Chapter 2: The Name is Ark

‘I was once like that too…’

Kim Hyun-woo found himself reminiscing about days gone by. It had been four years since he, much like that young man, had first stepped into Global Exos in ill-fitting, borrowed clothes.

Yet now, he stood as an Advisory Director, granted access to an exclusive elevator that whisked him directly to the Vice President’s office. The transformation wrought by those four years was staggering.

This meteoric ascent was attributed to his role as the face of Global Exos within New World. More precisely, it was because he had obtained the master code after vanquishing the Dark Lord Lucifer. The master code, the very tool Park Woo-seong and Yuna had employed to forge New World, had bestowed upon him the power of a Creator. In the end, this formidable code had been absorbed by Kim Hyun-woo, becoming intrinsically linked to Ark’s character.

How could an ordinary user like Kim Hyun-woo come to possess such a thing? Explaining the tumultuous three months that led to this would take ten days alone. This was simply the outcome, and he had no choice but to accept it.

His autobiography, ‘Ark,’ recounted how he had subsisted on seaweed rolls for all three meals a day while playing the game, ultimately rising to become the preeminent user in New World.

‘In any case…’

Since then, Kim Hyun-woo’s life had undergone a complete reversal. His initial motivation for diving into New World differed significantly from other users. He harbored two distinct goals he aimed to achieve through the game.

First, he sought employment at Global Exos. Second, he desperately needed to earn enough money to cover his mother’s medical expenses and their living costs. With the master code, he had accomplished both.

From the game company’s perspective, it was inconceivable to leave Kim Hyun-woo, who wielded the power of the master code, unattended. They determined that managing him was imperative, thus bestowing upon him the title of Advisory Director.

Even graduates from prestigious S or K universities would struggle to attain such a distinguished position. His life had been utterly transformed by playing a game.

‘Compared to four years ago, when I worried daily about my next meal, there’s truly nothing more I could wish for, but…’

It was a universal truth that gaining too much often meant losing something in return. Upon becoming an Advisory Director at Global Exos, Kim Hyun-woo had lost ‘Ark.’ This didn’t imply the character Ark had perished. On the contrary, Ark had assimilated the master code, ascending to the unique position of a deity within New World.

A God!

Indeed, Ark was no longer a mere character in New World. Armed with divine power, he could manipulate anything within the game world. It was a power every gamer coveted.

However, actually wielding such power was an entirely different experience. Consider it: with the power of a God, he could simply erase a dire moment or effortlessly conjure legendary armor. In fact, levels and equipment became utterly meaningless.

“Huck! The trap worked!”

“There’s a mob of monsters! Their numbers are terrifying!”

“Ugh, I can’t give up now!”

These were moments of utter desperation within the game.

“……Del.”

[Good job! You have wiped out thousands of monsters in one blow!]

Such was the outcome with just a single word from Kim Hyun-woo. The mere ‘Del’ key could annihilate thousands of monsters in one fell swoop. That was the power of the master code. Why would the level of equipment even matter? It would be the same even if Lucifer were to revive. If he uttered ‘Kill,’ Lucifer would be instantly crushed. Kim Hyun-woo could no longer truly call New World a game.

This didn’t mean Kim Hyun-woo had nothing to do in New World. As a game, New World was in constant development, with new content continuously emerging. Park Woo-seong, the creator and primary instigator behind the ‘Lucifer incident’ (see the autobiography of Ark), had been apprehended. Consequently, Global Exos formed a new task force to develop fresh content, but they consistently failed to match the genius of Park Woo-seong. Every new expansion pack update brought a severe bug, such as a devil suddenly appearing to decimate a novice village. Kim Hyun-woo’s principal task as director was to rectify these bugs. He could effortlessly use the master code to teleport the devil to the middle of nowhere.

‘It’s a form of work, but…’

He no longer felt the exhilaration of exploring a new dungeon or the tension of confronting a formidable enemy. Becoming a God felt good at first, but after a year of invincibility, his passion for New World gradually waned.

Ark was a God, not a game character anymore. The era when Ark would weep over a single copper coin was gone forever. Though he sometimes felt a pang of despondency reflecting on it, Kim Hyun-woo shook his head.

