Chapter 326

Spring turned to summer, and Jin Hyuk found himself visiting the Sakdo Research Institute more frequently.

Usually, it was twice a week, but in 2001, he spent more than half his time there.

Woooooong—.

Not even the air vibrated.

With a subtle noise, like a distant boiler room firing up on a winter night, an object rose into the air. Cables hung messily from its bottom and sides, but no one cared at that moment.

The object was a 2-meter-wide disc, resembling a small UFO, a lift generator.

“Whoa! It’s, it’s floating!”


“Wow!”


“I can’t believe it actually worked…”

The researchers cheered and applauded at the results exceeding expectations. Some hugged each other, only to grimace at the smell.

Meanwhile, Jin Hyuk stood alone, arms crossed, chin resting on his hand, squinting.

“Team Leader Gong.”


“Yes, Steve.”

A woman in her mid-30s, Team Leader Gong, wiped her eyes and stepped closer.

“The vertical form, I mean… between developing it as a quadcopter engine and making it a flying vehicle as it is now, which would be more efficient?”


“Of course, the current disc form is more advantageous. The tungsten particles have a longer track to move on.”

Is that so?

He still fiddled with his chin.

After showing Yoo Jin Hong Ki-jun’s recipe as it was, this was the result.

Yoo Jin explained that high-density particles, perfectly spherical and 1mm in diameter, had to rotate at high speeds while maintaining a close distance without touching. In that process, gravitational force would convert into lift.

‘It’s not an easy concept to grasp.’

The concept was vague and contradictory, so it was natural that those studying modern science couldn’t easily accept it. So, the only way was to explain and teach directly. The engine they completed was the result.

Well, it’s an invention that converts kinetic energy into lift, so calling it an engine isn’t wrong.

“We’ll need to embed a controller to change the direction forward, backward, left, and right. We’ll also need to check the braking performance.”


“For now, we’re considering external methods… like fake magnetics or vibration stimuli to guide the particle clusters. That shouldn’t be too hard.”


“Try everything you can.”


“Yes! Thanks to the theory you drew, Steve.”

Team Leader Gong gave an awkward salute.

Jin Hyuk smiled awkwardly.

He just listened to what Yoo Jin read, memorized what Yoo Jin explained, and drew pictures to explain.

Jin Hyuk doesn’t understand the language of engineers.

Other executives probably don’t either.

After being appointed as the head of the research institute, he made one request to the researchers:

– “If you can’t explain the mechanism at a layman’s level, just answer the questions asked.”

It was a request to save the engineers’ time and reduce the fatigue of the listening executives by not forcing them to explain everything in their own jargon.

Thanks to that, the institute’s oddballs had significantly improved their communication skills.

They practiced simplifying reports and engaging in layman-level discussions in their spare time.

‘They’re still oddballs, but it’s impressive progress.’

In living as humans, having an identity as communicable humans rather than oddballs would help them more.

As Jin Hyuk was satisfied with both the lift generator and the researchers’ changes, Team Leader Gong tapped his back.

“This will have high utility, Steve. It’s a groundbreaking invention.”


“I suppose so. But it’ll take a while to commercialize, right?”


“Yes. We need to consider miniaturization, scaling up, and diverse applications. But the significance lies in completing a technology that can be universally used. We’ll keep it confidential until you order its release.”

Team Leader Gong spoke energetically, as if forgetting her fatigue.

All research at Sakdo Research Institute was top-secret.

Only after the release is decided does it go through the Yeouido Research Institute for refinement and preparation for commercialization.

“You’ve worked hard. Let’s keep it up.”


“If you approve, we’ll consider implanting the energy circulation module.”


“Circulation module…”

Initial startup requires external stimuli like electricity.

But with the circulation module, the engine’s kinetic energy charges the battery, which then restarts the engine—a concept halfway to perpetual motion.

“Of course. Approved.”

