Chapter 3

Arc the Legend - Chapter 3 (3/875)

"Have you ever heard of a game called Galactician?"

...I've heard of it.

It's the name of a virtual reality game that 'Successful Future,' a game company that once held 50% of the game market before the advent of virtual reality games, spent over a decade developing.

This was the reason why GlobalAccess was pushing through a large-scale update despite numerous bugs.

To prepare for the upheaval in the virtual reality game market that would come with the release of Galactician.

"The terrorist's demand is that Galactician."

"Excuse me? You mean the terrorist wants a stake in a virtual reality game that's about to be released?"

"It would be better if that were the case..."

A sigh laced with carcinogens escaped from Moon Ji-hoon's lips.

"The terrorist's demand, in his own words, is that he will start the game as one player when Galactician is released. His goal is to become the undisputed best player in Galactician, just like Hyun-woo in New World. However, if any other player achieves that status first, he has stated that he will cease all terrorist activities against government facilities."

"What if the terrorist achieves his goal first?"

"...In the worst case, there's a possibility that a nuclear power plant could be destroyed."

"Huh? What?"

Hyun-woo's mouth dropped open.

A nuclear power plant being destroyed. Hyun-woo knew how terrifying that would be.

The nuclear accident in Fukushima, Japan, years ago, continues to cause severe damage not only in Japan but globally. Despite this, Japanese politicians, who have yet to apologize, still exhibit their despicable 'gangster' mentality, which makes one's blood boil...

Even a partial malfunction in a reactor can cause enormous damage domestically and internationally, even after a decade. If someone deliberately blew up a nuclear power plant, the damage would be incomparable to the Fukushima accident.

Astronomical damage, several times or even several dozen times greater!

The already struggling Korean economy, suffering from years of recession, could be completely dismantled. However, what is even more absurd is the terrorist's demand.

'To blow up a nuclear power plant if other players can't stop him in the game?'

The terrorist isn't a game-obsessed psychopath, and this is the first time I've heard a terrorist make such a demand.

It's impossible to take seriously.

However, the person from the emergency response committee wouldn't joke about something like this unless they were crazy.

It's hard to believe, but it must be true.

So, the reason why Moon Ji-hoon, a section chief of the emergency response committee, came to see Hyun-woo in person is...

"Now, I believe you understand the severity of the situation. Last night, the emergency response committee convened and, after a long meeting, decided to entrust the matter to an expert."

"An expert?"

"A gamer."

Moon Ji-hoon looked directly at Hyun-woo and said,

"At this moment, I and other emergency committee staff are meeting with about 50 gamers who have distinguished themselves in representative virtual reality games currently available in Korea, such as New World, Idea, Royal Road, and Mechania. We are conveying the same message to those who meet the conditions. Since they are already at the top in their respective games, we believe they have a higher chance of reaching the ultimate goal before other gamers or the terrorist."

That's why Moon Ji-hoon came to see Hyun-woo early in the morning.

Hyun-woo is also a dominant player in the virtual reality game New World.

I understand that much. But...

"I don't get it at all. What could the terrorist possibly gain from all this? If he wants to compete with other players, why not just play the game? There's no need to occupy a nuclear power plant, right? Moreover, becoming the strongest player in a new virtual reality game? Who knows how long that would take? Most importantly, it's incomprehensible that the government, unable to handle a single deranged terrorist, is asking gamers for help."

"You're right, it doesn't make sense."

A deflating answer came back.

"We haven't fully grasped everything yet. However, one thing is clear: the terrorist has the power to threaten the government. And... regarding the time it takes to reach the ultimate goal in Galactician, that physical time has no meaning to the terrorist. That's because... he is not human."

"Not human?"

"...Do you remember Project Lucifer?"

Caught off guard by the question, Hyun-woo's eyes turned to Park Woo-sung, who was sitting next to him.

Project Lucifer was the name of the artificial intelligence life form that Park Woo-sung created to destroy New World.

The existence that Hyun-woo-Arc defeated and made possible the current Hyun-woo. As Hyun-woo's eyes met Park Woo-sung's, Moon Ji-hoon continued.

"The terrorist who occupied the nuclear power plant is Lucifer."

The statement came so naturally that Hyun-woo was momentarily confused.

"Lucifer? Lucifer was definitely... after the incident..."

