episode_0001

Seoul, 2059.

“The government must guarantee the right to life for citizens! Guarantee it!”

“Apply medical insurance for !”

“People without it live up to 80 years. Those with it live up to 280 years. Does that make sense?”

“Free BD200 vaccination! Free BD200 vaccination! Free BD200 vaccination!”

The streets were blocked due to the protest.

A mid-sized sedan came to a halt.

“Sir, it seems we won’t be able to move from here due to the protest.”

Kim, the secretary in the driver’s seat, said as she turned off the autopilot.

“Did it start earlier than scheduled?”

A man in his late twenties leaned forward from the back seat.

His gaze met Kim’s businesslike eyes through the rearview mirror.

The man spoke up.

“What do you think, Secretary Kim? Any solutions? Should I calculate the cost of walking?”

“Why not walk?”

“It’s about 300 meters.”

Han-seok grumbled after checking the map on his phone.

Under his shirt, broad shoulders and solid muscles were faintly visible.

“You should be fine walking that distance.”

Kim turned around.

Her white shirt underneath the black suit was stretched tight, revealing the volume inside.

A glimpse of a sky-blue bra showed through the gap in the buttons.

“Sky-blue?”

Han-seok remarked while looking at Kim’s chest.

She, flustered, adjusted her clothes.

“Is that sexual harassment?”

“Is it a set, top and bottom?”

Kim pursed her glossy pink lips, a displeased expression forming.

Observing the protest march, Han-seok said, “We should head to Gwanghwamun instead of staying here.”

“Probably because there are many people who have received BD in this area. They might feel uncomfortable.”

“Are there many who haven’t received it? What do the statistics say?”

“Only 6% like you have taken BD200, and 48% like me have taken BD40 at least once.”

“How much was it at once? 1 billion?”

“BD200 costs 1 billion. BD40 is 200 million.”

“It’s gotten cheaper. It’s worth it for extending lifespan by 200 years and rejuvenation. It was 2 billion ten years ago when I took it.”

“Excuse me, but how old are you this year?”

“47. In 2029, I was only 17 years old, time flies. Still hard to believe. It’s awkward not knowing each other’s ages.”

“Oh, you look so young that I forgot your age.”

“You seem to be getting more eloquent working with me. After taking BD40, have you become prettier? Your skin too.”

“I’m originally young and pretty at 22.”

“Well, you can say that. I’ll get off here. I’ll just check a few buildings around here and head back. If I’m late, just leave.”

“Yes, I’ll return to the office.”

As Han-seok was about to get out of the car, he turned around.

“Oh, Secretary Kim.”

Kim, starting the autopilot, turned her head.

“Yes?”

“Could you show a bit of cleavage before you go?”

Kim bit her lip.

“Sir?”

“Just kidding.”

Han-seok got out of the car.

Along the main road stood buildings that seemed to stretch endlessly when one had to crane their neck to see the tops.

Tap. Tap.

He turned at the sound of tapping on the window.

His eyes met Kim’s inside the car.

She bit her lower lip and turned slightly.

With a button undone on her white shirt, Kim pulled it to reveal a sky-blue bra.

Seeing her firm upper chest and deep cleavage, Han-seok couldn’t help but smile.

She quickly composed herself and buttoned up her shirt.

Subsequently, the sedan made a U-turn and drove away.

“Let’s go.”

Han-seok put his hands in his pockets and started walking through the high-rise building forest.

###############################

Upon entering the building after a 300m walk, he immediately encountered an elderly man in his 70s wearing a stained work uniform with gray hair.

Even the tools he held looked worn out, as if he needed to take BD.

The man was the electrical safety manager hired by Han-seok for the building.

He nodded as he saw Hanseok.

“Boss.”

“Sir, how have you been? Where are you going?”

The old man pointed upwards with his finger.

“There’s a power outage at the bank on the second floor.”

“Oh, is that so?”

“They said it’s in the manager’s office, so it shouldn’t affect operations.”

“Well, it’s an old building. If the construction looks like it might get bigger, then contact the place I gave you the number for when that happens, and I’ll come to fix it.”

“Yes, yes. Understood.”

“Didn’t I give you a new toolbox last time?”

“I’ve gotten used to this one.”

Hanseok nodded.

“Well then, I’ll go up and take a look.”

“Just a moment. Let’s go together.”

“Excuse me?”

“I’ve never been inside the bank after coming in. I want to show my face a bit. If you need help, I can assist.”

“Haha. You shouldn’t help. It’s my job. How would an old man like me make a living?”

“Is that so? I’m sorry. I was short-sighted. Let’s go together for now.”

The two went up to the second floor through the stairs.

Ding-dong-

“Customer at counter 212.”

The inside of the bank was neat and quiet.

A bank security guard approached with a vigilant expression.

“How may I help you?”

“The power went out in the manager’s office,” Hanseok said.

The guard pointed to the location of the manager’s office with his hand.

As Hanseok and the old man moved, a sharp-eyed employee let them in.

“Is the manager inside?”

“Yes.”

The employee politely knocked on the glass door of the manager’s office.

“Yeah.”

Upon hearing a sound from inside, the employee opened the door.

A man in his early forties wearing glasses looked up from his phone.

