October 30-31, 2005
Day 14-15 of Ascension
---
October 30 (Sunday)
07:00 AM, Final Preparations
The orphanage woke to tension thick enough to taste. Director Kim moved through the halls like a ghost, checking corners, straightening pictures that were already straight.
Je-hoon dressed with particular care—his cleanest uniform, shoes polished. He had three objectives today:
1. Survive the inspection without exposing his knowledge
2. Observe the inspectors' methodology
3. Decide what to do with the evidence
At breakfast, Cook Lee served an unusually generous portion—an extra slice of egg roll, larger bowl of rice. Bribing through nutrition.
"Eat well," Cook Lee muttered to Je-hoon. "Long day."
Tae-woo leaned close. "My cousin at East Orphanage said their inspection last month... they failed. Three staff fired. Kids relocated."
"Relocated where?"
"Different facilities. Split up."
Je-hoon calculated: if Blue Bird failed, his network—built painstakingly over two weeks—would shatter. Tutorships, vending routes, electronics repair—all dependent on his location stability.
The stakes were personal now.
---
09:00 AM, The Arrival
Two inspectors arrived precisely on time. A man and a woman in conservative suits, carrying clipboards and serious expressions.
Mr. Choi, early 40s, sharp-eyed, moved efficiently.
Ms. Park, late 30s, warmer but equally observant.
Director Kim greeted them with excessive bows. "Welcome to Blue Bird. We're prepared for your review."
Mr. Choi's eyes swept the entryway. "We'll begin with facilities. Unannounced areas only, please."
A clever tactic—inspecting places not prepared for show.
They toured dormitories first. Je-hoon watched from the library doorway as they:
· Checked bedding thickness (minimum standards)
· Measured room temperatures (18°C, acceptable)
· Examined bathroom cleanliness (marginal)
· Asked random children about meal frequency (three times daily, confirmed)
Ms. Park noticed Je-hoon. "You're reading medical texts?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"Advanced for your age."
"Curiosity."
She smiled, moved on. But she noted something on her clipboard.
---
10:30 AM, The Financial Review
The inspectors moved to the administrative wing. Director Kim's anxiety spiked visibly.
Je-hoon, under pretext of returning a book to the library, positioned himself within earshot of the cracked office door.
"...these maintenance contracts seem high," Mr. Choi was saying.
"Quality equipment requires quality service," Director Kim defended, voice tight.
"And these donations from Moon Vending Services—consistent monthly amounts. Unusual for a business."
"Mr. Moon is... philanthropically minded."
"Yet you pay him triple the market rate for vending machines. Circular funding?"
Silence. Then Director Kim: "I trust my accountant handled those details. Sadly, he passed recently."
"A convenient tragedy," Mr. Choi said dryly.
Je-hoon moved away before being noticed. The inspectors were sharp. They'd identified the irregularities.
---
13:00 PM, The Student Interviews
Children were called individually to the meeting room. Je-hoon's turn came at 13:47.
The room held only Ms. Park. She gestured to a chair. "Relax, Je-hoon. This is just conversation."
He sat, posture straight but not rigid.
"You're the one they call 'Genius of the Century,'" she began.
"A nickname. Exaggerated."
"Your test scores suggest otherwise." She consulted notes. "Top percentile nationally. Reading university-level texts. Yet you live here."
"Education is accessible through public libraries."
"True." She leaned forward. "How are conditions here? Honestly."
Je-hoon calculated response paths:
A: Complete honesty - Expose deficiencies, risk orphanage closure.
B: Complete fabrication - Risk credibility if evidence contradicts.
C: Selective truth with strategic omissions - Optimal.
"Food is adequate," he said. "Three meals daily. Nutritional balance could be improved—more protein, less carbohydrate—but within standards."
"Medical care?"
"Basic first aid available. More serious cases go to clinic."
"Staff treatment?"
"Varies. Some are kind. Some are... stressed by funding constraints."
Ms. Park noted this. "Funding is a problem?"
"The director canceled weekend outings and movie nights. Prioritizing essentials."
