Chapter 56 – SeoulPot: A Crazy Dream in Crazy Hands
That morning, the Seoul sky was overcast, but Gevran's heart was anything but gloomy. It was the third week since they launched their insane project: building the world's first futuristic restaurant—also the first to combine fine dining with AI, robotics, and fully automated service tech.
In the basement where they usually held meetings—aka G-Force HQ—the table was a mess of blueprints, laptops, tangled wires, energy drinks, and… instant noodles. A stark contrast to their grand vision.
"Bro, check this out," said Park Jiwan, shoving a tablet toward Gevran. "If we use a conveyor system controlled by AI based on the customer's order and mood, we can save on waiter costs!"
Gevran looked at him seriously. "Wait—you're saying the AI can read people's moods?"
"Yup. I've already drafted a concept using thermal sensors and facial expressions. If a customer looks down, the system triggers soft jazz and warm yellow lighting. If they're happy, it plays upbeat music and shifts to blue lights. Crazy, right?"
Mi Yong laughed while opening her laptop. "You're crazy, but I love it. Our tagline: 'SeoulPot – The Restaurant That Understands Your Heart.'"
Haesung raised an eyebrow. "But we don't have that kind of AI. It doesn't exist. No one's built that yet."
Eunwoo suddenly walked in wearing a designer hoodie and dark sunglasses—indoors. "Relax. I already contacted my cousin—the coding genius from Stanford. He said he's in, as long as we send him pizza every week."
Everyone stared at Eunwoo in awe.
"Seriously, Woo?" asked Mi Yong.
"Swear on my skincare routine."
Gevran stood and glanced around the room. "Okay. Listen up, everyone. Maybe we're just college kids. Maybe we don't have millions in funding. But we have one thing: insanity and determination."
Jiwan stood up and raised his soda can. "To SeoulPot!"
"To the restaurant of the future!" shouted Mi Yong.
"To crazy ideas becoming real," said Haesung coolly.
"To me, the most handsome one," added Eunwoo.
They all burst out laughing.
Three days after declaring their "restaurant of the future," the G-Force HQ transformed completely. Jiwan's anime posters were moved aside, extra whiteboards were installed, wires crawled across the floor like spiderwebs, and every table was covered in flowcharts and prototype sketches.
They weren't just dreaming big—they were starting to make history.
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World's First AI Built by College Kids?
The calm and calculated Haesung began creating a work schedule. He assigned roles to the team:
Gevran: Lead visionary, pitching the idea to potential investors.
Jiwan: CTO, designing the customer behavior AI system.
Mi Yong: Branding, promotion, and public relations.
Haesung: Legal, business permits, and tech contracts.
Eunwoo: Celebrity liaisons and agency connections for the grand opening.
Meanwhile, Jiwan contacted his cousin—Min Seo, the half-crazy guy who dropped out of Stanford for creating an AI virus that made home alarms dance at 3 AM.
Min Seo joined a video call, his hair a chaotic mess, looking like he'd been struck by lightning.
"So you want an AI that can read facial expressions, control lighting and music, and even coordinate with robot arms to serve food?"
"Yes," said Jiwan casually. "We need it in three months."
Min Seo laughed. "I love a challenge. Send me the blueprints and a facial expression dataset. And… a box of the extra spicy ramyun. I only work when my tongue's on fire."
Jiwan cheered. "This crazy project is officially on!"
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The Space, the Money… and a Stroke of Luck
Next issue: space and capital. Mi Yong raised her hand. "I can talk to my uncle. He owns an empty building in Gangnam—it used to be a TV studio. If we renovate it, it could totally work."
Eunwoo jumped in, "And since it's your family's, we could rent it cheap."
Mi Yong smiled with elite-socialite energy. "Six months rent-free, as long as our soft launch appears on my cousin's reality show."
Haesung noted it down. "Fair deal. Great publicity too."
Next issue: initial capital.
Haesung and Jiwan worked on the business proposal. Gevran, with his natural charisma and communication skills, pitched it to his dad's business contacts, former partners, and even an economics professor who turned out to be interested.
Within a week, they raised ₩300 million in initial capital.
"This is insane. It's actually happening," Gevran whispered, staring at the number on screen.
Haesung patted his shoulder. "And this is just the beginning."
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Robot Waiters Born in an Abandoned Workshop
Eunwoo suggested designing servers that were not only functional, but also Instagrammable.
"We're not just building robots. We're creating a new icon," he said, revealing a sketch of a humanoid robot with a quirky design: a small pot-shaped head with LED eyes and a cheeky smile.
"I call it… Potty."
Everyone stared. "You named our server robot Potty?"
"Cute, right?" said Eunwoo proudly. "Potty from SeoulPot."
"Sounds like a toilet," Jiwan deadpanned.
"But it'll go viral," added Mi Yong. "I can launch a 'Selfie with Potty' trend."
And so, they all agreed: the robot would be named Potty.
