Seoul Cyberpunk Story-Chapter 115: Sakamata (1)

One Month Since the Jinlong Incident.

The streets of Northern Babel were still buried in reconstruction.

Debris from collapsed buildings littered the area, and heavy machinery moved busily, erecting the skeletal frames of new structures.

Yet, surprisingly, the expressions of the people walking these streets weren’t as grim as one might expect.

“Livelier than I thought.”

I muttered as I strolled alongside Riley through the northern commercial district.

It was probably because there had been almost no casualties during this crisis.

The material damage was staggering, but as long as people survived, you could always start over.

Plus, the local megacorps were pouring money into the rebuilding efforts.

Maybe that was why the atmosphere felt more vibrant than ever.

“It’s thanks to you, A. I heard from the investigation team—if the Webs had lingered even a little longer, the death toll would've been catastrophic.”

Riley smiled gently as she spoke.

I scratched my head awkwardly.

To be honest, the reason I came here today was pretty simple.

There were rumors about a new pizza hotspot opening up in the north.

It was called Burning Cheese, a strange name, but it was famous for its insanely spicy flavors.

Riley had mentioned she was attending a biotech expo hosted by Kronos Biotech, but deep down, I had a feeling she tagged along for me.

Luckily, the pizza place and the expo hall were close together, so we decided to head over together.

“There it is!”

Riley pointed toward a sign featuring a massive block of cheese... on fire, wearing an agonized expression.

The moment we stepped inside, a sharp, spicy aroma assaulted my senses.

[Spicy smell...]

The kid perched on my shoulder sniffled, already looking worried.

We sat down and opened the menu—there was only one type of pizza.

The only thing you could choose was the level of spiciness.

I ordered the spiciest option. Riley hesitated, then settled on a medium level.

Soon, the pizza arrived.

‘!’

The moment I took a bite, an intense wave of heat swept through my mouth.

The chewy cheese, roasted over open flames, was drenched in crushed pepper and chili oil.

It was fiery yet savory, greasy yet crisp—the dough’s texture struck a perfect balance.

It burned, but there was an addictive, tantalizing quality to the taste.

“Khh...!”

Riley, on the other hand, was tearing up after a single bite, frantically reaching for milk.

She clutched a massive two-liter glass and chugged like her life depended on it. I almost felt bad for her.

[Aahh!]

[It’s spicy!!]

The kids shared a slice of pizza, then dramatically collapsed, rolling on the floor.

A few even fled into the shadows entirely.

Whitey pecked at it a few times before fainting outright.

“Tastes good though...”

I muttered to myself, munching away contentedly.

Maybe my soul was Korean, used to this level of spice?

The large TV mounted inside the restaurant was broadcasting the news.

A serious-looking anchor reported the recent spike in Aberration sightings.

[Over the past month, Aberration appearances have increased by 537% compared to the previous month. Experts have yet to provide an explanation for this unprecedented phenomenon.]

I tilted my head.

I could’ve sworn Nexus Node was supposed to block fear-mongering broadcasts like this?

When I brought it up, Riley, still trying to cool her burning mouth with milk, glanced around and lowered her voice.

“Nexus Node... they don’t have the capacity to manipulate public opinion anymore.”

According to her, Nexus Node had suffered devastating damage during the Jinlong Incident.

There were few casualties, but their most critical asset—their communications infrastructure—was obliterated.

“The Webs wrecked their network hubs and servers completely. They’d have to rebuild everything from scratch.”

Nexus Node had barely maintained its megacorp status after losing their technological edge, thanks only to their monopoly over communications.

But now, even that monopoly was gone.

“So... what happens now?”

“Most likely... Babel Network will take over. Or we’ll see a power struggle between two dominant factions. Paradigm Directive is considering building their own private network for stability.”

The landscape of megacorp power was shifting.

It was rare to hear such candid, internal information. Fascinating stuff.

“You handle spicy food surprisingly well, A.”

Riley remarked in awe.

She was still sipping her milk, struggling to finish even one slice of pizza.

“This is nothing...”

I boasted, grabbing another slice.

It really was delicious—spicy in the best way.

I made a mental note to drag Amber or Scarlett here next time. They’d hate it.

Heh heh...

****

Me, the kids, Riley, and a fainted Whitey headed a few blocks ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ over to the Kronos Biotech Expo Hall.

<Biotech Advanced Technology Expo>

A massive holographic banner decorated the building’s front.

Colorful flowers bloomed near the entrance—but upon closer inspection, they weren’t ordinary flowers.

“Glowing sunflowers?”

“Kronos’ latest creations. Theme is ‘plants specialized for urban environments’.”

