My Calling Is Profiler [EN]: Chapter 472

It turned out that the Ministry of National Defense had acquired special-purpose knives as a result of an investigation, only to discover they were fake Chinese products supplied by a beauty salon.

What’s truly absurd is that they paid the price for genuine articles but received counterfeits. Even after the scandal broke and made the news, they didn’t return the knives or terminate the deal. Instead, they supplied these fake products to front-line units, instructing them to use them anyway.

“Yeah, so we caught a lot of heat for that. Look, guns are our responsibility… but we don’t handle the other equipment.”

“I don’t think you called me here just to complain about that, though, did you?”

“Right. We’re in the process of introducing the ‘Army Tiger,’ or ‘Jjam Tiger’ [a colloquial term, possibly a play on words or a nickname], system on a trial basis, but the situation has changed somewhat.”

The situation has shifted from trying to modify MK series firearms with the Army Tiger system or whatever it’s called.

Originally, South Korea and the Western world primarily used so-called NATO rounds, based on the 5.56mm caliber, in their firearms.

“But I heard that NATO will soon change its standard ammunition to something like 6.8mm.”

“I’ve heard rumors to that effect.”

There have been complaints for some time that 5.56mm ammunition lacks sufficient stopping power. Stopping power refers to the ability to halt an advancing enemy, and its weakness often results in failures to stop charging adversaries.

“That’s why Eastern Bloc countries like Russia use 7.62mm rounds.”

However, while this increases stopping power, it also significantly reduces the number of rounds that can be carried at any given time.

“Yeah, so it looks like the next-generation rifle will be chambered in 6.8mm.”

“Then we’ll have to replace all the firearms.”

“I suppose so.”

In the first place, a gun designed for 5.56mm ammunition cannot be used with 6.8mm rounds. Currently, the Army Tiger system and everything else are ultimately planned around the 5.56mm rifle.

In other words, in the long term, 5.56mm will become obsolete, and 6.8mm rifles will be introduced, significantly reducing the likelihood of the Army Tiger system, which doesn’t even function properly, from continuing.

“You’re right. Actually, the discussion about developing a 6.8mm rifle is an old one. That’s why we developed the new MK series. We haven’t delivered it yet, though.”

In any case, they will have no choice but to deliver it eventually.

“I see. But I don’t think you called me here because of the Army Tiger system, did you?”

“A while ago, the National Intelligence Service [NIS; South Korea’s primary intelligence agency] caught a guy trying to enter China illegally. And he had information on our new firearm development.”

Park Do-joon’s face hardened at those words. Of course, it would be strange if there were no industrial spies, especially from China, which has a vast network of spies worldwide.

“The problem is, this hasn’t been made public yet.”

“Judging by the fact that even the name hasn’t been decided, it seems that production testing is only being done at the research institute level.”

“That’s right.”

The blueprints for a firearm currently under development within the research institute, not even sent to the front lines, almost made their way out of the country.

“It’s not just the blueprints. It also contains key processes such as heat treatment methods and barrel manufacturing techniques.”

“Is it nearly complete?”

“The firing mechanism and barrel durability are.”

It’s said that the convenience system [ergonomics, user interface] has not yet been developed. Primarily, that aspect requires extensive consultation with the Ministry of National Defense.

“Besides, this is self-produced.”

“I know what you mean.”

Usually, weapons are manufactured when the military expresses a demand, but in some cases, particularly with rifles, they are developed first.

“The core technology almost went to China. The problem is that neither the Ministry of National Defense nor the National Intelligence Service could identify the culprit. Fortunately, he was apprehended just before crossing into China, so no damage occurred….”

“Well, China is also desperate for a new rifle.”

China’s main rifles are the QBZ-95 rifle, commonly known as the Type 95, and the Type 81 rifle. The Type 03 is also a primary weapon.

The Type 95 is mainly used by some special warfare units, while the Type 81 and Type 03 are primarily used by general infantry.

In South Korea, the Type 81 is used by rear units or reservists, while the Type 03 is used by front-line and combat units.

Of course, China is also investing heavily in research to change that. The Type 03 isn’t 40 years old like in Korea, but it’s still 20 years old.

“If it’s a rifle developed in Korea, it will be of great help in developing their next-generation rifle.”

“Yeah, that’s the problem.”

Daeguk Group invested hundreds of billions of won [hundreds of millions of US dollars] to develop a rifle, but they don’t know who stole it.

“It’s certain that it was stolen from inside the research institute, though.”

“Well, that must be serious.”

“Do you know what kind of research institute our research institute is?”

The blueprints for a rifle? In terms of the proportion of defense research, it’s not a very large part. Right now, Daeguk Group’s research institute is researching everything from tanks, missiles, and new engines to all kinds of important projects.

“It would be fatal if that leaked out. Do you know how many hacking attempts are made on the research institute every day?”

“I heard rumors that it’s about five times.”

“That’s right. Five times a day, not a year, a month, or a week. And that’s the minimum.”

Hacking occurs more than five times a day at Daeguk Group’s secret research institute, and of course, people don’t even know it exists. Is that happening because they’re bored?

