Chapter 317 Butterfly Effect (8)
Busan Port, a key logistics hub in Northeast Asia, handles an enormous amount of cargo every day.
A strange air current was flowing inside one of the dozens of hundreds of ships leaving here and sailing around the world.
“We have finally obtained the cargo and are currently transporting it safely. It will leave Korea’s territorial waters and enter the high seas within the next two hours, and it will take about 19 hours to reach the home country.”
Sasaki reports via video communication that the operation has been successfully completed and that he has returned. Director Yasuhiro of the Cabinet Investigation Office, looking at the rugged ship monitor, said with a big smile on his face that he couldn’t hide his joy.
[You did really well even in a poor environment where you couldn’t even get proper support. It’s been hard. The head of department or the prime minister will be delighted with the achievements you have made.]
“I just did what I had to do.”
A gloomy past in which various maneuvers were prepared to extract virtual reality technology with grand goals, but none of them worked as planned. However, his eyes lit up with the anticipation that he would be able to produce practical results for the first time now.
[So… that the one hostage you brought in this time is very unusual…?]
Yasuhiro, who received a brief report in writing. In response to his question, Sasaki nodded and began to explain further.
“That’s right. A university student named Yoon Jae-young, who is friends with Lim Jae-gyun, who was originally our target, said that the ‘synchro rate’, which plays the most key role in driving virtual reality technology, is higher than anyone else.”
Synchro rate, an indicator of the efficiency of all interactions between the human brain and machines.
Hearing the report that this, the most important factor in utilizing virtual reality technology to the extreme level, reached as high as 92%, Director Yasuhiro muttered in surprise with a different face.
[It’s quite surprising that such an outstanding talent was hiding in the common people’s university.]
“Perhaps the investigation team couldn’t help but identify that person. Basically, he had a tendency to be extremely reluctant to expose his identity internally and externally, and it seems that he was deliberately using his friend Jae-kyun’s fame to hide his reputation.”
Jae-young, who had been sticking to Lim Jae-gyun, the most famous person at Seomin University, and not revealing his presence because it was dark under the lamp. That’s why Director Yasuhiro’s smile grew thicker at the sudden appearance of another unexpected genius.
[Then, we unintentionally secured two people who are regarded as the most outstanding talents in the virtual reality industry. Besides, both of them are showing willingness to cooperate with our government?]
“As a result of our conversations, the person named Jae-Young Yoon is more calculating and cunning than I thought. They said they would be willing to negotiate as long as the reward for their cooperation and the safety of the recruits were guaranteed.”
Unlike others who are uncooperatively vigilant and hostile just because they were kidnapped, Sasaki was taken aback by Jae-young’s proposal to negotiate after recognizing the reality they were in so quickly. However, for the Japanese government, such a cooperative attitude was rather welcome, so Director Yasuhiro nodded and said.
[Then post-processing will be a little easier. If the Korean government later makes this issue an issue, it can be said that they voluntarily switched to our side.]
With the expectation that this operation will be completed more smoothly and smoothly than expected. And with a sense of relief that he could finally report the actual results to Prime Minister Abin, Director Yasuhiro said as he wrapped up the report on this operation.
[Please do not let go of your guard until you return to your home country. Since the Korean government called the Japanese ambassador to Korea and said they strongly protested against this operation… I’m sure the other side is also pursuing them in every way to find you.] Since the ship has already successfully left Busan Port, it’s almost over
. this kidnapping operation. In less than two hours, they were completely out of South Korean territorial waters, so even if they knew where they were, it was almost too late for the South Korean government to take action.
That’s why Sasaki nodded, but heeded his warning indifferently. Without even knowing what great storm was brewing in the distance.
* * *
The United States of America, a hegemon in name and reality that exerts enormous influence over the world based on its mighty military and mighty economic power.
President Pearson, the head of this great power, which refers to the leader of the free world camp, was stunned by the unexpected report from the Secretary of State.
“What do you mean? Did the Japanese government kidnap a Korean citizen?”
“According to information received from the chairman of Silicorp, it is one of the Japanese government’s secret operations to steal virtual reality technology. It was said that it was part of a retaliatory measure against the Korean government for the recent incidents and to secure talented people in the field of virtual reality.”
“Ah, I guess you’re talking about the historical humiliation that’s been making a lot of noise on TV these days.”
President Pearson, who had recently received a report on international trends that Japan was frothing and going crazy over the subject of reenactment of a historical tragedy. He muttered while thinking about what happened at that time, then tilted his head and asked.
“But why didn’t Argos inform us of the threat? As far as I know, I have not received any reports regarding Japan…”
Argos provides all relevant information in real time as soon as a situation that poses a significant threat to the national security and interests of the United States is detected. Therefore, if this was a real threat to national interests, there was no way he was unaware of the situation in which the subject had already been kidnapped by the Japanese government and was being transported to Japan.
