Dictator From Outer Space

Chapter 5: First Day At Work

It was a November morning at the Silla Energy Annex Research Center in Pangyo.

Several employees were gawking at a car that had just entered the parking lot as if it were something extraordinary.

“Wow… Someone actually drives that.”

“Do we have a visitor today? There’s no scheduled appointment…”

“Did someone buy it from our lab?”

“Who would’ve adopted that wild boar…”

The car was the newly released SUV Windrunner, produced by Silla Auto.

Its design had received high praise for being quite sleek, and it was equipped with advanced features such as partial autonomous driving.

Despite that, it had garnered negative reviews such as “a car no one wants to drive” and “even Silla Auto executives ignore it.”

It was due to the travel distance of only about 450km.

As of 2025, with the introduction of solid-state batteries, the travel distance of electric vehicles was more important than anything else.

While people didn’t expect it to reach the 700km range like the Japanese electric cars, it had to at least achieve a minimum of 600km to be competitive.

Of course, Japan didn’t readily supply the solid-state batteries they had finally developed to Korea.

As a result, Silla Auto had been going through a tremendous downturn compared to the same period the previous year.

Naturally, criticism was directed at Silla Energy, and the employees felt disheartened.

However, they had their own justifications.

With R&D funds not even reaching 1/100th of other companies, what more could they expect?

Unless they could bring in a genius dropped from the heavens, overcoming the current slump seemed almost impossible.

By the way, who was he?

The employees who arrived at the research center early in the morning were taken aback when they saw someone getting out of the car.

“Wow… He’s like a perfect picture.”

“He looks like a celebrity, a real celebrity.”

“What are they filming here today?”

The man who got out of the car was wearing a blue suit, and he looked so polished that it was worthy of admiration.

As he walked towards the research center, the female employees went crazy.

“Wow, he’s so handsome. Seriously.”

“Ah… I want to date a guy like him…”

“But he looks familiar… Who is he?”

The employees had no idea that the man had transformed into a human three years ago through a vegetative-state. 

His appearance had changed completely due to his altered physique.

As everyone was whispering and raising their heads in curiosity, Dr. Lee Hanjong, the director of the research center, spoke from behind.

“He’s Yu Ji-ha.”

Instantly, silence filled the corridor.

Not only Silla Energy but the cursed name that had turned the entire group upside down had surfaced again.

“Are you sure, Director? It’s that Yu Ji-ha?”

“Ah, Director, you have a good sense of humor. That person is in a vegetative-state right now.”

Director Lee Hanjong, with a gaunt face, leaned against the security bars.

“I received a call from the chairman yesterday. He woke up recently… and he’s coming to work today.”

“This is not just amazing, it’s a disaster…”

“Uh, will the police come here? I really don’t want to be investigated again.”

As a male employee stuttered, everyone shuddered, recalling the nightmare of that day.

Let’s say the drug smuggling was a mere prank, even if we forgive it a hundred times.

But ignoring the summoning spell was completely insane.

As a result, the police stormed into the research center, and Yu Ji-ha, who had been drinking since the morning, was dragged away.

Director Lee Hanjong recalled how the investigators had turned the research center upside down and let out a bitter laugh.

Bringing back the person who caused such a major incident and making him return to work…

“I’m not sure if it’s the chairman’s intention to let him go without cutting the budget.”

The employees shrugged their shoulders.

“If the director is leaving, then we’re like insignificant flies.”

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“We might get to see another exclusive patent from the director. All of you will be fired. Pack your things and leave immediately.”

One employee imitated Yu Ji-ha’s attitude and voice, but no one laughed.

Director Lee Hanjong nodded. 

“You know, since the person has changed, we should at least meet him.”

Soon, Yu Ji-ha came up to the second floor.

The employees, who remembered his face and physique, couldn’t hide their confusion.

Well, if you threaten someone for three years, saying you’ll kill them if they don’t grow their body inside and keep them locked up in a gym, they might end up like that.

But it hadn’t been long since he woke up from being in a vegetative-state…

The employees, whether confused or not, shook hands with Director Yu Ji-ha.

“Teacher, it’s been a long time.”

His words carried a familiar name they hadn’t heard in a long time.

Originally, Lee Hanjong was Yu Ji-ha’s mentor, and during their university days, he was addressed as “teacher.”

It was Yu Ji-ha who had invited him to Silla Energy after he retired from the University. 

However, as Yu Ji-ha became twisted, the relationship between teacher and disciple began to deteriorate.

Lee Hanjong had tried to advise his disciple as a mentor and superior, but he realized that the disciple was not listening to him anymore.

Nevertheless, he still harbored affection for his wayward disciple.

Should he have brought him back or not…

“You look healthy. Can I leave now?”

A shaky voice accompanied the unexpected statement.

