WeTried Translations

Translator: Coughing Baby

Editor: Coughing Baby

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

Chapter 356: A Splendid Invitation (8)

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Sergeant Raul Ellsworth, whom Gyeoul met at breakfast, turned out to be surprisingly cheerful. When everyone toasted the future of humanity and America, he drank cola from an elegantly curved glass. When the people around him found it amusing, he laughed along with them.

“Cola’s better than non-alcoholic champagne! If I can’t drink alcohol anyway!”

He did not mean he was a lightweight. He meant he observed a religious prohibition.

Gyeoul sat at a table a short distance away, quietly watching him from the corner of his eye. Ellsworth’s voice was loud enough that eavesdropping posed no problem. When Gyeoul glanced toward the outside, Anne, wearing sunglasses, gave a tiny nod. It was a gesture that said she would leave it to Gyeoul’s judgment.

‘Going straight up to him would be too obvious... Maybe I should find a natural way to talk to him.’

Officers with officers, enlisted men with enlisted men. That was how people were mingling for now. For Gyeoul, an officer, to walk straight over to the sergeant’s table would look far too unnatural.

Anne’s warning to be wary of the sergeant had not meant he should avoid contact altogether. From the Bureau’s perspective, with surveillance already underway, they would be grateful if Gyeoul made careful contact.

Sergeant Ellsworth himself was not suspected of anything yet. He only believed in a dangerous religion. For now, he was still clean. But one of the layovers before Washington was Salt Lake City, the headquarters of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. That was where the FBI expected some kind of plot to be hatched.

If Gyeoul made a connection with Sergeant Ellsworth, the sergeant was sure to mention it when he met his family and friends, if only because of Gyeoul’s fame. Word would surely reach the ears of the radicals, who were treated as a separate group even within the heretical sect. If they were harboring some nationwide plan under the 「Blasphemous League」, the chances that they would try to approach Sergeant Ellsworth would rise even further.

In other words, this was an effort to prevent something equivalent to a coup before it happened.

In Gyeoul’s estimation, if they were given a pretext, he could easily imagine them fabricating evidence and arresting every major leader of the 「Blasphemous League」 in one sweep. Even if they were later released without charges, the thinking would be that they only needed to get past the most dangerous period before and after the presidential election.

The sound of someone approaching drew Gyeoul’s attention.

“Is this seat taken?”

It was a voice he had not heard in a long time. Gyeoul immediately rose from his seat.

“Colonel Emert.”

“You remember me.”

“How could I forget?”

The colonel looked pleased by Gyeoul’s answer. He glanced left and right.

“I still haven’t heard an answer to my first question...”

“Of course you may sit. This is Major Tanner Long of the Green Berets, and Captain George Palmer of the 75th Regiment Reconnaissance Company. Please introduce yourselves.”

Gyeoul introduced the two who had already been sharing the table with him.

“Ray Emert, 75th Regiment. It’s good to see someone from the same regiment here.”

“...It’s nice to meet you. Tanner Long.”

“George Palmer, sir. I’ve heard a great deal about you, Colonel. It’s an honor to meet you.”

Since this was a relaxed occasion, no one was too strict about formalities. Major Long briefly wore an awkward expression. It was probably due to his pride as a Green Beret, since Green Berets tended to look down on Rangers a little.

As the only common link among the three, Gyeoul skillfully guided the conversation. They were all soldiers with real combat experience, so once he opened the channel, that was enough. As soon as they began trading experiences and war stories, the mood would naturally soften.

With that in mind, after they had exchanged a few words, Gyeoul brought up the past.

“In San Francisco, I wondered if I might get to see you. I’d heard that you had come near the area while tracking a Humpback, Colonel.”

“That was supposed to be a secret operation. How did you know?”

“I was working with the CIA at the time. There was someone I could ask.”

“Are you allowed to just say that?”

“This much should be fine.”

Colonel Emert looked amused.

“This much should be fine, huh... That really makes me feel you’ve become someone important. Well, I knew it from the moment you ran wild in Santa Margarita. I thought, as long as this madman doesn’t die, he’s going to make it big.”

Major Long showed interest in the conversation. First at the mention of the Humpback, and again at Santa Margarita. He asked about Santa Margarita first.

“Sir. Were you there with Lieutenant Colonel Han?”

“I was. I was the operation commander.”

“Was that really real? I mean, you know, it wasn’t some editing trick or something? The combat footage from that day.”

His blunt question showed his personality. Even with Gyeoul, the person involved, sitting right there, he showed no sign of restraint. There was no particular malice in his doubt, but Colonel Emert still showed a flicker of displeasure.

“I’ve been asked that question so many times.”

“Of course a lot of people would be curious.”

“I would prefer you observe basic courtesy.”

“I’m a Green Beret, aren’t I?”

“...In any case.”

The colonel answered with a fed-up look.

“I swear it was the unvarnished truth. I only regret that after all that chaos... the ones someone like Lieutenant Colonel Han risked his life to save were nothing more than a few pieces of human trash.”