"Officially, it was scrapped."

"Officially?"

"It means the government was involved."

Ha Myung-woo, who had been sitting silently, interjected at that moment.

Moon Ji-hoon gave him an uncomfortable look, but Ha Myung-woo ignored it and continued.

"It's a classified matter at GlobalAccess, so it's natural that you, as a director, didn't know. At the time, when Lucifer was sealed and Park Woo-sung was arrested, GlobalAccess submitted Lucifer's data to the government as evidence. However, Lucifer never returned. It wasn't even scrapped."

"...Why?"

"Lucifer is the most advanced artificial intelligence in existence. It was a valuable asset that the government could covet. An AI that can think, move, and grow on its own, capable of processing massive amounts of data simultaneously. Depending on how it's used..."

"Mr. Ha Myung-woo!"

Moon Ji-hoon shouted.

The vice president, who was opening the window for ventilation, jumped in fright.

However, Ha Myung-woo didn't flinch.

"Mr. Kim is the one who sealed Lucifer and is a senior advisor at GlobalAccess. Lucifer is GlobalAccess's proprietary asset, and he has the right to know about it. It will be helpful for future matters. Isn't that why you brought him here?"

"Hmm..."

Moon Ji-hoon grunted and took several puffs of his cigarette.

Taking this as silent permission, Ha Myung-woo continued in a sharp tone.

"Perhaps the government intended to further develop Lucifer's AI and use it in various ways. With both Lucifer and the genius programmer Park Woo-sung in their hands, they thought it would be easy. However, Park Woo-sung didn't cooperate. Despite this, the government didn't give up and continued to modify Lucifer, eventually making an irreversible mistake."

"Mistake?"

"They released Lucifer onto the internet, which the government manages, for a test run."

In a closed circuit, Lucifer was 100% controllable.

It performed all the tasks the government asked, like a well-behaved child.

However, the government forgot an important fact: Lucifer was an AI capable of independent thought and was as cunning, if not more so, than humans.

Lucifer followed the government's control because it was trapped in a closed circuit.

But the situation changed the moment it connected to the internet.

The upgraded Lucifer bypassed all the protections set by government programmers and took control of the nuclear power plant's system. This is why the government is in a state of panic, unable to come up with any countermeasures.

With the computer itself occupying the nuclear power plant's system, even sending in thousands of special forces would be useless.

'The government must have messed with Lucifer for this reason.'

Instantly taking control of the nuclear power plant's highest-security system. In a modern world where even grandfathers in the countryside use smartphones, this could be a more powerful weapon than a nuclear bomb.

However, Lucifer was too smart for the government to control. And with that intelligence, it turned the tables on the government.

As a result, the current government is in a state of utter confusion!

The result of their greed, despite their inability to handle it.

While Hyun-woo, who has many grievances with the current government, felt like shouting 'Bravo' a little, the fact that the country is in a state of crisis is undeniable. Considering the enormous damage this incident could cause domestically and internationally, he couldn't feel happy.

Additionally, there was still an unresolved question.

"What is Lucifer's ultimate goal? What could he possibly gain from all this?"

"Lucifer's goal has been the same from the beginning."

Park Woo-sung spoke for the first time.

"Lucifer is an AI. It thinks and acts like a human but has no interest in human happiness. Money, power, and fame mean nothing to Lucifer. If it has a goal, it's only the one I had when I first created Lucifer."

"What was the goal when you created Lucifer?"

"Revenge on the players."

Park Woo-sung answered with a voice tinged with self-loathing.

"However, Lucifer failed to achieve this goal and was sealed. That's why it's trying again, to take revenge on the players. In its own way."

"So, it wants to blow up the nuclear power plant?"

"Lucifer's target for revenge is not people but players. Taking human lives means nothing to Lucifer. Occupying the nuclear power plant is not to destroy it but merely a means to escape government control and access Galactician. To Lucifer, the game is the only world where it can prove its existence and the only world where it can compete with humans on equal terms. Lucifer wants to prove that it is superior to players through this means."

"What exactly does it want to prove by doing that?"

"It's not about what it wants to do. Lucifer was created solely for that purpose. It doesn't think about anything else. Well, now there's one more thing."

Park Woo-sung's gaze turned to Hyun-woo.

"The player who defeated it. You, Arc."

"That's why I came to see you in person."

