Chapter 58
Chapter 58
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 58
Chapter Title: New Recruits and Grand Designs
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[Good evening, everyone. After much talk and trouble, Motor Sich has finally ended up in the hands of Jaewoo.]
A fortnight had already passed since my return from Russia.
The news was abuzz with our acquisition of Motor Sich.
Experts from all fields were busy analyzing its significance and repercussions, and our stock price soared by a staggering 30 percent in just three days.
‘Arrival in four months, is it…?’
In response to our request to purchase the aircraft, the Russians had contacted us to say they would soon send two jets via a special transport ship.
When they arrive, my first task will be to completely disassemble one to analyze their design mechanisms.
The other will be used as a testbed for the AESA radar we’re developing for our fighter jet.
“Chairman, the NIS Director and Deputy Director Im have arrived.”
Upon his arrival, Deputy Director Im had immediately informed the NIS Director about Im Hyuk-soo.
As a result, the entire National Intelligence Service had been thrown into turmoil, and it had now been a fortnight since every department began its own mole hunt.
Fortunately, no other moles were found, and this incident was also revealed to have been orchestrated by Im Hyuk-soo alone.
“I don’t know how I can face you, Chairman Jin.”
The NIS Director, upon entering the room, apologized to me repeatedly.
A quick glance showed Deputy Director Im’s face was pale and drawn, suggesting the measures taken against him had been quite severe.
“Deputy Director Im, what happened to you….”
“I was fired, of course.”
“…”
“It was bound to happen, so there’s no need to look like that.”
He forced a bright expression.
It wasn’t a situation where I needed to feel sorry, but I still felt uneasy.
A thought suddenly occurred to me, and I made him a tentative offer.
“Deputy Director Im. Do you happen to remember what I said to you last time?”
“…”
“That in the worst-case scenario, I would take responsibility for you.”
Deputy Director Im’s eyes widened at my words.
The NIS Director had the same reaction.
His face brightening, the Director slapped Deputy Director Im on the shoulder.
“That sounds like a great idea.”
“What could I possibly do at Jaewoo Group…?”
Deputy Director Im asked, his expression one of grasping at a last thread of hope.
There were plenty of positions he could fill.
But what I had in mind was to leverage his specialty and put him in charge of the intelligence department.
“It’s an era where corporations also need to gather intelligence. I’d like to appoint you as the head of Jaewoo Group’s Strategic Planning Office.”
The head of the Strategic Planning Office was a key position within the group.
Although the title was Department Head, it came with the treatment of a Senior Managing Director.
What was important was that the salary would be incomparable to what he was earning now. Whether he considered that or not, Deputy Director Im’s expression brightened considerably.
“Is that possible?”
“I am the chairman, after all. Surely you don’t think I lack that much authority?”
“But I’m not sure if it’s alright for me to immediately transfer to a private company, not a state-owned one…”
“I’ll speak with the President about that. It’s not as if there’s no precedent, so it shouldn’t be a major issue. Anyway, this worked out well. Talk about a blessing in disguise. You’ve really lucked out, my friend.”
The NIS Director, who had been listening, chimed in with hearty congratulations.
He must not have felt at ease letting go of Deputy Director Im, with whom he had once shared so much.
In fact, though he didn’t say it, he might have brought Deputy Director Im here today in anticipation of such an outcome.
“I will issue the personnel order as soon as I receive the President’s approval. Until then, just enjoy a vacation. Oh, and what happened to the items you collected from my office and home?”
Leaving Deputy Director Im to repeat his thanks, I turned to the NIS Director.
The main reason for today’s meeting was to hear the results of that matter.
As if recognizing the gravity of the issue, the NIS Director’s expression hardened once more.
“Just as you said, Chairman Jin, they were all bugged. Good grief, I don’t know how he even thought of it, but the detector Im Hyuk-soo brought you was also a fake.”
I had figured that out from the start.
As soon as I returned, I used the detector Im Hyuk-soo had given me to check for bugs, but found nothing. That made me even more suspicious, so I bought another detector and checked again.
And the result was, as expected, listening devices in every phone.
That was when I informed the NIS Director.
“He tried to be meticulous, but it didn’t work.”
The NIS Director nodded at my words.
Then, as if remembering something else, he furrowed his brow and spoke.
“Come to think of it, that Hyuk-soo fellow was rather clever. He first planted a crude bug on your phone, Chairman Jin, ensuring it would be discovered. He used that as a stepping stone to create a sense of crisis, which allowed him to easily plant more bugs in your home and office. Honestly, it’s fortunate you realized it quickly. If it had gone unnoticed, it would have been a complete disaster.”
I, too, thought it was fortunate.
What would have happened if I hadn't suspected Im Hyuk-soo?
