The spotlight shone down on her, burning Kim Jisoo's cheeks until they turned red.
She stood on the second step of the awards stage, her body draped in a white satin gown, with two extremely thin straps hanging from her collarbone.
The neckline was very low, with two pieces of fabric crossing in front of her chest, barely covering her full breasts, which rose and fell gently with the rhythm of her breathing.
The waist is cinched extremely narrow, and the satin fabric clings to the flat stomach, outlining a clear six-pack.
The cinched waist design accentuates a slender figure, while the high slit skirt sways gently with every turn, revealing long, straight legs that appear dazzlingly white under the lights.
She's nearly 1.8 meters tall, a model, and stands perfectly straight even in 10-centimeter heels. Her skin is so tender and smooth, you could practically squeeze water out of it.
The skirt cascaded down from her hips, with a high slit on the right side, revealing a long, slender, snow-white leg. The skin on her inner thigh gleamed delicately under the light.
She turned slightly to the side, and her skirt slid open, revealing her complete leg lines.
The sash was draped diagonally across her chest, printed with the words " Miss Universe Asia Runner-up," and the edge of the sash rested precisely on the full curve below her collarbone.
The sound of camera shutters clicking filled the air.
Kim Jisoo flashed a standard smile at the camera; she had practiced this expression countless times and knew which angle looked best on camera.
A reporter squeezed to the front of the stage, the microphone almost poking her in the face. "Ms. Jisoo! Congratulations on winning the runner-up! What would you like to say right now?"
She bowed, clasped her hands together, and answered with the standard demeanor of a newcomer, "Thank you to the judges, thank you to my agency, and thank you to all my fans who have supported me. I've learned a lot from this competition, and I will continue to work hard."
Another reporter squeezed in. "Ms. Ji-soo, we've heard you've been scouted by Starshine Media. Will you be signing a contract?"
She tilted her head, brushed her hair aside to reveal a diamond earring on her earlobe, and said with just the right amount of shyness, "Well—we're still talking about it. I'll let everyone know as soon as there's any news."
At the end of the interview, she held the trophy, a flawless, standard smile on her face, and bowed deeply to the camera.
The neckline of her dress slipped down a little with her movement, attracting even more camera shutter clicks.
He uttered polite words of thanks to the event and the fans, but his competitive spirit burned fiercely within him.
Kim Jisoo didn't feel like she had lost to Shen Shuwei at all.
In terms of looks, figure, and stage presence, what does she lack?
It's simply because the other person's father is the biggest sponsor of the event, so the champion was predetermined from the day of registration!
She debuted as the center of a girl group at the age of 14. Among the twelve girls in the same batch, she was the only one who secured the position of main dancer and ACE in the third year. She excelled in singing, dancing and acting, and her talent and hard work were evident.
If it weren't for the shady dealings with the financial world, she should have been the one standing in the center and winning the championship!
As soon as I entered the backstage dressing room, my agent answered a phone call, and his attitude was extremely respectful.
After ending the call, the manager excitedly said, "Jisoo, you have a fantastic opportunity! The Blue House office called personally to arrange a business meeting for you."
"If you can win over the other party's chairman, you'll be a hero, and your career will be smooth sailing from now on."
Kim Jisoo's smile froze instantly.
She knew all too well what "business hospitality" meant.
It's euphemistically called business escort, but in reality it's about drinking and sleeping with clients—it's practically an open secret.
Even though she was mentally prepared, Kim Jisoo still felt that this day had come too quickly.
"Unnie, I'm not going." She bit her lip. "I just won second place, and there are lots of legitimate business and film/television opportunities coming up—"
"You're not going?" The agent scoffed, pulling out the signed exclusive contract from his bag and flipping it to the page about breach of contract penalties.
"You have four years left on your contract. Unauthorized refusal of company-assigned work incurs a penalty of 2 billion won. If you can afford it, you can leave now; if not, you'd better go."
Two billion Korean won.
In the six years since her debut, most of the money she has earned has gone into the company's pocket, leaving her with not even a small amount.
She knows better than anyone how ruthless the bans are in the South Korea entertainment industry.
If she is blacklisted, all her efforts over the past six years will be wasted, and she will even owe a large sum of money.
