November 6th, 2023, 10:00

  The South State, Seoul, Kangnam-ku, the Coex Auditorium

  Pant, pant.

  “Fuck! This is so hard.” At the center screen of the auditorium, a soldier wearing all of his personal gear swore while breathing heavily.

  The soldier glanced behind him to see if he was being chased, and a blue laser dome was closing in on him.

  “This is too real!”


  The soldier frowned and started to run to the safety zone. However, there was a gun aimed at him.

  Bang! Ba ba ba bang!

  The sound of gunshots started to fill the air and bullets flew towards him. Small and large shrapnel started to fly in all directions.

  “Wha- what the-! Where did that come from?”


  The soldier turned around a few times like a veteran and rolled to hide behind a tree.

  “Oh! So, he’s at W 110, eh?”


  After he found some cover, the soldier detected the enemy’s location with his instincts. He changed his weapon to a sniper rifle and took a deep breath.

  “It’s over once I take him down. Three, two, one,” the soldier counted down and got into position. He aimed at the enemy’s head at a window 500m away from him with his scope and pulled the trigger.

  Bang!

  After the gunshot rang out, the enemy poking his head out the window was hit by the bullet and died.

  “Game Over! You Win!”


  Whoooo!

  The audience at the auditorium all cheered and gave a standing ovation. The crowd’s reception of the world’s first EVGS (EEG Virtual Game System), the virtual brainwave gaming system showcase was enormous.

  Soon, the host walked up to the center of the stage.

  “Everyone, the footage you just saw was what the player saw in the first-person mode. Now! How about we hear from pro-gamer Kim Tae-sik who tested the game for us at this showcase?”


  A young man, who was laying down in the capsule, took off his headset and walked up to stand next to the host on the stage.

  “Now! Mr. Kim! You were the first person ever to test play the EVGS game. What was it like?”


  Kim Tae-sik took a moment before answering the host’s question, “Uhh, it, it felt so real. It was as if I was fighting in the middle of a battlefield with my life on the line. I think that made me a bit nervous and afraid while playing.”


  “Wow!”


  Clap, clap, clap.

  The crowd cheered and applauded again.

  “Was the game so realistic that it made you afraid?”


  “Yes, I knew it was a game, but I couldn’t help but feel anxious the whole time. I was worried about being hurt if I got shot too. Ha ha.”


  “Hmm, I see. If you were shot, then you could have told us how painful it felt. That’s a shame. Ah, I’m sorry. Ha ha ha. I’m just kidding, of course.”


  “If this game accurately replicates the pain of being shot, then I won’t play it.”


  “Oh, come on, would it really hurt? Ha ha ha! Thank you for participating, Mr. Kim. How about we bring the star of our event to ask if it would hurt to be shot in-game?”


  When the host pointed the microphone to the crowd, they all answered at once. An upbeat song started to play, and Namgoong-won came up to the stage in a white shirt and jeans.

  “Everyone! Introducing the inventor of the EVGS and the CEO of Hanwool Software, Namgoong-won.”


  The crowd gave another standing ovation and cheered loudly.

  “Wow!”


  Namgoong-won bowed to greet the crowd.

  “Thank you. I would like to personally thank everyone who attended this showcase. Before I get into anything else, if you get shot in the game, it will only cause a slight sting. Ha ha ha, there’s no need for concern.”


  Namgoong-won continued his speech in a confident and witty tone and explained the EVGS engine.

  The EVGS’s showcase after two years of development was a great success, thanks to the warm reception of the crowd of 1,056 people. Numerous gaming industry staff and press agencies showed great interest in the EVGS engine as well.

  The showcase was over in two hours, and Namgoong-won was flooded with requests from reporters across the world, and it was broadcasted worldwide. The stock prices of Hanwool Software hit record highs daily, and numerous gaming companies across the world, including Blizzard and Ubisoft, all requested contracts to use the EVGS engines for their games. Namgoong-won had become a worldwide celebrity and billionaire overnight.

  * * *

  November 8th, 2023, 14:00

  The South State, Seoul, Jongro-ku, the Blue House (President’s office)

  “Madam President! I am begging you to cancel all outside events we have planned for now,” the chief secretary urged the president with a concerned look on his face. NIS director Lee Young-jin had the same look on his face as well.

  “Hmm, so is there no further progress on the investigation about my assassination?” The president answered with a question.

  NIS director Lee Young-hin lowered his head and answered, “Right now, we are tracking the major culprits. We will have some results soon. I think you should cancel all events until we do like the chief secretary suggests, ma’am.”


  “Hmm, very well. I will cancel all events. However, I must attend the Veteran’s Day ceremony.”


  “Madam President!” The chief secretary insisted firmly.

  “Chief Lim! I understand your concerns. However, I want to attend the Veteran’s Day ceremony. Please cooperate with the captain of the bodyguards and ensure my safety. I beg you.”


  “Ah! Madam President! This is a matter where your life is on the line.”


  “I know, I know! I have made up my mind, so let’s not speak of this again.”


  When the president stayed adamant despite the chief secretary’s apprehension, National Security Director Kang Hyun-soo joined in.

  “Ma’am, our state of affairs is unstable. We are warring against Iran and Iraq overseas, and Kim Jong-un and Kim Hyung-won are attempting to assassinate you domestically. If something is to happen to you now, our nation will be under threat and I fear for its safety.”


