I Became a Black Market Tycoon with an Inventory - Chapter 176

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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176 – Bluffing
176.
National Intelligence Service.
Baek Dong-hyun, the Overseas Information Bureau Director, sat on the sofa, watching Hwang On-yu leave.
There was something particularly irritating about his departing figure.
His head held high, his eyes devoid of hesitation or regret.
He seemed to harbor some hidden agenda, and that displeased me.
‘How infuriating.’
Baek Dong-hyun clenched his teeth.
How on earth did he obtain that?
I was certain it didn’t exist.
I verified it twice, three times.
I was told it could never be recovered.
That’s why I felt assured.
That’s why the operation could proceed.
Yet now, a development journal has surfaced.
My head throbbed.
I had no idea how to handle this.
But I couldn’t simply sigh forever.
Irritation aside.
Now I needed to devise countermeasures.
Baek Dong-hyun rose from the sofa and quietly locked the office door.
Then he checked the interior once more with a bug detector.
No one would dare plant listening devices inside the National Intelligence Service, but caution never hurt.
He picked up the phone.
Standing, he made the call respectfully.
“Yes, it’s me.”
“It appears Mangwol’s development journal exists.”
A brief silence.
“I haven’t confirmed the physical object.”
“According to reports, the informant has it.”
His voice remained composed, but his body betrayed his unease.
“Team Leader Hwang On-yu’s informant.”
“I haven’t identified the informant yet.”
“I’ll look into it.”
He chose his words carefully, speaking slowly.
“Yes, you needn’t worry.”
“There’s no chance the materials will leak from our end.”
The words were a report to the other party,
but also a vow to myself.
“Yes. Please come in.”
Click.
The call ended.
.
.
.
At that same moment.
The man who had received a call from Director Baek Dong-hyun.
Seo Gwang-ho set down the phone and closed his eyes for a moment.
He reviewed the report contents and was slightly taken aback.
They had said it couldn’t be recovered.
They had insisted it was absolutely impossible to restore.
To prepare for any contingency, they had even replaced the servers entirely.
The software alone that promised complete erasure hadn’t been enough to ease his concerns.
To prevent physical access,
they had replaced the servers to make forensic recovery impossible.
Of course, replacing the Agency for Defense Development’s servers was no simple matter.
There was only one reason it had been possible.
The Cheongwha Society existed.
Cheongwha Society (淸和會)
An organization whose name meant “clear and peaceful skies.”
It had been founded with the hope that the world would always remain clear and stable.
Politicians, business executives, high-ranking military officers, civic organizations, academics, and media figures—diverse people gathered within it.
They provided scholarships to students from disadvantaged backgrounds,
and sent them on overseas expeditions under the guise of cultural exchange.
They held academic seminars and hosted festivals.
On the surface, it appeared to be a respectable fraternal organization.
But beneath the surface lay an entirely different purpose.
It was an organization of people who cooperated with Japan and worked for Japan’s interests.
Though they spoke of diverse cultures and environments,
most of their projects aimed to import Japanese culture and establish it in our nation.
Members of the Cheongwha Society occupied key positions throughout the country
while thinking of Japan and acting in Japan’s interests.
With their combined strength, they could even replace the Agency for Defense Development’s servers.
The media continuously raised concerns about hacking risks,
academia brought in overseas precedents,
the National Assembly allocated budgets, and the administration executed them immediately.
They moved with perfect coordination.
Behind it all stood the Cheongwha Society.
Seo Gwang-ho, the man who had received the report from Director Baek Dong-hyun, served as Chairman of the Cheongwha Society.
Chairman of the Cheongwha Society and the de facto coordinator of all these operations.
Seo Gwang-ho deliberated slowly.
Where on earth did that data come from?
No matter how much I think about it, I can’t find an answer.
The server was replaced, there were no backups, and even the logs were destroyed.
So I was certain···
The development journal suddenly surfaced.
Without any prior warning.
No physical evidence either,
just data hidden behind the name of an informant.
Seo Gwang-ho’s eyes narrowed as he pondered at length.
A sudden thought occurred to him.
Does the data actually exist?
If the data existed, they should have brought it with them.
You verify the data and then formulate a plan.
But that’s not what happened.
There are many strange aspects to this.
Once I thought about it that way, the loopholes became glaringly obvious.
And then, gradually.
A suspicion took root—could this be a bluff?
Perhaps they’re bluffing, pretending to have data they don’t actually possess,
or maybe they hastily fabricated it after the fact—a rational doubt crept in.
Bait to shake Japan.
With that thought, my anxious mind grew lighter.
My tangled thoughts began to untangle.
That level of threat is easy to handle.
Seo Gwang-ho rose from his seat and shouted to his staff.
“Alright. We’re developing a new countermeasure.”
“Investigate the possibility that South Korea fabricated the data.”
“Prepare contingencies for the case where they brought forged development journals.”
“Construct arguments to publicly refute South Korea’s claims.”
“Mobilize academia, the media, and international standards.”