"This client was brought in by the Ministry of National Defense; they're rich and powerful." The agent's tone softened, and he patted her shoulder. "Do your best, make them feel comfortable, and all the top domestic resources will be yours in the future."
"You're still young, you need to know the rules. Which popular actress didn't climb up the ladder step by step like this?"
"I see."
Just minutes before, she was the runner-up in a beauty pageant, full of hope for the future.
Within minutes, it became the company's bargaining chip to curry favor with customers.
But she had no choice.
"It's just about seducing an old geezer, nothing special. Once I'm famous, who will remember this experience?"
After getting dressed up again, Kim Jisoo boarded the company-arranged van and headed to her destination.
Throughout the journey, Kim Jisoo prepared herself mentally for various challenges.
For example, how to deal with a greasy old man, how to offer a toast and smile obsequiously, how to force a smile when he takes advantage of you, and how to respond to his dirty jokes.
Finally, the van arrived at its destination.
The car door opened, Kim Jisoo stepped out with a confident smile, then—she froze completely.
There are no clubs or hotels in sight.
There was only the sea, and a colossal steel behemoth lying across its surface.
The ship, over 400 meters long, almost filled the entire berth, casting a shadow that enveloped the crowds on the dock.
Kim Jisoo looked up but couldn't even see the bridge.
She had seen Seoul's tallest landmark and countless lavish music show stages, but nothing had ever made her feel so insignificant and awestruck from the bottom of her heart.
"What... what is this?" The girl group member next to her gripped her arm tightly, looking somewhat nervous.
Not far away, the president, who usually acted arrogantly in front of them and scolded the trainees like they were his grandsons, was now bowing and following behind several South Korea Ministry of National Defense officials, not daring to raise his head, and kept replying "Yes, yes, you are right," looking just like a servile follower.
These South Korea defense officials, who could command respect with a stomp of their feet, were now standing obediently at the gangway, waiting for those ahead to board, not daring to take even a step forward.
Kim Jisoo understood instantly.
This isn't some kind of business reception; are they expecting this girl group to perform a sexy dance in front of these big shots?
Her beauty and popularity, which she was so proud of, were insignificant in the face of this steel behemoth and in the eyes of these people who could rewrite the fate of the nation.
The line standing at the front gangway was made up of blond, blue-eyed United States naval officers, their epaulets gleaming with dazzling stars.
Alongside them were officers and experts from the University of Tokyo. In addition to the navy, the army and air force also came, each exuding the aura of someone in a superior position.
Her presence was in no way inferior to that of the United States next to her.
In addition, there are the burly Russians, the Middle Eastern tycoons with their heads covered in cloth, exuding an air of wealth and power, and the Japan Japanese who follow closely behind the United States.
These are just the national representatives that Kim Jisoo recognized; there are many other foreign delegations in military uniforms that Kim Jisoo couldn't recognize at all.
"This spectacle is terrifying."
Kim Jisoo and the girl group members stood at the end of the line, dressed in exquisite gowns and with perfect makeup, standing out among the group of people in military uniforms, suits, and...
Among the crowd of people in white robes, he stood out like a canary that had wandered into a battlefield.
The moment she boarded the ship, she finally met the person she was supposed to be hosting.
Around thirty years old, with the most ordinary buzz cut, completely unkempt, and utterly clueless about fashion and styling.
His facial features aren't exactly top-tier handsome; if we use the standard of a male internet celebrity being out of the top seven, he'd be at most a six.
But its advantage lies in the clean sunlight and clear eyes.
He wasn't particularly tall, but he stood very straight, with broad shoulders and a narrow waist. You could see well-defined muscles through his shirt, clearly the result of years of regular exercise.
He was completely different from the greasy, bald old man she had imagined.
Even the type she could totally accept.
Kim Jisoo- soo's heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally settled down. She took a deep breath, put on a sweet smile, stepped forward, and bowed deeply to the man.
The deep V-neck of her dress opened completely as she bent over, revealing her ample cleavage without reservation, dazzlingly white. Having been in a girl group for six years, she knew all too well how to use a single movement to precisely capture a man's ego.
"Hello, Mr. Fu, I'm Kim Jisoo."
"We are the Miss Universe South Korea delegation and would like to take a set of promotional photos on your aircraft carrier. We will cover all the shooting costs, and we hope Mr. Fu can do us this favor."