The employees held their breath, but Yu Ji-ha remained nonchalant.

How much hardship did he endure because of the original? How would he react in this situation?

It was a matter of gradually making changes.

“I apologize. I was foolish and caused trouble for you, Teacher. I won’t do it again in the future.”

“…”

Lee Hanjong felt a shock as if he had been hit on the back of his head while looking at Yu Ji-ha, who was bowing his head in apology. 

It was extremely rare to find someone who sincerely knew how to apologize. 

And if that person happened to be a third-generation chaebol and once hailed as a genius, it would be even more so. 

However, this incident alone couldn’t mend the serious rift in their relationship. 

For now, let’s observe and see…

“…Well, welcome. Let’s forget about the past… and do well from now on.”

The other researchers didn’t say anything, but the atmosphere was heavy with uneasiness. 

It was probably due to the resurfacing of their dreadful memories from the past. 

Forgetting those memories would require constant effort, but Yu Ji-ha had one effective remedy.

As he exchanged greetings with the researchers, he handed each of them an envelope.

“It’s a small token of apology for all the trouble I’ve caused. I don’t expect this to fully resolve the situation, but it’s a gesture of reflection.”

Upon seeing the thick stack of bills inside the envelopes, everyone silently screamed in astonishment.

However, Lee Hanjong, the director, felt awkward because his envelope seemed to be so thick that it might burst.

“You don’t have to give me something like this…”

“But isn’t expressing sincerity often done with money? This won’t erase my past actions, but anyway, I hope we can work well together from now on.”

As he looked at Yu Ji-ha, who repeatedly bowed his head, Director Lee Hanjong wondered if there might be something else behind this gesture.

“People… Anyway, let’s go inside. You can explain to me how things have changed while you were away.”

The two of them entered the laboratory, and the researchers whispered among themselves.

“It’s amazing how a person can change like that…”

“I hope he won’t revert back to how he was before. That would be a real betrayal.”

“We’ll have to keep an eye on him.”

“But he’s really good-looking… With a well-built body, it felt like we were looking at a celebrity.”

The once-depressed research laboratory was finally bustling with energy.

…

Yu Ji-ha, 32 years old.

Director of the Strategic Development Department at Silla Group Headquarters.

It may seem like a fancy title commonly seen in dramas, but it didn’t hold much meaning in reality.

He didn’t have an office, employees, or even a budget.

There was a reason why the chairman gave him this title, with just a business card as his only possession.

It was to satisfy the original’s vanity.

He was called a genius when he was young, and although he became a bit less exceptional as he grew up, he was still smart.

With his sharp mind, he wanted to interfere in every corner of the group, and he actually did.

Whenever the chairman requested the director’s presence in each subsidiary company, they pretended to listen attentively.

But nothing ever changed.

They treated him like a mere figurehead.

Ignoring the chaebol family was a bit too much, and he couldn’t ruin the company either, so it was a compromise he came up with.

The original realized this and went around the subsidiary companies, causing a scene out of frustration, making the cold gazes towards him even colder.

Therefore, as of 2025, the internal reputation of Yu Ji-ha within the group was not good at all. 

It was even said that it would have been better if he had become a vegetative-state man.

If he lies in bed forever, he can no longer cause any harm to the group.

After going around the subsidiary companies, Yu Ji-ha realized that the entire group despised him.

“They speak politely, but their gazes are cold.”

[I have collected the voice data you requested. There are mostly unfavorable contents. Shall I play it for you?]

[Something like ‘vegetative-state hybrid,’ ‘garbage,’ and ‘why did you wake up from being a vegetative-state?’]

“It’s similar.”

[Fine then.]

Yu Ji-ha let out a bitter smile.

He thought he had just caused a few accidents and ended up in prison, but it was worse than he imagined.

Why did he have a fight with Silla Auto executives and end up with a bruised face?

If he had fought and won, it would have been a different story, but because he took a beating and complained to his father, his evaluation plummeted.

Sitting on the bench, Yu Ji-ha grumbled lightly.

“Where did you manage to find such a guy?”

[I apologize. Master’s condition was not favorable, so I couldn’t be picky. Should I choose another test subject now?]

“No, forget it.”

He exhaled and stretched.

While it was often said that the air quality in Korea was poor, it was still better than Earth in the 2180s at least. 

He didn’t bother wearing an air purifying mask.

“I may not be in the best shape, but Korea as a location is fine. It has a decent scale and technological capabilities…”

Starting with Silla Group, his goal was to build up power and influence to create an independent force.

From that perspective, Korea couldn’t be called the best, but it was not a bad starting point.

[However, there are so many things that need to be fixed. Despite the size of the economy, the birth rate has plummeted to rock bottom, and the unemployment rate is skyrocketing. The term ‘precariat’ is being used to describe the active economic generation in their 20s.]

