So You Know About That
Early in the morning, Jun-ho called Dow Computing. After giving a brief overview of his business venture, he scheduled a meeting for that afternoon. Although he had stated that he would discuss the details in person, the person on the other end of the line couldn't hide their excitement when he mentioned wanting to implement an AI computing system and outsourcing the procurement of all related hardware and software.
After finishing lunch at home, Jun-ho immediately set off for Pangyo. Dow Computing's headquarters was located in the heart of the so-called "Pangyo Techno Valley," a bustling hub packed with IT startups and tech ventures. Thanks to light traffic, he arrived in just under an hour. Around two in the afternoon, Jun-ho sat down for a meeting with Hwang Se-jun, the CEO of Dow Computing.
"A pension and a campsite... you say?"
"Yes."
Hwang Se-jun wore a slightly perplexed expression at Jun-ho's reply. Having left a major conglomerate to start his own business two years ago, he had never encountered this type of client. If the young client sitting before him hadn't casually thrown around a budget in the hundreds of millions of won during their morning call, the CEO wouldn't have bothered to meet him in person.
"So... are you referring to things like automated lighting or a booking system? Including setting up a website?"
"We don't need a booking system or a website. It's strictly for VIPs."
"Pardon? Then..."
As Hwang Se-jun's confusion deepened, Jun-ho calmly continued his explanation.
"Access control, internal environmental regulation, and monitoring the storage status of food and supplies. We also need to establish a wired and wireless communication system that covers the entire property and its surrounding areas."
"..."
"The main power source will be a solar power system of at least 140 kilowatts, backed by an energy management system utilizing a hybrid ESS battery pack of 500 kilowatts or more. We'll also need environmental management and crop growth control systems for five greenhouses that the VIPs will use as a hobby. Various storage facilities, including cold and ultra-low temperature freezers. On top of that, residential quarters, a medical clinic, parking facilities, and so on."
Jun-ho stared directly at Hwang Se-jun, whose eyes and mouth were widening with every word.
"The entire structure must be integrated and managed by an AI computing system to minimize human labor. Naturally, we will also need to build dedicated servers. Is this possible?"
"...!"
Hwang Se-jun's slack-jawed expression instantly morphed into a wide, beaming grin.
"Aigoo! Of course! Absolutely. That is precisely our company's specialty."
Even with a rough, conservative estimate, this project would bring in hundreds of millions—no, easily over a billion won. Hwang Se-jun's heart began to race. Although Dow Computing branded itself as an AI startup, the economic downturn caused by the pandemic had essentially turned them into a system integration (SI) firm. To put it bluntly, they were 'AI on the outside, SI on the inside.' Research was merely a pretext; outsourcing was their actual bread and butter. The company was barely scraping by on short-term contracts like building websites, installing systems, and providing maintenance for small and medium-sized enterprises.
In such a dire situation, a massive client whose project encompassed both an AI computing system and extensive SI work was a miracle. Frankly, it was a first since the company's founding.
"Just leave it to us. Dow Computing might be on the smaller side, but we boast some of the finest technical minds in the industry."
"Yes, I am aware of that. However..."
At Jun-ho's "however," the smile on Hwang Se-jun's face froze. A "however" always signaled a shift in the wind.
"I've heard a bit about your company through a few mutual acquaintances. But to be frank, I haven't personally verified your technical capabilities yet."
"Ah..."
Hwang Se-jun opened his mouth to speak, but Jun-ho cut him off.
"So, Director Hwang, would it be possible for me to visit your R&D laboratory directly? After all, the tasks I just mentioned will ultimately be handled by your research staff. I'd like to meet them in person today and have a chat. Would that be possible?"
"Ah... well, you see..."
"If I like what I see, I'm prepared to sign the contract and transfer a ten percent down payment today. Since we don't have an exact estimate yet, it's hard to say, but I expect the down payment alone will be over a hundred million won."
