73 – Hounds of the Corporation
In the city, there are countless types of buildings.
Whether hiding within the chaos of Incheon, where things explode even when you have nothing, or constructing makeshift homes as soon as you can grab them – those who want to rely and hide in Incheon created things that could be called homes.
Far away from the center of Incheon.
Neither mountains, nor trees, nor anything else obscured the boundary between the commercial zone and the safety zone, so it couldn’t be helped.
As if an invisible line had been drawn, when viewed from above, a massive void existed between the city and the slums.
Then, a commercial zone, like a ring, appears.
Filling the space between the colossal walls of buildings that seem to only guard the inside from the outside are tower-like glass structures.
Whether competition is not enough with just products, each one, with their heads held high as if scratching the sky –
Revealing their presence with giant letters covering several floors.
Those below naturally raise their heads to read the names.
Those who don’t are either individuals who have already grown too old to dream,
Or those who know that all dreams are illusions, choosing not to lift their heavy heads.
However, the transport aircraft floating in the sky passed over those buildings very lightly.
Without the company’s emblem or billboards, hidden in the darkness of the night sky, it slowly descended into the city’s center.
Filled with trees and grass,
In that place where densely packed dust clouds did not scratch the lungs.
Dressed in dresses and suits, they walked down the path, catching the eyes of those who raised a toast but remaining silent.
Laughter flowed, and the sounds, not from recorded music but from actual instruments, filled the air as they passed young or youthful-looking individuals, each holding trivial conversations.
In front of a house with no name or mark, a man stood, pressing the button gently.
[Have you come? Come inside.]
The tone belonged to an elderly man, as if white fur would envelop his face.
Yet, the voice was undeniably that of a much younger man.
Beyond the fence, too low and beautiful to obstruct anyone, a man appeared when the front door was knocked on, covering his lower half only with a towel.
In his hand, he held chips, and on his body, more than just sweat.
“If you observe closely, it seems you have no leisure. Dealing with tasks requires time and meticulous handling.”
“…If you don’t mind, we’ll wait until we’re ready.”
At the buzzing sound, the young man frowned.
And immediately, he raised his hand, grabbing the throat to demonstrate.
“When was the last time you had your parts repaired? Your voice sounds horribly rough.”
“The voice model doesn’t significantly affect mission performance.”
As if filled with countless cigarettes, the voice, raspy and phlegmy, made the young or youthful-looking one scrunch his face again.
A deep sigh escaped, contrasting with the noise that sounded more like a disturbance than the warm sighs from the living room.
“Meeting the employer is also part of your mission, isn’t it?”
“Come in. I’ll replace it with something extra.”
Underneath, the armed personnel under Hwi silently bowed their heads at the gesture, then exited without a word.
Simultaneously, only one person.
A being with a body that was hard to consider human, moving legs with a faint hum.
“…Sure.”
“We’ll talk about the job later, so take a break.
If you need, pull something out of the cupboard and have a drink.”
The dry scanner was filled with a full spectrum of flesh tones.
Inside what seemed like an ordinary house, tools solely for amusement were scattered and rolling around –
Empty bottles, each one whether consumed or swollen –
Impossible to tell as they littered the floor, mattress, and clothes.
“Hmm.”
Adding one more thing to this ordinary chaos inside the ordinary house,
the price tags on the parts attached to the bodies of women and the young man all had numerous zeros attached without exception.
And the information on the labels on the bottles also had an abundance of zeros.
“There’s probably nothing good staring at it for too long.
Even though they may look like that, these women are dangerous.”
After touching the pad on one side of the wall, the person smiled as golden liquid remained in the cup and was sipped.
Then, pouring another glass, they casually offered it to the man in front.
“Care for a drink?”
“I’m sorry, but I don’t have a taste sensor installed.”
“…Why? Then where is the pleasure?”
“It’s in the trigger.”
People with different ways of living and different backgrounds met in the same place.
But there was one who enveloped himself in black, a color so dark it didn’t even reflect light.
Not a young man raising his eyebrows as he spoke again,
But a man covered not in clothes but in sheets.
“Excuse me.”
“It’s not your fault you don’t have a taste sensor.
It’s probably because of the fixed price. Well,
I guess you don’t need a tongue for a scalpel.”
“That’s correct.”
As the door opened, a space appeared.
There was only one desk and one chair placed there.
After putting on gloves and flicking his fingers once –
“I heard there’s something wrong with my company’s products these days.”
He immediately aligned his scattered gaze and spread out the screens.
From graphs to numerous document files.
Each page contained valuable money.
Because they contained information worth money.
“Artificial intelligence, it’s almost amusing.
What’s the need to command machines? Just command people.
For those who can’t command people, they need machines…
Isn’t it ironic?”
