WeTried Translations
Translator: Coughing Baby
Editor: Coughing Baby
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
Chapter 364: A Splendid Invitation (16)
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"To be more precise, she said she wanted to send her regards, along with her thanks."
Talbot's explanation took Gyeoul by surprise.
"Her thanks and regards? To me?"
"Yes. She said you are a good person, so you must be worried about her."
Who was worrying about whom here?
Gyeoul's gaze drifted sideways. The brandy, a twenty-one-year Arkansas Black, was already an empty bottle. His tongue would not start tangling midway through the call, would it? The worry crossed his mind, but he could hardly ask Talbot to call back later. If he put this off for no good reason, he might never get another chance.
The room was thick with the smell of alcohol. It was a mercy only sound traveled over the radio waves. Gyeoul asked,
"How is that child doing?"
"Why not hear that from her directly? I am only the contact officer assigned to you, Lieutenant Colonel. I was given the role because I at least have met you before."
"Still, you must know something."
Considering the contact that would follow, Talbot was likely to know at least the basic state of things. This line was probably being monitored by the Intelligence Agency anyway, but Gyeoul said,
"Talbot. Like you said, you and I have met before. Even if it is only a rough outline, I want to hear it first from someone I know. I think you would lie a little less than someone else."
He had never expected Talbot to tell him nothing but the truth. But as he had felt earlier that day, Talbot still carried an old debt. So even if Talbot lied, there was a good chance of some emotional disturbance, or some clue close to it, and such clues were good prey for 「Insight」 and 「Perception」.
"Hmm..."
Talbot seemed burdened by the distrust Gyeoul had deliberately shown, then began answering quickly.
"The other side is already standing by, so I will hurry. Originally, we planned to connect a new video call as soon as this call ended."
"Yes."
"Please turn on your laptop in advance. The other side will be using a military video conference system."
Following Talbot’s instructions, Gyeoul powered on the work laptop.
"Now tell me."
"As you know, the military authorities and Whiskey Hotel, the White House, wish to use Miss Esther's abilities in the quarantine war. Fortunately, Miss Esther herself is also being very cooperative. Rather, she is so cooperative that it is suspicious. According to Miss Esther, she has come to rethink why God sent her into this world. Thanks to you, Lieutenant Colonel."
"Thanks to me..."
"You told Miss Esther the words of a certain nun, did you not? About why evil exists in the world. She says that as time passed, those words began to feel different to her. The clergy assigned to Miss Esther also think highly of what you did. They said that even though you are not a believer, you gave the most appropriate advice at a dangerous moment."
"The clergy assigned to her? There are people like that?"
"There are. Miss Esther requested people she could consult about her life of faith, and the Quarantine Strategy Institute recognized the need. Psychological stability would have to come first for smooth cooperation, after all. The assigned personnel were chosen from civilian pastors and priests."
Chaplains, meaning military clergy, must have been ruled out from the beginning. Military personnel would easily draw distrust from a wounded girl. The military did not wash out of a person just because the uniform came off.
"Three were ultimately selected after screening. One pastor from the Methodist Church, one pastor from the Baptist Church, and lastly, one cardinal from the New York Vatican. Miss Esther wanted to hear a variety of answers to her questions. She said she would think for herself about which answer was right. His Holiness the Pope has also visited several times for that purpose."
Gyeoul was slightly surprised.
"The Pope came in person?"
"Is he not the highest authority of the Catholic faith? To put it crudely as a nonbeliever, his words could be called the essence of Catholicism in this age."
True enough. Within Catholicism, there was probably no one better than the Pope to answer questions about faith.
"I heard the Pope blessed her in tears, and Miss Esther responded well too."
"..."
At least that did not seem to be a lie. If they were letting her meet the Pope at her request, there was no need to worry too much about her other living conditions. Talbot must have brought up her religious life first with that in mind.
"When I speak with Esther, could I briefly greet those clergy as well?"
"Of course. It is late, but at least two of them should still be there, so they can consult with her face-to-face at any time... In fact, all three of them eat and sleep there. The pastors only leave briefly on Sundays to visit their own churches."
"They sound like good people."
"They must have been selected just as strictly. It truly is an opportunity that will never come again."
Judging by Talbot's tone, the military authorities seemed to intend to receive Esther's help starting with the first stage of the Continental Partition operation: the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force's feigned landing at Cartagena.
'So the key is how far Esther can be trusted.'
Gyeoul sighed.
"That is enough about the rest. Let me confirm one last thing."
"What is it?"
"The reason the Intelligence Agency is involved with Esther. Is it possibly related to the Russian quarantine front?"
"I already said that is difficult to tell you at this stage... Actually, I do not know much about that either. More importantly, why do you think so? There are no Tricksters on the Eurasian continent, are there?"
In other words, Esther's usefulness would drop sharply there.
