Chapter 198

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Translated by Heavenly Cat

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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“Director. The North Korean government has finally raised the white flag.”

“What do you mean?”

“They apparently can’t stop the defeated soldiers pushing in through the Tumen and Yalu rivers. So they’ve decided to accept support from the UN and America.”

The mighty North Korean regime accepting support from the UN and America.

But if they don’t accept help now, the North Korean regime will definitely collapse.

The only Chinese regime they trusted and relied on collapsed due to civil war, and how could North Korea possibly stop those forces pushing down?

Even if they somehow stopped them, North Korea had become incapable of maintaining its system.

Because all support coming from China was completely cut off.

“This time, our headquarters also actively stepped in. They played the mediator role. Ships full of food are currently floating in the sea. We can primarily solve the food problem, and America and the UN can help with military support.”

So North Korea, whether they wanted to or not, had no choice but to let foreign troops into their country.

“President Aiden also immediately approved this matter.”

Aiden is Gwangwoon’s person.

That’s why Aiden gave immediate approval.

“What does the strategy team say?”

“Once the UN and US military are deployed first to stabilize North Korea, they plan to move the food from the ships. Also, they’ll spread volunteers widely for the people in North Korea who need help.”

“They’re planning to deploy our Sentinel at that time?”

“Yes. The flow is similar to Sichuan. They’re going to spread agents disguised as volunteers throughout North Korea.”

What did spreading Sentinel agents throughout North Korea mean?

It was the intent to collapse North Korea’s system like China.

“If we wage war against North Korea with US and UN forces, the Kim family might do something insane with the intention of all dying together. But if our agents co-opt North Korean generals and suppress the Kim family, regime collapse is peacefully possible.”

“And install a new king to our liking in North Korea?”

“Yes. Gwangwoon probably doesn’t want North and South Korea to unify. It would only increase social chaos. Rather, if they install a leader who follows their orders in North Korea, it would be much easier to control. Like Africa, Gwangwoon could handle North Korea as they please.”

Anthony also seemed to understand why Gwangwoon had been trying so hard to bring down North Korea.

You could tell by looking at Africa now.

Gwangwoon was effectively the king of Africa right now.

The African government and people live on their money.

In other words, they’ve become modern-day slaves.

Now it was North Korea’s turn.

If they created a system run by Gwangwoon and made those residents their labor force, it would be profitable for Gwangwoon.

“Perhaps North Korea is just the beginning.”

“Pardon?”

“It’s North Korea now, but where would be next?”

“Are you talking about China?”

“Yes. They’ll seize North Korea preemptively, watch turbulent China, and advance when the time comes. And then they’ll install a king to their liking just like North Korea.”

That way, Gwangwoon would have hundreds of millions of laborers not just in North Korea but in China.

“They’re even trying to develop chips to insert in human bodies.”

“That’s… creepy.”

Creepy, huh.

Anthony felt chills for a different reason.

That the glorious day when Gwangwoon would rule all of humanity wasn’t far off.

***

“North Korea really accepted negotiations?”

“Yes. Headquarters seems to have mediated well. And North Korea is quite desperate right now. Above all, with fires falling on their feet due to military and food problems, it’s not the time to be picky.”

Even so, the other party is North Korea.

In fact, our foundation had extended helping hands several times due to North Korea’s serious famine problem.

But each time, North Korea rejected us.

However, they seemed unable to refuse this time.

“Entry isn’t immediately possible, but once somewhat stabilized, they plan to transfer the food. Our foundation staff can enter then.”

“It’s good that foundation staff are going, but please make sure to take care of their safety.”

“Yes. Sentinel also said they’ll take good care so there are no safety issues.”

I let out a sigh of relief.

I was worried what would happen if North Korea was stubborn to the end, but fortunately, they also had no choice but to accept the proposal to maintain their system.

“Will this keep the North Korean regime intact for a while?”

“Yes. If it’s militarily stable and food procurement goes well, there shouldn’t be problems maintaining the regime. But America and the UN probably don’t want that either. They’ll make sure North Korea can no longer be as closed as before.”

In other words, whether opening up somewhat like China, or declaring complete openness.

They seemed to want to make North Korean society different from before somehow.

I agreed with that.

We can’t keep trembling from North Korean risk forever.

Real change is needed now.

“Ah. And President. You know the project you approved investment for last time?”

“The RFID chips?”

“Yes. Related to that, the research team looked into it more, and it turns out Kangsung also developed that project in the past.”

I examined the document the manager handed me.

“It’s apparently on hold due to social and ethical issues, but if Kangsung develops it, production and quality could be enhanced…”

So Kangsung was doing this kind of thing too.

But development had been halted due to social issues.

“…?”

But the moment I opened that document, my intuition was reacting very intensely.

“How would they react if I asked them to do this again now?”

Asking to revive a project that was already development-halted seemed a bit shameless.

“But aren’t you and Chairman Kang Seong-ho quite close, President? And if Kangsung thinks this can make money, won’t they accept?”

I was conflicted, but there’s a saying.

The world runs on connections.

Plus, Chairman Kang Seong-ho and I aren’t strangers.

We’re family-like guild members, after all.

