Chapter 68. Jang Man-soo & Lillian (1)
Baek Shin-woo tilted his head as he overheard their conversation while stepping inside.
“What are you two talking about? Why are you suddenly calling out Wei and Rick?”
Lillian answered right away.
“We’re making a bet! About who’ll find you first.”
“So, Jang Man-soo is Rick, and you’re Wei? Based on what standard?”
He asked out of genuine curiosity.
Jang Man-soo was the first to speak.
“Rick was a total captain’s fanboy. He always followed right behind the captain. Even in the helicopter before he died, he went through hell just to reach the captain. So he wouldn’t just be waiting for the network to be rebuilt, he’d already be searching for the captain.”
During his time as an FA mercenary, Shin-woo had saved Rick’s life on the battlefield, which started their connection.
On top of that, Rick had been the youngest in Triad Eye in both age and career. After spending time teaching him various things, he became like a younger brother.
“Then what about Wei?”
This time, it was Lillian’s turn.
“Wei is surprisingly sociable, you know. Unlike Rick or Hector, he wasn’t always far away. He’d probably be the first to reach out after hearing about the captain. Honestly, it could even be faster than setting up a contact network.”
It was a possibility that had come up before.
But even though Shin-woo’s articles had been circulating widely, they still hadn’t shown up.
“Once we rebuild the network, they’ll surely come find me. Is that really worth arguing over?”
“Mandu keeps insisting on it!”
It was always the kind of scene that made him sigh.
“More importantly, I think I have to go to China.”
“China? Why there all of a sudden?”
“But captain, with your UAD service record, aren’t you banned from leaving the country for at least two years?”
Jang Man-soo knew about that condition.
“Turns out it got resolved somehow. Probably Chairman Myung Joong-hwan’s doing.”
“Your grandfather? Did he learn about the UAD?”
At that moment, Shin-woo’s brow furrowed.
“…Even if it’s because of MH Tech, he has ties to the Ministry of National Defense, so he must have found out somehow. But, well, it doesn’t really matter.”
All matters related to the UAD and its missions were top secret. Even if an enemy nation had found out, unless it was disclosed for the purpose of stirring conflict, it could never be made public.
That was why all records of operations had been destroyed.
“So what exactly are you going to China for, captain?”
“Executive Director Im Hee-yeon didn’t explain the details. I’ll know once I get there.”
“You’re going with that lady?”
Shin-woo narrowed his eyes and stared hard at Jang Man-soo.
“You… you’re going to keep this up?”
“What? She’s a lady, isn’t she? Then should I call her mother instead?”
Though he knew it was a joke, a sigh slipped out.
“Anyway, that’s how it is. At most, it’ll take two or three days.”
“Well, the only urgent matter right now is the IBDN8334 military satellite aperture antenna for the network.”
“MH Tech has the KITE Headquarters, so security shouldn’t be an issue. But just in case, stick close to Lillian at all times.”
“What? Why?!”
“What?!”
Jang Man-soo and Lillian both made faces of genuine disgust.
“Because you’ve been exposed through MH Tech’s technical partnership. No matter how careful we are, someone will try to make contact.”
Of course, Jang Man-soo had already expected such a situation.
“Then just assign me a bodyguard instead.”
“Lillian alone can chew up ten men easily. Where else will you find a better bodyguard?”
“I can protect myself too, you know?”
“What if the 666th Unit shows up? In a way, your head is the core of our Triad Eye right now.”
Having returned from the past, Jang Man-soo carried knowledge in his head about the information that would unfold not only in South Korea but all over the world.
It was thanks to having been abandoned by the NIS and forced to wander across the globe, gaining bitter experience.
If the truth about Jang Man-soo spread, the entire world would surely come after him.
“Damn it—!”
“Lillian will handle herself, but I’m asking you. Please.”
“Fine, fine!”
Hearing her reluctant answer, Shin-woo felt a little more reassured.
“By the way, Jang Man-soo.”
“What?”
“Look for a building I can use as both a residence and a base.”
“You’re planning to move?”
“It’s about time. Even if I build a secret room or a secret closet, just find me a good place.”
Jang Man-soo was shocked.
“You mean I’ll live there too?!”
“Of course.”
“What about me?”
Lillian pointed at herself from the side.
“Wouldn’t just you and Man-soo be enough? You only moved recently anyway.”
“What if the others show up later?”
“Finding them is one thing, but would they even want to live in Korea?”
Even when they were in Triad Eye, everyone had lived in different places. This time, too, they might gather, but only when necessary—they didn’t all have to be in Korea.
“You never know.”
“We’ll deal with that if it happens. Oh, and about the executive position—Chairman Myung Joong-hwan has already made sure it won’t be brought up again.”
“Oh! So no more useless interference?”
“That’s a relief.”
Hearing Jang Man-soo’s exclamation, Shin-woo also felt relieved.
That wrapped up the important discussions.
***
A few days later.
While Shin-woo was on his business trip to China, Jang Man-soo and Lillian were on their way to MH Tech headquarters in Incheon.
There were security vehicles assigned by Shin-woo both in front and behind their car.
Although safety was thoroughly ensured, Lillian’s face, as she gripped the steering wheel, was twisted with frustration.
“Haa—! Are you seriously going to do this?”
“What now?”
“Your clothes! And why are you even flashier than usual today? What is this, a savannah? Or are you going to a party somewhere?”
