The Empire I Create Chapter 4

Chapter 4. From Mokpo to Jeju

With the low rumble of the truck’s engine, Hamin arrived at Mokpo Port. The private cargo ship awaited him at the dock, which, due to the aftereffects of war, was far from its former bustling self. Rusted containers and abandoned shipwrecks dotted the port, and the workers moving about, wearing masks and gas respirators, all bore heavy expressions. Amid these somber surroundings, Hamin watched over his massive truck.

This truck was no ordinary vehicle. It was a mobile fortress carrying all of Hamin’s plans and his last remaining hope for the future. Inside, a modular micro-reactor was installed, augmented by solar-charging technology designed to provide power even under extreme conditions.

Every remaining inch of space was filled with the twelve Optimus units, a large-capacity 3D printer, and a variety of spare supplies Hamin had prepared. The truck itself had been remodeled with bulletproof materials, and its tires were made of puncture-resistant specialty compounds. It even housed equipment capable of demolishing structures, so it could plow through obstacles and forge a path forward.

Looking at this massive truck, Hamin felt a sense of relief. In a world ravaged by war, it was the ultimate means of survival. But now, a new possibility—of journeying back to the past—was altering his plans entirely.

“Could there really be a ‘Silent Gateway’ in Aewol?”

He muttered quietly to himself, recalling his conversations with “Thanos,” the AI system he had poured all his assets and technological expertise into creating. Thanos was an on-device AI system that stored all data and simulations internally, allowing it to function reliably even in unstable communication environments. Most importantly, it formed the foundation for controlling the twelve Optimus units.

He wanted to know if the so-called “Silent Gateway,” located at the coordinates near a warehouse in Aewol on Jeju Island, truly existed. Although he couldn’t be sure, the analysis and data he and Thanos had gathered suggested it was worth trying. And in a world where nuclear annihilation loomed, he had no real choice.

“Better to try something than just wait around for death…”

After loading the truck onto the ship, Hamin ascended to the cabin, quietly gazing out at the sea. The sky was still a heavy, ashen color. No longer a dazzling blue, the ocean’s murky hue was due not only to the overcast skies but also to the toxins and pollution that had seeped deep below the surface.

“Thanos… maybe your reasoning was right, after all.”

He gave a small nod to himself. Thinking about the Avengers character Thanos’s insistence on “balance,” he realized it was no mere fantasy. Seeing how war, violence, and unchecked greed had turned the world into a wasteland, Hamin couldn’t escape the feeling that humanity had chosen the path of its own demise.

Originally, the micro-reactor and the twelve Optimus units had been assembled for survival amid the Third World War, intended to sustain life in a bunker for several years if necessary. But if time travel was now a genuine option, he felt a bit deflated at the thought that such equipment might no longer be needed.

Thanos had already prepared answers for Hamin’s many questions. Hamin asked:

“If we succeed in this time slip, which point in the past should we aim for to have the greatest impact?”

As expected, Thanos replied:

“If you want to return to a Korea where the Industrial Revolution hasn’t begun and kickstart one yourself, it could take at least 60 to 80 years.”

It elaborated: to develop steam engines based on coal, you’d first need to harness windmills or waterwheels for power, then secure coal mining technology. On top of that, laying the groundwork for precision engineering and metalworking would also take time.

Hamin then instructed Thanos to figure out a way to compress that lengthy process into ten years. After a brief silence, Thanos replied:

“It’s an extremely difficult challenge. However, if we fully utilize the resources we have—your micro-reactor, the Optimus units, and 3D printers—there might be a chance.”

“But we still only have a hypothesis that time travel might be possible, and we’re not sure if we can actually bring everything we own with us. If we can, though… maybe we could accomplish an Industrial Revolution in ten years. Even assuming we have enough power and physical force, communication is still the real problem.”

Thanos immediately raised the next critical issue: to successfully ignite an Industrial Revolution, you would need a systematic way to communicate and organize people. Convincing and mobilizing the people of that era would require an effective communication network, and that network was essential to driving social change in the past.

“Yes… it’s an enormous undertaking.”

In this age of despair, even imagining such possibilities gave Hamin a fleeting sense of happiness.

The ship sailed steadily toward Jeju. In the cabin, Hamin double-checked the equipment on the truck and reviewed his plans, silently making a promise to himself:

“If there’s even a 1% chance, I have to take it. After all, global destruction seems inevitable… even if I fail, nothing will change unless I try.”

He resolved to discuss detailed strategies with Thanos once they reached the vicinity of the Aewol warehouse in Jeju. But throughout the voyage, his mind whirled with questions: How would he persuade people in the past? How would he establish communication and secure food supplies? Was it really possible to bring about an Industrial Revolution in just ten years? Filled with both excitement and anxiety, his thoughts ran in circles as Jeju drew closer on the horizon.