Chapter 80: The Ace Who Fell from the Sky
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 80: The Ace Who Fell from the Sky
From the very first day of his arrival, the Public Affairs Director made his presence known, moving about loudly and conspicuously.
Occasionally, leaked photos of a suspicious aircraft resembling an F-22 surfaced online.
"It looks like a civilian took these and leaked them, but the Public Affairs Office is intentionally making it look that way for viral marketing."
"Yu-jin, how do you know that?"
"You can see parts of the exterior, but the really crucial information—like the rear engines or the weapons bay—is cleverly left out. The camera angles are thoroughly calculated."
"Wow, I’m seeing you in a new light. You’re such a brainiac. What am I going to do with you?"
"This is just common sense."
I hate that I no longer have a visceral reaction to that kind of praise...
"Anyway, so you're saying the US Air Force is intentionally sending a message?"
"That’s for sure. Though I don’t know what their goal is."
"Obviously, it's because they don't want to lose you to the Navy, Yu-jin! What else could it be?"
"That’s a bit of a stretch. My guess is that something went wrong with a top-secret aircraft project."
I calmly explained it to the poor, blinded lamb that was Jang Ji-hye.
"Everyone’s talking about movie competition and all that, but that’s just irrational confirmation bias driven by emotion. Military actions, in particular, must be viewed neutrally and coldly."
"So? What’s your take then?"
"Something went wrong with a secret fighter jet project, and they’re trying to drum up public opinion however they can to fix it. Korea just happens to be a good potential buyer for fighter jets."
The fact that they’ve come this far means they’re truly backed into a corner and are twisting themselves into knots.
"To put it in human terms, it’s like a doctor declaring someone brain-dead and suggesting they take off the respirator, but the guardian refuses, insisting the patient can still wake up."
"So, if they cast you in the movie, the failed fighter project gets revived, the Air Force gets promoted, and the soldiers get to take all the photos they want with you—it’s a triple jackpot?"
"No, no, that’s not it. Why do you keep trying to involve me in everything?"
"Yu-jin, why do you keep trying to leave yourself out of it? An aircraft carrier is literally swimming across the ocean for you. Is it so hard to believe a top-secret, unreleased fighter jet would fly over just to ask you to ride it once?"
Feeling a slight heat rise to my face, I turned away and fanned myself with my hand.
Jang Ji-hye grabbed my shoulders and clung to me playfully.
"Yu-jin, are you blushing? Be honest. Are you? Huh?"
"...If I get my hopes up and it falls through, the disappointment will be too much."
"Ah, I see. You want to be excited, but you're afraid of being disappointed if it turns out not to be true?"
I cupped my cheeks with both hands. My palms quickly grew warm from the heat on my face.
"An upgraded F-22 model... I really want to fly one. But if I get my hopes up and it’s all for nothing, I’ll feel so embarrassed and pathetic. What am I supposed to do?"
"That’s what you were looking forward to? Not the Air Force movie?"
"Who cares about a movie right now when that might be a secret F-22 upgrade? And honestly, an Air Force movie isn't even worth filming."
"Why?"
"Which is more romantic: landing on a runway or landing on a carrier deck in the middle of the ocean?"
Jang Ji-hye fell into thought for a moment.
Wait, does she actually have to think about that?
"Landing on a runway would definitely look boring on the big screen."
"Right? That’s why there are plenty of Navy recruitment movies but no real Air Force ones. Those guys are badass, but they’re just not interesting. No flair."
"But I really feel like they came here for you because of the movie. I have a very strong hunch."
"Let’s just not get our hopes up."
*
However, Jang Ji-hye was right.
I had my doubts, but the US Air Force Public Affairs Director really had come to see me.
Through Han Ji-woo, I met the Public Affairs Director at the Lunaris Art Hall.
「Please make your entrance as public and grand as possible.」
As soon as I stepped out of the Cullinan, the crowd waiting at the art hall greeted me.
