Bad Born Blood Chapter 245

245
I compiled the information I received from Ilay and Ishmael.

G&G Cybernetics is neither a state-owned enterprise nor a company closely tied to imperial interests.

‘Just one of the Empire’s many cybernetic corporations.’

The reason why Gilda from G&G Cybernetics came to Border City was also very realistic.

‘The Empire’s domestic-led growth is over. If G&G Cybernetics is to advance further, it must do business in other countries. The country that uses cybernetic equipment the most after the Empire is the Federation.’

The expansion of G&G Cybernetics was a logical sequence.

‘But Giselle had earlier attempted to expand G&G Cybernetics’ business based in Border City. At the time, Gilda was against the expansion.’

I’m not an entrepreneur. My ability to guess what’s going on inside a company is limited.

Before my secret meeting with Gilda, I visited Sonsoo Industry and asked Son Seok-jae for his opinion on G&G Cybernetics.

“G&G Cybernetics? Since you’re asking that at this point… … I guess the rumors that G&G is moving into Border City are true.”

It seemed like Son Seok-jae had heard it somewhere too.

“Is this a topic of conversation?”

“Everyone is paying attention to the entry of a new company that is gaining prominence in the empire. However, since it is fundamentally a cybernetic company, there is no significant correlation since our market does not overlap.”

“Since direct connection to the nervous system is often used in exoskeletons these days, it would be a good idea to pursue technological partnerships or cooperation.”

I asked casually.

“The visible results are similar, but they are different types of technology. Cybernetic prosthetics are bidirectional, but the neural connections of the enhanced exoskeleton are unidirectional. The one-way connections minimize the side effects of cybernetic prosthetics and only take advantage of them. Luca, technology continues to develop. In the past, the differences in responsiveness and performance were so great that it was worth taking the risk of bidirectionally connecting the brain and the machine… … But now, the gap has narrowed to the point where it seems unnecessary.”

Son Seok-jae was also an engineer by birth, so his explanation was long in this regard. He looked at me as he mentioned that the usefulness of ‘cybernetic prosthetics’ was decreasing.

‘That’s not a pleasant thing to hear from someone who cut off their limbs to become stronger.’

But Son Seok-jae is not a soldier or warrior after all. He is just a businessman and an engineer. He looks at equipment and weapons in terms of efficiency and numbers.

“In real combat, small differences can mean the difference between life and death. It’s not like in a game where you can die and try again. For someone living on the battlefield, small differences are not a big deal.”

I answered leisurely. Son Seok-jae also nodded, rubbing his chin as if thinking.

“That’s unexpected. Mr. Luca has a point. When you’re dead, safety and all that stuff is meaningless. Economic efficiency and safety are the right answer for a group, but they can’t always be the right answer for an individual.”

“In reality, there are countless situations where you have to become a little stronger even if it means taking the risk of side effects. Especially as you go up. Even if the machine eats away your mind, it’s better than dying right away.”

Son Seok-jae took out a bottle of alcohol from the cupboard in his office. He offered me a drink, but I declined.

“Anyway, G&G Cybernetics and Mr. Luca… … .”

Son Seok-jae muttered and poured himself a drink. He briefly checked the information on the terminal.

“… … There was some kind of relationship. The missing co-representatives were step-siblings. In many ways, Mr. Luca’s situation is complicated.”

Son Seok-jae also knows my identity. That’s one of the reasons why he’s so obedient.

If Japha wasn’t seriously injured, I wouldn’t have had this conversation with Son Seok-jae. I couldn’t wake up Japha, who was seriously injured, several times.

“My research shows that Giselle Custoria was the one who pushed for G&G Cybernetics’ entry into Border City. Twelve years ago.”

“I remember that too. I’ve been there before.”

“At that time, the other co-representative, Gilda, opposed the Border City expansion. But now Gilda is pushing for the Border City expansion. If that was the case, there was no reason to oppose it 12 years ago. It would have been much easier if we had prepared slowly, even if it was just a small branch.”

“So that’s why you came to me. You want my opinion as a businessman. I don’t know if my answer will help you, but… … I don’t know what kind of people your two co-CEOs are. So I’ll assume it’s a normal case and make a guess.”

I waited for Son Seok-jae to speak while drinking water. Son Seok-jae took a sip of the golden liquor and continued speaking.

“I understand that G&G Cybernetics has lost its growth momentum within the Empire. It was a result that anyone could have predicted. If it were a normal company, they would have prepared for business expansion years in advance. Even 12 years ago, it wouldn’t have been too early to start planting the seeds. You can have a branch office and run just one direct store.”

“It is unnatural to enter a market late after all growth momentum has stopped. Even I, a non-entrepreneur, can understand that.”

“But there’s nothing particularly strange. Internally, business expansion and expansion plans may have fallen through one after another. Or, plans may have changed abruptly due to external pressure. This is a common occurrence in the Empire. And it’s the first time I’ve heard that the two co-CEOs argued for and against entering Border City 12 years ago. That’s information that only an insider would know.”

Son Seok-jae thought deeply and then put his glass down on the table.

“… … It was probably a power struggle. Whether or not they would advance into Border City was probably not important, and the two representatives would have been at odds over taking the initiative within the company. If the advance into Border City had been successful, the representative who had pushed for it would have taken the initiative within the company. The one who opposed it would have lost his right to speak. Perhaps one representative went missing… … .”

Son Seok-jae looked at me as he spoke.