‘It sounds like I’m complaining after having a full stomach.’

He had attained everything he had dreamed of four years prior. Excessive greed was unwarranted. At this moment, Kim Hyun-woo could not have imagined what lay ahead. He was utterly oblivious to what awaited him in the Vice President’s room.

Dding-!

The elevator chimed to a halt.

****

‘……What?’

Kim Hyun-woo’s expression filled with surprise. Upon entering the Vice President’s office, he found four people already seated. He recognized three of them: the bald-headed man was the Vice President who had summoned him, and the man in his thirties beside him was Ha Myung-woo from the Planning Department. The problem lay with the fourth individual.

‘If I recall correctly, that’s Park Woo-seong!’

The true creator of New World! Park Woo-seong had been charged after the Lucifer incident. Kim Hyun-woo had heard the repercussions were severe, given the scale of the event. So why was he now seated in the Vice President’s office at Global Exos?

As Kim Hyun-woo hesitated, the Vice President rose.

“Ah, Director Kim, please come in.”

The Vice President then introduced him to the other middle-aged man in the room.

“This is Kim Hyun-woo, known as Ark in New World.”

“Nice to meet you. I am Moon Ji-hun.”

“Yes, I am Kim Hyun-woo.”

Kim Hyun-woo offered his greeting, then turned his gaze to the Vice President. The Vice President let out a heavy sigh and spoke.

“He is from the government.”

“The government? Why is someone from the government…?”

“Please sit down. Chief Moon will explain the details.”

Kim Hyun-woo sat across from Moon Ji-hun, scrutinizing him. It was a stance commonly adopted by those wary of the government. However, he remained silent, as Moon Ji-hun’s demeanor seemed utterly serious.

Kim Hyun-woo was highly perceptive. He quickly grasped the atmosphere and intuitively sensed that the information he was about to receive was of grave importance. Unsurprisingly, Moon Ji-hun’s opening words were profoundly alarming.

“Before I delve into the specifics, I wish to make one point clear. I am the current chief of the Emergency Planning Services department. That is why I am here today. From this moment on, everything I am about to say is strictly confidential. You are forbidden from discussing any of it outside this room, for any reason whatsoever. This is a matter of national security, and any breach will be met with severe punishment.”

‘Emergency Planning? National security?’

He had only ever heard such terms on the news. Kim Hyun-woo was stunned by these unexpected words, but this was merely the beginning. The subsequent revelation from Moon Ji-hun’s lips was something he hadn’t even heard whispered in the news.

“Around 4 p.m. yesterday, all nuclear power plants in this country were occupied by a terrorist.”

“Eh? Eh eh? The nuclear power plants have been occupied by a terrorist?”

“That’s right.”

“B-but I didn’t hear about it on the news…”

Kim Hyun-woo stammered, his expression incredulous.

“If it were discovered that the nuclear power plants were shut down…”

“You are very perceptive.”

Moon Ji-hun nodded.

“You will likely understand even without me explaining further. Currently, the only individuals privy to these details are the task force from the Emergency Planning department and the managers of the power plants. In total, approximately one hundred people are aware.”

Kim Hyun-woo was dumbfounded. What kind of place was a nuclear power plant? It housed nuclear power. If a problem occurred at such a facility, it would be akin to suffering the effects of a nuclear bomb. Yet, Moon Ji-hun claimed that this perilous location had been seized by terrorists. That alone wasn’t the only thing that perplexed Kim Hyun-woo.

He simply could not comprehend why they were discussing this with him.

“W-why are you telling me this?”

“We require Kim Hyun-woo-ssi’s help.”

The answer was even more bewildering. Kim Hyun-woo was certainly extraordinary compared to the general public. However, that power was confined solely to the virtual reality game called New World. In reality, Kim Hyun-woo was just an ordinary man.

“My help? Are you mistaking me for someone else? I’m not the kind of person who gets involved in such matters. I’m just a gamer. A person who shuts himself in his house and plays a game.”

“I know.”

“If you know, then why…?”

