Chapter 73
Chapter 73
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 73
Chapter Title: 73 Sight
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Cha Ji-hee from the Dragon Plate design team at Ironclad Tech explained.
"The new prototype for the Dragon Plate is ready. The material's changed, so we need fresh tests, and the designer has to sign off on it. That's why I came."
"Hmm... Let's go take a look. But we're in the middle of dinner right now."
"Oh! No problem. We've got plenty of time."
"In that case..."
Leaving one person behind while the two of them ate felt awkward. He turned to Shin Eun-ha.
"There's a ton left. Want to join?"
Shin Eun-ha grumbled.
"I was gonna pack the leftovers for home."
"I'll whip up a fresh batch when you get back."
"Ugh... Fine."
Cha Ji-hee marveled nonstop as she dug into the spicy dish Na Gang-in had scooped for her.
"Wow. I'd heard the rumors about your cooking, but this is... wow. Team Leader's girlfriend must be in heaven."
Shin Eun-ha shot her a warning look.
"Don't even think about it."
"Huh? Oh, no, I wouldn't."
"Better not."
Actress Shin Eun-ha flicked her hair back with her left hand.
"You'll just get hurt."
Na Gang-in set his liquor down.
He never actually got drunk from liquor, but he did feel a mild, mood-lifting buzz while it was in his system.
"Can't do tests reeking of booze."
Shin Eun-ha's face was flushed pink from the drinks as she asked.
"Gang-in oppa. Mind if I tag along?"
"Doesn't Ironclad Tech have to okay that?"
Cha Ji-hee froze mid-bite of her spicy food.
"Huh? Uh, sure... Let me check with the office."
Cha Ji-hee stepped aside to call headquarters. The Dragon Plate design team reported straight to the HQ chief, Lee Tae-seong.
"Got it, Chief."
Cha Ji-hee came back.
"They said you're good to join."
Shin Eun-ha screwed the cap back on the liquor bottle.
"Guess I should quit while I'm ahead. Can't be walking around with Gang-in oppa stinking of booze."
Na Gang-in chuckled. Shin Eun-ha tilted her head.
"What?"
"Nothing."
They finished dinner and headed to Ironclad Tech.
A high-speed expressway connected Na Gang-in's workshop to Ironclad Tech, so the drive wasn't long.
Na Gang-in rode in Shin Eun-ha's car, with Cha Ji-hee behind the wheel.
Na Gang-in asked.
"Anyone can drive your ride?"
Shin Eun-ha nodded.
"Duh. My road manager or Park Section Chief oppa fills in sometimes, so the insurance covers anybody."
"We know, but to outsiders, it'd look like drunk driving. And claiming it's all broken down already? Suspicious."
The first face at Ironclad Tech wasn't a regular staffer—it was HQ chief Lee Tae-seong.
Lee Tae-seong eyed Shin Eun-ha.
"Shin Eun-ha must be real interested in our company's ops."
She flashed a bright smile.
"Just interested in Gang-in oppa's work. Oh! Secret stuff? I can wait in the hall. Legs'll hurt, but no biggie."
"Uh... Well, you're Shin Eun-ha, so it'll be fine. Meeting time."
Lee Tae-seong laid out the situation.
"Got an order for nine more Dragon Plates. With this latest design, that's ten total."
"No certs at all, so no gov buys here, but that's more than I figured."
Dragon Plates were bespoke, tough to certify off-the-shelf. Plus, stock was tight for their own tests—no applications yet. No certs meant no official gov sales.
Lee Tae-seong went on.
"Paperwork calls it functional apparel, not armor. Order hit anyway 'cause the client saw the defense up close."
He recounted a skirmish on an East Asian business trip. Dragon Plate saved his life that day.
Sofia Diaz, the enemy's mark then, witnessed it too.
"That meet was for their police protective gear contract. Three other firms competing. Land this, we get the edge—proves our tech gap."
"Gotta rush production to demo before police contract locks. Measurements?"
"Should bring the buyer here, but they nixed it. VIP protection, not police gear."
"Gov bigwig can't jet in."
"Sent detailed specs on our process instead."
"Won't match our precision."
Na Gang-in had tuned this facility himself. Still had some margin for error. Elsewhere? Worse.
Na Gang-in pressed.
"You warned bad data drops defense?"
"Naturally."
"Design builds in body flex anyway. Even off, stops two-three pistol rounds min. Spot-on? More."