A factual statement that implied financial strain without alleging misconduct.
"Are you safe here?"
"Yes."
"Any concerns? Anything you'd change?"
Je-hoon paused. This was the leverage point. "The library needs updating. Books from the 1970s. Current science texts would benefit all children."
A reasonable request that made him appear constructive, not complaining.
Ms. Park smiled. "Noted. Thank you, Je-hoon."
As he stood to leave, she added: "You're unusually articulate. If you ever need... advocacy, contact me." She slid a business card across the table.
𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙣𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣: 𝙎𝙤𝙘𝙞𝙖𝙡 𝙒𝙚𝙡𝙛𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝘿𝙚𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩. 𝙋𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙖𝙡 𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮.
He pocketed the card. "Thank you."
---
15:00 PM, The Crisis
While inspectors reviewed documents in private, a commotion erupted outside.
Mr. Moon had arrived.
He stood at the gates, demanding entry. "I have business with Director Kim!"
The watchman tried to stop him. Moon pushed past.
Je-hoon observed from a window. Moon's face was flushed, agitated. He carried a folder.
Director Kim emerged, pale. "Not now, Mr. Moon."
"It's about the contract. The new terms."
"Later."
"The inspectors are here? Perfect. Let's discuss transparency."
A threat. Moon was leveraging the inspection to pressure Director Kim.
Mr. Choi stepped outside. "Can I help you?"
Moon smiled, all teeth. "Just delivering updated contracts. Showing our... partnership."
Director Kim looked like he might vomit.
Je-hoon calculated: Moon was making his move. Either Director Kim acquiesced to new demands, or Moon would expose the corruption during inspection.
A dangerous play. But desperate men take risks.
Ms. Park joined them. "Perhaps we should discuss this inside."
"No need," Moon said loudly. "Just business between friends. Though friends should honor agreements, don't you think, Director?"
The implicit threat hung in the air.
Je-hoon made a decision.
---
15:17 PM, The Intervention
He approached the group. "Mr. Moon? About the vending machine at the factory—the coin mechanism is jamming again. Could you take a look?"
A diversion. Childish but plausible.
Moon stared. "What?"
"The one you asked me to maintain. It's malfunctioning. Perhaps a design flaw?"
Now Moon's attention shifted. "I'll check later."
"But the factory workers are complaining. They said they'd call your office..."
A lie, but believable.
Moon hesitated. The inspectors were watching closely now.
"Fine. Show me."
Je-hoon led him away from the building. When they were out of earshot, he spoke quietly: "I found Mr. Park's files. The contracts. The circular donations."
Moon froze. "What?"
"The digital files. The hidden ledger. I have copies."
The man's face went through stages: surprise, anger, calculation. "You're a child."
"With evidence. The inspectors are suspicious already. If they find those files..."
"You're bluffing."
Je-hoon met his eyes. "Am I?"
Moon studied him. Saw something that gave him pause—the calm certainty, the lack of childish fear.
"What do you want?" he finally asked.
"Leave Director Kim alone. Honor existing contracts at fair rates. No more pressure."
"And if I refuse?"
"I give the files to the inspectors. And to the police. Fraud. Extortion. Possibly manslaughter if Mr. Park's death wasn't natural."
A bluff on the last point—but Moon didn't know that.
The man's jaw worked. "You're playing dangerous games, kid."
"I'm ensuring the orphanage's stability. Which serves your interests too—if it closes, your contracts end."
A moment of standoff. Then Moon nodded, once. "Fine. For now. But this isn't over."
He turned, walked back to his car, drove away.
Je-hoon returned to find the inspectors watching him thoughtfully.
"Everything alright?" Mr. Choi asked.
"Just a maintenance issue," Je-hoon said. "Resolved."
---
October 31 (Monday)
The Verdict
The inspectors returned in the morning to deliver preliminary findings.
All children were assembled. Director Kim looked like he hadn't slept.