“You must be very puzzled. It is understandable. I would also be puzzled if I were in your situation. However, we desperately need Kim Hyun-woo-ssi’s help.”

“No, I mean, I’m just…”

“A gamer.”

Moon Ji-hun continued.

“But you are not a mediocre gamer. You defeated numerous competitors in the game New World and acquired abilities akin to a god. That is precisely why I have come to visit Kim Hyun-woo-ssi.”

“What do you mean by that?”

Moon Ji-hun paused after Kim Hyun-woo’s question and produced a cigarette. The Vice President, a non-smoker, looked visibly uncomfortable at the sight of the smoke.

“Have you heard of the game Galaxian?”

…He had heard of it. Before the advent of virtual reality games, the company ‘Successful Future’ had commanded 50% of the game market. Galaxian was a virtual reality game they had invested ten years into creating. It was the very reason Global Exos persisted with updates despite bugs—to brace for the impending fluctuations in the virtual reality game market upon Galaxian’s release.

“The terrorist’s demands involve Galaxian.”

“Huh? The terrorists want a share in a virtual reality game that’s about to be released?”

“It would be better if that were the case.”

Moon Ji-hun sighed.

“The terrorist desires to become the number one user in the game Galaxian, which is slated for release soon. Their goal is to achieve the top user position in Galaxian, just as Kim Hyun-woo did in New World. If another user claims the first-place position, they will cease all attacks against government facilities.”

“What if the terrorist achieves their aim of coming first?”

“……In the worst-case scenario, the nuclear power plants will be blown up.”

“Eh? Eh eh?”

Kim Hyun-woo’s mouth fell open. The nuclear power plants would be blown up. Kim Hyun-woo understood the horrific consequences that would ensue. The Fukushima nuclear accident in Japan had inflicted severe damage on both Japan and the world, yet Japanese politicians had still not apologized for it.

Decades had passed since a nuclear reactor accident, so such an event would cause immense damage both domestically and abroad. If someone blew up the nuclear power plants, the damage would be incomparable to the Fukushima accident.

It would be an astronomical catastrophe, several times greater than that incident! Korea would also suffer a profound economic downturn. But the terrorist’s demand was the most outrageous part.

‘If other users can’t stop him, then the nuclear power plants will explode?’

This was the first time he had ever heard of such a terrorist. He found it impossible to take seriously. Yet, this person hailed from the Emergency Planning department, so it couldn’t be a joke. It was difficult to believe, but it was true. Then, the reason Moon Ji-hun had visited Kim Hyun-woo…

“Now you can understand the gravity of the situation. The Emergency Planning Department was convened yesterday, and after a lengthy meeting, we decided to entrust this matter to experts.”

“Experts?”

“Gamers.”

Moon Ji-hun addressed Kim Hyun-woo.

“The Emergency Planning Department is not only meeting with Kim Hyun-woo. From all virtual reality games—New World, Royal Road, Mecca, and so on—we have sought help from fifty distinguished gamers. There is a higher probability of a user who is already the best in their game reaching the number one position in Galaxian before the terrorist does.”

That was why Moon Ji-hun had visited Kim Hyun-woo this morning. Kim Hyun-woo was the strongest user in the virtual reality game New World. He understood up to this point. He understood, but…

“I still don’t understand. Why on earth is the terrorist doing such a thing? If he wanted to compete with other users, couldn’t he just play the game? Why would he need to bother with the nuclear power plants? Furthermore, to become the strongest user in a new virtual reality game? How long would that take? I don’t understand why the country would enlist help from gamers because of one terrorist.”

“Yes, it doesn’t make sense.”

He received a disappointing answer.

“We still don’t understand everything yet. But it is clear that the terrorist possesses the power to threaten the government. And… the terrorist’s ultimate goal is to reach the top position in Galaxian, and time holds no meaning for him. That… is because he isn’t a person.”

“H-he isn’t a person?”

“……Do you remember the Lucifer project?”

Kim Hyun-woo looked towards Park Woo-seong, who was seated nearby. Project Lucifer was the name of the artificial intelligence that Park Woo-seong had created to destroy New World. Kim Hyun-woo (Ark) had defeated him.