"Yep, told 'em. But extra specs."
Lee Tae-seong flashed a palm-sized flag graphic.
"Want this slapped on."
"What's that?"
"Their national flag. Tears show flag."
Na Gang-in smirked.
"VIP takes a hit, rips shirt to prove he's kicking. Maybe speeches on-site. Popularity gold."
"Affect defense?"
Na Gang-in pitched.
"First whale client—go big on perks. Emboss the flag surface-deep in design. Rip it, flag pops huge."
"Oh! That fly? Add paid emboss as option later. Ha!"
Post-meeting, Shin Eun-ha beamed.
"Gang-in oppa, you look so damn smart like this. Big screen, shirtsleeves rolled, briefing? Killer."
"Scene from one of your movies."
"You saw it? Three years old!"
"Uh? Just... bored nights."
Lee Tae-seong bounced for other duties.
Design teamer Cha Ji-hee led Na Gang-in to the range.
Cha Ji-hee briefed.
"Built test unit to your blueprints."
"Embossed revisions by tomorrow. Same defense—no extra build."
"Got it."
"You shooting test, Cha Ji-hee?"
"Huh? Team Leader you."
"Me?"
"Assumed..."
"Alright then."
Na Gang-in grabbed a range rifle. Before he could fire, a new face bolted up.
"Hold up!"
Cha Ji-hee intro'd.
"Small arms sight dev team lead."
The lead panted.
"Na Gang-in? Rumors don't do you justice."
"What rumors..."
"Shooting savant. Combat-vetted."
"Eh."
"Test-firing? Do this too."
Rifle sight in hand.
Na Gang-in cocked his head.
"This?"
"Our new sight. Crave your take."
"Outsider handling it cool?"
Lead laughed, waved it off.
"Part-time Dragon Plate design lead! Fine. Ha!"
Cha Ji-hee clarified.
"New sight's in export talks—no secrets."
Lead jumped in.
"Perf tweaks need vet shooter data. You engineer it too."
"Rumors say?"
"Combat-proof shooter, Dragon Plate design boss..."
"Fair..."
"Pay's a mil won, obvs."
Battery-powered holo sight.
Na Gang-in slotted it, powered up. Crosshair lit the transparent pane.
"Huh?"
Na Gang-in eyed the lead.
"This in export talks?"
"Ha, yep. Patents global. Aims faster, sharper than old stuff."
He murmured.
"Ji-in. This Earth Union gear from 2082?"
"Ironclad's initial model?"
"2022 vintage?"
Na Gang-in to lead.
"Heard of Hades Arms?"
"Nah? News to me."
Murmured.
"Ji-in. Hades Arms kicking now?"
"Ironclad Speedstar in your original memory?"
Na Gang-in pieced it.
"Guy tanking the film studio to rock Ironclad control. Snags this firm, rebrands tech or flips to others."
Perp unknown still.
"Test proto perf first."
Shouldered, aimed.
"Commence test fire."
Holo sight nailed it. Every trigger pull, bullseye.
Dumped the 30-round mag.
"Groups tight."
"Heh, right? Team pride."
"Like sights elsewhere?"
Lead shook head hard.
"Zip worldwide. Ours first. Int'l patents filed."
"Hm... Name?"
"Team tag: Eagle Eye. Export official: Hawk Eye Sight."
Not Speedstar.
Na Gang-in's brow twitched. Murmured.
"Name diff. Means the guy hawked Ironclad tech."
Lead queried.
"Verdict?"
"Solid sight."
"Tweaks?"
"Tweaks..."
Lead grinned.
"World first—no notes expected. Ha!"
Cha Ji-hee griped.
"Jo Lead's here to flex."
"That obvious? Ha, yeah. Test via Dragon Plate whiz, plus brag sesh. Ha!"
Na Gang-in aside.
"Ji-in. Perp eyeing this firm trashed Gangwon set too."
No him, Eun-ha maimed or worse.
"Wanna spike that punk. Upgrade path for relics?"
"Field hacks though. Got relic, pump combat edge—like Speedstar proto."
Holo vid popped.
"Straight rip. 2040 take?"
"They'll sort. Just dropping hints. Manual up."
AR lens scrolled 2040 Speedstar specs, funcs annotated.
"Trim complex. Core feats only."
Chunks vanished. Handfuls lingered.