His voice sounded irritated, but to Gyeoul, it felt deliberately raised. Gyeoul was not the only one listening to another table. There were many ears around their own.

Emert turned his gaze to Gyeoul.

“You must be tired too. You’ll keep getting that kind of suspicion.”

“It’s all right. Not everyone I meet is like a Green Beret.”

When Gyeoul answered with a light joke, both Rangers and the Green Beret let out quiet laughter.

Major Long drained a glass of champagne, and the low alcohol content clearly did not satisfy him. Still, with the schedule ahead, there was no way they would serve hard liquor in the morning.

He solved the problem in his own way. He snatched an entire tray of champagne glasses from a passing server. Whether the server was flustered or not was none of his concern.

Colonel Emert gave a dry laugh.

“I understand we’re supposed to shoot later. You must be confident you won’t get drunk and embarrass yourself.”

“So what if I embarrass myself a little? It’s not like they’ll refuse to give me the medal they were going to give me.”

“...Refreshingly straightforward.”

“Don’t worry, sir. I’m not some little girl. I’m not getting drunk on champagne. More importantly, if you personally took down a Humpback, do you know anything more about that thing?”

Perhaps this was another question he had heard many times, because the colonel answered without any change in expression.

“When has command ever explained every little thing like that to us? I only secured samples of the thing’s blood and secretions. I wasn’t told anything special about the research results. That said, everyone must have some idea what its ability is, no? It makes no sense for the three of us here to be the only ones who don’t know an open secret everybody else knows. Is there any need to ask?”

“I’m the type who feels uneasy until I check the answer sheet, no matter what problem I’m solving.”

“That’s far too inconsistent...”

“I just live however I feel like living.”

Gyeoul asked Emert.

“How have you been since then?”

“Mostly resting. Our losses were so heavy that even the missions we were supposed to receive went elsewhere. I’m thinking that was fortunate, since it was a strange and annoying order.”

“A strange order...?”

“It was two days ago. Out of nowhere, we were ordered to find and capture a Trickster alive. And not just any Trickster, but an Alpha Trickster, which is hard to see these days. Obviously it’s for research, but since when is capturing a Trickster alive easy? When things go wrong, those things self-destruct or kill themselves. You saw one kill itself too, didn’t you?”

Gyeoul nodded. The colonel was referring to the combat record from Sacramento. Gyeoul had seen a Trickster commit suicide twice, but the information about the Trickster that tore out its own neck at the black site on the Pequod’s secret deck remained classified, preserved only in documents.

‘Is there any reason to look for an Alpha Trickster at this point?’

Alpha. A Trickster at the stage before any enhancement had occurred. Gyeoul had heard that in South America, radio waves with higher output than before were now being detected. There had also been sightings of a Trickster that survived after setting off an EMP. If one had to classify it, it would be around Delta or Epsilon. If they were going to capture one, it should be one of those. They needed to know how long it took to recover after setting one off, how much physical function it retained before recovery, whether it could exercise control, and so on.

Gyeoul’s concern came from an 「Insight」 telling him Esther was likely involved in this. But the same correction did not react to the question of why. It was a “vague premonition” reinterpreted by the system. In other words, it could easily be wrong.

‘What basis does this 「Insight」 even have...? Is it just because the timing is similar?’

Even though there was a good chance it was nothing but a mistaken impression, Gyeoul could not let it go. The rank of 「Insight」 was much higher than before too. Colonel Emert’s question pulled the absorbed Gyeoul back to reality.

“You don’t look well. Do you know something?”

“...No. I just remembered something unpleasant.”

“Hmm.”

The colonel did not look convinced, but he did not pry further. It was not the kind of era where one could.

“Ah, right. Please take this.”

Captain Palmer, who had only been listening, handed something like a business card to everyone seated around the table.

Major Long flipped the one he received over and back, then asked suspiciously.

“What’s this? Agnes Farm?”

“My wife’s name is Agnes. I believe I told you before. My dream is to live on a farm someday with Nessie... with my wife. She said she had found a farm for sale that looked exactly like the place she had imagined, so I told her to buy it right away. I said it was a gift for her. The money I had saved was enough. Since withdrawing it all at once would have been difficult, I took over part of it in war bonds. The address is written there, so please visit any time when you have the chance.”

Major Long’s face turned sour.

“Huh... You idiot, keep that up and you’ll be dead before you know it.”

“Pardon?”

“You know how in movies, guys who say things like you just did die first. Those nice fools who say crap like, ‘When I get home, I’m going to get married,’ or, ‘Go on ahead, I’ll be right behind you,’ or, ‘I’m still alive, you goddamn motherfuckers!’”

Palmer burst out laughing at Major Long’s vicious words.

“We’re not characters in a movie. And as far as I know, the person in your last example survives to the end. They’re not exactly a nice fool either.”

“I’m saying you should avoid unlucky things. You know, like how Marines hate candy.”

