WeTried Translations

Translator: Coughing Baby

Editor: Coughing Baby

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

Chapter 218: The End of April (5)

──────

“This is Han Gyeoul.”

When Gyeoul spoke, the speaker sputtered loudly. It was not static or jamming, but a long sigh breathed into the receiver on the other end. Only after a brief silence did the president’s voice come through.

[Is this the first time since we met at the White House? Good to hear from you, Major. Hearing your voice finally makes it feel real. These days, all I get is bad news...]

He paused before continuing.

[I should say this first. As president of this country, I regret what you went through. I will need to see the materials before I know the details, but the supervisor’s testimony alone gives me a fair idea of the whole picture. With the world the way it is, now I have to watch people like John Cutler appear again.]

Gyeoul tilted his head at the unfamiliar name. He knew more than most people, but he did not know everything.

“Cutler? Who is that?”

[A devil.]

The president said it flatly, then went on.

[The man conducted human experimentation with syphilis bacteria as director of the Bureau of Health under the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare. Both inside and outside the country. Tuskegee should be fairly famous among those cases. Have you heard of it?]

“Ah... I have.”

He remembered. In some ways, it had been a racist incident too. Most of the victims had been Black. That was another similarity with this case.

[“We only used people who were going to die anyway for research. We only wanted to help our country and humanity, so why are we being held responsible...” That was the sort of thing his sympathizers and accomplices rattled off in their own defense. Cutler himself was already dead by then, but if he had been there, he probably would have spewed the same nonsense. He would have said they saved more lives in the end.]

Chadwick had said something similar.

[Stupid logic. A crime committed in the name of patriotism turns the entire nation into an accomplice. But as a politician, it pains me that I cannot stand here with an entirely clean conscience either.]

“Please don’t say that. You are a much better person, Mr. President.”

At that, the president laughed at himself. He was the man who had said in a speech that he wandered between necessary evil and necessary evil. A person battered by the limits of people, and of the world people lived in. Gyeoul knew that feeling. The weight of the stone still sat inside his chest. As long as it remained, the boy would stay bound to the feelings he wanted to throw away.

[Thank you for believing that. I was worried you might have grown disappointed in this country.]

It was not concern for Gyeoul alone. The president must have calculated the social cost.

[There is one thing I would like to ask.]

“Please go ahead.”

Apparently, the president had not wanted this call just to confirm the supervisor’s statement again.

After a pause, the president said something Gyeoul had not expected at all.

[I was wondering what you would think if we sent people close to you over there.]

“Do you mean the Korean refugee volunteers from the Gyeoul Alliance... no, from Fort Roberts?”

[I hear they have now been promoted from volunteers into a regular independent company. Depending on the situation, Japanese, Vietnamese, Filipino, or Cambodian personnel may be deployed as well. I am not sure about the Chinese, who are the most numerous. Everyone says there is a high chance it would backfire.]

“It is for public opinion, then.”

[That is right. My Press Secretary strongly recommended it. They said it would make a good picture if refugee-born soldiers took the lead in the rescue operation. It would not be a bad story for you either. It would help win citizens’ support.]

That made sense. Gyeoul asked something else.

“Is Fort Roberts safe?”

It was only a military base, but with the current president, it would not have been strange if he had memorized the status of every stronghold. Sure enough, the answer came without delay.

[Rest easy. It is located well away from the center of the mutant horde offensive, so I understand it is being used as one of the bases for rescue operations. To begin with-]

His words cut off unnaturally.

“Sir?”

[...]

Since they were discussing classified matters, the signal operator had left the room. When Gyeoul looked back, Joanna was examining the communications equipment with a bewildered look. But she was not omnipotent either. Just as she was about to call the signal operator, someone on the other end of the receiver roused President MacMillan. The signal had not been cut.

[Mm, sorry. I dozed off for a moment.]

“Are you all right?”

[It is nothing. I stayed up late last night watching a drama. The West Wing.]

It was a bleak, dry joke. The White House must have shifted to emergency status after Shangjiang Yang Yongbin’s nuclear attack. Perhaps several people had already died from overwork.

[Where was I... Mm, yes. To begin with, there are not that many scattered troops in that area. More importantly, they are receiving strong support from the Air Force, which has been left with little to do, so losing one independently organized company should not endanger the base. Am I right?]

The last question was not directed at Gyeoul.

[They say I am right. You do not need to worry about the base itself. As I heard, you seem to care a great deal about the people close to you.]

But what did he mean by the Air Force being left with little to do? After thinking it through, Gyeoul decided it made sense. Confirming targets, in other words, target acquisition, was difficult.

‘Low-altitude flight would be impossible unless they were prepared to crash.’

In rough terrain where friend and foe were mixed together, indiscriminate bombing was not an option. Under normal circumstances, identification friend or foe, IFF, would have done its job, but by now, most vehicles equipped with such devices would have been abandoned. Portable versions did exist, but defeated soldiers too busy fleeing could hardly carry around large, heavy identification equipment. The signals from lighter devices did not reach the sky.

Also, Tricksters that had learned from precision bombing emitted radio waves in short bursts. They interfered with rescue operations, but the intervals were too brief to guide Homing Missiles. For the U.S. military, jamming them in return was likely the best they could do. This dawn’s airdrop must have received that kind of help as well.

Now he understood why no naval aircraft had come flying in from the sea.

Still, an independent company made up of former Gyeoul Alliance members. He had expected it, but in the end, a formation unusual by U.S. military standards had been created. After some thought, Gyeoul asked in return.