“You’re here to fix the electricity.”

“Yeah, that’s right. Go ahead and report. Please come in.”

The employee returned to his seat, and Hanseok and the old man entered the manager’s office.

The ceiling lights flickered.

“The lights are like this. There’s no one among the staff who can handle it.”

The old man nodded.

Despite the power outage, it wasn’t due to a faulty outlet wire; it was simply a matter of replacing the stabilizer.

Beside him, Hanseok stood absent-mindedly as if lost in thought.

“It was just as the intelligence agents had investigated.”

The old man told Hanseok.

“Just a moment downstairs…”

“Yes, yes.”

Hanseok snapped back to attention and nodded.

The old man left, and the manager turned back to his phone.

Hanseok swallowed hard.

– Who asked you to study? Damn it.

Thud.

A chilly memory surfaced at the back of his head.

“Han Dongjin.”

The name sprang from Hanseok’s lips. The desk plaque read [Baekjin Bank Gangnam Branch Manager Han Dongjin].

The manager raised his head abruptly.

For a moment, the two stared at each other in silence.

The lights flickered.

As Han Dongjin gazed at Hanseok, his mouth slowly opened, muttering as if he had seen a ghost.

“Han Hanseok…”

He sprang up from the sofa.

“Dongjin, it’s you, right?”

A smile crept onto Hanseok’s lips.

“Oh, yeah. Hey. Nice to see you. Come, sit down.”

Flustered, Dongjin gestured towards the sofa opposite Hanseok.

The two sat facing each other.

“Wow, I almost didn’t recognize you. A branch manager? Did you hit BD40? You don’t look that old.”

His former ‘friend,’ who appeared to be in his late twenties, marveled at himself, who was undeniably in his forties.

“Oh… Uh, did you hit BD200? You look the same.”

“No, no. I also hit 40. I was always good at bluffing.”

“Oh…”

Tension eased from Dongjin’s face.

To hit BD200, you’d need about 1 billion won in liquid assets immediately available, and as Dongjin, he didn’t want to accept that Hanseok had succeeded to that extent.

With an awkward expression, Hanseok spoke.

“How could I hit 200 while managing building facilities? I even took out a loan to hit 40.”

“I see. You work here. Why didn’t I see you before?”

“I haven’t been here for long. I’m just doing part-time work as a security guard, so there are times when I’m not around. By the way, wow. You’ve succeeded. Becoming the branch manager of Baekjin Bank.”

“What? Even though I was just average in studying, my quick thinking was good enough. I’ve been getting by with my wits.”

Now, Dongjin’s face and posture were overflowing with ease.

There was a moment of silence. Silence descended upon the manager’s office.

Dongjin, who had been tapping his fingers on the chair, smiled and spoke up.

“But hey, Hanseok, weren’t you good at studying?”

It was a collaboration of slight insult and intentional mockery questioning how someone who was good at studying ended up working in facility management.

Hanseok scratched his chin and leaned back on the sofa.

“You remember, right? I dropped out because of you and your gang. Don’t you… remember?”

Dongjin shook his head as if it was nothing and said, “Oh, you dropped out… right, right. I remember now. Yeah. How have you been?”

“What should I say if you ask how I’ve been…”

After dropping out, Hanseok took the GED exam, got into college to major in Chemistry, and then went to Harvard for a dual major in Chemistry and Computer Science, graduating from both programs with a combined master’s and Ph.D. in 5 years.

He then founded a pharmaceutical company named . His first product, a male contraceptive pill called EX69, became a huge hit, selling like crazy and earning him more money than he could have imagined.

After nurturing Milestone for 20 years, he sold it to a renowned pharmaceutical company in Northern Europe, sorted out his shares with co-founders, and ended up with over a trillion won in his pocket.

By keeping a low profile in the media, no one knew who he was, but he became a wealthy man beyond imagination.

He diversified his assets worldwide. About a year ago, he returned to Korea, started a small company, and purchased dozens of buildings in the Gangnam area of Seoul at rock-bottom prices.

The building where the Baekjin Bank Gangnam branch recently relocated was also owned by Hanseok.

A faint smile spread across Dongjin’s lips. Hanseok scratched his head and spoke up.

“Just… trying this and that didn’t work out well. So, I’m studying for an electrical certification. Thinking about becoming a technician or something.”

Hanseok marveled at his spontaneous lie that came out. His acting skills were quite impressive.

Dongjin crossed his legs and nodded.

“Yeah. Since you were good at studying, you’ll do well.”

Hanseok took out his phone.

“Hey, can you give me your number?”

Dongjin looked between the phone and Hanseok for a moment before shifting his heavy body.

“Sure.”

He entered his number into Hanseok’s phone, and as Hanseok made the call, Dongjin’s phone rang.

A text message appeared: [Han Dongjin] has been added.

His profile picture featured a photo of the popular idol Han Yuna these days.

‘Just as the investigation revealed. Seems like Dongjin is this guy’s daughter. Wow, look at those genes popping.’

Prominent features wherever she goes. Slim arms and legs. Striking chest and hips.

‘Should I just reveal here that he’s a landlord and start a fuss about how this guy was involved in school violence?’

Hanseok stood up from his seat.