I would have naturally assumed the phones were provided by the NIS and used them without a second thought, which could have led to all sorts of confidential information being leaked.
“By the way, it’s been confirmed that the one who recruited Hyuk-soo was, as expected, the Cabinet Intelligence and Research Office. The problem is, that’s just his confession. The ones who actually paid him were Japanese far-right groups, so it will be difficult to lodge a formal protest for some time.”
The NIS Director continued, his expression displeased with the situation.
Well, would they even bat an eye if we did protest?
What I was really curious about was their objective, but when I asked, the NIS Director hesitated for a long moment.
“I can understand the bugs were to steal information, but I don’t see why they followed me all the way to Russia. I have a feeling they might have intended to harm me. Am I right?”
“…That’s likely the case.”
The NIS Director answered in a barely audible voice.
A long silence followed.
With things having come to this, I decided it was time to act on an idea I had only been contemplating in my head.
“Would it be possible to get some help from the military?”
“What do you mean…?”
“I believe I can no longer entrust my security to just a few individuals. I’d like to take this opportunity to establish an organization to monitor and protect key figures throughout the group. I’ll need to recruit skilled personnel from the military to bolster our numbers.”
“That’s certainly possible. In fact, the military would probably welcome it. Many special assignment and special forces members are facing uncertain futures upon their imminent discharge.”
“That may be true. But what I’m concerned about are the people who will lead them. In other words, I’ll also need a few skilled commanders from active duty.”
“I’ll discuss that part as well.”
The NIS Director readily agreed.
He then glanced at his watch, seeming to have another appointment.
Sure enough, he mentioned the President and rose from his seat.
“Well then, I should be going. I actually have a meeting with the President in about an hour. Oh! And you can use these phones now without any worry.”
*Beep!*
No sooner had he finished his sentence than the intercom on my desk let out a shrill sound.
Sensing the perfect timing, the NIS Director and Deputy Director Im left the room with faint smiles, and I immediately picked up the receiver.
-Chairman, Mr. Choi In-bae from the research institute’s software development department has arrived.
Choi In-bae had been designated as the first dispatched employee.
I believed that with his software development skills, which were unparalleled in this country, he would have no trouble acquiring Russia’s software development know-how.
Fortunately, he had readily accepted my proposal and was scheduled to depart in a few days.
“Good to see you, Chairman.”
According to his file, he was exactly thirty years old this year.
Only three years my junior.
Our shared background as KAIST alumni helped bridge the distance that typically exists between a company owner and an employee.
“I heard you recently completed the automatic terrain-following algorithm for the AESA we’re developing for the fighter jet.”
“Yes, I worked on it based on the incomplete source code you provided through Director Kim Hee-won. It surprisingly functions as intended.”
His genius was proven once again.
The terrain-following technology using radar—something even the ADD hadn't been able to complete before my regression.
I had given it to the research team about a year ago on a whim, and Choi In-bae had brilliantly managed to finish it.
Something the ADD developers couldn’t complete even after five years of work.
“In any case, I’m just grateful to have a talent like you around, Mr. Choi. On that note, unlike the others, your dispatch period will be just one year.”
“What? Why only me…?”
“Because there’s a separate job you’ll need to take on around that time.”
I was referring to the software improvement work for the KFX that I already possessed.
The various software systems we had once been on the verge of completing.
But if the aircraft became larger than before and the armaments and other avionics systems were to change, they would naturally need to be modified accordingly. I had singled out Choi In-bae as the most suitable person for that responsibility.
“A separate job? What kind of…?”
“First, you will be assigned to establishing the Avionics Integration Laboratory system.”
The Avionics Integration Laboratory is a system for testing and supporting the integration of major electronic equipment and components without mutual interference.
In other words, it’s a system that verifies the integration of armaments, sensors, and navigation systems centered around the developed aircraft’s mission computer.
Before my regression, our country had co-developed that system with a foreign company, which meant we faced the difficulty of having to rely on foreign help every time we needed to modify the system.
Ultimately, to overcome that weakness, KAI attempted and succeeded in domesticating the technology around 2005.
And that technology, of course, was now in my possession.
“Are you asking me to develop a SIL (System Integration Laboratory)?”
“You don’t need to look so worried. I already have most of the source code. With your skills, I’m sure you’ll be able to build a SIL that fits our needs.”
“…”
Choi In-bae blinked.
He looked like he was about to ask about the source.
I subtly shifted the direction of the conversation.
“By the way, I heard you’re also proficient in Ada. Is that true?”
“Of course. That’s precisely why Nokid tried to recruit me.”
Ada was a programming language well-suited for developing and maintaining large-scale programs, and it possessed the most powerful and extensive functions among existing languages.
It was also the standard programming language of the U.S. Department of Defense.