“What does that mean?”

[It means that all young adults are unemployed.]

“So, the future looks bleak.”

[The national finances are drying up, and the crime rate is soaring. The economic growth rate has significantly slowed down, and it has been lower than much larger countries like the United States and China for quite some time.]

“Not much longer then.”

[In fact, there are often opinions in countries like China and Japan that Korea is done for. And they are trying to expand their influence here.]

Perhaps influenced by these factors, even the US troops stationed in Korea were trying to withdraw.

“They said they would reduce the size of the US troops in Korea by half by 2030, right?”

[Yes. Thanks to that, the stock market has regressed to where it was five years ago. Foreigners have reduced their investments, and it has even affected the real economy.]

“Those things are not important.”

Because Colonel Yu Ji-ha and the Settler had the power to easily reverse all of that.

What’s important is positioning.

“The world will change depending on how I act…”

And the first step in that direction would be Silla Group.

Furthermore, the short-term goal was to encompass the entire Republic of Korea within their sphere of influence and establish an independent power.

What comes after that?

“Are there no more unclaimed lands?”

[Except for the Antarctic region, it seems that most places already have owners. Antarctica is also bound by agreements.]

“If there are none, then we’ll have to create them.”

With the power of the Aether Fusion Reactor unfolding on the Settler, creating an island was not an impossible task. It would take time, of course.

[But for now, it seems you’ll need to recover your tarnished reputation in this place.]

“Well, I suppose so.”

Sitting on the bench, Yu Ji-ha waved his hand to the passing employees. They looked at his face and startled, occasionally quickening their steps.

[Doesn’t it feel like you’re dealing with trash?]

“Trash might be a bit much, more like street dust.”

It was a cruel but sober assessment.

He had to think of it as an opportunity for improvement and make a change.

“Even if I receive a lot of criticism, I’m still not satisfied. Let’s go eat.”

His destination was the company cafeteria.

…

At the Silla Group facility in Pangyo, the sudden appearance of Yu Ji-ha raised suspicions.

They feared what kind of trouble he might cause.

However, he surprisingly behaved well, and even had his meal at the company cafeteria.

People ridiculed his behavior.

–That’s all for show. He’ll probably be wandering around Seoul looking for trendy restaurants in a few days.

–The son of the owner acting humble with the servants.

–Just by looking at him, you can tell he’s a poser. When his secretary prepares his meals, he probably goes around cosplaying as a commoner.

―His manners are so bad that if the food doesn’t suit his taste, he just puts down his chopsticks.

―What crime did the person sitting next to him commit? They can’t even eat their meal in peace.

Such scathing criticisms were posted on Whisper, an anonymous messaging app used by employees.

Because Yu Ji-ha’s past behavior in fights was so well-known, no one dared to defend him even when criticizing him.

And strange posts started appearing on the Silla Group board on Whisper.

―Is it true that he has a picky palate? He eats really well, though.

―I’ve never seen someone eat so well in the company cafeteria. The nutritionist was surprised when they came to ask about the taste and saw that he had finished everything.

―Haha, they must have been perplexed.

―He even cleared his own plate when he left. At first, I thought he was a staff member.

―But wasn’t he so conspicuous because he was so good-looking? At first, I thought they were filming a drama.

―He was much better-looking than the director of the morning drama strategic planning department. He also has a great physique.

―Didn’t they call that director “anchovy”? Where did this talk come from?

―Three years ago, he was definitely at the level of a small fry.

―It’s strange considering he hasn’t been awake for long.

―I had a conversation with Director Yu Ji-ha while eating, and…

―I’m curious too. Tell us what they talked about.

―They probably complained about how awful the food in the company cafeteria is.

―Why would they eat in the company cafeteria?

―I asked, and they said it’s just because it’s nearby.

―Wow…

―That sounds like something straight out of a comic book.

―Well, the company cafeteria is close to the research complex.

―So what? They’ll probably eat and then go around drinking. That habit doesn’t go away.

―I heard from people at the Energy Research Institute that they’re locked up all day doing research.

―I asked the security guard, and he said he saw them at work before he even arrived.

―Now, if you listen to what people are saying, something seems off. Could it be that it’s not the same person?

―Oh, come on…

―You all know, right? People’s character doesn’t change so easily.

―He suffered as a vegetative-state and woke up, so maybe he realized something.

―Well, let’s wait and see. I bet I can wager all my assets on him not lasting a month.

―You’re so confident. If they open their employee ID number, I’ll believe it.

–Someone leaked the employee ID numbers on Whisper. Get a grip, will you?

He was aware that rumors like this were circulating on Whisper, but he wasn’t interested. 

He had more pressing issues to solve at the Shilla Energy Research Institute.