The Genius Decided To Live An Ordinary Life [EN]: Chapter 326

As spring turned into summer, Jinhyuk found himself visiting the Sakdo Research Institute more frequently.

Normally, he’d go about twice a week, but in 2001, he spent more than half his time at Sakdo.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh-.

Even the air seemed to vibrate.

With a subtle hum, like a distant boiler starting up on a winter night, an object rose into the air. Cables dangled messily from the bottom and sides of the object, but no one paid them any mind at this moment.

The object that rose was a disc about 2 meters in diameter, a lift generator reminiscent of a small UFO.

“Ooh, ooh, it’s, it’s, it’s floating!”

“Yeah!”

“I can’t believe it actually worked…”

The researchers cheered and applauded at the better-than-expected results.

Some even hugged each other, only to wrinkle their noses at the smell.

Amidst all this, Jinhyuk stood alone, arms crossed, chin resting on his hand, eyes narrowed.

“Team Leader Gong.”

“Yes, Steve.”

A woman in her mid-30s, Team Leader Gong, wiped her eyes and stepped forward.

“Which would be more efficient, the vertical form, that is… developing it as a current quadron engine, or making an aircraft in this form?”

“Of course, the current disc shape is more advantageous. The track for the tungsten particles to move is longer.”

Is that so?

He still fiddled with his chin.

This was the result of showing Yujin Hong Ki-jun’s recipe as it was originally written.

High-density particles, shaped into perfect spheres with a diameter of 1mm, had to rotate at high speed while maintaining a close distance, almost touching, but without ever making contact, Yujin explained. In that process, the attractive force would be converted into lift.

‘It’s a concept that’s hard to understand.’

Since the concept was vague and contradictory, it was natural that those studying modern science would not easily accept it. So, the only way was to explain the method directly. The engine they completed by explaining and teaching was that thing.

Well, since it’s an invention that converts kinetic energy into lift, it’s okay to call it an engine.

“We also need to install a controller to change the direction of travel forward, backward, left, and right. We also need to check the braking performance.”

“First, we’re considering guiding the particle aggregation position from the outside… for example, with fake magnetic fields, or by giving vibration stimuli. That shouldn’t be too difficult.”

“Try everything you can.”

“Yes! It’s all thanks to the theory Steve drew up.”

Team Leader Gong gave a clumsy salute.

Jinhyuk smiled awkwardly.

He had only understood what Yujin read, memorized what Yujin explained, and then drew pictures to explain it.

Jinhyuk doesn’t understand the language of engineers.

That would be the same for other managers.

Immediately after being appointed as the head of the research institute, he had asked the researchers for something.

– “If you don’t have the ability to explain the mechanism at a layman’s level, just answer the questions I ask.”

It was a request that considered saving the time of engineers who tried to explain everything in their own language from beginning to end, and the fatigue of the manager who had to listen.

Thanks to that, the eccentric researchers at the institute had improved their communication skills remarkably.

They even made time to have discussions at a layman’s level and practiced writing reports in an easy-to-understand way.

‘They’re still eccentric, but it’s an amazing development.’

For them to live as human beings, the identity of a human who can communicate would be more helpful than being an eccentric.

Just as he was satisfied with the lift generator and the changes in the researchers, Team Leader Gong tapped Jinhyuk on the back.

“It has high utility, Steve. It’s a groundbreaking invention.”

“I guess so. But it’ll take a long time to commercialize, right?”

“Yes. We need to consider not only miniaturization and enlargement but also the diversity of uses. Still, it’s significant that we’ve completed a technology that can be used universally. We’ll keep it confidential until you order its release.”

Team Leader Gong, forgetting her fatigue, spoke resolutely, as if making a pledge.

All research at the Sakdo Research Institute was top secret.

Only after the release was decided would it go through the Yeouido Research Institute for refinement and enter the commercialization preparation stage.

“You’ve worked hard. I look forward to your continued efforts.”

“If you approve, I’d like to consider implanting an energy circulation module.”

“Circulation module…”

Initial startup requires external stimuli such as electricity.

However, if a circulation module was applied, the engine’s kinetic energy would charge the battery, and that battery would be used to start the engine again, a concept that was halfway to perpetual motion.

“Of course. I approve.”

Jinhyuk, bowing his head lightly, turned towards the elevator leading to the lower floor.

