chapter 27
{ ground zero 2 }
“Did a lot of people die?”
“Listen to me quietly.”
“Yep.”
“As the head of the agents hurriedly issued a series of instructions, barriers began to descend from all sides of the laboratory immediately. While the agents kept the subject in check, the project members hurriedly evacuated out of the laboratory. But when they couldn’t get all the way out the door, the subject started charging at a scientist who was moving in haste.”
Even just listening to the story, I could feel the urgency of that time.
“So?”
“It was not human speed. I felt that way even when I was watching from the side, but how was the person involved? At the time when everyone was motionless and thought he was going to die, someone hugged the scientist who was frozen without even thinking of avoiding him and rolled over to his side.”
“Who is it?”
“He was Bruce. Even though a significant number of personnel had already evacuated, he, who was the most important person, remained in the laboratory until late. And he threw himself away to save the scientist from the brink of death.”
“Five… ”
“The subject, which had lost its target, stayed there for a while, and then the nets that the agents flew from all directions caught the subject. And then the chief suddenly stopped the agents who were about to open fire.”
“why? Is the test subject a waste?”
“The test subject… it has been stabilized He had suddenly calmed down, and while he was piled up in a net, he didn’t move much. Bruce, the scientist he rescued, and the rest of the crew quickly evacuated as the agents tensed and watched the subject’s sudden change. And the agents locked the subject inside and administered a large amount of stabilizing agent.”
“then… Wasn’t one of them killed in the riot?”
To Yang Gwang’s question, Aiden answered by raising his eyebrows slightly upwards.
“okay. Fortunately, there were no casualties, and the project was a success. Because the subject has truly evolved. It’s terrifying.”
After he was silent for a moment, Yang Gwang urged the conversation.
“So what happened?”
Then, Aiden, who looked like he was still immersed in reminiscences, and seemed to be thinking about something, slowly opened his mouth.
“Were the project members also facing the threat of death? Everyone was in a state of great excitement, whether it was because of the deep fear of the C-class test subject’s terrifying appearance or the realization that the experiment had been successful. And in that atmosphere, everyone rushed to praise Bruce. Because he showed himself that he would take responsibility. Who would risk their own life and throw themselves at that moment?”
“Okay. That’s it.”
“Besides, isn’t he the richest man in the world? He was able to save the scientist’s life because he didn’t flee first. So everyone was reminded of how consistently he had a responsible attitude, front and back, at all times.”
The voices continued to resound from the opposite side of the two people who nodded as if they were sympathetic.
“So, the commotion was over, and the Ubermensh project was further expanded and progressed with enhanced facilities and strict security. In earnest.”
Perhaps because he talked a lot, he brought water and drank it coldly.
Then, as if in response to the gazes focused on him, he immediately raised his voice again.
“he… Not great. he’s a great man The ability to inspire people. That behavior that makes you bow your head and admire you. He was born to be a ruler.”
Aiden’s low voice came out.
Yuhan Wol thought.
Even if you listen to his story briefly, it seems that Bruce Hendrick already has the qualities of a desirable leader or boss.
So, how much more would the people who met him have a greater impact?
Everyone must have followed him eagerly from the bottom of their hearts.
“By the way, didn’t you say that you felt something from the beginning?”
The story is interesting, but it was Yuhan Wol who never forgot what the starting point of this conversation was.
What Bruce Hendrick wants.
“okay. It was. and… It was exactly from that time. What clearly captured the strangeness.”
“Are you talking about the C-class subject riot?”
Aiden nodded.
“Things of the day… The more I thought about it, the weirder it got. It was very strange. How can I properly express that feeling? That unknown feeling… okay. It was because I didn’t know what it felt like.”
Yang Yang-gwang asked abruptly.
“What?”
“Why did the subject suddenly stop?”
“that… When Bruce saved the scientist?”
“okay.”
Yang Yang-gwang tilted his head and said.
“Isn’t that just a momentary pause because the target disappeared? Then you get caught in the nets fired by the agents and can’t help but move?”
“Everyone thought so. However, it was a test subject that moved elastically in all directions and fast enough to avoid all nets. So, even if we could pause for a moment, we should have avoided the flying nets. Besides, shouldn’t there have been a riot if you got caught in the net? He was so ferocious.”
