Novel Bin Chapter 22: The Press Conference and the Earthquake
Chapter 22: The Press Conference and the Earthquake
Chapter 22: The Press Conference and the Earthquake
In March, a defense industry innovation conference took place at the Ministry of Defense.
It was a secret meeting, but most of the participants held influential positions in Korea’s defense industry.
Even with the President’s presence, heated debates erupted from the start, as there were only about 20 representatives.
The main issue was how to allocate the scarce supply of Black Metal for defense purposes.
This stemmed from the high cost of Black Metal.
Ever since Chairman Yu Ji-han announced that he could provide it at a low price but in limited quantities, there had been conflicts over its distribution.
Major Jung Kang-hoon, who had a deep and thoughtful expression, spoke up.
He was the head of the next-generation tank development project and needed black metal more than anyone else.
“First, let me show you the test results. It’s a test involving firing shells and anti-tank missiles at the additional armor supplied by Silla Energy.”
“Is that the additional armor plate?”
The participants, who had only imagined thick and heavy armor plates until now, were astonished.
It looked like nothing more than a thin plate.
It seemed vulnerable, like a candle before a storm, when facing the kinetic energy of the shells.
However, the results were quite the opposite.
The shells fired from the 55-caliber 120mm smoothbore gun not only failed to penetrate the armor plates but were also deflected.
Considering the penetrator’s power of 800mm, this was an amazing outcome.
The armor plates remained intact even against direct hits from anti-tank missiles, showing no signs of deformation.
As the researchers examined the surface, the video ended with them shaking their heads.
Major Jung Kang-hoon’s voice grew louder.
“As you saw in the video, black metal will greatly enhance the defense capabilities of next-generation tanks. By replacing the advanced penetrator with black metal, we can achieve up to a 30% increase in penetration power. What are the three elements of a tank?”
“Firepower, defense, and mobility.”
Someone answered, and the Major nodded.
“Mobility will also be improved. Applying black metal will reduce the overall weight. To everyone here and to the President, I say this: The next-generation tanks of the Republic of Korea Army require Black Metal.”
It was an emotional appeal, but the submarine project division did not back down easily.
“Tanks are, of course, a vital part of ground warfare, but…”
“It’s not tanks, it’s tanks. Tanks and tanks mean the same thing.”
If it is a joke, you may want to add some context or explanation to make it clear for the readers.
“Regardless, while tanks can enhance defense with additional armor, submarines need black metal from the design stage. The stakes are different.”
“Tanks should also consider black metal from the design stage. Adding additional armor will change the overall configuration.”
“Still, isn’t defense more critical? Using Black Metal in submarines is a matter of survival.”
Their argument was so intense that it seemed unlikely to reach a consensus anytime soon.
However, from Yu Ji-han’s perspective, the logic on the tank side seemed somewhat weak.
Rejecting the additional armor meant essentially advertising that black metal had been applied since the early stages of militarization.
Think about it.
Black Metal, known as the hardest metal, had already gained worldwide recognition.
While it was previously impossible to use as a weapon, thanks to Yu Ji-han’s emergence, it became possible.
In such a situation, if the K-3 tank, boasting absolute defense capabilities, were to be unveiled, it would undoubtedly attract tremendous attention.
Considering the lackluster export performance of the K-2 Black Panther tank, it was understandable that the Army was eager for more.
Thus, there were plenty of fields that required black metal.
However, none were as urgent as the frontline combat units, including the 22nd Division.
“Respected President, and esteemed generals. Black Metal will undoubtedly be essential for large-scale defense projects for our armed forces. However, what if we shift our focus to a more realistic area?”
“What area are you referring to?”
“The issue of North Korea’s provocations.”
As the PowerPoint presentation showed, Lieutenant Colonel Im Won-sik, the Chief of Staff of the 22nd Division, began explaining.
“In recent years, due to the severe deterioration of North Korea’s economic situation, there has been a significant increase in defections from the forward-deployed corps. North Korea cannot simply let them go, inevitably leading to shootouts…”
In just the past 25 years, there had been four instances of shootouts in the demilitarized zone alone, with one of them resulting in four casualties.
