Chapter 26: A Father's Legacy & the Shadows That Loom
Secret Study Room – Yi Family Residence
The night grew deeper. Gevran stared at a photo from the classified file. His father—Yi Jido Sr.—stood beside a young Kai. Behind them, the old logo of the Daesan Foundation was faintly visible.
> "Is this… proof that Father helped create Project Replacement?"
Yi-Ana entered the room softly. Her eyes held a weariness that came not from the body—but from an unresolved past.
"Your father… once believed that the world couldn't be changed with words alone. He wanted to create a leader… someone immune to the system's rot. Kai was… part of that project."
Gevran looked at her. "Then why me?"
Yi-Ana stepped closer. "Because your father realized… there's one thing he could never replicate: the human heart. So he placed his final bet… on you."
---
The Next Day – Daehan International School
Kai's popularity surged. In just days, he'd joined the list of top students and was already helping organize the science fair. Yet, there was something strange—unnerving—about every one of his interactions.
When he passed Gevran in the hallway, Kai offered a slight smile.
> "You weren't supposed to exist. I was written to replace you. But now… I'm curious."
Gevran stared back. "Humans aren't written. And you'll learn that the will to replace… can't beat the meaning of becoming."
---
Student Council Room – Night
Team 8-1-9 huddled around a tense discussion. Kasang projected a simulation of possible internal attacks, based on Kai's movements and suspicious activity from old student council alumni.
Kaeyan clicked a tab. "There's mystery funding coming from Daesan Foundation's Swiss branch. Disguised as scholarships, but it's actually being funneled into… experimental student programs in East Asia."
Han Jimin narrowed her eyes. "Daesan Foundation is splitting from within. Half of them want Gevran to fall. The other half… is protecting him. This isn't just high school politics anymore. This is educational geopolitics."
Gevran leaned back in his chair. "Then this isn't about winning the presidency. This is about… fighting the rotten legacy left behind by those who once wanted to save the world."
---
End of Chapter 26
Kai stood on the rooftop of the school building, staring into the cloudy Seoul sky.
He pressed a small button hidden beneath his collar. A digital screen flickered to life, revealing the silhouette of someone whose voice was distorted.
> "Phase one complete. Gevran has started to uncover the truth."
Kai replied emotionlessly, "But he's also igniting something we couldn't replicate. He's… more human than you thought."
> "Then make him choose. The world… or his family."
Secret Underground Transit Hub – Beneath Seoul
The screen blinked off. Kai stood still for a moment, letting the wind buffet his coat. Then, without a word, he turned and walked toward the school elevator—only, he didn't go down. He scanned a hidden panel behind the access buttons.
A quiet beep. A secret floor unlocked.
The doors slid open to reveal a hidden transit hub—once used by the old Daesan shadow operatives. Rows of AI-controlled drones hovered quietly, each carrying confidential cargo, surveillance devices, and encrypted data cores.
Kai stepped forward and activated a sealed capsule. Inside: a silver briefcase marked with the logo of the Daesan Foundation. The initials Y.J.S. were subtly engraved.
> "His father left behind contingencies for both of us," Kai murmured. "One of blood… and one of code."
He unlocked the briefcase with a retinal scan. Inside were two items:
1. A modified neural stimulator—capable of enhancing decision-making and memory fusion.
2. A letter. Handwritten. With a wax seal.
The handwriting was unmistakable: Yi Jido Sr.
Kai opened the letter with care. It read:
> "Kai, if you're reading this… then you're ahead of Gevran. But don't be so certain you've won. My son carries the greatest flaw of all—compassion. Yet it is also his ultimate strength. If you wish to surpass him… understand him."
Kai folded the letter slowly. Something in his expression flickered.
A glitch in his programming?
---
Yi Family Residence – Basement Archive
Meanwhile, Gevran stood in front of an old family vault, accompanied by Yi-Ana.
She placed a hand on a biometric scanner. With a low hum, the vault opened to reveal old video logs, test files, and a black data crystal.
Yi-Ana handed the crystal to Gevran. "Your father recorded his final thoughts about Project Replacement… and about you."
Gevran took the crystal carefully. "Why now?"
"Because," she whispered, "it's time you saw what kind of monster he was… and what kind of man he tried to become."
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