Chapter 65
Chapter 65
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 65
Chapter Title: Sweet Gig
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The assailants emptied a full magazine from their submachine guns in a burst and tried to make a break for it right away. But a passing car panicked amid the gunfire, jerked the wheel, and caused trouble. The criminals' vehicle, speeding off in a hurry, smashed right into it and failed to escape.
The passing car bolted after the crash, but the one that had sprayed bullets everywhere couldn't. Police and bodyguards unleashed a hail of fire on it.
Suddenly, another car pulled up. It wasn't a police vehicle—it was enemy reinforcements. Muzzles poked out from it, raining bullets like a downpour.
In an instant, the front of the hotel turned into a warzone.
Sophia's bodyguard rushed toward her but took a bullet that grazed his leg and tumbled forward. The pistol he was gripping slipped from his hand and skidded ahead.
Lee Tae-seong spotted the gun rolling to his feet and an idea hit him. He snatched it up with his right hand and patted his chest with his left.
The Dragon Plate bulletproof vest had stopped three 9mm rounds. The first one was perfectly blocked, but from the second, he felt some impact. Even the third hadn't hit too hard, though.
'It's still got plenty of protection left.'
Trusting solely in the Dragon Plate's defensive power, he sprang to his feet.
He spotted two enemy vehicles. Aiming his pistol at one, he squeezed the trigger.
Three 9mm rounds slammed precisely into the enemy car. But none penetrated the armored panels lining the inside of the door.
Didn't matter. He hadn't fired to take out the enemy. Right now, he was putting on a show to leave a lasting impression on the client.
'That should be enough to—'
But his shots had threatened them. Enemy muzzles swung toward Lee Tae-seong immediately.
'Whoa!'
Lee Tae-seong dropped low behind a flower bed.
Bullets from the enemies' frantic barrage whistled over the planter.
Sophia shouted.
"Are you insane? You just got shot!"
Lee Tae-seong had stood up and fired on purpose, exactly to draw that reaction.
He boasted.
"The vest's protection is top-notch, so I'm fine."
"You took three rounds and you're fine?"
"Not a scratch. It absorbed the impact perfectly."
The gunfire tapered off until the fight ended.
Lee Tae-seong popped up, then sat back down before slowly rising and offering Sophia his hand.
"It's safe now."
Sophia took his hand and stood.
She glanced around. A few people groaned, clutching gunshot wounds.
The two enemy cars had already fled.
Lee Tae-seong said.
"They got turned into Swiss cheese, but they still drove off. Must have armored plating."
Armed police officers dashed about with weapons at the ready. Some headed straight for Sophia.
Sophia held out a hand to stop the approaching cops, then asked Lee Tae-seong.
"Thank you. You're from Titanforge, right?"
"Titanforge Branch Manager Lee Tae-seong."
"Your moves aren't ordinary. Special forces background?"
"I've been testing our company's gear constantly, so the skills stuck."
"I see. But..."
She tapped a finger on his chest.
"Where'd you get this vest?"
Lee Tae-seong grinned. Time to brag about the tech.
"It's called the Dragon Plate. A new bulletproof vest from our company."
Na Gang-in had designed the Dragon Plate vest, while Titanforge handled production and sales.
Strictly speaking, it wasn't made with Titanforge's own tech, but they had produced it.
This country had seen assaults like this before. They happened now and then.
But it was Sophia's first time being directly targeted. She was a bit shaken.
To hide her fear, she focused extra on the vest.
"This isn't your average gear, huh?"
"It's premium."
"Dragon Plate vest, you said? I'd love to talk supply deals. Something this thin with such great protection? Demand would be huge."
Lee Tae-seong shrugged.
"The manufacturing process is incredibly finicky, so mass production isn't feasible."
"Pardon?"
"We only make them custom. Tailored precisely to the client's body with a unique design each time."
Sophia said sincerely.
"Really? That makes me like it even more. I'll take one."
"It's still a prototype, so we're not taking orders yet."
"Reserve one for me then. And for my dad, mom, and siblings too."
Titanforge had come here to negotiate a police gear supply bid.
"Let's talk after the presentation. But..."
Lee Tae-seong looked around. A shootout had just gone down right outside this hotel.
"Is it really okay to proceed with the presentation like this?"
Sophia declared loudly.
"Of course. I'm not shaken by something like this. Let's head in, Titanforge Branch Manager Lee Tae-seong."
No one died in the fight that day. But there were several injuries, including some from the bidding companies.
Sophia pushed ahead with the schedule as planned anyway.
The four companies took turns presenting their bid products.
Lee Tae-seong stood before the crowd wearing a shirt riddled with three bullet holes.
His rivals eyed the glimpses of Dragon Plate peeking from under his shirt with keen interest.
But they couldn't ask what it was. Any hint of being outclassed in tech would tank their bid.
All four presentations wrapped up.
The government wouldn't decide on a contract that day.
Either way, Lee Tae-seong's business trip duties were done.
That evening, he treated Manager Park from the Korean government to drinks.
Manager Park had witnessed the hotel shootout firsthand. He needed booze to shake off the shock.
After a few rounds in a quiet bar, Manager Park asked.
"Branch Manager, you took how many rounds earlier?"