Some flowers replaced conventional lighting, glowing softly. Others purified pollutants from the air, spreading a faint, pleasant scent.

We reached the reception desk. Riley presented her ID, and a staff member rushed over, personally escorting us.

Despite being the future head of a yet-to-be-built research facility, Riley clearly held significant status.

The staff member recognized me but seemed briefed beforehand, awkwardly pretending I didn’t exist.

“Ms. Riley! We’ve prepared a special tour just for you. This way, please...”

We followed the VIP course.

The first exhibit showcased plants and animals restored from extinction during the Great Convergence.

“Island Glow Trees, Geumgang Lantern Flowers, Hallasan Cottonroses...”

The guide rattled off names, but honestly, I didn’t recognize a single one.

Most had Korean names—a lingering remnant from when Korea vanished during the Great Convergence.

No dinosaurs?

I hoped, but disappointingly, there were no giant, adorable prehistoric reptiles in sight.

Hmph.

We passed through various exhibits until we reached the pride of Kronos Biotech—the Kronos Tree.

“This is the true hero behind stopping the Webs during the Jinlong Incident.”

The guide proudly gestured toward... a surprisingly tiny tree.

A small sapling, its leaves tinged deep navy blue, sat in a modest flowerpot.

At first glance, it looked like a typical ornamental plant.

That’s on par with Paradigm Directive’s Shadow tech?

It was hard to believe this little thing was comparable to massive robots deploying particle cannons and barrier fields.

But the guide’s explanation made it clear.

“The Kronos Tree manipulates an area humanity has yet to fully understand—Time. During the Jinlong Incident, it reversed time to delay the Webs’ corrosion.”

Time manipulation?

And by this tiny tree?

“You’re welcome to try it yourself. But...”

The guide's expression grew serious.

“It requires significant mental fortitude. Most civilians struggle with even basic control. Please, don’t overexert yourself.”

Riley tried first.

She focused on the tree. A faint navy glow rippled around it.

She managed to lift a fallen water bottle upright, but quickly clutched her forehead, swaying.

“You okay?”

“Yeah... but it’s exhausting.”

My turn came.

The moment I faced the tree, an odd sensation washed over me.

Time’s flow felt tangible, slipping through my fingers—a surprisingly familiar feeling.

It’s... similar to when the Black Giant grasped time itself...

The only real difference was scale and finesse.

The Black Giant’s power crushed space-time with brute force—this tree, however, manipulated time's threads delicately, with precision.

Returning objects to their original state was effortless.

Spilled water flowed back into the cup, muddy water turned clear.

It was as natural as rewinding a video.

‘!!!’

The guide gasped.

Most participants barely managed to reverse a few seconds—I was casually manipulating minutes.

A mischievous idea struck me.

I bought a milk pudding from a nearby stand, a favorite among the kids.

Then I called over one curious child.

“Wanna play a game?”

[A game?]

The kid’s eyes sparkled.

“Stand on this red tile for ten seconds, and I’ll give you the pudding. Sound good?”

[Pudding?]

The child tilted their head in confusion, but after realizing pudding was involved, nodded eagerly.

[Okay!]

The child hopped onto the red tile, counting with their fingers.

[Ten!]

[Nine!]

[Eight!]

Three seconds in, I activated the Kronos Tree’s power.

Time rewound—the child’s movements reversed, landing them outside the tile.

“Huh? Off the tile already? Guess you don’t want pudding.”

[!!!!]

The child checked their position in disbelief.

They had been standing on the tile, but somehow were outside of it.

[Nooo!]

The kid slumped to the floor, looking utterly devastated.

Like someone had stolen the pizza they stashed in the fridge for later.

I felt a pang of guilt—memories of Agwi stealing pizza resurfaced.

I handed the pudding to the child.

Their face lit up like the clouds parting after a storm, and they eagerly broke the pudding in half.

[Let’s share!]

“Thanks.”

We shared the pudding, laughing together.

The other kids swarmed over, each taking a bite.

Amid the cheerful mood, the expo tour came to an end.

By the time we stepped outside, the sun had set.

“Today was fun.”

Riley smiled.

“Me too.”

Just then, a deafening roar lit up the night sky.

Massive shadows crossed above the city.

“What... is that?”

The sky was filled with battleships.

Dozens—no, hundreds—of colossal vessels.

All bore the same logo.

Sakamata Heavy Industries.

An enormous fleet moved in unison, as if heading for war.

“Why... so many ships...”

Even Riley’s voice trembled with unease.

I frowned, eyes fixed on the disappearing fleet.

A creeping sense of foreboding gnawed at my chest.