We Do Business In Full Auto [EN]: Chapter 43

043

The Aftermath of the Dragon Head (1)

“A, a dragon head?”

“Yes. Here’s a picture.”

“Heo! So the Turtle Ship really did sink!”

Chief Han Cheol-soo’s face flushed instantly.

Historically, the Turtle Ship holds immense value and symbolism.

Chief Han Cheol-soo held the tablet PC as if cradling the Holy Grail.

Growing up, we often saw it in textbooks, and someone of Chief Han Cheol-soo’s age would have frequently encountered it on the old 100 won bills.

In Korea, the Turtle Ship could be compared to the Holy Grail or the Spear of Longinus, revered in the West.

“We’ve only found the dragon head so far.”

“Why hasn’t it been discovered until now?”

“Look at the surrounding terrain. It fell into a seabed cliff.”

“Heo-heo. So that’s what happened.”

The dragon head attached to the Turtle Ship had completely preserved its original form.

The lower part of the dragon head had clear traces of breakage, serving as historical evidence of how fierce the battle was at the time.

In fact, this alone was enough to drive the academic world wild.

Han Cheol-soo’s eyes gleamed.

“Can we find the main body as well?”

“If it exists, we can find it.”

“Heo-heo-heo. Your technical skills are astonishing. The currents are strong in this area, and it’s deep. Humans can only dive to about 30 meters [approximately 98 feet]. Even with special diving suits, there are limits.”

“That’s because it’s a special diving suit.”

“Heo-heo. I see.”

Of course, it wasn’t.

It was just the most plausible cheap rash guard.

Chief Han Cheol-soo chattered on about various things for quite a while.

‘This is taking up too much time.’

I should bring up the main point soon.

“We haven’t disclosed the dragon head yet. We need to gauge when to make the announcement. When would be a good time?”

“If possible, announce it today.”

“Today?”

“We need to heighten people’s expectations. Yesterday, we discovered artifacts, so today we need to throw something even bigger. If you want your company to be known, you have to use such strategies.”

“Thank you for the advice.”

“Heo-heo-heo. Feel free to ask this old man anything you’re curious about. I’ll answer as sincerely as I can.”

“I feel reassured.”

“I’m even more reassured. You are a treasure of the nation.”

Suddenly, I became a patriot.

To me, who has been too busy making a living to even think about patriotism, the word ‘nation’ feels foreign.

When I went out to the harbor, the captain had already started the engine and was preparing to set sail.

The reason for not leaving this place must be the media’s attention. If I receive media attention, I can lay the foundation for the company’s development while facing risks. But what about the captain? In fact, he has nothing to gain.

Not only reporters but also scholars had gathered today. It was clear at a glance that it was a gathering of scholars.

There were also ordinary people mixed in, and even people from the government, creating a huge crowd.

It seemed like the number of people had at least doubled since yesterday.

They found me and swarmed around.

“It’s Team Leader Lee Yoo-sung!”

“Kkeung.”

‘Do I have to endure this kind of harassment throughout the project?’

It’s a big problem as more people start to gather.

“Team Leader! What’s the schedule for today?”

“Are you still searching around Chuwonpo today?”

“Heom-heom.”

The surroundings quieted down as if by magic when I cleared my throat.

I don’t think I’ve ever received this much attention in my life. Could this even be included in the H Group Chairman’s support?

For a company to develop, it needs proper advertising.

Many companies spend more than 40% of their operating profit on advertising. In that sense, being able to advertise in this way is an enormous benefit.

I told people according to the plan.

“We will search Chuwonpo until the morning. And from the afternoon, we plan to move to Geoje City.”

“Are you following the retreat route from that time?”

“That’s right.”

“What kind of technology allows you to obtain clear photos even in the currents? Moreover, it far surpasses the depth that humans can dive to.”

“It’s a company secret.”

Of course, I had no choice but to gloss over it like that.

The shabby rash guard transformed into an amazing piece of equipment in an instant.

Clear photos? Just break through the currents and take pictures up close.

I push through the crowd of reporters.

I’m on edge, wondering if the undead will be captured by the reporters.

‘This is really something I can’t do.’

But the work has already begun.

The snowball that started at the top of the mountain has only grown larger, not smaller. The current situation was exactly like that.

The wind blows even more fiercely as I board the ship.

I button up my coat and enter the captain’s cabin.

“Aigo, what’s all that?”

The captain looked at the gathered people with a disgusted expression.

To be honest, I’m also burdened.

“It was originally planned to be announced later… but it turned out this way.”

“How can I ride a ship in peace? I thought I was going to die coming all the way here.”

“I’m giving you plenty of money, aren’t I?”

“Let’s get going quickly. I’m about to get seasick being here.”

“Let’s do that.”

I’m the same, I feel like I’m going to get seasick.

The fishing boat roars and cuts through the sea.

We search again, a little further away from the area we searched yesterday. Of course, I didn’t really focus on it this morning.

The goal has already been achieved. I just need to spend some time and go back to the harbor around lunchtime to make the announcement. After that, we’ll move to Geoje. Of course, since the route from here to Geoje was also a search route, we’ll move while searching little by little.

