I Have Returned, but I Cannot Lay down My Gun

Chapter 652

"…Ah, they’re coming out! The operation must be over!"

"Clap, clap!"

"So cool-!"

• Jumo shots down!
• UDT! UDT! UDT! UDT! UDT! UDT! UDT! UDT! UDT! UDT! UDT! UDT! UDT!
• My heart is swelling up hahahahahaha
• How did you even think to stream training like this? Have you lost your mind? hahahahahaha
• Trying to boost the Navy SEALs’ support rate, huh? They’re really putting their all into it hahaha

The sound of loud applause and cheers mixed and burst out across the Expo.

After thirty minutes that tested the human limit in every possible way, 40 operators, exhausted but still standing, emerged to a crowd of countless people.

Before stepping outside, all the operators donned individual hoods to prevent their identities from being revealed – drone cameras consistently distorted their appearances as they broadcasted live.

As a result, the Expo visitors couldn’t see anyone’s faces, but it didn’t matter. The crowd showered them with praise for completing their training in such an impressive manner.

Of course, this was all thanks to Icarus International, who had used the training as a billboard.

At that moment, numerous drones rising into the air activated jammers. Photos could be taken, but the operators' faces remained hidden. On the other hand, all the gear the operators wore was vividly visible.

For those who had been eager to analyze what equipment the operators used, this was a perfect opportunity. However, there were some surprises in the details, and many predictions turned out to be wrong.

"…Hey, have you ever seen a helmet like that? Did Ops-Core release something like that? Is that the new IHPS – Integrated Head Protection System?"

"I don’t think so… Looks like something entirely new. It’s not even sunglasses; it looks like an HMD is mounted on it. There’s no mount on the helmet. I remember they fought in the dark earlier, but there were no night-vision goggles."

"Look at the back. That’s some kind of machine... Wait, is that a drone? I’ve never seen anything like that."

"I’m dizzy, dizzy."

It wasn’t just the gear they wore, but even their clothing, which some people were searching online, was filled with items never seen before.

The basic gear – the combat uniform system was Velocity, Crye Precision knee and elbow pads, and the plate carrier was either AVS or Crye Precision – was familiar. However, the wrist-mounted tablet, the folded ballistic shields, and many other mysterious devices and machines had the crowd in confusion.

And then, in addition:

"Wait, I think there’s a foreigner over there?"

"What? No way, it’s real."

Among them, there were unmistakable facial features that couldn’t be hidden.

Though quite far away, the golden hair peeking from under the helmet and the shape of the eyes, which didn’t look Asian, could vaguely be seen.

It might have been something that was never supposed to be revealed, but this was all agreed upon and, at the same time, subtly hinted at – that there had been some kind of collaboration between South Korea and the U.S.

Of course, it would take a little more time for that to come to light.

At that moment, there was a sudden stir among the people.

The murmuring grew louder, and someone even pointed in a specific direction. At the end of that line was Eugene, who had safely completed the operation and was waiting for the 40 operators to exit.

Though she was a streamer, she was also one of the top executives of the Expo, so this was possible. The spectators thought to themselves and accepted it.

After all, the conversation between Eugene and the operators was not something they could hear.

What was more important, however, was something else.

"Hey! Over there, a DEVGRU Shark helmet!"

"No way, is that real? When did that guy come to Korea?"

"First time seeing someone with their sleeves rolled up. But they’re more muscular than I thought? Just a real manly man?"

The Shark helmet.

It referred to an operator wearing a helmet adorned with a shark logo, which had appeared frequently in photos of various training exercises involving DEVGRU, known since at least a decade ago.

Even among the inhumanly powerful operators, this figure stood out with a quirky yet pleasant appearance. The shark teeth graffitied on the side of the helmet, and a shark sticker attached to the helmet.

A simple search on Google would return endless results, and even companies selling helmets with the same design.

That person, closer to Eugene, approached and shook hands with her.

Since they were quite far apart, Eugene used gestures she had never shown before in their conversation, and her lips barely moved.

