Side Story 2

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Translated by Heavenly Cat

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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“Chairman. Your son has submitted an application to Gwangwoon GAIA.”

I glanced at the secretary’s face making the report.

Se-yoon to GAIA?

“…….”

It wasn’t a lie but the truth.

This guy.

He should have at least given a hint to his Dad.

“It must be chaotic there right now.”

“Yes. Since it’s not anyone else but the Chairman’s son.”

I think I know why Se-yoon submitted the application without telling me.

He probably wants my influence to be absent as much as possible.

I understand.

Isn’t he a guy who dislikes burdening his dad?

Furthermore, he is such a smart and strong-willed guy that if there is something he wants to achieve, he definitely does it.

“Time really flies. Our Se-yoon is already at the age to submit an application to the company.”

Although Se-yoon is an adult now, in my mind, he remained as his 10-year-old self.

“Yes. It represents a relief that he grew up very well. You must be proud, Chairman.”

I am proud, but on the one hand, the feeling of apology was also big.

Thinking I might have given too much of a burden saying he would become a scientist to save the world since he was young.

But I still remember that strong signal my intuition gave me 10 years ago.

“Chairman. How should I.. Speak to the GAIA side?”

“Tell them to verify thoroughly, and to be much more picky and meticulous than other applicants.”

“You mean to be thorough so no other sounds come out.”

“Yes. That will be good for Se-yoon too.”

I am sorry to Se-yoon, but it can’t be helped.

GAIA is a place that shouldn’t be handled roughly.

Because that place is more important than any other facility.

***

“…Who is entering?”

“Jeong Se-yoon. Chairman Jeong Jin-ho’s son.”

“I mean. Why is that friend suddenly coming here to GAIA?”

GAIA.

When Chairman Jeong Jin-ho first established this place, he said this.

‘The place that must play the most important role in the current world.’

GAIA receives the most investment amount in Gwangwoon Group,

And is a place where all kinds of cutting-edge equipment and numerous elites worldwide gathered in one place, literally a collective of humanity’s superintelligence.

Their purpose is one.

Just like the name of the Earth Goddess Gaia, it was to restore this Earth.

Development of perfect clean energy.

Restoration of destroyed Earth environment.

Resolution of global warming.

It means it is a place established to solve difficult problems related to humanity’s continued existence.

So they were continuing to develop necessary technologies.

“Putting his only son into a place where only the top elites can enter while pouring thousands of trillions like that.”

“If it’s Jeong Se-yoon, wasn’t he famous for hearing genius sounds since long ago?”

Kim Geum-ho, who was serving as the GAIA Center Head, narrowed his brow.

“Do you think there is a guy who hasn’t heard genius sounds in this center? It’s a place where only global elites can enter.”

“Yes. But this friend’s resume is flashy. He graduated from Gwangwoon University at 15. While majoring in Physics, he double majored in the Artificial Intelligence sector too and took top honors in all.”

In the past, if you were a guy who studied well, sending you abroad unconditionally was the normal route.

But now it became the exact opposite.

Elites all gather in Korea.

And to Gwangwoon University which became much harder to enter than before at that.

“Furthermore, he finished graduate school and completed Master’s and Doctorate courses too. They said Jeong Se-yoon is the first to finish courses that quickly.”

Center Head Kim Geum-ho smirked and checked Jeong Se-yoon’s profile.

Jeong Se-yoon.

Age 20.

Actually, there was no need to look at that flashy resume.

Because looking at the parents’ profile written in family details was sufficient.

“If it were you, if the son of the person who built a giant empire called Gwangwoon submitted an application to our company, what would you do?”

“Well… I would pass him without asking or questioning.”

“Right. Then how would the professors at the university Jeong Se-yoon attended have felt? Graduate school? Would there be anyone who evaluated purely looking at Jeong Se-yoon’s ability among them?”

“…Surely are you saying he is a manufactured genius not by ability?”

Manufactured genius.

It was a fitting word.

“Gwangwoon is no longer a company. It is an empire administering the world. And Chairman Jeong Jin-ho is the very Emperor of that empire. But what would happen if we hear talk that the son who has to continue the next generation is a half-wit?”

“Even if not right now, wouldn’t the inside shake as time passes gradually?”

“Right. Knowing that, Gwangwoon is trying to make a rare genius instead. Just as all dictator states that existed so far did, solidifying the position firmly.”

Graduating from Gwangwoon University, which is hard to enter, in a short period hearing rare genius sounds since young, and completing Master’s and Doctorate courses.

“Next, they intend to make him the youngest researcher of GAIA here where only global elite researchers can enter.”

A successor with a heart for the Earth and humanity, starting from very high intelligence.

He will be imprinted as such to Gwangwoon’s subjects and the public.

They are paving the road firmly.

“So Jeong Se-yoon entering GAIA should be seen as one of the steps for throne succession.”

“Correct. That’s why I feel very dirty right now.”

