The atmosphere around the government palace was intimidating. The imposing building, a blend of gleaming glass and polished metal, stood as a symbol of authority. Surveillance drones hovered silently above the main entrance, and agents in black uniforms stood guard, ever vigilant.
Jin Kang Soo approached, his demeanor relaxed despite the rigid and controlled environment. His worn jeans and black jacket seemed out of place among the suits and dresses of the bureaucrats and executives flowing into the building. But Jin didn't care. As he neared the security gates, a towering agent stopped him. The man, standing over two meters tall, wore a suspicious glare.
"You there! Stop. Identification, now."
Jin, showing no sign of unease, pulled an ID card from his pocket and handed it over calmly. The agent grabbed it brusquely and scanned it with a handheld device. A green light blinked on the device, signaling that the information was valid. Still, the agent's stern expression didn't soften.
"Kang Soo Jin. Civically registered. No appointment. What's your business here?"
Jin raised an eyebrow, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
"Just a concerned citizen here to share some critical information."
The agent frowned.
"Critical or not, you're not allowed in without authorization. Turn around. Now."
But Jin, unfazed, retrieved his ID card from the agent's hand and stepped aside, deftly bypassing the human barrier.
"Thanks for your diligence. I'll find my way."
The agent, momentarily caught off guard, moved to block his path but hesitated. Something about Jin's demeanor—an intimidating confidence—made him instinctively step back.
Jin strode into the main hall of the palace, a grand space with white marble floors and walls lined with screens displaying statistics, weather reports, and government announcements. At the center of the room stood a circular glass desk manned by a humanoid droid of the latest generation.
The droid, a high-end model with smooth joints and a perfectly modulated voice, scanned Jin as he approached.
"Welcome to the Government Palace, citizen. Please state the purpose of your visit."
Jin leaned casually on the counter, placing his hands on the surface.
"I'm here to talk about the meteorites. You know, the ones threatening to turn your precious territory into rubble."
The droid's luminous eyes flickered briefly.
"Please provide more specifics. Do you possess verified information, or is this a speculative statement?"
"Let's just say what I know could save lives. But if you prefer to call it speculation, I'll let you deal with the fallout."
The droid paused, analyzing the data and assessing the risks. Meanwhile, security agents in the hall, alerted by the exchange, began to approach slowly, their hands resting on their weapon holsters.
Suddenly, the droid responded:
"Your statement activates an emergency protocol. Please wait."
Before Jin could reply, an alarm blared throughout the hall—a piercing siren accompanied by flashing red lights. The screens on the walls changed, displaying a single word: "CODE 38."
The security agents immediately aimed their weapons at Jin. The droid transformed its right arm into a cannon, its previously calm voice now commanding.
"Remain still. Any resistance will be considered a threat to national security."
Jin raised his hands, a mocking smile on his face.
"You call this hospitality?"
A team of agents, evidently more heavily equipped than the first, quickly approached him. One of them, a man with piercing eyes and a discreet earpiece, stopped in front of Jin and murmured something to his superior. The superior nodded before addressing Jin.
"Follow us without resistance."
A blindfold was placed over his eyes, but Jin remained surprisingly calm. Even deprived of sight, his other senses picked up the movements, whispers, and stray thoughts of those around him.
"You're really paranoid," he muttered as he allowed himself to be guided into a special elevator.
"But I guess that's the price of having something to hide."
The elevator descended slowly. Jin could sense the restless thoughts of the agents around him. Why is he so calm? Who is this man?
But Jin was already focused on the next step. This was only the beginning of a much larger game.