“Okay. That’s weird. But did it settle down soon?”
“okay. It was weird. And, there must have been a reason.”
As Yang Yang-gwang was turning his head, he heard his words in succession.
“and… There was one more strange thing.”
The voice sounds serious.
“What else?”
“Bruce… Why did he jump in?”
At that, Yang Yang-gwang tilted his head and asked a question.
“Aren’t you the general manager? Didn’t he keep his word that he was responsible?”
“okay. That’s what everyone understood. But it was difficult for me to accept it. That Bruce… risk your life? no. He will never be.”
his assertive tone.
Yuhan Wol asked.
“How do you know that?”
“Did I not tell you? It was said that we were on an equal footing like a friend. That year is the longest 15 years. How many times have you talked to him over that long period of time? I judge myself to understand him better than anyone in the world. Who in the world could have been with him as close, as close, and as long as he did?”
Aiden, who paused for a moment, spoke in a firm tone as if affirming.
“Bruce is the one who loves himself the most. And a person who sees all other beings below himself. Does he sacrifice himself for others? It’s nonsense in the first place.”
“… … .”
“So what everyone was saying about him and what I saw were different from the start. So it must have been I felt that something was not clear. Because of Odhalaf, he inevitably had the vigilance he had from the beginning. And the unpleasantness added to it made me unable to stand still. Because I had to know why. So I immediately started checking all the tests on the subject.”
“Then why didn’t you check before that?”
Aiden added an explanation to Yang Yang-gwang’s words.
“I cannot know every part of the experiment. Because each of the actual project personnel had different areas of responsibility. Anyway, to find out what I didn’t know, I had to check at this point when the subject was chaos and confused. By the way… Even though I was the most important person in this project, I did not have access to all the contents of the experiment with my authority. Was there any reason for that? ? So I took advantage of the situation and used a little trick.”
“How do you say it?”
“I called the IT department urgently and said that I had to go through all of the test logs urgently. I needed Bruce’s approval to get that permission. But after he rescued the researcher, he was taken to the hospital with him.”
“therefore… Did you do that?”
“The IT person in charge said such a principled thing, so I threatened to follow the rules even in such a serious situation. Moreover, Bruce also insisted on saying that he should leave his hand and sit in the yard where he was carried like that. I was just trying to be sensible, and if something goes wrong, I’ll take responsibility, so if anything happens, I’ll make an excuse for you. So, don’t worry about it and do as soon as you can. Well, the IT manager knew what kind of status I had in this project, so it was hard to say no.”
Even if you make a system that looks perfect, the humans who deal with it aren’t perfect.
The beauty of hacking is to understand the system beyond just programming well, to understand the actual usage, and to aim for possible loopholes.
So, he was a good person who could understand what he was saying better than anyone else.
“And I found it.”
Yang Yang-gwang asked him to speak quickly, as if it was something very important.
“What?”
“Psychological analysis and management programs… It was actually a brainwashing program.”
“… !”
Yang Kwang asked as if he had heard correctly now.
“Brainwashing?”
“okay. Brainwashing. A very thorough and persistent brainwashing program was being applied throughout the entire course of the experiment. without anyone knowing.”
“… … .”
“It was then that I realized for sure. Why was that possible? Why did Bruce not escape and remain in such a dangerous place until the end? And how he risked his life to save a scientist. The subject stopped because it saw Bruce. Something you should never do. A being that must be obeyed. And then everything became clear. Bruce, what he wants.”
What he had said earlier came to mind.
“Is it the ruler of the new race?”
“okay. He has accomplished almost everything that is possible in this world. wealth. and honor.”
“Well… power? What, you want to be president?”
“He doesn’t really care about that. Of course, the power of power can momentarily surpass or overwhelm wealth. However, power in a democratic system is, after all, temporary. This is especially true in the US. So he’s not one to be obsessed with such a temporary thing.”
“So?”
“Think of it from your point of view. If you’ve accomplished almost anything you can achieve in this world. And it is by no means easy to achieve the same wealth and fame as now by adding something new. There is no need for that.”
“It would be.”
“Then what are you going to do with the rest of your life?”