She was certain that no man could resist such advances. "I've been in this business for six years, and there's no man I haven't won over," she thought.
As he expected, Fu Haoran did look over, his gaze lingering on her chest for a moment.
And then—that was it.
Kim Jisoo didn't see any amazement on Fu Haoran's face, nor did she see the greed that a man should have; he wasn't even slightly moved.
Fu Haoran glanced at the South Korea girl group.
It looks nice, but it's not very distinctive.
Aside from the team leader's tall stature and large bust, Fu Haoran didn't find Kim Jisoo particularly stunning; she wasn't much different from the other girl group members next to her.
South Korea actresses all look the same after makeup; their faces are mass-produced, and he really can't tell them apart.
But when someone offers you money, how can you refuse?
Even a small amount of money is still money. A long voyage costs money every moment, and this venue fee can at least cover a day's fuel costs.
--
" Jimmy, you take them there and find an area that won't interfere with the tour. Be careful not to touch the equipment. Charge them the standard fee."
After giving a brief explanation, Fu Haoran turned and left, not even sparing Kim Jisoo a second glance.
Kim Jisoo remained in the bowing posture, frozen in place.
A sense of shock, disbelief, and a feeling of indignation welled up inside me.
She had prepared a whole speech, practiced her expressions and gestures all night, but the other person didn't even glance at her and just left?
"I'm a rising starlet known as the succubus, how could any man not be interested in me!"
"It must be because the time was too short; he didn't see himself clearly."
"It's alright, there's plenty of time before boarding, there will be other opportunities."
Kim Jisoo didn't know that the only South Korea Fu Haoran admired was Chun Doo-hwan; that was what a real man should be like.
What's wrong with women? It only affects how fast they make money.
"Ladies, come with me." Jimmy led them into the ship, but Kim Jisoo's eyes were fixed on Fu Haoran's figure, and she gradually saw who was surrounding him.
At the very front of the line, Admiral Jensen, Chief of Naval Operations of the United States Navy, and Lin Weiguo, Deputy Chief of Lin Weiguo of the University of Tokyo, stood side by side.
Lin Weiguo turned his head, smiled, and spoke in a calm tone, yet every word was piercing. "Mr. Jensen, what brings you here? You didn't come here just to tour your own ship, did you?"
These words hit the nail on the head.
Jensen didn't know how to answer.
To deny it would be tantamount to saying that the US United States military simply cannot build such a large ship, which would be a disgrace to the entire world.
Admitting it is like saying you have to come all the way here to visit your own ship, which is even more embarrassing.
Jensen, a seasoned veteran, remained unfazed and replied with a smile, "I'm here to inspect navigation safety in this area and, incidentally, to oversee the foreign military sales process of our United States Enterprises, ensuring that core technologies are not leaked."
Lin Weiguo smiled and didn't ask any further questions.
The two tacitly left that unspoken understanding untouched.
The team entered the hangar.
The moment the hatch opened, everyone fell silent.
The enormous hangar resembled a bottomless steel cave, with overhead trusses stretching to the horizon. Dozens of F-22 variant fighter jets were neatly arranged on both sides, their matte gray stealth coating gleaming with a cold metallic sheen under the lights.
Several automated trailers were dispatching fighter jets. The Mechanical Arm precisely engaged the front landing gear and steadily towed an F-22 to the elevator position. Throughout the entire process, only one technician in blue overalls stood in front of the control panel, staring at the screen with his hands in his pockets, not even touching the walkie-talkie.
The young technical officers from the University of Tokyo had their eyes light up and couldn't help but want to move forward, but the person in charge pulled them back.
Lin Weiguo cleared his throat, trying to keep his tone calm. "The level of automation is very high. How long does it take to move a fighter jet from the hangar to the ejection position?"
The accompanying technician, without even looking up, said, "Two minutes and forty-five seconds."
Lin Weiguo's Adam's apple bobbed suddenly.
The United States military's most advanced aircraft, the USS Gerald R. Ford, takes an average of eight minutes from being towed onto the plane to being lifted onto the deck.
Jensen stood there expressionless, his hands clenching behind his back, inwardly cursing. "Those useless bunch in China, with billions in funding, produce stuff that's not even a fraction as good as what private companies in other countries can make!"
