Chapter 1363

<Episode 1363> 1363. Spirit’s Atlantis

First, I headed to the dressing room with Samara to secure evidence.

When I entered the dressing room, the atmosphere was tense.

Elena sat in a chair, furrowing her brow while sipping on an iced americano. Yuria was quietly lost in thought. Miling glared at the three cameras placed stiffly on the desk, and Joo Seohyun emanated a murderous aura as if ready to draw and swing a sword at any moment—though, of course, she didn’t have one.

“Are these the cameras?”

I approached the desk. Three identical cameras were placed there, each about the size of a thumb. They appeared to store footage rather than transmit it in real time.

“Yes. We discovered them cleverly hidden on the ceiling, walls, and clothing rack. I checked thoroughly, but there are no others besides these three.”

Yuria spoke.

Just in case, I asked her and the others,

“Did any undressing scenes get captured by the cameras?”

“As soon as Yuria found them. I’ve heard that the entertainment industry in Zone 6700 is dirty, but who would’ve thought we’d be at risk of falling victim to hidden cameras before even debuting? This isn’t normal.”

Elena clicked her tongue disapprovingly.

I glared at the camera and activated my hacking ability.

[Hacking successful.]

[You can hack the camera for 50 minutes.]

Footage captured by the camera flashed through my mind.

The camera had been installed early in the morning, and the person who set it up managed to avoid being caught on film.

Samara, standing next to me, voiced her opinion in a fury-laden tone.

“Producer PD! This is no ordinary matter. We need to call the police immediately and catch the culprit!”

“Calm down, Samara. The police won’t solve everything for us. And if we call them, this incident will inevitably become public knowledge. Do you think it’s wise for a hidden camera scandal to break out before we debut? How do you think the reporters will spin this story?”

Reporters.

At the mention of them, Samara instantly frowned.

Most journalists in this world were scumbags. If they didn’t like you, they’d write malicious articles as a matter of course—and sometimes they’d even directly extort money from entertainment companies using potential stories as leverage.

“…Should we just let this slide?”

“There’s no way. My girls… no, the Pobits almost got secretly filmed. Are you insane if you think I’ll just let this go? My point is, we should resolve this quietly without alerting the public.”

I pocketed the camera.

“Samara, search the dressing room thoroughly for any other hidden cameras. As for changing clothes… let’s do it in the car. It feels creepy here. You guys feel the same, right?”

“Yes. There don’t seem to be any more cameras, but it still feels unsettling. The only person who should see my body is… one specific person. Please catch the culprit, Producer.”

“This world is overflowing with trash…”

That was from Miling and Joo Seohyun. After entrusting the costume-related matters to Samara, I immediately went to find Director Jackson.

“PD Sung. What’s the matter? Your face looks so rigid. Haha, you look like a murderer.”

Jackson, seated in his director’s chair, laughed. He seemed in good spirits ever since receiving the envelope of cash.

I glanced around once. Other staff members…


The set was bustling with activity as everyone prepared for filming. I approached Director Jackson. Pulling out a small knife from my pocket, I pressed it against his neck, my killing intent dripping from every word.

“Director… let’s have a little chat, just you and me.”

“…”

Jackson’s face froze solid. He glared at me like he wanted to murder me on the spot.

“…If you thought I’d cave to such a petty threat… you’re sorely mistaken. I’ve almost lost my hand in gambling…”

Thud.

The blade of the small knife slid into Jackson’s neck. Not all the way in, and it missed the carotid artery. A perfectly calculated spot that wouldn’t be fatal. Still, the cold sensation of steel sinking into flesh was unmistakable.

“Let’s talk, brat. Or would you rather die right here?”

Pale as a ghost, Jackson couldn’t even nod properly, stammering out his response.

“A- alright! We’ll talk! Please spare me… I’ll return the money I received…”

“To the restroom. Act natural.”

I led Jackson into the public restroom, locked the door, then immediately kicked him. He tumbled across the tiled floor.

“Ghhhhh!”

“You whining already? We haven’t even started yet.”

I stomped on him – head, arms, legs, snapping them like twigs. Kicking his abdomen was standard procedure.

“Why… why are you doing this… Please… please spare me…”

Jackson curled up like some pathetic bug, tears streaming down his face. Grabbing his right hand, I began methodically breaking each finger one by one.

“AAAAAAAAAAH!”

All five fingers on his right hand were now useless.

“Hah… Still looking so wronged? You venomous bastard. Would cutting off your fingers make you admit your sins?”

“I-I didn’t do anything! I’ll return all the money I received!”

Jackson pleaded desperately. Blood streamed from his broken nose, shattered teeth visible in his gaping mouth.

‘…Could Jackson really not be the culprit?’

Suddenly, I remembered how Jackson hadn’t appeared in any of the hidden camera footage. Maybe he wasn’t the one who installed them after all.

‘That doesn’t mean this guy isn’t responsible though. What kind of director can’t even manage his own set?’

In a rage, I slammed his head. Jackson let out a choked scream, trembling violently. After beating him nearly to death, I pulled out a potion and poured it over him. The minor wounds vanished, broken fingers resetting themselves.

