Chapter 172
Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 172
Chapter Title: Free Pass
Team Leader Yang Yong-jun of Palstar Tech had just received a document that spelled out the exact contract proposal Anderson had mentioned moments ago.
"I knew it! OmegaTech would love this proposal too."
"Headquarters is quite pleased with it."
"Anderson, mind if I take this document with me?"
Anderson tugged the document back with an awkward smile.
"Ah, I'm afraid that's not possible yet. This official notice from headquarters is good news, so I'm only showing it to you, Mr. Yang. Sorry to say this, but we haven't formally signed the contract yet, have we?"
Yang Yong-jun's expression stiffened slightly.
"Well, that's true, but..."
"It's headquarters' policy, so please understand."
"I get it."
"And as you can see, there's a prerequisite outlined by headquarters."
Anderson pointed to the lower section of the document.
"Headquarters' executives have instructed me to personally inspect Palstar Tech's research facilities, core component production facilities, and material storage facilities. We need to sort that out first before our talks can proceed."
Yang Yong-jun's face hardened.
"You're not saying OmegaTech wants to audit our company, are you?"
Anderson waved his hand dismissively.
"Of course not. I'll just take a quick look around and report back to headquarters that everything's well-managed."
Yang Yong-jun was put in a tough spot.
"That's..."
He was the team leader, but his team wasn't R&D or production.
All he could show was the warehouse. Fortunately, Anderson's request included the material storage facility.
He made a suggestion.
"We have procedures too, so other areas are tricky. How about we start with the material storage facility? I can handle that under my authority."
"Hmm... It's headquarters' directive, so that's awkward..."
Yang Yong-jun pleaded.
"Cut me some slack. We have to take this step by step—how could I show you the research facilities right off the bat?"
"Alright. I'll check the material storage first, then talk to headquarters based on that."
With things going smoothly, Yang Yong-jun couldn't hide his grin.
"As expected, Anderson—you're easy to work with."
'All I need is OmegaTech's commitment to contract with us. Then everyone will finally see my worth.'
He'd once bragged too soon about a side deal that fell through, making a fool of himself. That's why he was playing it cautious this time.
Yang Yong-jun asked Anderson.
"What about the solar cell researcher I mentioned last time?"
"You said she's still in her PhD program, right? Headquarters is interested in eco-friendly renewable energy, so why not meet her when we inspect the storage? A quick meeting."
Yang Yong-jun laughed.
"Hahaha. Anderson, you're so straightforward—I love it. I'll definitely bring her along."
Kwon Soo-yeon was the daughter of Kwon Dong-jin, president of Yulmyeong Bio.
But Yulmyeong Bio was a pharmaceutical company, with no connection to Kwon Soo-yeon's solar cell research. Even as president, funding unrelated fields required strict procedures.
Besides, Kwon Dong-jin believed his daughter should focus on her health over research right now.
Kwon Soo-yeon hadn't asked her family for help either.
"Once I'm healthy, maybe pitch to other companies? Dad's connections could get me an intro."
As she pondered this, Yang Yong-jun called. He'd gotten her new number by now.
Kwon Soo-yeon answered.
"Why are you calling?"
- I reached out to a big company to support your research.
"Yeah. Sure."
- What? Hey, this time it's real.
"So, which company?"
- Can't tell you yet—not even my parents or brother. It's a surprise for later.
"Right. Hanging up."
Yang Yong-jun blurted out hurriedly.
- OmegaTech!
"Huh?"
Kwon Soo-yeon knew OmegaTech well.
"Don't they do equipment, robots, and... weapons?"
- You know it?
"Read a paper by their president, Scarlett Kelly."
- Hahaha. Don't freak out. I'm setting up a partnership between them and our company.
"Makes sense—Palstar Tech could work with them. But what's that got to do with me?"
- They're into renewables too. I recommended you. Suggested they invest in your research. They seemed positive.
Kwon Soo-yeon wanted to scale up her solar cell work post-surgery. But she needed funding.
"For real?"
- Yeah. I'm escorting an OmegaTech rep to our company warehouse later. Wanna come? Chat with them.
She checked her condition. It was decent.
"What time, where?"
Yang Yong-jun replied brightly.
- 2 PM—I'll pick you up at your place!
At 2 PM, Kwon Soo-yeon got into Yang Yong-jun's car.
"Where are we meeting the OmegaTech guy?"
"Gapyeong."
"Huh? You said Palstar Tech's warehouse was somewhere else before. Did they move it?"
"There's a special company storage facility in Gapyeong that I manage. We're meeting there."
Today was a rare off-day for the entire 'Gates of Destiny' film crew.
The director needed time to tweak the shooting schedule, staff needed rest, and even the leads—who shot almost daily—wanted time for other commitments or recovery.
So the crew took one day off per week. Today was it.
AI Jeon Ji-in spoke up.
- It's been a while, Penelope. Visit more often.
"They give me so much free service food there, feels bad going too often."
- Get shameless. And it's not like they're losing money on it.
"Right? Probably not."
- Believe that and go often.
Na Gang-in headed to the parking lot for his car. He spotted his old model.
"Put so much work into modding this one, can't switch to a new car now."
- Buy a new one and mod it the same way.
Na Gang-in opened the heavy, bulletproof door by the driver's seat.
