WeTried Translations

Translator: Coughing Baby

Editor: Coughing Baby

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

Chapter 302: Greek Islands (2)

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The first thing that stood out as they entered the base was the long line of task force members stretching in front of a temporary building. Yura got out of the Humvee and tilted her head.

“What’s that line for? Is it the PX?”

“No. It’s the tax filing office. Personnel sent by the Internal Revenue Service and the accounting officers are visiting each unit in order, and starting today, it’s our Company’s turn.”

After hearing Gyeoul’s answer, Yura made an expression that was hard to describe.

“Taxes... That feels really out of nowhere.”

“It’s something we should have finished much earlier, actually. It was only delayed because we were on the quarantine front.”

Captain Singh added, “Now that the mainland recapture has effectively succeeded, it likely means the time has come to collect. Considering the size of the military, even delaying it this long must have been quite a burden for the government.”

The original filing date had been in April. But the troops on the quarantine front had automatically received a two-month extension. This had been decided from the start of the year to align with Operation Manifest Liberation.

The president must have thought that would be enough. If not for General Yang Yongbin’s nuclear attack, they really would have been entering the final stage of the mainland recapture before summer arrived in earnest. But Manifest Liberation had ended in unexpected failure, and additional measures had to follow.

“Are you finished with yours, Company Commander?”

Gyeoul shook his head at Yura’s question.

“I tried, but there was a small problem. We decided to revisit it later.”

“What kind of problem?”

“I couldn’t pay the tax right away because it was too high.”

“...What?”

Gyeoul gave the flustered Yura a brief explanation. The Department of Defense had agreed to dispose of the personal gifts he had received on his behalf, but the tax had been calculated before he had received the settlement from those proceeds.

“There was that mistake, but I was grateful because I could tell they were trying to make things as convenient as possible. Other people finished very quickly. They must have prepared a lot before crossing the blockade.”

Captain Singh commented on that.

“Of course. What matters is victory in the quarantine war. People already busy fighting should not be bothered over minor issues.”

Gyeoul smiled bitterly.

“It’s impressive when something obvious gets done the obvious way. Even more in a world like this.”

“Mm... Now that you say it, that is true.”

The Captain accepted it readily. But the Captain did not seem to truly agree that it was impressive. For most people, this would be the limit. Everyone’s own life was the hardest to them. It was one of the reasons the president and the current administration’s competence was not being properly appreciated.

“I should hurry and get in line too.”

Yura was nervous about the Internal Revenue Service’s reputation, but Gyeoul reassured her.

“Why go already? There are still two days left, so you can take your time unpacking first.”

“Two days...”

Yura’s steps, which had begun turning away, returned to their original direction. Then, a beat late, she stared at Gyeoul in surprise.

“But Company Commander, you must be seriously rich. So rich that the salary you’ve saved until now isn’t enough to pay your taxes... Aside from what you spent on the people from the alliance way back then, you haven’t really spent it anywhere, have you?”

“I know. Somehow it turned out like this.”

The temporary barracks they entered while talking was the independent company’s shared space. The people resting in the conference room and lounge with the TV on immediately stood up. Eyes that spotted Yura filled with joy. Gyeoul gestured to them.

“At ease.”

The moment their rigid posture broke, cheers burst out. Yura was buried in everyone’s joy and welcome. The way officers and enlisted soldiers alike hugged her tightly was warm. In the middle of it all, one person stood apart with red-rimmed eyes. It was Ensign Song Jeong-hun, who had been the acting First Platoon leader. He murmured quietly.

“Finally... liberation...”

“...”

Gyeoul approached and patted him on the shoulder.

“You worked hard all this time. Finish the handover and have a safe trip.”

“Yes... I’ll do my best to earn good results.”

The place he was being sent to was the advanced officer education course. With Yura’s return, Ensign Song no longer had a platoon to take charge of, so he was scheduled to complete supplementary training. In the future, when the independent company was elevated to an Independent Battalion, he would join as a new platoon leader. Probably at Fort Roberts.

‘That’s the most likely outcome.’

The other staff members agreed with Gyeoul’s prediction. The independent company was the spearhead for using refugee manpower resources.