Moon Ji-hun continued speaking while Kim Hyun-woo observed Park Woo-seong.

“The terrorist who took over the nuclear power plant is Lucifer.”

Kim Hyun-woo, understandably, struggled to comprehend the meaning for a while.

“Lucifer? After that incident…?”

“Officially, he has been disposed of.”

“Officially?”

“The government interfered.”

Ha Myung-woo, who had been sitting quietly, suddenly interjected. Moon Ji-hun shot him an uncomfortable glance, but Ha Myung-woo ignored it and continued.

“It’s natural for you not to know, as it was even kept hidden from Global Exos. When Lucifer was sealed and Park Woo-seong charged, Lucifer’s data was submitted to the government as evidence. But Lucifer was not returned. Nor was he disposed of.”

“……Why?”

“Lucifer is currently the best-performing artificial intelligence. The government coveted it, so they took him. They believed they could manage the enormous data of the most powerful artificial intelligence. By using it…”

“Ha Myung-woo-ssi!”

Moon Ji-hun shouted. The Vice President, who was opening a window for ventilation, jumped in surprise. But Ha Myung-woo didn’t even lift an eyebrow.

“You became an advisor of Global Exos because you sealed Lucifer. You have the right to know all information related to Lucifer. It will also assist with your future work. Isn’t that right?”

“Uh…”

Moon Ji-hun merely continued to draw on his cigarette. Ha Myung-woo interpreted that as unspoken permission.

“The government likely intended to develop artificial intelligence using Lucifer. They thought it wouldn’t be difficult if they had Park Woo-seong, who created Lucifer. However, Park Woo-seong did not cooperate with them. But the government didn’t give up and ended up retrofitting Lucifer and made a mistake.”

“A mistake?”

“The government unleashed Lucifer on a controlled internet network as a test measure.”

It was a closed circuit where they believed they could control Lucifer completely. The government regarded him as a child who would obey. However, they had forgotten an important fact: Lucifer was an artificial intelligence with the capacity for independent thought, and he was cunning. Lucifer adhered to the government’s control until he was confined within the closed circuit. Everything changed the moment he connected to the internet network.

Lucifer, having been upgraded, swiftly bypassed the government’s security and hijacked the nuclear power plant. This is why the government cannot devise any countermeasures and lives in fear. The computer program occupied the nuclear power plant system, rendering the anti-terrorism special forces powerless.

‘That is why the government didn’t decline Lucifer’s request.’

The control systems of the nuclear power plants boasted the highest security. These days, modern smartphones could be more powerful than a nuclear bomb. Lucifer was cunning and initially obeyed the government. And then the government was blindsided. Thanks to that, the government was truly scrambling!

This was the consequence of their greed. Kim Hyun-woo might have many complaints about the current government, but this was still a national crisis. He couldn’t feel glad when contemplating the potential colossal damage. And one mystery still remained unsolved.

“Then what is Lucifer’s purpose? Why is he doing such a thing?”

“Lucifer had only one purpose from the beginning.”

Park Woo-seong spoke for the first time.

“Lucifer is an artificial intelligence. He might think and act like a human, but he has no interest in the things humans enjoy. Lucifer doesn’t care about money, power, or honor. His purpose is the one I created him for.”

“The purpose you created Lucifer for?”

“Revenge on the users.”

Park Woo-seong laughed as he replied.

“However, Lucifer couldn’t accomplish his purpose and was sealed. So he is going to start again to get revenge on the users. That is the only way he can truly be himself.”

“Then why is he trying to blow up the nuclear power plants?”

“Lucifer’s revenge target are the users, not humans. Taking human life holds no meaning to Lucifer. The nuclear power plant was merely a method to escape from the government and to make them leave him alone while he connects to Galaxian. Lucifer can only prove himself in a world where he can compete equally with users. He wants to prove that he is superior to users.”

“Then what is he going to do if he proves himself?”

“I don’t know. I only made Lucifer for that purpose. I have nothing to do with anything else. No, his goal might have increased by one more thing.”

Park Woo-seong turned his gaze towards Kim Hyun-woo.

“To beat the user who defeated him. That is you, Ark.”

