Lying afloat on the water with a cocktail between his lips, watching the news at the swimming pool of Elysium Heights—which offered a fine view overlooking Seoul—had become one of Suho’s daily routines these days.
That languid feeling was incomparably sweet.
Various news pieces scrolled across the massive screen, but Suho showed interest in one particular story.
“Hold on, stop that news channel right there.”
The large AI TV mounted by the swimming pool locked onto and broadcast that specific news at Suho’s words.
[Next news. A massive asteroid that scientists and industries around the world are watching with bated breath is expected to graze past Earth. Named ‘Nightpera,’ the asteroid is projected to pass at a distance of approximately 34,000 kilometers from Earth. With a diameter of 2.2 km, it is relatively large, and the fact that the entire asteroid is composed of an unknown steel called ‘Blacksteel’—which does not exist on Earth—has drawn considerable attention.]
“Hoo… Fascinating. It’s passing quite close.”
[Experts believe there is no risk of this asteroid colliding with Earth, but curiosity about this unique material is growing throughout the scientific community and space industry. In particular, several international space exploration agencies, including NASA and SpaceA, are known to be actively discussing this asteroid exploration. This incident is fueling interest in the possibility of new space resource mining, and research into the true nature of Blacksteel is expected to proceed vigorously. If the exploration is successful, it is expected to become a significant turning point in space resource mining and space exploration technology overall…]
“Hmm… Blacksteel, you say…”
According to a fragment of knowledge Suho had gained upon his new leap to EX-rank, Blacksteel was a steel that absorbed physical force. Thanks to that property, it was acknowledged as an incredibly hard metal and was said to have limitless development potential, but no matter how he looked at it, it was just an inferior version of Magrite.
Since what he knew might not be everything, just in case, Suho crossed over to his subspace warehouse and asked Rabi about Blacksteel as well.
“Blacksteel? It’s a very common ore in space.”
“It’s inferior to Magrite, right? What’s the price? Is it very expensive?”
“It cannot be compared to Magrite. It’s a metal far below it. As for the price, since a market price has formed on Earth, it will follow that rate. It would be around the same level as Starlight.”
At the words that Blacksteel’s market price had already formed on Earth, Suho immediately exited the subspace and called TDM’s Tower Material Analysis and Reception Team.
— Hello, this is TDM.
“Thank you for your hard work. This is Jeong Suho. I was wondering, have there ever been any requests regarding Blacksteel at our TDM?”
— Ah, Chairman! Hello. Did you say Blacksteel? Please hold for a moment…
After a brief check, the employee responded again.
— We have never once received a request regarding Blacksteel until now.
“Is that so? Then, is there any record of Blacksteel coming from the Tower, or perhaps an Admite who uses a weapon made of Blacksteel?”
The answer to this came immediately.
— Of course. Blacksteel is one of the items that come from the Tower. Among the high-grade equipment such as swords, hammers, and axes that Admities around the world possess—that is, among A-rank and above, and S-rank items—a considerable number are made of Blacksteel. It’s probably because it’s such a rare and expensive material that there haven’t been any purchase requests at TDM. I could confirm for more accuracy, but I believe there have been quite a few transactions at the Global Ontower Auction House.
“Huh… This is an S-rank weapon material…?”
— That’s correct. Shall I send you the relevant documents?
“No, no, that’s fine. Understood. Thank you for your hard work. Goodbye.”
To Suho’s standards, it was nothing but scrap metal, yet to think it was an S-rank weapon material—another reality hit him.
On the one hand, he could also understand why the global space industry was in an uproar right now.
If there was enough material for an S-rank weapon—which even within the Tower had an atrociously low drop rate—contained within a single asteroid, how much value could be placed on that asteroid?
It would undoubtedly be far more expensive than an equivalent volume of diamonds, wouldn’t it?
If NASA and others succeed in exploring that asteroid and mining Blacksteel, Blacksteel will become common, right? Then would an era come where every Tom, Dick, and Harry carries around S-rank weapons?
Interesting. Suho was already feeling anticipation about how that exploration would conclude.