Around the same time, Gyeoul had received word that he would be going to Washington, D.C. before or after the unit’s redeployment. The person who unofficially relayed the higher-ups’ discussion was Major McGuire, a public affairs officer he had known for some time. The visit was closer to a victory event in substance. Gyeoul had already been tipped off about it. War heroes like him, whose medal ceremonies had been postponed, would be gathered in one place.

McGuire had all but advanced in rank because he had been assigned to Gyeoul, but the Major was not offering empty goodwill. In practical terms, he wanted to confirm Gyeoul’s opinion. Not about Gyeoul’s personal attendance, but about participating as a unit.

He asked Gyeoul seriously.

“I’m sorry to ask you this after the improper treatment you already experienced once, but is there any possibility your troops will desert?”

“Desert?”

“Yes. What the public affairs office expects is a demonstration effect for civilians. For example, they anticipate that simply showing them spending ordinary leave in a city like New York will create enough of a response. As you know, there are also known faces around Major Han Gyeoul, like Lieutenant Park and Lieutenant Li.”

He pronounced Gyeoul’s name carefully and accurately, but even Jin-seok’s and Yura’s surnames came out wrong. In truth, many Americans besides McGuire would be like that.

Before answering, Gyeoul tilted his head and bought time. He needed to look cautious.

“I don’t think you need to worry too much.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. There is hope now. It might be dangerous if they went straight to D.C. from here, but I think it would be fine if they returned to Fort Roberts once and then attended. They’ve obtained stable lives, so I don’t think they’ll make an extreme choice now.”

Would they remain respected soldiers, or become wanted fugitives?

When the war situation had been unstable and their own positions had been far from secure, their longing for the east side of the blockade had been that strong. Strong enough that when Jang Han-byul went to Fort Benning for Sniper school, everyone had envied her as one.

But Gyeoul thought the situation had changed a lot now.

“If you’re that worried, why not lock them in a hotel the way you did with me?”

During his first visit to Washington, D.C., which had been skipped through Time Acceleration, the hotel Gyeoul had been confined in was Whiskey Hotel, or WH, slang made from the initials of the White House. But the unit members would actually be staying in a hotel. Surely they would not be given a military base even there.

‘The government will have to care about appearances too.’

Citizens would see the independent company’s attendance at the ceremony as a kind of reward. But if the company members were confined to a base and not allowed out, wouldn’t the media pounce on it? At this point, it was hard to expect the pro-government reporting pattern of last year, the so-called patriotic reporting.

It could be seen as one aspect of a lame-duck administration.

Perhaps McGuire heard the suggestion to lock them up as sarcasm. Major McGuire sighed with a troubled smile.

“That’s harsh. Didn’t I already say that was inappropriate?”

Gyeoul said again.

“I think you misunderstood. That was a sincere suggestion. Of course, I’m not saying you should send that many people to the White House. I mean that if you have to restrict their movements anyway, a flashy place like a five-star hotel would be better. Then you could minimize complaints from officers and soldiers, and you would have an answer for the people criticizing you. Given the current state of affairs, it was an unavoidable measure to prevent terrorism.”

“Mm...”

“I don’t think it’s too much of a stretch. There are probably still people who think the surname Li means someone must be Chinese. It would sound plausible when explaining it to the soldiers too.”

“There may be some sense in that.”

“If cost is an issue, I could contribute within possible limits.”

McGuire looked troubled again.

“Don’t say such horrifying things. If that came out later, the fallout would be enormous.”

Then he corrected himself and continued.

“More importantly, nothing has been decided in that direction. The tentative policy is to allow free outings. The picture the higher-ups want is one where civilians and soldiers mix naturally. They talk, take photos together, and at a bar, someone buys them a drink and they make a toast... Do you understand the feel of it?”

“Preliminary education will be essential.”

“I suppose so. Well, getting drunk and crying would be within the acceptable range, but if a brawl breaks out, that would be a major incident.”

Then the public affairs officer straightened his posture.

“In any case, you view the possibility of your subordinates deserting as low.”