“I’ll stop by the underground lab and then head to headquarters. This is just the beginning. I’ll give you plenty of time, so please get enough rest. Safety is the most important thing, so always be careful.”

“Yes! Ah, ah! But Steve.”

“Yes?”

“It’s finally a completed prototype, so how about giving it a model name? The existing code name doesn’t stick.”

“Ah, I-.”

“Wouldn’t it be meaningful if the boss named it?”

Ah, this…

A person with no talent for naming has to come up with a name.

Is this some kind of Jang Hee-bin [a famous royal concubine known for her ambition and scheming] making her own poison?

“As Steve knows, we have no talent in that area.”

I don’t have that talent either. I wanted to say that, but I couldn’t ignore Team Leader Gong’s bright eyes, which didn’t match her age.

“U…UOF would be good.”

“Excuse me? I didn’t hear you correctly?”

Did he have a drink in the afternoon? Team Leader Gong, who was much smaller, tilted her head and looked up at Jinhyuk’s flushed face.

“UOF…”

“Ah! UOF! That’s good. But what does it mean?”

One of the characteristics that cannot be left out of researchers was their tenacity, once they bite, they don’t let go. Just like now.

Jinhyuk looked at the disc where tens of thousands of tungsten particles were rotating at supersonic speeds with the power of electricity. And he racked his brain at that speed.

“Ultimately, it’s an ordinary flying unit. In twenty or thirty years, we’ll apply this engine method to all vehicles.”

Ultimate Ordinary Flying-unit.

It’s just a name, but the grammar and syntax are like a general’s.

“Ah, that’s right. If it spreads widely, it will soon become ordinary and common.”

Birds of a feather flock together.

It’s a relief that the crazy people can communicate with each other.

I hope Kim Eun-jung doesn’t claim the copyright?

*

Rat-a-tat-tat-!
Tat-tat-tat-tat-!

Thud-thud-thud-!

As the SAR3A2, a medium machine gun using 7.62mm rounds, spat fire, the dummy wearing a chest-type bulletproof vest shook like it was electrocuted.

[Cease fire-.]

Jinhyuk and the other observers took off their headsets and gathered in front of the monitor.

The monitor on the desk displayed real-time graphs of the amount of impact the dummy received and the amount of impact the bulletproof vest absorbed.

“Steve, what do you think? The impact was strong at the cut, but it’s damage that won’t lead to fractures. Weak bones like rib cartilage may crack. Still, it’s an amazing impact absorption capacity for something connected like chain mail.”

“I need to see the bulletproof vest directly. It’s also important that no fragmentation or scattering occurs.”

He had ordered that the bulletproof vest absorb the impact entirely.

Just blocking penetration wouldn’t prevent fractures or shock, and if it couldn’t absorb the impact, secondary damage such as falls could occur.

It shouldn’t be too hard either.

If the warhead broke, the ricocheted warhead could cause innocent victims.

The Sakdo researchers applied, synthesized, and layered materials procured from General Research, then pressed them again. They repeated that process 12 times. They created a 1cm thick, at least 60-layer composite bulletproof vest.

“The weight is a bit disappointing.”

“We’re investigating it as being due to the plant-based material. We’ll find a way to reduce it.”

The disadvantage was that it was somewhat heavy. If applied to the whole body from neck to ankle, it would exceed 12kg. Considering that the best-performing American product currently only protects the upper body and weighs 8kg, it was comparatively superior, but it was still heavy. It wasn’t developed to compare and compete with other companies’ products.

“If you look here-”

Team Leader Cha, who was in charge of bulletproof vest development, pointed to the impact marks with white chalk.

“-It’s possible to calculate that the impact was absorbed and flowed backward. The fact that all the warheads fell to the floor seems to mean the same thing. The fact that there are no bullets stuck in the bulletproof vest means that its durability is that good.”

“What would be the production cost per unit?”

He asked the research institute’s data management officer who was accompanying Jinhyuk.

“The budget spent on the materials used in the current development prototype is 190 million won.”

“Hmm-”

A groan escaped him at the staggering price.

About 200 million won. In the third quarter of 2001, 200 million won was enough to buy a decent 20-pyeong [approximately 710 square feet] apartment in the middle of Seoul. Of course, it would vary depending on the neighborhood, but the fact that it exceeded the price of a house remained unchanged.

That meant that was just the cost of the materials.

