S118

Society Protocol 18

The Wise Serpent

Min-hyuk was sitting across from Ji Seo-hoon, the CEO of the agency, engaging in conversation.

Having eaten the Fruit of Knowledge, Ji Seo-hoon could discern a person's value just by looking at them.

He possessed the ability to foresee how things would unfold by observing their actions.

It was similar to a sort of IQ test.

It was a test where one had to predict what would happen next based on a few progresses.

There was no need to test how much wiser he had become after eating that fruit.

He was simply astonished that all of this was created by a Korean company in which his organization had invested.

It is known that they conducted the test using a kind of human brain.

Although the current status of that company is unknown, they discovered through a chance experiment that they could influence the human brain.

This started from the basic premise that, just as muscles grow through exercise, the brain can also improve its capabilities through training.

It was also discovered that certain compounds enhance brain function, much like drugs such as steroids affect muscles.

However, early experiments found that excessive development caused schizophrenia.

Methods to control it were developed after several such victims were reported.

However, the problem is that the components used to reduce excessive ability have placed a limit on the duration of brain development.

Therefore, there was a downside: the ability could only be sustained by continuously consuming the fruit of knowledge.

However, no one complained about this.

This was because the medicine could simply be taken more of, and it actually served as a kind of shackle that prevented the ability of those who betrayed the organization from continuing.

Ji Seo-hoon saw the future of the young man standing before him.

Right now, he likely had no great ambition regarding worldly matters and was the very embodiment of purity.

However, he could tell that his heart was filled with tremendous ambition.

He might become a figure who surpassed himself.

He was not judged solely by his appearance.

He possessed a charm that drew people's love, as well as the reason and wisdom to make cool-headed judgments.

And alongside this, there existed a sensitivity capable of appreciating beauty and sympathizing with human suffering.

“If you promise to forget everything I’m saying here once you step out this door—or at least promise not to tell anyone—I promise I will support your success, Min-hyuk.”

Min-hyuk was dumbfounded, as if he had suddenly been hit by a massive accident.

However, even after thinking it over to himself, he was convinced that an opportunity like this would never come again in his life.

“Yes, I understand. I won’t tell anyone.”

Ji Seo-hoon could sense that Min-hyuk’s words were sincere.

He had the ability to distinguish truth from falsehood to some extent through a person’s facial expressions and voice.

It was all thanks to the fruit of knowledge.

“I plan to step down as the agency president.”

Min-hyuk looked at Ji Seo-hoon in surprise, as he spoke such a grand pronouncement the moment he saw him.

If he wasn't the head of an entertainment agency, what was there to discuss with him?

“I will entrust this matter to Jun-hyun, who came with me. And I will handle other matters.”

“Are you starting a new business?”

Min-hyuk couldn't really come up with any other assumptions. Perhaps he retired and went on a trip,

or perhaps he fell ill with a terminal disease and met his end on a tropical island while spending his final moments with the woman he loved.

These images briefly crossed his mind, but they were not things he would voice.

“Actually, I belong to a large organization. That organization helped me succeed. I’m going to take charge of the Korean division of that organization now.”

“I don’t know what it is, but congratulations. So you’ve been promoted.”

“You could call it a promotion. But aren’t you curious? Why am I saying this? Is this really something to brag about to you, Min-hyuk, whom I’m meeting for the first time?”

Min-hyuk couldn't understand it. However, everyone wants to tell their own story.

This was because he had once had the experience of waiting at a bus terminal while traveling, listening to a middle-aged woman sitting next to him talk about her fate for quite a while.

So, whenever such a situation arose, he had memories of everyone being happy if he simply listened and chimed in, feeling as if he were watching a monodrama or a realistic play.

“To be honest, I’m not really sure either. Perhaps there is a reason?”

“I recognized you at first glance, Min-hyuk. Something about you being destined for greatness. Something about becoming a great person. Something about wanting to become great. It feels like I’m looking at my younger self. How about you? How far do you want to go?”

“I want to become great, too.”

Ji Seo-hoon decided that once he began working for the organization, he would not have time to meet Min-hyuk again to make a proposal.

Furthermore, it was time for a new player.

Since recruiting an excellent player is tantamount to representing the owner's capabilities, he wanted to make this scouting a success.

“I’ll leave it to your choice. Freedom of choice is the most important thing. However, you must keep the secret. A person who has lost credibility is not welcome anywhere.”

“I will keep your secret without fail.”

Ji Seo-hoon made a decision. To tell his secret to a young man he was meeting for the first time.

It was the first time he had shared his story and that of the organization with anyone around him, other than those he had met within the organization.

However, the turn of events was completely unexpected, as that first person was a young man he had never seen before.

“Humanity has continuously progressed. Those who desired something better have shaped the world. Have you ever seen Stanley Kubrick’s movie 2001: A Space Odyssey?”

“Yes, I like Stanley Kubrick’s movies.”

