Ch.300Yes, please come in!

“Ugh, ugh-huh, uwahahahahahack-kuk-kek!”

I’m laughing so hard my breathing becomes ragged, and I’m almost choking from how funny it is.

Exactly 52 Jokers with the correct number.

Each with a card tucked into their patch pocket while causing mayhem.

The situation itself was just unbearably amusing.

“Of course… oh, yes, right. I must approach the truth.”

And Batman, you’ll keep looking for me throughout all this.

You’ll try to find me through… truly… truly perfect deduction.

Combining numerous clues and various circumstances.

You’ll finally reach where I am.

But.

But you know what.

There’s still one thing you don’t know.

“About the Joker card.”

Ah, telling you now would spoil the fun.

I’ll stop here.

+++++

With the Joker’s final monologue.

‘The script has ended.’

The world I had immersed myself in came to an end.

In that fleeting moment.

I finished reading the script to the end.

“It’s really interesting. So much that I can’t wait to start filming.”

I shared my impression.

Honestly, it was extremely fascinating.

Fake Jokers numbering 52.

Plus the Joker’s yet-to-be-revealed trick at the end.

It feels like they’ve employed every device possible to make the Joker captivating.

“I’m honored by your assessment. Honestly, I was quite nervous, but now I’m relieved.”

“It’s a script that makes me nervous. With a script of this caliber… I’ll have to work even harder to do it justice.”

“Haha! I appreciate your kind words.”

After briefly exchanging compliments about the script.

Director Cristo began discussing the filming in earnest.

“As you saw, I don’t plan to have the 52 fake Jokers perform any Joker acting during filming to prevent leaks.”

“Ah, that’s a good idea. We should avoid leaks.”

Until the release day.

No one should know that Kim Donghu is the Joker.

More precisely, no one except the production company and filming team.

Because that would be one of the key plot twists of Murciélago.

“In reality, though we say 52 fake Jokers, we can’t spotlight all of them.”

“Because of the running time, right?”

“Exactly. They’re just puppets after all.”

Though 52 people were selected through auditions.

Most of them are rookies or actors who haven’t received much attention.

They’re affordable.

Yet they’re actors who would soar given the opportunity.

They’re given the role of Joker with just a few lines.

Naturally, they’ll have no choice but to give it their all, and Director Cristo is counting on that.

“They’ll all wear masks or disguises… and perform as the Joker.”

Director Cristo then outlined the subsequent plans.

“Anyway, if we were to break down the film… Part 1 would be Batman’s narrative, Part 2 would be meeting the fake Jokers… and Part 3 would be the confrontation with the real Joker.”

“Can all of that be included in Murciélago?”

“No, that’s impossible of course. So we’re thinking the real Joker will properly appear in the second film.”

“The second film?”

“Yes, that’s when Harley Quinn will officially appear too.”

A second film when we haven’t even shot the first one?

What does that even mean?

Seeing my look requesting further explanation, Director Cristo paused briefly.

“Ah, well… um… as you might have gathered by now. We’re planning to make Murciélago a series.”

“Yes, I was vaguely aware of that.”

“Of course, the protagonist is Donghu Kim, you.”

“Um… thank you.”

“So we believe this Murciélago will definitely succeed, and we’re proceeding with the project accordingly. We’ve received major investment… and our goal is the Academy Awards.”

“What?”

Until he showed me the script, I felt like I was just taking a leisurely stroll.

Suddenly, I feel like an F1 racer.

What’s with this sudden acceleration?

Regardless of my confused thoughts.

Director Cristo continued speaking.

“So… ultimately, we’re planning for three films. Of course, detailed contracts will be discussed later, but I wanted you to know how the story is being structured.”

“Three films?”

“Yes. It’s going to be a long-term project. So… our ultimate goal is the revival of DC.”

Why is he revealing such a grand plan during a surprise home party?

After reading the script and praising it, I must have triggered some switch in the director.

Immediately after, Director Cristo explained how passionate he was about Murciélago.

That conversation lasted about 2 hours.

And so my first housewarming party.

