Episode 8 – The Hidden Protocol

On the flight to Jeju Island, Ha-yul gazed at the endless ocean through the window. Beside him, Si-on reviewed documents on her tablet. They were heading to Jeju to investigate Korea University Hospital's private research facility.

"It's strange when you think about it," Si-on said. "Why did Head Nurse Jung flee right after Professor Hong was murdered? And why specifically to the research facility on Jeju Island?"

Ha-yul shifted his gaze from the ocean to Si-on. "There are two possibilities. Either she was running away, or... she went looking for something."

"That's what I think too," Si-on nodded. "If she went to find evidence related to Project Afterlife, we might discover it as well."

Ha-yul suddenly recalled LUX's questions during yesterday's examination. The incident 13 years ago. And the report referring to him as a 'Project Afterlife subject.'

"Si-on," Ha-yul called quietly.

"Yes?"

"Yesterday, LUX showed interest in my past from 13 years ago. It seemed related to my emotion tracking ability."

Si-on's expression turned serious. "13 years ago... what happened then?"

Ha-yul looked outside. "My family was murdered. And after that day... I lost the ability to feel emotions."

Si-on's eyes widened. "You completely stopped feeling?"

"Medically, it was unexplainable. It was diagnosed as emotional shutdown due to psychological trauma, but the degree was too extreme."

Si-on carefully placed her hand over Ha-yul's. It was warm. Ha-yul felt that warmth subtly spreading through his skin.

"Someday... you'll be able to feel again," Si-on said gently.

Ha-yul looked into Si-on's eyes. The warm earthy tones still swirled around her.

Jeju International Airport, 10:00 AM.

As Ha-yul and Si-on exited the arrival gate, a middle-aged man in a black suit stood before them.

"Jin Ha-yul and Yoon Si-on? I'm Agent Kim Jae-hyun from the National Intelligence Service. I came at Director Do's request."

Agent Kim guided them to the private research facility. In the car, he shared important information.

"Head Nurse Jung visited the research facility two days ago, but her whereabouts have been unknown since. CCTV footage shows her entering, but not leaving."

Si-on frowned. "She disappeared?"

Ha-yul and Si-on exchanged glances. The situation was growing increasingly complex.

Korea University Hospital Jeju Research Facility, 11:00 AM.

A modern glass building nestled among lush forests. While outwardly appearing to be an ordinary medical research facility, security was remarkably tight.

They were greeted in the lobby by a woman in her mid-40s wearing a business suit.

"I'm Research Director Lee Su-jin. I heard about the purpose of your visit today," she said with a formal smile. "We'll cooperate as much as possible, but please understand that access to sensitive research data must be limited."

"Do you know the whereabouts of Head Nurse Jung?" Ha-yul asked directly.

Director Lee's expression subtly hardened. "I know she visited this facility. But where she went afterward... we don't know."

Ha-yul observed the emotions surrounding Director Lee. A deep teal emotion enveloped her, but within it, he noticed a pattern like green threads snapping. The emotion of betrayal in the relationship layer.

"Have you ever heard of Project Afterlife?" Si-on asked.

Director Lee hesitated briefly. "Officially, no project by that name exists. But..."

She summoned a holographic panel and entered something. Soon, the wall opened, revealing a hidden passage.

"This way."

Ha-yul and Si-on followed Director Lee through the passage with Agent Kim. After a long, dark corridor, they entered a spacious laboratory. A large holographic display stood at its center.

"Here, we conduct 'emotion mapping' research," Director Lee explained. "We study how human emotions are recorded in neural circuits, and how to interpret them."

"Emotion mapping?" Si-on asked.

"Yes. Simply put, it's technology that converts emotions into digital data," Director Lee activated the hologram. A 3D brain image appeared.

"But..." Ha-yul said slowly. "Couldn't that technology be used in reverse? Not to read emotions, but to manipulate them?"

Director Lee's expression hardened. The green threads around her began breaking more rapidly.

"That's... only theoretically possible. We never conduct such research."

Ha-yul sensed that Director Lee wasn't telling the truth. Her emotional pattern was distorting.

"When Head Nurse Jung came here, what was she looking for?" Ha-yul asked.

"She..." Director Lee paused and looked around. Then suddenly lowered her voice. "CCTV is operating. We can't talk more here. They're watching us."

At that moment, the door opened and several security guards entered.

"Director Lee, there's an important video conference. Please come to the meeting room immediately," the security team leader said.

Director Lee looked at Ha-yul and Si-on with an anxious expression. "I'm sorry. We'll talk later. Agent Kim will show you the rest of the facility."

Research Facility Basement Level 3, 1:00 PM.

"This is where Head Nurse Jung was last captured on CCTV," Agent Kim pointed to a door at the end of a long corridor. "After entering that door, she never appeared on camera again."

Ha-yul and Si-on cautiously approached the door. It was a metal door marked 'Laboratory 7.'

"May we go in?" Si-on asked.

Agent Kim nodded. "We've received access authorization for all areas through NIS authority."

When the door opened, they were shocked. The room was completely empty. No equipment, desks, or chairs. Just an empty white room.

"What is this..." Si-on murmured with a confused expression.

Ha-yul entered the room and looked around. The walls were smooth and white, with only a small ventilation duct in the ceiling.

Ha-yul placed his hand on the wall and moved slowly. Something felt strange. One section of the wall was subtly colder than the others.

"Here... I think there's something," Ha-yul pointed to the cold part of the wall.

Agent Kim approached, examined the wall closely, and discovered a small panel. He opened it and manipulated the device inside. Suddenly, part of the wall opened, revealing another passage.

"A secret passage," Si-on said with surprise.

"We should go in," Ha-yul said.

Agent Kim hesitated, then decided. "I'll stand guard here. If anyone comes, I'll contact you."

Ha-yul and Si-on nodded and entered the passage. After a narrow, dark corridor, they reached a small room. It contained a computer terminal and several file cabinets.

"Seems like a secret data room," Si-on approached the computer and turned it on. The screen lit up, revealing a login screen.

Ha-yul, looking around the room, found a small memo on the floor. It was a torn piece of note with 'Afterlife-1310' written on it.

"Try entering this," Ha-yul handed the memo to Si-on.

When Si-on entered the password, the screen changed to show several folders. One was labeled 'Subject List.'

"This is it!" Si-on said excitedly. When she opened the folder, a list of dozens of people appeared.

Ha-yul scrolled through the list and suddenly stopped. There it was: 'Jin Ha-yul - Deactivated Status.'

Si-on clicked on the file. The screen displayed Ha-yul's photo along with detailed information.

[Subject: Jin Ha-yul]

[Status: Deactivated]

[Project Entry Date: 13 years ago]

[Emotion Suppression Protocol: Applied]

[Note: Emotion tracking ability manifested, continuous monitoring required]

Ha-yul's face turned pale. "Emotion Suppression Protocol... Is this why my emotions disappeared?"

Si-on looked at Ha-yul with a shocked expression. "Maybe... your emotions didn't disappear, but were suppressed by someone."

Just then, Agent Kim sent an urgent message. "Someone's coming. Get out quickly!"

As Si-on quickly captured the screen and was about to turn off the computer, Ha-yul spotted another familiar name in the file list.

[Yoon Si-on - Active Status]

Ha-yul's gaze turned to Si-on. She seemed to feel his eyes on her and slowly turned her head. When their eyes met, Ha-yul saw the earthy emotions around her suddenly change. Within them, green threads snapped, and a pattern like cracks appeared.

Betrayal in the relationship layer.

"Si-on... are you also part of this project?"

→ [To be continued in Episode 9]

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