“Could it be the work of another representative?”

“In the circumstances, yes. Only in the circumstances. I don’t know the internal situation or the relationship there. I just thought about it calmly and considered the benefits.”

I thought it was worth coming this far.

Son Seok-jae spoke about Gilda, Giselle, and G&G Cybernetics without any prejudice or subjectivity, and only reported objective facts. This is how the situation appears from a third party’s perspective.

“It was helpful.”

I spoke briefly.

Son Seok-jae lifted the glass and swirled it around gently. As the golden liquid swirled, volatile substances dispersed into the air.

“Well, that’s good. I hope we can forget about Mr. Oh’s case. I was also quite emotional at the time.”

“I don’t really care about that either. I said I’ve never killed an innocent person… … but that’s not true.”

I have been an innocent victim. I have no intention of making excuses, saying it was due to the orders of the Empire and my superiors, whether it was voluntary or involuntary.

If I were to categorize myself, I would be considered a villain.

“We are all gray. There is no white or black. And the person who believes he is white is the worst of all. He is infinitely black.”

Son Seok-jae said as he took a deep gulp of alcohol. He frowned slightly and opened his mouth as if enjoying the burning sensation in his throat.

‘Son Seok-jae has a charm that attracts people.’

I also felt it strongly. It was self-rationalization and sophistry, but there was a part of it that was strangely persuasive.

If Luca had met Seokjae Son during his childhood… … he would have been greatly influenced.

‘He is a sophistry and a swindler, and he has strong self-confidence and a clear subjectivity. He has the power to attract people. Those who have a weak sense of their own color will be influenced and influenced by someone like Son Seok-jae.’

I felt my fingers twitching.

‘As expected, Son Seok-jae is a dangerous person.’

You have to kill him here. Son Seok-jae is a chaos that is just beginning to bloom.

‘When the time comes, he will completely ignore social order, morality, and unwritten rules for his own purposes. What’s even scarier is that those who are led by Son Seok-jae will respond and form a large group.’

I breathed with my lips parted very slightly.

‘What qualifications and reasons do I have to judge and condemn Son Seok-jae?’

I had mixed feelings. I even thought that I was being arrogant.

Beep.

Just then, Son Seok-jae’s terminal rang. He checked the terminal and smiled.

“Oh, Mr. Luca. I have a gift for you.”

“gift?”

“This is something that was found while recovering the remains of Mushir Al-Kashra. Mr. Luca also mentioned it separately. Please wait a moment.”

Something came to my mind.

‘Hwagwangjageom.’

It was Balek’s and then passed to Mushir al-Kashra. It seems that the Handicraft Industry succeeded in retrieving it on the battlefield.

‘How clever.’

You should have retrieved the Hwagwangjageom a long time ago. You didn’t tell me and are only giving it to me now.

‘To win favor at the right moment.’

Son Seok-jae’s gaze turned to the door. I also heard footsteps in the hallway.

Squeak.

The old door opened and a staff member came in. The staff member put the metal box down on the table and left.

“The recovery was actually done quite a while ago, but it was too late because I was busy with some repairs. I had a hard time finding a survivor from the Galaxy Craftsman and had him repair it. One of them was particularly badly damaged. Well, a surprise gift is always more pleasant.”

There were also plenty of excuses to hide the fact that it had been recalled.

‘If he had judged me useless, he would have taken the Hwagwangjageom.’

It was a shallow trick, but it didn’t make me feel too bad. Anyone can do this kind of calculation.

‘It’s better to treat me in a thoroughly calculating manner. You’ll always have a reason to cut ties. There’s no need to get unnecessarily involved.’

Son Seok-jae opened a long metal box.

“One fire-light sword and… … three daggers. The names of the daggers are, ah, written here on the bottom of the blades. They are ‘Fire Moth.’”

Moth, I chuckled as soon as I heard the name.

“I like it.”

I said while looking at the contents.

The Hwagwangjageom originally had two swords. One sword was slightly damaged, and the other sword was broken and converted into three daggers.

‘It was just when I needed a new weapon.’

No matter how good my body’s performance was, it lacked firepower in recent battles.

Those I deal with are monsters armed with ridiculously cutting-edge armor and equipment.

‘If you think about it, I owe Son Seok-jae a debt. Regardless of whether I like him or not… … .’

It would be difficult for me to harm Son Seok-jae. To others, he is a villain who deserves to die, but he never showed that side to me.

‘You’re figuring out my personality. I’m not that difficult of a person.’

From a business standpoint, I am an easy person to deal with.

Anyway, I am a person who tries to give back honestly as much as I have received, whether it is with malice or kindness.

‘Because of this one gift, Son Seok-jae may save his life in the future.’

I swallowed a bitter smile and took a new fire-light sword and three fire moths.

I left Son Seok-jae’s office. Son Seok-jae stood up to see me off.

Thud, thud.

As I walked down the hallway and into the open space, a Federal service aerial vehicle was waiting.

Profit.

The door of the air vehicle opened upward. Ismael Ra was sitting there.

Ishmael bowed his head and greeted me and Seokjae Son. Then he checked the time and urged me on. The conversation with Seokjae Son ended up being longer than I expected.

“Let’s go, Mr. Luca.”

Ishmael said.

Now, I face Gilda.

Creak.

My steps as I climbed onto the aerial vehicle were heavy. It felt like the ground was pulling me down. Maybe I was the one who wanted to buy time by telling a long story.