Chapter 123
Chapter 123
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 123
Chapter Title: Tailing
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Iron Man Engineering's headquarters chief, Lee Tae-seong, said to Design Team Leader Cha Ji-hee.
"So our design model's a failure, huh."
Na Gang-in and AI Jeon Ji-in's Dragon Plate designs were custom-fitted to the individual. That meant even if the user gained weight and their belly stuck out, the armor's defense would drop.
On top of that, they had to redesign from scratch every time, making production way too slow.
To ramp up output, Iron Man Engineering proposed a mass-produced model. For users with body types similar to existing ones, they'd apply the same designs, produce extras, and sell them off immediately if a new buyer's specs matched.
Na Gang-in had no losses from it, so he agreed.
But designing wasn't Na Gang-in's main gig. He didn't spend much time on it either. Without his custom blueprints, they couldn't produce Dragon Plates.
If basic model production fell short, they wouldn't stockpile enough designs for the mass-produced line.
So Iron Man Engineering planned to design and build their own Dragon Plates. Their dedicated team drew up blueprints based on months of research. Then they prototyped from those.
But the resulting prototype couldn't even stop a single pistol round. The design team brought it to Na Gang-in for analysis.
If Iron Man Engineering could design their own, Na Gang-in wouldn't waste time on every single one. They'd still pay royalties, so his income stayed safe.
Na Gang-in handed the analysis to AI Jeon Ji-in.
The verdict came quick.
Design Team Leader Cha Ji-hee said,
"Na Team Leader said you made some convincingly junky scrap metal."
Lee Tae-seong covered his face with his hand.
"Embarrassing. Our Dragon Plate team's all-out effort based on months of data analysis... and it's trash."
"Sorry."
"Hmm... So if we keep researching like this, is there hope?"
"Na Team Leader said it'd be pointless drudgery, sinking ourselves into a swamp with zero results."
Na Gang-in stopped by the fabrication outpost on his way to the hostage exchange site. He didn't just grab his bike there. He picked up some trash to toss at the kidnappers too.
Yi Bora asked Shin Eun-ha,
"Oppa stopped by his workshop, so why didn't he come with you?"
"He did."
Yi Bora quickly scanned around.
"Where?"
"Somewhere on that mountain, watching us. He'll show up the second things get dangerous."
Yi Bora clasped her hands together.
"As expected, Gang-in oppa's protecting me... Huh? Then why hasn't he come out now that those guys all ran off?"
The kidnapping team's leader brought just one subordinate for the hostage swap. The other guy climbed a nearby hill to watch for cops or anyone else approaching.
He saw the exchange finish, then pulled out his burner phone to call the leader.
"Boss. Should I head out too?"
"You didn't say..."
"Got it!"
The gangster hustled downhill.
Na Gang-in watched the lookout descending from above. He gripped his mountain bike in his left hand.
"Who the hell wants a Dragon Plate bad enough to go this far?"
"That's what I was planning."
The two kidnappers waited at the base of the hill with their car for their buddy. The lookout came sprinting down from the ridge.
The leader snapped irritably.
"Move your ass!"
"Huff huff. Boss, the distance from up there to here..."
"Let's go."
"Ah, yeah."
Their car peeled out with all three aboard.
Na Gang-in had watched them from the hilltop until then. If he tailed the lookout right away, the guys waiting below might spot him.
Once their car took off, he hopped on his modded mountain bike.
"Here we go."
He'd bought a mountain bike and modded it toward Earth Union tactical specs. But the parts available weren't tough enough for what he wanted. He swapped in motorcycle chain and fabbed some pieces himself, but it still fell short.
Na Gang-in stomped the pedal with leg strength several times a normal person's. The chain snapped taut, yanking the gears.
The bike rocketed downhill. The drivetrain screamed in protest. Chain and gears ground down, sparks flying from the cogs.
Downhill builds speed fast. Plus Na Gang-in hammered the pedals with enhanced legs.
The modded bike flew like it had wings. Going this fast jacked up the crash risk on trees or rocks massively.
AI Jeon Ji-in plotted the path live via AR Lens.
No safe route at this speed. Hers were risky but doable.
Na Gang-in followed it.
A long branch loomed ahead. Warning holograms flashed around it. At this velocity, hitting it would whip him hard.
He laid the bike sideways quick, twisting his torso to dodge. Then righted it and asked,
"No safer path?"
"That's not what you say in a spot like this..."
A rock next. AI Jeon Ji-in slapped a translucent arrow on a thick branch.
Na Gang-in snatched it mid-ride and yanked hard.
"Hya!"
The bike veered sharply. His arms took the full weight of him and the bike.
The tree couldn't. The branch snapped clean off.
He'd skirted the rock, but the break cut the turn short. They'd clip the edge at this rate.
Na Gang-in kicked off the rock with his foot. It nudged the trajectory just enough to scrape by.
"Hey! Grabbing that branch was supposed to clear it! It broke!"
"Can't tell that at a glance?"
"Right. This time my eyes..."
Na Gang-in suddenly jumped the bike mid-ride. It cleared a ditch.
"Ji-in! You sure I can bomb down at this speed trusting you?!"
The steep drop leveled off before he knew it.
Na Gang-in coasted a gentler slope and burst out of the woods.