***

“Gwangwoon wants to invest in what?”

Chairman Kang Seong-ho came fully alert from the morning report.

“There’s a project our Kangsung developed in the past and then halted, and they say they want to invest in it.”

“This is it? RFID chips?”

“Yes. It’s a chip inserted into the human body, and actually, patients who need to check blood sugar daily are inserting chips to check via phone apps instead of blood draws. We were trying to make something similar. A chip that checks not just blood sugar but more health information, and even operates Kangsung Pay.”

Just hearing it felt somewhat uncomfortable.

“That’s exactly why development was stopped. And there were several places developing similar technology, but conspiracy theorists rose up fiercely claiming they were trying to control humanity with implanted chips, and everything was halted.”

There’s a very famous conspiracy theory called the 666 Verichip.

But even without being a conspiracy theorist, putting a chip in one’s body is something any human would naturally feel resistance to.

“But Gwangwoon suddenly wants to invest in it?”

“Yes. It’s not just Kangsung. Gwangwoon has already given investment funds to several companies with related technology, and they’re saying they’ll invest a full 1 trillion won in our Kangsung. If Kangsung leads development, it can be combined with Close AI and Kangsung’s mobile to increase utility.”

Moreover, this 1 trillion won was the initial investment.

In other words, they were willing to put in even more investment if development progresses.

“Is there development progress?”

“Actually, the RFID chips that started the conspiracy theory are only for identity verification for medical purposes—location tracking and other functions are completely impossible. It’s too small to put in that many features.”

“But Gwangwoon wants to make that possible?”

“Yes. Not just simple identity verification, but real-time body examination to identify specific diseases. Connected to Kangsung Pay for payments, identity verification. Research in this field is surprisingly well-developed, so if investment is poured in, completion might be faster than expected.”

But the important thing is data collection.

You can’t just develop recklessly.

You need samples to see if development is really going well, if it works properly.

“It seems Gwangwoon is using Africa as that testing ground. Looking at the investment purpose written here, it says the aim is to distribute to places with poor medical facilities like Africa for early disease diagnosis.”

“And inserting them in pets too?”

“Yes, with the intention of prioritizing socially vulnerable elderly to reduce lonely deaths.”

On the surface, it was a really good system.

In places without medical facilities, diseases could be diagnosed early, and the isolation of socially isolated elderly could be reduced.

Also, chips could be inserted into pets to check health status in real-time.

This would clearly have a positive impact on society.

“This is completely…”

However, Kang Seong-ho was looking at it from a different perspective.

“They’re trying to lower people’s guard?”

“Yes. Under the pretense of protecting the socially vulnerable and saving people suffering from medical issues in Africa, they’re trying to obtain samples. Especially if they indiscriminately insert chips into the massive population in Africa, they’d obtain enormous data.”

It essentially meant conducting large-scale human experimentation in Africa.

It’s a chip inserted into human bodies, isn’t it?

Of course, there could be side effects, and issues with the chip.

“They’ll first correct many errors there, then distribute to other countries. Before that, they’ll tear down the wariness toward implanted chips as much as possible.”

No matter how well-made a chip is, if people refuse, it can’t be forcibly inserted.

But if they save the socially vulnerable, show Africa as an example, and advertise only the positive aspects through social media, people’s perceptions will gradually change too.

“And then they’ll distribute it under Gwangwoon and Kangsung’s name?”

“Yes. If things proceed according to Gwangwoon’s plan…”

“Everyone who receives the chip can be monitored by Gwangwoon.”

“Really, like conspiracy theories, they could kill people through those chips without anyone knowing.”

“…”

Chairman Kang Seong-ho’s hand holding the water glass trembled slightly.

Cooperating with Gwangwoon, Kangsung had made tremendous progress.

During that process, he had only watched as Gwangwoon swallowed the world.

He had also indirectly cooperated.

But this was different.

This was the final key to dominating the world.

Wasn’t the intent to plant chips in everyone’s bodies and control them as Gwangwoon wanted?

And Kangsung had to develop the core technology for that chip.

“…”

Until now, Kangsung had done whatever Gwangwoon wanted, but they had never been asked to do something that directly revealed such clear intent.

So Chairman Kang Seong-ho was conflicted now.

Honestly, social duty, ethics—he thought as long as the company made money, it wouldn’t matter.

But for the first time this time, he thought: is this really the right thing?

The intent for Gwangwoon to take people in their grasp and control them was unmistakable, wasn’t it?

Knowing that clearly and still commencing development—his conscience wouldn’t allow it.

“But Gwangwoon directly entrusted you, Chairman, with work they could easily and secretly assign elsewhere. What do you think that means?”

“Because I’ve benefited from Gwangwoon all this time, now it’s time to pay the price?”

“Yes. And it might be to check whether Kangsung is really on Gwangwoon’s side, that loyalty. If the Chairman refuses this investment…”

The executives didn’t continue beyond that.

Because there was no need to say what end came to those who opposed Gwangwoon until now.

“…”

Kang Seong-ho pondered briefly, then signed the document.

He felt the guilt of having betrayed humanity, but those who must live should live, shouldn’t they?

End