Today, Jang Man-soo’s suit theme was zebra.
But the zebra stripes weren’t the usual black— they were hot pink.
On a bright red base, no less…
Earlier, when Lillian had parked the car and waited, she’d spotted Jang Man-soo approaching from afar and felt like running away.
Now she regretted not doing so.
“What’s wrong with this? Looks amazing to me.”
“…Do your eyes even work properly?”
“What? Why are you picking a fight again?”
“You’re the one who picked the fight first—with your clothes!”
Lillian, clearly annoyed, lifted the hand that had been gripping the gear stick.
“Hey! Eyes on the road! Eyes on the road!”
At that, she had no choice but to stop.
“Ugh! Can’t even hit you since the captain’s watching.”
“Go ahead and try!”
And so the two bickered all the way toward MH Tech headquarters in Incheon, arriving about thirty minutes later.
Standing at the building’s main entrance was MH Tech’s Executive Director, Park Kyung-seok.
Park Kyung-seok had been eager to meet the person behind the R2ED that specialist researchers had recently reviewed.
But when Jang Man-soo stepped out of the car, his jaw dropped wide open.
“……”
The true red-pink zebra fashion.
Any anticipation he’d had vanished, leaving only shock at the sight.
“Hello. I’m Jang Man-soo, Department Head from MH Future Security.”
“…Ah, I’m Park Kyung-seok, Executive Director of MH Tech.”
Like KITE, MH Tech also had a system where Myung Joong-hwan doubled as CEO while the Executive Director handled practical operations.
In the meantime, Lillian shut off the engine, got out, and approached. Members of the Special Security Team under Lee Doo-heon also accompanied them.
“For this research collaboration, I’m Lillian Foster.”
“So Director Foster came too.”
“It’s important work, so I decided to attend. Is the lab all ready?”
The actual work was led properly by Lillian.
“No problem. Shall we head inside?”
“Let’s. Department Head Jang, follow quietly and properly.”
Since this was external business, she kept it formal.
Jang Man-soo knew that well, so unlike usual, he had no choice but to heed the words of Division Head Lillian.
“Understood, Director.”
Because MH Tech dealt with military equipment, weapons, and systems, they went through thorough ID verification and body inspection at the entrance.
Inside, though, the company was staffed almost entirely by researchers aside from management, so it was fairly quiet.
They took the elevator up to the third floor, where the lab had been prepared.
“Whoa—!”
Jang Man-soo immediately began roaming around, fascinated by the equipment installed throughout the lab.
Park Kyung-seok, meanwhile, looked at Lillian.
“The computers are set up to run even high-performance simulation programs. The 3D printer and inspection devices you requested are also the latest models.”
“That’s good. Ah, we can’t access other departments’ projects here, right?”
“Of course not. We share servers, but only senior and lead researchers assigned to project reviews have access rights, so it’s impossible.”
“That’s a relief.”
In the meantime, Jang Man-soo had turned on one of the computers and started fiddling with it.
Watching from near the entrance, Lillian turned her head back to Park Kyung-seok.
“Executive Director, aren’t you busy?”
“Eh? Ah, no, I’m free right now.”
“When Department Head Jang is focused on research, he doesn’t like many people around. We’ll share the R2ED simulation results with you as soon as they’re available.”
It was a polite hint to step out.
Realizing that, Park Kyung-seok wore a slightly awkward expression.
“Alright then.”
He left, and the door closed.
At that moment, Lillian signaled Jang Man-soo.
“Secure the CCTV first.”
“I was already on it.”
Jang Man-soo pulled out an unauthorized USB hidden in the heel of his shoe and plugged it in.
The screen shifted quickly, and a familiar prompt appeared.
【LEUCO Operating System Access】
【Log－in】
From then on, Jang Man-soo’s fingers danced across the keyboard.
Tatatatata— Tatatatak—
“You’re not playing a game, right?”
“Wanna die?”
“Real hackers don’t type that fast, you know.”
“Think of it like automatic vs. manual stick. I’m controlling each one myself. CCTV and security programs secured.”
Jang Man-soo had already taken control of MH Tech’s security system.
The next target was the project management server, where data on the IBDN8334 might be stored.
“How long do you think it’ll take?”
“I’m filtering after connecting now. There are a lot of military equipment projects. Plenty of them scrapped for being impractical too…”
“That IBM thing? Anyway, is that antenna in there?”
“Why are you rushing? It’s not like we’re pressed for time.”
Of course, Jang Man-soo was present under the official status of a research collaborator with MH Tech.
Lillian was reminded of that and nodded.
“Ah… right. I got carried away thinking this was like an old operation.”
“Seriously… you espionage addict.”
Even as they bantered, Jang Man-soo’s eyes and hands stayed fixed on his work.
As time passed, more and more projects were filtered out.
“Found it.”
From the entrance, Lillian walked over to Jang Man-soo’s side.
“It’s there?”
“But it’s still under development.”
“So it can’t be produced right away?”
“Even if they built it here, it’d be a prototype. The model I used before was much improved. To make one directly, we’d need to pull the design blueprints and parts list first.”
Jang Man-soo transferred the IBDN8334 antenna data to the LEUCO server.
“At this rate, we’ll be old and gray before we ever get it.”
“Keep yapping and see what happens.”
—
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