But Gyeoul had 「Insight」. As he kept thinking about the Intelligence Agency's jurisdiction, correction had activated along that line. It was the result of the question Gyeoul had been holding and the time he had spent on it.
"A while ago, I heard something that bothered me from someone I know."
"Something that bothered you...?"
"Yes. They said a capture mission had been given to a Ranger regiment. They were told to capture an Alpha Trickster."
"..."
The confusion beyond the receiver felt like the silence of someone who truly knew nothing. Not as a simple hunch, but according to 「Perception」. Gyeoul continued regardless.
"Why would they need a living Alpha Trickster now? My guess is this. They intend to release Tricksters on the Eurasian continent. Among Tricksters, the Alpha Trickster, with its relatively lower intelligence and radio-wave modulation ability, would be the best fit."
"...Excuse me?"
"If they do that, Esther becomes useful on that front as well. They can overcome distances that cannot be broken through by force alone, making it possible to advance to the source of the infection, Ground Zero. This is only my imagination, of course. But Talbot, you said it yourself. I would become involved later."
Talbot seemed only to have been told that Gyeoul would be connected somehow, but where else would Gyeoul's ability be needed outside combat?
Even if they deceived or actively avoided mutant hordes on the way to Ground Zero, there was no way to avoid combat entirely. The land was so vast. How long would it take for traits that enabled radio reception to spread evenly through reinfection? And would they have the room to wait that long?
There was no guarantee the Russian front could endure that long.
"The problem is Russia. They would be horrified. The mutants' organization would improve, they would move much more cunningly, and most of all, mutant hordes with Tricksters in them would no longer get lost anywhere on that vast land. While they secured the original form of Morgellons and created a chemical weapon to end the quarantine war, there is a high chance Russia's entire territory would be swept clean."
Above all, what if Esther betrayed them?
Making her intercept and interpret Tricksters' communications, and broadcasting the radio waves Esther created over a wide area, were gambles that required completely different levels of trust. If Esther transmitted language and knowledge to the mutants, the expected damage would be truly horrific.
America was across the ocean, so it had room to spare even in the worst-case scenario.
Russia did not.
That was why this guess included a role for the Intelligence Agency.
Gyeoul said,
"Therefore, they need to persuade the people on the Russian side, and I suspect that will involve secret deals and improper methods. That is the Intelligence Agency's specialty."
"I truly know nothing about this."
"Yes, I believe you. But someone listening in on this call, or someone who will receive a report on it, will know. I intend to hear the answer from that person later. If my prediction is right, they will contact me in some form, will they not? At the very least, I expect they will ask me not to tell anyone else."
"...Hah."
"That is all I had to say. Now could you connect me to Esther?"
"Understood, ahem, understood. When this call disconnects, a request to join the video call program will appear soon. You just need to accept it. I will read out the access password, so please write it down."
"Yes."
He answered, but 「Memorization」 correction was enough. Talbot read the password twice, confirmed it with Gyeoul, then wrapped up the call.
"Then I will contact you again next time."
"It was very good to hear from you today. Please send my regards to Tucker, Kelly, and Agent Kowalski as well."
"You should be able to meet Tucker in person."
"Really?"
"You are attending the riding club event at East Potomac Park, are you not? Since many foreign leaders will be gathering there, the Intelligence Agency is also sending agents. Tucker and I are included. If we are lucky, there is a chance the other two will be dispatched as well."
"That is good news. Anyway, I will see you that day."
"Yes. Thank you as always for your cooperation, Lieutenant Colonel."
"Do not mention it. Have a peaceful night."
Gyeoul ended the call. How long did he wait? The scheduled signal came in, and Gyeoul entered the password into the pop-up menu. The screen, whose first pixels had broken apart, sharpened as if pieces were being fitted together. At last, though the feed stuttered now and then, Esther's face appeared, more swollen and collapsed than before.
"Wa-a-ah!"
Esther's expression twisted. It was probably a smile.
"Esther."
"Lieutenant Colonelll."
It was hard to say anything right away. It was awkward too. Esther seemed to feel the same. With many emotions passing through his mind, Gyeoul chose a few words before the silence could stretch too long.
"I have been wondering ever since then. Whether you were safe, and how you were doing. Whether the wound I gave you had healed. Whether you were still in pain because of it."
"It does not huurt. It is all beeetter. Look. No blood."
The camera turned for a moment. Esther's lower body, which had been torn apart beyond recognition, had now regenerated into something like a blunt lump of flesh. It was a truly wondrous recovery, but it also meant she could no longer move as she had before.
The girl was not tied up.
After returning the screen to its original position, Esther apologized to Gyeoul.
"I am the ooone who should be sorryyy. Back theeere, at the very eeend, you must have been in so much paaain."
"...No."
"Hee... Lieutenant Colonelll, you did nothing wrong. From the very begiiinning, you kept saying you did not want to fiiight, over and ooover. You said good wooords to me tooo. If anything, you almost died because of meee. I should be even mooore sorry. Are your wouuunds all right?"
