Chapter 57
Chapter 57
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 57
Chapter Title: Bulletproof Vest
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Director Son Tae-min blinked before letting out a soft chuckle.
"You're quite the joker."
THO Entertainment President Lee Tae-ho spoke up.
"I'm dead serious. Na Gang-in delivers lines so convincingly, they feel real."
"And how would you know that, President Lee?"
"I saw it right here in this building. When Na Gang-in fought those international mercenaries, he used a voice changer over the radio to trick them with impressions. No one could tell it wasn't real."
Son Tae-min asked with a look of surprise.
"That good, huh?"
"But the real showstopper was the facial expressions and gestures he showed only to me. What he said with his mouth didn't match his body language, but his face and hands made the truth obvious right away."
Lee Tae-ho had directed a few indie films himself. He might lack talent as a director, but he still had an eye for actors.
Son Tae-min turned serious.
"Na Gang-in is definitely skilled at physical fight scenes. Add in facial expressions, gestures, and lines? We need to run a camera test."
Shin Eun-ha chimed in from the side.
"Whoa. Gang-in oppa's good at everything—now acting too?"
THO Entertainment President Lee Tae-ho made a proposal.
"If Na Gang-in stars in the movie you just mentioned, we'd love to invest and produce it ourselves."
"This script is just a few lines of ideas right now."
"A film with Director Son Tae-min's romance and Na Gang-in's action? How could it fail?"
Lee Tae-ho added one more incentive.
"Just so you know, budget aside, we won't interfere with the script at all."
Being able to direct without investor meddling was an incredible deal. Sure, plenty of films flopped that way, but Son Tae-min was a proven box-office hitmaker in Korea, so the risk was low.
Son Tae-min was clearly tempted.
"Hmm... Let's talk once the script's done. It's just an idea for now, and I don't even know if Na Gang-in wants to act."
"Understood. We'll discuss it after the script's ready, then."
Lee Tae-ho turned to Kim Yu-chan.
"I'd love to hear more about the hacking. Is Na Gang-in really that good?"
"He was great at catching hackers."
Shin Eun-ha added her piece.
"A hacker friend of mine says Gang-in oppa's the real deal. But THO Entertainment specializes in films and performances—why the interest from you, President Lee?"
The next day, Na Gang-in headed to the production outpost on the outskirts of Seoul.
Today was the day the new equipment he'd ordered arrived.
AI Jeon Ji-in said.
- Today marks the first proper operation of the production outpost.
"Excited?"
- I'm not expecting much from this outdated gear.
"Your voice sounds brighter than usual."
The equipment arrived in the morning.
The delivery crew from the supplier installed it in the old workshop and asked.
"This used to be a metal shop, right? Changing business?"
"Just hobbies. Thought I'd tinker with stuff."
"Oof. Our machines are top-of-the-line and pricey... for a hobby?"
AI Jeon Ji-in said.
- This is 60-year-old obsolete equipment.
"Our Ji-in's voice is even brighter now."
The on-site techs finished installing everything and left.
Na Gang-in rubbed his hands together.
"Alright, let's cut some metal."
This place had been a metal shop originally. A quick rummage turned up some scrap steel plates.
Na Gang-in loaded one onto the laser cutter.
"Ji-in, you know these machines?"
- Infiltration ops in remote areas might require crafting spears from scrap metal and twigs. I know how to use even outdated gear.
"So you can handle this one?"
- I know the standard operations.
"Standard? Then you don't know this specific model?"
- Converting standard procedures to this machine will take time.
"So, you need to study it?"
- Affirmative.
Na Gang-in pulled out the user manual. It was thicker than most books.
"Get to it. Study hard."
Na Gang-in stared blankly at it. AI Jeon Ji-in borrowed his hands to flip through the pages busily.
At least she didn't need to read line by line. She scanned full-page images and analyzed them.
It took less than five minutes to go through the thick manual. After the last page, Na Gang-in rubbed his eyes.
"Phew. Done? Man, my eyes are dry."
- You didn't need to stare so hard.
"Got sleepy zoning out. Alright, now..."
Na Gang-in rubbed his hands again.
"Test time. Let's cut this metal."
AI Jeon Ji-in displayed a holographic video of the controls. Na Gang-in followed along to operate it.
The laser sliced into the steel plate he'd loaded. The thin metal slowly parted.
"It's cutting! Whoa! It's working!"
- Performance is lacking. We need better equipment.
"Latest model doesn't mean max specs. Stronger lasers cost more."
"This is the best our budget can do."
- We've secured plenty of operational funds lately. We can afford upgrades.
"Be honest. You just want shiny new toys, right?"
- For more efficient operations.
"Whatever. We bought it—might as well use it. Can't you boost this machine's performance?"
- I'm a combat support AI aide, not an industrial AI. Upgrading precision equipment is beyond me.
"You called it outdated earlier?"
- It's serviceable enough.