However, because the language itself was notoriously difficult to handle, it was becoming harder to find users. It seemed Nokid had valued that particular skill in Choi In-bae.
“Um, by the way… how many people are being dispatched in total?”
As if burdened by my steady gaze, he picked up his teacup and asked casually.
Realizing my mistake, I smiled briefly and handed him a document.
“Including you, Mr. Choi, a total of 24 people will be dispatched to the Sukhoi Design Bureau. In return, the same number of personnel from Motor Sich will be dispatched to our side.”
“It seems Motor Sich somehow agreed to dispatching personnel to our country.”
“That’s because we own it now. Of course, it wasn’t easy, but the amount of money we fed the Ukrainian government made it possible. Oh, and one thing you must be careful about is that you are absolutely forbidden from contacting the outside world during your dispatch period.”
“It won’t matter to me since it’s only for a year, but will the other researchers accept that?”
“I understand it will be frustrating. That’s why we plan to provide an environment where there will be no inconveniences in daily life. If a researcher still refuses, they will have to be excluded from this project.”
“I’ve already told you I can handle it. So please don’t think about excluding me.”
He grinned and said it lightheartedly.
There were still things to convey.
I handed him another sheet of paper and continued.
“This is a non-disclosure agreement. It’s also an agreement stating that the NIS will take care of the researchers’ families.”
“That sounds more like surveillance than care. Are you saying their families will be monitored too?”
“Given the gravity of the situation, there’s a possibility that hostile elements might approach the families.”
He nodded and signed the document.
What was he thinking? He suddenly looked up at me again.
“But will you guarantee the safety of the researchers?”
“You don’t need to worry about that. The NIS will also send agents for their security, and the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service has agreed to cooperate. And in case of an emergency, you should immediately call the number I give you.”
“Will someone come running if I call?”
“Someone will come running, but it might be a rather scary woman.”
I let out a dry laugh even as I said it.
Natasha.
Her face came to mind again.
Just before returning to Korea, I had specially asked Alexei to ensure the safety of our research team. In response to my request, he had named Natasha.
He said she would come running anytime I called.
“What do you mean by that…?”
“It means that, whatever happens, you don’t need to worry about your safety.”
“Well, that’s a relief. So, when do we depart?”
“Director Kim Hee-won will inform you of the details.”
That was the end of my conversation with Choi In-bae.
As I watched his back leaving the room, feelings of pity and anticipation washed over me.
‘Tsk, it’s not easy to be stuck in a foreign land at such a young age. By the way, why haven’t I heard from CEO Yoon yet?’
Come to think of it, I still hadn't heard from CEO Yoon of Aerospace.
He had gone down to Changwon yesterday to inspect the engine parts production line, which had been halted due to the dispute with Nokid.
Just as I was wondering if a problem had arisen, the phone thankfully rang.
“Yes, CEO Yoon. Is there a problem? I’ve been waiting for your call.”
-My apologies. There were just so many things to check.
“So, what are the results?”
-Some facility improvements are needed, but the line itself is fine. But is there really a chance that engine part assembly will resume here?
To be honest, that was something I couldn't guarantee either.
Frankly, a proprietary fighter jet development project wasn’t something that would unconditionally receive support.
If there were proponents, there would naturally be opponents, and it was highly likely that U.S. companies would engage in all sorts of lobbying and obstruction in between.
But I had to operate under the assumption that it would be approved.
Only then could I reduce the time spent resolving various secondary issues.
-Anyway, just as you said, I’ve told them to thoroughly inspect and maintain the line, regardless of the cost. I’m on my way back up now.
“You’ve worked hard.”
A faint headache set in after I hung up the phone.
Just as I was about to head to the sofa for a short break, Secretary Kim entered the room again with news from Thales.
“Chairman, Director Myung Seung-eun from Thales has sent over the personnel recruitment report.”
Damn it, I wonder if I’m going to collapse at this rate.
I should seriously consider calling Jin Hyun-cheol back.
“If you’re tired, I can bring it back later.”
“No, it’s fine. Please give it to me.”
Professor Myung Seung-eun was in charge of a part of the component material development project, which had been initiated with a secret budget provided by the government.
The material development project had grown too large for my research institute to handle alone.
Moreover, Thales had superior key equipment capabilities, which led to my decision—a decision that, in hindsight, was the right one.
‘Still, when full-scale fighter development begins, setting up the production lines will be an issue…’
That was, in fact, a serious problem.
In the worst-case scenario, I could bring in skilled personnel from Motor Sich, but that would only be possible if the production lines existed in the first place.
“Wait!”
At that moment, a thought flashed through my mind.
KAI.
That could be the solution.
What if… we just absorb KAI?
‘It’s not impossible.’