What was even more alarming was that the situation went beyond mere severity.
It involved actual clashes between North Korean forces and our military forces.
Due to the occurrence of five casualties within the reconnaissance unit, the officers of the 22nd Division faced disciplinary actions one after another.
At the same time, the dismal performance of the multi-purpose body armor was exposed.
It failed to properly stop the 7.62mm rounds fired by the North Korean army.
Why did body armor certified with NIJ Level 4 perform like this?
The investigation revealed a major issue with the supplier.
They provided pristine plates for testing but actually delivered plates imported from China.
The test results showed that not only did it fail against 7.62mm rounds, but it couldn’t even properly stop 5.56mm rounds.
With the situation at hand, one of the generals who spearheaded the multi-purpose body armor project was relieved of duty, and the supplier faced legal actions.
However, that wasn’t the end of it.
Even though the Army obtained intelligence that the entire North Korean corps had started using armor-piercing rounds, no further measures were taken.
The general who faced disciplinary action quietly returned to a rear unit, and in reality, nothing had changed.
Lieutenant Colonel Im Won-sik appealed for the necessity of black metal.
“Our soldiers are fighting in the face of death. It’s pathetic that even when they go on reconnaissance within the DMZ, they can only hope that their plates didn’t come from China.”
Unlike impressive weapons like the K-3 tank or advanced submarines, it was the realistic issues that weighed heavily on the atmosphere in the conference room.
One general spoke as follows:
“Colonel Im, it’s not appropriate to make such remarks when we finally have the President and Chairman Yu with us. Let’s move on and discuss more progressive business matters.”
As everyone nodded in agreement, Colonel Im’s statement was quickly dismissed.
However, there was interest in this decision.
“Colonel Im, doesn’t the GP Reconnaissance Division as a whole have doubts about the body armor?”
“It’s unavoidable because it’s difficult to distinguish. Among the soldiers, there are even superstitions circulating. They believe that the lighter-colored ones are made in China or something.”
“Nevertheless, the reason for not replacing the body armor must be due to budgetary constraints.”
“It seems that way…”
He hesitated to bring up the topic in front of his superiors, who were shrouded in darkness.
Yu Ji-han made a decisive decision.
“Very well. We will supply Black Metal plates to not only the 22nd Division but also to any other unit in need of body armor at cost price.”nove(l)bi(n.)com
Colonel Im’s eyes widened in astonishment.
“A-Are you serious?”
“The latest weapons are important, but the soldiers are even more crucial. If supplying Black Metal can prevent their deaths, then we’ll do whatever it takes.”
“T-Thank you! The soldiers will be thrilled.”
“Using Black Metal plates for the armor will also reduce weight, making it more comfortable to wear.”
The Army generals couldn’t help but want to shout to equip the next generation of tanks with the black metal for the body armor, but they couldn’t bring themselves to do so.
Because the President applauded.
“Well done. We momentarily forgot that the troops being deployed to the front lines are decreasing. It’s important to save even one life. In that regard, Chairman Yu’s statement left a strong impression. Director of the Nuclear Agency.”
“Yes, Mr. President.”
“I hope you discuss the plan to replace all the body armor plates with the Army. The insufficient funds for the project should be somehow accommodated by the Ministry of National Defense.”
“Understood.”
Even after that, there were ongoing discussions about the allocation of Black Metal, but Yu Ji-ha was receiving reports from Arma.
“By the way, as I mentioned, there have been three skirmishes in the DMZ just this year. Both sides had casualties, but it was kept strictly concealed.”
“Due to a significant reduction in troops, the soldiers deployed to the front-line outposts are burdened with excessive tasks.”
“In the case of the 22nd Division, it’s referred to as the officers’ grave, as there have been casualties due to breaches in the fortified structure and skirmishes.”
‘A complex issue indeed.’
Increasing the number of troops might resolve the problem, but it was difficult for the South Korean military in reality.
Currently, the South Korean military boasted a higher conscription rate than the crumbling Japanese military during World War II.
However, Yu Ji-ha had a solution that was almost like an answer sheet.