The team passed through the hangar and entered the dock.
The massive well deck runs through the bottom of the ship, exceeding two hundred meters in length, and is filled with amphibious landing craft, main battle tanks, and armored personnel carriers on both sides.
What truly drew everyone's attention were the soldiers clad in black exoskeleton armor.
A soldier bent down, picked up an ammunition box half his height, and easily placed it on the transport vehicle. He then turned around and moved on to the next one. The exoskeleton made only a slight motor sound at the waist and knee joints, and his movements were as smooth as walking.
Another soldier beside him lifted an engine component that was clearly heavier than himself with one hand and placed it steadily on the shelf without batting an eye.
The army representatives from several countries went crazy instantly, swarming around the exoskeleton soldier and bombarding him with questions. Their eagerness was almost overflowing as they jostled each other to get a spot, afraid that if they were a step too late, they would miss out on a place.
Hao Weidong, a senior army officer who accompanied the group, had his eyes light up. As the army representative accompanying them, Hao Weidong thought he would only be a bystander throughout the trip, but he didn't expect there to be a surprise here.
The advantages of this exoskeleton are obvious: it can carry more ammunition and heavier shells.
"If the price isn't too high, we can buy a batch."
The elevator platform transported the delegation from the hangar to the deck.
Hundreds of people stood on the platform, which was slowly lifted up.
Jensen stood at the edge of the platform, looking down at the perfectly fitted lifting tracks beneath his feet, his mind filled with the maintenance records of the USS Gerald R. Ford elevator:
It got stuck twice last month, took three whole days to repair, and was heavily criticized by the media.
His face darkened even more.
However, upon seeing the layout of the deck, Jensen nearly burst out of his lungs.
Even though he was mentally prepared, seeing the four electromagnetic catapult tracks laid straight on the deck and the arresting cable area spanning the angled deck, Jensen almost cursed.
"Damn it, this isn't some straight-through deck of an amphibious assault ship! This is a standard angled deck design for a supercarrier!"
" Fu Haoran, you big liar! Do you think I'm blind? Amphibious assault ships only have straight runways; they don't have angled decks, let alone four electromagnetic catapults and arresting gear!"
In stark contrast to Jensen, the technical officers of the University of Tokyo Navy had bright eyes.
A group of people squatted beside the barrier cable, examining the weave of the steel cable with magnifying glasses and nodding frequently.
Lin Weiguo reached out and gently touched the arresting cable, then turned to ask the accompanying lieutenant, "What is the rated arresting life of this arresting cable?"
What is the publicly listed price?
Fu Haoran hadn't expected anyone to care about such an inconspicuous rope. Fu Haoran raised an eyebrow upon hearing this. Having no idea about the market for military supplies on Earth, he could only retrieve the data and reply, "Rated arresting life of two thousand rounds, price—one hundred thousand US dollars per rope."
Fu Haoran felt that $100,000 for this rope was already a bit expensive, but unexpectedly Lin Weiguo stepped forward and said solemnly, "President Fu, our navy is considering purchasing 100 arresting cables in the first batch. I will have the equipment department formally coordinate with your company on the specific parameters and delivery details later. What do you think of this?"
Fu Haoran raised an eyebrow upon hearing this, somewhat surprised.
It's just a steel cable, right? In the Warhammer World, Servitor can easily make a bunch of these, and they'd cost $100,000 each—it's highway robbery.
He had no idea that the United States military was selling similar arresting cables for $1.5 million each, and their lifespan was less than half that of his.
"Tsk--Okay, add it to the memo, I'll have someone contact you after the visit."
Fu Haoran didn't take it seriously, unaware of its significance to University of Tokyo.
"Haha, good, Mr. Fu is a man of character, I've decided to be your friend."
It's no wonder Lin Weiguo was so agitated; the arresting cable is of paramount importance. Without a proper arresting cable, a fighter jet simply cannot land.
In order to purchase qualified arresting cables, they even approached Americans.
But the other Lion made an outrageous demand, daring to ask for 1.5 million US dollars per stick!
The rated lifespan is less than 1,000 cycles!
They're being treated like fools!
Now this worry is finally resolved.
Jensen's face turned as black as the bottom of a pot.
