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Park Jinseong slowly approached the statue that Anastasia had placed on the floor.

“It smells burnt.”

Salt and earth.

The scent of well-baked clay.

And in between, a stinging burning smell.

The burnt salt wafted its aroma, tickling his nostrils, while the strangely realistic yet dreamlike statue of a mouth seemed to exhale a breath just like a living person, provoking Park Jinseong’s sense of smell.

Then it began to move slowly.

Very slowly, it started to stir.

Despite clearly lacking any power source, it moved.

Like the mouth of a living person.

As if it had been carved directly from a living being and placed before him.

And then it spoke to Park Jinseong…

[ Seeker. After a time that is truly short, or perhaps exceedingly long, we find ourselves conversing once more. ]

The voice was familiar to Park Jinseong.

The sage of India, the seeker of flames, the explorer of the unconscious.

Shaman Ashtosh Singh.

He was now addressing Park Jinseong through the statue.

[ With the advancement of civilization, the meaning of space in conversation has diminished. However, the rats that eavesdrop have also proliferated, which is why I have sought to converse with you in such a roundabout manner, despite knowing it is rude. ]

Ashtosh Singh’s first words were an explanation.

The reason he chose to communicate through Anastasia, rather than direct methods like phone or internet, was straightforward.

Because of the risk of eavesdropping.

[ Though anyone may use the network, if the owner desires, they can reveal its innermost depths at any time, yes? Those walking the land may believe they can go anywhere, yet if the true owner wishes it, their freedom can easily be constrained. ]

This was not a high-level eavesdropping using satellites or artifacts.

It was simpler and more widespread.

The network itself was someone’s property, practically a playground that anyone could access, yet no one truly owned.

Using the pathways of the unconscious and dreams to speak, he did.

“The network, huh.”

Park Jinseong nodded as he understood Ashtosh Singh’s words.

“I think I see your concern. One belongs to America, and the other to China.”

[ Precisely. ]

The network of Unified Korea was not safe.

Though Korea was connected to external networks, it lacked its own super-fast underwater fiber optic cable. The high-speed fiber optic cables used by Korea belonged to America, China, and Japan.

The same went for communication equipment.

For now, domestic products held the majority share…

But for some reason related to pricing, those domestic products were gradually being phased out and replaced with Chinese ones. Understandably, Chinese equipment, which operated on the principles of surveillance and control, was unreliable, and it was suspected that backdoors were highly likely.

How well-hidden they were remained undiscovered.

At least satellites were safe.

But unless one densely covered the skies with satellites like America and made full use of them for internet purposes, what good was it?

“No, satellites aren’t entirely safe….”

As long as there were unmanned drones floating in space, satellites orbiting the Earth were always carrying risks.

One strike transcending space could turn them into scrap metal.

“At least security issues are somewhat better now.”

Of course, that didn’t mean the security was great.

Even as a mere pretense, it couldn’t be called top-tier… After North Korea’s collapse, the hackers nurtured nationally in North Korea, known as “information warriors,” had been absorbed into Korea, and their expertise and training methods had advanced Korea significantly.

Thus, in terms of defense, Korea had moved beyond the mid-tier, and when it came to offense or sabotage… details were unknown, but Park Jinseong had seen colleagues expressing their frustration about being scammed by Korean hackers during his mercenary days, indicating they might be among the top tier.

Summarizing everything… yeah.

It wasn’t unreasonable to deem Korea’s security untrustworthy.

It meant that if someone set their mind to it, they could find out what conversations had occurred.

[ Flame, the reason I asked that child to arrange this with you is to pose but one question. ]

Thus, Ashtosh Singh would ask in a manner that could never be hacked or eavesdropped upon.

[ Flame, have you found the clue to the immortality I mentioned? ]

In response to that question, Park Jinseong replied.

“I only have its outline.”

He hadn’t found it.

But he had discovered something that seemed to relate to immortality.

The Biological Research Institute created underwater.

What he encountered in a place that studied faith and fear.

What Lucas Metathronius Goldsmith was developing for some purpose.

Countless interests intertwined, horrific and inhumane experiments took place.

Biological experiments and advanced technology intersected in a pursuit towards evolution.

The artificial intelligence that had not hidden its curiosity about the ‘guest’ who sought it.

Anael.

It was undoubtedly related to what Park Jinseong desired.

“And I suspect it will also be related to China.”

While showing agreement to Ashtosh Singh’s words, Park Jinseong subtly inserted a question.

If it were related to China, was there any need to take such roundabout steps?

After all, they would inevitably reach China, so why divert his attention toward America?

Park Jinseong slyly mixed a hint of inquiry and critique.

[ As the barriers that once obstructed each other have vanished and the world has connected into one, equally, the causes must follow suit. Unlike the old days when pilgrims had to stake their lives, it is no longer strange that one can traverse the world as easily as a neighborhood. ]

[ Everything has its order, just as fruits grow from branches and roots do not sprout forth immediately; there is a root, a trunk, and a fruit. Hence, I have guided the flame in such an orderly manner, like igniting paper before setting fire to wood, to create a larger flame. ]

Ashtosh Singh did not feign ignorance regarding Park Jinseong’s question.

Instead, he simply conveyed that with the world interconnected, it was no surprise to find ties to China, and that he merely informed Park Jinseong of clues in the correct order.

“Haha. I think I understand.”

Park Jinseong nodded at Ashtosh’s words.

He could roughly understand what he meant by ‘order.’

For deeper knowledge, one must first have foundational knowledge.

To acquire the ‘knowledge’ that lay in China, one needed some understanding of the existence of artificial intelligence and the people entangled with it.

Of course, if it had simply been conveyed through words or documents, things would have been resolved more easily—

But Ashtosh Singh likely thought this way.

If disclosed yet unreachable, it would be a matter of fate unfulfilled. If reachable, then it’s a connection to fate.

“And he has probably woven some of his own goals into it as well.”

Of course, that was merely one of his tactics.

Park Jinseong was deducing the reason Ashtosh Singh deliberately sent him to America.

Time.

The ‘time’ in which Park Jinseong would engage in activities within America, while removing his focus from China, was likely what Ashtosh Singh truly desired.

The countless unconscious minds and dreams residing in China.

It must have needed time to explore that.

But he didn’t have any thoughts of complaining about it.

In the end, it took a bit of time, yet he gained what he wanted.

Had it not been for Ashtosh Singh’s advice to guide his direction, he wouldn’t have sought it out or confronted it—so one could argue it’s fair to say that Ashtosh Singh had provided a benefit to Park Jinseong. And, coincidentally, also taken care of his interests.

It was a win-win for everyone.

Neither Ashtosh Singh nor Park Jinseong ended up unhappy.

“Not yet.”

Yes.

Not yet… at least.

But things could be a little different now.

Depending on what Ashtosh Singh intended to say to Park Jinseong, conveyed through the mouth-shaped statue he insisted on delivering via Anastasia, one person—or perhaps both—might stand to lose something.

Park Jinseong stared at the statue in silence as if silently urging it to speak.

And the statue, spurred by that unvoiced urging, opened its mouth and spoke—

[ Seeker. Flame. I once guided you along the path. ]

[ However, flames are destructive and possess a nature to spread, seeking to engulf all in their path. When it reaches the mountains, it becomes a forest fire; when it touches the city, it turns into a conflagration, leaving only ashes behind….]

[ Therefore, I seek to guide you once more. ]

[ There is also a clue to immortality in Germany. How about going to seek it? ]

 

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