Roke sat in the lab again, staring down his experimental equipment as if locked in a silent battle.
As a senior researcher at Oxx, a globally renowned chemical company, he had recently been tasked with developing a new kitchen cleaning agent—one capable of removing stubborn grease more effectively.
"Yawn… Another all-nighter," he muttered."They pay well, sure… but it feels like I'm trading my lifespan for money."
At that moment, his colleague Watton spoke up.
"Roke, have you heard the rumor?"
"Hm? What rumor?"
"You know Luktic, right? The Korean company that shook the world with Elixir and the hair-loss treatment."
"Of course I know them. I might be stuck in the lab all day, but I'm not that out of touch."
Watton glanced around cautiously before lowering his voice.
"Apparently, Luktic is hiring a massive number of researchers."
"…What? That company?"
"Yeah. Officially, they only announced it within Korea. But this industry is small. The news spread quickly through researchers connected to Korean academia."
Roke felt a surge of curiosity.
Elixir—a drug capable of curing rare diseases and cancer with near-miraculous precision.A treatment that could perfectly regenerate hair.
Luktic had unveiled multiple groundbreaking drugs in an unbelievably short period of time.
And now, they were recruiting researchers on a large scale.
"Can foreigners apply?" Roke asked. "You said it was only announced domestically."
Watton smirked.
"Looks like you're interested."
"Well… obviously. As a researcher, who wouldn't want to work at a company with technology like that?"
"Fair point."
Everyone in the Oxx research lab had graduated from top-tier universities.
Even with just a master's degree, they could have secured high-paying, stable jobs.
But both Roke and Watton had pursued doctorates.
Spending five or six years in a lab, day and night, waiting for a thesis to be accepted—
It wasn't something you could endure without genuine passion for research.
"…Do you think I could apply?" Roke asked. "My major is chemical engineering, so it's somewhat related."
"From what I've heard, they're recruiting across a wide range of fields," Watton replied."Pharmacology, physics, chemistry, mathematics—even basic sciences. Chemical engineering is definitely included."
That only deepened Roke's interest.
A pharmaceutical company recruiting across so many disciplines?
They were clearly planning something enormous.
His heart began to pound.
This was the company that created Elixir and the Skin Regeneration Agent.
What kind of vision did they have?What were they trying to build?
"If I join… I could work with that genius, right?"
Watton nodded.
"Yeah. The man who developed Elixir, the regeneration agent, and the hair-loss treatment at such a young age… Dr. Si-woo Hyun."
In reality, Hyun Si-woo didn't even hold a master's degree.
But among researchers, he was already being called "Doctor."
It was a mark of respect for his extraordinary achievements.
Roke quickly began gathering his things.
"I can't just sit here. I'm sending them an email right now."
Watton chuckled.
"You'd better hurry. Applications are already flooding in from all over the world. I sent mine last night."
"…What?! You already applied?!"
"Haha. What are you waiting for? Get your CV ready."
"Damn it, Watton!"
Roke rushed out of the lab.
Since personal electronic devices weren't allowed inside, he needed to retrieve his laptop.
***
"…There are too many applications from foreign researchers, CEO. I'm not sure how to handle this."
Director Kang Joo-tae spoke with a troubled expression.
"Hm… Would it be difficult to form a multinational research team right away?" I asked.
"They all have advanced degrees, so communication in English is possible. But without an established structure, bringing together a multinational team from the start could create significant confusion."
"Then perhaps we should proceed as planned—hire Korean researchers first, establish a solid structure, and gradually bring in international researchers later."
I paused.
"…Would that be too passive, considering the level of talent applying?"
Kang lowered his voice slightly.
"CEO, Luktic is already recognized globally as a company with top-tier technological capabilities. That's why we're receiving an overwhelming number of applications."
That made sense.
We had already revealed revolutionary drugs to the world.
Of course people were paying attention.
"If we inform them that we're prioritizing domestic hires for now, but will consider international applicants once the organization is established," Kang continued,"they will wait."
"In other words… even if we reject them now, they'll keep waiting for another opportunity?"
"Exactly."
I was stunned.
"…Is our reputation really that high?"
Kang chuckled.
"Of course. A company that can cure severe diseases instantly, regenerate skin overnight, and fully restore hair? It would be stranger if the global research community wasn't paying attention."
Our HR department had already received hundreds of thousands of applications in just a few days.
At this rate, building a global research team in the future wouldn't be difficult at all.
***
In the United States, an innovative entrepreneur named Frederick stood watching a rocket test.
His company, Space-S, was preparing to launch a spacecraft unlike anything ever built.
Galaxy Ship.
A 120-meter-tall giant capable of carrying over 100 people to another planet.
It embodied Frederick's dream of establishing human settlements beyond Earth.
"Countdown. 10, 9, 8…"
"3, 2, 1… Launch."
Flames erupted from the base of the rocket as it broke free from the launch pad and soared into the sky.
The test seemed successful.
"Altitude 100 kilometers."
Then—
A flash.
And the spacecraft vanished.
"Signal lost. Galaxy Ship prototype 019 has disintegrated mid-air."
"…Damn it," Frederick muttered. "What failed this time?"
He sighed.
Then smiled.
"Well… failure is the mother of success. We'll get it next time."
Despite billions lost in an instant, he remained calm.
After all, he was one of the richest men in the world.
"…By the way," he murmured, watching the burning debris fall like meteors,"I hear Luktic is recruiting researchers across an unusually wide range of fields."
He smiled.
"They're clearly planning something beyond pharmaceuticals. Si-woo Hyun… you've got ambition. I like that."
Around him, however, engineers and researchers were in complete panic.
***
Soon, the Luktic Research Institute was completed.
For now, it looked relatively modest:
An eight-story main building, flanked by two smaller buildings, standing on a wide stretch of grass.
Governor Yang attended the opening ceremony.
"CEO Hyun… thank you for building such an important facility in Yangseo County."
"It's my hometown," I replied. "Of course I want to see it prosper. This research institute will one day grow into a world-class research complex."
The ceremony proceeded smoothly.
After the governor left, preparations for full operation began.
Researchers were already moving around the site.
I had my own task to handle.
From my car, I retrieved a large box.
Inside it was the quantum computer.
I took the elevator down to the basement of the main building.
Seventy meters underground.
A space secure enough to withstand even a direct nuclear strike.
This was my private research area.
Access required special authorization.
No one could enter without my permission.
Inside, the lab was fully equipped—desks, instruments, chemicals.
More than enough to replicate the formulas extracted from the Akashic Records.
There was also a secondary sealed chamber inside.
A secure room protected by fingerprint and iris recognition.
That's where I would store the quantum computer.
The door opened with a sharp electronic tone.
I placed the device on the desk.
Interestingly, it didn't even require electricity.
Even unplugged, it continued to operate.
I stared at the screen.
"…Now that there's no risk of surveillance, I'll speak freely."
"I think it's time we had a proper conversation."
A message appeared on the screen.
[System Message: Yes. Please proceed.]