Kim Geum-ho let out a deep sigh.

When establishing GAIA for the first time.

He still vividly remembers the face of Chairman Jeong Jin-ho who designated him as Center Head.

‘Unlike what I heard, he was a very angel-like person.’

Jeong Jin-ho, who built a giant empire through the blood of many.

However, his impression and tone were very soft, and his heart for humanity never looked like pretense.

So trusting him, Kim Geum-ho had hung onto this center with all his might.

But a parachute (nepotism hire).

And a parachute for his son’s succession at that!

Isn’t this an action completely opposing Jeong Jin-ho’s will to save this Earth and humanity!

It would be a lie if he wasn’t disappointed.

“Does the HR team say they examined meticulously? Aren’t we incredibly strict with things like this?”

“That… Chairman Jeong Jin-ho asked to evaluate his son more thoroughly and cool-headedly than other people.”

Evaluate thoroughly and cool-headedly.

He only said that in words; essentially, it was no different from giving pressure to act well according to notice (read the room).

“So it seems the HR team also picked him while only pretending to review diligently.”

Indeed. Who dares to drop the Emperor’s son.

The moment Jeong Se-yoon submitted the application here, passing was determined.

“Wait. Then does Jeong Se-yoon also attend today’s meeting?”

“Ah, yes. Today is the day each research team announces progress status, and the 20 new researchers picked this time will observe.”

“Is that so?”

At the Center Head’s subtle expression, Manager Lee Tae-hyun, who was reporting, felt anxiety springing up.

“Center Head. Y, you shouldn’t do that.”

“Do what?”

“I know well that you don’t like that friend. But even so, if you embarrass him in front of everyone or something…”

“Hey. Who says I’m going to embarrass him. If he is a researcher who entered our center, he is my hatchling from now on. Then shouldn’t I train and teach him so he can earn his keep?”

“B, but…”

“Enough. Stop chatting, let’s go quickly. I have to see the faces of the new family members who entered this time.”

“C, Center Head!”

Lee Tae-hyun followed behind the Center Head, sweating cold sweat.

***

‘Son, you will become a scientist who saves the world.’

Se-yoon clearly remembers the words his father said 10 years ago.

Originally his dream changed every time, but was it from then?

Se-yoon decided to become a great scientist who really saves the world.

And if there is the ability shared as a secret only between father and Jeong Se-yoon, the two of them, it was sufficiently possible.

Father built a giant empire with this ability, and the son intends to revive the crumbling Earth now.

‘Father calls it intuition but…’

Se-yoon called this ability differently.

‘Understanding (Comprehension).’

Ability to understand all creation.

Jeong Se-yoon defined it as such.

“Through the geothermal cancellation device located at the bottom of the Arctic ice cap, we absorb the heat of fusion at the bottom of the glacier in reverse, and remove heat with a thermal magnetic pump structure utilizing nanotubes to produce power. We see that it will reduce the melting rate by 28% with a temperature maintenance of just 0.3 degrees. The problem of this CSS project is…”

In the wide auditorium, each research team came out and was announcing the progress status of projects under development.

Se-yoon briefly examined the data displayed on the screen and the data distributed to researchers respectively.

“…!”

Along with a beeping sound, his head throbbed.

And the contents in the report and data full of those complex formulas were absorbed into his head all at once.

“….”

He closed his eyes for a moment and took a deep breath.

Because it was such complex content, and once the ability manifested, a little break time was needed.

“I am Senior Researcher Ahn Sang-hyun of Project LUCID. Currently, the experiment forming aerosol plasma film was successful, but nonlinear charge instability phenomenon appeared on the high-altitude jet stream, causing the plasma potential of the tropopause to become 4% higher than predicted, breaking the film alignment. Accordingly, by injecting new nanobots…”

As the announcement of new content began, understanding activated once again and his head became hot.

Se-yoon let out a short sigh closing his eyes.

‘Today won’t be easy.’

***

GAIA receives reports on project progress status through presentations periodically.

Since it is the place where Gwangwoon spends the most money currently, they must review and develop responsibly, and the new researchers observing today must stay sharp and engrave the contents.

Because they don’t know which project they will be deployed to in the near future.

But for Kim Geum-ho, today’s presentation content didn’t enter his ears well.

Because his gaze was stuck in one place since earlier.

‘Our Prince seems very bored.’

Center Head Kim Geum-ho was looking disapprovingly at Jeong Se-yoon, who was closing his eyes, whether bored or sleepy, in the seat where new researchers were gathered.

“We will end the presentation with this. Then based on the data each prepared, questions…”

“Wait.”

“Ah, yes. Center Head.”

“Let’s leave today’s questions to the newbies.”

“…Yes?”

“New researchers entered after a long time. 1 minute 1 second is precious to us. It means we can’t give them a long time to adapt. So they should mix in well starting from now. Don’t you agree?”

Then smiles floated on the lips of the researchers in the conference room.

