chapter 388
388 – Scene 388# Milky Way
*
“Now, take it.”
“This… ?”
“This is a USB containing access rights to ‘Another World Online.’ “It will be enough for about a week.”
An elevator leading to the basement of Stella. Park Se-hee received the USB given by Director Choi.
“You got it sooner than I thought.”
“Haha. This isn’t even a problem. “If you give hackers money, they can at least replicate access rights.”
After careful consideration, Park Se-hee decided to participate in Director Choi’s plan. Taking control of Milky Way’s system without CEO Park’s knowledge and taking control of ‘this world’. If successful, ‘Another World Online’ will be canceled before it can even begin service. In other words, it was no different from a rebellion.
‘I thought it was just a joke…’
Director Choi Jae-man was a man steeped in authoritarianism. He is a company director and a person who sincerely believes that he should not work like a low-level employee… It was thought that In fact, the evaluation of him within the company was not that different.
However, Choi Jae-man was planning to turn this company over without anyone knowing. He is not a lily, but a powerful snake… No, he was a poisonous snake.
Ding.
“Hello. Director.”
“OK. Good morning.”
Director Choi greeted the female employee he encountered in the elevator with a smile as usual. Looking at him, no one would think that he is the person who will turn the company over today.
The two walked down a white-painted hallway. This, the most important place in the company, is where Jeong So-ra and Stella’s masterpiece, Milky Way, is located. Therefore, although it was a strictly controlled place, someone like Director Choi was able to enter and exit very easily.
“Aren’t you happy? “If this job succeeds, this boring corporate life will be over.”
“Yes. What…”
“Hmm? But why is your expression like that? “Isn’t it every office worker’s dream to end their company with their own hands?”
“Just… “It doesn’t feel real.”
It was a company that I never thought would fail. It received great recognition and expectations not only in Korea but also abroad. All kinds of modifiers were used, such as the pinnacle of future technology and a revolution in the gaming industry. Of course, it was a company that grew with investment from numerous sources. It is true that I never imagined that such a company would collapse due to one person, Director Choi.
“Isn’t it because you have some lingering feelings about this company?”
“That can’t be right.”
Park Se-hee is a self-proclaimed workaholic. There was a time when he prioritized his work over his personal life. But that’s just the past. Now that I realized the truth that the CEO had been hiding, there were no regrets left in the company.
However, there was something I was curious about.
“But Director Choi.”
“Huh?”
“Director Choi, do you really have no regrets about this company?”
Director Choi is a founding member who founded Stella along with CEO Park. He was asking whether it was okay to destroy the company he built with his own hands in this way.
‘Actually, I wanted to ask CEO Park if he felt sorry, but…’
If you were sorry, you wouldn’t have thought of doing something like this.
Director Choi Jae-man stroked the bridge of his nose as if he was thinking for a moment and then opened his mouth.
“Hmm. Of course, I am human, so I have regrets.”
“Really?”
“I could have made more money, but I regret not making it.”
“… Yes?”
“If I were CEO Park, I would have been more active in spending and earning money, but it’s a shame. Speaking of which, Park Se-hee. Do you think why I live my life whining like this?”
“Uh… That’s because the director is a high-ranking person in this company…”
“Wrong. “It’s because I have a lot of money.”
Director Choi Jae-man walked forward with great strides.
“I don’t know how it may sound, but I am a person with more money than I look. “I had a lot of money since I was born, and I still have a lot of money now.”
I had already guessed that. Although I spent a lot of money and was extravagant, I never used a corporate credit card. No matter how foolish he was, he couldn’t help but know that he was rich.
“You may be mistaken. It’s reasonable to think that people think I’m Stella’s director. But they are supporting my money, not me.”
“Yes?”
“You seem surprisingly naive, too. Even though humans seem to support humans, humans do not support humans. They support the money. Money is the only thing worth holding on to as a human being. And the reason I am the director of Stellar is purely because this position allows me to make the most money. Of course I have regrets.”
“Then why…”
“Isn’t that because there are more lucrative positions? Haha.”
Director Choi Jae-man smiles as if asking something new. Park Se-hee thought as she saw that. Director Choi is just as dangerous as CEO Park.
Director Choi Jae-man knew that Milky Way was a machine that created the real world. And he clearly knew that the people living in that world were also living beings. However, in the eyes of Director Choi Jae-man, it was seen as nothing more than a means of making money. He is a human being who completely lacks ethical consciousness.
‘As expected from a man like this… I can’t hand over the world Sora created.’
Park Se-hee thought so in her mind and strengthened her resolve. I was fortunate that I had liked Director Choi and was now under him. Because now I could stop his plan by pretending to help.
‘If only I could intercept someone trying to take over the system…’
That is truly a blessing in disguise.
Park Se-hee adjusted her expression
“… Okay. Then, if I help Director Choi, I can make a lot of money.”
“Okay, okay. “I will treat you without embarrassment.”
“Thank you. However, I will try my best as much as I can, but I haven’t been online for a while, so I don’t know what will happen…”
“Are you okay. All you have to do is log in and unlock the security on the system. “After that, we will take care of it.”
Director Choi Jae-man’s feet stopped.
[No entry]
A door with red letters. That was the place where Park Se-hee and Director Choi Jae-man met for the first time.
“This must be the first time I’ve been shown beyond this door.”
It was the place that Park Se-hee was most curious about. Few people could open this door, located in the most secret place in the company. And Director Choi Jae-man was one of them.
Squeak…
The door opened. What unfolded before the two people’s eyes… Was a large space that did not fit the railing and the basement.
The first thing that caught Sehee Park’s eyes was the pillar. There was a huge pillar in the center of the large space. It was an iron pillar that looked to be at least 30 meters long. The depth also seemed quite dizzying. I could see why there was a railing in front of the door to prevent falls.