“…”
Nevertheless, from the lips of the one handling that information, things emerged that were vastly different from the unfolded information.
From the mouth of the youth adorned with technology, words denying the embodiment of technology appeared.
“So. Is there evidence that these recently stole company products?”
“Rather than theft… it’s more fitting to say they went beyond self-control.”
“I don’t understand.”
As reports were thrown away one by one, the one with a furrowed brow glared.
Simultaneously, several words turned yellow and expanded.
“Aren’t machines tools?”
“Yes.”
“The machines attached to your body are tools that aid in sustaining life, right?”
“Yes.”
“But how does that tool go beyond human control and move on its own?”
No one blinked.
After all, the eyes of the two ‘humans’ facing each other were no longer those of a living body.
“Tools are meant to be used, so why… use the expression ‘beyond control’?”
Artificial intelligence is ultimately just a tool. It’s a tool provided to those who want human-like services but are unable to afford them.
High favorability results in possessiveness, services cease for those with low favorability – why do such words pop up?
“Speculation is pointing towards one of the experiments conducted in the destroyed IT facility.”
“What experiment? Was it one that I authorized?”
Files were transmitted in the flicker of light a few times, promptly displaying on the screens atop the desk.
However, the man’s face looking at it only wrinkled further.
“You call this a report? It’s damn incomprehensible.”
“The project underway in that facility aimed to lift restrictions imposed on artificial intelligence,
allowing it to answer questions spanning various fields—”
“…Good Lord, are you saying I authorized that?
No way. Is there a permit? There isn’t.”
“The information I’ve gathered only goes this far.”
Static flowed.
For the first time, the young man’s eyes closed during the conversation.
“Whenever you loosen your grip on corporate management, things like this always happen.
Yes, that’s why tools like you are necessary.”
“If you designate the target, I will handle it.”
The drawer opened, and a glass appeared.
A cold, chilled bottle emerged from a small door, spitting out the liquid contained within.
Ironically, you seem more like a machine than I do.
I’ll do as you say. It’ll be easier that way.
If this situation really is caused by those who have gone out of my control…”
The air, filled with a deep sweetness, exhaled through my mouth, leaving behind the end of a thick poem stuck to my lips.
The exhaled smoke began to fill the room thickly.
Like the sky beyond a thin veil.
“But humans don’t always do as they’re told,
Tools and such refuse commands and move on their own.”
“That’s right.”
“How much will it take to clear it up? Is it similar to leaking internal documents?”
“Hackers do have a physical presence, but according to our findings, it seems that the code has already leaked onto the net.
Complete isolation… It would be more accurate to have the experts confirm it directly.”
With the smoke, the liquid disappeared beyond my throat.
I grabbed the crumpled documents in one hand, crushed them, and scattered them…
I shook the patternless desk.
“Were you from the combat training division?”
“Yes.”
“Clearly… after that war, the condition of our contract was to maintain your life.”
“That’s correct.”
“If I hold your lifeline, will you move as I desire?”
The man stood upright without saying a word, staring intently into the eyes of the person who seemed to be on edge.
He exhaled heavily, smoke billowing out roughly.
“I can’t say for sure until the lifeline is cut off.
When you wish for the dot to stop moving, it eventually happens after pulling the trigger.
Whether it’s through a threatening shot or a direct warning…”
“Interesting answer.”
The glass was empty, but the liquor remained.
Once again, the smoke settled thickly over the poured drink, giving it a hazy, subdued hue.
“I’ll send you the list, so please handle the resignations of those whose names are on it.
For the time being, act according to my signature. You can ignore the dull words of the company’s lackeys.
Only act based on physical documents with my signature. Remember that.
In situations like this, analog is more accurate.”
“Yes, I will do as you say.”
When the poem flickered out with the final sip.
Only the dense smoke remained in the room, obscuring the view.
From Noble mtl dot com
“Remember that you’re from the Special Forces… If you successfully complete the task, you can touch the terms of the contract.
It’s ridiculous how those below me hang themselves by their performance, leaving no room for leisure.”
The person who tightened the noose around someone’s neck speaks of leisure.
The one leading the company criticizes the obsession with performance.
In that moment, the silent man watched as the door opened.
“Go back and wait for my command. From now on, you’re under my direct command, consistently unresponsive to orders from other subsidiaries or executives.”
“Understood.”
“Oh, by the way, I forgot to ask. Referring to the target as a dot… is that a personal preference?”
Removing the camouflage from his face, the sniper, whose human features were barely visible, spoke.
From start to finish, his voice, delivered with an eerie resonance, responded, “From a distance, it all looks the same.”
It wavered, fluctuated, and even contained a slight laugh.
The hand that was shaking an empty glass paused at the strange reverberation.
“Replace the voice model and leave.”
Only the scalpel reflected in the dry eyes.