“There is no information that the Japanese government can find out about the abduction of the two. It is an undeniable fact that he is a talented person who shows outstanding ability in relation to virtual reality technology, but… that is all.”
Based on his infinite imagination, Jaekyun has a strong ability to embody that no one dares to follow.
Jae-young, who has the qualifications of being the world’s best gamer in name and reality, with monster-like physical and management skills.
It was true that the abilities of the two were very unusual and special, but in the eyes of these two, who exert enormous influence around the world, they were nothing more than ordinary people.
“There is no real threat to American interests and security. However, it seemed that there could be situations that would cause headaches in many ways.”
“Troublesome situation?”
President Pearson asked back with a questionable expression as if what he was talking about. To him, the Secretary of State corrected his spectacles and briefly explained the consequences of their absence.
“So… are you saying that if Jaeyoung Lee is not allowed to play Arcadia continuously, then Arcadia will eventually go down the path of destruction?”
“Silikov said so.”
Helen shrugged her shoulders, as if she didn’t know exactly. However, she soon started talking in a low voice about the situation that would flow on the assumption that the things they were concerned about would happen.
“Arcadia is a giant pillar supporting the entire virtual reality industry. If Arcadia perishes in a situation where there is no substitute for it, people’s trust in virtual reality will rapidly decline. Then, it will put a big brake on the next-generation future industry plan that the President was planning.”
“Umm…”
At Helen’s words, President Pearson flipped through the report in his hand with a slightly more serious face. After pondering for quite some time, he raised his head and asked the Secretary of State.
“What do you think, Helen? Do you see this as something we need to intervene directly?”
Seeing President Pearson ask for his thoughts, the Secretary of State replied with a bitter expression.
“Actually, we don’t have a choice, Mr. President.”
“What does that mean?”
“If we don’t move, it looks like the president of Silicoff will ask the other side directly.”
“If it’s the other way…”
President Pearson freezes for a moment at Helen’s words and hardens his face. To him, with a strangely aloof face, she muttered as she picked up the report that was on the desk.
“It would be the best option for us to move independently, Mr. President. If he gets involved in this matter himself… I won’t even be able to handle the mess that will happen again.”
A prankster who disturbs this peaceful world.
A being who wears an extremely evil smile and whoever touches him at all times, regardless of fire or recklessness, throws away all catfish in an outrageous way.
Kim Min Soo.
Pearson shook his head and pressed the intercom, as if imagining it was terrifying, as huge shit that even the US government could not handle was always poured out like a mountain if he moved directly.
“Connect to Pacific Command. Because something has happened that needs to be dealt with urgently.”
* * *
Whoops.
Early morning when the sun has not risen yet.
In a ship sailing across the sea in pitch-black darkness without a single light, Jae-young climbed onto the deck alone and immersed in thought while breathing in the wind.
In just one day, he went from being an ordinary college student to being kidnapped and taken hostage to Japan. I was immersed in complicated thoughts in an absurd situation that seemed like something out of a fantasy novel, but that time wasn’t that long.
“I was wondering where you went, so you were in a dangerous place like this?”
Mei, who was one of the kidnappers who kidnapped herself and Jaekyun. Jaeyoung glanced at her with nonchalant eyes, then turned his head again and murmured.
“Are you still watching when you have nowhere to run?”
“You can’t have a bad heart and jump into the sea, can you? Then we will be in trouble too.”
May is now standing next to Jaeyoung with a soft smile as if her tension has eased considerably. And she soon began to comfort him with a friendly expression, as if telling him not to worry.
“It’s true that the beginning was a bit rough, but take it easy. Japan is not a bad place to live. If you actively cooperate with our government, you may be guaranteed an affluent and comfortable life that you never dreamed of in Korea.”
Comfort that maybe this isn’t a bad choice. However, it was just a story that didn’t work for Jae-young, who had already acquired enormous goods in Arcadia that no one dared dream of.
“…..”
Jaeyoung doesn’t respond and just stares at the jet-black sea in silence.
In response to his reaction, Mei tried to convince him again, but she stopped for a moment at the strange sounds that came out of nowhere.
Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
Tutututututu.
Strange sounds suddenly come from far away.
In the pitch-black darkness where you can’t even see an inch ahead, those disparate sounds that you hear in your ears through the roar of container ships.
That’s when those sounds are getting louder and louder.
That moment when you feel a sense of wonder when you see the sailors who suddenly become noisy and move wildly and their expressions confused and confused. Suddenly, intense light started pouring from all directions.
“What the hell is this…”
Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu.
Tututututututu.
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.
Black helicopters and small boats surrounded the container ship.
And the armed soldiers aboard it and the fighter jets that suddenly appear in the sky.
May and Jae-young freeze in shock at the sudden appearance of troops.
And on that day, Jaeyoung was able to witness a rare sight for the first time in his life.
It is the pride of the US Navy and belongs to the Pacific Command’s 7th Fleet, appearing unstoppably from beyond the horizon with the rising sun in the distance.
The majestic majesty of the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan.
