Chapter 63
Chapter 63
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 63
Chapter Title: The Designer
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Jeon Ji-in, the AI, explained.
Na Gang-in asked.
"Don't those idle troops have an AI like you implanted in them?"
"Guess I am pretty special."
In any case, they reached the conclusion that it was possible.
Na Gang-in said to Lee Tae-seong.
"Sure, let's do it."
They decided to formalize the contract after ironing out the specifics. Lee Tae-seong needed to return to the company first to prepare the paperwork.
On the drive back, he was behind the wheel.
Along the way to the company, he asked.
"Na Gang-in, you're a stunt actor, right?"
Lee Tae-ho replied.
"These days, you'd call him a martial arts choreographer."
"He's also an IT security expert."
"Yeah. The team that built the security system for Ironman Engineering was blown away by Gang-in's skills."
"An IT security expert who can also handle martial arts? Fine. But why would someone like that be chatting directly with Scarlett Kelly?"
"Ah, you wouldn't know, hyung."
"Know what?"
Lee Tae-ho explained.
"When Scarlett Kelly was almost kidnapped by an international mercenary group at Restaurant Penelope, the guy who smashed those bastards and saved her was Na Gang-in."
The car suddenly swerved hard. Startled, Lee Tae-ho looked back. There were no other cars on the road.
"Crazy! We almost crashed! Why'd you yank the wheel like that!"
Lee Tae-seong shouted back.
"Why are you telling me this now!"
"It's classified! Classified! The police told us not to spread it around in case of retaliation!"
"Still, you should've told me! I'm your brother!"
"I just did."
Lee Tae-seong asked while driving.
"So he must be a crack shot with a gun too, huh?"
"Dead-on marksman. I saw him fire a pistol for real at that restaurant. And at our shooting range, he nailed every target on level 5."
"Huh?"
That wasn't significant enough to report to headquarters, so Lee Tae-seong hadn't heard.
"With our guns too. Said they suited him well."
Lee Tae-seong asked seriously.
"Which country's special forces is he from?"
"Beats me."
Lee Tae-seong was convinced.
"Special forces alum and IT security expert... I know a few guys from U.S. special forces who retired and killed it in other fields. Probably SEALs or Delta Force."
"How the hell would I know?"
This time, Lee Tae-ho asked.
"But about entrusting the design to Na Gang-in... You sure it's okay without vetting his skills first?"
"We verify by having him make the thing and testing it ourselves. If the performance doesn't pan out, this whole thing just becomes a funny anecdote."
"And if it does?"
"It's a high-performance custom bulletproof vest you can wear under everyday clothes, so we sell it bespoke to VIPs."
"Can't mass-produce it, so does selling a few really make money?"
"Boosts the company's profile."
"Ah, that's the angle?"
"There's one more thing besides that..."
The contract was drawn up the very next day. The terms were straightforward.
In Ironman Engineering's conference room, Lee Tae-seong explained.
"As we discussed yesterday, Na Gang-in, please handle only the custom designs. We'll take care of user body measurements, precision part fabrication, product assembly, completion, and sales."
Na Gang-in asked.
"What about the rest of these clauses?"
"Those are standard boilerplate from our company..."
Na Gang-in struck most of them, leaving only a few. The key point: all rights to the technology belonged to him.
"Let's do it this way?"
Lee Tae-seong had no complaints. They weren't getting the tech handed over directly, but if the product met expectations, there were gains to be had.
'Analyzing the blueprints each time and fabricating parts—our R&D team will pick up something from the process.'
He had two reasons for pursuing this bulletproof vest venture. One was to sell to VIP clients and raise the company's visibility. The other was hoping his engineers would learn in the process.
Lee Tae-seong was curious about the tech's origins but didn't pry.
He didn't fully buy that Na Gang-in had developed it himself, but he didn't rule it out entirely.
'Custom bulletproof vests do pop up now and then from individuals crafting luxury items.'
After stamping the contract, Lee Tae-seong asked.
"I heard the vest uses aluminum alloy and stainless steel. Anything else you need?"
Na Gang-in grinned.
"Aluminum and stainless were just cheap and easy for the prototype."
"Pardon?"
The test version used budget-friendly, readily available materials.
"For sales versions, we'll use different alloys. Plenty of lightweight ones with great properties—they're just pricier."
Lee Tae-seong's mind raced.
"You can make it even tougher?"
"Not exactly—switching materials makes the vest lighter overall."
Lee Tae-seong beamed.
"It's already thin and light, but that means it could really go under daily wear!"
Thin bulletproof vests for under clothes do exist, but they block bullets without offering such perfect protection.
Na Gang-in had already shared yesterday what equipment he'd use for design. Now they needed to settle how and where to deliver the data.
Lee Tae-seong asked.
"Will you design at our lab? Or shall we provide the equipment?"
"Install the design gear in my workshop. Better yet, link it to the equipment I already have."
"Ah, the Earth Union Workshop... We'll send the install team today."
The equipment was installed that very day. They even brought a server and an uninterruptible power supply. The PC came pre-loaded with Ironman Engineering's design software.
Ironman Engineering also gifted a large adjustable high-res monitor setup—four screens—and a spacious desk.
This time, headquarters chief Lee Tae-seong didn't come. Instead, Lee Tae-ho showed up.
