Born to Rise : Becoming Vice President

Chapter 64 – Seoul Future Week and ASTRA's Grand Stage

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Seoul, early December 2009. The entire city buzzed with excitement, ready to welcome the biggest tech event it had ever seen—Seoul Future Week. This was the first time ASTRA—the AI and robotics prototype developed by G-Force—would be unveiled to the world.

The international exhibition center in Gangnam was packed with innovators, journalists, foreign investors, and key figures from politics and industry. Major names like Samsung, Hyundai, and even overseas giants like Tesla and Siemens filled the venue. But the spotlight? It belonged to a sleek black-silver booth with bold letters that read:

ASTRA – Powered by SeoulPot Future Lab

Gevran and his team stood tall in front of their booth, dressed in black suits with a small blue star pin—the official emblem of Project ASTRA.

"Ready?" Haesung asked, double-checking his speech notes.

"Ready to panic," Jiwan replied while adjusting ASTRA's interactive hologram.

Mi Yong, who had been coordinating media all morning, came over with a list of interview appointments: KBS, MBC, even Bloomberg Asia.

And Choi Eunwoo? As usual, busy selecting the perfect outfit for their photoshoot with ASTRA.

ASTRA stood firm on a small stage. Nearly 180 cm tall, with a sleek, reflective metal design. Its eyes glowed a soft blue. Its minimalist face resembled a sci-fi character—but what stunned the audience was the human-like voice and emotional nuance in its speech.

As the MC announced the start of the demo, the crowd surged forward toward the booth. Gevran stepped onto the stage, his voice calm but full of conviction.

"Today, we present not just a piece of technology… but a vision of the future the world has never seen before. AI and robots? They may sound ordinary in movies. But in real life? This is a first."

Cheers erupted. Flashlights burst across the venue.

ASTRA bowed slightly to the crowd. "Greetings. I am ASTRA. Created to help humanity grow, think, and dream."

Thunderous applause followed. Even the representatives from MIT and Stanford rose to their feet.

The demo continued: ASTRA predicted economic outcomes using real-time data, administered basic first aid, and even solved complex legal exam questions—questions most law students would struggle with.

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That evening, a press conference was held on the main stage. And then—unexpectedly—Jido Lee, Gevran's father, took the podium as an honorary guest speaker.

He stood before a massive Seoul Future Week backdrop.

"Technology isn't just about the future," Jido declared. "It's about today's youth daring to lead the way. And if I am honored with the chance to lead this nation… I promise to make South Korea the innovation capital of the world."

The media instantly caught on: this wasn't just ASTRA's debut. This was the official launch of Jido Lee's presidential campaign.

That night ended with a spectacular concert. BLACKPINK, BTS, and EXO lit up the main stage. CEOs, top celebrities, and politicians mingled in a celebration of technology and entertainment unlike anything the world had ever seen.

And amid it all, Gevran looked up at the Seoul night sky—now filled with drone lights and laser shows.

"This is just the beginning," he whispered.

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