The Empire I Create Chapter 3

Chapter 3. The Coordinates, and the Path of Choice

An old monitor flickered on, revealing a map. As Hamin repeatedly checked the coordinates and compared them with possible place names, he finally caught a clue: “Aewol Warehouse.” It was located near Aewol Beach on Jeju Island, a place once bustling with tourists.

“Who would’ve guessed a time-slip gateway might be hidden out there…”
He spoke to himself, letting out a faint laugh. The year was 2030, and the world lay in ruins under the weight of war and environmental devastation. Yet even in this bleak reality, a single set of coordinates ignited a final spark of hope within him.

Hamin had a rather unique asset—one that originated with Bitcoin. Ever since he was a child, he believed, “There’s nothing computers can’t do,” and he immersed himself in both hardware and software. Along with his father, he had his eyes on Bitcoin from the very beginning. Then, as if by destiny, right after the news broke of Trump’s election in 2024, they converted all their Bitcoin to U.S. dollars. This left them with a staggering amount of dollar assets—far more than any individual could easily handle. Thanks to that windfall, Hamin invested heavily in AI and hacking technologies, set up his own private research lab, and even purchased AI-equipped Optimus units for experimental purposes. Later, he was recruited by a U.S. CIA AI research institute, where he spent a few years gaining insight into American and Korean AI resources.

By 2030, Hamin had acquired no fewer than twelve new-model Optimus units, along with spare parts. These robots were special editions that could be upgraded to support firepower on par with a small military base.

“Even if war breaks out or the climate collapses, these twelve machines should at least keep me safe.”
He would sometimes joke about it, but deep down, he had far grander ambitions: with these robots, he intended either to pioneer a new future amid the ruins or, better yet, use what he’d learned about time-slip experiments at the CIA lab to return to the past and build a better world.

He had also managed to secure a small nuclear reactor—a 5 MWe modular reactor the U.S. Department of Defense had been testing, obtained through secret channels under the guise of “industrial use.” With enough power to run a large cruise vessel for five months, he believed it would be more than sufficient for managing war situations or launching major projects in the future.
He housed the reactor in a special case, loaded it onto a large truck, and packed that truck with a high-performance data storage system for AI operations, laptops and tablets, weapon components for his Optimus units, a large-scale 3D printer and materials, as well as various medical supplies. The idea was to create a mobile bunker robust enough to survive a nuclear war or any other catastrophe.

Now all the preparations were in place. Through a chartered cargo ship docked in Mokpo, Hamin intended to transport his truck, equipment, and robots to Jeju Island. He was fortunate simply to find a cargo ship in the midst of ongoing conflict. Outwardly, he might look like a “high-roller” or an eccentric investor. But with his financial resources, AI, weaponry, and a nuclear reactor, he could potentially overwhelm a small facility if he chose to.

Hamin glanced out the truck window at the desolate cityscape. People in gas masks still dotted the streets, and several military vehicles cast dark shadows. Yet he knew this place, too, might soon meet its inevitable end.

What kind of unknown path would he find at that Aewol warehouse? Could he really return to the past and prevent this catastrophe? As the truck’s engine rumbled softly, Hamin muttered as though steeling himself,

“Jeju Island… It might just be the final battleground.”

Then he gave an order to his AI, “Thanos,” loaded onto the truck.

“Destination: Mokpo Port.”

The truck, in autonomous driving mode, rumbled over the rubble-strewn roads toward Mokpo. Gripping the clue that could lead him back through time, Hamin made his way to a new stage. Merely waiting for death amid the constant fear of war didn’t suit him. If there was a chance—no matter how slim—he was going to seize it.