Though president of THO Entertainment, Lee Tae-ho occasionally helped with Ironman Engineering matters from the outside. He'd eagerly taken this job.
Lee Tae-ho explained.
"Right now, we're generating data with the 3D scanner at Ironman Engineering HQ. First, we'll scan a test dummy, then use that data to make several vests for testing."
You couldn't sell life-saving gear without rigorous tests. Ironman Engineering was prepping thoroughly.
Na Gang-in said.
"Better to use dummies mimicking human anatomy and physics over just a mannequin."
"Not sure if we have those at the company... Ah, they said to get your approval in advance for making multiple test samples."
Per the contract, Na Gang-in got paid upfront for the design. He earned a cut of sales only if vests sold.
But test vests got destroyed in trials, so no further revenue beyond the initial fee, no matter how many.
"Fine by me."
Na Gang-in wasn't ruthless enough to charge for tests too.
The next day, data arrived from Ironman Engineering: precise upper-body measurements of a dummy model.
Na Gang-in asked.
"Ji-in, can you make Dragon Plate with this data?"
"Gotta accept some loss since we're outsourcing fab. You know how to use the design software?"
Na Gang-in had skimmed the manual too, flipping pages without absorbing a thing.
"Then let's get started."
Shin Eun-ha realized she was always the one initiating contact with Na Gang-in. A bit miffed at her pride, she deliberately held off, waiting.
A day passed, then two—fine. But three was her limit.
"Wow, what kind of guy doesn't even send a single text if I don't reach out? Doesn't he wonder if I'm eating okay?"
Unable to hold back, she messaged first.
The reply came instantly.
"Doesn't message first but replies lightning-fast."
Smacking her lips, she typed.
She grumbled.
"Was gonna mooch a meal off him using the PC bang as excuse... Huh? Wait."
Shin Eun-ha stared at the chat screen.
"No way, why are the replies so short? This guy's hopeless!"
Without a second thought, she hopped out of bed.
She was at her family home right now.
Her mother saw her getting ready to leave.
"Eat first."
"Eating out."
"With who?"
"Someone."
Her mother narrowed her eyes.
"A guy?"
Shin Eun-ha panicked a little.
"Uh? Yeah?"
"Not some weirdo, right?"
Shin Eun-ha thought about what kind of person Na Gang-in was.
"Not weird, just... fascinating."
Her mother laid down a condition.
"No sleepovers."
"It's not like that! Just dinner today!"
"Today?"
"I said no!"
Shin Eun-ha drove to Na Gang-in's workshop outpost.
Her family home was in the same neighborhood as Cha Dong-seok's PC bang and Na Gang-in's apartment. The workshop wasn't far.
She parked in the empty lot out front. Na Gang-in's car was right next to it. He'd bought a junker no dealer would touch and fixed it up cheap.
"Maybe ask him to check my car too?"
She punched in the door lock code for the workshop. Only she and Na Gang-in knew it.
As she opened the door and stepped in, she nagged.
"Gang-in oppa, seriously, this is getting ri—Whoa?"
The interior had changed a lot since her last visit a few days ago.
"Whoa... Haven't been here in days, and it's totally transformed?"
She looked left.
The old milling machine that used to be there was still in place.
To the right: the laser cutter they'd bought together at the tool market, plus all sorts of brand-new gear.
In the center: several large monitors and a new desk. These screens were leagues above her home TV—four of them, stacked in two rows.
"This place looks like a secret base now. Next thing you know, Earth defense robots crawling out from underground? Sign says Earth Union Workshop too."
Na Gang-in swiveled around.
"Earth defense robots?"
His expression was dead serious. Shin Eun-ha froze.
"Uh? You're not actually making something like that, right? I'd call you nuts if you were."
"Designing a bulletproof vest."
"Huh? Bulletproof vest?"
Shin Eun-ha peered at the monitors.
One had an internet page open, but the other three showed intricate blueprints.
"No, now of all things..."
"Yeah?"
"I knew you fixed cars great, but now you're designing too? A bulletproof vest? Why that?"
"Obviously 'cause I'm getting paid to design it."
"Wait, so... This isn't a hobby—it's a real project?"
"Yeah."
She fanned her face with her hand like a fan.
"No, onions shrink when you peel 'em, but this oppa just keeps getting bigger the more layers?"
"I'm not an onion. Almost done, so wait."
Shin Eun-ha watched Na Gang-in work from the side.
His hands flew, modeling parts in 3D. Most followed set patterns with minor tweaks, but some were wholly new shapes.
Na Gang-in attached the final part blueprint to the master assembly.
"Done."
Shin Eun-ha eyed the finished 3D model.
"Gang-in oppa, bulletproof vest, right? This looks like a sleeveless undershirt. Wear this to war?"
"No need to make it this thin for battlefield. Just drape thick armor over clothes. This is for wearing under streetwear."
Finishing up, Na Gang-in sent the blueprint files to Ironman Engineering. Big files—took a minute to upload.
He swiveled back.
"What's up?"
"Food..."
"Came to eat?"
"Yeah, but watching you work is so cool. An actor who catches hackers, now designing this? Oppa, you got like three or four PhDs or what?"
"Nah. I'm just a regular guy."
Shin Eun-ha was floored.
"Where exactly is the 'regular' in any of that?"