* * *
After deciding on the ether power plant operation with the government, Suho’s daily routine became even busier.
Aside from TDM operations, Ontower Auction House sales, and inspecting new city construction sites, he was also being called all over the place for various tasks to support Korea’s lacking electrical power.
In each major city, he constructed and deployed mid-sized ether generators about as large as four shipping containers put together, pouring E-rank Etherium generously to supplement the lacking electricity.
Once additional power was supplied stably, blackout incidents no longer occurred.
And the matter Suho had requested arrived sooner than expected.
To be held at the UN Headquarters in New York in August.
While record-breaking heatwaves raged across the world, energy infrastructure couldn’t keep up with demand, causing large-scale blackouts globally, and it was a UN General Assembly convened ahead of its usual schedule to negotiate a consensus on the severity of the situation.
“Wow…”
A letter received through the diplomatic channels of the Republic of Korea—that is, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Opening the letter stamped with the UN’s official logo in the upper left corner, the contents were concise and clear: ‘We have determined that Admittee Jeong Suho’s technology is essential for humanity’s sustainable future, and thus send this invitation, respectfully requesting your attendance at this UN Climate Change Convention General Assembly with special qualifications.’
Beneath that were the event date, time, location, and even the signature of the UN Secretary-General.
Suho had been appointed as ‘Special Envoy for Sustainable Energy Innovation’ and invited to this General Assembly with special qualifications.
“Kyaah… Isn’t this cool? It’s a letter from the UN Secretary-General.”
During a family gathering after a long time, while sharing their recent schedules, Suho pulled out this letter.
The family members, unaware of the detailed circumstances, all crowded around to look at it in wonder.
Watching this, one could see that while they had become wealthy, their behavior was still completely that of commoners.
“Wait, Suho, so you’re going to New York? To the UN Headquarters?”
“I suppose so. They asked me to come, so I have to go.”
“No, hey, Suho, why there again…? Won’t it be too dangerous if you leave this country?”
Unlike his father, who was simply intrigued, his mother showed deep concern.
The truth was, there were so many forces targeting Suho. At least inside Korea, there were protective walls like the Sanare Clan and Elysium Heights, but if he went out, he wouldn’t even have that much.
But Suho merely smiled softly.
He had now become someone who couldn’t die even if he wanted to, and he was even armed with powered armor.
“Big Brother! When you go to America, can I come too?”
“Mmm…?”
“Yeah, Hyung, you bought a private jet last time but never even got to use it.”
“A private jet…? Did I buy something like that……?”
“I bought it, I did. I deposited all the ridiculous cash you gave me back into the bank and bought it with that money.”
“Aha… that money.”
He had given Jiho nearly a hundred billion won to gamble to his heart’s content and never gotten it back. The resourceful fellow must have bought a luxury private jet with it.
“Ahem, wouldn’t a private jet be uncomfortable? How about going on the yacht I bought this time?”
His father butted in too, unveiling his number one treasure.
Suho remembered vaguely hearing for a while how his father had diligently researched and boasted about it.
He had been too busy to look at it with interest, but apparently, he had bought a mid-sized luxury yacht about 50 meters long.
It was a model with many cabins that could comfortably accommodate more than twelve people, equipped with a private helipad, pool, and entertainment system, providing a comfortable living environment even on long voyages.
But Jiho and Suji cut that proposal down at once.
“Ah, Father, how long would it take to get to America by yacht? It would take half a month even if we went nonstop.”
“Right, Oppa, we’d arrive after the UN General Assembly is already over.”
Their father instantly became sullen.
They weren’t wrong. If they were going to America anyway, they had to go by plane.
Since there was no need to go in secret, there was no reason to fly there wearing the [Tempest Vein Wing] with great difficulty either.
And since he was going as an official invitee, doing so would only make things stranger.
A trip to America on a private jet with his family…
Tsk, it was a shame.
The truth was, Suho had wanted to try riding Air Force One this time.
* * *
On the day of departure, they arrived at the private FBO facility near Incheon International Airport’s Terminal 2.
