Negotiations at the Defense Acquisition Agency
Nam Gyuil, having closed another gate today, was resting at home. He had just come out of the bath and was shaking out his wet hair with a towel when his smartphone rang. It was an unfamiliar number.
At this point, right after sending the model pistol to the Defense Acquisition Agency, a call from an unknown number? 'I can guess where this is from.'
He pressed the green receiver icon on his smartphone screen and answered.
"Hello. This is Nam Gyuil."
"Hello. This is Park Jongwoo from the Defense Acquisition Agency. Are you the Nam Gyuil who sent a package to us?"
Nam Gyuil chuckled softly and replied.
"Yes. I sent a model pistol."
"If it's not too much trouble, could we meet to discuss it?"
"Sure."
"We're fine anytime, so come whenever suits you. Or should we come to you?"
"No need. I'll head to the Defense Acquisition Agency today."
"Then we'll be waiting."
The call ended. Nam Gyuil opened his closet and changed into a suit before heading to the Defense Acquisition Agency.
The road to Gwacheon, where the agency was located, was unusually quiet today, allowing him to arrive early.
As Nam Gyuil entered the main gate, someone came rushing over.
"Are you Nam Gyuil?"
"Yes."
There were more than one or two people there to greet him—quite a few, in fact. They were all exceedingly polite toward him, almost to the point of fawning.
"This way, please. We'll escort you to the conference room."
"Thank you."
They led Nam Gyuil to the conference room.
Screeech.
As the door opened and they entered, he saw men in suits with hair slicked back, streaked with white. They were all key executives from the Defense Acquisition Agency. They had received direct orders from the president to secure this contract at all costs.
Nam Gyuil took a seat.
"Nice to meet you, Mr. Nam! I'm Director Baek Dongsu of the Defense Acquisition Agency."
The director himself was in the room. It was such a critical matter that all the high-ranking officials were present.
"You're the one who had breakfast with the president this morning, right? I saw you on TV back then. You spoke so well."
"Thank you for the compliment."
"It must have been tiring driving from Seoul to Gwacheon. Care for something to drink? Coffee or green tea?"
"Coffee, please."
Director Baek Dongsu signaled with his eyes to the people who had escorted him. They quickly brought over a cup of coffee.
Nam Gyuil took a sip. Baek Dongsu led the negotiation with a jovial smile.
"The model pistol you sent actually went into a gate. Incredible technology."
"Thank you."
"Besides the model pistol, can you make other things?"
"Yes. Swords or shields are possible too. And mass production is feasible."
"What about firearms, by any chance?"
Baek Dongsu cut straight to what he wanted. If firearms could be taken into gates, national hunters' combat power would skyrocket.
Nam Gyuil nodded.
"Possible."
Baek Dongsu's face lit up instantly. The agency staff broke into broad grins, as if the deal was done.
But in just a few years, no one would give a damn about guns that could enter gates. Nam Gyuil was certain.
'Monsters immune to bullets and shells will start appearing.'
The monsters so far had been low-grade, so guns and artillery worked. But mid-grade monsters rendered such weapons useless.
Only mana-based attacks would work.
'The military's role will shrink then. They won't be able to hunt monsters with guns.'
Guilds and the Hunter Agency would take over gate management.
'Judging by the rate new monsters are appearing, it'll happen in about two years.'
Nam Gyuil smirked inwardly. That was plenty of time to grow stronger and build his forces—provided he prepared quickly.
Director Baek Dongsu resumed the paused conversation.
"Mr. Nam."
"Yes."
"Weapons that can be taken into gates are incredibly valuable. Why not apply for a patent right away?"
"A patent?"
"Yes. That way, the nation can protect your technology."
The manufacturing method for gate-compatible weapons was a national asset, so the government wanted to safeguard it.
Nam Gyuil pondered.
'A patent would require revealing info on the fire spirit.'
That was the sticking point.
'If I blurt it out carelessly, the Akashic Records secret could leak. Need to think carefully.'
He'd thought it over many times: With his current power and influence lacking, he couldn't reveal his identity lightly. There would definitely be those trying to check or exploit him.
'No patent.'
After careful thought, Nam Gyuil slowly shook his head.
"I can't apply for a patent."
"Why not? It's the only way to protect your tech from leaking."
Baek Dongsu had a point. But Nam Gyuil instantly came up with a plausible excuse.
