Dominik arrived at Gwangjang Market in Seoul. The bustling alleys were cleared for the shoot, the aroma of street food filling the air.
Tonight, 13 people—including Dominik—were set to play the main event: The Name Tag Ripping Game.
Before the game, the PD (Program Director) announced the rules to the group.
"12 guests will be divided into Red and Blue teams. Dominik Corvinus, however, will wear yellow. He is the Boss."
Red Team: Yoo Jae-suk, Jee Seok-jin, Kim Jong-kook, Park Ji-hoon, Kim Min-jae, Hwang Yeji.
Blue Team: Ha Dong-hoon (Haha), Song Ji-hyo, Jeon So-min, Yang Se-chan, Lee Jae-wook, Song Ji-ho.
The 12 guests were escorted by men in black to their starting positions inside the market. Dominik was left alone in the central plaza, looking utterly bewildered.
"Where do I go?" he asked the camera.
Once the others were gone, the PD whispered the real hidden rules to Dominik.
"Dominik-ssi, you are not just the Boss. You are the Undercover King. Each team has one secret agent working for you. They have Golden Name Tags hidden under their regular white ones. If only you and your agents remain at the end, you win."
"Who are they?" Dominik asked.
"You have to find them. Even they don't know who the other agent is. They only know they serve the King. When their white tag is ripped, the Gold tag is revealed, giving them a second life."
The game began. Dominik walked into the market. So it looks like 6v6, but it's actually 3v10. Devious.
He strolled past a stall selling bindaetteok. The smell was incredible. His nutritionist back in the UK would kill him, but...
He bought one.
"This is fuel," he told his cameraman, taking a bite of the crispy pancake. "Don't tell my trainer."
An hour later, the speakers crackled. Kim Min-jae OUT!
Dominik was currently eating fried chicken in a small shop. His cameraman zoomed in on the grease on his fingers. This F1 driver is a foodie, the caption would surely read.
Suddenly, Yoo Jae-suk appeared around the corner. "Oh! Dominik! Little brother!"
Dominik froze. Then he looked at Jae-suk. The National MC was alone.
Why run? Dominik thought. I'm taller, younger, and faster.
He didn't hesitate. He lunged. Jae-suk shrieked, trying to dodge, but Dominik's reflexes were F1-honed. In two seconds, he spun Jae-suk around and ripped the tag.
RIIIIIP.
Yoo Jae-suk stood there, mouth open. Even the cameramen were stunned. It was over before they could even focus the lens.
"Sorry," Dominik smiled politely.
Yoo Jae-suk OUT!
The other guests panicked. The Boss was hunting.
Meanwhile, Hwang Yeji was wandering the second floor, also eating fries she found at a stall. She was ambushed by Song Ji-hyo and Yang Se-chan.
RIIIIIP.
Hwang Yeji OUT!
Yeji looked at the cameraman with wide, betrayed eyes, fries still in hand. But instead of being taken to jail, a PD handed her a Golden Name Tag.
"You are the Red Team Agent," the PD whispered. "You have a second life. Serve the King."
Yeji's eyes lit up. She smirked, slapped the golden tag on her back, and sprinted away toward the third floor.
Just as Jee Seok-jin (Big Nose) was chasing her, she turned a corner—and ran straight into Dominik.
"Heaven helps me," Yeji panted.
Dominik saw the pink hair. He smiled. "Do you want to lose more money during work hours?"
He saw the golden tag on her back. He stopped.
"Agent?" he asked.
"Agent," she confirmed, pointing behind her. "And Big Nose is coming."
Dominik nodded. He stepped past her. Jee Seok-jin came running around the corner, chasing Yeji. He ran straight into the chest of an F1 driver.
Dominik didn't even blink. He reached out, grabbed the tag, and ripped it.
Jee Seok-jin OUT!
"Double kill," Dominik muttered.
Suddenly, the speakers blared.
Ha Dong-hoon (Haha) OUT!
Dominik perked up. "Maybe he is the Blue Agent?"
But before the thought even finished, less than 20 seconds later, the speakers blared again.
Ha Dong-hoon OUT!
Dominik and Yeji stopped dead.
"He died... twice?" Yeji whispered.
It turned out Haha was indeed the Blue Agent. He had been ripped, revealed his Golden Tag, shouted "I am the Spy!", and was immediately swarmed and ripped again by the entire Blue team before he could take a single step.
"He is useless," Dominik sighed.
Now it was just the two of them against five angry guests.
They fought bravely, but the numbers were too high. In a chaotic scrum, Dominik was grabbed by Lee Jae-wook and Kim Jong-kook.
RIIIIIP.
Dominik Corvinus OUT!
Because the King fell, his agent fell too.
Hwang Yeji OUT!
The game ended. Kim Jong-kook roared in victory.
In the observation room, Yeji sat next to Dominik, sharing a soda. They whispered like conspirators, laughing about the game.
"You were scary," she told him.
"You were fast," he replied. "For someone holding fries."
He exchanged social media handles with Yeji and the unlucky Haha.
"Come watch a race," Dominik told her. "I promise I won't make you hold a water cup."
"Deal," she smiled.