"Yes. I was not hurt badly then. And my body is quite sturdy."
"That is a relief."
Gyeoul swallowed a sigh. He did not hide his expression.
Esther showed another terrible smile.
"I contacted you so you would not wooorry. I am dooing really well heeere. The doctors heeere bring me anything I want to eeeat, and they try as much as they can to let me do what I waaant."
"I heard pastors and priests are there too?"
"Ooooh. Lieutenant Colonelll, you heard thaaat tooo."
"Do you like them as well?"
"Yeees. Because they are completely different from Park Tae-sun."
"I see..."
Esther called to Gyeoul as his words trailed off.
"Lieutenant Colonelll."
"Yes."
"Thank youuu."
Unlike the thanks she had shouted in madness, her voice was rough and cracked, but peaceful.
"Thank me...? For what?"
"Because of you, I was able to get a new chaaance. Before going to God's kingdom, I got the chance to help people, so many peooople."
"That chance is not something someone gave you. You seized it yourself, Esther."
"Hee."
"I am the one who wants to say thank you. Thank you for not thinking badly of what I said back then, and thank you for deciding to help people. You truly are a good person."
"Heehee."
Esther looked happy. Even at this moment, there must have been pain throughout her diseased body, but it was hard to tell whether she had used painkillers or was simply enduring it.
"So abooout that, Lieutenant Colonelll, please put in a good word for meee."
"To whom, and about what?"
"The people who are anxiooous."
"Hmm..."
"I know very well that they cannot completely truust meee, but stiiill, I feel a little saaad about it."
Esther moved her lips as if troubled.
"The radio waves I maaake can be copied and spread over a wide aaarea, right? If I told the monsters to kill themselves, or not to mooove from where they are, or to eat each ooother, this war might end in an instaaant."
He questioned whether suicide would work reliably on ordinary mutants. The same went for mutual predation.
But if an order not to move meant Metabolic Suppression, it seemed likely to work well enough. If transmitted through countless satellites, it might silence mutants throughout Central and South America for at least an instant. Even if the Tricksters struggled desperately to wake them, overcoming the confusion would be difficult.
Gyeoul nodded.
"You are right."
But he had already thought about this earlier. If hatred toward humanity remained inside Esther, the result of such an operation would be the literal end. Even if it appeared to work well, it would be too early to feel relieved. There might be hidden information that only Tricksters, separate from ordinary mutants, could understand.
Apart from anger, how could anyone be sure Esther was free from mutant instinct?
Also, unless all mutants were annihilated at the same time, they could not rule out the possibility that the mutants would nullify Esther's radio waves through some form of change.
'In other words, it must not be overused.'
The safest and most certain choice was to let the Tricksters keep exchanging radio waves in peace. To keep them from noticing that this side was intercepting their communications, it might even be necessary to let the enemy score a hit now and then.
"But do not feel buuurdened by it."
Esther said,
"Like I tooold you, I know very well why they cannot trust me. It is just, I wish it could be that waaay, so you do not have to worry too much abooout it."
"Yes. If I get the chance, I will bring it up."
"Kihihit."
Gyeoul hoped the frequent laughter of the girl turned monster was not a disguise for some dark emotion. From her plague-eaten face, 「Perception」 could not read any emotion properly.
After that, they shared a conversation that was surprisingly ordinary. Music, films, celebrities, talk shows, novels, comics, and so on. Esther had the sensibilities of a teenager her age, and in these areas, Gyeoul was the one closer to a blank slate.
"Lieutenant Colonelll, you really have no time to plaaay. You are so pitiful."
"..."
Pitiful. As Gyeoul lost his words, Esther laughed happily again.
The call continued for almost an hour.
At the end, he spoke with the clergy in question. Talbot had said at least two people would be present, but Gyeoul was able to exchange short greetings with all three. They were deeply grateful simply that Gyeoul had spent time with Esther so casually.
At the end, the Methodist pastor said this.
"When I heard what Esther had gone through, and when I saw that form with my own eyes, it was so sad and horrific that I prayed in tears. Please, let there be salvation for that poor child... And I became certain. Helping that child become the light and salt of the world, and finally find rest in the arms of the Lord, who is the root of all love in this world, must be the most important mission the Lord has given me."
The Baptist pastor and the Catholic cardinal felt the same.
All of them blessed Gyeoul.
After the connection ended, silence wrapped around the room. The muted TV showed only soundless images. Gyeoul picked up a sword from among the gifts arranged on one side of the room. It had been sent by Sikhs in the United States. Ever since he had kept Major Singh at his side, Sikh believers had apparently come to feel very warmly toward Gyeoul.
Like Major Singh's, this longsword was a weapon made thoroughly with real combat in mind. Its handle was straight, and its heavy blade was upright.
When he let the blade catch the light, a phrase written in English shone. Gyeoul read the sentence silently.
「God is in the human heart.」
Footnotes:
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