"Three."
"And you're totally fine? Oh, sorry. I was just so shocked, I got too casual..."
"No worries. It's all thanks to our company's new bulletproof vest."
He gave a quick rundown of the Dragon Plate's performance, then added insights from his own experience.
"As you saw today, being able to counterattack even after taking hits is a huge advantage. In a close-quarters draw where both sides pull triggers at once, the vest-wearer has the edge. A trained agent would maximize it."
He pitched the Dragon Plate hard to Manager Park, who nodded.
"Makes sense. VIPs themselves might want it more than bodyguards. It looks so thin. What about the weight...?"
"Wore it all day today—no discomfort at all. Super light."
"Then it'll sell like hotcakes."
The incident barely made Korean news. No one reported a Korean firm smack in the middle of the shootout.
Still, with plenty of witnesses, word spread fast in the industry.
Omega Tech took notice too.
Secretary Jessica showed Scarlett Kelly the footage.
"CCTV caught it. Watch this part where Titanforge's Lee Tae-seong takes the hits."
Scarlett watched the screen, zoomed in, and replayed from the start.
"This guy took three rounds and barely flinched?"
"Right. And his movements stayed smooth after."
"No body stops bullets bare, so obviously a vest. But you'd never guess from the outside?"
"Ultra-slim type with zero visible bulk."
"An ultra-slim with that protection..."
Scarlett turned serious.
"Isn't that impossible?"
Jessica said gravely.
"Looks like Titanforge pulled off a tech breakthrough."
"Titanforge's Lee Tae-seong. Wait, that's the suit from the airport meetup. Had no clue it hid tech like this."
Jessica figured the encounter wasn't random.
"Exactly. Showed up right in front of you on purpose, then dipped."
Scarlett's eyes sharpened.
"Titanforge really isn't to be underestimated."
"Never was."
"Anyway, if this hits the market, legacy vest makers are toast."
Jessica shook her head.
"Not according to HQ intel."
"Huh?"
"Product name's Dragon Plate. Catch is, it needs custom redesign for every body type. No mass production."
Scarlett sighed in relief, hand on chest.
"Phew. No market shaker then? No need to dump stock."
Jessica scolded instantly.
"Scarlett! Don't touch stocks! Gonna blow it again?"
"Hey! It wasn't just me—Newton lost big on stocks too!"
"Who even knows that?!"
Scarlett waved it off.
"Whatever. Jessica, let's grab one each. Order from Titanforge."
"Just for us?"
"Obviously snag analysis samples for the lab too. Order plenty."
"Got it! I'll route it through a shell company."
Scarlett asked about something else.
"Yacht party prep?"
"Everything's set but... Booking Na Gang-in's tougher than expected."
"Why?"
"He's swamped lately. Couldn't dig why."
Scarlett stretched.
"Fine. I'll handle it personally. Book a salon."
"Salon?"
She waved her palm in front of her face up and down.
"One to make me even prettier. Gotta go in full battle mode."
Scarlett called Na Gang-in.
"I'm in Korea."
- Jessica mentioned. Got work piling up, so party attendance is tough.
Na Gang-in was personally crafting the Dragon Plate he'd use.
"Where are you now? Let's meet and talk."
Na Gang-in texted the address.
Scarlett showed it on her smartphone to Jessica in the passenger seat.
"Jessica. Drive."
They arrived at a spot just outside Seoul in Gyeonggi Province, at the foot of some mountains. A small two-story building stood there—once an old metalworking shop.
Scarlett read the sign and asked Jessica.
"Earth Union Workshop? Weird name. What does Na Gang-in even do here?"
"No idea."
"Huh? You didn't look into it?"
"I did. No one knows."
Scarlett eyed the large "No Entry" sign on the wall.
It was acrylic cut into letters, mounted on metal plate.
"Fancy work for a weird place?"
"Guess Na Gang-in has unique tastes."
"Way classier than just printing it."
Scarlett rang the bell. Moments later, Na Gang-in opened the door.
"What's up, coming all the way here?"
"Invite me in first. At least offer some tea?"
"Fine, whatever."
Na Gang-in let them inside.
Scarlett froze at the sight.
"What? This vibe is so off."
Scrap metal cutters sat beside state-of-the-art laser cutters in the same space.
Dead center: four massive monitors. No way those were for casual browsing.
Na Gang-in explained.
"Stuff for my side gig."
Scarlett tilted her head. The high-end cutters here cost a fortune for personal use.
"Side gig with gear like this?"
The Na Gang-in she knew was a chef, actor, and special forces vet.
This was a whole new side.
"What kind of gig? Looks like you're making something."
Na Gang-in shrugged.
"Armor or whatever?"
Scarlett cocked her head.
"Armor? Like plate mail? Into cosplay?"
Na Gang-in changed the subject.
"What brings you all the way here?"
Scarlett got down to business.
"Inviting you to our yacht party."
"I'm swamped. Just hire a good catering service."
"Already booked the top mobile chef company. You just show tomorrow, check the food's good."
AI Jeon Ji-in said.
Na Gang-in muttered softly.
"Your observation skills have sharpened. I got that vibe too."
"You're just curious about food from the best catering service."
AI Jeon Ji-in loved food made by others.