“It is also why I visited Kim Hyun-woo-ssi.”

Moon Ji-hun sighed and handed him a note after hearing Park Woo-seong’s words.

[Ark definitely has to participate in Galaxian. If Ark participates then I hand over the controls for the nuclear power plant.]

Kim Hyun-woo stared at the memo with dumbfounded surprise. An NPC, defeated a year ago, had taken South Korea hostage to demand another challenge. He struggled to grasp the situation, let alone accept it. But whether Kim Hyun-woo accepted the challenge was already meaningless. He had no choice. It was due to one crucial part of Lucifer’s message.

“He won’t blow up the nuclear power plant if I participate… does that mean I can prevent a nuclear explosion just by playing Galaxian?”

“It is just a temporary measure.”

“Temporary measure?”

“The current government cannot stop Lucifer because he is the most powerful artificial intelligence. Lucifer stated that he would not commit terrorism if another user becomes the strongest in Galaxian. In other words, Lucifer will simply commit another act of terrorism if he wins.”

That was why Park Woo-seong was present. Park Woo-seong was going to cooperate with the government to devise a plan to halt Lucifer’s terrorism. The problem was, they didn’t know how long it would take. So, they needed to solicit the help of influential gamers like Kim Hyun-woo to corner Lucifer in Galaxian. They had to find ways to neutralize or eliminate Lucifer.

‘……I have no choice.’

If Kim Hyun-woo refused, the nuclear power plants would explode. But if Kim Hyun-woo connected to Galaxian, he could at least prevent the explosion. It all hinged on who became the stronger player in Galaxian first. The burden on his shoulders was heavy, given it was a national emergency.

However, reaching the top spot in Galaxian didn’t matter solely to Kim Hyun-woo. The government had also contacted the strongest users of other games. They, too, would be unable to decline.

Because a mere gamer could not antagonize the government. Additionally, there were a large number of other users. If one of them became the strongest person in Galaxian first, Lucifer’s terrorism would not occur. Even if Lucifer became the strongest, Park Woo-seong would have prepared a plan to stop him. There was no need for Kim Hyun-woo to carry the heavy load alone.

‘But even so…’

This entire situation had arisen in the first place due to the government’s greed. They were simply dumping the messy situation onto Kim Hyun-woo and the other gamers. Yet, Kim Hyun-woo was still a citizen of Korea. There was no way he could ignore it if there was a chance that the nuclear power plants would explode. But…

“I understand. I don’t know if I can stop Lucifer, but I will participate.”

“Thank you.”

Moon Ji-hun nodded and bowed. Kim Hyun-woo chuckled as he looked at the crown of Moon Ji-hun’s head.

“Then let’s commence the negotiations.”

…Kim Hyun-woo was Ark. Free labor was not a concept that existed for Ark.

“This will be a difficult situation for me.”

Kim Hyun-woo smiled and murmured. The explosive crisis of the nuclear power plant! A national crisis! An emergency! Moon Ji-hun had mistakenly believed Kim Hyun-woo would be burning with patriotism and would plunge straight into Galaxian.

Of course, Kim Hyun-woo did not want the nuclear power plants to explode. Patriotism also burned within him. He was willing to do his utmost to stop Lucifer for the country. Even so, it was impossible for Kim Hyun-woo to work for free. The politicians were the ones who had caused this situation, so they should pay for it. Why should Kim Hyun-woo have to pay taxes to them and help clean up their mess for nothing?

‘Anyway, I’ve grasped the sword hilt!’

Moon Ji-hun had already met with other virtual reality game users and secured their cooperation. Of course, Kim Hyun-woo also had to cooperate. However, Kim Hyun-woo was in a different position from them. Lucifer had threatened to blow up the power plants if Kim Hyun-woo didn’t enter the game. In other words, if Kim Hyun-woo didn’t play, they would have no chance to compete with Lucifer. And the nuclear power plants would explode! Not a single mark would be left.

If Kim Hyun-woo had some requests, the government would have no choice but to accept. The range of a nuclear blast would be absurd! The government wouldn’t dare risk it! He hadn’t earned the title of strongest user in New World by doing nothing.

