Chapter 161
Chapter 161
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 161
Chapter Title: Promotion
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Yang Yong-jun approached Na Gang-in with a scowl on his face. He growled as if he wanted to devour him whole.
"What the hell are you doing here?"
"Is this a place I can't be?"
"How did you even get in? Yulmyeong Bio has nothing to do with today's seminar, so Soo-yeon didn't get you an invite, did she?"
Na Gang-in smirked.
"You don't know what Soo-yeon's researching, do you?"
Kwon Soo-yeon's research wasn't directly related to the seminar either. But the energy tech she was working on could be useful across a wide range of fields, including advanced engineering.
Yang Yong-jun pretended to know.
"Why wouldn't I? Soo-yeon's researching batteries."
"Yeah, sure. Keep thinking that."
Yang Yong-jun glanced around at the people nearby and snarled.
"You still haven't answered my question. Why's a guy slinging food at a PC bang here?"
Na Gang-in smirked again.
"You've been digging into my background, huh?"
A lot of people knew that Na Gang-in occasionally sold food at the PC bang.
Only those in the industry who'd worked with him knew he was the hacker hunter Dawn Rabbit.
His status as an agent who'd taken down mercenaries and pirates was classified.
His identity as Doctor Noname was top secret, known to only a handful.
And his origins with the Earth Union Forces? That was classified beyond classified.
All Yang Yong-jun had dug up was the PC bang stuff that everyone already knew.
Na Gang-in replied.
"I'm really interested in this tech."
"How's a chef gonna understand advanced engineering?!"
"What about you? Why's a thug like you here? You even understand today's presentations?"
Yang Yong-jun exploded in anger.
"What? You? You dare 'you' me? Do you even know who I am?!"
"That's what pissed you off?"
Yang Yong-jun glanced around.
The seminar was packed with execs from various companies, including people even he had to watch out for. If he got into a brawl with Na Gang-in here, word would spread through the industry like wildfire.
Yang Yong-jun ground his teeth, mindful of the eyes on him.
"You... we'll settle this later."
"Whatever."
Yang Yong-jun stormed off in a huff.
Na Gang-in said.
"What's that guy's name, anyway?"
Na Gang-in checked the seat number on his invite. Front row. But getting out midway would be a hassle.
"I'll kill time in an empty back seat, then move up front later."
Lee Tae-seong, head of Cheolin Gigong's main division, entered the presentation hall, scanned the room, spotted Na Gang-in in the back, and approached.
"Gang-in showed up early."
"I figured as a presenter, you wouldn't sit here."
"The front row's got spots open. Yours should be up there too..."
Na Gang-in's invite had come from Lee Tae-seong.
"I'm comfy here."
Lee Tae-seong grinned proudly.
"Today, I'm giving a quick rundown on the Dragon Plate concept."
"Uh... the design team's still just churning out garbage, though?"
"Ha, haha. The design team's... trying hard. Talented folks, but the concept's insanely tough..."
"If even Cheolin Gigong's design team doesn't get it, how're you gonna explain it?"
Lee Tae-seong boasted loudly.
"We're not at the stage of designing Dragon Plates ourselves yet, but we grasp the concept behind that defense level. Just explaining the basics today."
"Not the only thing you're presenting, right?"
"Of course. We'll brag about the Dragon Plate's defense, light weight, thin profile. Once we're done, expect some press coverage."
"Tech flexing?"
"Damn right. Flex the tech, boost sales of the mass-produced Dragon Plate through promo."
Music to Na Gang-in's ears. More mass-produced sales meant more license fees for him.
"Hope it blows up. Sincerely."
"It will if you do more custom designs..."
"Been busy lately."
"Wanna put your name on the Dragon Plate reveal? As design lead. PPT's editable now."
Na Gang-in waved it off.
"Keep my name out from now on."
Lee Tae-seong took the stage. A massive image of the Dragon Plate filled the screen behind him. He skimmed the tech with concepts only, filling the rest with bragging.
No live-fire demo—just CG—but he hyped how it stopped 9mm rounds cold.
"And that's not all!"
Mid-presentation, he grabbed his shirt front with both hands and ripped it open. Buttons flew; the fabric tore. Beneath: the Dragon Plate vest he wore.
"Behold, the real Dragon Plate!"
The audience applauded.
"Whoa, didn't expect a bulletproof vest under a dress shirt."
"Performance is no joke."
Even Yang Yong-jun gaped in awe.
"Sick. Whoa."
Yang Yong-jun didn't need bulletproof gear. But he craved anything that looked cool, needed or not.
"How much? Gotta grab one now."
The screen showed two Dragon Plate versions. Visually identical. Right: single plate. Left: multiples layered.
Lee Tae-seong explained custom vs. mass-produced.
"Custom Dragon Plates are fully redesigned to fit the client's body. For peak protection."
He pointed left.
