There’s Still a Way
"But brother, there’s something even more important."
"Hm? Something more important?" Baek Ha-il, who had been spooning up some spicy fish stew, tilted his head.
"You remember the scale of the shelter I mentioned, right? And how many people are going to live there."
"Yeah. About twelve to fifteen? You said it wouldn't exceed twenty at most."
"That’s right. But as you can see, the site is quite large, isn't it? I’m planning to build several warehouses, a workshop, and even a greenhouse here."
No matter how many decades' worth of food they prepared, that alone couldn't solve everything perfectly. Of course, in an apocalypse, just having rice and meat would be a luxury. But to live healthily for a long time, vegetables were essential. Simply filling their caloric needs didn't meet the standards of the shelter Jun-ho dreamed of. That was why Jun-ho intended to utilize the playground to build a greenhouse. And not just one or two—he planned for five, considering fallowing and crop rotation.
In the greenhouse, he planned to cultivate not only the vegetables they ate frequently but also famine-relief crops like potatoes and sweet potatoes, as well as berries and other fruits that were relatively easy to grow. Naturally, he intended to prepare seeds for rice, wheat, and barley in preparation for the years after the apocalypse broke out, but for now, growing famine-relief crops and side dishes was enough.
"Now, let’s assume we’ve equipped all the facilities as planned. But do you think fifteen to twenty people can manage all of that? Especially when four or five of them always have to be on patrol or guard duty?"
"Ah... there is that problem. Then what do we do?"
To Baek Ha-il, whose expression had turned somewhat serious, Jun-ho replied meaningfully.
"There’s a solution. An AI Computing System. We’ll use that to manage the shelter in an integrated way."
"What? AI?"
Even though he still went out to the field occasionally while running his hardware store, Baek Ha-il probably didn't know much about AI, even if he knew a bit about computers. Above all, the Baek Ha-il that Jun-ho had seen before his regression had regretted several times that he hadn't studied computers more diligently.
"Yes. We’re going to introduce an AI computing system to the shelter. Then the AI will take over everything from power to overall operation and management. Of course, we still need people. AI isn't omnipotent. But the workload will drop drastically. Especially..."
Jun-ho pointed his finger at the playground, which was slated to be the greenhouse site.
"You only need a few people for farming. It catches the temperature and humidity, supplies water, and handles ventilation—it does almost everything automatically. I’ve actually seen it."
During his time in the apocalypse, Jun-ho had once met a group of survivors who farmed in vinyl greenhouses based on solar power. Of course, their system was less automated and smaller in scale. You could call it semi-automated, perhaps? But that alone was enough. The potatoes and various other crops produced in two semi-automated vinyl greenhouses had been a significant help to that group of about twenty people.
"Ah, I get what you mean. There’s a greenhouse farm in Gimhae that runs similarly to what you’re talking about, Hoya. They said that aside from the high initial investment, you break even after running it for four or five years."
"Yes. Then you know it well. They don't employ many people there either, right?"
"Yeah. They use a lot of foreign workers during harvest season, but they said they only need a few people normally."
"Right? That place is also running on a simple AI computing system. But we’re going to operate not just the greenhouse, but the entire shelter like that. That much is fully possible with the technology available now."
"Is that so? Ha! The world has gotten better, it really has. I thought AI and all that would have nothing to do with me for the rest of my life. Haha, well..."
This was the perception of ordinary people. In fact, Jun-ho had thought similarly until he experienced the apocalypse and saw such systems firsthand.
"Yes, that’s why I’m telling you. Our shelter needs to be built with an AI computing system in mind from the design stage. To do that, we need a related company starting now."
"That makes sense. But what do I do? I know construction workers and contractors, but I don't know a thing about AI or computers. Ah, should I ask Urim? Maybe they know."
"I know. The company—no, the person who will take charge of our shelter’s AI computing system."
"Oh, really? That’s great. Who is it?"
To the now-brightened Baek Ha-il, Jun-ho spoke the name of a colleague and another expert who would play the most important role in the shelter along with him.
"Yun Yeong-su. He’s a computer expert. He graduated from KAIST."
"Oh, really? He must have been incredibly good at studying."
"Yes. He went to KAIST instead of medical school. But there’s a problem."
"Eh? What is it now?"
"I have a rough guess, but I don't know exactly where he is right now."
