Chapter 78
Chapter 78
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 78
Chapter Title: Drama Action
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The male trainee agent asked with a bewildered look on his face.
"Pardon? I didn't quite catch that."
The manager grumbled.
"Never mind. What does a pup like you know anyway? All you can see is that tiny patch of sky above your little well."
"Pardon?"
"If you run into Na Gang-in again, please, just don't fight him. You could get yourself killed."
The male trainee agent shouted.
"I'm an elite agent sworn to protect the nation and its people! Sure, I'm a human weapon, but why would I kill a civilian?"
"Right. Good for you. Even as a trainee, your pride shoots straight to the heavens. But who did I say was the instructor who trained you like this?"
"Pardon?"
"Forget it. Don't worry about it. I'll track down that instructor myself."
Na Gang-in was making dinner at the PC bang.
To handle the flood of orders and feed the part-timers too, he needed to whip up a lot of food fast.
Field Tactical Cooking was built for mass production from the ground up. That's why he finished all those orders with time to spare.
Two of the PC bang trio were there today. The college hacker An Seong-hwan said excitedly.
"Hyung, can't you seriously cook for us more often?"
The night part-timer Yoon A-reum chimed in.
"Yeah, I crave it every day."
Shin Eun-ha piped up.
"Hey! Is Gang-in oppa your personal chef or something?"
"Unnie's eating it too."
"He's cooking for me, not you guys."
"Huh? For real?"
Na Gang-in said.
"Of course not. Eun-ha, why are you butting in and eating with them?"
"I'm a regular customer."
"If you're gonna eat, at least pay for it. You're the only customer who hasn't paid for food."
"Aw, come on, between us."
A new customer entered the PC bang.
Most customers paid at the unmanned kiosk and grabbed a seat. But first-timers often came to the counter with questions about how it worked.
A man in a black suit approached them. The night part-timer Yoon A-reum wiped her mouth and stood up.
"Welcome. Just pay at the unmanned kiosk and take a seat."
"Actually, I'm here to see Na Gang-in."
"Pardon? Gang-in oppa?"
Na Gang-in asked.
"Where are you from?"
The man handed over a business card, shielding it so only Na Gang-in could see.
"From here."
"Ah, you're here about the Dragon Plate. I got the call."
The gaming streamer Yoon A-reum asked from the side.
"Huh? What's that? A new game? How come I didn't know?"
The PC bang trio had no clue what Dragon Plate was. But Shin Eun-ha did. She'd seen Na Gang-in take a bullet to the vest on that yacht.
She gasped in surprise.
"Whoa! Gang-in oppa, was that gear illegal?"
"It's not illegal. Just not certified."
"Isn't lack of certification the same as illegal?"
"We're selling it as custom functional clothing, so it's fine. It's just clothes that happen to be tough."
"No way, does that even make sense? How tough does clothes have to be to..."
The man looked flustered.
"Um, Na Gang-in-ssi. Could we talk somewhere quieter...?"
"Let's head to the kitchen. If you haven't eaten, join us."
"I'd prefer to speak privately, if possible..."
Na Gang-in said to Yoon A-reum, An Seong-hwan, and Shin Eun-ha.
"You heard him? Stay out of the kitchen. These guys aren't the eavesdropping type."
In the PC bang kitchen, Na Gang-in checked the business card.
"Presidential Security Service... So, some VIP is using the Dragon Plate?"
Security officer Choi Nam-su waved his hand.
"Oh, no, not at all. How could we with no official certification?"
"Fair point. But you still bought ten sets knowing that?"
"We have two real-world data points. Like when Iron Man Tech's Lee Tae-seong got shot during that overseas incident, or when you blocked bullets at the yacht party."
"Word travels fast."
"And we know that country ordered ten sets for their dignitaries too. Stuff like this really should go through proper licensing..."
"I keep telling you, it's just clothes. We made 'em tough, and they happen to stop bullets."
If this were a firearm, that excuse wouldn't fly. You'd need government approval, no question. In Korea, making guns without a permit lands you in cuffs.
But body armor wasn't a lethal weapon.
Security officer Choi Nam-su said.
"Not my department, but it'd be great if you could get official certification someday."
"It's custom-fitted gear, so standardized testing doesn't work. Performance drops if someone else wears it."
"I've heard that."
Na Gang-in asked.
"So, who's buying it for?"
"Security officers like us. For situations where vests are impractical. Better than going in naked."
"You could just use what you already have."
"Those blunt the impact so bad you can't counterattack. But the Dragon Plate..."
Choi Nam-su's eyes lit up.
"They say you can keep fighting while it's still holding."
"You did your homework. You know the caveats too?"
"Gotta maintain the weight from when it was made."
"Body type, technically, but yeah, same difference. Got it. But you know you could just stop by Iron Man Tech for measurements..."
Na Gang-in asked.
"So, why come see me in person?"
Choi Nam-su said with a serious expression.
"I've heard about you taking down Jackal's international merc group in that Gangnam building, and nabbing Nakgwi's pirate crew at the yacht party. And you're the founder of Gun Fist Way too."
"Uh..."
Gun Fist Way was the BS he'd fed that detective. No such martial art existed.
AI Jeon Ji-in said.
- Too late to deny it. Keep bluffing.
"I did create it."
Choi Nam-su pressed on.
"You've proven its effectiveness yourself, so I know it works. I'd love if you could teach it to our agents."
"Uh..."
- Regular humans can't fight like you, Agent.
"Regular people can't learn Gun Fist Way."
