Chapter 2
Chapter 2
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 2
Chapter Title: An Unexpected Ace
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Flustered, I turned my head.
The mysterious text still occupied the center of my vision.
This meant it wasn't a hologram projected from somewhere, but a phenomenon originating from my own pupils.
'I've seen this somewhere before...'
The shock was only momentary.
Having already experienced something as absurd as regression, what more could possibly surprise me?
But the look of that window, with its atrocious tackiness...
...seemed incredibly familiar.
'No matter how I look at it, this is the quantum encryption login window that Lee Ho-joong made. So, what am I supposed to do with it?'
Figuring out what it was was one thing, but the next step was the problem.
I needed a way to enter the password, but all I could see was that single, pitch-black window.
But as if it had heard my thoughts, a translucent keyboard materialized below the window.
“This is getting seriously crazy.”
Despite my words, a subtle sense of anticipation grew.
I could already guess what would appear after the quantum password was entered.
Sure enough, as I typed in the 16-digit password I remembered, countless folders appeared, dazzling my eyes and filling the empty space.
Strategic ballistic missiles.
Hypersonic cruise missiles and AESA radars.
Even data related to the 5th generation fighter jets that were under development at the time.
'I thought I was the only one who regressed... did I hit the lottery too?'
The manufacturing technology for advanced weapons, something unimaginable in this era, was beyond comparison to a mere lottery win.
But what excited me even more was that materials technology had come along with it.
Weapons are, at their core, an assembly of advanced materials and components, and now I had my hands on not just their manufacturing methods, but their design technologies as well.
'I can already hear the sound of Japan's downfall.'
In the past—my past life, that is—Japan's bullying in the materials sector was beyond words.
They had spun such a web of patents that competing nations didn't even dare attempt to develop their own.
As a result, the development of most basic materials was abandoned, which in turn led to a decline in national competitiveness.
'But with this, the story changes.'
Of course, this data chip didn't contain information on every materials technology in the world.
But it held the source technologies for several key materials that would lead future industries.
That alone would be enough to reshape the order of the materials market, which had long revolved around Japan.
'Just as you did, I'll lay down patents for all sorts of materials like a minefield.'
Imagining the altered course of history, a smirk naturally formed on my lips.
Their behavior had been so infuriating to watch.
Sorry, but now it's my turn to return the favor.
'Advanced materials, weapons technology, and the body of Hyun-seung, the son of a defense industry magnate... Anyone can see this is a chance to fulfill the dreams I couldn't in my past life.'
There could be no clearer signs.
The circumstances and conditions were laid out as if perfectly orchestrated.
The problem was, gathering information about Hyun-seung's current situation seemed far from easy, and I had no idea where to start.
“Ugh!”
Just then, my head began to throb as if it would burst, and Hyun-seung's past memories flooded my mind.
They surfaced without any rhyme or reason, making the simple act of piecing them together a form of torture.
By the time I managed to connect some of the fragments and regain my senses, the sun was already faintly rising.
“Damn it...”
The man's past was a bleak shade of gray.
The cold stares he received for being an illegitimate child.
With each changing scene, the emotions Hyun-seung had felt were transmitted to me so vividly that I had to focus solely on composing myself for a while.
'I understand, but still, you completely ruined yourself.'
Grasping the reality of the situation was one thing, but it only made the future seem more daunting.
He had long since been kicked out of Thales, a company he had joined with dreams.
After that, he'd lived with a 'whatever happens, happens' attitude, which resulted in his demotion to an affiliate that made nothing but CCTVs. Unable to adapt even there, he was now completely excluded from any work.
'Well, it's understandable he'd feel empty, being put in charge of an affiliate that only produces CCTVs in a group whose main focus is defense. Dammit, does this mean I have no choice but to create my own opportunities?'
I felt it was a relief that dawn had broken.
My impatience was too great to spend the night in this state.
I had to find a way to regain Chairman Jin's trust, not just in a day, but as soon as possible.
“Sorry to call so early in the morning, Secretary Kim.”
I couldn't think of anyone else who could help.
Surprised to be called again after just a few hours, her flustered voice came through the receiver.
“Yes, Managing Director! Are you feeling unwell?”
“No, I'm fine. I was calling to see if you could get in touch with the Chairman's secretarial staff.”
“I can, but may I ask why?”
“Then please find out the Chairman's schedule for me. I'd like to see him this morning if possible. Oh! And there's someone I need you to look into. Can you handle that kind of thing?”
The target of the investigation was me.
To be precise, the Kim Jun of this era.
If I had regressed into Hyun-seung's body, I couldn't even begin to imagine what situation the 'me' of this time was in.
“I can look into it as much as possible.”
“That's a relief. He's a friend of mine studying at MIT in the States. It probably won't be easy to find him since he should be traveling all over the country right now. Oh, and for your information, he has no family.”
Silence followed from the other end of the line.
She seemed to be writing it down.
The call ended with her promise to do her best, and my thoughts began to wander again.
“Yes, Secretary Kim.”
A call from Secretary Kim snapped me back to my senses.
How long had I been spacing out?
I thought I'd only been pondering for a moment, but 20 minutes had already passed.
“I just spoke with a staff member from the Chairman's office. The Chairman has a meeting with key executives this morning.”
“What about the afternoon?”
“He has a golf outing in the afternoon.”
