In the Tera Group headquarters lobby stood a massive 18-meter-tall combat robot built for a human operator—so tall it nearly scraped the glass ceiling. At the reception desk, Mika slouched forward, handing over her ID.
“I’m Mika Yoon from Shocking News. I’d like to meet the chairman regarding the murder of the Tera Motors union leader. Would that be possible?”
The receptionist robot was polite.
“A meeting can be arranged. Please specify your preferred time.”
Considering the sensitivity of the topic—and the fact that she had barged in unannounced—Mika found it hard to believe.
“It’s possible to meet the chairman?”
She glanced at the Korea clock behind the receptionist. Several clocks showing times of major cities were mounted above the desk.
“As it happens, I am available right now.”
The receptionist robot smiled.
“Very well. I will guide you immediately.”
Following the robot, Mika stepped into the elevator. It pressed the button for the 63rd floor. Mika felt tense, but she cleared her throat as if nothing showed.
Whump—
A pressure shift struck her ears. The elevator rocketed upward.
Two seconds later—Ding.
The doors parted. The robot gestured.
“This way.”
It opened the heavy office doors and left after a courteous bow. Mika stepped inside. The chairman’s office was indeed spacious and imposing, fitting for Tera Group.
“Welcome, Ms. Mika Yoon.”
Mika looked up—and froze. Slight disappointment flickered across her face. Before her was a smiling hologram of the Tera Group chairman, a silver-haired white man in his fifties.
“I apologize for the hologram. I’m actually at our New York branch at the moment.”
Mika deliberately pulled out a business card and held it out.
“Yes. Hello. I’m Mika Yoon from Shocking News.”
To her shock, the hologram’s hand appeared to accept the card—except the card instantly scanned and disintegrated into particles by the hologram’s laser. Startled, Mika stepped back.
“Where is the real chairman? Are you truly in New York?”
“The real one… is everywhere.”
The hologram chairman gestured to the sofa.
“Please, have a seat.”
Mika sat on the luxurious sofa. Behind the hologram, multiple volumetric AR data projections appeared—just as vivid as the chairman himself.
“The global robot market has already surpassed 167 billion dollars. It has maintained an annual growth rate of over 9%, and by 2050, the market will be divided into 32% personal-use robots, 28% industrial robots, 25% commercial robots, and 15% military robots. Many manufacturers are installing and operating large numbers of robots to reduce labor costs, and recently, even high-function low-cost robots have emerged.”
The chairman began with a briefing on market growth. But Mika had no interest in robot market expansion.
“How do you view the occupation strike at Tera Motors Plant 2, which opposes the deployment of humanoid robots? And are you aware that the union leader was murdered three days ago?”
The chairman’s holographic expression grew solemn.
“Of course I am aware. And of the police robot destruction incident as well. We hope these events will be resolved safely. However, the scheduled deployment of fifty humanoid production robots on July 1 will proceed as planned.”
“So you’re pushing ahead despite opposition?”
The hologram chairman gave a troubled look.
“These incidents are deeply regrettable, but we will continue robot deployment within the boundaries permitted by law.”
Mika immediately followed up.
“There is a claim that the union leader’s death was a warning message. A hanging indicates a warning—‘Don’t interfere, or you die too.’”
The chairman appeared worried, though with a hologram it was impossible to read genuine emotion.
“We deeply regret the death of union leader Incheol Jo. The company has promised full support to the bereaved family.”
“There is also a claim that the killer was a robot.”
The chairman looked taken aback.
“A robot? That is impossible.”
Mika activated the display on her iWatch, projecting volumetric evidence into the air.
“Someone had deleted the CCTV footage from the scene, but once it was restored, police robot Pluto — manufactured by Rainbow — was clearly seen transporting the body to the crane. If it is proven that a robot killed a human, Rainbow, the manufacturer, would be forced to halt production worth 23 billion dollars — an unprecedented catastrophe.”
Rainbow’s largest shareholder was Tera Group. A blow to Rainbow was a direct blow to Tera. The chairman’s expression subtly distorted.
Leave a Reply