“Yes, and... even if you let them roam freely, there won’t be no control at all, right? Things like reporting destinations beforehand, maintaining a contact network, tracking Net Warrior terminal signals... There should be all kinds of methods. Hmm, what about an electronic ankle monitor?”

“You can’t be serious... You’ve been awfully mischievous for a while now.”

He left with a request for Gyeoul to inform him beforehand if there were any personnel who needed special attention.

If there were such people, it would be better to manage them through counseling before reporting them.

“Oh, right. One more thing.”

Major McGuire, who had been about to leave, said this.

“Once you cross the blockade, you may have to go on a speaking tour.”

“A speech?”

“One about war bonds first. And another calling for unity among citizens. This hasn’t been set for sure either, but I’m telling you so you can prepare yourself.”

“The things I need to say will already be decided, won’t they?”

“It would be best to revise it based on what you prepare yourself.”

Because no one knew where the story might leak. The public affairs office was not politically unified either.

『We’ll cut off your arms and legs in 30 seconds!』

An impressive advertisement pulled Gyeoul, who had been thinking, back to the present.

『Celebrating 100,000 units sold! Easy Limb Amputation Kit, 50% off!』

“...”

In the middle of the joyful reunion, the TV was talking to itself with no one watching or listening. The program scheduled to air shortly was a special feature on the next presidential election.

‘Will it come out today?’

What Gyeoul was waiting for, with an interest close to concern, was the revelation by Republican Party presidential candidate Edgar Kramer. Since September began, he had repeatedly stated that he would soon expose two fatal secrets of the current administration. What those secrets actually were was still unknown. He was probably waiting for the optimal time. Since a victory ceremony was scheduled, one before and one after would be fitting.

‘I can guess one of them...’

Gyeoul could not predict the other.

But it was plausible enough. From last year to this year, there had been countless emergency measures taken in response to the crisis, and it would be hard for every single one of those measures to be legally and ethically sound.

Or for that exact reason, it could be a bluff, hoping the guilty would flinch first. The plan would be that if they got shaken enough, something might come out. Even if nothing did, it would not be a major loss. Nothing had been announced anyway, so he could simply correct himself and say he had been given wrong information.

The White House rushing the commemorative event was probably part of the same context.

「Gyeoul. These days, I feel disappointed every morning when I wake up from a dream.」

It was a message Anne had sent around dawn.

「My reunion with you is drawing closer.」

Gyeoul had not replied yet. It was only two lines, but the restrained emotion in them felt deep, making it difficult to send a shallow answer.

Actually, there had been one other message today from someone outside the military. It was a link sent by the CIA through the number of a pizza franchise. 「The video will be automatically deleted after being played once. It contains personal information, so please check it when you are alone.」 That was the notice.

Of course, the mention of personal information was a disguise. It was only a hint that the information was sensitive.

In a closed room somewhere, the neatly dressed Intelligence Agency executioner in the video spoke to Gyeoul through the screen.

「I thought you would want to see this.」

Then, under a single light, the executioner grabbed the hair of a man kneeling with his hands and feet tied and lifted his head. The man coughed dryly, blood mixed in with it. He was none other than Team Leader Chadwick. His sparse teeth showed because he was breathing through his mouth, and his swollen face bore the marks of a brutal interrogation. Even so, Gyeoul recognized him as Chadwick. He laughed, heh, and that feeling could not belong to anyone else. 「Perception」 affirmed this judgment.

The Intelligence Agency agent let go of Chadwick’s hair, slowly put in earplugs, and pulled a pistol from inside the jacket. The muzzle aimed at the disheveled head. Chadwick only hung his head and drooled bloody spit. He did not cry or beg. Then, bang! The dim room flashed once. Blood-dark brain matter spilled from the head that jerked as if it had burst. The body collapsed with a thud.

「Do not tell anyone about this matter. Officially, this bastard has to be alive.」

Then, excuse me. The executioner gave a slight nod to the screen and left with the sound of dress shoes. After that, everything except the spreading bloodstain looked like a still image for about ten seconds before the video finally ended.

========== Author’s Note ==========

#November 28, 2017, 8:32 PM Revision Notice

I fixed an error where Major McGuire used honorific speech toward Gyeoul.

