Chapter 99
Colonel Kang Cheolmin, head of the Logistics Staff Department of the Capital Defense Command, stepped out of the jeep and adjusted his sunglasses.
His gaze turned forward.
“Huh…”
A short sigh slipped from Colonel Kang’s lips.
Before him stood a colossal iron fortress.
“Is this… really something that can be built in just two weeks?”
Beside him, Sergeant Seo swallowed nervously as he looked up at the imposing Atlas Guardian.
“I don’t know the exact specs, but it looks comparable to the automated turrets sold in the Union Market.”
“Yeah. Hard to deny it.”
After the collapse, countless survivor factions had appeared everywhere, but none had fortified their territory this quickly and systematically.
Bomb Man.
Just how far ahead was that man planning?
“Welcome, Colonel.”
A stranger approached the parked jeep and bowed politely.
Instead of greasy work clothes, he wore a dark gray uniform with the [ATLAS] logo clearly emblazoned across the chest. His hair was neatly combed back, and sharp eyes gleamed behind intellectual-looking glasses.
“I am Yoon Imsu, Chief Executive Director and Plant Manager of Atlas Factory No. 3. From now on, I will be responsible for all transactions with the military.”
“Nice to meet you.”
Chief Executive Director, huh.
And the uniform he was wearing stood out.
The fabric and finishing looked far superior to most military garments.
‘Factory No. 3, he said?’
Factory No. 1 must be the main base producing ammunition.
Factory No. 2 was likely where these high-quality uniforms were produced.
If that was the case, Bomb Man’s organization was far larger and more systematic than he had assumed.
Suppressing his tension, Colonel Kang asked casually.
“Shall we check the goods first?”
“Of course.”
At his signal, a large forklift emerged from inside the factory carrying a container.
Thud!
The heavy container was lowered to the ground and its doors swung open.
“Oh…”
Bomb Man had informed him in advance during the handover of the third shipment.
Starting from the fourth delivery, the goods would be produced here.
That was why an inspection was necessary.
Colonel Kang picked up a K-4 and examined it carefully.
The solid weight.
The grip that fit comfortably in his hand.
Most of all, the surface finishing was exquisite.
‘Is it because Factory No. 3 was completed? The quality seems much better than before.’
The items Bomb Man had handed over personally last time had perfect performance but didn’t exactly inspire confidence in their appearance.
But the items before him now were different.
They gleamed with the shine of brand-new products straight off the factory line.
“Excellent. Truly excellent.”
Colonel Kang nodded in satisfaction.
“As expected of Atlas. The finish is far better than last time.”
“No.”
“Hm?”
Yoon Imsu shook his head firmly.
“To be honest… although the exterior may look impressive, the finishing and precision of the internal components are about 2–3% lower than the previous batch.”
Colonel Kang doubted his ears.
What was this man saying?
What kind of merchant openly advertised his own product as inferior?
“This batch is a mass-produced product made through an automated process. It’s impossible to eliminate mechanical error completely.”
Yoon Imsu stroked the barrel with a regretful expression.
Colonel Kang was dumbfounded.
‘So he’s saying 98% completion is lacking?’
Just a few weeks ago, they had been handed equipment with a 30% defect rate and forced to listen to excuses.
But now?
A 2% defect rate.
No—he was apologizing for a 2% performance decrease.
Looking at Yoon Imsu’s sincerely disappointed expression, Colonel Kang realized something.
These people operated on a completely different standard.
Instead of diminishing Atlas’s reputation, Yoon Imsu’s honesty only strengthened Colonel Kang’s trust in their technology.
He was certain.
Partnering with them had been the best decision of his life.
While his subordinates conducted the inspection, he sat across from Yoon Imsu and began talking.
“The situation on the Northern Front isn’t good. The mutants’ offensive is far stronger than expected.”
“…”
“The Supreme Commander has ordered additional supplies. Aside from this fourth shipment, we’d like to receive the remaining contract shipments as early as possible.”
There were eight deliveries remaining.
About two months’ worth.
“I know it’s difficult. I wouldn’t even dare ask other suppliers. But Atlas might be able to manage it…”
Colonel Kang cautiously watched Yoon Imsu’s reaction.
What if he refused due to production overload?
What if he demanded extra payment?
But Yoon Imsu remained calm.
His gaze swept through the air.
Through [Management Vision], he was instantly reviewing factory operation rates, supply status, and even worker fatigue levels.
‘Materials are sufficient. Worker skill levels have stabilized. If we run night shifts…’
The calculation took three seconds.
Yoon Imsu adjusted his glasses and spoke.
“One month.”
“…What?”
“We will complete all shipments within one month.”
Colonel Kang’s eyes widened.
He had asked, but never expected it to actually be possible.
“Isn’t that pushing too hard?”
“There is no such thing as ‘too much’ for Atlas. However…”
Yoon Imsu trailed off and looked directly at Colonel Kang.
“There is one condition.”
“A condition? Let’s hear it.”
“Please allow the [Atlas] logo to be engraved on the lower receivers and magazines of all firearms delivered this time.”
“The logo?”
Colonel Kang looked surprised.
Military supply weapons usually hid the manufacturer’s mark or made it as small as possible.
Partly to obscure responsibility in case of defects.
Partly because precise engraving was difficult in the first place.
But he wanted it clearly displayed?
“Why?”
“Pride.”