We stop the boat and immediately deploy the divers.

“Eutta, it’s cold. Want a drink of soju [Korean distilled spirit]?”

“That’s a bit…”

“We have fresh sashimi here too?”

“Ah, still…”

Regardless, the captain immediately sliced the live fish, mixing it with wasabi.

No, when did he catch the fish?

He takes a shot of soju, smacks his lips, and eats the sashimi.

“Ah, it’s sweet.”

“Aish, really. I can’t stop you. Then just one shot.”

“Heu-heu-heu. That’s right.”

Well, I have nothing to do in the morning anyway, so this is good.

The captain’s cabin is well-tinted, so even if a helicopter points a camera at us, it won’t be able to capture the scene of me drinking.

It’s lunchtime.

Meanwhile, the H Group’s salvage ship arrived in Tongyeong, and Chief Han Cheol-soo decided to directly oversee the salvage operation.

It will take more than a week just to salvage the 120 artifacts. If the salvage is difficult, I agreed to help.

I drank a little in the morning, but I wasn’t just doing nothing. I expanded the search area around me and discovered about 20 more artifacts. But I still hadn’t found the Turtle Ship.

The head of the Turtle Ship, which was discovered on the cliff yesterday, was carefully salvaged.

The dragon head was placed in a huge box with internal shock protection and taken out. Finally, it was lifted with the fishing boat’s crane.

The captain was shocked when he saw the dragon head.

“Is this really the head of the Turtle Ship?”

“Yes.”

“It looks like it has a halo…”

“I know, right? I can’t even touch it.”

I felt like I would damage the artifact, so I closed the box as it was.

When I came out to the harbor, several artifacts were being salvaged. The salvaged artifacts were carefully washed and dried by scholars who flocked to them.

Now that I see it, the reason why scholar-like people flocked here was because of this.

People flock to me as I get off.

I wondered how long I would have to do this, but it seems like it will be until I am in charge of the search team and until I discover the Turtle Ship and complete the salvage operation.

When I took the huge box out with the crane, people’s eyes were filled with curiosity.

“Team Leader! What is this!?”

“It’s the dragon head.”

“Keok! The dragon head!?”

“Yes. It’s the head of the Turtle Ship.”

“The head of the Turtle Ship!”

Murmur, murmur.

The surroundings were instantly abuzz.

The Turtle Ship had been restored and exhibited, but it was the first time everyone had seen the real thing.

The reporters’ expressions became solemn.

“I-Is this really the head of the Turtle Ship?”

“You must have filmed it when I left. The helicopter in the sky must have clearly filmed the empty box, right?”

The reporters nodded.

The three major broadcasting stations launched helicopters and confirmed that it was an empty box. And they brought out the head of the Turtle Ship.

This was the real thing.

“How on earth did you salvage this!?”

“It’s a company secret.”

Chief Han Cheol-soo was in charge of the salvage team.

The sea breeze in midwinter is fierce. Even in the harbor, the wind was fierce, let alone on the ship.

Still, the people who came here were engaged in the salvage operation with reverence.

Artifacts from the Imjin War [Japanese invasions of Korea, 1592-1598] are submerged here. There were many artifacts from the Japanese army, but there were also quite a few Joseon [Korean kingdom from 1392 to 1897] artifacts because it was the first naval battle lost in the combined Imjin and Jeongyu Wars [second Japanese invasion of Korea in 1597].

Professor Oh Hye-soo, who is called an eccentric genius in the academic world, made an earnest request to the government and boarded the salvage ship.

Judging by the way she keeps chattering, she must be a scholar. I don’t know if she talks so much because she’s a woman or what.

Han Cheol-soo maintained a smiling face while holding his throbbing head.

“Heo-eot! This is a Sajo-gu [a grappling hook used to pull enemy ships closer] ?”

“A Sajo-gu?”

“It’s a weapon created by Chungmugong [posthumous title for Admiral Yi Sun-sin] himself. It is used to pull enemy ships in close combat.”

“Heo. Chungmugong himself?”

“There are only a few of these left in the country, and to find it here.”

Each one had valuable historical significance.

Oh Hye-soo was horrified and ran to the firearms like the matchlock.

“Please handle it carefully!”

“I’m trying to be as gentle as possible…”

“Do you know what this is!? It’s a Bigyeokjincheonle [a type of Korean bomb]!”

“It just looks like cast iron?”

“Why is this cast iron? The inside is wood, and there is a groove carved to wind the fuse. A bamboo tube containing the groove, along with iron fragments called bingcheol and gunpowder, is inside. The gunpowder has melted and disappeared, but it’s a very valuable historical material!”

“Geez.”

The employees involved in the salvage operation are veterans in their own right. But one historian was causing a ruckus, so they were in a difficult situation.

That said, can Han Cheol-soo say anything?

H Group is currently doing image marketing. You can never get a good look by messing with a famous historian.

That’s why the chairman sent him here himself.

Han Cheol-soo has to step up here.

“Be careful.”

“Yes, Chief.”

The salvage operation begins again.

Then they received a shocking radio message.

-Chief! Team Leader Lee Yoo-sung has salvaged the dragon head of the Turtle Ship and brought it to the harbor!