Even if they went into mass production, it would be difficult to expect a reduction in unit cost as they would be using the same materials and the same process.

Mass production wouldn’t reduce the amount of materials needed.

“I’ll discuss material production with General. The effect is good, but it’s too expensive. If mass production of materials is possible, the production cost of bulletproof vests can be drastically reduced.”

They wouldn’t go into production as it was, but if they did, it would only benefit General. They would have to buy expensive materials from General.

“Isn’t that amount not bad for VIPs, Steve?”

“We’re not making it to dress up rich people or politicians. Our soldiers and firefighters will wear it. It’s a safety device to replace until we complete the dangerous work robots at the underwater research institute.”

“Ah…”

“Please test it with a full-body bulletproof and fireproof suit and bulletproof combat boots, and prepare a video recording.”

“Understood. If you tell me where you’ll use the video… I need to fill out a confidential ledger.”

“First, I’m thinking of selling it to the US at a high price and using that money to produce more. I think we can start with that money.”

Wouldn’t the White House buy at least 100 of them?

There are also the Middle Eastern oil tycoons.

Would the royals facing civil war and assassination threats buy a few sets?

I need to call Hammond as soon as I get to headquarters.

*

It was already the beginning of winter.

Chae Gyu-ho, my classmate from middle school, came to Yeouido.

We had met every vacation during high school, and we had seen each other often after Jinhyuk entered society, but this was the first time we had met since Chae Gyu-ho became a senior.

“Yo, Jaguar-. You’re already a senior, huh? College is just around the corner?”

“Chairman, don’t say that. How hard do you think I’ve been studying? My older brothers tease me, saying it wouldn’t have been this hard if I had gone to medical school.”

Chae Gyu-ho had only lost his acne, and he still had the same cuteness he had in middle school. He couldn’t drink, so we could talk comfortably on a park bench in front of the company. Passersby who recognized Jinhyuk glanced at him, but he pretended not to notice. It’s not like his face would wear out if they looked at it, and it had already become public property anyway.

“How is it studying at the best science and technology university in Korea?”

“Ugh-, it’s kind of daunting.”

“Daunting?”

“Yeah-. I thought about it after listening to Chairman Hong Ki-jun’s lecture last year, and it seems like universities only teach subjects that don’t fit reality? Well, I’ve been studying other things on my own, but still-”

While some universities were still attracting students with certifications and employment rates, universities that were faithful to their role as halls of learning were making students feel the gap with reality to the bone. Choi Mi-kyung, a medical student at a top-tier university, had commented that it felt like she was taking classes in Greece wearing only her underwear.

“Isn’t that the role of a university? The bridge between academia and reality is the responsibility of scholars and students, not educational institutions like universities. It’s ultimately something that people have to do.”

“The chairman still has a knack for making difficult things easy. How great would it be if the chairman were a professor.”

“You’re saying all sorts of things, you rascal.”

In front of his friend whom he had met after almost a year, Chae Gyu-ho confided his worries about the future.

“My brothers are making good money, but they’re asking me what I’m going to live on, if I’m going to go into research, or if I’m going to go abroad to become a professor, and I’m just-. Ugh-”

“You don’t like studying abroad?”

“Yeah. I like studying and researching, but I want to make something tangible. I’ve studied enough, me too.”

“How about taking care of your military service first? You can apply to Sein Technica.”

“I already did.”

“Oh, really?”

“Once I graduate, I’ll be dragged to an island-”

The two friends chuckled together.

It was because Chae Gyu-ho had said it as if he was being dragged to a salt farm or a shrimp boat.

“Anyway, if what you’re saying is true, it’s hard to find useful talent among university graduates?”

“In my opinion, it’s not the people that are the problem, it’s the environment. Our school is considered the best in the country, but do you know what the reality is like at other schools?”

“What’s it like?”

“They spend a lot of money to go to the US to research how to help Korean students develop creativity like American students? I don’t know if they’re sightseeing or drinking there, but they stay there for a really long time. And do you know what they do after that?”

“What do they do?”

I knew why they did that, but I deliberately asked again.

“They build a garage on campus out of nowhere.”

“A garage? A garage? A car park? Why? Is there a shortage of parking spaces?”

The beginning of a good friendship, empathizing with the other person’s words and expressing curiosity.

Now, Jinhyuk was someone who knew that too.