It was a matter of whether the government was willing to spend money.
Several hours had passed, but as always, a conclusive decision was not reached during the meeting.
President Lee Hyun-seong declared,
“Let’s wrap it up here for today. I hope that in the next meeting, we can present a realistic proposal for consensus. And Chairman Yu, please stay for a moment, I’d like to talk to you.”
…
As guided by the secretary, they entered the conference room, and a sigh of frustration escaped President as he felt like he was walking on thin ice.
“The Japanese government contacted us through the embassy. They stated that unless we lift the sanctions on Toyota and Panasonic, they will take corresponding measures.”
Yu Ji-han, feeling perplexed, asked, “Our company has no connection to Japan.”
“Don’t you have a father? If you think deeply, there may be products that come to mind.”
[Boss, Silla Auto imports autonomous driving modules entirely from a Japanese subsidiary called Obis. It’s a subsidiary of Toyota.]
The reason for this situation was that Silla Group had split from Mirae Group, and all their trading partners had been cut off.
Chairman Yu Kyung-seok, unable to find suitable trading partners, had to import modules from nearby Japan.
As a result, Silla Auto had to import Japanese-made autonomous driving modules and slightly modify the algorithms before releasing them.
Yu Ji-han quickly understood and let out a scoff.
“So they’re playing both sides by lifting, If so, you may want to change that too. the sanctioning of Toyota and Panasonic.”
“Wouldn’t that be proof of how urgent the situation is? From my perspective, I wish Chairman Yu would accept their apology… Also, it’s not good to draw too much attention to black metal. There’s a possibility of violating competition laws in the European Union.”
“Please convey to the ambassador that if the CEOs of Toyota and Panasonic act submissive in front of the cameras, I will let it slide once.”
“Demanding submissiveness from individuals in such high positions implies social suicide.”
“It’s telling them to take responsibility for their actions, like leaving me in a storage-like office after inviting me. Do you really think they did that on the lower level?”
“First, meet with them at least. There’s no problem that can be solved by spreading rumors with your back turned.”
“It will likely be a parallel path anyway. Let’s confront them once.”
“It may not matter.”
President Lee Hyun-seong, feeling frustrated, loosened his tie.
“Hmm… Japan’s sudden interference is because they found out about the railgun experiment, right? The United States must have indirectly informed them.”
Both countries shared information through various channels, so it wasn’t particularly surprising.
However, as a result, Japan became anxious.
The issue of the Black Metal store near Fukuoka also contributed to their indiscriminate actions.
However, they couldn’t completely abandon their national pride of not bowing down to a single company.
As a result, Toyota and Panasonic stepped back, and the government exerted pressure on the Silla Group.
The president emphasized once again, “First, meet with them. When you have face-to-face conversations, unexpected resolutions can be easier to achieve. Even if it’s for the sake of my dignity, please request it.”
“Did the United States demand it, by any chance?”
“…Indeed.”
As expected. Yu Ji-han stepped outside and said, “Since you put it that way, I will meet with them once. However, if they talk nonsense, there will be no further discussion.”
A gloomy future was looming.
Subsequently, the two sides met at the Japanese embassy, but they only confirmed their differing positions.
The diplomats and officials involved in the economic and industrial relations, including the ambassador, were busy evading responsibility rather than offering apologies.
“This is the image you have captured. Isn’t it pleasing to see me sitting alone in a desolate warehouse? That’s how Toyota and Panasonic treated me. That’s why I have no intention of being associated with them.”
Despite Yu Ji-han’s strong statements in the Japanese newspaper, the officials remained tight-lipped and avoided making eye contact.
The few remarks that were forced out only served to escalate tensions.
“I understand your position, but we have no choice in this matter.”
“If you don’t lift the sanctions, we will suspend all transactions with the Silla Group. That is the stance of the Japanese government.”
“Let’s wrap it up.”
Yu Ji-han discontinued the conversation and stood up.
As he heard the economic and industrial officials speaking behind him, one of them said, “Causing trouble for your father is a great act of filial impiety as a son. Think carefully about it.”
