Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 979

Good fortune continued for Da Vinci. This time, it was Da Vinci’s spontaneity that brought him luck. He often modified the contents of his proposals on the typewriter whenever an idea struck him, which was a very cumbersome task. This was because he often had to revise the content before and after the modified part, and in such cases, he had to retype everything from the beginning.

That wasn’t all. When reviewing the written documents, there were always typos, and in this case, he had to retype the side with the typos.

“This is inconvenient… No, it’s not just inconvenient, it’s annoying. I’ve never written so many documents before. I’m already short on time…”

Da Vinci, feeling inconvenienced and that his time was being wasted on document creation when he had a mountain of things to do and wanted to do, pondered a solution.

“That’s it!”

Da Vinci, who had extensive knowledge of various paints and additives due to his familiarity with oil painting and fresco [a technique of mural painting executed upon freshly-laid, or wet lime plaster], the latest art techniques in Europe at the time, as well as his preferred tempera technique [a painting medium consisting of colored pigments mixed with a water-soluble binder medium, usually glutinous material such as egg yolk], created a primitive correction fluid.

“Register this too!”

As expected, his fellow artisans, smelling money, immediately proceeded to register this with the Intellectual Property Office. Thus, the ‘Water Eraser’ that was released to the market became very popular. This was because there were more than a few people who felt inconvenienced by having to rewrite documents from scratch due to incorrectly transcribed sentences or typos.

-Chicle erasers for writings with a stylus, water erasers for documents written with a typewriter or gold pen.

This was the public’s assessment after Da Vinci’s water eraser came out.

* * *

Having secured ample funds through typewriters, harpsichords, and water erasers, Da Vinci was as lively as a fish in water [feeling comfortable and thriving]. In addition to the formally approved plans, he would immediately shut himself in his workshop whenever a spontaneous idea came to mind.

After Hyang and Jang Yeong-sil caused a few accidents in the past, several new rules were created in Areas 51 and 52, one of which was this:

-The money spent on personal work and creations, other than approved work and creations, must be covered by oneself.

The problem was that even with these regulations, Jang Yeong-sil had accumulated a lot of wealth, so it wasn’t an obstacle. The same was true for Hyang. However, this was a very burdensome clause for artisans who were not as fortunate. To solve this, artisans would look for like-minded colleagues or spend time instead of money in workshops they created in their homes to conduct research.

Of course, there were those who sought outside sponsors to support them, but their numbers were very small. This was because there were too many people who were trying to obtain other things through them—such as the Challenge Records or top-secret technologies—rather than supporting their own inventions.

“If I mess up even a little, not only I but my whole family will be ruined, so I absolutely won’t do it! No, I can’t do it!”

* * *

Da Vinci, who had become a ‘fish in water,’ wholeheartedly challenged himself with a ‘gunpowder-propelled flying machine.’ Of course, this was an unauthorized project. The proposal written by Da Vinci and his colleagues was rejected at Woo’s level.

-Gunpowder is expensive and dangerous. Even a small mistake could result in death or injury, so it is not allowed.

Da Vinci immediately presented an alternative to Woo’s decision.

“We will start experiments with a small flying machine and gradually climb the steps!”

“Aren’t there already good results in that area? It’s called Singijeon [a Korean type of gunpowder-propelled arrow rocket]. And what is that Singijeon used for? It’s used to kill people, isn’t it? Not allowed.”

Da Vinci, dissatisfied with Woo’s decision, proceeded with the work privately with his fellow artisans. Most of the materials needed to make the flying machine were expensive, but this was not a big problem for Da Vinci, who already had a thick wallet.

“The problem is gunpowder…”

The most important material, gunpowder, was something that could not be purchased privately. Da Vinci pondered a solution to this and soon found one.

“I’ll just make it myself!”

Da Vinci already knew how to make black powder. After obtaining the materials for black powder through the market, Da Vinci immediately made black powder.

“All preparations are complete! Now it begins!”

“Woo-hoo!”

* * *

Da Vinci and his colleagues’ challenge was bold from the start. He told Woo that he would start with a small model, but now they were proceeding with the actual size. Ironically, it was Woo who provided the reason for them to attempt this.

-A small model? Isn’t there already one? It’s called Singijeon.

Among those working with Da Vinci were artisans in charge of Singijeon research and production.

“Singijeon? No one knows it better than us! The framework is similar anyway. Leave it to us!”

Thus, the gunpowder-propelled flying machine that Da Vinci named ‘Phoenix (Fenice)’ began to take shape.

* * *

“Requesting permission for a test flight?”

“Yes!”

Woo sighed, placing his hand on his forehead at Da Vinci and his colleagues’ resounding answer.

“Haa… So you went ahead and made it after all?”

Woo, with a face full of worry, looked over Da Vinci and his fellow artisans before letting out another long sigh.

“Haa… Why are you there?”

Mindo, Woo’s younger brother, was standing among those working with Da Vinci. In the end, Woo granted Da Vinci and his group’s request.

“However! For the safety of many, the test site will be designated as the Han River! Also, I will issue a stern warning regarding the unauthorized manufacture and handling of gunpowder. If the same thing happens again, you will be immediately held accountable.”

“Yes, sir!”

Three days later, a large takeoff platform was built on the north side of the Han River. Many Seoul residents, unable to resist their curiosity after seeing the takeoff platform being built, gathered around the test site.

“What’s happening this time?”

“They say it’s a flying machine test?”