"I will escort you there myself. Please give me just a moment."
Hwang Se-jun's hesitation lasted only a fraction of a second. Excusing himself, he grabbed his phone and hurried out of the CEO's office.
"He's calling Yun Yeong-su," Jun-ho muttered to himself.
Left alone, Jun-ho reflected on the man he had briefly encountered during the apocalypse in his previous life: Yun Yeong-su. As the CEO, Hwang Se-jun would naturally know exactly what kind of person Yeong-su was. That meant, with an incredibly important client on the way, Hwang Se-jun would call Yeong-su to give him a stern warning. He would tell him not to say anything weird in front of the client. What kind of weird things? Yun Yeong-su was what people commonly referred to as an otaku. And a severe, hardcore one at that.
"He was like that even during the apocalypse... I can't even begin to imagine what he's like now."
Just as he finished murmuring, Hwang Se-jun returned, having wrapped up his call in a mere twenty seconds.
"Shall we head out then? While I have the car brought around, perhaps we could grab a cup of tea at the cafe downstairs..."
"I just had coffee. And there's no need to trouble ourselves by driving two separate cars. Let's take mine."
"Ah..."
Jun-ho stood up, brushing aside Hwang Se-jun's obvious attempt to buy time—likely to give his team a chance to do a quick emergency cleaning.
"Alright, shall we?"
With a smile that looked decidedly strained and anxious, Hwang Se-jun led Jun-ho out of the office.
Dow Computing's R&D laboratory was located in Songpa-dong, Seoul, about a thirty-minute drive from the headquarters. During the drive, Jun-ho engaged in a long conversation with Hwang Se-jun, gaining a clear picture of Dow Computing's actual state—details that could never be found through a simple web search. Although Hwang Se-jun aggressively promoted and packaged his company, he couldn't entirely hide the desperation brought on by more than two years of pandemic-induced recession.
Thanks to this, Jun-ho confirmed his suspicions. Dow Computing was in dire straits. If Jun-ho could throw them a financial lifeline, Hwang Se-jun would undoubtedly cooperate fully. In other words, as long as he could convince the key player, Yun Yeong-su, everything would fall into place smoothly.
He felt a slight pang of guilt toward Hwang Se-jun, who dreamed of growing Dow Computing into a company specializing in AI research and development, but the world was going to end in two years anyway. While Hwang Se-jun's ultimate fate remained uncertain, Yun Yeong-su—the man Jun-ho desperately wanted to recruit—was a survivor who would endure tenaciously. Hwang Se-jun would benefit from a massive boost in revenue right now, and Yun Yeong-su would secure a far safer environment to survive the coming end times. In the end, wasn't it a win-win for everyone? Jun-ho rationalized the situation to himself.
"You can park over there. The parking lot is a bit cramped, isn't it? Haha..."
Hwang Se-jun seemed slightly embarrassed by the lab's location, which was tucked away inside a modest four-story commercial building in a narrow alley. But to Jun-ho, for an IT startup, having a dedicated, separate research facility—regardless of its location or outward appearance—was a testament to their genuine commitment to technological development.
"It's fine. You occupy the entire floor, correct?"
"Yes. The lab is on the third floor, and we use part of the fourth floor as quarters for our tech staff. As you know, pulling all-nighters is practically a daily routine in this line of work. Ah, let me get that..."
Hwang Se-jun laughed sheepishly as he peeled off a stray flyer stuck to the glass door of the building entrance.
"Please, after you."
They climbed the stairs and arrived in front of a fire door bearing a plaque that read: Dow Computing Co., Ltd. R&D Laboratory. Hwang Se-jun pressed the doorbell. *Ding-dong, ding-dong.* Within seconds of the chime echoing, the door swung open.
"Hyung—ah, I mean, Director, you're here?"
A scrawny young man wearing thick, horn-rimmed glasses greeted them. He was about the same height as Jun-ho had been before his physical transformation, but he looked like he barely weighed sixty kilograms.
