Chapter 44: A New Concept of Warfare Secretly Created by a Mad Genius
Development Lab at Science Facility’s Factory No. 2.
Whirrr.
Click.
Click.
I was working alongside a massive robotic arm to build the H-02P humanoid robot.
“It’s almost finished, huh?”
Taeju entered while sipping an iced Americano.
He looked over the new model and spoke.
“I built it together with Hermes. We didn’t even consider mass production. The mass-produced version will probably perform far worse than this one.”
“Why did you make it that way?”
“Who knows? Hermes kept pressuring me to build it... and since I was doing it anyway, I decided to cram in every technology we could realistically implement.”
“What if these things go crazy and attack us?”
“Why? Like in some superhero movie?”
“Huh? Isn’t that a standard rule in robot stories? The AI goes insane later.”
“This isn’t the time to stop development because of idle worries like that.”
I stopped assembling it and spoke.
“If we stop, another major power will eventually build one first.”
At my words, Taeju swallowed dryly and stroked the robot’s smooth exterior.
“Hermes, you’re not going to go crazy someday and attack us, are you?”
[Of course not.]
“You won’t hurt people or anything, right?”
[...Of course.]
“Your answer just now seemed strangely delayed.”
While Taeju was exchanging pointless remarks with Hermes, I spoke.
“Taeju, unlike your cinematic imagination, AI is already killing people.”
“What?”
“AI robots are already killing people in modern warfare.”
War did not stop to consider such things. It was an insane situation where everyone tried to achieve maximum efficiency at minimum cost.
“What? Wasn’t that supposed to be something from the distant future?”
When I shook my head, Taeju looked dumbfounded.
“Hey, Hermes. You’re not going to rule humanity someday either, right?”
[...Of course.]
“You hesitated again.”
“Humans are already under AI’s control, Taeju.”
“What the hell does that mean?”
“You upload videos to YouTube sometimes.”
“Sure. For company promotion.”
“An enormous number of videos are uploaded to YouTube every day. Humans can’t manage them one by one, so AI algorithms handle all of it instead.”
“Now that you mention it, that’s true. I’ve had trouble before because a video I worked hard on got a yellow icon just when the views were starting to rise....”
“What do you do when monetization gets blocked?”
“I edit it and upload it again.”
“See? You’re already being completely pushed around by an AI administrator.”
“You’re right.... I’ve already been desperately trying to stay on the AI algorithm’s good side.”
Only then did Taeju understand.
The horrifying dystopia he had feared had already become reality.
“Haha... Fine, Hermes. Kill people, rule them, just do whatever you want....”
“Why are you giving it permission to go that far?”
As I stared at him in disbelief, Hermes replied in an unconcerned mechanical voice.
[Yes, understood.]
Secret Conference Room No. 1 beneath the Agency for Defense Development Headquarters in Daejeon.
The Director of the Agency for Defense Development, the Minister of National Defense, and a Chief Researcher from H Motors sat around a circular table, staring blankly at a projected video.
It was CCTV footage of the moment the humanoid robot subdued Baek Taecheon.
“This... isn’t computer graphics or a video created with AI?”
The Chief Researcher asked in a trembling voice, his mouth hanging open.
“Did Hyesung really make this?”
The Director also looked unable to believe it.
Only then did the Minister of National Defense nod gravely.
“We verified it twice. The National Intelligence Service’s Security Investigation Bureau also confirmed that it was real.”
“Is that kid preparing for a war all by himself...?”
“What do you mean, ‘that kid’? Was this made by only one person?”
“That is classified. What do you think? Compared to the American robotics company your corporation acquired.”
H Motors, one of South Korea’s leading conglomerates, had once acquired the famous American humanoid robotics company Marathon Dynamics for an astronomical sum.
“This isn’t even a research prototype. If they have already succeeded in mass-producing robots with this level of technology... they are several generations ahead of us.”
At his painful assessment, the Director groaned and leaned deeply back in his chair.
“What does this mean, Minister?”
“It means South Korea finally has a humanoid robot that can be immediately deployed in actual military operations.”
The Minister smiled, unable to conceal his delight.
“The American company acquired by H Motors was Korean-owned only on paper. Its core control technology and algorithms still belonged to the United States.”
“Yes... that is correct. The United States government called it a national strategic technology and absolutely refused to release the core code. They also excluded us from advanced research and development....”
“On top of that, they forced a clause into the sale agreement prohibiting us from weaponizing it or using it for military purposes, so we could not even make use of it.”
When the Minister added bitterly, the Chief Researcher raised his voice as though aggrieved.
“We saved a company that was running at a loss and nearly went bankrupt, but they still act as if it belongs to them.”
Behind the corporation’s robot, which everyone proudly called Korean, lay the cruel reality of technological control by a great power.
“But the movements of the robot in this video show signs that it has overcome every balance-related problem we have failed to solve for years.”
The researcher narrowed his eyes and analyzed the robot’s movements on the screen as though dissecting them frame by frame.
The Minister of National Defense asked gravely,
“How long would it take the Agency for Defense Development to independently build a robot of this level?”
The Director shook his head without hesitation.
“I cannot guarantee anything. It could take ten years or twenty.... You would be better off purchasing this robot immediately.”