Fans, passersby, foreign tourists, and reporters set off a dizzying barrage of flashes.
"Noona! You're so pretty!"
"Don't do the Air Force movie! The Air Force isn't cool!"
"Navy! Definitely the Navy! Show us a badass carrier landing!"
"Yu-jin! I love you! Please do lots of projects and show your face often!"
Following Han Ji-woo’s advice, I signed autographs and took photos with fans.
'I feel like a Hollywood actress visiting a foreign country to promote a movie.'
I was told that this small action of mine would serve as marketing for Ace Down to Sea.
So, I was doing my best to assist with this marketing as meticulously as possible.
'This will all eventually come back to me as Envidium stock value.'
Thinking about my Envidium stocks growing even at this very moment made me smirk involuntarily.
"S-Someone collapsed! Help, over here!"
"Aaaah! Someone help!"
"...?"
I blinked in confusion, but my brother pushed me along.
"Noona, let's go. Hurry!"
"Hey, one of my fans collapsed. I can't just leave—"
"They collapsed because of you, so disappearing quickly is better for the fans' heart health."
"...?"
"Hurry! Move it!"
I was led into the gallery in a daze, and only after catching my breath did I ask.
"What do you mean? Collapsed because of me?"
"You suddenly gave them that lethal smile, and the fan couldn't handle it and fainted."
"W-When did I do that?"
"Just now. You were smiling quietly and then suddenly beamed so brightly. How are the fans supposed to handle that? Were you thinking about eating boiled pork with fresh kimchi later or something?"
"I was thinking about the Envidium stock price, you brat!"
I gave his back a good smack. He let out a yelp and stumbled forward a few steps before stopping.
"Heh, I won't go down from a hit like that anymore. I've gotten stronger too."
"I held back so you wouldn't fall. Just wait until we get home."
The gallery building was closed to the public today, so I was guided inside comfortably.
The Public Affairs Director, who had been chatting with Han Ji-woo in the meeting room, stood up and offered his hand.
I maintained a perfectly social smile and shook his hand, which was covered in thick calluses.
'This man is the external messenger for the US Air Force.'
He only wore one star, but the weight of the title "Public Affairs Director of the Department of the Air Force" was heavier than that of most field commanders.
'I’ve been studying my English vocabulary hard. I wasn't just playing League of Legends.'
The problem was that my Classical Latin pronunciation kept slipping in out of habit, but I was now capable of basic communication.
With two Hollywood projects already confirmed, I had to study hard.
Han Ji-woo helped with difficult expressions here and there, and thanks to the skills I had worked hard to build, the conversation flowed smoothly.
"I'll get straight to the point. Our Air Force is currently considering contacting Mr. Steve to persuade him that we can provide greater support for this film than the Navy."
"Oh, really?"
"Before that, obtaining the understanding of the most important stakeholder, Ms. Yu-jin, is our first priority. That is why I flew here."
This era is truly beautiful.
Why is everyone I meet so polite and well-mannered?
"First, I will be honest about our situation. I believe that is only proper etiquette."
"Yes, sir."
"Our pilot cadets are wavering. There is a growing sentiment of wanting to transfer to the Navy. While transfers aren't simply granted at their whim, it is not a desirable direction for our future."
I listened calmly, maintaining my social expression.
"On top of that, there are 'adult circumstances' we are dealing with. It is top secret, but hiding this would be deceptive."
Top secret?
"By acquiring this film, our Air Force can achieve three goals. We can prevent future pilot attrition through promotion, we can save a top-secret project, and finally, we can take as many photos with Ms. Yu-jin as we want."
Wait, I’ve heard this somewhere before. Oh, right. It’s exactly what Jang Ji-hye said.
'That’s crazy. Does Ji-hye have some kind of divine inspiration like Writer Jung Yoon-ah?'
"If it's top secret, could it be...?"