#Eye in the Sky

Today, I brought a movie I want to recommend. Eye in the Sky. It’s a film about the dilemma of whether it is acceptable to kill one person in order to save many.

A useful fact to know before watching: when civilian casualties are expected, U.S. military drone strikes are supposed to go through a total of five stages of collateral damage assessment. If the person in charge of the strike refuses at stage one, saying, “This feels wrong,” they request stage two from the higher-ups. If they say, “Uh, this is difficult,” they request stage three, and so on... At the final stage, stage five, the decision is made by someone at least at general rank or minister-level rank.

It was sad to see reviews getting annoyed and saying, “Why is firing one missile so complicated! Does that make any sense!” The film is very well made.

#Q&A

Q. UnlimitedOne: @The TF is being disbanded surprisingly quickly. Since we’re passing through the mid-to-late part of the scenario, I imagine America finishing another round of maintenance, pushing down to Panama, and then thinking about what comes next. Does the chapter title mean Cyprus? / Putting that aside, no matter how I look at it, America really is a cheat country. Self-sufficient in every resource all by itself...

A. Major General Rogers’ joint task force is a group of defeated soldiers, so they need mental care. / The subtitle does not refer to any specific place. It is the name of an emergency government succession plan the U.S. government established in the past. / America is a cheat country, yes. Every time I see zombie apocalypse stories set in America, I think, “These guys complain too much...”

Q. Calpis: @4,000,000,000,000 years is the exact expression, so you’ll do it for us, right? I’ll be waiting with my heart pounding. (serious font)

A. I won’t. No, I can’t. Because I plan to die after finishing Ossuary.

Q. BurnToDeath: @I hate authors with sharp instincts like you.

A. Rea...der...nim...play...with...me...

Q. Third_Wing: @Still, since they’ve almost recovered the mainland, if they just restore the Panama Canal, they’ll have plenty of naval power available... Then humanity’s victory will be close. Does that mean a variable that raises the difficulty again will appear? Like the Republican Party representative becoming president, cutting off foreign aid, building a huuuuuge wall on the Mexico border, then that guy and the White House people suddenly dying from a zombie outbreak before they can fix diplomatic relations... Or a huge asteroid suddenly slamming into Earth... Or the California Peninsula becoming an island because of an earthquake, and Yellowstone erupting and spreading volcanic ash all over America, ruining farming... Or the Control AI going berserk and the Demon King of Chaos appearing...

A. No way... It won’t go that way. I can’t write this novel forever. Hehe. I plan to finish it within next year.

Q. Bug: @Ah, was this R-19? But aren’t there no scenes like that? Nothing violent either... / Will Gyeoul’s insurance grade go up? Looks like he paid off the debt?

A. I was once reported for cruelty while writing Seal Breaker, so... I think Ossuary is plenty cruel depending on the reader. / He hasn’t paid it all off yet.

Q. Strawberry Munch Munch: @How large is the range of firm defensive lines and protected zones on the current North American continent?

A. Although infection incidents do happen from time to time, at the current point, Canada and the area inside the existing blockade are almost certainly safe, and the area secured through Boar Hunt has no chance of worsening.

Q. StoneLumpFireLump: @Has the chat window that came out at the end of each chapter been replaced by congressional records? The records were good too, but I want to see those bastards’ reactions...

A. Chat does not necessarily appear at the end of every chapter. In the past, there were times when it appeared at intervals of nearly 30 chapters. :)

Chat is scheduled to appear three more times in the future. According to the plan. Please keep that in mind, other people who asked the same question.

Q. I Don’t Know Hangul: @Is it correct for the soldier who dropped the shields to call Gyeoul sir? I heard address changes according to rank.

A. Unless it is the Navy or Marine Corps, the term of address for a superior is uniformly Sir. Calling someone by name and rank only applies when someone else of the same rank is present.

To confess one error... There are actually no cases where they call him Company Commander either. But it would be difficult to fill every dialogue line with Sir, so I use it as a translation allowance.

Q. Guaaaaak: @Rest isn’t bad. On the condition that you make up for the amount you rested the next day.

A. That isn’t rest...

Footnotes:

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