Master Smith Under Ministry of National Defense

Chapter 133: Doing the Same Thing

Master Smith Under Ministry of National Defense

133 – Doing the Same Thing

“Isn’t that an ability enhancement serum made by the Gate Research Institute?”

Oh Joong-sik, the head of the Gate Research Institute, recognized the hit product representing the current Awakener organization of South Korea and spoke to Myung-jun.

Myung-jun, with a cold smile, fiddled with the vial containing the enhancement serum.

“That’s right. It’s the exclusive product for Awakeners in South Korea, announced by Director Moon Hee-cheol right after the Liberal Clan left Sejong City.”

“But is there a problem with it?”

“The problem is that this isn’t something made by a conventional chemical formula. It looks like a potion on the surface, but to my eyes, which can refine materials using abilities, it’s clear. This is something made by an Awakener using their own ability.”

Park Moon-chan couldn’t understand why Myung-jun was pointing that out.

Although rare, Alchemist-type Awakeners weren’t entirely absent, and if it was made by an Awakener affiliated with the research institute, there shouldn’t be any problem with it.

However, Myung-jun’s next words sounded like outrageous slander to Park Moon-chan.

“I believe this item was forcibly made by an Awakener who is imprisoned and threatened in the underground of the Ministry of National Defense or the Gate Research Institute.”

“That’s ridiculous! Why would the South Korean government do such a thing? Do you have any evidence?”

“I don’t have any evidence. But I know Moon Hee-cheol better than anyone. I also know his fundamental beliefs about the state and individuals. The Moon Hee-cheol I know is someone who would trample on individual freedom for the sake of the country.”

“So, are you claiming that Director Moon Hee-cheol was imprisoning and exploiting someone in the underground of the Ministry of National Defense?”

At that moment, Nam Joon-woo, the Minister of National Defense, slammed his fist on the table.

“This is too much! Not only are you insulting a deceased person, but you’re also accusing the South Korean government of unlawfully imprisoning and exploiting individuals! No matter how arrogant you are, this is going too far!”

“Is that slander?”

“Of course, it’s slander! Forcibly taking away someone’s freedom and exploiting their abilities? The South Korean government would never do such a thing!”

“Even though the South Korean military is such an organization?”

Myung-jun said.

“Isn’t the South Korean military an organization that forcibly drags young men during their prime, makes them work for nearly two years for a pittance, and turns a blind eye if they get injured or die during that time?”

“That’s because of the unique situation of being a country in a ceasefire…!!”

“I’m not here to debate whether conscription is right or wrong with you. I’m just saying that I have such suspicions, and if they are true, I want to free that person.”

“You speak so confidently about such nonsense, but do you have any basis for your claims?”

In response to Nam Joon-woo’s words, Myung-jun handed over a document he had prepared.

It contained a list of all Awakeners in South Korea and their abilities, compiled by Moon Hee-cheol.

“The items currently being sold by the South Korean Gate Research Institute are at least grade 6 or higher. However, there is no Alchemist-type Awakener capable of producing grade 6 serums on that list. There is no one to make them, yet the items are being produced. This means the existence of the person making them is being concealed.”

‘What kind of nonsense is this…’

Watching Myung-jun spew such baseless claims after suddenly calling them, Park Moon-chan and Nam Joon-woo felt their anger boiling.

However, Oh Joong-sik, the head of the Gate Research Institute, was listening to Myung-jun’s words with cold sweat running down his back.

‘How did he know?!’

The existence of Park Seung-ho, who was imprisoned in the underground of the Gate Research Institute.

This was top-secret information that even the President of South Korea did not know.

Even as the head of the research institute, he barely figured out the truth after receiving an email following Moon Hee-cheol’s death.

Moon Hee-cheol had thoroughly hidden Park Seung-ho’s existence.

He even silenced the EDA members who assisted in the experiments to keep it a secret.

Knowing Moon Hee-cheol’s tendencies well, Myung-jun next brought out a list of EDA members who were reported dead during missions.

It clearly listed the names and numbers of EDA members who had been dispatched to the research institute and were subsequently reported dead under mysterious circumstances.

“Director Moon Hee-cheol likely regularly eliminated personnel involved in the project to maintain secrecy. And this process would have continued even before the Liberal Clan left Sejong City. If you look at the data, you can see an increase in the number of EDA members who died under mysterious circumstances from a certain point.”

What truly infuriated Myung-jun was that the personnel Moon Hee-cheol had reported as deceased were all ordinary soldiers, not Awakeners.

Unable to assign the menial tasks and silencing roles to valuable Awakeners, Moon Hee-cheol had dumped all the work onto ordinary soldiers. Thus, soldiers who had enlisted for their mandatory military service ended up becoming special soldiers under the EDA, only to be brutally murdered.

They were forced to bear the cruel mission of sacrificing themselves for the country and the greater good.