Behind him, the former chief engineer of the US electromagnetic catapult project was squatting beside the arresting cable, his eyes almost bulging out of their sockets. He reached out and touched the surface of the cable, his fingertips tracing the alloy weave texture, and reluctantly admitted. "This integrated arresting cable system has a more compact structure and a longer maintenance cycle—"
Before he could finish speaking, he looked up and met Jensen's murderous gaze, and immediately shut his mouth and lowered his head.
The sun slowly sank below the horizon, its orange-red hue turning the sea and the steel hull golden.
Long dining tables were set up on the flight deck, their white tablecloths fluttering in the sea breeze. A buffet table with a mix of Chinese and Western styles was lined up in a row, with roasted pork chops and Yangzhou fried rice placed on the same insulated plate, and wine bottles side by side.
Representatives from various countries gathered in small groups, their eyes filled with probing and calculation, exchanging polite words while secretly competing and vying for dominance.
Tychus stood by the dining table, holding two bottles of Erguotou (a type of Chinese liquor), while three Russians in front of him were already passed out drunk.
He slammed the bottle down on the table, laughing so loudly that the plates rattled, "Is that all you can drink? You want to bargain with me? You'll have to outdrink me first!"
As he spoke, he casually pulled a box of Cigar from the pocket of the Middle Eastern man next to him, lit it, and the people around him burst into laughter, but no one dared to come forward to challenge him to a drinking contest.
Lin Weiguo, carrying a tray, walked to Fu Haoran's side, his tone casual as if discussing the weather, yet every word carried an undeniable solemnity. "President Fu, our navy would like to apply for a group of officers to stay on board the Great Fortune for observation and to gain a deeper understanding of its daily operations and combat procedures."
"There aren't many people, around fifty should be enough. We'll pay for the beds at the market price for a deluxe room in a five-star hotel; we won't let you stay for free."
"We'll pay market price for the beds; we won't let you stay for free."
Before Fu Haoran could speak, Jensen's voice interrupted from the side, "Fu, we also need to send a group of technicians to board the ship and stay there to check the navigation safety equipment in this area. Martin Company will cover the berth fees, no questions asked."
Jensen could easily see that the University of Tokyo wanted to use the excuse of staying there to thoroughly understand the ship's technology!
If the United States don't keep up, they're essentially handing over their technological advantage!
Even though their own people don't understand anything, they still occupy the position without doing anything.
Of course, someone will foot the bill.
Jensen glared fiercely at the Lockheed Martin employees.
Just then, a man in a dark blue suit and gold-rimmed glasses suddenly squeezed out of the crowd, rushed to Fu Haoran, and bowed deeply to him, bending his waist so low that his upper body was almost bent at a right angle.
"Mr. Fu! I am Ichiro Yamada from the Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency! Our Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force also requests permission to board the ship for observation!"
"No beds? No problem! We can sleep in the aisle! Just a sleeping bag will do! Cardboard will also be fine! We'll pay double the cost!"
We'll accept any condition as long as we can stay on the ship!
Lin Weiguo paused for a moment as he held the tray.
These Japanese devils have ulterior motives; they're clearly after the technology.
But they didn't expect that something even more complicated was yet to come.
The head of the Indian delegation immediately squeezed through, his belly protruding and his face beaming. "Mr. Fu! Our Indian navy has also applied for a stay! They sleep in the aisles, we can sleep on the deck! We'll cover three times the cost!"
Representatives from several Europe countries were not to be outdone, crowding up to apply, and the deck instantly descended into chaos as everyone vied for a single spot to board and stay on the ship.
Anyone with half a brain knows this is a once-in-a-lifetime learning opportunity.
Even if you can't learn the skills by stealing them, this resume is enough to brag about when you go back.
In case I write an autobiography later, I'll have something to brag about.
Looking at the group of representatives from various countries who were willing to sleep in the engine room just to board the ship, Fu Haoran couldn't find a reason to refuse.
Although the amount of money isn't much, these are all potential future customers.
"Okay, we will make proper arrangements."
Standing on the edge, Kim Jisoo finally understood that her agency and the Ministry of National Defense had sent her here so that she could use her body to pry open the door of this steel behemoth and get what others would kill for.
But when she looked at Fu Haoran, who was surrounded by dignitaries and generals from various countries, she suddenly felt that this mission was very suitable for her.