I got the feeling he was avoiding me.
He probably didn't want to see the face of his troublemaking son again after just half a day.
But I had no intention of backing down so easily.
I wasn't about to fold when I was holding such a great hand, just because I lacked the initial stake.
“Thank you for your hard work. I'll take it from here.”
***
“M-Managing Director!”
My appearance at the crack of dawn sent the Chairman's secretarial office into an uproar.
Of course, Chairman Jin hadn't arrived for work yet.
The flustered secretaries acted as if the grim reaper himself had appeared.
“I'm sorry, but the Chairman hasn't left home yet.”
“I know. Don't mind me, just carry on with your work.”
At those words, the flustered female secretaries quietly backed away.
Watching them try so hard not to get on my bad side, I started to feel a little sorry for them.
'Nothing but nightmarish memories here.'
To Hyun-seung, this room was the epitome of horror.
A space where he only ever received scoldings from Chairman Jin.
Now that I shared some of his memories, I could feel those emotions as if they were my own.
“Let's see...”
There was no better way to shake off the unpleasant feeling than to focus my attention on something else.
“Hm?”
Was it a coincidence?
A stack of documents on Chairman Jin's desk happened to catch my eye.
'Firepower Test Report?'
Flipping through the pages, familiar words caught my attention.
Performance Improvement Evaluation Report for the modified 120mm 'Armor-Piercing Fin-Stabilized Discarding Sabot' round for the K1A1 tank.
Judging by the subsequent string of figures and data printouts, it seemed they had been running tests to improve the penetration capability of the 'tungsten penetrator'.
'Come to think of it, I believe there was an attempt to develop a new armor-piercing round around this time.'
I stared at the photograph attached to the document, trying to recall a faint memory.
Judging by the shape of the penetrator, it didn't seem to be the style commonly used in the 90s.
I quickly flipped to the next page and couldn't help but sigh.
'Tsk, tsk. Trying to develop a tungsten round that surpasses the penetration power of the depleted uranium rounds used by the US in this era. What a waste of effort.'
An armor-piercing round with that level of performance was only developed the year before I regressed.
It was thanks to the birth of a material capable of advanced self-sharpening, a result of nearly 30 years of continuous research.
But that was in the year 2024; developing it in this era was nothing but a dream.
“Still, it's not like I can tell them that developing it with current technology is absurd...”
As I lamented, my thoughts suddenly turned to the data chip.
The culmination of all military-related technology possessed by the Republic of Korea in the year 2025.
“Well, look at this.”
My original plan was to win over Chairman Jin with more advanced security-related technology.
It would have been a natural approach, since it was related to the company that guy Hyun-seung was in charge of.
But why insist on using the back door when the front gate is wide open?
It would be more effective to seize the opportunity with something that would grab Chairman Jin's full attention.
'The data chip definitely has the manufacturing technology for the new APFSDS round.'
I had managed it myself, so there was no reason I wouldn't remember.
And just as I thought, the folders related to components contained all the materials and sintering methods needed to produce the new armor-piercing round.
'Was the change in the penetrator's material the key?'
It was a huge relief.
If I had to recreate the microstructure control technology for the material itself, it would be difficult to develop in the near future, even with the data.
But if it was simply a matter of changing the materials and their ratios, it wouldn't be a problem.
'I have the key formulas, and Jaewoo Thales already has the equipment and infrastructure. It should be possible in about three or four months. What, is it that late already?'
A glance at the clock showed it was 8:00.
At most, I had about an hour until Chairman Jin arrived.
I had to hurry to finish my preparations before then.
“Who did you say is here?”
Some time later, I heard Chairman Jin's voice from outside.
The timing was impeccable.
Just as I finished writing the proposal and stood up, he burst through the door.
“Well, I'll be. The sun must be rising in the west.”
He glanced at me before sitting on the sofa with an indifferent expression.
This was my—no, Hyun-seung's—reality.
I had prepared myself for it, but I couldn't help the bitter feeling that rose within me.
“What is it you have to say?”
His intention was clear: to cut off any useless excuses from the start.
It wasn't the first or second time. He was completely fed up.
I hadn't come here just to apologize, but there's an order to things. It seemed I had to bow my head first.
“I'm sorry for causing you concern.”
“Do you even know what you did wrong?”
“Of course, I do.”
“Know what? What could you possibly know! The media is already screaming about the country going bankrupt with this IMF crisis, and you're out there getting into bar fights with women on your arm.”
Listening to him, a strange thought suddenly occurred to me.
If history had flowed as it was supposed to, would he still be able to say such things?
The urge to tell him he should be grateful to be facing his son alive, even if he was a troublemaker, rather than mourning a dead child, rose in my throat.
“Anyway, you've already thrown away the last chance I gave you, so there's no need for excuses. From now on, you're on your own, sink or swim. I've decided to spin off your company from the group, so be aware of that.”
Thinking of spinning off the affiliate meant he intended to cut ties.
He was telling me to take the tiny company and get lost.
But I had no intention of doing that.
Right now, I desperately needed the foundation of the defense company, Jaewoo Thales.
“I will accept whatever decision you make. But before that, I'd like you to take a look at this.”
Chairman Jin took the document with a lukewarm expression.
He scanned it for a long moment with a blank face, but then his eyes widened as he looked back and forth between me and the proposal.
“Hm?”