"Oh my... then what do we do?"
"I’m going to go up and look for the company where he’s likely working right now. My gut says it’s fifty-fifty—no, there’s a very high probability he’s there."
"That’s a relief, at least."
Baek Ha-il, now relieved, asked with an expectant expression.
"Then Yun Yeong-su? Are you going to seduce him by talking about the past like you did with me? And give him some prophecies, too?"
Perhaps because he had experienced such miraculous things, Baek Ha-il seemed to think Jun-ho would persuade him in the same way. However, Jun-ho shook his head.
"No. I won't tell Yun Yeong-su about the regression or the prophetic dreams."
"What? Then how are you going to do it?"
"I’ll handle that. Brother, you just decide on the design and the construction company, and make sure to secure the equipment and facilities first."
"Well, if you say so... I understand."
To Baek Ha-il, who shrugged his shoulders and began rummaging through the spicy fish stew again, Jun-ho said something that had just occurred to him.
"Oh, and one more thing. When the loan money comes in, don't forget to buy Selene Coin when I tell you to. I’ll also tell you when to sell."
"Ah, right. But that..."
Baek Ha-il looked around and whispered.
"Is it really going to go up? I looked into it, and if I take out a collateral loan, over 5 million won goes out every month. If I lose the principal on this, I’m really in big trouble. No, before that, if my Su-ah finds out, she’ll try to eat me alive. That girl, she’s my daughter, but her temper is something else."
Jun-ho paused. The Baek Su-ah he had seen in the apocalypse was always blank and expressionless, like a doll. He couldn't easily imagine her getting angry. But Jun-ho soon smiled and said,
"Don't worry. I’ll make sure you get at least a 20 percent return. First, start by signing up for a coin exchange."
"I did that a long time ago. Anyway, I got it. I’m just going to trust you, Hoya."
"Yes, brother. Just trust me."
To the survivor who hadn't lost his 'humanity' until the very end in the midst of that brutal apocalypse, and to the responsible head of a household—not just the most important member of the shelter—Jun-ho nodded confidently.
* * *
Having perfectly finished his business in Busan, Jun-ho left for Bucheon again on Sunday morning. His heart had been a bit unsettled when he came down, but perhaps because things had gone more smoothly than expected, the return trip felt much lighter.
Lee Dong-cheol had finished his analysis of the 'Sky Forest Campsite' site in just one day and sent over an execution plan aligned with the next auction schedule. He judged that after winning the bid for the site, they could elicit the cooperation of Namyangju City and the City Office of Education—the actual owners of the site—by paying off a portion of the previous owner's debt. He guaranteed that if both the city and the Office of Education could recover some of their claims beyond just winning the bid, they would actively cooperate to significantly reduce the possibility of future disputes. He also reaffirmed once again that keeping the business registration as a pension and campsite was much better for utilizing the site.
Since Baek Ha-il had also advised that business registration was necessary to build new warehouses and install various mechanical facilities on the site, Jun-ho told him to handle that part as he saw fit. Even though it was only March, Jun-ho coolly paid the 200 million won in advisory fees for the second quarter in advance and delegated procedures like tax processing and notarization to Lee Dong-cheol. He was a corporate litigation lawyer, after all; he would naturally have a network for that.
Of course, he hadn't naively left everything to Lee Dong-cheol. Jun-ho requested that Baek Ha-il, the person he trusted most besides himself and his brother Jun-hyeok, appoint a separate tax accountant. Since Baek Ha-il had worked on numerous construction and industrial sites, enough that it was hard to see him as just an ordinary neighborhood hardware store owner, he would naturally have used a tax accountant specialized in that field for a long time.
Baek Ha-il and Lee Dong-cheol—they were like water and oil, hard to mix. But Jun-ho expected that because they were like that, things would work out even better. It would be hard for even Lee Dong-cheol to take Baek Ha-il lightly, having rolled in the construction industry for a long time where gangsters and thugs (Baek Ha-il's words) were overflowing.
Anyway. As a result of the Busan trip, the foundation for the shelter's construction had been laid smoothly. However, Jun-ho did not let his guard down. Now was just the preparation stage; the project called 'Building the Perfect Shelter' had only just entered its main track. Moreover, he hadn't even met the person as important as Baek Ha-il yet.