“Use every information channel available.”
“Scenario team, prepare your scenarios.”
“We’ll frame this as South Korea resorting to desperation to defeat Japan and ending up humiliated.”
“Prepare Plans B, C, and D as well.”
At Seo Gwang-ho’s words, the Cheongwha Society sprang into action.
******
“Dennis”
– It’s been a while, sir.
I called Dennis after quite some time.
Dennis was still engaged in modest weapons trafficking.
Or rather, he had become quite a substantial dealer by now.
The reason was simple.
He had originally been a small-time trafficker,
but once he began handling goods coming from China, the number of people seeking him out increased dramatically.
Since so many weapons flowed in from China, demand was considerable.
His existing routes remained active, and with Chinese products added to the lineup, more and more people came looking for him.
“How have you been?”
– Not well, sir. You haven’t been visiting, so I’ve been struggling. You barely come by these days.
“That’s because you’re doing such a good job.”
– Huh? So if I mess things up, you’ll come by? In that case, I could deliberately bungle things nicely.
“Kha ha ha. Sorry, sorry. That’s not what I meant. I’ve just been busy lately. I’m not even sure what’s keeping me so occupied.
– No, sir. I understand you’re busy. I was just being a bit petulant because I wanted to see you.
“Still, I feel reassured having you around. I don’t have to worry about the weapons side of things.”
– I just need to sell what you’ve worked so hard to acquire. If I can’t even do that, it would be inexcusable.
“Anyway, I called because I was wondering if you could procure something for me.”
– Just say the word and I’ll have it ready immediately.
Dennis spoke with certainty.
But when I actually told him what I needed,
an uncomfortable voice came through the phone.
– I’m afraid that one will be difficult.
“Is it expensive?”
– Price isn’t the issue. The item simply doesn’t exist. I’ve been in this business for a long time, but I’ve never seen one.
“So you can’t procure it?”
– It seems quite difficult, I’m afraid.
“Can’t be helped then.”
It would have been interesting if it existed, but that’s unfortunate.
But since he can’t find it, what can I do.
– I’ll look into it a bit more and contact you. I’ll explore every route again.
“All right. I’m counting on you. And I’ll drop by soon.”
– Your words alone are appreciated. I’ll be waiting.
“Yeah. Let’s meet soon.”
********
“No… that’s… what…”
The officials from the Agency for Defense Development and the Ministry of National Defense who heard Team Leader Hwang On-yu’s words were left speechless.
The response Hwang On-yu had proposed was far more shocking than anyone had anticipated.
“So what you’re saying, Team Leader Hwang, is that we should open Japan’s protest to us to the entire world?”
A Ministry of National Defense official confirmed the content with a trembling voice.
It was such a radical proposal that one had to confirm it once more.
At this, Hwang On-yu shook his head lightly.
With an expression suggesting a misunderstanding, he spoke even more casually.
“Not a full disclosure, but rather conveying the accurate facts to foreign defense officials. There’s an opinion that our developed Mangwol radar infringes on Japanese technology. Until the truth is clarified, we’re asking them to postpone their decision as much as possible. It’s not too late to purchase after the facts are established. That’s about it.”
The people listening to Hwang On-yu’s explanation finally nodded their heads.
This was the best move Hwang On-yu had devised.
Conveying Japan’s protest exactly as it was.
Without attaching any excuses to it.
We feel wronged.
We didn’t steal anything.
It’s 100% our technology.
Japan is being unreasonable.
Such words were never spoken.
Only.
Since this dispute is ongoing,
if you’re going to contract for the radar, wait a little.
Defense contracts aren’t conducted emotionally.
Once you purchase, you’re determining the nation’s defense.
That’s why it’s basic to examine things very carefully.
If there were related technologies, it was natural to verify them,
and it was essential to clear up any suspicions.
Hwang On-yu struck precisely at that point.
No excuses.
No judgments either.
Only information is conveyed.
The situation is shown as it is.
In that moment, South Korea gains trust.
‘South Korea even shares things like this.’
‘South Korea hides nothing.’
And as a result.
During that period, Japan cannot sell the radar.
What Japan wanted was simple.
While South Korea responds to and deliberates over the suspicions, to finalize the radar contract.
But the suspicion Japan raised instead became a shackle on Japan itself.
Because of the suspicion Japan raised, now both South Korean and Japanese technology became the same technology.
Both South Korea’s technology and Japan’s technology had to be verified.
But a researcher from the Agency for Defense Development who still didn’t properly understand the situation spoke with displeasure.
“Then aren’t we broadcasting the problem Japan raised to the entire world ourselves? If a problem arose, we should clarify it—aren’t we cutting off our own opportunity to explain ourselves?”
The researcher seemed quite dissatisfied.
Rather than shielding the device that ADD had worked hard to create from attack,
it seemed like we were stepping back without even offering an explanation, and that didn’t sit well with them.
Hwang On-yu couldn’t help but laugh at the sight.
‘Getting angry over just this much?’
