The United States was in chaos.
Every day, the horrors being reported made voters furious.
Angry voters pressured the politicians, and the politicians were desperate to find someone to blame.
It wasn’t just for their own political safety.
In the United States, it was the furious voters who rang the bell of judgment.
There was no need to even think about saints or saviors.
For those politicians, finding someone to blame was a matter of survival.
Here, on the bridge of the 8th Fleet Aircraft Carrier.
“It’s time to show the results of our investment, Dr. Yeon.”
“Yes, sir.”
Dr. Yeon nodded with a grave expression.
The man before him was the overall commander of the US military’s 8th Fleet. But no matter how high their position or authority, in the end, they were still only human.
“A few days ago, there was a hearing. The Senate formed a new Committee on Anomalous Phenomena, and now every state’s National Guard is fighting Monsters, so tempers are flaring.”
“Ah… I see.”
This conversation had been going on for several days.
“It wasn’t a public hearing yet. But here’s what they’re saying now. The United States Homeland is at war, so why are tens of thousands of troops and military assets worth billions of dollars overseas?”
“Dr. Lee has worked with the US military and achieved numerous research results. Many of those could be applied to Homeland operations as well.”
Dr. Yeon protested, but it didn’t mean much.
After all, the Commander of the 8th Fleet didn’t really disagree with Dr. Yeon.
The people who needed convincing were in the capital.
“The Senate is requesting the attendance of relevant parties at the hearing. Consider whether Dr. Lee Han can attend. Think about whether that might persuade the Senate.”
“Yes, sir.”
“The Committee on Anomalous Phenomena’s hearing is underway right now. If you’re thinking of persuading them, you’d better do it within 48 hours.”
The relationships were sharply tense.
Dr. Yeon let out a sigh.
Dr. Lee Han, the scientist at the center of the issue, had so far successfully resolved most of the problems that had arisen in Korea.
“Will this be possible, though?”
Dr. Yeon felt doubtful. In the end, it was all a political show.
If things played out according to the script written by politicians…
They wanted to broadcast the scene of politicians demanding that tens of thousands of troops and billions in assets stationed overseas be brought back to the Homeland.
“So, who do they expect me to persuade in a place like that?”
But orders were orders, and had to be carried out.
Dr. Yeon had to go to Dr. Lee Han and request that he attend the National Assembly hearing. He didn’t like it, but had no choice.
“No, but still, how can they expect someone to attend a hearing in just 48 hours?”
Dr. Yeon sank into deep contemplation.
No matter how he thought about it, it didn’t seem likely that Dr. Lee Han would agree.
“I have to show results, but… what to do?”
***
“…Is it possible?”
As I stared at him in silence, Dr. Yeon immediately bowed his head, looking apologetic.
“I’m sorry.”
But Dr. Yeon had nothing to apologize for. In fact, this was a good opportunity.
I slowly nodded.
“No, I actually like it.”
“Eh?”
Dr. Yeon looked dumbfounded, but out of all the proposals I’d received since my regression, this was the best news yet.
A United States Senate hearing.
There would be no better chance to get more funding and manpower.
At the very least, I could get something for our country.
“I’m not thrilled about making my face known, but… the situation is what it is.”
I’d managed to avoid the domestic Media Companies, but appearing on foreign News was definitely a little intimidating.
“It’s wartime right now… the schedule is a bit tight, but could you come to the Aircraft Carrier tomorrow and participate in the hearing then?”
“Yes. I have no choice.”
I nodded readily.
Being told to appear as soon as tomorrow felt a bit much, but…
Since we were in the midst of battle, there was nothing else to say.
“I guess I’ll have to pull an all-nighter preparing the materials.”
I was working out plans in my head, but Dr. Yeon was still sitting there, his expression deeply troubled.
“Dr. Lee, this isn’t such a simple issue.”
“Why do you say that?”
“The Senate’s motive for calling us now, their perspective, is this: ‘Aren’t you just wasting money overseas? Why not bring all the money and troops home and fight here?'”
Just as expected.
“Nothing has changed, I see.”
It was a debate that had happened before.
Before my regression, the real issue was that most of the military assets stationed overseas were brought back to the United States, and that led to never-ending problems.
“We just have to prove results. Didn’t we successfully contain every Gate in Korea?”
Dr. Yeon shook his head with a complicated expression.
“It’s actually the opposite. There will be cynicism, saying, ‘Why are we using American taxpayers’ money to protect other countries?'”
So proving results didn’t just mean showing what we’d done—it meant demonstrating what benefit it brought them.
Of course, I had a solution in mind.
“Before my regression, it was just a delusion, but…”
This time, it was my turn to shake my head.
Proving results wasn’t what they were really after.
“Let’s skip the abstract talk and go straight to the conclusion.”
For those actually fighting a war right now,
the only language they understood was simple.
To borrow Bismarck’s words:
“Iron and blood.”
“Yes.”
“I’ll propose to the Senators: It’s true that Korea is handling things better than other countries, so we’ll support you with weapons and Hunter personnel.”
