August 15th, 2018 15:00

  Seoul Jongro-ku Blue House President’s office.

  “Minister Lim! I will do all in my power to add more contracts without overstepping financial capabilities, so please work with the focus on having the retirees and unemployed returning to their jobs. I emphasize again, the economic recovery plan is not to simply aid the domestic corporations. The main focus of this plan is to have the many heads of families who became retirees or unemployed go back to their workplaces to revitalize the market economy.”


  President Suh Hyun-woo’s face and voice were serious.

  “Yes, I will keep it in mind. Mr.President, I will continue reporting.” Minister Lim Tae-yeon bowed politely, answered the President and continued his presentation.

  “To ensure foreign contracts will rise after we procure the domestic contracts, we will provide technology related to engines, which is the most important part of shipbuilding technology. Right now the underground research facility is developing next-generation engines for ships, rockets, cars, and aircraft. Among them, the engines for ships will not be the plasma superprotonic engine to prevent technological leaks, so it will be an engine equipped with an electricity amplifying system that can outperform the current ones in the market by double output, speed, and fuel efficiency. Therefore, this new engine will greatly help in procuring contracts from overseas.”


  President Suh Hyun-woo, who was listening to the presentation, raised his hand as if he had something he wished to confirm. Minister Lim Tae-yeon nodded his head politely and spoke.

  “Yes, Mr. President please go ahead.”


  “Would, the Naval ships also use the engine equipped with the electricity amplifying system?”


  “No. Mr. President! The KD-3A level ships that were made last year will be equipped with the superprotonic engines. Also, the standard ships from the navy will have their engines replaced with the superprotonic engines gradually.”


  “All right. Please have any equipment or weaponry related to national defense grafted with the developing technology. Now let’s move on.”


  “Yes, next is the automobile industry. The industry right now is changing to a high technological hub type form and it is now developing a next-generation automobile that combines a hybrid system and automation system. Commercialization is set to be later next year and it is expected to bring a lot of attention.”


  “I have heard abuse of power towards lower-level companies is worst in the automobile companies. Please focus on that more and keep it in check.”


  “Yes! Mr. President, so we are planning to provide new technology and research funds to each corporation so they can procure technology of their own and to have automobile companies and lower-level companies can change their relationship from superior and inferior to an equal relationship.”


  The President seemed to be pleased with Minister Lim Tae-yeon’s explanations and was smiling brightly throughout the presentation.

  “Yes, that is a great measure. Like stage 4 of our plan, mid- and small-sized companies must flourish for our nation to prosper.”


  Minister Lim seemed to be parched from continuing his presentation and sipped some tea while the President spoke and started his report again.

  “Yes, Mr. President, the last field is the energy industry. The original plan was to build an 8GW class plasma superprotonic generator by the end of this year, but we have found issues related to the Korean electricity power corporation so the plan has been postponed to next year.”


  “I heard about the Korean electricity power corporation case through the Secret Bureau of Corruption Investigation.

  “The plan for the future is to have the government buy out the Korean Water and Nuclear power corporation and have it build and operate the plasma superprotonic generators instead. After one powerplant is built and under operation, we will then specify 2GW, 5GW, 8GW, and 15GW classes and have those be exported in 2020. Please take a look, Mr. President!”


  Minister Lim Tae-yeon handed the tablet PC he was looking at to President Suh Hyun-woo. The tablet PC screen had the specified information regarding the plasma superprotonic generators that were to be built in an organized format. President Suh Hyun-woo read the information thoroughly for a few minutes and handed the tablet PC back and answered.

  “Hmm, good. It was well-organized. Ah! Also when we buy out the Korean Water and Nuclear power corporation it must have a new name. Has one been decided yet?”


  “Yes, to maintain secrecy was have not made it a public corporation but rather a branch facility of the Ministry of Trade and Industry and named it Plasma generator department. That concludes our presentation, sir.”


  President Suh Hyunn-woo seemed to be pleased with the meeting and spoke words of praise to Minister Lim Tae-yeon as he applauded.

  “Hmm, I am satisfied with today’s report. I know you are hard at work Minister Lim. It is that important. So please keep up the hard work for a little longer.”


  “Thank you. Mr. President, the work I do makes me feel accomplished–I very much enjoy it.”


  “Hahaha, glad you think of if that way, and I appreciate that.”


  * * *

  August 16th, 2018 16:00

  Choongbook Chungju-si 17th Fighter Wing underground research facility X-12 lab (Biology and Genetics)

  Inside a lab, the size of 130 square meters, was a scene that would make anyone laugh. All lab members men and women both had a black face mask on and working hard at their research. Perhaps a certain type of test was being conducted?

  “How long do we have to keep this on us?” A male researcher asked the head of research Kim Un-hee.