“And most of those hacking attempts are from China.”

“Hmm.”

However, when they determined that they couldn’t steal information through hacking, it was clear that they stole information through insiders in some way.

“No one knows who did it or how they did it, not the National Intelligence Service, the Ministry of National Defense, or the police.”

And this will be a serious problem for the Korean defense plan.

“If technology doesn’t work, you have to read the psychology, for sure.”

Since it’s an important research institute, there must be a system that can check login records or browsing records. But the fact that it didn’t come out means that the other party came in with a purpose.

“Catch that guy. In return, you will be able to produce accessories for the new rifle.”

“That’s good enough, and we have some time.”

When a new rifle is made, combat support systems, i.e., accessories, will be attached to it to suit modern warfare. But there’s no way Daeguk Group, which knows that, wouldn’t make it.

Guns are such a big source of profit and realistically require serious security, so Sky Industry cannot manufacture them.

Heat treatment is too different from what we have been doing so far.

“But your company can make things like the gun cover or the front grip well enough.”

“I know what you mean.”

Nevertheless, it is by no means a small contract. Millions of rifles will be needed to replace the entire army’s firearms.

Furthermore, guns are consumables. The Ministry of National Defense thinks that they can be used forever and continues to use rifles from decades ago, but strictly speaking, guns also have a lifespan. No matter how much heat treatment is done, damage is inevitable due to heat and impact when entering combat.

‘That’s enough for us to prepare for.’

Even if we do deliver it, it will be years later.

“But will the National Intelligence Service issue me a security clearance?”

“Fortunately, that part doesn’t seem to be difficult. I heard you did something with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs?”

“Ah!”

Security clearance is not something that is valid everywhere once you receive it. However, if you have a record of receiving security clearance elsewhere, you can receive it more easily.

“That’s right.”

“First of all, please catch that guy. Information will continue to leak out as it is.”

Park Do-joon nodded at those words.

# Insiders

“Hmm.”

Park Do-joon flipped through the documents roughly. As she watched him, Yoo In-hye, an agent from the National Intelligence Service, frowned while driving.

“Is it okay to look at it like that?”

No matter how she looked at it, Park Do-joon didn’t seem to be analyzing it diligently, so she, as the driver, didn’t have good things to say.

Park Do-joon glanced at her at those words and snickered inwardly at the dissatisfaction in her eyes.

‘Her pride is hurt.’

They called the police to catch a guy that even the National Intelligence Service couldn’t catch. Yoo In-hye, an agent whose pride was hurt, was not particularly friendly from the beginning. No, to be exact, she was hostile.

‘Well, loyalty and pride are different.’

If you work for the National Intelligence Service, you will have a strong sense of loyalty to the country. Especially in the case of young agents, loyalty is instilled almost like brainwashing, so of course loyalty will skyrocket.

‘But that doesn’t mean that the idea that they are superior disappears.’

Park Do-joon, who has experience working with National Intelligence Service agents, knows that. National Intelligence Service agents try to treat the police like their subordinates.

Strictly speaking, it is a cooperative relationship, not a subordinate one, but they tend to think of the police as their slaves.

It is natural for the police to do work related to national security, but National Intelligence Service agents do not have the authority to command the police.

‘So her pride must be hurt because the police came to solve a case that they couldn’t solve.’

Park Do-joon was also looking at other aspects in that regard.

‘Especially if they have an inferiority complex.’

As Park Do-joon’s gaze lingered, Yoo In-hye’s face became even more uncomfortable.

“What are you looking at so much?”

“No, it’s just, well, there’s something like that.”

Park Do-joon said, turning his gaze back to the documents.

‘I can’t drop her off, and it’s annoying.’

Even now, Yoo In-hye was in a situation where her inferiority complex and annoyance were skyrocketing. That’s because her job is to monitor Park Do-joon. Of course, that’s not a bad thing. No matter how much Park Do-joon already has a security rating, this case is special. Furthermore, it’s strange if a National Intelligence Service agent doesn’t stick with him since this is the first time they’re working together.

‘But the fact that the higher-ups assigned a female agent is too obvious.’

It’s not like they’re using a honey trap. In the first place, there’s no reason to use that on the police, and if that were the purpose, there’s no reason for her to be so fussy with him.

‘Because she probably thinks you can’t solve it either.’

Looking down on the police is not a characteristic of Yoo In-hye, but a characteristic of the National Intelligence Service organization. Of course, they won’t think that Park Do-joon can solve something they couldn’t solve.

‘In other words, it’s a throwaway card.’

The problem is that, systemically, they have to attach a person to the throwaway card no matter what.

‘In other words, Yoo In-hye herself is also a throwaway card.’

The problem is that Yoo In-hye knows that too. A person without that much sense cannot join the National Intelligence Service.

‘So she must be annoyed.’

Of course, he had no intention of understanding that and comforting her.

“Hmm….”

“Please read it carefully. It’s an important factor.”

“Well? Is it important?”

“What?”

“It is true that all related matters are important, but that doesn’t mean they are all equally important.”

“But this is a report containing information about suspicious people there.”