"Yun Yeong-su..."
A true computing system expert whom Jun-ho had seen and experienced himself, just like Baek Ha-il. However, unlike Baek Ha-il, the time he had spent with this person was very short. Even so, if he couldn't get Yun Yeong-su to join the shelter, Jun-ho's plans would become a headache. Of course, it wasn't that he couldn't build the shelter or introduce an AI computing system without him, but he would have to proceed with the work feeling quite uneasy about preparing for the apocalypse.
However.
"Money. If I pour in money this time, too, I’ll be able to solve it."
And with 'a lot of money' at that. Of course, it wasn't like he would pay Yun Yeong-su a huge sum directly. Why? Yun Yeong-su was a completely different case from Baek Ha-il, who had struggled and built himself up from a young age. He was a son from a wealthy family. He wasn't a third-generation chaebol like Kang Baek-ho, but he was a silver-spoon kid whose parents' assets might be in the billions, or even tens of billions of won. Of course, that was his parents' wealth, not his own, but even so, he wouldn't be drooling over a few hundred million won like Lee Dong-cheol.
"Still, there’s a way. Well... I’m not sure if it’ll work 100 percent, though."
Fortunately, Jun-ho 'roughly' knew what kind of person this target was. Even if it was just 'roughly,' it was very decisive information.
* * *
Woof woof! Woof!
Seeing Jun-ho for the first time in almost a week, Purdy ran over like crazy and leaped up as if to embrace him. Seeing that he’d leaked a little pee, he must have been incredibly happy to see him. Watching Purdy whine, rub his body against him, and lick him, Jun-ho felt a lump in his throat. He finally understood why people kept dogs.
"I know, I know. Here! Take this."
Calming Purdy down, Jun-ho tossed him the dolphin doll he’d bought in Busan.
"Oh, brother, you’re here...?"
Jun-ho, who had been busy petting Purdy as he caught the doll like lightning, looked up. Jun-hyeok, wearing a tracksuit with baggy knees, came over, dragging his slippers while letting out a long yawn.
"Geez, brother, you’ve come home after a week... you’re worse than this dog."
"But that’s what real brothers are."
Jun-hyeok, who answered shamelessly, approached Jun-ho with a giggle.
"But what about mine?"
"What, you punk?"
"You only have a gift for Purdy, and nothing for me? My gift."
"Did you leave it with me?"
"Yeah. I know you have it. Give it to me quickly. No, please give it to me quickly. I’m getting dizzy."
"Ah, this kid."
Laughing as if he found it absurd, Jun-ho put his hand into the inner pocket of his coat.
"Gasp! Don't tell me...!?"
"Here."
"Eh?"
Jun-hyeok, who had held out his hand with sparkling eyes thinking it might be pocket money, received a thin envelope the size of his palm, and his expression turned cold.
"What is this?"
"Check it yourself, you punk. Purdy, let’s go inside."
After Jun-ho, who had packed his luggage, said it as if it were a bother and went inside, Purdy, with the dolphin doll in his mouth, followed him closely. Jun-hyeok opened the envelope, unable to hide his disappointment.
"No, seriously. If you went all the way to Busan, shouldn't you buy a decent gift? What is this, some kind of 'letter of heart' for a grievance report? Why is this so complicated? Why is there something else inside the envelope... Huh?"
Jun-hyeok’s eyes, which had been grumbling, widened. From another small decorative paper the size of his palm, a rectangular card decorated with gold leaf emerged.
"Pentium Private Gold Card...?"
Jun-hyeok tilted his head and searched for the card’s name on his phone.
"A card issued to the immediate family of a Pentium Black card holder... 3 million won annual fee... a 100 million won limit!?"
Airport private check-in lounge access, limousine service, private department store lounges, and free one-night stays twice a year at top-tier accommodations like Aman or Four Seasons—none of that even caught his eye.
"Brooooother! Broooother! You know I love you, right?"
"Ugh, gross. Get lost, you punk."
"Hehehehe! Ow! Hehe, it feels good even if you hit me!"
"Geez... anyway, use it sparingly. You know what happens if you swipe it recklessly, right?"
"Ihihihi! Yes, sir!"
Letting out a sycophantic laugh that didn't match his size or appearance at all, Jun-hyeok gave a salute that was sharper than when he was on active duty.