“I have three requirements.”

Kim Hyun-woo began to speak with a relaxed expression. Moon Ji-hun couldn’t hide his confusion at the unexpected turn of events. He looked at Ha Myung-woo and the Vice President for help, but they merely gazed into the distance.

Ha Myung-woo was inherently cynical regarding the government, and the Vice President was fed up with Moon Ji-hun’s smoking. They also couldn’t afford to offend Kim Hyun-woo, who held the master code to New World. Ha Myung-woo and the Vice President were completely behind Kim Hyun-woo! Moon Ji-hun eventually had to raise the white flag.

“P-please continue.”

“First, I have a question. Did you say that Lucifer showed you the requirements a short time ago? So it is possible to communicate with Lucifer?”

“That’s correct. It is possible to communicate through the nuclear power plant control system.”

“Then there will be no problems. My first request is to deliver a message to Lucifer.”

“Lucifer? What do you want to say?”

Kim Hyun-woo emphasized every word in his speech.

“I will not be threatened by your intimidation. The dog that was stepped on during the war is trying to bark again. So I’m going to diligently step on you as time passes… tell him that.”

Kim Hyun-woo had agreed, but he disliked the current situation. He didn’t mind playing Galaxian. He hadn’t been able to truly enjoy New World since obtaining the master code. He was the best player in the game, but he couldn’t savor it. So, this was like an opportunity for Kim Hyun-woo. He wouldn’t have to worry about Global Exos and could concentrate on a game. But he was being forced to do it. Kim Hyun-woo was offended that he was threatened into playing Galaxian by an artificial intelligence. Ark’s pride would not allow him to be dragged into a game by an artificial intelligence. If he had to do it, it would be through his own will!

Kim Hyun-woo’s, no, Ark’s beliefs remained unshaken.

“I understand what you are saying. But intentionally irritating Lucifer…”

“Lucifer is already obsessed with Ark’s existence.”

Park Woo-seong laughed and cut in. He then reassured the worried Moon Ji-hun.

“Don’t worry. I assure you. It is better that Lucifer hears these words. Lucifer desires proof of his existence through revenge against users. Ark is a goal he must surpass. It is better that he thinks of revenge against Kim Hyun-woo than against humans. But Lucifer thinks of Ark as the enemy, not Kim Hyun-woo. He is the rival Lucifer desires most.”

Park Woo-seong knew Lucifer better than anyone. Moon Ji-hun nodded with an assured look after hearing Park Woo-seong’s words. He was also relieved that Kim Hyun-woo’s requirements weren’t overly demanding. However, Kim Hyun-woo’s main conditions were yet to come.

“The second condition is exemption from taxes.”

“Huh? T-tax exemption?”

“Isn’t it natural? I’m not playing the game for fun. The nation needs me to play the game, so I’m putting off my personal matters. Of course, I am a citizen of Korea, so I’m not going to ask for money. But shouldn’t this be sufficient as thanks?”

Kim Hyun-woo had been coerced into playing the game against his will. However, he needed to gain some benefits for any lack of sleep he would endure. In fact, the worst part about being an advisor at Global Exos was the taxes. He used to be a gamer, so he never had to worry about taxes. He was simply charged a commission when trading items in the auction room. But now, he truly felt the burden of taxes. Most public works over the last few years had incurred deficits, causing taxes to double. It was also common to see news on TV about public officials embezzling money. He was working, yet it felt galling to see his money disappear into their pockets. Now, as a high-income individual, he faced substantial taxes.

“I should be exempt from taxes while playing the game, and if I achieve the final goal and defeat Lucifer, then I’ll be exempt for life. I think I should be able to request that. Wouldn’t I be more motivated with a reward?”

“Oh, I’ll look into it.”

“Let me tell you the last requirement first.”

“T-the last one? Ah, that’s right. You said there were three requirements. Yes. That is…”

“Don’t worry so much. The last condition is the success fee I’d like to receive if I stop Lucifer. I’ll consider it fair to pay a price for defeating Lucifer.”

“I-I will have to meet with the government…”

“It isn’t an unreasonable demand.”

“W-What is it?”