"Mass-produced are off-the-rack, like ready-to-wear suits. Only for body types matching our pre-made molds. But available for immediate purchase."
Yang Yong-jun grinned slyly.
"Mass-produced suits me better. Customs are obvious—tailor the gear to me, not vice versa."
Lee Tae-seong added a caveat.
"Customs, with fresh designs via cutting-edge tech, are for ultra-exclusive clients only."
Yang Yong-jun loved that even more.
"If no one else can wear it but me? Perfect."
Lee Tae-seong wrapped up.
Dragon Plate articles hit the press simultaneously. Not trending, but spreading fast in industry circles.
They popped up on related community sites too.
Yang Yong-jun's dad, Palseong Tech's president, called him. Yang Yong-jun picked up quick.
"Yes, Dad."
- You're at the Dragon Plate presentation, right?
"Yeah. Their presentation's done, but other companies' tech talks are still going."
- Grab one while you're there. For me to wear.
"Huh? How'd you know about the product that just got announced..."
- Kim the secretary showed me the article. Can you get it?
Lee Tae-seong boomed.
"Of course! Two customs—including mine."
Na Gang-in slipped out mid-advanced engineering seminar to the artificial sun tech hall. He took an empty back seat and listened.
This session focused solely on one artificial sun project. Shorter than the main seminar.
After all presentations ended, Na Gang-in stood and asked.
"Ji-in, you get any of that?"
"Didn't we agree no more spitting from the sidelines?"
"And?"
"Wasn't expecting answers on the first try. Clues are progress. Dig deeper with 'em."
Some attendees bailed mid-seminar, but presenter Lee Tae-seong stayed till the end.
Once everything wrapped, people rose.
Yang Yong-jun headed for Lee Tae-seong to schmooze.
Problem: Other company folks beat him there.
"Lee Tae-seong! Killer presentation today."
Lee Tae-seong smiled.
"Park Exec, yours wasn't bad either."
Park Exec outranked Yang Yong-jun socially.
Yang was Palseong Tech prez's second son, team lead.
Park was heir to a similar-sized firm. Plus, Yang barely knew Lee Tae-seong by face; Park had real rapport.
While Yang hesitated, more execs piled on.
Yang Yong-jun schemed.
"No way to slip a personal order in now without looking desperate."
He loved his little tricks.
"Time for plan B."
He left the hall, headed for elevators—to the underground parking.
Down there, he smirked.
"Coming from there to parking? This elevator. Event cars all same level, so they'll exit here. I wait, meet solo. Brains over brawn. Heh heh heh."
Moments later, elevator doors opened. Yang Yong-jun peeked, hoping for Lee Tae-seong.
Out stepped Na Gang-in.
Yang Yong-jun's eyes bulged.
"You again?!"
Na Gang-in walked toward his car.
"Fancy meeting you."
"I said we'd settle this!"
Yang Yong-jun glanced around. No witnesses.
He charged, kicking hard at Na Gang-in's leg.
Na Gang-in had seen it coming.
He sidestepped. Yang Yong-jun whiffed big, lost balance.
"Wha—Huh?!"
Na Gang-in poked wobbly-legged Yang Yong-jun with a finger. The nudge toppled his precarious stance.
Yang Yong-jun sprawled flat.
"Urk!"
Na Gang-in kept walking to his car.
"Comedian?"
Yang Yong-jun sprang up, cracking his neck.
"Hah, you can fight a bit, huh?"
Na Gang-in glanced back. Yang Yong-jun flinched mid-crack.
"One dodge and he's spooked?"
"That little?"
Yang Yong-jun loosened his collar, snarling.
"Only holding back 'cause of my status. No CCTV? You'd be dead."
"Wanna find a blind spot?"
"I got status!"
"Yeah, yeah. Loads of it."
Na Gang-in walked off. Yang Yong-jun blurted desperately.
"You! What's with you and Soo-yeon?!"
"Friends."
"I'm closer to Soo-yeon!"
"Ask Soo-yeon."
"Same neighborhood growing up! Same high school!"
"Sure, back then."
Na Gang-in ignored him completely, got in his car, and peeled out.
Left behind, Yang Yong-jun fumed and kicked a nearby car.
"That bastard... Argh!"
In his rage, he twisted his ankle bad.
Yang Yong-jun collapsed screaming on the parking floor.
"Ow! 119! Call 119!"
The next day, Yang Yong-jun visited Cheolin Gigong in person.
Hospital trip for his ankle meant missing Lee Tae-seong yesterday.
Still limping a bit today. A dull ache with each step.
"Damn, should've shown that punk my kick yesterday."
Head Lee Tae-seong entered the meeting room.
"Sorry, meeting ran long."
Yang Yong-jun shot up, bowing deeply.
"No worries! Big bro!"
They were casual acquaintances from industry mixers.
Lee Tae-seong asked.
"How's President Yang?"
"Great, yeah."
"Heard you want a Dragon Plate?"