Chapter 64
Chapter 64
Whirr… whirr.
While production continued without pause, the monitor displayed the dual-core scan data of Lieutenant Colonel Kang Cheolmin and Yoon Sungjun.
Meeting Kang Cheolmin had been quite a shock to me.
Two cores coexisted within his body as well.
“Picker, what do you think?”
“Hmm. The military guy is already a completed engine. The two cores function in perfect harmony without interfering with each other. On the other hand… this one…”
Picker zoomed in on the brain region in Yoon Sungjun’s scan.
The flickering waveform fluctuated dangerously.
“He’s a newly awakened raw gem. The core in his heart has stabilized, but the one near the brain still hasn’t found its balance.”
“That’s exactly the point.”
I pointed at Yoon Sungjun’s data.
“Kang Cheolmin is already fully developed. There’s nothing left to probe there. But Yoon Sungjun just awakened, so he’s still unstable. That means we can observe the process of change in real time.”
If I could analyze the dual-core system, perhaps I could take another step toward uncovering the secret of awakening.
“What we need is observation. Data that collects brain waves, heart rate, and mana wavelength changes.”
“Ohh. You’re thinking of making something like a Mana Data Recording Device? Like those 24-hour electrocardiogram monitors hospitals use?”
“Exactly. We need a device that extracts data without Yoon Sungjun noticing.”
Even if the data turned out useless, it was worth attempting.
In the past, I would have trembled just to spend a single core.
But things were different now.
Failure?
I could afford that.
I had reached the stage where money could buy time and experience.
“Alright. Let’s start brainstorming. What form should the recording device take?”
“Hm… how about a necklace? Easy to wear all day.”
“Rejected. If I give Yoon Sungjun a necklace, do you think he’ll just say ‘Thank you’ and wear it? Especially when it has no obvious function?”
“Then a smart watch? People used to wear them all the time. It could even track GPS location.”
“That was ten years ago, not now.”
Picker… his old memories were leaking out again.
“And the core issue is observing the unstable core in his brain, right? It needs to touch his head.”
Something that touched the head.
Something that wouldn’t raise suspicion.
Something that could still be worn in battle.
“What about a helmet?”
“Oh! A helmet! Perfect justification! We could say, ‘Our subcontractor boss’s head is precious, after all!’ He’ll be so touched!”
Even an Awakened would die if shot in the head.
“Yeah. Embedding sensors into a ballistic helmet sounds right.”
Since I couldn’t use the workshop’s automated manufacturing for this, I began manual production.
Materials weren’t a problem.
Porter was still gathering resources in real time while producing Honeybee drones and military contract equipment.
Soon, the first prototype was completed.
I picked up the helmet with anticipation.
But my expression quickly darkened.
“What is this?”
“Hmm… boss. This looks a bit wrong. It’s like a brain torture device.”
Inside the helmet, EEG electrodes stuck out like spikes.
Anyone looking at it would immediately think: ‘This is suspicious equipment.’
Naturally, the comfort was terrible.
“Scrap it.”
Without hesitation, I dismantled Helmet Prototype No.1.
Second attempt.
This time I added thicker padding to hide the electrodes.
“…Now it’s too heavy.”
“If someone wears this, they’ll get a neck disc injury. Their neck will snap during combat.”
“Scrap it.”
I took a deep breath and focused.
After several failures, I finally understood how it needed to be designed.
I began embedding micro-sensors between the soft sponge layers of the helmet liner.
The sensors maintained the elasticity of the padding while naturally pressing against the wearer’s forehead and temples.
At the same time, I coated the helmet’s exterior with Mana Shielding Coating to prevent the faint signals generated inside from leaking out.
If another Awakened sensed something strange about the helmet, it could cause problems.
Using a single core as the power source, the device could run for over a year.
Time passed.
Finally, a product I was satisfied with emerged.
A sleek tactical helmet painted matte black.
From the outside, it looked no different from a standard ballistic helmet.
“Now if I apply Imbuement…”
As soon as the process finished, the hidden spyware monitoring brain waves and mana activity came to life.
[Commander Tactical Helmet]
Grade: C
A special device that records the wearer’s brain activity and biometric signals in real time. It also provides excellent protective capability.
Picker leaned in with his lens and admired it.
“Wow… boss, even someone paranoid would think this is just a normal helmet.”
“But there’s one problem.”
“What is it?”
The item description.
Yoon Sungjun was not a production-type Awakened, so he likely couldn’t see it.
But if he encountered someone with C-Grade Appraisal or higher, the description would be exposed.
And then my surveillance would be revealed.
“This description is the problem.”
I tapped the helmet’s status window.
“If Yoon Sungjun meets someone with C-grade or higher appraisal ability, they’ll read this description exactly. Then they’ll know I’m monitoring him.”
“Yeah… that’s definitely risky. Imagine someone saying, ‘Hey, this helmet is spying on your brainwaves.’ Trust level instantly drops.”
Picker flapped his drone wings in agreement.
I rested my chin on the workbench and stared at the helmet.
“Is there a way to hide this information?”
The equipment was already finished.
But I was stuck on this unexpected problem.
After scanning the helmet repeatedly with the Mana Resonance Lens, Picker suddenly shouted.
