May 16, 2035

  "Number 6506! Visitor! Get out here!" The guard’s shout woke Kim Dae-hyun, who changed clothes and stepped out. He sat in the visitation room, slightly startled by the unfamiliar face. "...Who are you? Do you know me?" Gamamusa smirked at Kim Dae-hyun’s question. "...We’re not exactly close. I first learned about you in 2003. Back then, I was tapping undersea cables in North Korea to gather intel. Using North Korean servers, I accessed global data networks and identified people worldwide. Among them were many high-risk sociopaths. You, Kim Dae-hyun, stood out among Koreans. You might even surpass me."

  Kim Dae-hyun frowned and grabbed Gamamusa’s collar. "What nonsense is this? You don’t know me!" As the guard reached for a baton, Gamamusa raised a hand to stop him. "...Hey, Kim Dae-hyun, you want to rot here longer for assaulting a civilian? You’ve already been transferred from a military prison to Yeoju Prison." Kim Dae-hyun grimaced and released him. "...Jang Cheol-dae called me recently. I know it was you. You’re the one who put me here, aren’t you? What do you want?" Gamamusa grinned. "...I’m meeting you because you’re essential to my plan. I’ve recruited high-risk sociopaths worldwide—Russians, Palestinians, others. But I need one successor to lead them. I want to give that chance to our people."

  Gamamusa grabbed Kim Dae-hyun’s head. "...You’ve met me before. I just erased your memory. Want it back?" Kim Dae-hyun looked confused. "...I don’t know what nonsense you’re spouting or what you’re trying to do, but hurry up. I’ve got to get back soon." Gamamusa closed his eyes and sent a brainwave signal to restore Kim Dae-hyun’s memories. The signal, transmitted via the chip in Gamamusa’s brain, reached the chip in Kim Dae-hyun’s, unlocking suppressed memories. Kim Dae-hyun looked startled as memories flooded back, then closed his eyes. When the restoration finished, he opened them. "...That’s wild. It feels like memories that were gone came back naturally. Now I remember—bullying Baek Hyung-jin, framing Jang Cheol-jin for it, and Baek Hyung-jin getting into an accident after drinking with me. It’s all coming back." He clasped his hands. "...Something felt off. I remember Jang Cheol-dae interrogating Baek Hyung-jin in court, but I didn’t connect it to myself."

  Gamamusa nodded. "...Do you regret it? Bullying Baek Hyung-jin and getting him locked up?" Kim Dae-hyun thought for a moment. "...Of course I do. It landed me in here. But even without that, I’d have messed up eventually, and you’d have found me. I’m a high-risk sociopath. You helped Baek Hyung-jin just to get to me, didn’t you?" He stared at Gamamusa, calmer now after regaining his memories. "...I remember meeting you. Even then, I felt like I knew you. You implanted a chip in my brain and shared your memories." Gamamusa signaled the guard, who left. He turned to Kim Dae-hyun. "...Now that your memories are back, no more explanations needed, right? I need you, Kim Dae-hyun. When you return to this country, it won’t be as a criminal but as a state guest. For now, I’ll break you out." Gamamusa pulled a key from his pocket and unlocked Kim Dae-hyun’s handcuffs.

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  ...

  "...Kim Dae-hyun’s getting out soon. What’s your plan?" Baek Hyung-jin asked Jang Cheol-dae, who was holding the wheelchair with Jang Cheol-jin. Jang Cheol-dae stared at his son. "...I won’t forgive the guy who did this to my son. If he becomes our leader, I’m leaving this organization." Baek Hyung-jin gripped Jang Cheol-dae’s shoulder. "...Then let’s hope Jang Cheol-jin’s surgery goes well." Ding. The elevator reached the second basement level. Jang Cheol-dae pushed the wheelchair forward, with Baek Hyung-jin following. In the research complex’s lobby, a group of “Pilgrims” mercenaries gathered. Deeper inside was the “Brain Storage Room.” Baek Hyung-jin unlocked the door, revealing glass cylindrical containers filled with liquid, where brains and nervous systems floated, connected to IV drips. "...This is gruesome. Even if it’s to save the Pilgrims, extracting brains and keeping them alive with nutrients and oxygen feels like they’re dead," Baek Hyung-jin said. Jang Cheol-dae shrugged. "...You’re not wrong, but my son needs his brain extracted. It’s better than staying paralyzed." He hugged Jang Cheol-jin, who blinked in agreement.

  "Lay the patient down. Surgery’s starting." Jang Cheol-dae and Baek Hyung-jin placed Jang Cheol-jin on the operating table. The doctor drew the curtain and began the brain surgery. "...Will the surgery work? Removing parts of the brain may eliminate empathy, but there’s no guarantee Cheol-jin can handle the ‘God’s Brain,’" Baek Hyung-jin said, staring worriedly at the curtained table. Jang Cheol-dae replied, "Don’t worry. Everyone who’s had surgery here could handle the ‘God’s Brain.’” They turned, startled by a voice. Kalkan Tirak stood there. "...Tirak, you speak Korean now? You’ve got the ‘God’s Brain’?" Kalkan Tirak nodded. "There’s a defense conference in Verkhoyansk soon. I needed the ‘God’s Brain’ for security duties. It translates in my head—pretty convenient."

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