Jin Hyuk nodded lightly and turned toward the elevator heading downstairs.

“I’ll stop by the underground lab before heading to headquarters. This is just the beginning. Take your time and rest well. Safety is the top priority, so always be careful.”


“Yes! Ah, but Steve.”


“Yes?”


“We finally completed the prototype. How about naming it? The current code name doesn’t stick.”


“Ah, I—”


“But wouldn’t it mean more if the boss named it?”

Ah, this…

A naming amateur like me has to name it?

What kind of self-poisoning Jang Hee-bin nonsense is this?

“As you know, Steve, we have no talent in that area.”

I don’t have that talent either, but I couldn’t ignore Team Leader Gong’s eager eyes, too sharp for her age.

“U…OEF sounds good.”


“Huh? I didn’t catch that.”

Had she been drinking? Team Leader Gong tilted her head, looking at Jin Hyuk’s flushed face.

“UOEF…”


“Ah! UOEF! That’s nice. But what does it mean?”

One of the traits you can’t leave out of researchers is their persistence in asking questions. Like right now.

Jin Hyuk looked at the disc where tens of thousands of tungsten particles rotated at supersonic speeds with the help of electricity. And he racked his brain at that speed.

“Ultimately, it’s an ordinary flying unit. In twenty, thirty years, this engine will be applied to all vehicles.”

Ultimate Ordinary Flying-unit.

For a mere name, the grammar is as stiff as a general’s orders.

“Ah, I see. When it spreads widely, it’ll become ordinary and common.”

Birds of a feather.

At least we can communicate, fellow oddballs.

By the way, Kim Eun-jung won’t claim copyright, right?

*

Tudadadadang-! Tadadadadadang-!

Hududududuk-!

The SAR3A2, a medium machine gun using 7.62mm rounds, spewed fire, and the dummy wearing bulletproof armor trembled like it was electrocuted.

[Cease fire—.]

Jin Hyuk and the observers removed their headsets and gathered around the monitor.

The monitor on the desk displayed real-time graphs of the impact received by the dummy and the impact absorbed by the bulletproof vest.

“Steve, what do you think? The impact was strong at the incision area, but it’s not enough to cause fractures. Weak bones like costal cartilage might crack, but for something connected like chainmail, the shock absorption is impressive.”


“I need to see the bulletproof vest myself. It’s also important that no fragments or ricochets occur.”

He ordered that the bulletproof vest alone absorb the impact.

Just stopping penetration isn’t enough to prevent fractures or shock, and if it can’t absorb the impact, secondary damage like falls can occur.

It couldn’t be too hard either.

If the bullet shattered, the fragments could harm innocent bystanders.

Sakdo researchers applied, synthesized, and layered materials airlifted from General Research, compressing them repeatedly—12 times. They created a 1cm-thick, at least 60-layer synthetic bulletproof vest.

“The weight is a bit disappointing.”


“We’re looking into reducing it, likely due to the plant-based materials.”

The downside was that it was somewhat heavy. Full-body coverage from neck to ankles exceeded 12kg. Compared to the current top-performing American product, which only protects the upper body at 8kg, it was superior but still heavy. It wasn’t developed to compete with other companies’ products.

“Here, look—”

Team Leader Cha, in charge of bulletproof vest development, pointed at the bullet marks with white chalk.

“—We can calculate that it absorbed the impact and dispersed it backward. The fact that all the bullets fell to the ground means the same. No bullets embedded in the vest indicate its durability.”


“What’s the production cost per unit?”

Jin Hyuk asked the institute’s data manager accompanying him.

“The budget spent on materials for the current prototype is 190 million won.”


“Hmm—”

The price made his head throb, and a sigh escaped.

About 200 million won. In the third quarter of 2001, that could buy a decent 20-pyeong apartment in central Seoul. Of course, it varied by neighborhood, but it still exceeded the price of a house.

That’s just the material cost.

