PAID

Translator: NovelBin

A heavy silence filled Columbia Studios’ main conference room. The room was packed, yet no one spoke. The bald executive had just posed a question: “Are we really going to give up on Kang Woo-jin’s Joker?”

They had already witnessed Woo-jin’s Joker performance.

‘…We can’t let him go. Of all things, we have to secure Kang Woo-jin.’

‘Who else could deliver a Joker like the one we’ve seen? It would be nearly impossible.’

If they had never seen it, they wouldn’t know what they were missing. But now, having been “seasoned” by Woo-jin’s Joker, they couldn’t go back. It made sense; if Woo-jin left, any actor they brought in later would merely be an imitation.

The bald executive observed the quiet anxiety in the room, a faint smile appearing on his face.

“Why are we so fearful of other failures yet blind to the idea of losing Kang Woo-jin? Isn’t losing him one of the greatest failures we could face? Letting him go would be an irrecoverable mistake.”

“…”

“If it were just this project, maybe it wouldn’t matter. But how many sequels do we have planned with the Joker? It’s certain that Woo-jin’s Joker will be passionately embraced by audiences. Characters, whether heroes or villains, are beloved by fans; but as we all know, a well-loved villain carries a unique and powerful resonance.”n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

He was right. Villains are typically despised, but if an actor is extraordinary, the role gains a sense of admiration. Such villains become pillars that support the story.

“We need to put our faith in our Joker. Betting on the uncertain might be daunting, but since we’ve already rolled the dice on this cinematic universe, we need to see the whole forest, not just the trees.”

Slowly, others began to reveal their true thoughts.

“I agree. Honestly, I don’t think *Piero: Birth of a Villain* will flop at the Academy Awards.”