A person came into and went out of America.
It wasn’t an odd occurrence.
It’s something that happens all the time, and the numbers are likely staggering.
Nothing strange about it—just a regular story.
But there was someone who was definitely paying attention to it.
To be precise…
“Has Shaman Park Jinseong left?”
Among those being monitored, one person was singled out.
[Audio data is unclear. Please repeat for easier database searching.]
“Park Jinseong, J, O, Shaman—is he gone?”
[Keywords ‘Park Jinseong,’ ‘J,’ ‘O,’ ‘Shaman.’ Verifying language system…search in progress. Confirmed similarity to an Asian language system. Beginning search based on big data… The language is likely from Northeast Asia. Verified? Continuing search… No distinctive Chinese pitch patterns detected. Excluded Chinese data from the big data set. Continuing search… Clear consonants detected in pronunciation… Verification of similar languages completed. Korean, Joseon language… Connecting to database. Confirmed the collapse of the region where Joseon language was used. Verified that ‘Park Jinseong’ uses Korean from a nation called ‘Unified Korea.’ Searching for relevant information about this nation. Please wait a moment…]
That person was standing upright.
Facing him was something that did not bleed.
It had a display instead of a face, speakers instead of vocal cords, long wires instead of blood vessels, and a massive server capable of storing immense amounts of information instead of a brain.
Inside it, instead of human personality or soul, existed something artificially created.
In the world, this entity was called Artificial Intelligence (AI, Artificial Intelligence).
[Let me explain the current location data of Shaman Park Jinseong. Shaman Park Jinseong is currently aboard the government-owned ‘747-8’ aircraft. The current flight route code is…]
“Please exclude the flight route code from the explanation.”
[The flight route code will be omitted. Shaman Park Jinseong is nearing the destination of Unified Korea.]
BEEP
[New data has been updated. The aircraft has landed safely at the Korean airport, and Shaman Park Jinseong has arrived at Unified Korea. Coordinates—]
“You can stop explaining. Please display the information on Shaman Park Jinseong. I want the real-time updates to be continuously displayed on Display 4, if possible.”
[Explanation terminated.]
The AI did its best to answer the man, operating within the limits of its capabilities.
However, “best” and “optimal” are similar but different concepts.
Given that the AI had not even come close to the singularity, let alone surpassed it, the man inevitably felt dissatisfied with its performance.
“Optimization still needs work,” the man thought.
It was understandable that he felt dissatisfied with the AI’s current abilities. Due to these limitations, the man yearned—deeply yearned—for something greater.
“Restart Project J-11-b-103-4.”
[Is Project J-11-b-103-4 confirmed?]
“Yes.”
[Project J-11-b-103-4 is restarting. Confirming the project… Reestablishing contact with the group code-named ‘Those who do not let anyone pass through Sinai.’ Confirming the project… Initiating Plan code-named ‘116-118.’ Transmitting appropriate aircraft information for the plan… Coordinating with ‘Black Sea’ to start information gathering via the Deep Web…]
“Hold on. Instead of using the Deep Web, go old school. Transfer the data to a USB, select the zealots among ‘Those who do not let anyone pass through Sinai,’ and discreetly drop these USBs along their movement path through the drug dealers controlling the areas where they operate. Continue the operation until they retrieve and access the USB. Immediately after the initial access, corrupt all other data on other USBs except the one accessed.”
[Modifying the plan. Initiating the project…]
“And.”
The man paused his command and glanced at the display in front of him.
What met his eyes was the information on Park Jinseong, constantly being refreshed.
Each movement was synchronized by satellites that tracked his coordinates and updated his position. The hacked CCTV cameras captured his appearance, recording and saving images into databases where his subtle expressions and body movements were meticulously analyzed. Not only that, but everything he wore and carried was thoroughly scrutinized—every manufactured item was cross-referenced against its brand’s server to uncover purchase records, and any divine objects were analyzed for their patterns, script, and shape to determine the origin and potential abilities they might possess.
It was work that no human could realistically perform.
Indeed, even for an AI, it demanded a significant allocation of computational resources.
“Since the variable is now outside the U.S., there’s no need to worry anymore. End analysis on Park Jinseong, and focus on the project.”
[Executing command.]
As the man gave the order, the AI immediately halted the analysis on Park Jinseong. The resources previously dedicated to monitoring Park Jinseong were instantly redirected to focus on the project. Progress now surged forward at an incredible pace, leaving plenty of time for multiple checks and reviews.
Compared to before, when managing Park Jinseong’s data simultaneously slowed the process, this new efficiency was night-and-day different.
The man watched all of this with an expressionless face.
“Shaman Park Jinseong. I have a feeling I’ll see you again,” he mused.
He felt a premonition of sorts.
*
Hijacking is actually a shockingly common occurrence.
Especially when it involves hijacking transportation.
From thrusting a gun into someone’s face and forcing them into a vehicle, to halting a car to abduct its driver, or storming some kind of cabin to seize control, the methods are nearly as old as transportation itself—stretching back to the days before mechanized vehicles.
In fact, one could trace it back even further—to the times when people rode horses and oxen, or utilized humans themselves as a means of transport.
But even within the category of hijackings, there’s a way to break them down further. And there is most definitely one method of hijacking that’s among the most recent in historical terms.
“Hi, Jack?”
Right now, the hijacking of an airplane—or “hijacking,” as it’s more commonly known—is happening.
BAM!
An aircraft flying high above, suddenly the sound of gunshots echoes through it.
Rising from their seats with pre-rehearsed efficiency, they greeted Jack with a short, cheerful remark before revealing their weapons with well-practiced movements, firing them without hesitation.
But they were careful not to puncture the aircraft hull—just human bodies.
“AAGH!”
“YYYYYYY—!”
They targeted the people sitting next to them with makeshift, 3D-printed guns, aiming at their limbs instead of vital organs, laughing as the victims screamed in pain. Their joy was only amplified as the frightened passengers panicked, screaming in terror, which the attackers enjoyed as if it were sweet music.
Anyone could easily tell that these were utterly heinous criminals.
“We seek the attention of all the brothers, sisters, and infidels aboard. Please listen carefully.”
They were odd-looking, their smiles unnatural. Their facial muscles didn’t move properly, giving off an artificial vibe—as if something under the skin locked their expressions into place.
It was clear they wore some kind of mask, not their true face.
Mask or no mask, they addressed the passengers.
“You will now join us in a holy mission.”
“Together with us.”
“We will warn mankind for repeating the mistake of the Tower of Babel.”
Their words were clear—this was a warning message for the people to heed.