  “For about 10 minutes~”


  “Man~ Do I have to wear this thing too, though?”


  “Researcher Park? What’s the problem? You’re revitalizing your skin and conducting research it’s catching two birds with one stone…… I would love to just research this every day wouldn’t you?”


  Head researcher Kim Un-hee tapped on her facemask and only opened her mouth slightly to speak to prevent any wrinkles from forming.

  “But how can men wear a thing……”


  “Stop making me talk! I’m going to have wrinkles!”


  “Yes!”


  The X-12 lab was testing out and researching the anti-aging face masks that were to be sold through the Korean Pharmaceuticals company. The human genome map by the Splithians was much more thorough and specific compared to the genome map made by the joint effort of six nations in 2001. After the researchers obtained the genome map, they were able to develop new various cures by using the serum the aliens brought.

  Humans all longed for health and youth, yet nothing could stop the passing of time. It was just human nature to be willing to pay any price to stay young as long as possible. The researchers were thinking of a disposable product that could slowly prevent aging instead of a long-term aging deterrent such as a serum or medicine and decided on face masks. The reason behind it was for profit. The question was how could they supply a market with a product in the long term and gain profits…… Facemasks were their conclusion.

  The newly made “Anti-aging facial mask” prevented aging but also would have effects to return to the skin to the youthful days through long-term use, which was truly a gift from god.

  “Hello.” The lab’s door opened and Namgoong-won entered with a loud greeting. Everyone looked at Namgoong-won and only waved at him in response as if they did not want any wrinkles to form.

  “I heard the rumors and came by. Head researcher Kim, please give me some face masks, too.”


  Head researcher Kim Un-hee signaled ‘okay’ with her fingers instead of speaking and placed dozens of facial masks and two small round cases in a paper bag before handing it to Namgoong-won.

  “Wow! You’re going to give me this much? But what’s this small round case for?”


  Researcher Park Jae-soo, who was watching from the sidelines, butted in.

  “That’s a firm skin cream that we developed in a different format. Head researcher Namgoong, are you gonna use it? I am only using it because I am forced to since I’m a researcher here, but what kind of man uses facial masks?”


  Researcher Park Jae-soo spoke Namgoong-won about whether or not wrinkles would form.

  “Hahaha, it’s not for me. It’s for someone else, you know?”


  “Ah…… It’s Assistant Manager Lee Hye-jin right?”


  “Yes, hahaha”


  “Haha, Okay.”


  “Everyone seems to be busy wearing masks and all. I will head out. Thank you head researcher Kim. Have a good day, Kim.”


  “I will also say bye for our head researcher who can’t speak right now. Farewell.”


  Namgoong-won stepped out of the lab and began laughing and whistling. He was thinking about how cute Assistant Manager Lee Hye-jin, who was so concerned about looking older, even though she was the same age as him. and passed the hallway.

  * * *

  August 16th, 2018 18:00

  Chungbook Chunju-si 17th Fighter Wing underground research facility X-2 lab (Namgoong-won lab)

  Assistant Manager Lee Hye-jin was on security duty just like any other day and left work as soon as the clock hit 18:00. She stopped by at Namgoong-won’s lab.

  Knock knock knock

  “Yes, come in.”


  “Peek-a-boo! Namgoong! Let’s get dinner! I’m hungry!”


  “That was quick? You came as soon as it was 18:00?”


  “Why? You don’t want to?”


  “No…… I’m just happy. Hahaha”


  “I am pretty high on the food chain in the security office!”


  Namgoong-won thought Assistant Manager Lee Hye-jin’s smile was beautiful and handed her the paper bag he put underneath his desk.

  “Here take this.”


  “Huh? What’s this?”


  “Haha. You’ll see.”


  Assistant Manager Lee Hye-jin took out the contents of the paper bag and asked Namgoong-won.

  “This looks like a facial mask, and this looks like a cosmetic case? It doesn’t have any logos or name what is this?”


  “That is the new magic facial mask and nutritional cream they have developed and testing in the X-12 lab.”


  “Oh really? What are the effects?”


  “Anti-aging.”


  “Whaa~ Really?”


  “There is also a regeneration effect along with anti-aging you know? It’s still being tested, but theoretically, the research says a 60-year-old person can return to their skin in their 40s after using it once a week for six months…… Perhaps it’s just a legend?”


  “Really? Really? Really?”


  “Of course. But why are you so obsessed with your skin despite being in your 20s and having good skin?”


  “Don’t you already know? It’s because of you?”


  “Hahaha, right now you look younger than me……”


  “After you hit your 30s and have kids you get wrinkles.”


  Assistant Manager Lee Hye-jin just realized what she had said and her face flushed red.

  “Huh? Why are you blushing?”


  “I don’t know. Get up already. So we can go eat.”


  “Yes! Coming.”