“Flying machine? Huh! I saw that when I was very young, it’s been a long time!”

As the spectators gathered, Da Vinci and his team finished assembling the flying machine and conducted a final inspection.

“Looks like there are no problems?”

“‘Looks like’ is not enough! It has to be certain!”

After a thorough inspection that was repeated several times, all preparations were completed, and the artisan who was the smallest and lightest among the team, chosen as the pilot, sat in the cockpit.

“Hoo!”

The artisan, wearing goggles and tightening the seatbelt, raised and waved a green flag.

“Light the fire!”

Cheek!

The artisans who were on standby lit the fuse that stretched long behind the flying machine.

Kwaaaaa!

The flame that traveled along the fuse ignited the engine attached to the back of the flying machine. As the five thrusters, shaped like trumpets attached to a sturdy iron cylinder and arranged in a pentagon, began to operate, the artisans next to the takeoff platform released the brakes. As the brakes were released, the flying machine raced down the runway of the takeoff platform, which stretched downwards like a slide.

The speed of the flying machine gradually increased with the acceleration of the gunpowder’s propulsion combined with the force of gravity. The flying machine, reaching the end of the takeoff platform that soared into the sky, immediately soared into the sky.

“It’s up!”

“Heop!”

Kwahang!

However, the flying machine that had soared into the sky soon fell into the river. Fortunately or unfortunately, the flying machine did not fall headfirst but landed on its fuselage. As the fuselage collided with the water surface, a large splash was created, and the wings of the flying machine fell off.

However, the flying machine did not stop. The fuselage of the flying machine, dragging the splash created by the flames spewing from the combustors like a tail, rushed towards the opposite bank.

“Oh my!”

“Ugh!”

“It’s coming this way!”

“Run away!”

Kwajik!

Amidst the people who were watching from the opposite bank and were horrified, running in all directions, the fuselage of the flying machine that had crossed the Han River rode up the sandy beach of the riverbank and came to a stop.

Cheeeeek~.

As the combustors of the flying machine, having exhausted all the gunpowder, stopped, the spectators who had fled far away slowly approached the flying machine. Among them, those who were braver than others approached the flying machine. Those who found the artisan sitting in the cockpit talked to each other.

“He’s not moving?”

“But he doesn’t seem dead?”

Those who approached the flying machine closely tapped the artisan who was frozen in the cockpit and spoke to him.

“Hey there?”

“Hello?”

“Oh dear. He’s lost his mind. Hey, you guys! Lend me a hand!”

“Ugh!”

The spectators, forcibly releasing the hand that was holding onto the control stick, busily moved the artisan out.

“Someone call a doctor!”

“Bring some cold water! Cold water!”

* * *

The experiment conducted by Da Vinci and his team turned the court upside down.

“They must be punished!”

“A flying machine loaded with gunpowder! If it had crashed into the pillars of the Han River bridge, who knows what tragedy would have occurred! They must be punished severely as an example to others!”

Arguments for punishing Da Vinci and the artisans continued to rise, but Hyeon firmly rejected them.

“It was an experiment that secured safety according to the established laws and procedures. The gunpowder manufacturing part has already been addressed with a stern warning, so we cannot punish them again. It was just bad luck, there were no illegal activities, so we cannot punish them. And if we punish them like that every time, who would bother to improve their skills and create new devices? Therefore, they are innocent!”

“However, Your Majesty!”

“Tsk!”

As Hyeon clicked his tongue, the ministers who had been arguing for punishment closed their mouths. Hyeon’s decision was reasonable, and he had even clicked his tongue. They had to back down here. However, the ministers knew very well.

‘The Emperor, as well as the Retired Emperor and the Grand Retired Emperor, from the past to the present and in the future, will have more than just one or two incidents like that flying machine! So, he has taken measures in advance!’

They were ministers who already knew well about Hyang and Hyang’s descendants. The flying machine experiment ended in failure, but things once again flowed strangely. At that time, a naval officer who had come to watch came up with a brilliant idea.

“The speed is amazing? What if a ship that fast charged? No, what if we loaded it with gunpowder and collided it with an enemy ship?”

The naval officer, pondering the idea that had flashed through his mind, shone his eyes.

“This could be promising? Who did you say made that?”

* * *

“Ah! Such a thing!”

Da Vinci, hearing the idea of the naval officer who had come to find him, clapped his knees and exclaimed.

“If successful, it will be a powerful weapon!”

Da Vinci, who had been discouraged by the failure of the experiment, regained color in his face as soon as he heard the proposal.

“I will write a proposal immediately! However, this is not just my idea, so I would like to know the officer’s name.”

“I am Kang Baek-du. My parents conceived me while traveling to Baekdu Mountain [a significant and sacred mountain on the Korean Peninsula].”

The proposal written by Kang Baek-du and Da Vinci received surprisingly good reviews and went up. Hyang, who was in charge of the final review, shone his eyes as he read the proposal.

“‘Self-propelled Fire Bomb’… If you look at the concept, it’s a torpedo? The proposers are Da Vinci and Kang Baek-du?”

Hyang, checking the personnel report that came with it, made a strange expression.

“Whitehead if written in English? Is this also a coincidence?”

Hyang remembered that the person who created the first modern torpedo was Whitehead.

“Anyway… a torpedo would be useful.”

Hyang, writing a review saying, ‘It would be good to allow development,’ sent it to Hyeon. Thus, the world’s first torpedo was revealed through the hands of Da Vinci.