Jiwan and Min Seo started tinkering with chips and sensors. Haesung handled patent paperwork. Mi Yong worked on teaser branding. They even created a TikTok for Potty.
First post? Potty dancing to SNSD's Gee.
Result? 1 million views in two days.
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The Unforgettable Day: SeoulPot's Grand Opening
The big day finally came.
The old TV studio in Gangnam had been completely transformed. The interior was futuristic: automatic doors greeted guests with a soft AI voice named "Solee," the LED ceiling changed color based on customer mood, and Potty elegantly moved through the dining room with a tray in hand.
At exactly 7 PM, the red carpet was rolled out.
Luxury cars lined the street as guests began to arrive.
Jido, Gevran's father, looked dashing in a classic gray suit. Beside him, Gevran's mother was radiant.
Park Jiwan came with his father—the Minister of Education. The media buzzed, sensing a political story in the making.
Choi Eunwoo arrived with his brother, Cha Eunwoo, instantly stealing the spotlight.
Mi Yong, in a glittering dress, led the documentation team, filming every VIP guest's entrance.
Ryu Haesung, calm as ever, arrived last—flanked by two intern lawyers reviewing the sponsorship contracts.
But the biggest shock?
BTS showed up in full formation.
BLACKPINK arrived in an exclusive van.
Both were there thanks to Eunwoo's agency connections.
In the back, Potty welcomed them with a unique bow.
"Welcome, special humans. Potty is ready to serve," it said.
Laughter broke out. Even J-Hope burst out laughing and posted it to Instagram. Caption:
> "This robot just stole my heart. #Potty #SeoulPot"
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A Political Moment: Jido Takes the Stage
After everyone tasted SeoulPot's futuristic menu—from nitrogen kimchi mousse to glow-in-the-dark ramyun—the lights dimmed.
Gevran stepped on stage.
"Welcome to SeoulPot. This isn't just a restaurant. It's a dream, an ambition, and a friendship turned reality."
Thunderous applause.
Then he handed the mic to his father.
"As a father, I'm proud. As a citizen of Korea, I'm even prouder to witness young people brave enough to create and lead."
Then, with his veteran politician style, Jido continued:
"This country needs courage like this. This year, I will run for President of South Korea. Not just to win—but to build a future unafraid of change!"
The atmosphere shifted. Cameras flashed. The hashtag #JidoForPresident trended instantly.
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The Archers Watch in Silence
In one corner of the restaurant, Cain Seo-Jun sat uninvited. Wearing a sleek black suit, he was accompanied by three members of The Archers.
"He started earlier than we expected," Cain muttered, sipping a mocktail, eyes fixed on the stage.
One of his companions said, "G-Force is stealing the spotlight. They're dominating public opinion."
Cain smirked. "If this war is about attention… then it's time we build our own stage."
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The Final Surprise of the Night
As the guests left and staff started cleaning up, Potty stood on stage, its LED eyes blinking.
Gevran, sitting at the bar, whispered, "Hey, Potty. You proud of us?"
Potty replied, "I do not possess emotions. But if I could choose, I would say: SeoulPot is home."
Gevran smiled, gazing up at the ceiling—now a soft blue glow.
And without anyone realizing it…
that night would become the opening page of a new chapter in global innovation history.
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Global Reaction: G-Force Becomes a Worldwide Topic
The next day, the world woke up talking about one thing.
Forbes Asia headlined:
"G-Force's SeoulPot: The World's First AI-Robotic Dining Experience."
BBC Future:
"South Korea Enters the Futuristic Dining Era, Led by College Students."
CNBC highlighted the market potential:
"Combining AI, Robotics, and Dining Experience: SeoulPot Is the Future Global Trend."
Social media exploded with guest content.
Potty became a viral meme.
Gevran trended globally.
Mi Yong gained 1.2 million followers overnight—totaling 3.8 million.
Even Elon Musk tweeted:
> "Wish I'd thought of SeoulPot. Insane idea. Beautiful execution."
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Emergency Meeting: The Archers & Crown Circle
Cain Seo-Jun wasn't idle.
Inside a hidden room in an old Yonsei district building, The Archers met with two members of the secretive Crown Circle. A rare occurrence.
Cain opened his laptop, displaying SeoulPot's viral metrics.
"If we let them rise unchecked, we don't just lose public opinion—we lose access to the next generation's elite network," he said sharply.
One of the Crown Circle elders replied calmly, "You want us to act?"
Cain nodded. "It's time we take back the spotlight. If we must… we break them from within."
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Reflection Time for Gevran and G-Force
Late at night on SeoulPot's rooftop, Gevran, Jiwan, Mi Yong, Haesung, and Eunwoo sat in a circle with cold soda bottles and laser-cut fries from Potty.
"Damn," said Jiwan. "I just realized… we made history."
Mi Yong grinned. "And we haven't even made it to week three of college."
Ryu Haesung, usually reserved, said seriously, "But…"
To be continued…