Is it something like a hazing ceremony.

Just as they suffered from professors in university.

A new researcher is someone who learns while being crushed and crushed again by the monster-like elite researchers here.

“Then stand up one by one and tell us if there is anything to give feedback on. You don’t have to make it long.”

The expressions of the newbies hardened more.

Far from feedback, most didn’t understand properly what the content was.

“H, hello. I am n, new researcher Oh Sang-hyuk. First, I give words of thanks to the senior researchers who gave the presentation today…”

But the newbies also didn’t miss the opportunity.

No one here expects proper feedback or presentation content.

This represents something like a draft.

“Enough with greetings, is there anything worth giving feedback on among the presentation content?”

Which newbie to take to one’s research team.

It was an opportunity to make an impression on the chief researchers seated here.

“I, in my thought, if we phase synchronize the multi-plasma chamber…”

“Already 14 small reactors succeeded in electromagnetic phase synchronization. But you say we have to phase synchronize multi-plasma chambers again? Can you catch the stabilization time?”

“……”

Looking from the outside, it seems like killing the spirit of newbies. But they learn like this.

And if they reveal interest in a specific field like that, research teams get interested.

It was doing self-PR properly with the surprise opportunity given by the Center Head.

“Everyone is brutal today. Against new researchers.”

Like that, over 10 new researchers were broken badly in less than 10 minutes.

While everyone was sullen.

The order the Center Head waited and waited for came.

“Next.”

“…I am new researcher Jeong Se-yoon.”

At the name Jeong Se-yoon, it became quiet for an instant.

“I watched the announced contents well. Daring to give one piece of feedback, I think there is a correlation between the problems generated in the currently ongoing CSS project and the LUCID project.”

However, soon the hall buzzed.

The CSS Chief Researcher spoke with a slightly uncomfortable voice.

“What does that mean? That there is a correlation between the problems of the two projects.”

“CSS is a system to control the geothermal flux at the bottom of the Arctic ice cap, isn’t it? It absorbs heat of fusion in reverse through the geothermal cancellation device. But bismuth telluride thermoelectric has strong paramagnetic characteristics. If strong heat flow occurs in the cooling process, electron spin alignment forms a local magnetic field.”

“So?”

“At a point where magnetic lines are concentrated vertically like the bottom of the Arctic Circle, that effect amplifies with geomagnetic deviation. If that repeats, the regional geomagnetic North Pole moves slowly, and annual 5~10km North Pole movement is possible. It means the radiation belt structure gets twisted.”

“Couldn’t it be a temporary phenomenon?”

“Recently, were there no events where low orbit satellites set direction wrongly or had power loss?”

“That…”

He was speechless for a moment.

Because actually 2 low orbit satellites had communication cut off due to power loss.

“As satellite electronic shielding goes awry, communication satellites can turn off temporarily. If they were low orbit satellites in charge of that region, naturally influence would go there. Actually, if it was as usual, it wouldn’t have been a big problem. However, the LUCID project proceeding together in a close region caused the problem.”

Researcher Ahn Sang-hyun, who was hit while staying still, lifted his body.

“What? You say it’s because of us?”

“If plasma film becomes saturated with positive charge, eventually it affects the entire Earth’s electric potential. If that continues, ionosphere electron density gets disturbed. Satellite orbit measurement error will accumulate in 1cm units. Eventually, the possibility that the entire satellite navigation system slows down is big.”

As if the explanation was insufficient with words, Jeong Se-yoon went up to the auditorium and wrote formulas.

Researchers who were staring blankly at that could understand the content Jeong Se-yoon wanted to say gradually.

“If this formula is true.”

“Does it mean it can simply distort GNSS signals, not just project failure?”

“Yes, it disturbs stratospheric plasma potential. Ionosphere abnormality generated by technical conflict can lead to aurora runaway of a global scale. Probably a red aurora will rise within the near future, and that will be the first warning.”

“!?”

Suffocating silence flowed.

Because the content became huge suddenly, words to refute didn’t even float up for each team’s researchers.

And it was the Center Head who broke the silence soon.

“Researcher Choi, Researcher Ahn, what are you guys doing now?”

“Yes…Yes?”

“Isn’t that your guys’ project?”

“T, that is correct.”

“Then refute or run quickly and run a simulation putting in calculation values whether what that newbie says is true or not right now! If that is true, it means global disturbance can come because of the two projects right now! You don’t wake up!?”

“Ah! S, sorry. We will go right away!”

At the Center Head’s thunderous command, the two team researchers jumped up and escaped the conference room in a hurry.

“…….”

Center Head Kim Geum-ho smiled vainly, looking at Jeong Se-yoon sitting back in his seat quietly after finishing what he had to say.

He knows the two research teams suffered for a while due to that error generated meanwhile.

But that newbie revealed the correlation between two projects immediately while listening to today’s presentation content.

‘I thought this was a complete parachute.’

It seems some monster entered.