He pulled up where their car had been parked moments ago.
"Whew. That was risky."
He glanced back.
"But kinda thrilling?"
Na Gang-in eyed the direction their car vanished. It had rounded a bend minutes ago.
"Tailing them on dirt's easy enough. They'll dodge CCTV till they can't, sticking to backroads."
Problem hit once they merged onto pavement. That's when he'd need wheels.
Na Gang-in called Shin Eun-ha.
"Head out first. Drop Bora somewhere safe and follow."
"I'll ping my position en route."
Shin Eun-ha hit the gas and said,
"Bora, Gang-in oppa asked where you were. He just took off to grab the guys who snatched you."
Yi Bora fretted.
"Those guys are dangerous!"
"They're the dangerous ones."
Yi Bora had spent the whole kidnapping stuffed in the trunk. Even tied to the chair briefly, she'd had a black hood over her head while they threatened her.
She'd seen how strong Na Gang-in was at Cheongpyeong Lake. Still, hours of terror left her spooked by those punks.
"Still, why not just call the cops? That'd be safer."
"We'll handle it. Gang-in oppa said drop you safe and follow. Police box or station comes up, you're out."
Yi Bora hesitated.
"Just me?"
"Yeah... Yu-chan oppa too. Not super reliable, but whatever."
Kim Yu-chan griped.
"Hey. You know my nickname ain't 'Beast-Faced Pretty Boy' for nothing?"
Yi Bora said,
"I'll come too."
"Huh? Bora, you don't trust me that much?"
She shook her head.
"Not about Yu-chan oppa. Gang-in oppa's busting his ass for my revenge. Feels wrong bailing solo."
Yi Bora was scared but resolved to tough it out. Getting ditched alone terrified her more. Kim Yu-chan didn't inspire confidence.
Shin Eun-ha grinned.
"Good call! Watching Gang-in oppa smash those jerks will feel great."
"You think?"
"Wanna throw a few punches yourself? Remember Cheongpyeong? Felt awesome fighting together."
Yi Bora recalled it. She'd whacked a drug gang thug with a broom—not much help—but victory buzzed sweet.
Yi Bora yelled,
"Yeah! Revenge! I want revenge!"
Shin Eun-ha floored it.
"That's my Bora!"
Kim Yu-chan pointed ahead.
"Whoa! Police box! I'll hop out th— we passed it?"
Well clear of the scene, the kidnapping leader ordered,
"Pavement time. These backroads suck for riding."
The driver said,
"Dong-soo hyung's road's still ahead."
"No sir. Hitting pavement now."
Shin Eun-ha drove, getting position pings nonstop. After a long haul, she reached where Na Gang-in waited.
Car stopped, she flung open the driver's door. Na Gang-in yanked it wider and said,
"Back seat!"
"Got it!"
Shin Eun-ha scrambled rearward.
Na Gang-in slammed into the driver's seat and punched the gas. The car lunged.
Shin Eun-ha yelled urgently from behind.
"Bike's not loaded!"
"No time. Grab it later."
They hit pavement right away.
Na Gang-in briefed them.
"Their car merged here minutes ago. If they were dipping back off-road, no point coming here. So from now on, visual tail in range."
Problem: forks.
"Catch 'em before the next split."
"How far?"
"5km."
Na Gang-in mashed the pedal. Shin Eun-ha's car surged. Bodies snapped back.
Kim Yu-chan in shotgun screamed.
"Aaaah! Safe driving! No speeding!"
Shin Eun-ha from back asked,
"What's the speed now?"
Kim Yu-chan answered,
"Over 200kph!"
"Whoa! My car's new record!"
"Climbing more!"
Na Gang-in blew past other cars in seconds. To Kim Yu-chan, they looked parked while he rocketed through.
Trouble.
"Their car?"
"Damn. They passed it."
"Hang a right. Straight would've shown their tail at least."
No way AI Jeon Ji-in missed the car on straightaways.
Na Gang-in cranked the wheel. Rear tires shrieked, fishtailing.
Kim Yu-chan screamed.
"Aaaack! Corners at least—slow down!"
The two in back shrieked too.
"Kyaaah!"
"Kyaa! Oppa! Floor it!"
Speed dipped through the intersection. Past it, Na Gang-in pegged the gas again. Velocity spiked.
Kim Yu-chan pointed ahead, yelling,
"Whoa! Speed cam! Speed ca—"
Na Gang-in blew by without a glance.
Yi Bora from back said,
"It's fine. Eun-ha's car. Ticket goes to her."
Shin Eun-ha said,
"Yup. Bill's on you. We racked up a bunch coming here too—all yours."
"Huh? Why?"
"Saving your ass got us snapped. This chase for your revenge? Same deal."
"R-Right?"
That wasn't all.
Just revenge? Nabbing these three and dumping them on cops would scratch that itch.
Na Gang-in aimed higher: find their base, figure why they craved Dragon Plate.
Oblivious, Shin Eun-ha bragged,
"No bad press for you—we skipped reporting it!"
"Thanks, Eun-ha. Gang-in oppa. Thank you."
Kim Yu-chan asked,
"Me?"
"Why so chicken?"
"Hey! Crash at this speed and we're all gone in one cozy boom!"