-chul, who had been chasing the recent string of murders, frantically looked around.

    “Where is it? Where are you?”

    He glanced down at his old cell phone to check the time of the report. The call had come in late at night, a terrified voice saying someone had broken into their home.

    But before they could give their full address, there was a scream.

    Without waking his sleeping colleagues, Im Seung-chul rushed out alone into the dark alley.

    The victim had given an approximate location over the phone—Mangwon-ro, 49th Street.

    Weaving through the maze of residential houses, Im Seung-chul ran aimlessly. More than ten minutes had passed since the report came in.

    He might be too late. He shook his head, trying to push that thought away.

    Then, as he turned down yet another alley...

    “......”

    He came face-to-face with someone wearing a yellow raincoat.

    Someone wearing a raincoat, even though it wasn’t raining.

    A small figure, hard to determine their gender. An eerie presence, as if swallowing the darkness.

    Im Seung-chul’s eyes widened when he saw the red stains on the yellow raincoat. Blood. Whose blood was it?

    There was no need to ask.

    “You bastard!”

    With a roar that echoed through the alley, Im Seung-chul charged at the figure. Leaping over the scattered trash, he closed in on the suspect, who turned and fled.

    The weapon had already been discarded. Seeing the size difference, the criminal chose to run rather than fight.

    And then...

    “......?”

    The figure disappeared in an instant.

    Kim Dae-heon, playing Detective Im Seung-chul, came to a stop.

    ‘How is she so fast?’

    Ah, no wonder they hadn’t caught this criminal yet. It was the kind of speed that made you think that.

    “Cut, cut, cut!”

    Director Bae Jin-hwan hurriedly called out.

    He called for Seoyeon, who had already dashed out of the alley.

    “Seoyeon!”

    “Yes.”

    “Um... can you run a little slower?”

    It made sense for the criminal to run fast, but this was too much.

    “Did you do track in school, Seoyeon?”

    “Oh, no.”

    Seoyeon denied it, but it was hard to believe. Now they understood why she didn’t need a stunt double. The staff all thought the same thing.

    “Okay, let’s try it again, this time matching the pace.”

    Director Bae clapped his hands and shouted out instructions.

    And so, the reshoot began.

    After that astonishing display of speed, everyone was on edge.

    “Wow, that shot turned out great.”

    “That’s exactly what we wanted. Everything is lining up perfectly.”

    S#30.

    The scene ended with praise from everyone.

    No one had to pull an all-nighter; it was over in a flash.

    The first chase scene that symbolized The Chaser.

    With such a successful start, a smile spread across Director Bae Jin-hwan’s face.