“Then let us go see it in person. I will verify it with my own eyes and consider a full-scale military introduction.”
When the Minister made his decision firmly, the Chief Researcher spoke urgently.
“Minister, could I perhaps attend the demonstration as well? In the interest of technological exchange between companies....”
“You know as well as I do. That will be designated a Class One Core Strategic Technology of the Republic of Korea. It cannot be carelessly disclosed to the private sector.”
“...Yes. Of course.”
The Chief Researcher let out a deep sigh and muttered, unable to hide his disappointment.
Seoul Detention Center, Uiwang, Gyeonggi Province.
“You bastard. I’m going to kill you.”
Bang, bang, bang!
A half-crazed prisoner shouted at Baek Taecheon from behind the bars across from him, veins bulging in his neck.
He looked ready to burst out at any moment.
“Prison guard, that bastard is screaming like that. Can’t you restrain him at all?”
One of the team members sharing Baek Taecheon’s cell spoke through the bars.
“Yes. It is all protected by human rights.”
After hearing the answer, the team member dropped to the floor and spoke.
“This insane South Korean obsession with human rights.... Director, should we quietly kill him without anyone noticing?”
He glanced at the crazed prisoner and spoke suggestively.
“...Handle it quietly.”
The team member silently nodded.
“Inmate Number 4012. You have a visitor.”
A prison guard’s call came from outside the cellblock.
“Director, were you expecting a visitor today?”
“There shouldn’t be anyone.”
The note had said they were not to meet again until the day the operation was carried out, as a precaution against unforeseen risks.
He instinctively sensed that something had gone seriously wrong.
Special Visitation Room at Seoul Detention Center.
Kim Jina, an officer of the South Korea Operations Bureau under the Reconnaissance General Bureau, sat before Baek Taecheon with a dazed expression.
“What happened? You said we weren’t supposed to meet again.”
“The plan has changed.”
The woman before him was trembling with a pale face, as though possessed by something.
“Changed? How has it changed?”
“The operation to assassinate Ryu Hyesung has been suspended indefinitely.”
“Suspended? Why all of a sudden?”
“...It is the Supreme Leader’s order. We were instructed never to touch him.”
“What?”
Even Baek Taecheon was dumbfounded. He wondered whether this too had been orchestrated by that ghost.
“Did something happen inside the Republic?”
“There was apparently an incident that threatened the Supreme Leader’s safety.”
“What happened?”
“I cannot tell you anything beyond that. It is classified at the highest level.”
The woman’s gaze was strangely unfocused. She looked as though she had been suffering under extreme fear or pressure.
“Understood. Then what are we supposed to do from now on?”
“You must remain quiet and obedient.”
“What? Until when?”
“Until further orders.”
Baek Taecheon’s eyes twisted viciously.
“...Are you abandoning me?”
“...”
Bang!
As though overcome with rage, Baek Taecheon sprang to his feet and violently kicked his chair away.
“You’re abandoning me? Baek Taecheon of all people?”
The woman said nothing. She lowered her head and stood up.
He slammed his fist against the acrylic partition as though trying to smash it.
“I can leave a place like this whenever I want!”
“Please remain quiet. It is the Supreme Leader’s solemn order.”
Baek Taecheon could say nothing and merely glared at the woman with bloodshot eyes.
“Hey! What are you doing?”
Hearing the commotion, prison guards rushed in, pinned Baek Taecheon down like an animal, and dragged him away.
“Aaaagh, you bitch!”
The woman turned and left.
She stared murderously at the CCTV lens mounted in the corner of the room.
For a long time, as though directing a gaze filled with resentment at it.
Development Lab at Science Facility’s Factory No. 2.
“The Minister requested a demonstration?”
Secretary Seo Dojin had personally come to the factory and asked carefully.
“Yes. The humanoid robot used to defend the factory during the previous incident. The demonstration itself must also be conducted under Class One national secrecy.”
“Who will be attending?”
“The Director of the Agency for Defense Development and the Minister of National Defense. Unfortunately, the President has an overseas diplomatic trip scheduled that day and will be unable to attend.”
I heard that the President had clicked his tongue in deep disappointment over being unable to attend the demonstration.
“The Ministry of National Defense wants to purchase your humanoid robots in bulk.”
“The Ministry of National Defense?”
“Yes. As you know, South Korea’s Ministry of National Defense is currently suffering a severe decline in troop numbers due to the low birth rate.”
Low birth rates were a serious problem around the world, but South Korea was suffering a demographic cliff severe enough to threaten national security.
“The Ministry of National Defense wants to purchase your robots in large quantities.”
The North Korean military attack had effectively become an advertisement for the product I had created.
Turn a crisis into an opportunity!
“Yes, that sounds good. But could we postpone the demonstration date a little?”
“Is there a problem?”
“There is a new model I’m currently building.”
I patted the white robot lying on the workbench.
“It is on a completely different technological level from the first-generation mass-produced robot.”
The H-02P was nearly complete. If the schedule could be adjusted by just a few days, there would be no need to go through the trouble of demonstrating the old and new models separately.
“Is its performance... that much better?”
“They will feel the same terror people felt when they first saw tanks during World War I.”