"Our agents aren't regular people."
"It's beyond human capability."
"You do it, don't you? So it must be humanly possible."
- Your body's enhanced, and I supported the fights.
Couldn't exactly spill the truth.
Choi Nam-su added.
"Oh, not as an official instructor or anything. No coming to our facilities. A few guys I know will meet you at an external training ground. I'm the only security officer; the rest are cops or from other agencies."
Na Gang-in thought for a moment.
'Not officially joining any agency, so no physical exam needed?'
That opened options.
'Can't make 'em fight like me, but basic training?'
He muttered softly.
"Ji-in-ah. You got security training skills? For normal people."
- Of course. Leave it to me; I'll drill those night owls properly.
"Good to build ties with the Presidential Security Service and police protection units, right?"
- Absolutely.
Na Gang-in grinned at Choi Nam-su.
"Should've led with that."
Choi Nam-su's face brightened too.
"So you'll teach us Gun Fist Way?"
"To master Gun Fist Way properly, you'd need to roam the Taebaek Mountains for about two years."
Na Gang-in had no records for the past two years. When the detective asked, he'd claimed he was training in the mountains.
Civil servant Choi Nam-su looked troubled.
"Ah... Two years is a bit..."
"No time for that? I could teach the basics."
"Ah! Of course we'd start with basics! Thanks for the chance to learn battle-tested Gun Fist Way."
"Round up whoever's free and sort schedules. I'll give a taste—drill... teach for a day. Weekends don't work for me, so this Friday?"
"Perfect."
"Without checking with the others?"
"Just whoever can make it."
"Alright, Friday it is."
He'd made plenty of dinner tonight.
"And since you're here, grab a meal."
"Ah, thanks."
"No biggie. I'll charge you."
"Pardon?"
"Lots of meat today. Ten thousand won a bowl."
Security officer Choi Nam-su took a spoonful of what looked like spicy pork bibimbap in the PC bang staff break room.
"Whoa."
The dish had a spicy base note, with chewy pork bursting with flavor. A big scoop mixing rice and meat added umami depth.
'They said his cooking was top-notch, but this is next level.'
Choi Nam-su said to Na Gang-in.
"This is delicious."
Yoon A-reum didn't know who Choi Nam-su was. Just another customer looking for Na Gang-in.
So she boasted.
"Gang-in oppa's food is all amazing. He's the best chef ever."
Choi Nam-su pondered.
'Martial artists good with knives good at cooking too? I wield a greatsword; maybe I should learn?'
A new customer entered the PC bang.
Drama PD Choi Jin-uk came to the counter.
"Is Na Gang-in here by any chance?"
Yoon A-reum glanced toward the kitchen.
"Gang-in oppa, another customer's here for you."
Choi Nam-su had been keeping half an eye on Choi Jin-uk since he walked in.
'Who’s this guy?'
Security officers assessed bodies first.
'No athlete. Movements aren't efficient.'
Such people could still cause trouble, but he wasn't here on protection duty. Just habit to size him up.
Na Gang-in and Shin Eun-ha emerged from the kitchen together.
Shin Eun-ha wore sunglasses and a mask.
She recognized him.
"Oh! PD Choi?"
Choi Jin-uk guessed from her killer figure.
'Entertainment industry? Actress? Idol?'
"You know me? From the station?"
Shin Eun-ha lowered her sunglasses slightly.
"It's me."
"Whoa!"
Choi Jin-uk quickly scanned around. He knew better than to yell a celebrity's name in a place like this.
"What brings you here, Eun-ha-ssi?"
"Eating. This place is a foodie haven."
"Pardon?"
"You didn't know? Then why'd you come?"
"Obviously to scout Na Gang-in..."
Shin Eun-ha beamed.
"Oh my, it's humble, but come this way. Everyone does business talk in the kitchen."
"Pardon? Other people too?"
PD Choi Jin-uk said to Na Gang-in.
"Heard through Chungmuro directors after that wedding reception gig. You're the master of fast action shots, right?"
Shin Eun-ha answered for him.
"He can film at the world's fastest speed."
"Our drama needs action for this week's shoot. We planned light fights, but stronger action would work great."
"Oh, perfect timing. Only Gang-in oppa can do that."
"So if you're free, Friday's shoot..."
"He is! Gang-in oppa's got tons of time."
"Yes, thank... Wait, why are you answering for him, Eun-ha-ssi?"
"Uh... Good question?"
Security officer Choi Nam-su was eavesdropping lightly.
'Drama gig beats a personal training favor by a mile.'
Na Gang-in said.
"Friday won't work. I've got plans."
Choi Nam-su smirked involuntarily as he ate.
'Heh, guy's got priorities!'
PD Choi Jin-uk said hastily.
"Hold on. Thursday or Saturday?"
"No weekends, and Thursday..."
He had movie plans with Shin Eun-ha.
Shin Eun-ha jumped in.
"Thursday works! Thursday's good!"
Na Gang-in shot her a look. She winked furiously.
The one who'd scored free movie tickets was saying it worked. No need for him to nix it.
"Thursday's fine. If it's not too far."
"Nanji Hangang Park. We'll reschedule that scene for Thursday."
"Sure, whatever."
The drama gig was locked in. Shin Eun-ha sidled up.
"PD Choi, my manager'll handle the paperwork. That cool?"
"Ah! Na Gang-in-ssi's agency SAH?"
"Nah. My manager owes him favors; this is payback."
"Someone who knows the ropes? Makes my life easier. Haha."