“Ah…”
Suddenly, Park Se-hee’s eyes widened as she tried to see how far the pillars continued. The pillars extended all the way to the ceiling. However, the ceiling was full of numerous wires. The pillars rose as if poking through the ceiling, which was covered with wires. Now that I look at it, it seems like 60, no, 100m is more than enough, let alone 30m.
A huge space secretly created in the basement of the company. Of course, questions followed.
“This place… Is this by any chance a server room?”
“Hmm. Okay. You could say it’s similar. Because this is where the ‘new world’ we will have is created.”
“Ah…”
Only then did Park Se-hee realize what that pillar really was.
“… The body of Milky Way.”
It was even Park Se-hee’s first time seeing him. Milky Way, connected to Sora Jeong’s head, is a device that scans her brain waves and turns her imagination into data. She expected that the data read like that would be saved somewhere. Perhaps that is the main body of Milky Way.
Director Choi Jae-man smiled positively.
“CEO Park went on a business trip to the United States last night. “I’ll be back the day after tomorrow at the earliest.”
He looked at the pillar made of electric devices and placed his hand on Park Se-hee’s shoulder.
“Then shall we begin?”
*
“Something was strange from the moment you set foot in this paradise.”
Michaela ran a hand through her wet hair. We were able to avoid the rain under the umbrella that Myohail made with magic.
“The heavens of paradise are closing and there is no sign of the rain stopping. “I can’t even use my power.”
“Hmm…”
I looked at the sky covered with dark clouds.
The weather was unusual, perhaps due to the influence of Michaela’s agitation or because paradise had rejected us.
At least what is certain is that this situation was not created intentionally by Michaela. Since she had no way to get out, she needed my help.
“Haha… Are we not welcome?”
This situation right now… As Myohail said, it was correct to assume that they were not happy about our visit.
Then who… ?
Representative Park? Director Choi, who can conquer this world? Either way is a possibility. Of the two, the most influential is, of course, Representative Park. He may have known my plan and blocked my approach in advance. Or maybe he anticipated my actions in advance.
‘Okay. It’s strange that a person like CEO Park doesn’t prepare at all…’
On the one hand, I’m glad. To say that paradise is rejecting us, in other words, is where there is a way to connect the two worlds… Because it means ‘correct answer’.
“Michaela. Where is the center of paradise?”
“Center?”
“I think I know that. Count.”
Myohail pointed upward with his finger.
“It’s up there. “The higher you go, the stronger the magical power you feel.”
When I saw the sky covered with dark clouds, I understood that paradise was closed. The heart of paradise… So, the roots of the world we think of were not underground or in the center of the forest, but in the sky.
Originally, I would have thought about a way to install a gate in the sky. However, since the sky was closed, those dark clouds had to be resolved.
As time passed, I felt that the magical power that should overflow into paradise was decreasing. The grass and trees of paradise were gradually withering, as if strong acid rain was falling. It was the rain that fell from paradise to drive away the two intruders, Myohail and I.
After thinking for a while, I came up with a good idea.
“Myohail. It’s been a long time coming this far, so wouldn’t it be a shame to go back like this?”
“Haha… “Count, I think you probably had the same thoughts as me.”
After exchanging glances with Myohail, I realized that we had the same thoughts. It was truly an ignorant idea, but the corners of my mouth went up at the thought of making it come true.
Michaela felt that there was something unusual in the eyes of the two of us.
“Wait for a second… I don’t know what you guys are trying to do…”
“Myohail. “Start.”
“I understand.”
“Hey… ?! “I said just a moment!”
The wise man Myohail struck the staff he held in his hand towards the ground. As the waves of magic scattered to the ground, a huge magic circle appeared and disappeared.
The quiet sound of rain continued. But that’s only for a moment.
Googoo…
There was a tremor that shook the heavens and the earth. Sunlight slowly began to pour over our heads.
The sky full of dark clouds was torn in half. The sky, where an enormous amount of magical power had been fired, was being forcibly cleared. Michaela, who came to her senses after staring blankly at that scene, screamed.
“Hey!!! “What are you doing!?”
“Oh dear… “I was just trying to avoid the rain.”
“Is there a case where we tear the clouds to avoid rain? “Such an ignorant wise man!”
“Haha… As I get older, I find it difficult to use an umbrella.”
If paradise is closed, you can force it open with magic. Although it is an ignorant method, it is the most reliable method, but it requires enormous magic attribute. But now I have the wise man Myohail.
“You! Isn’t the sky scary?! Using magic like that in this sacred paradise?!”
“Haha…Then one more time…”
“Stop it! If you keep acting like this, ‘guys’…”
“Guys?”
Kwaang-!
Suddenly, lightning struck the sky where the dark clouds were slowly clearing.
“… Myohail. Didn’t I pour in too much magical energy?”
“No… “This is not my magic.”
At that time, something strange came into my vision. Human figures coming down from the sky through the pouring sunlight.
“So I warned you… !”
I was able to confirm the identities of those people.
“Angel… ?”
They were angels with pure white wings on their backs. A group of beautiful angels were approaching this place.
A dazzling beam of light was shining down on us. At first glance, it was a holy scene with angels coming down to earth. Fully armed with armor and long spears, they looked like messengers of God coming to pass judgment on foolish humans.
However, Michaela sighed as if something had come in the end.
“Guardians of Paradise…”
Angels who came down from heaven were looking down at us from the sky. They are all beautiful angels wearing white eye patches. However, the voices that came out of their mouths did not match their appearance at all.
[System ‘Valkyrie’ in operation… Confirmed 2 intruders…]
A cold voice lacking intonation was heard.
[I approve the extermination of the intruder.]