Yun Yeong-su!
A thrill ran through Jun-ho. He had been highly confident that Yeong-su would be working here, but seeing him in the flesh brought a wave of nostalgia. Moreover, there was a distinct difference between him and the other people Jun-ho had met from the apocalyptic era, like Baek Ha-il or Lee Dong-cheol.
He looks exactly the same as he did back then.
Perhaps because he had always been incredibly thin, there was virtually no difference from how he looked during the apocalypse, save for his softly waved hair. Could a person really look identical after several years? Yes, they could. Yun Yeong-su possessed an unbelievably youthful face. He was probably around twenty-five or twenty-six now, but he looked young enough to pass for a fresh high school graduate. That face would remain virtually unchanged years into the future. With his pale complexion, clean-cut features, and slender frame, he exuded the classic vibe of a movie "nerd."
But what good was that look?
"Team Leader Yun, why don't you open some windows to let some fresh air in?"
"But it's cold... Ah, yes, sir."
Walking behind them, Jun-ho couldn't see Hwang Se-jun's face, but he could easily guess his expression. The CEO was likely mouthing silent curses at Yeong-su. While the socially oblivious Yeong-su scurried to open the windows, Hwang Se-jun turned back to Jun-ho with a strained smile.
"I apologize. Since our R&D team leader is practically the only one who stays here full-time, it's a bit of a mess."
Although there were clear signs of a rushed cleanup, the laboratory could hardly be described as tidy. Frankly, it was a bit chaotic. But Jun-ho, who had briefly experienced what kind of person Yun Yeong-su was during the apocalypse, simply shook his head.
"It's perfectly fine. This is typical for spaces used by IT specialists. I'm sure you're far too busy with research."
"Thank you for your understanding. Ah, please, have a seat here."
Once Jun-ho settled onto a small sofa, Hwang Se-jun, seemingly finding it awkward to sit right next to him, pulled up an office chair to sit opposite him.
"Team Leader Yun. That's enough, come over here."
"Coming~"
Even with his boss calling him, his pace was incredibly leisurely.
"Introduce yourself. This is the client who came to commission a project with us."
"Hello. Nice to meet you. I am Yun Yeong-su, the R&D Team Leader at Dow Computing."
After bowing politely to Jun-ho, Yeong-su offered a bright smile and added, "But just so you know, I don't handle website creation or SI work. You really didn't need to come all the way here for that."
"Ah..."
Hwang Se-jun let out an involuntary groan in front of his client. Just as the panicked CEO was about to snap at his subordinate, Jun-ho spoke up first.
"We do need SI, but we aren't building a website. I plan to construct a fully autonomous, solar-powered residential facility."
"Oh...?"
"On the surface, it will resemble a pension or a weekend farm, but it is intended for VIPs. We need to integrate and manage all key infrastructure, starting from power management to residential zones, greenhouses, storage facilities, water and sewage, and medical equipment. This will also include security, quarantine, and both wired and wireless communications. We might add more components along the way if necessary..."
Jun-ho delivered the final blow to Yun Yeong-su, whose expression was growing increasingly intrigued.
"I don't know if you're familiar with a game called Eternal Galaxy, but it features an artificial intelligence named Akina. She's an AI that manages the entire fleet of the Galactic Federation, and what I want is..."
"Akina?! You play Eternal Galaxy?!"
Not only did Yun Yeong-su cut the client off, but his voice also shot up in sheer excitement. Jun-ho feigned surprise.
"Oh? Eternal Galaxy isn't very popular in Korea, so most people have never heard of it. So you know about that game."
"Ah, of course I do!"
Yun Yeong-su... He was a hardcore otaku who had spent years obsessing over Akina, the female AI character from Eternal Galaxy—a space-themed grand strategy RPG that had started as an indie project funded through crowdfunding, with barely a few hundred active players in Korea.