"I don't really know how it's made myself."
"What do you mean?"
"It's not a person making the weapons."
"Pardon?"
Baek Dongsu gaped in confusion, blurting out a dumbfounded sound. Nam Gyuil spun his excuse without hesitation.
"I got an item from a gate that summons a Kobolt."
"An item that summons a Kobolt?!"
"Only weapons made by the Kobolt can enter gates. I don't know the detailed technology."
"Is that true?"
"Even weirder, the Kobolt uses the exact same manufacturing methods as on Earth. It must have some special ability."
Baek Dongsu glanced left and right at the other officials. Items that summoned monsters were occasionally found in gates, but never one that crafted weapons.
The government had assumed Nam Gyuil was the technician and was even considering early discharge from the Hunter Agency to protect him. If he died, the tech would be lost.
They never dreamed of this twist. Everyone fell silent, at a loss.
Nam Gyuil chuckled inwardly. Kobolts did handle weapon crafting—it was true. But,
'No need to mention the fire spirit.'
He glossed over it without revealing everything, mixing in a lie.
Baek Dongsu cleared his throat awkwardly, composing his flustered expression.
"Mr. Nam, any thought to selling that Kobolt-summoning item to the nation? We'd pay handsomely."
"No. It's clearly my personal property."
Nam Gyuil was firm. He'd anticipated this reaction when bringing up the Kobolts.
Baek Dongsu eyed him steadily.
"We'd buy it for a king's ransom. Think it over again..."
"No."
"Anything else you want?"
"No. Why hand over the golden goose? Let's drop it."
Baek Dongsu gave up persuading him. He realized from that last line this wasn't someone who folded easily.
So he asked something else.
"Then, is mass production of the weapons possible?"
Nam Gyuil calculated mentally. For swords, a craftsman handling only final heat treatment could do about 500 a day.
'If Kobolts only do the final heat treatment...'
Nam Gyuil held up five fingers.
"For melee weapons, about 5,000 per day."
"Firearms?"
"I'd have to try. The process is so intricate, I don't know how many the Kobolts can produce."
"Armor?"
"Scale armor style? At least 500 a day."
Scale armor: Iron plates fixed to thick fabric like fish scales. Easy to produce in bulk.
Nam Gyuil added a condition, as if reminding him.
"Of course, that's assuming smooth raw material supply."
"We'll handle that, so no worries."
Baek Dongsu replied, then paused before suddenly turning to Hunter Agency weapons supply manager Park Jongwoo.
"Hey, Park Jongwoo."
"Yes, Director."
"With that output, can we supply enough weapons?"
"Excluding guns, the rest in 2-3 months."
"Good?"
Baek Dongsu was pleased. He didn't know about guns yet, but this would put out the immediate fire.
He looked at Nam Gyuil.
"Excellent, Mr. Nam. We'll recognize you as a defense contractor. National-level investment incoming. No need to worry about funds."
"That's reassuring."
Nam Gyuil's tone brightened as things went smoothly. But he tossed in a unique proposal.
"No premature press releases until the factory's complete. It could ruin everything."
Baek Dongsu's eyebrows shot up. Wrinkles creased his forehead, his face twisting.
World-first gate-compatible weapons would be a huge political win for the ruling party and president.
Delaying the announcement? Normally he'd agree, but with the president's obsession over approval ratings, who knew.
Baek Dongsu asked for the reason.
"Why?"
"Large guilds' interference."
"Interference?"
"Yes."
Baek Dongsu pondered briefly, then nodded as if understanding.
"Large guilds make side money selling gate-looted weapons... So they'd sabotage you to protect their profits?"
"Exactly."
"Fair point."
Baek Dongsu stroked his white mustache.
"Fine. No announcements until the factory's done."
"Thank you."
"And we'll keep you and your family's involvement under wraps at the government level."
"Thank you."
Nam Gyuil bowed. He'd worried about large guilds' bullying, but government protection eased his mind. He and his family would be safe.
Most terms were settled; only investment amount remained.
Baek Dongsu spoke first.
"Now, about the investment amount..."
Nam Gyuil watched his mouth closely. How much would the Defense Acquisition Agency offer? It would determine factory size—and profits.
Baek Dongsu named a minimum casually, as if it were nothing.
"How about a light 5 billion won to start?"