"Then I'd have to go through all that hassle again. No thanks."
As soon as he got in, his phone rang. Kwon Soo-yeon calling.
"Hey, Soo-yeon. What's up..."
- Hah... hah...
"Huh? Why are you breathing like that?"
- I'm at the Gapyeong warehouse...
The call cut off there.
"What the? What's going on?"
AI Jeon Ji-in reported.
- Ragged breathing like a regular person after running a few kilometers.
"Soo-yeon would sound like that after 100 meters. But she knows better than to run."
AI Jeon Ji-in warned of the worst.
- This could be serious.
To analyze properly, consider both sides.
"Might be nothing."
- Could be a seizure.
"She's collapsed plenty, but never had a seizure."
- If the Iramide solar cell developer is in danger, we must rescue her at any cost.
Na Gang-in agreed. Comparing best and worst, prepare for worst.
But info was scarce.
"Just 'Gapyeong' tells us nothing."
- Call back to check.
This time, Na Gang-in assumed worst.
"What if she's hiding from someone? Calling back could give her away."
- Don't. Absolutely no calling.
"First, track her location."
Na Gang-in called Kwon Soo-yeon's father, Kwon Dong-jin.
Kwon Dong-jin answered cautiously.
- Doc... no, Gang-in. We swapped numbers, but this is your first call...
"Is Soo-yeon home by any chance?"
- Ah! You're looking for Soo-yeon. Whew. She went out with a neighborhood friend today.
Neighborhood friend? He recalled the guy from her doorstep before.
"That friend named...?"
- Yang Yong-jun from Palstar Tech.
"Yang Yong-jun?"
- How'd you know? Yeah.
"Know where they went?"
- Some foreign company interested in her research. Meeting them to talk funding.
"Not Palstar Tech—a foreign company?"
- Yong-jun's working with them, introduced via his connections. Who knew he'd come through.
"Which company for the investment?"
- Sounded like a supplement brand...
Na Gang-in knew one like that.
"OmegaTech?"
- Yes! OmegaTech. US company, big on eco-renewables apparently.
"Got it."
Na Gang-in hung up.
"OmegaTech contacting Soo-yeon?"
- Agent Scarlett seems to be reaching your contacts. No danger if protectee meets OmegaTech staff.
"Still need to verify if it's really her."
Na Gang-in called OmegaTech President Scarlett Kelly.
Scarlett answered cheerfully.
- Oh! Gang-in! What's up this hour?
"Not sleeping, I see."
Scarlett whined.
- Working overtime. Staff left, but I'm stuck. Feels like I'm the only one exploited.
Her friend and secretary Jessica chimed in from beside.
- You work, I work overtime too! You're exploiting me!
- I pay you well!
- Give me vacation!
Na Gang-in cut in.
"Got a question."
- Oh, asking when I'm flying to Korea? You miss me?
"Hardly."
- Tch.
"Interested in solar cell research?"
- Eek! How'd you know? As expected of Na Gang-in!
Na Gang-in sighed in relief.
"Phew. Good. So you sent someone to meet Kwon Soo-yeon?"
Scarlett asked back.
- Who's Kwon Soo-yeon?
"Huh?"
OmegaTech was huge. President not knowing a contact's name was normal.
"PhD student at Korea University doing solar cells—ring a bell?"
- Jessica, know her?
- No. How would I know every foreign PhD researcher? Even I'm not that good.
Na Gang-in pressed.
"You set a meeting today for solar research, right?"
- Dunno. I don't check every detail...
"How interested is OmegaTech in solar cells?"
- It's my personal interest. Company doesn't care. Not our field.
Bad feeling.
'Soo-yeon went with Yang Yong-jun's intro. He's Palstar Tech.'
"Any dealings, planned or ongoing, with Palstar Tech?"
- Palstar Tech? Jessica, know it?
- Korean company. No business with us, far as I know.
"Damn."
- Oh, Na Gang-in swore at me.
"One favor. Check urgently: any push with Palstar Tech? Anything on Korea University or solar research?"
- That important?
"Extremely."
- Got it. Wait 30 minutes.
Na Gang-in hung up.
"We'll see from her reply, but Soo-yeon got duped."
- Locate and protect protectee Kwon Soo-yeon.
Na Gang-in searched his phone for a number.
"First, ask a detective friend to track her location..."
He set the phone down.
"Nah, that's a problem."
- Why?
"Too much police attention risks exposing her secret surgery. Better if outsiders don't know her condition."
- Agent arrest for illegal surgery hinders mission. Find another way.
Palstar Tech's storage facility in Gapyeong had four warehouses and one management building. The warehouses weren't huge.
But the security system here was top-notch.
Numerous sensors and CCTVs everywhere. Unauthorized entry triggered instant alerts to the security firm.
Right now, though, the entire system was disabled.
Yang Yong-jun was bound to a wooden chair in the middle of one warehouse.
"You bastards. Do you even know who I..."
Across from him, Anderson—wearing black leather gloves—spoke.
"We know. Very well. We did our homework. You can't take me to research or production, but you can get me into this secure warehouse. It's under your management."
"You knew all that and still asked for research facilities? Lured me here instead? You tricked me!"
Anderson smirked.
"Why tie up with trash like you? No reason. Except using you as a free pass into this place."