This was exactly what Moon Hee-cheol had done to the soldiers who had taken care of Myung-jun before his regression.

“For that reason, I called you here to seek the cooperation of the South Korean government in verifying the authenticity of this information.”

Although his tone was far from that of someone asking for a favor, everyone in the café could only remain silent.

They knew all too well that behind Myung-jun’s ‘request’ lay a threat of retaliation if they refused.

At that moment, Yoon Se-ah, who had taken over as the director of the EDA in place of Moon Hee-cheol, spoke to Myung-jun.

“While the information you provided could be interpreted in that way, it’s not definitive evidence. Moreover, to verify the information you mentioned, you would need to directly inspect the top-secret Gate Research Institute, which is impossible due to security reasons.”

“So, are you refusing?”

“What you’re doing now is not a request but a threat. The South Korean government and the EDA do not succumb to such threats.”

“Then let’s call it a proposal instead. If, after verification, it turns out that my claims are unfounded, I will provide appropriate compensation to the South Korean government.”

“And by appropriate compensation, you mean…?”

“I will provide an additional 50 Strikers.”

The sheer magnitude of the offer, based solely on circumstantial evidence, caused Nam Joon-woo’s pupils to dilate significantly.

‘Is he really offering 50 Strikers just to verify if one person is imprisoned?’

Just as Nam Joon-woo was about to suspect that Myung-jun might indefinitely delay the delivery after making such a promise, Myung-jun cemented his commitment.

“I will prioritize your order over the quantities promised to other countries.”

With 50 Strikers, South Korea could secure a stronger force than even Japan, which had been promised the largest quantity. Nam Joon-woo was overwhelmed with an intense desire to accept Myung-jun’s proposal immediately.

As far as he knew, there were no Awakeners imprisoned in the underground of the Gate Research Institute. If his knowledge was accurate, South Korea stood to gain immensely valuable equipment worth 50 trillion won, equipment that couldn’t be bought with money.

However, the cautious Yoon Se-ah restrained Nam Joon-woo, who seemed ready to call the President immediately, and sought Myung-jun’s understanding.

“We would like to discuss this among ourselves for a moment. May we step outside?”

“Go ahead.”

Yoon Se-ah led her colleagues outside the café to avoid eavesdropping.

After spreading her energy widely to ensure no one was around, she spoke.

“We must refuse.”

“Why? It’s 50 Strikers. Fifty! Adding the 10 we were promised, that’s 60!”

“Of course, I understand the immense value of 50 Strikers, but Cha Myung-jun is not someone who would engage in a battle he has no chance of winning. The fact that he is offering such a significant reward means he is certain that there is an Awakener imprisoned in the underground of the Gate Research Institute.”

She explained that as a combat-type Awakener, her physical abilities had vastly improved since her awakening, making her senses, such as dynamic vision and smell, much sharper than those of ordinary people.

“Because of this, I can detect the reactions of ordinary people during conversations much more keenly, unless they are other Awakeners who can hide their energy. I can sense things like someone clenching their fist in their pocket or wiggling their toes out of sight.”

“So, what are you getting at?”

“With my keen senses, I can tell that Director Oh Joong-sik is hiding something from us. From the moment Cha Myung-jun mentioned the imprisoned Awakener, he has been silently sweating. This makes me think Myung-jun’s claim might be true. Am I wrong, Director Oh Joong-sik?”

Oh Joong-sik couldn’t respond.

The security email that was automatically sent to him upon Moon Hee-cheol’s death detailed all the atrocities Moon Hee-cheol had committed against Sergeant Park Seung-ho.

Like Myung-jun, Moon Hee-cheol had forcibly extended Park Seung-ho’s service after he Awakener as an Alchemist just before his discharge.

After a period of testing, Moon Hee-cheol concluded that although Park Seung-ho wasn’t as exceptional as Myung-jun, he still possessed outstanding qualities as an Awakener.

The fate that befell Park Seung-ho afterward was a replica of the miserable fate Myung-jun had to endure before his regression.

Park Seung-ho was moved to an unknown location with his eyes and ears covered, under the pretext of protect

“I’ll bring you anything you want to eat. I’ll even get you a game console to keep you entertained. However, I can’t allow internet access.”

Moon Hee-cheol’s logic, as written in the email, was straightforward.

Just as South Korea had to forgo immense benefits by losing Cha Myung-jun in the past, freeing Park Seung-ho would mean missing another opportunity.

If sacrificing the freedom of one person could bring about a shining future for South Korea, Moon Hee-cheol was willing to bear all the consequences.

Thus, the burden passed on to Oh Joong-sik.

However, even after learning about Park Seung-ho’s existence, Oh Joong-sik couldn’t set him free.

Park Seung-ho’s role in the Gate Research Institute had become too significant to release him now.

Since the Liberal Clan’s departure, South Korea’s gate industry had relied entirely on Park Seung-ho’s abilities.