An FBO facility is a dedicated terminal for private jet owners and users. While Suho’s family comfortably waited in the FBO private lounge, immigration and security procedures were also swiftly conducted here through simplified processes.
Since everything was their first experience, the entire family was excited like children.
When the time came, they could board the prepared vehicle and move directly right up to the private jet.
“Wow…”
“It’s amazing.”
Seeing the private jet equipped with hotel-grade double beds, a shower, a luxury vanity, a spacious central lounge area and dining section, and even an office space, everyone stood there with their jaws dropped.
The flight attendants were all androids, but for the cockpit, they had specifically hired a veteran pilot and co-pilot.
Along with the pilot’s greeting and polite announcement, the sleek, snow-white private jet glided away from the airport.
The thirteen-hour flight was truly long.
He washed up, slept soundly in the bed, watched a movie, and still hadn’t even passed the halfway point.
The family members who had been buzzing with excitement, examining every nook and cranny of the private jet at departure, were now each immersed in their own hobbies to pass the time.
“Where are we now?”
The aviation navigation screen, which continuously displayed their route in real-time, showed the plane’s current location and spoke.
“We are currently passing over the Pacific Ocean. We have nearly reached the midpoint and are passing through airspace near Midway Island. Particular caution is requested.”
Midway Island, once an American territory, is an atoll located in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.
This island, which had also served as a strategic military stronghold in the past, had been consistently attacked by various groups and organizations seeking to capture it. After repeatedly changing hands, it had become virtually a ruin.
The United States had recognized the island’s importance and deployed large-scale troops multiple times to maintain control, but had effectively abandoned it due to consecutive battles with extremely poor cost-effectiveness.
Now a no-man’s-land, rumors suggested mercenary organizations or international terrorist groups were active there, but even that was uncertain since its occupants changed so frequently.
Since these facts were well known, Suho’s private jet was currently flying on a detour around Midway Island.
While flying through remote airspace near Midway Island,
“Uh… what’s that?”
Jiho, who had been looking out the window, muttered upon discovering something.
Shhhriek—
Simultaneously, two fighter jets appeared, tearing through the sky.
The two fighter jets flew up alongside the private jet’s right wing.
The silver-gleaming fuselages bore an unknown symbol, and judging by the looks of the emblem, an instinct told them this was definitely not a wholesome group.
They were smaller than typical fighter jets, and no cockpit canopy was visible—unmanned combat drones.
Shortly after, the pilot’s announcement came over the speakers in a trembling voice.
“We have found ourselves in a difficult situation right now…”
Suho immediately rushed to the cockpit and heard the situation.
The fighter jets maintaining formation extremely close by, and the radio transmissions and flight gestures coming from them.
“What are they doing? What do they mean?”
“They are sending a forced landing signal. They say they will use force if we do not land immediately.”
“But where are we supposed to land in the middle of the ocean?”
“They are telling us to land on Midway Island.”
“Isn’t there anything we can do?”
“They keep sending signals. It will become dangerous if we don’t land quickly. What should we do?”
Even in this urgent situation, Suho showed no signs of great tension and scratched his cheek.
“Hmm…”
He found it quite novel.
When in Korea, there had been multiple layers of security systems surrounding Suho and his family: Elysium Heights, Sanare Clan bodyguards, state protection, and lately even Griffon Wingky. But the moment they came out here, above the sky and sea, the security had become a void like this.
Midway Island was an isolated area with few people, and the Pacific itself was such a vast airspace that it was a location where kidnappings would be difficult to monitor or track even if they occurred.
They had not only figured out Suho’s schedule but also mobilized fighter jets—such diligence. It seemed he ought to applaud that meticulous planning.
A ransom demand? Political maneuvering? Or perhaps…
Whichever it was, it was nothing particularly strange.
Jeong Suho was probably the number one most popular target that kidnappers around the world aimed for.
Equipping the [Extreme Powered Armor] that he had thought he would never have occasion to use, Suho curled up the corner of his mouth.