Mr. Choi addressed the room: "Blue Bird Orphanage meets basic standards for care. However, financial practices require review. We recommend:
1. Independent audit of all contracts
2. Updated procurement policies
3. Improved nutritional planning
4. Library modernization"
No closure. No staff firing. A reprieve with conditions.
Director Kim nearly sagged with relief. "We'll comply fully."
Ms. Park caught Je-hoon's eye, gave a slight nod. She knew something had happened yesterday. Approved.
After they left, Director Kim called Je-hoon to his office.
"What did you say to Moon?"
"I reminded him that stable partnerships require mutual benefit."
Director studied him. "You're not just smart. You're... something else."
"Just a child who likes reading, sir."
A thin smile. "Of course. The board approved the library fund. ₩500,000. You'll help select books."
"Thank you."
"And... the coffee service for donors. Approved as permanent budget item. You'll manage it."
Another responsibility. Another foothold.
---
18:00 PM, The Network Adjusts
With crisis averted, Je-hoon visited his various operations:
1. Tutoring - Min-kyu showed 15% improvement on practice test. Payment: ₩5,000.
2. Vending machines - Collected weekly shares: ₩2,100.
3. Electronics shop - Mr. Han offered him a broken laptop to repair. "Yours if you fix it."
4. Convenience store - Mr. Choi asked him to design a new inventory system.
5. Coffee supplier - Ms. Kim delivered first month's beans. "You paid your debt early. Good credit."
Capital update: ₩9,750 + ₩7,100 = ₩16,850.
And the laptop—if repaired, value ₩150,000+.
---
21:00 PM, The Long Game
Je-hoon lay in bed, the laptop beside him—partially disassembled. Hard drive failure, but data recoverable. Screen intact.
He thought about Moon. The man would be back. Blackmailers don't retire.
He needed protection. Not just for himself, but for the orphanage.
The inspectors' business card sat with his growing collection of contacts. Ms. Park could be an ally.
But true protection required power. Not just knowledge. Not just money. Influence.
He calculated timeline:
· Now: ₩16,850 capital, multiple income streams
· 1 month: Projected ₩100,000+ capital
· 3 months: Could establish small business entity
· 6 months: Financial independence possible
· 1 year: Influence network substantial
But Soo-jae returned in 19 days. He wanted to show progress by then.
Not just coffee knowledge.
A foundation. The beginning of something.
He closed his eyes. ZEO ran optimization algorithms:
𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙮 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙨 𝙜𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙:
1. 𝙈𝙤𝙤𝙣 𝙧𝙚𝙩𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣: 78% 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙗𝙖𝙗𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙮
2. 𝙊𝙧𝙥𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙖𝙜𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙗𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙮: 𝙄𝙢𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙛𝙧𝙖𝙜𝙞𝙡𝙚
3. 𝙋𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙨𝙖𝙛𝙚𝙩𝙮: 𝙍𝙚𝙦𝙪𝙞𝙧𝙚𝙨 𝙚𝙣𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩
He needed to accelerate. The laptop repair was a start. But he needed something more... scalable.
An idea: the tutoring network. If he could train other tutors, take a percentage...
Or the vending route—if he could secure more machines...
Or the medical knowledge—if he could obtain certification somehow...
Problems to solve. But he had ZEO. And time.
For now, sleep.
---
𝘿𝙖𝙮 14-15: 𝙄𝙣𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙨𝙪𝙧𝙫𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙙
𝙈𝙤𝙤𝙣 𝙣𝙚𝙪𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙯𝙚𝙙 (𝙩𝙚𝙢𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙡𝙮)
𝘼𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙖𝙘𝙦𝙪𝙞𝙧𝙚𝙙 (𝙈𝙨. 𝙋𝙖𝙧𝙠)
𝙁𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙗𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙯𝙚𝙙
𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙞𝙨 𝙥𝙖𝙨𝙨𝙚𝙙. 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙜𝙖𝙢𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙪𝙚𝙨. 𝙉𝙤𝙬 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙥𝙞𝙚𝙘𝙚𝙨 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙤𝙖𝙧𝙙, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙖 𝙗𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙮𝙚𝙧𝙨.
---
End Episode 8