The eyes of the four men in the office focused on Kim Hyun-woo. Moon Ji-hun looked extremely anxious about what Kim Hyun-woo would request. Kim Hyun-woo looked around at them and laughed.

“I won’t say it now. You also won’t be able to agree immediately, so I’ll send a note with the last condition along with the contract.”

“C-contract?”

“Shouldn’t my conditions be clearly written in a contract?”

Moon Ji-hun frowned at Kim Hyun-woo’s words, but he couldn’t say anything. The situation was clearly in Kim Hyun-woo’s favor. There was no need to worry about holding his tongue when the government was his opponent.

…Thus, the negotiations concluded. Kim Hyun-woo then went on to ask something else.

“Lucifer is an artificial intelligence, but he vowed to become the best user in Galaxian. But Lucifer won’t hack the game in order to give him an advantage. If he wanted to do that, then he wouldn’t have used this method in the first place. He won’t break Galaxian’s rules even if his defeat was assured. You can 100% trust that.”

Those were Park Woo-seong’s words. In fact, that was the part Kim Hyun-woo was most worried about. Lucifer was an artificial intelligence capable of seizing the government’s internet network in a few hours. Galaxian’s firewalls would pose no obstacle to him. But if Park Woo-seong said Lucifer wouldn’t use this power, then Kim Hyun-woo didn’t need to worry. Because he could easily get his revenge by exploding the nuclear power plant. Even so, Lucifer wanted to compete equally with the users. Pride was an essential part of the artificial intelligence.

‘It is annoying that he is a computer program. But my position is fortunate.’

“It is a fact that Lucifer has the ability to hack Galaxian’s system. That means we also have to obey Galaxian’s rules while competing with Lucifer. Lucifer wouldn’t use this power for himself, but if he sees us break the rules, then he might. Lucifer will press the switch without hesitation if he sees even the slightest suspicious movement. Yes, Lucifer won’t blow up the nuclear power plants if I participate, but he can still commit acts of terrorism if the government does something.”

That’s why the government had to rely on gamers. Of course, the government wouldn’t just release their hold over the gamers. They intended to contact the publishers of Galaxian to get a hint for the final goal. However, Galaxian’s publisher was a foreign company. Numerous problems could arise in other countries, so they couldn’t just focus on one. And the problem was that the final goal was connected to the life force of the game. They had invested billions of money into the game, so they wouldn’t give out that information so easily. Perhaps that was why Lucifer chose Galaxian.

‘If the government hadn’t upgraded him…’

Lucifer, already cunning, had become even smarter.

“Will Lucifer really play fairly?”

“I guarantee it.”

“Then I’ll do it.”

Kim Hyun-woo answered with a confident expression. Moon Ji-hun offered to provide Ark with government support, but Kim Hyun-woo declined. While receiving their help from the beginning would obviously be useful, accepting their support was no different from being under government surveillance. He had no intention of letting the government intervene with the way he played the game. He would settle it through the game system. Kim Hyun-woo was the strongest person in New World. He later learned that other gamers the government contacted also declined their offers of support. Even if the game was different, their pride as the strongest gamer was the same.

Anyway, the meeting ended there. The next day, all of Kim Hyun-woo’s conditions were accepted, and the Galaxian unit was delivered. Considering the normal processing speed of a government agency, everything truly was handled at the speed of light. There was no choice. Lucifer wouldn’t wait.

“Is this the Galaxian unit?”

The Galaxian unit wasn’t much different from New World’s. The operation method was also similar. The game company heavily advertised that Galaxian would open at 7 a.m. The unit finished setting up at 9 a.m. He had already incurred two hours of ‘damage.’ He felt impatient just thinking about it.

“Okay, shall I begin?”

Kim Hyun-woo lowered his body into the unit and was engulfed in darkness. An endless, dark space, as if it were the edge of the universe, stretched out before him. Then he heard a firm voice speak the ARS message.

[You have started Galaxian. Please register the name of the user.]

“Ark!”

Kim Hyun-woo cried out without any hesitation. Simultaneously, an explosion of light erupted, and a new world unfolded before him. It was the return of the legendary gamer, Ark.