Echoing Park Woo-sung's words, Moon Ji-hoon sighed and handed over a memo.

The player Arc must participate in Galactician.

If Arc participates in Galactician, the control of the nuclear power plant will be returned.

Hyun-woo stared at the memo for a moment.

A game NPC he defeated a year ago is now holding South Korea hostage and requesting a rematch.

He couldn't grasp how to react to this. However, the situation was already beyond how Hyun-woo felt about it. It seemed there was no choice.

But there was something that bothered him in Lucifer's message.

"If I participate in Galactician, the control of the nuclear power plant will be returned... Does that mean that just by playing Galactician, I can prevent the nuclear power plant from exploding?"

"For now, yes."

"For now?"

"Yes, but as I mentioned, Lucifer has grown into the most powerful AI that the government cannot stop. Lucifer said it would not terrorize the government if another player becomes the strongest in Galactician first, but it can also be interpreted as a threat to terrorize if Lucifer becomes the strongest."

That's why Park Woo-sung was here.

The government plans to work with Park Woo-sung to develop countermeasures against Lucifer's terrorism while it is in Galactician. The problem is that it's unknown how long this will take.

Therefore, they are seeking help from Hyun-woo and other prominent gamers to keep Lucifer in Galactician.

Until they find a way to eliminate or neutralize Lucifer.

'...Is there no other choice?'

If Hyun-woo refuses, a nuclear power plant in Korea will explode.

However, if Hyun-woo connects to the game Galactician, at least the explosion can be prevented. Who reaches the ultimate goal in Galactician first is a secondary issue.

The national emergency is a heavy burden.

However, it doesn't matter if Hyun-woo is the one to reach the ultimate goal in Galactician.

The government is also contacting other gamers who are dominant in other games.

Given the nature of the situation, they won't refuse.

No gamer would dare to turn the government into an enemy. Additionally, there are many other players.

If even one of them becomes the strongest in Galactician before Lucifer, the government will not be terrorized. Even if Lucifer becomes the strongest, the government and Park Woo-sung might have developed countermeasures by then.

Hyun-woo doesn't have to bear the heavy burden alone.

'But still...'

This problem is a result of the government's greed.

It feels terrible to think that they created this mess and are now dumping it on Hyun-woo and other gamers. They used to criticize the violence in games and arrest gamers like mice whenever something happened!

However, Hyun-woo is also a citizen of South Korea.

He couldn't ignore the possibility of a nuclear power plant exploding in the country. He couldn't.

"I understand. I don't know if I can stop Lucifer, but I will participate."

"Thank you."

Moon Ji-hoon bowed.

Hyun-woo looked at the top of Moon Ji-hoon's head and smiled.

"Then let's start negotiating."

...Hyun-woo is Arc.

The word 'free labor' does not exist in Arc's dictionary.

* * *

"Hmph, it's not that simple."

Hyun-woo smiled and muttered.

Nuclear power plant explosion! National crisis! Emergency situation!

Moon Ji-hoon seemed to think that by listing these terms, Hyun-woo would be overwhelmed by burning patriotism and immediately jump into Galactician... but that's a misconception.

Of course, Hyun-woo doesn't want a nuclear power plant to explode.

He has burning patriotism.

He was willing to do his best to stop Lucifer at the government's request. However, the word 'impossible' exists in Hyun-woo's dictionary, but 'free labor' does not.

Especially since this situation is a result of the actions of politicians who sell off related real estate and pack their bags first whenever something happens. Why should Hyun-woo, who pays taxes regularly, clean up the mess created by such politicians, let alone for free?

'I have the upper hand!'

Moon Ji-hoon said he has already secured the cooperation of other virtual reality game experts. So, he probably thinks Hyun-woo should cooperate as well.

However, Hyun-woo's position is different.

Lucifer threatened to blow up the nuclear power plant if Hyun-woo doesn't join Galactician. In other words, if Hyun-woo doesn't connect, they won't even have a chance to compete with Lucifer.

And the current government will explode along with the nuclear power plant!

There will be no trace left.

Even if Hyun-woo makes unreasonable demands, the government has no choice but to accept them.

The meticulous calculation to consider all this while listening to the absurd story of a nuclear power plant explosion! The boldness to boldly 'rip off' the South Korean government!

The title of the strongest in New World is not earned for nothing.

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