“I do not understand why you specifically need my opinion, Mr. President.”

[If you refuse, I intend to reconsider.]

“...”

[Is that surprising?]

“Honestly, yes.”

[No need to overthink it. From my aides’ perspective, the Major is also someone whose morale has to be managed.]

“Ah.”

[To put it coldly, they do not want to cut open the goose that lays golden eggs. You are effectively an irreplaceable human resource.]

The president changed his tone.

[There is no one who is not struggling at a time like this. But even taking that into account, an excessive burden has fallen on you in a very short period. Nobody disagreed on that point. They said an ordinary person would already have started showing problems. Then why are you trying so hard...? It was easy to draw a conclusion.]

Though it differed a little from the truth, it was a positive misunderstanding. Gyeoul listened in silence.

[Someone said this. Lieutenant Han Gyeoul... because you were a lieutenant then. In any case, they said Lieutenant Han fights only to protect his countrymen, who are not Americans. His soul has no homeland. Therefore, he is not a patriot. Do not call him a hero. It was quite an interesting argument.]

The president’s low laugh was not friendly.

[The people who demand unpaid patriotism from others are usually the least patriotic people of all.]

Then he mentioned Kennedy.

[Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country. It is easy to misunderstand, but this saying does not demand unconditional sacrifice. It is only asking you to change the order. Major Han, you have already done more than enough for this country. Even if we cannot pay the full price right now, would it not be proper to offer you at least the minimum consideration?]

“Thank you.”

[No need for thanks. So speak freely. I also need your judgment as the commander on the ground. Whether they truly have the ability to carry out the mission, and whether there will be any trouble coordinating with the existing forces.]

“...”

Joanna quietly shook her head. Your sacrifice alone is enough. That was what she meant. Since they had grown closer than before, it had become easier to read her heart from her gestures.

“Their ability should be enough. I am fine either way. If they want to come, please send them.”

[I see.]

The president’s words sounded like a sigh.

[I should tell you this in advance. Motivation is important.]

Motivation? Was there still something else? Gyeoul tilted his head.

[I assume you already know that there has been talk of changing the refugee relief system from the current direct management to budget support for leaders.]

What President MacMillan mentioned was one of the pledges made by the Republican presidential candidate. Stop universal support for all refugees, and allocate budgets to leaders who produced results. A policy meant to trigger endless competition and survival of the fittest among refugees. Supposedly, it had received enthusiastic support not only from conservative citizens, but from some progressive citizens as well.

People were weak, and when they were frightened, they could not help themselves.

“Yes. I heard it on the broadcast.”

[We may end up introducing it before long. Public support is that heated. It will be bad for most refugees, but at least for you, Major, it will be advantageous. That is the bigger problem. You could call it a case where your popularity becomes poison. It saves the budget as planned while increasing the benefits you receive, so who would object?]

“You are keeping me in check, then.”

[I have to prevent that lowlife from being elected by any means possible. It will become a point of no return.]

For some reason, Gyeoul felt a sense of deja vu at the phrase point of no return.

‘Before the emotional rift grows deeper, before the number of good people falls even further...’

His thought could not fully form in that short time. The president’s words cut through Gyeoul’s reflection.

[But I do not intend to end it there.]

“Then what are you planning to do...?”

[Not limit support to budgets. For refugee leaders or groups who achieve sufficient results, I intend to grant the right to establish a dependent territory or territory. Considering public opinion, a territory seems more likely. If it is a dependent territory, many will feel that you have moved farther away from them. In the case of a territory, it could more easily be promoted into the 51st state.]

In America, those with military service, especially war heroes, gained a major advantage in entering politics.

In other words, it meant he would one day gain political influence. Securing a self-governable area and accepting refugees alone would be a large enough benefit. Even an area as small as Rhode Island would have no trouble accepting refugees of several nationalities.

But the president had only half a year left in his term. Could he really get that far?

[I do not think it will be difficult. It is already something I have agreed on with the Speaker of the House.]

It was an unexpected answer to Gyeoul’s question.

“Wasn’t the Speaker a Republican?”

He vaguely remembered hearing it from newspapers blown by the wind and passing news reports.

[Even though the Speaker belongs to the Republican Party, they feel that if that candidate is elected, the country will collapse. In the first place, the Republican Party had someone else they wanted to back... If that person had been my opponent, perhaps I would not have worried this much.]

“I see...”

At this point, Gyeoul thought it would not be strange if an assassination scandal broke out. But he soon shook his head inwardly. The dead were easily glorified. As long as there was no telling where public opinion would jump afterward, it was never an easy choice.

[I am telling you this so you do not break.]

Although half of it was simply because the president had wanted to have a personal conversation with him. That was the private feeling he revealed at the end.

[I am sorry about all but locking you in that hotel when you came to D.C. before. If we meet again at the next decoration ceremony, let us sit down together and take our time over a beer. The beer I make myself with honey is quite good.]

“I will look forward to it.”

[It was pleasant, even if only for a moment. At the edge of the cruelest month, a warm season returned. I will hang up now.]

“...”

Joanna, who had been listening, smiled faintly. He understood calling April the cruelest month, but what was the part after that? When Gyeoul wondered, an Intelligence correction from 「English」 printed a translucent string in his vision. It was part of a poem Gyeoul had not memorized, The Waste Land.

『Winter kept us warm, covering Earth in forgetful snow, feeding a little life with dried tubers.』

Footnotes:

Join our discord at https://dsc.gg/wetried