Even with mass production, reducing costs would be difficult since the same materials and processes would be used.

Mass production doesn’t reduce material costs.

“I’ll discuss material production with General. The effect is good, but it’s too expensive. If mass production of materials is possible, we can drastically reduce the bulletproof vest’s production cost.”

We won’t go into production yet, but if we do, it’ll only benefit General. We’d have to buy expensive materials from them.

“For VIPs, that price isn’t bad, is it, Steve?”


“It’s not for rich people or politicians. It’s for our soldiers and firefighters. It’s a safety measure until we complete the hazardous work robots at the underwater research lab.”


“Ah…”


“Test it with full-body bulletproof and fireproof suits, including bulletproof combat boots, and prepare a video recording.”


“Understood. Let me know where the video will be used… I need to prepare a confidential release form.”


“First, I’m thinking of selling it expensively to the U.S. and using that money to produce more. That should get us started.”

The White House would buy at least 100, right?

There are also Middle Eastern oil tycoons.

And royalty under threat of civil war and assassination might buy a few.

I’ll call Hammond as soon as I get to headquarters.

***

Already at the beginning of winter.

Chae Kyu-ho, his middle school desk mate, came to Yeouido.

They met during high school breaks and occasionally after Jin Hyuk entered the workforce, but this was their first meeting since Chae Kyu-ho became a senior.

“Hey, Jaguar. You’re already a senior, huh? College is just around the corner.”


“President, don’t say that. I’ve been so busy studying. If I’d gone to med school, it wouldn’t have been this hard, my seniors teased.”

Chae Kyu-ho had only lost his acne, retaining his middle school cuteness. Since he couldn’t drink, they chatted comfortably on a bench in the company park. Passersby who recognized Jin Hyuk glanced but pretended not to notice. It’s not like his face would wear out from being seen—it’s practically public property now.

“How’s it been studying at Korea’s top science and technology university?”


“Ugh, it’s overwhelming.”


“Overwhelming?”


“Yeah. After hearing Chairman Hong Ki-jun’s lecture last year, I realized universities only teach impractical academics. So, I’ve been studying other things on my own, but still…”

While some universities still attract students with certifications and employment rates, universities dedicated to academia make students acutely aware of the gap between theory and reality. Choi Mi-kyung, a med student at a top university, once said it felt like attending classes in Greece wearing only underwear.

“Isn’t that the role of universities? Bridging academia and reality is the job of scholars and students, not the educational institution itself. Ultimately, it’s up to people.”


“You still have a knack for making difficult things sound easy. If you were a professor, it’d be great.”


“Kid, you’re full of nonsense.”

In front of his friend, whom he hadn’t seen in almost a year, Chae Kyu-ho poured out his future worries.

“My seniors make good money, but what will you live on? Are you going into research? Will you study abroad and become a professor? They keep saying stuff like that, and I’m just… ugh.”


“You don’t want to study abroad?”


“No. I like studying and researching, but I want to create something tangible. I’ve studied enough.”


“How about solving military service first? You can apply to Saint Technica.”


“I already did.”


“Oh, really?”


“After graduation, I’ll be dragged to an island.”

The two friends chuckled together.

Chae Kyu-ho spoke as if he’d be dragged to a salt farm or shrimp boat.

“Anyway, based on what you’re saying, it’s hard to find capable talent among university graduates?”


“From what I see, it’s not the people but the environment. Our school is considered the best in the country, but do you know what other schools are like?”


“What’s it like?”


“They research how to help Korean students develop creativity like American students, spend a fortune going to the U.S., and who knows if they’re sightseeing or drinking, but they stay there for ages. And then, you know what they do?”


“What?”

He had an idea but asked anyway.

“They build garages on campus out of nowhere.”


“Garages? Why? Is parking scarce?”

The start of a good friendship is empathizing and showing curiosity in the other’s words.

Now, Jin Hyuk is someone who knows that too.