I Think We'll Be Seeing Each Other Often
"Thank you for waiting. Since we were working on two vehicles at once and the vehicle inspection schedule was slightly delayed, it took longer than expected. I apologize for the delay."
Park Jae-hyun, the representative of the specialty vehicle company ADT Mobil, bowed his head politely. Jun-ho, however, waved his hand dismissively.
"Not at all. I assumed that the extra time meant you were making the work even more perfect."
"I appreciate your understanding."
The bulletproof vehicle project, which was originally scheduled to take 16 weeks—four months—had taken over five months to complete. Feeling a sense of responsibility, Representative Park Jae-hyun had come out in person, accompanied by his staff, to hand over the vehicles to Jun-ho.
"Shall we take a look at the vehicles first?"
"Yes. Let's go, Mr. Baek."
"Oh? Ah, yes, sir."
Park Jae-hyun led the way for the expectant Jun-ho and the somewhat nervous, stiff-bodied Baek Ha-il, gesturing with his hand. As the shutter slowly rose, the two completed bulletproof vehicles were revealed.
"······!"
The Santana and Bionic 5, finished in dark gray and matte black, didn't look much different from standard vehicles at a glance. But anyone who knew even a little about cars would recognize it instantly: these vehicles were something different and special.
Park Jae-hyun assigned one of his staff to Baek Ha-il to explain things separately, while he spoke to Jun-ho in a voice filled with pride.
"As requested, both vehicles have been modified to NIJ Level 3 standards. We’ve completed bulletproofing on everything from the engine room to the entire cabin, door panels, and windows. They can easily stop up to 7.62mm rounds."
"Excellent."
"Haha. It’s too early to be impressed. Both vehicles have infrared Thermal Imaging Cameras and night vision equipment integrated into the roof mounts, and we’ve configured them so they can be controlled from the center display. And..."
Park Jae-hyun opened the door to the Bionic 5 and sat in the driver's seat, and Jun-ho climbed into the passenger seat. As both doors closed with a heavy thud, the outside noise was completely cut off. Park Jae-hyun placed his hands on the steering wheel and continued his explanation.
"We maintained the original Bionic 5 interface, but with the addition of the bulletproof modules, we’ve installed several separate security and special features."
Park Jae-hyun manipulated the sliding menu on the side of the display and touched 'Defense Mode.' A message appeared on the screen: 'Electronic Window Control Activated.'
"It’s an electronically controlled window lock. While it’s virtually impossible to break the glass from the outside, you can also apply additional internal locks to maintain airtightness in emergencies. If necessary, you can even set it to maintain cabin pressure. It’s not at a military CBRN level, but it’s sufficient for blocking toxic gases."
Park Jae-hyun pressed the switch again to bring up the vehicle's undercarriage camera and thermal imaging module on the screen. The view of the ground and the surroundings appeared in real-time, linked with the map.
"This is the night thermal imaging camera and ground threat detection system. It can be activated with a single touch while driving, and it supports automatic switching. It even picks up heat sources hiding on the road."
Park Jae-hyun looked at Jun-ho and grinned.
"And there are a few options I added as a special service."
"Special... service?"
"Yes. Since we were over a month late from the promised date."
Park Jae-hyun continued his explanation.
"First, I added a heat shield to the undercarriage to counter explosions. The weight increased slightly, but I also included an adjustable ground clearance feature, so it’s fully capable of off-roading. Also, I installed a small hot/cold storage box behind the driver's seat. You can easily store drinks or food."
Park Jae-hyun turned his gaze toward Jun-ho with an even deeper smile.
"Lastly, one more thing. It wasn't in your request, Mr. Lee, but considering it’s an electric vehicle, I added multi-layered bulkheads and shock-absorbing structures to the entire battery module. It suppresses cell-to-cell propagation as much as possible in the event of external impact or fire. Simply put, it doesn't explode easily when hit, and even if it does, it doesn't spread."
"Ah, I don't know how to thank you for this..."
"Don't mention it. Our motto at ADT Mobil is trust."
Park Jae-hyun, speaking with confidence, turned a small dial to the left of the wheel to switch the vehicle's driving mode to Tactical Mode. The dashboard changed to a red theme.