“Then the story will be a bit easier to understand. In the opening scene, something resembling an ape or a primitive man appears.

Then they start using tools. And there is a connecting scene where a thrown tool later transforms into a spaceship.

Humans were able to reach the present because they were able to use tools.

However, I believe the reason they began using tools was that, in order to gain even greater power from their own powerlessness,

they started utilizing things beyond what they possessed.”

Thinking the content seemed more serious than he had expected, Min-hyuk began to get engrossed in Ji Seo-hoon's story.

“I believe that all living things on this earth have the same beginning. I mean, whether it’s a cockroach, a pig, grass, or a stone, they all started out the same.”

Although it was difficult to understand, Min-hyuk tried to keep listening intently.

It was because it was interesting. He had never seen such drunken rambling before.

“I believe that we, whether stones, grass, animals, or insects, all started out the same.

But one day, one of the stones decided it wanted to move.

I, too, will move like the wind and the clouds.

With that resolve, it became a tiny microorganism and began to move.

And among those microorganisms, the one that wanted to develop a little further became an animal,

and the one that decided to just live here became a plant.

And among the insects, the one that wanted to grow bigger became a reptile,

and among those, the ones that wanted to fly became birds,

and those that wanted to live on land became mammals,

and those that wanted to live in the water became fish.

And among the mammals, the ones that wanted to become stronger became carnivores,

and among the carnivores, those that harbored the desire to dominate this world became humans—that is what I think.

This is evolution, but I believe that evolution began with aspiration.”

It was slightly different from Darwin's theory of evolution, where the size of the beak changes to adapt to the environment and survive.

Unlike the idea that only those suited to the environment survive,

He had never heard of a story about evolution occurring as a result of one's own efforts to change.

“Someone told me that humanity originated in Africa.

If you believe that is true, how did humans spread across the globe?

Those who adapted to life in Africa likely stayed there.

They must have developed exceptional athletic abilities to enjoy dancing and singing and to survive alongside wild beasts.

Then, some began to move, wondering if there might be a better place.

In the early days, lacking transportation, they likely traveled on foot.

Humans who moved north settled there, believing the environment suited them.

However, to survive in such a harsh environment, they must have started to use their intellect even more.

With little sunlight, their skin turned white, and their noses likely grew larger to block the cold air from entering their nostrils.

And without sunlight, their eyes would have turned blue.”

Min-hyuk began to listen with interest, as if he were studying human history. That could be the case.

“Then, they gradually began to move to the right. Since the left side was the sea and ships hadn't been built yet,

they had no choice but to move on foot. Those who grew tired of walking ended up settling in the Middle East.

They decided that they could simply endure living there with patience, even if the environment was harsh, because they were too lazy to go any further.

However, those who didn't want to live in such a harsh environment must have started walking even further.

Even though they had no idea what lay ahead.

Then, they would encounter the Himalayas.

Some of them must have thought, "This is the end of the world."

But some of them continued walking even further.

And so, they arrived at the end of the world.

That is Korea.

However, although life on Korean soil was wonderful, there must have been romantics who harbored dreams.

They began building ships and likely boarded them to the unknown continent of present-day America.

There, they came to live in harmony with nature. Thus, they became peaceful human beings.

But what about the humans who did not go to that peaceful space? Did it work?

They honed their skills while waging war against each other.

To survive, they had to study and become even more ruthless.

In the case of Korea, constantly fighting near powerful nations fueled a growing craving for information.

That is why countries like Korea and Finland, which fight against neighboring superpowers, developed advanced communications.

That is what I think. Doesn't that sound plausible?”

Min-hyuk nodded, listening with pleasure as if he were hearing an interesting story. It sounded plausible.

“We have further revitalized these humans and advanced humanity to conquer the Earth.

Humans have come to exist at the very top of the power pyramid on this planet.

We will further develop and increase the human population, and before long, we will migrate into space.

It is for the same reason as the Native Americans who built boats and crossed over to unknown new continents in search of better places.

We will build rockets and advance technology to find better places,

and move humanity to find new worlds.

Earth is not our only goal. Our goal is to dominate the entire universe with all of humanity.”

It felt just like a villainous doctor from a science fiction comic book trying to conquer the Earth.

Min-hyuk listened to the story with great amusement. But so what?

“Our organization is distributed across the globe and belongs to various fields.

And each region possesses its own unique characteristics.

We aim to cultivate and retain diverse capabilities by leveraging these individualities.

However, we always need new talent.

That is why, even though I met you for the first time today, I intend to make a proposal to you.

You do not have to decide on this proposal immediately.

However, if you join us, you will achieve all the dreams you desire.

And your contribution to the advancement of humanity will be remembered forever.

Of course, in a record known only to a select few.”

Seo-Hoon took out a document resembling a contract for Min-hyuk.

At the top of the contract was a drawing of two snakes climbing a tree.