If he’d seen the atmosphere inside the National Intelligence Service, he would’ve been floored.
That place was nothing but bastards.
Hwang On-yu composed himself and responded.
“Exactly. We don’t make excuses, nor do we pass judgment. That’s for the buyer to decide, isn’t it?”
The people in the room exchanged confused glances.
Wait? Something feels off here. They thought.
Someone spoke up quietly.
“So Japan ends up having to explain themselves?”
Hwang On-yu nodded.
“Precisely. Since they’re the ones claiming technology infringement, they need to explain which parts are similar and how. Now it’s Japan’s turn.”
A researcher from the Agency for Defense Development who understood Japan’s radar capabilities chuckled with amusement.
Japan’s radar and Manwol weren’t even in the same league.
They operated on completely different mechanisms.
Yet they’d lodged a protest claiming technology theft.
Normally, we would’ve scrambled behind closed doors, struggling to find a response,
but instead, he’d decided to make it public.
He’d simply let the attack pass through.
He’d turned entertainment into a documentary.
You say we infringed? Where? How?
Meanwhile, Japan’s radar contracts would be tied up.
Thinking about that situation made him want to laugh even harder.
The Agency for Defense Development researcher continued laughing.
The Ministry of National Defense official’s perspective was different.
He asked.
“Was this coordinated with the Foreign Ministry?”
“No. Why would we coordinate this with the Foreign Ministry? This isn’t a diplomatic issue. It’s just a matter of selling equipment, isn’t it?”
The Ministry of National Defense official looked flustered at Hwang On-yu’s seemingly unreasonable response.
“I’m sorry?”
“It’s just a radar sales matter, isn’t it? If there’s a problem with our radar, naturally we have to inform our customers, don’t we? We have a radar with issues. Is that a problem? I’d say it’s actually honest. What diplomatic issue is there in this?”
The Ministry of National Defense official let out a laugh.
It seemed like a loophole had opened up.
“You’re right. This is just business. We’re just selling equipment.”
“Exactly.”
The people gathered there laughed at those words.
.
.
.
[We have received a third country’s objection regarding the technology of South Korea’s next-generation radar, Manwol. We request that evaluation and adoption procedures be temporarily suspended until the facts are clarified.]
An official document arrived in the name of the Ministry of National Defense of South Korea.
The nations that received the document were bewildered.
In truth, they already knew the situation.
That Japan had lodged an informal objection to South Korea.
In such circumstances, I expected Japan to step forward and claim, “That Korean Moonwol technology is actually ours,” but instead, South Korea struck first.
Along with a request to suspend contracts until the facts could be verified.
At this point, it was certain there was something hidden beneath the surface.
The nations that received the official document began searching for popcorn.
.
.
.
The Vice Minister of the Ministry of National Defense was seething with rage.
He had received a call from Seo Gwang-ho, Chairman of the Cheongwha Society, first thing in the morning.
“How on earth are you managing things that such an official document gets distributed across the entire world!”
“This is not what I was instructed to do in that position.”
Chairman Seo Gwang-ho erupted in fury.
He leveled accusations unilaterally.
Though he was Vice Minister of the Ministry of National Defense,
before Chairman Seo Gwang-ho, he could only bow his head.
The enraged Vice Minister summoned the person in charge.
He intended to call them in, demand an apology, and order a complete recall.
“What the hell are you doing? You can’t just send out an important official document on your own whim?”
“I’m sorry? What’s the problem?”
But the person in charge showed no sign of distress.
Normally, even a slight growl would make them cower.
Today was different.
“You don’t know?”
“No. I genuinely don’t understand.”
“How can you send something like this without properly verifying the facts?”
“But there are no facts to verify in this case, are there? A third party simply raised suspicions against us, and we merely said we would wait until the facts became clear. We didn’t even mention Japan. This is simply the natural duty of a seller. Even when buying a 3,000-won item online, if a problem arises, you inform the buyer. When selling a radar, of course we must inform them.”
The Vice Minister was left speechless by the person in charge’s confidence.
“That’s not what I mean···”
“Vice Minister, if you tell me what the problem is, I’ll correct it.”
The Vice Minister of the Ministry of National Defense felt frustrated.
It was awkward to say anything.
The person in charge had done nothing wrong.
They hadn’t mentioned Japan,
nor had they broadcast that Japan had attacked.
They had merely stated there was an issue and asked to wait until the facts were clarified.
There was nothing wrong with the wording itself.
He had merely intended to gloss over it as a suggestion, but instead he was being confronted with hard facts.
The Vice Minister was furious about it.
No one spoke of it, yet everyone knew.
Japan had struck South Korea,
and South Korea had let that attack slide.
And now that attack was being redirected toward Japan.
While South Korea faced suspicion and offered explanations, the plan to finalize the radar contract fell through.
Every nation had suspended all contracts until this matter could be resolved.
Through the Inventory, I had become a major player in the black market.
176 – Bluffing
E-book Publication
/ January 20, 2026
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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