“That is because Marines are weak. A mere superstition cannot kill a Ranger. Though the reverse might be possible.”

No matter how polite his words and conduct were, a Ranger was still a Ranger. Major Long gave him a look that said, oh, look at this guy. On the surface, Palmer had mentioned the Marines, but what Captain Palmer had really aimed at was Major Long, who had brought up superstition directly.

But some people reacted one step sooner. It happened to be a group of Marines who had overheard him.

“Sir. Excuse me, but what did you just say?”

Gyeoul recognized them right away.

‘The ones who returned from Japan after a year...’

They were the protagonists of a miracle. After surviving in Japan, which had become a mutant paradise, while protecting U.S. embassy personnel and American citizens stationed there, they had secured an abandoned passenger plane and returned to the mainland after a year. For that reason, every surviving member of their unit would receive at least a Distinguished Service Cross, and at most a Medal of Honor.

It would probably be the first time in American history that a single unit had produced so many Medal of Honor recipients.

They were like the crystallization of grit and stubbornness, so even in how they treated a superior from another unit, there was no hesitation. Captain Palmer looked briefly flustered, but soon answered calmly.

“I said a mere superstition cannot kill a Ranger.”

“Before that, sir.”

“Ah, that Marines are weak?”

“...”

What is wrong with him? As Gyeoul watched, he noticed Colonel Emert’s glance toward Palmer. The colonel stepped in as if to mediate.

“The mood isn’t good. Instead of fighting for no reason, why not test directly which side is stronger?”

He was a fellow Ranger, yes, but he was still a colonel. The Marines reacted sullenly.

“How do you mean, sir?”

“Hmm... How about arm wrestling?”

The reactions split. The Marines looked as if they were wondering what kind of childish prank this was. The surroundings, however, filled with excitement. Then.

“Why? Not confident?”

The colonel’s obvious, simple provocation enraged the Marines.

“No, sir! We are confident!”

“What about the captain?”

“I don’t refuse a fight.”

The Marines’ fighting spirit surged at Palmer’s calm answer.

It was a close match. At least, that was how it looked from the outside. Since there had been a silent order, Captain Palmer had intended to lose on purpose from the start. But it was hard to tell whether he had truly lost on purpose or whether he had really been overpowered. His opponent had been formidable from the beginning.

In any case, victory belonged to the Marine champion. After winning the tense contest of strength, the Marine, his face flushed deep red, threw both arms high into the air and roared toward his comrades.

“US marine! US marine! Oo-rah!”

“Oo-rah!”

Oo-rah! Oo-rah! The answering cries of his Marine comrades thundered through the room.

The flow after that was strange too. Colonel Emert expanded the game very naturally, as smoothly as water finding its course. Thanks to that, the event moved far away from an elegant breakfast. The local dignitaries invited to the same gathering happily accepted the role of spectators.

“Don’t lose.”

That was what the colonel quietly said to Gyeoul. He had said he was sick of being asked the same question, yet in the end, he had planned it all. Of course, it was also the colonel’s consideration. Naturally, whether Gyeoul could take advantage of it depended on his ability. If he embarrassed himself, that would be Gyeoul’s responsibility.

Thanks to that, after defeating a few people, Gyeoul also faced Sergeant Raul Ellsworth in a match. It was fortunate timing, since he had been wondering how to close the distance. After winning in a way that looked as close as possible, Gyeoul shook his hand, pretending to be impressed.

“You’re incredibly strong, Sergeant.”

“That’s embarrassing to hear after losing.”

Even as he said that, Ellsworth smiled good-naturedly and shook hands with Gyeoul.

After sitting with him and talking, Gyeoul knew for certain that Sergeant Ellsworth’s religious passion was anything but ordinary.

“God, who loves mankind, gave me the calling, ability, and opportunity to save people. So what fear could I have as I carry out His holy will? Everyone praises me and says I acted bravely... but they are wrong. The people I saved were saved by the Lord. The only name that should shine is the name of the Lord on high.”

If saving people was good and killing people was evil, then the sergeant was certainly a good person. At least the people whose lives had been preserved because of him would not be able to deny his goodness.

Thinking it over, a healthy religion might be the fastest shortcut to reaching a certain level of goodness.

But Gyeoul personally did not think that counted as swimming out of the water.

‘The more I see it... the more depressing it is.’

Pure faith kept making Gyeoul think of Esther.

If an omnipotent and benevolent absolute being truly existed, and if people were only happy under His care, then Gyeoul wondered whether there would be any need for a person to swim out of the water. Assuming that divine being who loved humanity without limit really existed.

In any case, because of this tendency, no one stayed close to the sergeant for long. They respected his devotion and achievements, but they seemed to find it hard to handle conversations that turned religious every time. Everyone here was a giant shining with the most honorable military achievements anyway. So from the sergeant’s perspective, Gyeoul, who listened calmly for a long time, seemed very welcome.

Footnotes:

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