Orea and Myung lined up at the queue where a surprise guest was about to give a speech. Myung was bored but Orea was very excited. He noticed that whenever it came to new gadgets or technology, the girl just could not hold in her happiness.
"Do you like computers that much?" he frowned.
"If I could, I'd have married one," she sighed. "Unlike humans, computers can be advanced and modified according to needs. Each system has a code and it's fun to crack them."
"You mean like hacking?"
"I mean exploring," Orea corrected. "If someone hacks into your system, then it means that the system was flawed and had loopholes. Which is why, one should rather explore different systems before designing something impenetrable."
Myung shook his head. The girl spoke in a jargon no one could decipher except for Orea herself. He sighed and followed her into the hall where a large crowd had gathered. They took seats at the back, out of everyone's view.
"So why are we here again?" Myung hissed.
"A surprise guest is gonna give a lecture on the advancement of the recent technology," she whispered back. "I wonder who it is…"
Myung merely shrugged and looked at the stage where the host was introducing the guest.
"Ladies and gentlemen!" the host announced. "Welcome to the annual Cyber Tech Con!"
His words were met with a loud and enthusiastic cheer from the audience who were excited to see who the guest was. There was a loud buzz that it was someone from the government but the identity had not been revealed yet. Myung was already bored of the geeks who were a little too excited for his liking.
""Now may I please welcome our special guest for tonight, our very own leader, HONORABLE PRIME MINISTER LEE WEIJONG!"
Oh shit! Myung cursed in his head and quickly pulled down the cap he was wearing to hide his face.
"Hey, it's your dad," Orea remarked, feigning ignorance. Myung glared at her. Did she know that he would be the guest?
Lee stepped onto the stage to a very loud cheer and he raised his hand, smiling at the audience. He stepped on the podium, waving and nodding at the audience in appreciation of their love.
"Thank you, ladies and gentlemen," he said in a humble tone which made Myung snort. "I am truly honored to be here."
"I didn't know your dad was an expert on technology!" Orea exclaimed. "I thought he was just a stiff leader."
"Trust me, he's none of them," Myung muttered.
"What was that?"
"Nothing!"
"Now, as you know that my government has been instrumental in bringing in the latest gadgets to your hands," Lee began. "Only thirty years ago, it was impossible to think of being able to call and send messages using the same device. One phone call cost over thirty dollars and letters took weeks to reach the receiver. But now…"
What a snoozefest, Orea groaned. She had assumed the guy would at least say something to keep her interest but it like attending a lecture at her dumb school. She kept her eyes on Lee, trying not to fall asleep but the guy was just so boring.
Surprisingly, Myung was listening to his father with apt attention.
"After the coup, our government ensured that every household would have a cell phone and internet connection," Lee was saying. "So that everyone can have access to the correct information. Our recently launched app, Cello, has quickly become the most popular text messaging app. Our data shows that almost ninety percent of the country is using it, making it one of the most profitable apps of the century!"
He took out his phone and held it up high for the people to see. "Even I use the Cello app in order to stay connected to my family and friends. I conduct my daily business with this because the app's in-built diary makes it easier for me to be updated with my various appointments. Internationally, over fifty million people are using Cello and soon, we'll be entering new markets with this app."
Cello? Orea raised an eyebrow. She remembered when this app came out last year, there was a section of people on the internet who claimed that the app had been reading their data. But before Orea could dig further, the forum posts were taken down and the people who made the posts had disappeared. She tried to hack into the app's system but to her shock, the app had a strong firewall which was similar to the ones she faced at the PM's mansion.
When she could not hack into the app, she had realized that something bigger was at play. A mere app should not have that high security unless it had something to hide.
"What a propaganda!" Myung snorted.
"Propaganda?" Orea echoed.
"You're not noticing it are you?" Myung asked. "His speech?"
"He's talking about an app," Orea stated.
"He's talking about an app his government had built and how his government is helping technological advancement," Myung pointed out. "All about his government. Why is a Prime Minister attending a Cyber Con before the elections? He should be at campaign rallies or townhall debates."
"This is part of a promotion too, right?" Orea frowned.
"It is," Myung admitted. "And also a reminder of how the app he had created is in everyone's hands. But the data in that app is in his hands. Which means that his government is nearly omnipotent."
Orea pretended to be surprised but his words also got her to think. Did that mean the Prime Minister was hiding all this in his mansion? If she hacked into the system, she could get her hands on all that data?
Jackpot! She thought. It was a good thing that the members of the Light did not install any external apps. It was completely forbidden. They had their own team of experts who modified the cell phones to make them untraceable and also, a secret messaging chatbox which was able to delete all message history within five minutes. The members had only five minutes to memorize the messages they received before it was deleted forever.
Too bad that the citizens in the country were playing into the government's tricks. And behind the government, was the Company.
The Prime Minister had ended his speech and there was a lukewarm response. Apparently, even the hardcore tech geeks found it boring.
Sam came on the stage and escorted the Prime Minister away. Orea saw her chance.
"I'll be right back," she told Myung. "Washroom."
Myung scowled as she left him alone at the hall and hurried to the backstage. She did not expect the PM to be sitting alone in a corner and she was right. He was surrounded by a large crowd of security guards who were shooing away the people going near him. Orea thought fast and dived into the crowd, pushing her way to the front. She was relying on the crowd to somehow throw her in front of the PM's way and she got lucky.
Someone pushed her forward and she fell right in front of the PM's feet.
"AHHH!" she yelled loudly. Lee stopped short when the teenager fell forward.
"Help her!" he ordered his guards. A couple of guards rushed forward to shield her from the stampede and helped her to stand up.
She faced the PM who recognized her. Sam's eyes narrowed when he saw the girl. He eyed her with suspicion.
"You are Myung's friend?" Lee recalled.
"You remember me!" Orea squealed. "I mean...I'm just a commoner…"
"Of course I do!" Lee laughed. "Why don't you join us for some snacks at the dining?"
"Sir, I don't think that's appropriate," Sam barged in but Lee waved his hand at him in assurance.
"Any friend of Myung's is a friend of mine!" he smiled at Orea. "Come on."
Orea felt a little guilty for leaving Myung behind but this was more important. She would never get such a chance again.
She followed them to the dining hall where a large tray of finger food had been arranged for the Prime Minister's entourage. Lee ushered Orea to sit next to him while the guards and other staff sat at another table, ready to eat.
"So, Ms. Orea, correct?" he asked.
"Yes!" she chirped. "Heo Orea!"
"Myung told us that you're his partner in a computer project," he said. "I'm assuming you're interested in technology since you're here."
"I am an amateur," Orea said sheepishly. "Still learning a lot about computers. I've still got a long way to go. But app designing interests me a lot and I want to study in that field."
"Oh are you applying to colleges abroad?" Lee asked. "I'm assuming that you'll be going to a place which specializes in technology and IT."
"Actually," Orea began. "I'm not simply interested to study IT but actually learn it properly. From a mentor. Or work with a team who would teach me the real science behind the gadgets we use."
When Lee looked confused, Orea stated, "I want to intern at your IT department. Under Mr. Cheng's guidance."
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