“Boss! Wait! Look at this!”
He displayed the scan on the monitor.
A faint blue waveform flowed across the helmet surface.
Like a barcode.
A repeating pattern of blinking light.
“This wavelength! It’s the mana pattern containing the item information! Isn’t appraisal basically reading this waveform and converting it into text?”
“Oh…”
I narrowed my eyes.
“That’s a promising hypothesis. Then what if we hide that mana waveform?”
“Hide it? Physically?”
“That’s impossible with current technology. Instead, we overwrite it with another mana pattern.”
“Like applying an outer shell?”
“Exactly. Let’s try it.”
I temporarily paused workshop operations and opened the Processing Tab.
Simulation mode.
When I layered a random mana waveform over a virtual helmet, the original information pattern collapsed and became unreadable.
But the new waveform dissipated.
The problem was persistence.
A single burst of mana wouldn’t last.
We needed an energy source that would continuously emit the masking signal.
“What if we mix a core with paint and turn it into a thin-film battery?”
“That actually sounds good.”
The simulation confirmed it was possible.
I imbued the helmet paint with an F-Grade Core, creating Camouflage Coating.
[Blueprint: Item Information Concealment Coating]
Even the System acknowledged my scam as legitimate technology.
“Looks like it’ll work. Let’s proceed.”
Using robotic arms, I carefully applied the coating and waited for it to dry.
“Oh! The waveform changed! The original pattern is completely hidden!”
Picker shouted excitedly.
My heart pounded as I checked the helmet’s information again.
[Commander Tactical Helmet]
Grade: C
A special device that records the wearer’s brain activity and biometric signals in real time.
I could still see the original data.
But that might be because I was the creator.
“Picker. Disconnect the workshop’s data link and check again.”
“Yes! Initiating scan!”
Beeep—
Picker’s lens scanned the helmet.
“Boss, success! The information has changed.”
“What does it show?”
“[Durable Ballistic Helmet]. Grade E. Description: ‘A sturdy helmet that protects the head.’”
Success.
The mana from the core had overwritten the original information and left only the most basic data.
Even a skilled appraiser would mistake it for a normal helmet.
“Perfect.”
I lifted the helmet and smiled.
Now all I had to do was put it on Yoon Sungjun.
Meeting Location – Abandoned Building, Mapo District
After waiting for a while, Yoon Sungjun appeared with about ten survivors.
Their bodies were gaunt, but their eyes burned with the stubborn will of people who had crawled back from the edge of death.
But that intensity wavered the moment they saw the supplies beside me.
“…This…”
Their eyes locked onto the supply crates.
Ten well-oiled K-2 rifles.
Ballistic vests and tactical backpacks restored to like-new condition.
And shining ballistic helmets.
A mountain of equipment that normally only existed in dreams.
“All of this… is ours?”
“Didn’t I promise to give you strength?”
I gestured toward the crates.
“Take them.”
“Waaah!”
The survivors cheered and rushed forward.
“Boss. Those guys are drooling.”
Ignoring Picker’s nonsense, I handed Yoon Sungjun a black case.
“This one is yours.”
Yoon Sungjun carefully opened it.
Inside lay the sleek matte-black helmet.
[Tactical Helmet]
It looked like a modified ballistic helmet with HUD, thermal sensors, and GPS mapping.
Of course, its real identity was the Commander Tactical Helmet with mana measurement functions.
“Put it on.”
Yoon Sungjun placed the helmet on his head with trembling hands.
Click.
The helmet tightened to fit perfectly.
A blue glow appeared on the visor.
Yoon Sungjun’s eyes widened.
A map of the surroundings appeared in his vision.
His companions’ positions were marked as dots.
Dark corners glowed red from thermal sensors.
“T-this…”
He couldn’t finish his sentence.
This wasn’t simple armor.
It was the eyes of a battlefield commander.
“You’re really giving this to me?”
Yoon Sungjun’s voice trembled with emotion.
He had made the right choice.
Following the Bomber was the correct path.
Someone with technology like this might truly change the world.
“Didn’t I say it was yours? It will help you lead your people.”
“Thank you! I’ll serve you with my life!”
Yoon Sungjun bowed deeply.
Inside my mask, I grinned.
Perfect.
He had completely taken the bait.
Now all of Yoon Sungjun’s data belonged to me.
“But don’t misunderstand.”
My voice became cold.
“Nothing is free. That equipment is not payment—it’s debt.”
“What should we do?”
“Two things.”
I raised two fingers.
“First. Clean out the raiders in Mapo District. I won’t tolerate trash roaming in my territory.”
“Understood.”
“Second. Bring me the byproducts you collect. Hog spines. Contaminated wild dog teeth. Anything in good condition.”
Mutant materials.
I needed hands and feet to gather them.
“And…”
I paused.
“I need more capable people.”
Yoon Sungjun lifted his head confidently.
“That won’t be a problem.”
“Oh?”
“There’s a network among people like us—exiles. Survivors abandoned by shelters. Many of them are hiding.”
“Good. Then prove it.”
I turned away without looking back.
“Show me whether you deserve to work under me.”
Behind me, Yoon Sungjun’s voice rang loudly.
“Please look forward to it! I’ll deliver results you’ll be satisfied with!”