"It is a secret project that has never been mentioned externally. Please just think of it as the F-22 Cold. Even that isn't the actual project name."
"F-22 Cold... So that’s the name of the unidentified new aircraft."
Cold, Cold. It had a clean, sophisticated ring to it.
"I heard from the Curator that you have considerable knowledge regarding military matters."
"I just know as much as anyone else. But I saw photos of that aircraft, and it looked like a tandem seat, not a single-seater."
"We pride ourselves on it being the most powerful fighter in the world. It has passed all extreme tests, and its stability has been recognized through sufficient test flight hours."
"But if it's failing, I assume the manufacturing cost is incredibly high?"
"Excluding project costs, the pure manufacturing cost of the aircraft alone is over 200 billion won."
"Gasp...!"
Wow, that’s a bit much. Even for the US, that’s excessive.
No wonder the higher-ups are telling them to scrap it.
"The world's most powerful future fighter jet—wouldn't you like to fly it?"
'I want to! Let me fly it! Aaaah!'
As usual, I ended the meeting without giving a definitive answer. The Public Affairs Director wasn't the type to be desperate enough to expect a meaningful result from the very first meeting.
"Yu-jin, I’m thinking of actively using the Air Force to market this movie. It provides promotion and saves money—it’s killing two birds with one stone."
"I feel a bit bad for the Air Force."
"The Public Affairs Director probably knows that. And this situation actually helps the Air Force. It’s much better than doing nothing at all."
"Hearing you say that makes me feel a bit better."
*
[Title: US Air Force vs. US Navy, who will be the loser?]
[US Department of the Air Force makes an extraordinary offer to Steve!]
- "We will let you use the entire planet as a film set. We can get a film crew to the other side of the world in half a day."
[Incensed Navy: "In that case, we will bring back variable-sweep wing aircraft for the film."]
[A 60-something Hollywood Top Gun passing by: "Please, let me be the wingman."]
The US Navy and Air Force began to fiercely check each other over the movie.
While it was a matter that could potentially cause internal military friction, the Public Affairs offices of both branches delicately managed the tension behind the scenes.
If utilized correctly, this competition could yield massive intangible benefits for both the Air Force and the Navy.
*
Lee Yu-jin had washed out the black coating agent, and she sat comfortably as Jang Ji-hye dried her damp hair, which now showed a significant amount of silver. Yu-jin sighed with regret.
"I really wanted to fly the Cold. It’s such a shame."
"I guess the name of that unidentified new plane is the Cold?"
"It’s weird to call it 'unidentified.' You should call it a secret project."
"Is it okay to tell me? I won't tell anyone, though."
"They said it doesn't matter. 'Cold' isn't the real name anyway."
"Wow, the US Air Force is really serious. It’s almost pitiful that they’re working so hard and still can’t get you."
Jang Ji-hye muttered as she carefully dried Yu-jin’s hair.
"Can't both sides just work together to make the movie? Why do adults always feel the need to crush the opponent and take everything for themselves to be satisfied?"
"They can't. The script is already finished. If the Air Force gets involved now, the whole story will get weird."
"They can just fix it to fit."
"The production company and the Navy probably don't think it's worth the effort."
"I think just tweaking the intro would work. Like, you weren't originally Navy, but an Air Force F-22 Cold pilot. How about that?"
"Huh? Hey, keep going."
"The movie starts with you on a top-secret mission, but you receive an SOS signal. It turns out a civilian merchant ship is being chased by pirates armed with rockets. If you don't save them right then, the ship will sink. So, you disobey orders and sink the pirate ship with your machine guns."
Yu-jin had sat up straight before she knew it, listening intently to Jang Ji-hye.
"You're about to be dishonorably discharged, but that's when the Navy appears and says, 'That spirit is exactly our Navy's tradition! You were born to land on a carrier!' and reaches out a hand."
"Oh."
"If you just whip up an intro like that, both the Air Force and the Navy can participate together."
"I should ask if they can revise the script."