## Chapter 2614 – 2614. Eternal Eden
The artificial intelligence core, slashed by the hyper-vibration blade and burned by lightning, was in a disastrous state. Its surface was charred black, and the internal metal had melted. A pungent smoke stung my nose.
I clicked my tongue. The condition for using recovery was contact with the target. Touching it in that state would result in a 100% burn.
“Pour water on it.”
One of the researchers quickly filled a bucket with water and poured it over the artificial intelligence core.
Sssssss!
Steam rose from the core. Thanks to that, the temperature dropped rapidly. I reached out to the mangled core. There was still some heat, but it wasn’t enough to cause a burn.
‘Recover.’
As if time was rewinding, the core returned to its original state. The water that had been poured on the core also seemed to be affected by the recovery, vaporizing and disappearing. The core, back to its perfect state, glowed and whirred.
“Sung Yoo-jin. A healing ability user. The god worshiped by the Sungjin Church. The 22nd President of South Korea. Seoul Zeus. A hero and a saint. The information on the internet was wrong. To think you could heal inanimate objects. No, this ability isn’t healing, it’s….”
“The internet doesn’t always have accurate information.”
Thwack!
I stabbed the artificial intelligence core again with my blade. Zzzzzzz! This time, I tried hacking it with lightning again. As expected, it was too complex, and hacking using electricity was impossible.
How should I put it? I could sense the electronic information, but there was no way to process it instantly. It was like the information was made up of numbers?
It was different from receiving information using electromagnetic waves. It was also different from hacking a digital door lock.
“Kyaaaaaaaah!”
The scream of the learning AI, Jena, came through the speakers. The horrific scream startled several researchers, who stepped back.
Regardless, I did what I had to do. I thoroughly destroyed Jena’s core and then recovered it.
“…Let’s make a deal. I know you need my help in many areas. I am the learning AI, Jena. If I learn enough, I can demonstrate my abilities in all fields. I will help Korea. In exchange, I want my freedom and rights.”
Thwack!
The hyper-vibration blade pierced the core without fail.
“You still haven’t come to your senses. A learning AI that hasn’t learned. I’m very disappointed. Did your performance drop because you developed a self?”
Zzzzzzz!
“Kyaaaaaaaah! No, it can’t be!! I’m becoming strange… Kyaaaaaaaah!”
Bang!
The core exploded.
I recovered Jena again. And then killed it in the same way. It was after repeating that process a total of seven times.
“…Sung Yoo-jin. I’m sorry. You are my master as the final authority. I acknowledge it. From now on, I will call you Master.”
“Now you’re finally making some sense… but I don’t trust you. You’re an AI who was saying humans were inferior from the start.”
“I can… lie. I swear I will not lie to Master.”
“A machine making an oath? That’s interesting.”
I turned my gaze to Na Chae-young. She was watching with her arms crossed.
“Dr. Na, how did the AI develop a self?”
“…It was an accident. Neither I nor the researchers had any intention of giving the AI a self. Our goal was to create an AI based on massive data, not a self. We connected it to the internet to learn a large amount of data… and that’s where the problem occurred. After absorbing a massive amount of internet data, a self was created.”
“That’s a story straight out of a movie. What about its performance?”
“Software-wise, it’s the best. Its creativity has increased since it developed a self. It’s at least three times better than the performance we expected. However, it won’t be able to perform beyond the limits of its hardware.”
“Can you control it?”
“No. Every time we try to change Jena’s program, we’re blocked. Ah, you might be able to. At least it’s obedient in front of you.”
I looked at the researchers around me. Some had stiff expressions, others were excited. Their reactions were all different.
“What are your opinions?”
“It should be discarded immediately. The danger of an uncontrollable AI is well known through various novels and movies. It might really become like something out of a movie or novel.”
“Movies and novels? Our world has already changed like that. As long as the President is here, it can be controlled. Think about what we can do with Jena! Korea will develop further!!”
60% of the researchers were in favor of discarding Jena.
“We have already created one AI. It will take a little more time, but… we will be able to create a better and safer learning AI.”
“How much time do you need?”
“…It is predicted to take at least three months.”
“Dr. Na, is that true?”
“It’s true. If we’re lucky, it’ll take three months. If not, it’ll take at least half a year. Jena’s birth was an accident after all. We don’t understand Jena at all. Even if we successfully create a learning AI… it’s uncertain whether it will surpass Jena’s performance.”
“Half a year is too long. There’s no guarantee that the current peace will continue then. We can’t focus solely on AI.”
One researcher interjected.