“If you don’t take back those words right now, you’ll truly regret it.”
Yu Ji-han warned, but the official ignored his warning and continued with his delusion.
And thus, the conversation came to an end.
As Yu Ji-han stepped outside the embassy, numerous reporters surrounded him.
He got into his car and instructed Arma.
“Can Settler be moved?”
“Yes. The Plague Core you brought is aiding the recovery process. It should be able to move slowly underwater.”
“Good. Go to Fukuoka and turn the seabed upside down. Bring back all the Black Metal.”
“I will execute it immediately.”
The Settler, which had remained silent until now, began to move.
The Settler was a pioneer ship and a vessel equipped with firearms.
It also served as a planet mining vessel, thanks to its fusion furnace capabilities.
The gravity crane deployed within the ship allowed for complete control over gravity, enabling the manipulation of landscapes at will.
In the 2180s, with such advanced technology, earthquakes were no longer considered disasters for humanity.
Even if an earthquake occurred near a megacity, it could be immediately mitigated by flipping the epicenter itself.
However, all of this was possible under the assumption that the Settler was in optimal condition.
Currently, the Settler was in better condition than when it sank to the seabed, but it couldn’t be considered fully operational.
Even during its movement with just one auxiliary engine, repair walkers had to be attached to conduct repairs.
Fortunately, the Titan-class Plague Core contributed to the vessel’s restoration, providing some relief.
Originally, the repair of the Settler was expected to take up to three years, but it seemed that it would be completed earlier than anticipated.
[Destination reached. Initiating radar scan.]
As gravity pulses spread from the core of the Settler, the surrounding gravitational forces were meticulously surveyed.
Not only did it reveal the underwater topography, but it also exposed the hidden submarines and warships along with the quantities of black metal lurking near Fukuoka.
Now, with the deployment of the ship and the activation of the gravity crane, the seabed would be overturned.
Arma was aware that she could play tricks in the Japanese financial market, but she refrained from doing so because her master didn’t approve of such actions.
He considered the heavily formed current global financial market a useless bubble.
He even discouraged her from taking advantage of the cryptocurrency market, where one could easily amass a fortune.
“Just have enough money, don’t get too carried away. What we need is influence, not money,” he had said.
“With influence, money will naturally follow, and we’re already earning enough.”
“Yes, understood,” Arma replied.
Therefore, Arma quietly waited, without even attempting to utilize the foreign accounts she had set up in Japan in the past.
And at that moment, he was holding a press conference in front of the headquarters of hilla Energy, his company.
“…As you can see, the Japanese government has declared its intervention. I would like to take this opportunity to criticize the unfairness of the Japanese government’s actions. Is it normal for the government to interfere in business matters and act recklessly? Were there no officials who tried to stop this?”
“First and foremost, sincere apologies from Toyota and Panasonic are needed. Apologies for summoning us to Tokyo for a contract negotiation and leaving us unattended in an office resembling a warehouse for 30 minutes. However, they cowardly hid behind the government.”
“The officials from the Economic Industrial Council informed me that if we don’t lift the sanctions, they intend to boycott the entire Silla Group. One of the officials even said, ‘If you don’t want to become an unfilial child causing trouble for your father, you better behave.'”
It was a shocking statement.
Korean journalists silently tapped away on their laptops, their faces filled with astonishment.
The situation he faced with the Japanese government and the two companies was beyond imagination.
It was a situation that even Buddha himself would not remain calm in.
However, Yu Ji-han’s voice was relentlessly composed.
“I hereby declare that from this moment on, Japan will be excluded from the black metal ecosystem. No disintegrator will reach any country, company, or faction that bypasses and exports black metal to Japan, and they will not be able to establish factories.”
It was a series of shocks.
An individual had boycotted an entire country.!
In particular, electronic companies, including electric vehicles in desperate need of black metal, suffered a devastating blow, with their stocks hitting rock bottom in an instant.
However, that was not the end of it.
Shortly after Yu Ji-han finished the press conference, breaking news came out that an earthquake had struck Japan.
The epicenter was near Fukuoka.
…