Those who knew what this was for – to prevent others from reading what they were saying using lip-reading – wouldn’t have suspected anything.

And as they conversed, they said:

"So, did you enjoy today’s training?"

"Of course. It was the most valuable of all we’ve done recently. I’m sure the people behind us learned a lot today too."

"I almost died following these guys. Don’t trust them, Eugene."

"Haha, that’s understandable. This person is usually a bit… tough. A real hardass."

It was a surprisingly mundane conversation.

Meanwhile, several drones landed one by one, carrying well-packaged boxes. They contained drinks with ice and various snacks. Naturally, the operators cheered as they saw them.

With about 10 minutes left before the helicopters returned for refueling, all the operators, except for Shark, started to sit down and snack.

Except for Shark, of course.

She muttered with a gruff voice:

"You know this camouflage model still hasn’t implemented the meal function, right, youngest?"

"Oh, I doubt that. Just wait a bit. Or should I go get it for you?"

"That would be great."

At that moment, one of the drones skillfully heated the air and distorted the surroundings around Lorentina, and to prepare for any possible situations, Eugene deployed Icarus Gear for double security.

Meanwhile, Lorentina took off the Shark helmet, revealing her elegant appearance and began munching on the snacks.

One of the UDT operators watching this asked:

"By the way, the Lorentina over there, on the balcony... Is that a hologram?"

"That's right. Double shark."

"...Ugh, that’s dizzying."

The entire group turned their heads at once.

And at the end of that line, vaguely visible on the A-building balcony, were Dice, Harmonie, Olivia, and… Lorentina. It was truly an amazing lineup.

Everyone chuckled at it, but Shark’s attention was directed elsewhere.

Specifically, unlike the people enthusiastically cheering or staring at the operators, Shark’s gaze focused on a group of about ten people who were standing out with a strange atmosphere in the middle of the crowd.

A while later, Lorentina sent a military hand signal to Eugene:

• Why is the entire Dagger team gathered over there, youngest?

• Guess they’re curious.

• As always....

Just as she said, the New York-Dagger team, who had been roaming around Seoul, had discreetly blended into the crowd, watching Eugene and Lorentina. They even seemed to be chuckling as they watched them.

Shark, with an incredulous expression, added:

"Thank goodness the youngest held the Expo somewhere with solid ground. If the helicopter couldn’t land, we would’ve had to go back by bus instead."

"I guess you can bill the ground repair costs to them?"

"Do you really need to?"

"It’s a joke. I’ll pay for whatever was wasted in training. I’m sure it’s being repaired live as we speak."

Well, that makes sense.

As Lorentina thought this, she felt a faint vibration from the tips of her fingers. The air around them seemed to tremble. Eugene, noticing this, turned his head toward the direction the helicopters had flown from just moments ago.

The helicopter coming to pick them up was on its way.

Looking at it, Eugene added:

"Anyway, great job. The training is over, so you’ll do a debrief and then go out, right? Let’s grab a meal soon."

"Of course. I’ve been looking forward to it."

"Take care getting back."

Six hours later, at 10 PM.

Shark successfully infiltrated during the night.

"…You’ve really made it through. Big hurdle cleared, huh?"

"You’ve been studying Korean, haven’t you? Anyway, just as you said, I finished the debriefing and came back. I should be able to take it easy for about a week now. The others probably won’t have it so easy though."

"That’s true. So where are the friends who were on the mission with you? Why did you come alone?"

"They’re probably still sleeping."

The Shark's feast disaster thriller was unfolding at the Songdo Expo.

The plates piled high with food were so clean they might not need washing. Lorentina, Olivia, and New York-Shark all stared at her with strange expressions.

The one with a bloated stomach, patting it contentedly, added:

"I see you’ve been replenishing your ‘lady’ nutrients while I was gone. Thanks. Looking at your faces, it seems like you’ve enjoyed yourselves. How do you feel about today’s events?"