Yoon Imsu’s voice grew firm.
“I refuse to see our reputation damaged by our equipment being mixed with low-quality goods made by others. When soldiers risk their lives on the battlefield, I want them to know exactly whose gun saved them.”
“…Hahaha!”
Colonel Kang burst into hearty laughter.
He liked it.
What arrogance—and confidence.
“No problem. Approved.”
Military supplies weren’t used only by the army.
They were often distributed to shelters as aid.
Broken equipment might be handed over to mercenary groups.
And sometimes those items ended up with raiders or survivors.
Which meant guns bearing the Atlas logo would spread throughout Korea.
In other words, it was brand advertising through the military.
“Thank you, Colonel.”
“No, I should be thanking you. This will ease the pressure.”
With the atmosphere warmed, Colonel Kang cautiously brought up his real reason for visiting.
“Director Yoon… is it possible to repair heavy equipment?”
“Heavy equipment?”
“K-200 armored personnel carriers and K-9 self-propelled howitzers.”
Colonel Kang’s expression darkened.
“We’ve got quite a few damaged units after operating them on the front lines. Right now they’re handled by Incheon Anchorage, but there are problems.”
Incheon Anchorage—a massive western technological faction that had grown by relying on U.S. military supplies arriving at Incheon Port.
Using their monopoly, they inflated repair costs outrageously and delayed delivery times at will.
“We were hoping you could play a balancing role… like before.”
Yoon Imsu deliberately made a troubled expression.
“Our production facilities are optimized for small arms and ammunition manufacturing. Heavy equipment uses entirely different specifications…”
As Yoon Imsu shook his head, Colonel Kang hurriedly pressed him.
“Director Yoon! Don’t think I don’t know Bomb Man wants deeper involvement in military supply. This would clearly be a great opportunity for you too.”
Yoon Imsu pretended to hesitate.
When Colonel Kang’s anxiety reached its peak, he finally spoke.
“Well… we’ll need to inspect the equipment before giving an estimate. If we accept blindly and fail to repair it, it will damage our credibility.”
Yoon Imsu’s eyes flashed.
“We will dispatch our precision diagnostic technical team. They will inspect the equipment on-site and determine whether repairs are possible.”
“Understood.”
Colonel Kang sighed with relief and readily agreed.
But he had no idea.
By offering on-site diagnostics, Yoon Imsu had secured official access to military facilities.
“Thank you, Colonel. We will contact you soon.”
Colonel Kang Cheolmin gazed quietly at the fortress receding in the rearview mirror.
“Bomb Man… to think a monster like him also had talent like that working under him.”
“It seems the influence of Atlas Industries will grow even stronger.”
Sergeant Seo’s words made Colonel Kang nod.
He hoped Atlas would eventually replace the increasingly arrogant Union Market.
Times Square, Yeongdeungpo — Central Hall.
Across from me sat a monster with tank-track legs—Sergeant Kang Cheolwoo.
Elite cyborg soldiers with mechanical arms stood lined up around him.
The atmosphere was heavy, but there was no hostility.
If anything, their eyes were filled with curiosity and respect toward me.
‘Seeing them in person makes it clear. These people should be allowed to operate in their own way.’
Unlike Yoon Imsu, I decided not to bring them under my command.
Bringing people who owed their lives to the sergeant into my workshop or fortress would introduce uncontrollable variables.
Our organizational structures and cultures were completely different.
But the leash still needed to be firmly attached.
So I decided to bind them through a strategic subcontract relationship.
A sharp blade I could draw whenever necessary.
“Thank you for coming all this way.”
The sergeant spoke first.
I sat down and placed the contract on the table.
The terms had already been negotiated in advance through Yoon Imsu.
“First, all equipment used by the Machine Society will follow Atlas standards—components, oil, and ammunition included.”
Exclusive supply.
The sergeant nodded immediately.
After using Atlas equipment, there was no reason to consider other manufacturers.
“Second, in return, maintenance for biological prosthetic arms and consumables will be supplied at 50% of market price.”
This had also been pre-agreed.
“And third.”
I looked directly into the sergeant’s eyes.
“The Machine Society will prioritize Atlas’s strategic accompaniment operations. If I give the order, you will abandon any other request and come immediately.”
“Understood. So that will be our role—Atlas’s strategic escort unit.”
The contract was concluded.
The sergeant and I continued talking for a while.
During the conversation, I learned that for the past ten years they had survived by accepting requests from the military and various factions.
“That’s how we ended up working with the Union Market as well.”
“I see. Are you currently handling any requests?”
At my question, the sergeant pointed to a location on the map.
[Seogyo-dong, Mapo District]
[Hongik University Seoul Campus]
“A survivor group was based near the main gate of Hongik University. About one hundred people. Not raiders—mostly local residents.”
“And?”
“They were wiped out two days ago. Either a new raider faction or the appearance of mutants.”
“Who is the client?”
“The Hongdae Academic Collective. A group of surviving students, graduate students, and some professors. Young and intelligent, but arrogant. We don’t get along with them.”
“And they still hired you?”
“Probably because they were too scared to check themselves.”
“Can I join that request?”
“…You personally, sir?”
The sergeant looked startled.
“I want to see with my own eyes how the Machine Society’s enhanced soldiers operate in real combat.”
The sergeant’s eyes gleamed.
He realized immediately that this was a test.
“Understood. We will show you our capabilities.”