From the equipment and consumables used by Awakeners to the secondary processing of materials obtained from gate conquests, Park Seung-ho’s serums and potions were indispensable.

Releasing Park Seung-ho would halt the production and distribution of all products from the Gate Research Institute.

Ultimately, Oh Joong-sik kept Park Seung-ho’s existence a secret, following Moon Hee-cheol’s legacy, and now that choice had come back to haunt him.

“Sigh… There’s no other way. Cha Myung-jun’s suspicion is correct. There is a soldier detained in the special facility underground at the Gate Research Institute.”

Under Yoon Se-ah’s probing, Oh Joong-sik confessed everything.

Then, Nam Joon-woo, the Minister of National Defense, encouraged Oh Joong-sik.

“You didn’t kill or torture him, so there’s no need to feel too guilty. During wartime, it’s legal to delay a soldier’s discharge, and the gate crisis is almost equivalent to a state of emergency.”

Park Moon-chan supported Nam Joon-woo’s opinion.

Just as companies strive to protect their core technologies, it was only natural for the state to protect Park Seung-ho if his existence was that crucial to the nation.

Then, Yoon Se-ah, who had been listening to their conversation, spoke up.

“Now is not the time to argue about the rights and wrongs of the situation. The important thing is that Cha Myung-jun knows about Sergeant Park Seung-ho’s existence, and the moment we reveal the facility, he will try to rescue him.”

“The treatment of Sergeant Park Seung-ho is a matter for the South Korean government to decide, not something for the Liberal Clan and Cha Myung-jun to interfere with.”

“If he cared about such things, he wouldn’t have risen to his current position. Honestly, if he decides to rescue Sergeant Park Seung-ho, even if we mobilize all of EDA’s forces, we won’t be able to stop him. The fact that he is seeking our cooperation means he also wants to avoid a fight as much as possible.”

“So what should we do? Should we refuse Cha Myung-jun’s request?”

Yoon Se-ah fell silent at Oh Joong-sik’s question.

Releasing Park Seung-ho would endanger the very existence of the Gate Research Institute, but hiding him was not an option given Cha Myung-jun’s firm stance.

From what Yoon Se-ah had observed, Cha Myung-jun seemed determined to rescue Park Seung-ho, even if it meant destroying the Gate Research Institute.

At that moment, Nam Joon-woo, who had been quietly contemplating, addressed everyone.

“I have a good idea. A way to hide Sergeant Park Seung-ho’s existence while still obtaining 50 Strikers from the Liberal Clan.”

The “good idea” Nam Joon-woo mentioned was to have the research institute staff secretly move Sergeant Park Seung-ho out of the facility.

Since it would take some time for Cha Myung-jun to travel to Sejong City, where the Gate Research Institute was located, they could use that time to relocate Park Seung-ho to another place.

With a voice full of conviction, Nam Joon-woo addressed Oh Joong-sik.

“Cha Myung-jun suspects that Sergeant Park Seung-ho is detained in the underground facility of the Gate Research Institute. Given that he said he would provide 50 Strikers if there was no detained soldier, his suspicion is almost a certainty. So, we just need to move the soldier elsewhere.”

“I will mobilize the most discreet staff to move Sergeant Park Seung-ho out of the research institute.”

“Then I will report this to the President through a secure line and seek his approval.”

“I will prepare the strongest EDA members to ensure Sergeant Park Seung-ho’s safety during transport.”

Once the plan was set, things moved very quickly.

While it was undoubtedly a matter that required careful handling, the reward was too enticing to ignore due to the risks.

If there was no detained soldier in the underground facility, the 50 Strikers that Myung-jun promised to provide were an overwhelmingly powerful and attractive reward that could cloud anyone’s judgment.

Once the plan to transport Park Seung-ho was finalized, Nam Joon-woo returned to the café where Myung-jun was waiting, along with the rest of the group.

He then spoke to Myung-jun.

“We accept your proposal. We will allow you to inspect the underground facility of the research institute.”

“Really?”

“We have nothing to hide. However, Mr. Myung-jun, you must also keep your promise. If there is no detained soldier in the Gate Research Institute, you must prioritize the transfer of 50 Strikers as promised.”

“Of course. But I also have a condition. If I find the soldier I mentioned, the South Korean government must relinquish all authority over him.”

“And by authority, you mean…?”

“I mean allowing him to choose his own future, without being manipulated by the government.”

“Agreed. It’s a rather absurd demand, but since there is no detained soldier in the underground facility, it’s fine.”

“The contract is established then. Let’s begin the investigation immediately.”

“Immediately?! We are in Kyoto, and the research institute is in Sejong City…”

“I know. To prepare for such a situation, I have already stationed my clan members there in advance.”

Myung-jun’s next words made the four people’s faces turn pale.

“From this moment, until our investigation is complete, not even an ant will be able to leave the Gate Research Institute.”