"You really want to know everything, don’t you? It was fine, I suppose. It’s been a while since I’ve been involved in such rough work, so I can’t exactly say it was ‘fun.’"

"I can’t help but agree with that part."

"...I find it amazing that you two are having such a normal conversation. I think I’d have found it uncomfortable and impossible if I were in your place."

"Well, we’re not exactly normal, are we?"

Did she just call us ‘normal’... special?

Anyway, I didn’t feel the need to add any comments. If I was unlucky, I’d get caught in the crossfire. So, I just kept thinking about when this plate would be cleared.

But of course, as expected, Shark’s second target was me.

"You've made it through too, youngest. Thank you, really. It was more enjoyable than I expected, and it’s been an extremely beneficial time for the others. They were probably so energized that they were going to review everything until dawn."

"...It wasn’t an opportunity one could easily come by. Well, we gained a lot too. After the humanoid project finishes at the end of September, when the official rollout starts, the congress, which has been grumbling, will probably hit us with a bundle of cash."

"End of September? Come to think of it, the UDT Special Forces Non-Commissioned Officer recruitment starts in October, right? The support rate might rise significantly. It’s probably going to be just like when Top Gun 2 came out, huh, haha…"

"Come to think of it, it might have that kind of ripple effect."

Well, this training might not have that kind of impact, but considering that the live audience peaked at 2.5 million, maybe it’s not impossible after all.

Of course, that’s a completely different world from mine. I’m already... well, not really discharged, but technically I’m just waiting on standby as an operator. The U.S. military isn’t paying me, but it’s not like I needed it.

Anyway, the conversation kept flowing.

"By the way, I remember there’s still about two weeks left. Are we going to keep going like this?"

"Oh, right, I was planning to add one more thing. You should probably experience it in the third week... I’m thinking of setting up a sort of tail experience facility?"

"...You’ve come up with something strange again."

"But people who come here are all hooked on those ‘strange things.’"

Watching the endless growth of tail fetishists... it’s not unpleasant, but it’s certainly not enjoyable either.

Anyway, returning to the matter at hand, I planned to combine some third-tail technology and holograms, applying the sensory feedback suits from Building D and the nerve interface technology, so that in a specific space, they could operate tails.

I don’t think it’s going to cause withdrawal symptoms...

Also, as I said earlier, I planned to provide a simulated TS experience via holograms.

Besides, not just snake tails… there are lots of creatures with long tails, right? Dogs, cats, and the like.

‘...But why does it feel like snakes are the ones with tail-like features?’

In the first place, snakes have really short tails. In fact, the long part of a snake’s body is essentially just its torso.

I can understand why they’d have to take that shape to attach it to a human body, but if that’s the case, wouldn't something more majestic like a dragon, like Gaia, look cooler?

These were pointless thoughts, but of course, my extremely practical-minded friends just casually raised a question mark over their heads and gave me a "you handle it" look.

So, as the atmosphere was winding down...

Beep-beep!

"Eh, Logan…?"

"This doesn’t feel good."

"I have a feeling something’s about to blow up for me…"

"It’s your karma. Accept it."

Suddenly, a call from Logan.

Since the time was around 11 PM, it was about 10 AM in the U.S. And thinking about the time difference, the UDT training had probably taken place in the early hours in the U.S....

Uh... yeah.

Well.

I answered Logan’s call, lost in thought—

"Goddamn Lorentina! You son of a bitch! Because of you, they’re talking about separate urban combat training now! I woke up, and suddenly, the sky has fallen on me!"

"...Ugh."

"Well, that’s the result of the coordination between Korea, the U.S., and your company. Everything went smoothly, right?"

"I’m gonna kill you, Lorentina!"

Click.

That deadly threat was followed by Logan’s phone hanging up.

A silence followed.

"...You don’t think he’s coming to Korea, do you?"

"If he does, use me as bait."

"I was already planning to do that."

Ah, I see.

It was truly a strong bond between manifestation users.

I don’t know.