"This is Tactical Mode. It’s a setting optimized for pursuit or evasive maneuvers. The 0-100km/h acceleration is slightly delayed, but grip and stability are enhanced. This mode is essential for bulletproof cars with increased weight. Overseas companies adopt it, too. And..."
Both vehicles perfectly implemented the encrypted wireless communication system, drone operation integration, and infrared thermal imaging cameras that Jun-ho had requested from the start. They also included emergency power, dual black box storage, and EMP shielding technology for the battery and major electronic equipment.
Completely satisfied, Jun-ho spent 30 minutes driving around ADT Mobil's test track and parking lot to get used to the features. Finally, Park Jae-hyun handed over a USB containing the manual documents and video explanations for each function. Jun-ho left ADT Mobil driving the two vehicles, with Baek Ha-il, who had been listening to the explanation while riding in the Santana with a staff member, following along.
"Man, this is insane. He said there's high-strength ceramic inside the door inlay in a silicone sandwich pattern. The vibration absorption is just top-tier."
As soon as they parked the bulletproof cars in the shelter, Baek Ha-il couldn't hide his excitement and burned with motivation.
"First, I need to put them on the lift and scan the subframe. I need to check the body connection points and the battery cell cover structure. Wow. This is just insane."
"Haha. Go ahead. I’m going to go meet with lawyer Lee Dong-cheol."
"Yeah, go on then."
Jun-ho left Baek Ha-il, who wasn't even looking his way and was completely absorbed in inspecting the bulletproof cars, and drove his original electric vehicle toward Seoul.
The night traffic in Seoul at the end of the year, heading toward 2023, was heavy, but Jun-ho managed to arrive at a location in Jamsil without being late for his appointment.
Originally, he mostly used the KH Hotel when meeting Lee Dong-cheol. But today, because there was a 'special' guest, he decided to meet at a cafe near an apartment complex in Jamsil, which had relatively low foot traffic and was secluded.
Ding-a-ling.
As Jun-ho, who had parked his electric car, opened the cafe door, a bell rang.
"Welcome."
After receiving the greeting from the staff inside the counter, Jun-ho bowed his head slightly and went up to the second floor. Even in that moment, Jun-ho scanned the cafe quickly out of habit, and soon discovered something unusual.
'No CCTV...?'
There was no CCTV in this cafe, even though there were a couple in the local convenience store. Jun-ho immediately understood why Lee Dong-cheol had chosen this place as the meeting spot. No, it wasn't Lee Dong-cheol; the 'guest' who would be here with him must have chosen it.
Jun-ho headed to the edge of the second floor, where there were no customers. Since Lee Dong-cheol had already given him a hint about the location of the meeting room, his steps were unhesitating. Just as Jun-ho was turning the corner, a large hand suddenly popped out.
"Погоди. Это наше··· (Wait. This is our...)"
The Russian he couldn't understand didn't continue to the end.
Whack!
Jun-ho parried the hairy hand, and at the same time, grabbed the thick coat lapel, pulled the opponent hard, and tripped him. It was a truly perfect Krav Maga technique. As the man who had suddenly reached out to stop Jun-ho fell in an unsightly manner, another man was startled and immediately approached Jun-ho.
"Ты кто, сука! (Who are you, bitch!)"
Jun-ho threw a punch at the Russian—a man who was average in height and build for a mafia member. Jun-ho's hook, which could hold its own in full sparring with a professional mixed martial artist, hit the man's chin squarely. The man lowered his arms at an angle and fell with a thud.
"W-what?"
At that sound, Lee Dong-cheol opened the door in surprise. Lee Dong-cheol, who was startled to find the two fallen Russians, soon made eye contact with Jun-ho.
"P-President Lee Jun-ho...?"
Looking at Lee Dong-cheol, who was stuttering in surprise, Jun-ho smoothed his coat collar and said,
"Are these people you know, lawyer? They suddenly attacked me while speaking some strange foreign language."
"Ah... then, right now, you..."
"Yes. My hand moved reflexively. What kind of people are these?"
Lee Dong-cheol looked at Jun-ho, who had taken down two members of the Volcano Group in the blink of an eye, with eyes of astonishment. He had long noticed that Jun-ho, unlike a wealthy upper-class person, had a great physique and worked out quite hard. But he had never imagined that he would be capable of turning rough mafia members into a mess. He had just assumed he was a 'fashion muscle' guy who worked out hard to maintain his figure.