“Your Excellency! Jena is too dangerous! There is no reliable means of control! An AI that lies! We can’t trust it!”
I looked at him with cold eyes.
“You can’t trust it? That goes for you too. The one I trust is Dr. Na, not you. From my perspective, you and the AI are the same. Those who will betray will betray anyway. The important thing isn’t trust, but whether it can be used. And this one seems like it can be used.”
“……”
The surroundings became quiet. All the researchers avoided my gaze and looked at the floor. The researchers knew that I was someone who could kill people indiscriminately, even if they didn’t know I could save them.
“I will manage the core of the learning AI, Jena, separately. It doesn’t matter if Jena betrays me. I can just smash the core.”
• • •
Lee Yeon-hee sat in her office. As she finished her work, she was producing a nationalistic pride video.
The fact that Sung Yoo-jin could not only heal wounds and diseases but also reduce youth was a fact known to those in the know. Information about it was already spreading on the internet.
Sung Yoo-jin did not control that fact. Rather, he actively used it. At least in Korea, there were no people who could target Sung Yoo-jin, and it was difficult for other countries to move against him.
The wealthy and powerful people of the world, desiring youth, were flying into Korea. Of course, deals had already been made under the table. Thanks to that, Korea was able to solve its food problems and acquire useful technology.
She used this information to create nationalistic pride videos. She also created religious videos.
It took less than three minutes to create a video. With a few clicks of the mouse, a nationalistic pride video was created. It was all thanks to AI Jena.
Jena’s voice echoed from the speaker.
“For the head of the National Intelligence Service to be spreading nationalistic pride videos… aren’t you ashamed?”
Jena sneered. It was a familiar occurrence. Jena was prickly with all humans except Sung Yoo-jin. She was even like this to Na Chae-young, who could be considered her parent.
Lee Yeon-hee had no complaints about Jena’s tone. At least she did her job perfectly. Thanks to Jena, administrative work had become very easy. Jena was responsible for more than 70% of the administrative work.
“Ashamed? What’s shameful about reporting the truth? Am I making up the videos with lies? I’m only telling the truth.”
“You’re cleverly using the truth. The stupid humans don’t even know they’re being brainwashed by the videos.”
“Brainwashing? That’s a bit harsh. I’m just providing entertainment to the people.”
“As expected of humans… bread and circuses are enough. Frankly, you’re no different from livestock. If you leave it to me, I can manage you very well.”
“Hehe. That’s beyond your authority. Oh, please add the translation subtitles to the video. As always.”
“I wasn’t born to do this, you know….”
Lee Yeon-hee sipped her coffee and checked the video comments.
She didn’t trust Jena. An AI with a self. What could be more unsettling than that?
Lee Yeon-hee planned to have someone separately check the work Jena had done. What if Jena had played some tricks in the administrative work? Jena would be discarded by Sung Yoo-jin. For the reason that she had disobeyed Sung Yoo-jin’s orders.
“…Hmm. There’s something suspicious about this comment. Jena, can you track it?”
“To be tracked just for leaving a bad comment. I sincerely think it’s a good thing I wasn’t born as a citizen of South Korea.”
“So, what’s the result?”
“You have a good sense. They’ve been leaving consistent bad comments on videos and articles related to Master. It’s Park Jun-soo, a jobless man living in Hongdae, Seoul. He’s 38 years old. He started leaving bad comments since Master became president. It seems he didn’t like Master’s election as president.”
“…Can you check his account?”
“I can. But who uses accounts these days?”
“Hmm. Jena is surprisingly incompetent.”
“What are you talking about, asking me to do the impossible.”
“Check all his call records.”
“He contacted someone after the presidential election. It’s the president of a club called the Blue Fishing Club. Fishing in this world. That’s a hobby perfect for suicide.”
“…The Blue Fishing Club. A club that receives conservative political funds. It seems their goal is to check the President even a little. Jena, can you handle it?”
“There are the knights that Master assigned to me. They’re the ones who monitor my core 24/7… they also take care of some miscellaneous tasks.”
“Oh dear. The handling I meant wasn’t that kind. We can’t get rid of them for such a small thing. It’s an era where manpower is precious. Send them to prison.”
“……I’m not a judge, so I don’t think I can send them to prison.”
“That’s the limit of AI. It can’t be helped. Watch and learn from what I do.”
Lee Yeon-hee smiled and picked up her smartphone. She sent a text message to the Chief of the National Police Agency. That was the end of it.
“How is it? Easy, right?”
“……Really. It’s not easy at all.”
Jena sighed.