  “God, Director Kang, even you are…… The Veteran’s Day event is special to me. So, please don’t speak of this matter again.”


  The two men could no longer speak after hearing President Choo Un-hee’s adamant tone and sighed. Director Lee Young-jin left the Blue House with a heavy heart from his inability to bring any substantial results from the investigation.

  * * *

  November 11th, 2023, 10:00

  The South State, Chungchung-do, Chungju-si, the Corean Aerospace Science Center, Parthenon research facility

  When the Chungju Air Force Base and 17th fighter wing moved to West Manchuria’s Ansi Air Force Base, the central government bought out the area, which was double the size of Yeoui Island, and erected the Corean Aerospace Science Center to lead the 21st century’s space industry.

  The center consisted of four futuristic dome-shaped buildings and they each served a different functionality.

  The first dome served as the dormitory for the students attending the Aerospace Academy. The academy was slightly different from Daejeon’s CAIST University that taught all fields of science and specialized in the aerospace field only.

  The Aerospace Academy received its first group of students in 2023, with an opening of 700 students. Over 24,500 students applied, and the competition was fierce and set to 35:1. The academy had now become the nation’s top academic organization surpassing Seoul University and CAIST. The competition for the academy was fierce because tuition and housing were all provided by the government and 200 graduating students would be able to work at the Corean Aerospace Science Center. If accepted, the students would be able to walk a successful career path. So, geniuses from across the nation all started to apply.

  The second dome hosted the space airport that supported space travel 10,000km above the earth’s atmosphere. Six space planes that could carry 100 passengers were being tested to officially service the public from late 2024 and open the age of space travel.

  The third dome housed the aerospace research complex that could be considered the center’s mecca. The complex was funded 100 billion dollars yearly and provided with the latest equipment so the Corean scientists and aerospace professors could conduct research freely.

  Finally, the fourth dome provided housing for the numerous scientists and teaching staff within the center. Over 10,000 people were living in the dome and had all sorts of commodities present for the tenants. Also, there were schools from elementary to high school for the children whose parents worked in the center.

  The underground research facility that dealt with alien technology expanded to 10 floors during the construction of the four domes and changed its name to the Parthenon research facility.

  In truth, the Corean Aerospace Science Center was built to train future scientists who could lead the nation’s industry, but it also served as a way to hide the Parthenon research facility.

  When the plans to build the center were drafted, some government officials opposed the idea for it could attract too much attention to the underground research facility from the tourists and being too close to a civilian facility. However, the opposition had a different idea.

  If the Corean Aerospace Science Center was built above the surface of the Parthenon research facility, then it could hide the facility in plain sight, and the current security measures would be more than enough. Having the area shrouded in mystery like America’s Area 51 would gather more suspicion and world attention also.

  After the debate raged on for two years, the Corean Aerospace Science Center was built at the Chungju Air Force Base. The world and domestic press all started to report about its construction. Luckily, no articles or reports about the Parthenon base were made public as the government feared.

  Corea’s Parthenon base, which was the foundation of the nation’s scientific development, was able to hide from the public and continue research by operating the Corean Aerospace Science Center on the surface.

  “Welcome. Long time no see,” Doctor Lee Su-jin, the head researcher of the Parthenon research facility, welcomed a man with open arms. It was Namgoong-won, who had become a worldwide celebrity overnight through the EVGS showcase.

  “Hello, Dr. Lee! How have you been?” Namgoong-won hugged Dr. Lee Su-jin and sat down on the guestroom sofa.

  “You must be so busy. I apologize for asking you to visit so suddenly.” Dr. Lee Su-jin offered him the coffee the secretary brought and smiled brightly.

  “No, it’s fine. Haha, I would come running if you asked for me, doctor.”


  After the showcase, Namgoong-won was busy dealing with numerous investors and companies contacting him about meetings and contracts. That was when Dr. Lee Su-jin urgently contacted him this morning. He rushed to the Parthenon research facility.

  “Yes. I saw your showcase on the TV a few days ago. It was amazing. When you showed me the concept, I wasn’t sure if you would be able to complete the development, but you pulled it off. It’s amazing.”


  “Haha, it was all thanks to your help, Dr. Lee. Sorry for expressing my gratitude so late. I apologize.”


  “It’s nothing. I didn’t do much, but as I have briefly explained this morning through our video call, Hocula’s system is now at 100% and it signaled that it would like to bring its crew back home. We would like the spaceship to stay behind for another three years, but the Hocula AI adamantly refused. That is why I asked for your help, since you are the person closest to the AI.”


  Dr. Lee Su-jin must have been in a rush and immediately started speaking about the main topic of the conversation.

  “Haha, I see. Hocula actually did alert me about this, too.”


  “Ah, is that so?”


  “Yes, doctor.”


  Namgoong-won showed her the smartwatch he had on his wrist. Namgoong-won had been talking to Hocula through the smartwatch.

  “Hmm, first, I would like you to persuade Hocula to stay here for another two years.”


  “Oh! That’s a difficult request. When I first managed to communicate with Hocula with the hypersonic waves, his terms were to give us scientific technology, so the Roseferry ship could be returned to 100% of its capacity and go back to the home planet of Splith. If the ship is now 100% repaired……”


  “Yes, I am aware. However, we need Hocula’s help more than ever. We have not obtained 100% of the alien technology. That is why……”


  “Yes, I understand. I will try speaking to him. But I can’t make any guarantees.” Namgoong-won smiled awkwardly.