Ended with a one-on-one business talk with a famous director.

+++++

About a week after Kim Donghu enjoyed his surprise home party.

There was a tremendous tension in a training camp in America.

“Is it today?”

“Yes.”

“Whew, I’m feeling nervous for no reason.”

America Calamity, considered the best stunt team for action in America, briefly recalled their time in Korea.

Apart from the memories of happily eating hanwoo and devouring five bowls of yukhoe bibimbap in succession.

Most memories involved constantly rolling on the ground during training with Kim Donghu.

But today would be different.

Because.

“It’s a day focused on CQC firearms tactical training.”

Batman uses guns.

Not just one, but two.

And when unable to reload due to the long barrel, he uses tonfa instead.

Just hearing the setup, it sounded incredibly cool.

The problem is that coolness and practicality are different.

To utilize this 100%, one would need to move their body with certainty.

“Starting with pistol grip… shooting stance and various other things.”

Of course, since Batman is one of the superheroes.

Although he gets a lot of help from his suit.

Maintaining some realism adds to the detail, doesn’t it?

Moreover, holding pistols in both hands is another issue.

America Calamity honestly felt that one month was an extremely short time.

This was a different realm from simply moving the body.

But.

“Thank you for your guidance today.”

When Kim Donghu arrived, grabbed the pistol, and then.

Bang!

Bang!

Bang!

All three bullets hit the dead center of the target.

“Huh?”

“What?”

“Did I see that wrong?”

“Is that even possible?”

Of course, they were aware that Kim Donghu had learned CQC in Korea.

But that was CQC without firearms.

“What he’s showing now… it’s too perfect?”

Movements like someone who’s been in special forces for a long time.

From the speed of drawing the gun to the way he aims.

His grip is impeccable, and even his gun disassembly skills are perfect.

And the most outrageous part.

“How is he controlling the recoil like…?”

Despite not having a Batman suit.

Despite holding pistols in both hands, he was controlling the recoil 100%.

There should normally be recoil.

But he was shooting as if the gun had no recoil.

“…Maybe that rumor is true.”

“What? What rumor?”

“The rumor that Kim Donghu might actually be… some kind of superhero secretly raised by South Korea.”

“That’s a really stupid conspiracy theory, something only flat-earthers would believe….”

“No, but seeing this in person… it really seems like he’s been injected with some super serum.”

Especially when he held a Desert Eagle with one hand and shot it casually.

They couldn’t believe what they were seeing.

With one hand? Controlling the recoil? How on earth?

Many questions arose, but the conclusion was clear.

“…You don’t really need the training camp.”

“Is that so? I’m glad you think highly of me.”

Kim Donghu is a perfect actor with nothing left to teach.

++++++

After the training camp ended in just three days.

I got a short rest period of about four days.

First, I leisurely thought about what lay ahead.

“A trilogy….”

When I asked Manager Seokho, he confirmed he hadn’t heard anything concrete yet.

In a way, that was to be expected.

At this point, the only contract signed was for one film.

Just Murciélago.

The rest hadn’t even been drafted into contracts yet.

‘The first film will definitely be a hit.’

Given its S+ rating.

There was no doubt about its success.

‘So will I be known as Batman outside now?’

That would be truly.

‘So cool.’

It was an incredibly exciting prospect.

Something I had no reason to refuse.

Something to welcome with open arms.

Plus, it was also a great means to resist fate.

The Olympic gold medal remained a historic event that saved my parents.

For the whole world to recognize me as Batman?

It might have an even greater impact than the gold medal.

‘That’s good.’

As I was harboring expectations about the film shooting.

Ring ring.

The phone rang.

“Hello?”

-This is Cristo. I’m calling because the suit has been completed based on the measurements we took.

“Oh, really? When can I try it on?”

-Right now is fine. I was thinking we could do a brief rehearsal while you’re here, what do you think?

“Then I’ll come right away. Is that okay?”

-Yes, please do!

One of the news I’d been waiting for reached my ears.

With the Batman suit completed, I couldn’t resist trying it on immediately.