"Then let's use these production tools to make gear for me. What first?"
AI Jeon Ji-in suggested immediately.
- Agent, you're unarmed right now. You need weapons.
"A knife? We could cut a dagger blade from this plate."
- Obviously a gun. Make a gun first.
"A gun? In modern Korea?"
- As long as we don't get caught.
"Quiet."
They decided quickly.
"Armor first. That's not illegal even if spotted. What armor can you make with this?"
- Considering the current era, I recommend custom Dragon Plate.
"What's that?"
A translucent hologram appeared before him.
A bulletproof vest shaped like a human torso materialized. It was thin like chainmail, its surface covered in scale-like patterns.
- A vest protecting the shoulders partially, chest, and abdomen. Shoulder and neck guards optional.
"Looks like hundreds of thin tiles pieced together? And up close, each one's a unique shape? Like a jigsaw puzzle?"
- Dragon Plate calculates precise shock-dispersion based on the user's body, fabricating each unique piece to fit, assembled perfectly. Hence the puzzle-like surface.
"Handcrafted luxury, huh? Purpose?"
- Custom bulletproof vest.
"Special alloy materials, right? Can you make the alloy?"
- As combat support AI, I lack metallurgy knowledge.
"Figured. You don't know cola recipes or alloy forging."
- Why manufacture metals in a warzone?
"Fair. You'd just cut and shape scrap."
- Dragon Plate uses commercially available metal sheets, cut to spec.
Na Gang-in eyed the holographic vest.
"Defensive rating?"
- Thicker means better protection.
"Thin enough to wear under clothes without notice, but stops bullets? Ideal."
- Lower protection makes it possible.
The hologram's vest thinned out.
- Choose type: Full shock dispersion blocks one 5.56mm or 7.62mm sniper round reliably, or multi-hit 9mm pistol defense.
"Sniper rifles in Korea? Jackals with pistols were rare enough. Go pistol defense."
- Calculate based on your torso?
"Yeah. Use my body... Wait."
Na Gang-in tilted his head.
"Bodies change over time, you know."
- Minor changes accommodated. Major shifts reduce protection.
"...Like what if I gain a lot?"
- In your case, a gut reduces coverage.
"What about someone already chubby who slims down?"
- Same. Excessive changes drop defense sharply.
"Truly custom fit. What if someone else wears it?"
- Mismatch lowers protection. Treated as personal gear only.
"Figures. Anyway, can we make it with our current setup? Materials enough?"
- Yes, using the last metal shipment.
"Great. Start designing right—"
His phone rang. It was THO Entertainment President Lee Tae-ho.
"Hello."
- Gang-in, it's Lee Tae-ho.
"Ah, yes. What's up?"
- I heard something interesting over dinner at Penelope last night. You catch hackers well?
"Oh, that? Just nabbed one rookie."
- Tracked him in under four minutes, they say.
"Yeah, it was easy."
- That's why I'm calling.
"Hm? Did THO get hacked?"
- No. Heard rumors of hackers targeting agencies, so we contracted a pro security firm for firewall upgrades.
"More hackers besides the one I caught?"
- Agencies got hit even after you took him down.
"Tch. Yeah, can't be just one in the world."
- Check our new system, please.
Na Gang-in pulled the phone away and muttered softly.
"Wants me to test-penetrate it? Ji-in, can we?"
AI Jeon Ji-in replied.
- My hacking skills are limited to ID forgery and such.
"Defense testing has no limits."
- Correct.
"We can verify if it's top-tier by current standards? That's defensive work."
- Possible.
He spoke into the phone again.
"Tomorrow work?"
- We'll be waiting.
Na Gang-in visited THO Entertainment the next day. Not alone—he brought college hacker An Seong-hwan.
An Seong-hwan looked up at the building.
"Whoa, nice place."
"They rent it. Only use two floors."
"Film production and event planning in just two floors? Makes sense—no idols, so no practice or recording studios needed."
"Huh? This company famous?"
"Eh, I ignore places without celebs..."
"Female celebs, you mean."
"Obviously?"
Lee Tae-ho greeted Na Gang-in.
"Gang-in, early bird."
"Had morning free."
"Come to my office for tea first."
Lee Tae-ho led Na Gang-in and An Seong-hwan to the president's office.
Employees whispered as they passed.
"Who's that, getting a personal welcome?"
One employee who'd seen Na Gang-in on set spoke up.
"That's Na Gang-in."
"No way, that guy's Na Gang-in?"
Another stood halfway up.
"Whoa, should we applaud? His film saved our bonuses."
"Chill and sit. He's not a celeb—too much attention bugs him."
"Wait, isn't he basically one now?"
Others gushed too. Two female employees whispered.
"He doubled for Kim Yu-chan? Total celeb bod."
"My type. Got a girlfriend?"
"Even if not, nothing to do with you, Park."
"Wanna try me?"