Dr. Yeon now looked completely stunned, but nodded anyway.
“Honestly, I’m not sure how they’ll react.”
“Didn’t you say it yourself, Dr. Yeon? The Senators are angry right now—no, what they really want is to soothe the anger of the voters by holding this hearing. If we offer them something concrete, refusing might actually get them criticized.”
Like I said, this was a good opportunity.
No need to be afraid just because the United States is making demands.
“If we provide what they want, that’s enough.”
It was a chance to sell or supply weapons to the US Homeland.
A chance for Korean Hunters to operate in the United States, and to secure more research funding through cooperation with the US military.
“That’s… certainly… a fair point.”
And I had another layer to the plan.
If, by chance, the Senate hearing didn’t go as I hoped, I could just go to the Government of Korea and say, ‘This is why we need more funding.’
“You said the current situation in the US isn’t good, right?”
“Yes. When the Gate incident began, dozens of Gates opened in the first month. Many Gates failed to be contained.”
The United States was a hundred times larger than Korea.
No matter how strong the US military was, if the Monsters spread with intent, there was hardly any way to respond. They didn’t have many options.
If the Tentacle Dragons and the Black Forest took root in the endless American mountains or swamps, military strength alone would solve nothing.
It was a different situation from Korea, where helicopters could reach almost anywhere quickly. They failed to respond properly at the outset, too.
“The most serious situation right now is Sacramento. It’s the fifth Gate to open in California.”
“Yes.”
“It’s a city of over half a million people. After responding to the other Gates, they had no resources left for the fifth one.”
Whether before or after regression, I’d seen it often: if just one Gate broke out, a whole city could disappear in an instant.
In fact, Korea was the only place where such a massive disaster hadn’t happened.
Because, after my regression, I’d been running around nonstop.
And the Crusade of Sacramento was the real reason the United States adopted an isolationist stance toward the Gate incident.
***
The next day.
Early in the morning, a US military helicopter arrived at the Supernatural Science Research Institute.
I boarded the helicopter and landed on the 8th Fleet Aircraft Carrier, stationed in the East Sea.
The warship was bustling with activity.
“Dr. Lee, this way please.”
“Yes.”
Following the escort, I arrived at a room painted beige, which looked just like any ordinary office.
I’d heard the bridge of the Aircraft Carrier had a separate room for contacting Headquarters, and this seemed to be one of those.
I sat down and stared at the blank screen.
“Is this where the hearing will be held?”
“Yes, we have a little time left.”
Dr. Yeon sat with a worried look, turning on one of the empty screens.
On the screen, the hearing was proceeding in silence, with subtitles at the bottom.
“Pretty tense.”
The mood at the Senate hearing was grim.
It was nothing like the bureaucratic, tedious debates in Korea about the Gate incident.
“Well, at least Korea hasn’t lost an entire city to a Gate.”
Right now, someone in the hearing room was being criticized from all sides—it looked like a California State National Guard official.
– Who bears responsibility for the comprehensive failure in Sacramento, and what do you think the solution is?
“What kind of question is that…?”
The questioner was a California Senator.
Probably trying to push the blame onto the military official to lessen the political responsibility for himself and the Governor.
Naturally, the Witness couldn’t come up with an answer, and their time was up.
The Chairman of the Senate banged his gavel.
– Now, now. Let’s calm down. I understand it’s a crisis, but let’s talk so everyone can understand. Now, it’s time to call the next Witness…
Soldiers bustled around.
Microphones, cameras, screens.
– Yes. Next, we have Dr. Lee Han of the Government of Korea, who was called to discuss the naval budget and overseas cooperation issues. He is currently communicating from the 8th Fleet warship. The connection is…
On the witness stand in the Senate, an Asian man sat down.
“That must be the interpreter.”
I nodded slowly.
– Yes, Dr. Lee Han is connected. Senator Hoffman, Chairman of the Committee on Anomalous Phenomena, you may proceed with your questions.
I’d watched the hearing for about an hour, and this was the same man who’d shouted himself hoarse earlier.
I waited for Senator Hoffman’s question.
– Dr. Lee Han. I’ve heard your research institute, with US military support, has successfully contained every Gate that opened in Korea. Is this true?
I stared straight into the camera.
Just as Dr. Yeon had said. There were no allies here, and these people had called me solely to attack me.
How amusing.
If I wanted to change the atmosphere, I needed a bold move.
I had no desire to have a conversation where I’d only be blamed.
“What was it they asked before…”
The Senators had been asking what the solution was for the comprehensive disaster in Sacramento, but had gotten no answer.
Time to give them one.
– Instead of that, I will present a solution for the comprehensive disaster in Sacramento. Give me 48 hours. I’ll go myself and liberate Sacramento.
And…
The hearing hall erupted into chaos.
The atmosphere flipped in an instant.
The Chairman banged his gavel several times, but the hearing did not calm down.
Out of the camera’s view, Dr. Yeon was smiling.
Talk of budgets and such had likely left the heads of everyone in the hearing long ago.
The topic had completely changed.