Keep the World Simple
'Jihoon, see the world simply.'
Jihoon hadn't understood those words at first. They came from his veteran senior reporter, so he'd just nodded along. And why not? The world was complicated. Theft, murder, pandemics, wars. Petty crimes to unspeakable world-ending atrocities. Everyone had their own circumstances, and it was all so tangled up.
"Hurry up already!"
Only after gaining some experience did Jihoon realize it. A true journalist had to view the world simply.
"Senior, isn't this gonna cause big trouble?"
"Just do it."
"This could get us in legal hot water, and if things go south, even the boss..."
"Why's a journalist like you such a scaredy-cat?"
Feeling the reason behind his senior's words from back then, he scolded his junior.
"I said I'd take responsibility, didn't I? Just play dumb—say you had no idea and your superior told you to do it."
"Still..."
"Go! It's not a tough problem. Keep it simple! Simple!"
The junior grumbled, 'Go... that's so outdated.'
Jihoon held back with adult tolerance. He needed the kid's help for this gig.
"Yeah, move it like that."
"Got it. Don't talk to me. I'm focusing."
A gust of wind hit the tent on the rooftop. Jihoon pressed down the flapping edge with his butt and stared at the screen. The sunset sky filled the view. The feed pushed forward between buildings.
"Senior, this is really okay, right? We won't get caught? I heard even civilian drones get nabbed these days—military says 99.9% hit rate."
"That's for Albatross military drones, you idiot!"
He lightly smacked the back of the junior's head at his "same difference" look.
"Didn't you see the robots getting wrecked on the broadcast? EMP blast. Any drones in the sky would've fried too. Pics of the wreckage hit the forums."
"Looked AI-generated to me..."
"Ah! Hold up—climb to 300 meters here."
The junior's fingers danced freely, and the drone gained altitude.
"Good, that's it. Now head over there, to that building."
"Can't we just fly straight?"
"Do what I say! When military drones go down, they sub in with mountain rescue ones. Those pick up heat fine but suck at audio."
"Oh..."
"Yeah, yeah. Hold steady at 300 meters."
Truth be told, Jihoon was sweating bullets inside. He'd rented the gear right after seeing the broadcast for this scoop. If caught and smashed, it'd cost millions, and worst case, jail time. But first step was smooth—they'd reached Korea University, trashed by terrorists, right on target.
He jabbed the screen here and there.
"Yeah, yeah, film that! Hey! You wanna put that angle on the news? Better—back up a bit!"
"...Senior, why don't you do it?"
"I can't."
The junior recoiled at Jihoon picking his nose.
He explained, dredging up old memories. "Tried once, dropped it in the river. Cost five mil."
"Impressive. In every sense."
"Whatever sense, not my problem. Film that too. That car's burned to a crisp—pure charcoal."
Jihoon's eyes gleamed at the incinerated vehicle. Half-uprooted trees, flipped and charred cars. A picture formed in his mind.
"Students fleeing meet tragic ends under terrorist fire? Headline: 'Korea's Lost Future'. Boom—reporter of the month!"
"...Lame."
"Shut it and move if you're done."
While filming with the drone, Jihoon spotted something.
"Hey, that."
"Cars moving?"
Three black sedans rolled side by side. Something was about to pop off. Jihoon's reporter instincts whispered it.
"Zoom in nice and clear."
"Liberal Arts Building. Ah, nostalgic. If I'd known I couldn't get a job, I'd have stayed home farming..."
"Quit yapping! Film that! Hey... what's that on the second floor?"
"...People?"
Jihoon leaned into the screen. The junior sighed and zoomed.
"People."
"People, huh. Wait, there's a woman too?"
"What're they doing? Not hiding..."
The figures onscreen chatted, then suddenly scattered.
"Hide-and-seek?"
"Time for jokes? Look close. Guns! Guns!"
Glock 22, MP5 submachine gun. Jihoon's military knowledge kicked in instantly.
"Terrorist gear. ...Stolen? By those people?"
"So the terrorists downstairs hunt for revenge? Movie plot unlocked."
Jihoon ignored the sarcasm. A journalist with zero imagination?
"Adjust for a clear second-floor view. Make that crumbled wall look pretty. Mind the sunset."
"Senior, filming dead bodies is fine, but murders in progress? Gotta be careful."
"Future me'll handle it. Incoming! Holy shit—look at that terrorist gear. Straight out of Chasefield X."
"What's that?"
Jihoon clamped the junior's mouth with his hand. Terrorists passed the second floor, weapons ready. Then three shots rang out, and chaos erupted.
Along with something utterly impossible.
"...What the hell did we just see?"
"Ha..."
He checked the time unconsciously. Five minutes? No, just three. That's how long it took three people to neutralize heavily armed foes.
"Scoop of the century! Yes! I'm the man!"
"Whoa! Lucky break, though. Thought they were goners till the ceiling caved—boom!"
"Eyes smaller than a knothole? No vision."
"Huh?"
Jihoon pried the junior's eyes wide.
"That guy's pistol—a Glock 22, .40 S&W..."
"Three-sentence summary, please."
"...Weak-ass handgun! Insane tactics! Blasted 'em! Happy?"
"Crystal clear."
Jihoon sighed at his militarily clueless junior. No grasp of how absurd it was to control the situation and suppress with perfect firepower.
"Get clear shots of their faces."
"Can we? They look civilian..."
"Dumbass! Civilians don't wield guns like that!"
"Reporting workplace harassment?"
He tossed the grumbling junior a strip of jerky as a reward and pondered. These mysterious folks. How to cash in?
"EMP... Robots—Korea's pride—wiped out. But actually... not?"
"Conclusion only. Your explanations drag, senior."
"Kid, these people are Korea's hidden secret weapons from today on."
"Huh? Secret weapons?"
Jihoon shot to his feet. The flimsy tent shook wildly.
"Nation mourns robot squad's destruction! But Korea had a trump card!"
"Musical theater?"
"Quiet! Ahem—Korea's secret agents! They've been operating in the shadows to stop the terror."
"...Senior, you believe that? Foreigners, and that gear..."
"I know!"
Even with hands over ears, the junior couldn't stop Jihoon's ramble.
"What does it matter?"
"Huh?"
"Truth matter? It's fun. Builds hype. Racks views."
"Senior... law might..."
"Idiot! Does the law feed you?"
Jihoon jabbed the screen, yelling.
"We're not doing wrong. Freedom of the press! Right to know! That stuff!"
"Journalists chase truth..."
"How do we know it now? Shut up and recover the drone! Or I'll..."
"Aah! Don't grab! It'll crash..."
Dusk settled over the rooftop as the two men wrestled, the tent flapping ominously.
Anyway... it was autumn.
As the nation despaired over the Korea University terror news, an unbelievable report hit a local channel.
The public reeled in shock and joy. Reporters queried the government, who replied:
The shocking news spread nationwide.
Meanwhile...
"That's what it meant? Not 'cover me while I charge like an idiot'?"
"Idiot! Who signals like that in the real world? 'Requesting cover fire for entry'—that's it!"
"You always charge like a moron, so I figured."
"You... always sniping like a shit-flinging monkey!"
These new hopes of Korea were now at each other's throats, grabbing collars.
"Enough! How long will this go on? B2! Even with variables, you should've stuck to the plan. And Shai! I always told you my hand signals aren't for..."
"O-okay. Let's get along."
"Got it. Now we understand each other, right?"
"It's not over yet!"
The gray-haired girl continued her lecture. Her voice echoed through the wrecked Liberal Arts Building as night slowly fell.