Despite my kindness in healing him, Jackson still couldn’t get up. I grabbed him by the shoulder and forced him upright.

“AAAAAHHH! My shoulder!”

“Don’t fake it. Do you still not know what you’ve done?”

“B-but I didn’t do anything!”

“You put hidden cameras in our dressing room. Not one, but three of them.”

“W-wait, what?…”

Jackson’s eyes widened in genuine surprise. He clearly had no idea about it.

“You didn’t install them?”

“N-no! Why would I do something like that?! My career would be ruined if I got caught!”

“You needed money because of your gambling debts.”

“It’s not that much! I could pay it off in a few months! I’m a respected music video director in this industry! Why would I commit such a dangerous crime?!”

Now that he mentioned it, that did make sense.

“Still, the fact remains that hidden cameras were found in the dressing room. Managing the set is your responsibility, so you’ll take the fall.”

“C-carry the blame?”

I smiled chillingly, raising the knife to his throat again.

“Do I look like I’m joking?”

“N-no! I swear I didn’t install them! Please spare me!”

“If it wasn’t you, then who? Any suspicious staff members?”

“There is! The wardrobe department is managed by Robert AD! He knows how to handle cameras too!”

“It could still be another staff member.”

“The wardrobe room is usually monitored…”


The only staff member who can freely enter and exit without looking at the cameras is Robert AD! And Robert AD has a motive!”

“What’s the motive?”

“I heard a story at a drinking party the other day… He said he had invested all the money he had saved in stocks. Those stocks… plummeted not long ago.”

“That little bastard needs money too, huh.”

“Sir, I am nowhere near as impoverished as Robert AD!”

“Just shut up and call that guy here. If he causes any trouble… you know what happens, right?”

“Yes! Yes! I’ll call him!”

Jackson pulled out his smartphone from his coat. With trembling hands, he tapped on the smartphone to connect the call.

“Director Jackson? Where are you? The on-site direction is almost finished. We can start filming as soon as the director and actors arrive.”

“Uh, uh, Robert. I’m in the bathroom right now…”

Jackson kept glancing at me. I mimed slicing my neck with a knife. Swallowing hard, Jackson continued speaking.

“There’s no tissue here. Could you bring some?”

“I’ll send the junior staff.”

“No, you come yourself.”

“Me personally?”

“F*ck. Don’t embarrass me by sending the junior staff. Are you trying to undermine my authority by making the junior do it? You come alone without anyone knowing! F*ck!”

“Ah, yes sir. I’ll go immediately.”

Jackson ended the call and looked at me cautiously.

“That sharp guy will be here soon.”

“You didn’t just swear at me, did you?”

“Absolutely not! Since I usually swear often… if I don’t use profanity, Robert might get suspicious.”

“……”

I eyed Jackson suspiciously but didn’t do anything in particular.

Not even three minutes passed when someone knocked on the public restroom door.

“Director! It’s Robert!”

I pointed to the corner with my finger. Jackson quickly understood and quietly crouched down in the corner.

As soon as I opened the restroom door, I grabbed Robert by the neck and dragged him inside, throwing him onto the floor. After locking the door again, I fiercely beat Robert with all my strength.

“Aaaaaaaaagh!”

After beating Robert like a madman for a while, I asked him with killing intent.

“Is it you?”

“Wa, what are you talking about?! D, Director! Please help me! This crazy guy…!”

Robert pleaded for help from Jackson while spitting out blood. Jackson, curled up in the corner, screamed upon meeting my gaze.

“It’s you, you! F*ck! You secretly installed hidden cameras in the costume room!”

“Hidden cameras?! No, no way! Why would I do such a thing?!”

“There’s no one else who could’ve done it but you!”

“N, no, it wasn’t me!”

My intuition hit the mark.

The hidden camera perpetrator must be Robert.

‘It doesn’t matter if it’s this guy or not. Beating up the entire staff one by one will suffice.’

The costume room prohibits entry to non-relevant personnel, so there must be a culprit among the staff. Inspecting their belongings might yield evidence related to the hidden camera.

I grabbed Robert’s head with one hand.

“Still haven’t figured it out? You’re a dead man now. Of course, I won’t just kill you. Since you’ve done something cute… you have to pay the price.”

Crack.

Electricity sparks.

Current flows through his scalp and spreads throughout his body. Electrical torture. A single misstep could be fatal, but… I’ve done this countless times before. I can instinctively sense how much the opponent can endure.

Zzzzzzt!

Current flows. The guy can’t even scream properly. They say getting electrocuted feels like your whole body being torn apart into tiny pieces.

The smell of burning flesh filled the air.

I removed my hand from his body. Continuing would risk killing him, so I’m giving him a break.

“I’ll let you rest for exactly 30 seconds.”

“Ugh, ugh… I was wrong… I won’t do it again… Please spare me… Please…”

“This little punk. Admitting after only a few minutes since we started?”

I took out a potion.

Trying to film my women naked with a hidden camera… There’s absolutely no way I can forgive such an act.