At that moment, someone walked out slowly from the open door. A man in his 30s with a similar height to Jun-ho, with a slender but solid build. Although his features were somewhat sharp, he had a typical Asian appearance, but the sapphire-blue eyes beneath well-groomed eyebrows gave him a unique and mysterious air.
'Viktor...!'
The second-in-command of the Busan branch of the Volcano Group, Viktor Volk Choi, who had gifted him the Glock 17 that Jun-ho used to take his own life before the regression.
"Our staff was very rude, President Lee Jun-ho."
"Not at all. I was startled, so my hand moved on its own, so I apologize as well."
Two Russian men who appeared to be around 30 years old stood in front of the door and bowed their heads to Jun-ho.
"Sowwy."
"It was a mistake."
At the two men's words, Jun-ho chuckled.
"Your Korean is good. But why did you speak Russian earlier? You surprised me."
However, the two Russian mafia members seemed not to know any more Korean, as they tilted their heads, and Viktor Volk Choi said something to them in Russian. Then, their complexions suddenly worsened, and they opened the door and left, looking completely dejected like puppies scolded by their owner after causing trouble.
"What did you say to them? Their expressions don't look very good."
"It's nothing. I just encouraged them to do better in the future and to work hard together."
Since the same words can have different meanings depending on who says them, he probably told them he would half-kill them when they returned to Busan. Anyway, although the accent was a bit unique, Viktor Volk Choi's Korean was extremely fluent. According to what he heard from him when they met before the regression, he had thoroughly used only Korean when he was with his family since he was young, and as soon as his dispatch to the Busan branch was decided, he had practiced 'Seoul dialect' diligently, not the Korean used by Koryo-saram.
There were a few other things he knew about him, but today, Jun-ho had to act as if he were seeing Viktor Volk Choi for the first time. Therefore, Jun-ho had to treat him as a Russian 'businessman' of Koryo-saram mixed descent from the Far East, not a Russian mafia member, but someone who was involved in some illegal work due to the characteristics of that region.
"By the way, your skills were amazing... If I may ask, did you serve in a special unit in the military?"
Viktor Volk Choi's face, staring at Jun-ho, was smiling, but his eyes were sunken. It would be strange if he weren't suspicious. He had come to meet him in person after hearing from his lawyer that he would be a major client, only to have two of his military-trained organization members taken down in the blink of an eye.
"I just served in the Army Reconnaissance Unit."
"Are you saying you were... a conscript? Your skills look like those of a special forces member, which is strange."
"Well, I've been learning mixed martial arts and Krav Maga as a hobby. But what is this? Why does it feel like I'm being interrogated? Lawyer, is this right?"
Jun-ho said, looking slightly displeased, and turned his gaze to Lee Dong-cheol. The reason Jun-ho not only subdued the two mafia members a bit roughly but also acted strongly toward Lee Dong-cheol was simple. Viktor Volk Choi, who grew up suffering from constant racial discrimination in 'that Russia' as a Koryo-saram mixed-blood, liked masculine and strong people. To such a Viktor Volk Choi, Jun-ho needed to leave a 'strong impression' from the beginning, and that was why he deliberately acted somewhat aggressively.
"Ah, President Lee Jun-ho, that is..."
Just as Lee Dong-cheol was about to say something in embarrassment, Viktor Volk Choi cut him off.
"This is very rude of me, President Lee Jun-ho. Your skills were so amazing that I made a slip of the tongue. I sincerely apologize."
Jun-ho, who stared at Viktor Volk Choi, who was apologizing politely, for a moment, soon bowed his head as well.
"I went a bit overboard, too. I'm sorry, Director Choi."
Then, Viktor Volk Choi smiled a soft smile that was hard to believe he was a mafia member, and the strongest 'enforcer' of the branch at that, and said,
"Please call me Volk. It's a nickname I've been called by my family and friends since I was young, so it's more comfortable. I think we'll be seeing each other often, so please feel free to call me that."
"I will. Director... Volk."
At the smile of the man who was from Sakhalin but called the Wolf of Vladivostok, Jun-ho smiled back.