Chapter 292 – Storm’s Envoy (2)
Artemis looked down at the seagulls and fishing activities outside the window.
“It suits you well.”
“Huh?”
She returned her gaze to my sudden admiration.
“I think it suits you very well to look with your eyes down. “Like an arrogant queen.”
“What are you talking about out of the blue?”
It doesn’t seem like it’s bad to hear the corners of the mouth going up. She takes the assessment that she is arrogant as a compliment.
“The remains that sank down there are stingray-shaped sea monsters.”
“The guy who shoots shock waves from his mouth?”
The scene where our underwater drone was sunk came to mind.
A brilliant white flash flashed from its huge mouth, and dozens of sprays the size of an apartment exploded in one direction.
Under such an attack, even a large destroyer will tear like a piece of paper and sink in one blow.
“I can’t tell even if I look at it. “Can you tell them apart just by looking at the bones?”
Even at a glance, I can tell that it is not a creature of Earth origin. However, it was impossible to know what type of object it was just from the bones.
“It’s a place we’ve already explored. “Because we have confirmed every single area where the giant monster’s body was discovered in the territorial waters of the Korean Peninsula.”
Artemis’ golden eyes blinked briefly, and a map appeared on her monitor.
There were red dots all over the sea, and what they mean needs no explanation.
The majority were concentrated in the East Sea, with almost none in the West Sea.
“It’s interesting, but is it really necessary to go that far? Is it for research?”
“We had to track the effects on the sea creatures that ate the sea monster’s corpse. Because it will spin around and end up on the human table.”
“That too. It can be incomparably more dangerous than the accumulation of heavy metals. So what is the result?”
“As you can see, it’s safe.”
Artemis pointed to a fishing boat engaged in fishing activities.
“I’ve been tracking the dynamics for the past three years. “There have been no reports of people becoming infected after eating fish.”
“Is it the power of vaccines?”
“It won’t be there, but it won’t be everything.”
In order not to miss this long-awaited spectacle, the helicopter slowed down to a point where it was close to hovering.
“Somatic cells that have already mutated are not very dangerous if consumed by wild animals, and the vaccine effect that destroys infectious agents is added…”
“That said, he’s also a good guy. If it were me, I wouldn’t eat anything caught over there, even if it’s because I’m anxious.”
“Like you said, people will be reluctant to eat fish caught near the remains of marine monsters. Because it’s natural to be anxious.”
“But if you catch it like that, it looks like it’s selling well. Since the food situation is bad, are you willing to take it and eat it?”
“That’s not true, if the fishermen keep quiet and sell, there is no way for the buyer to know. In this day and age, would you label the country of origin, or would the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries audit it?”
“…”
“And if you get caught, you’ll be beaten to death?”
We live in a world these days when private sanctions have become the law of daily life. It wasn’t the consumers who were brave, but the seller who was brave.
“Few people know that the remains of a sea monster are sunk here. “The fishermen don’t even tell their business partners for fear of increased competition.”
“That’s how we can keep secrets well.”
We live in an era where we have to row out to sea and fish because there is no oil. There is no need for the Coast Guard or reporters to come after smelling it.
“It looks like there’s nothing more to eat now, so I guess a lot of fish are flocking in?”
As the helicopter lowered its altitude, bustling fish were seen below the sea surface.
Even though it is said that the sea has become clearer due to the destruction of civilization and overfishing has disappeared, fish stocks have become abundant, but the concentration is absurd.
“As those bones slowly decompose, they cause massive plankton blooms. All kinds of fish and crustaceans gather to target it. We are also sending an underwater drone to collect bone samples and study them.”
At that time, there was a commotion below.
The fishermen on the fishing boat eagerly collected their nets and began to rush to leave the sea area.
“Are you leaving work already? It’s half water and half meat.”
“When I saw it, it looked like he was running away?”
“Huh?”
“As I said before, the fishing here is almost half illegal. “There are no laws or institutions to regulate it, but they catch and sell fish that people do not prefer.”
“Could it be that they saw it as a military unit out to crack down on us?”
No matter how much I thought about it, this was a guess.
There’s no way several large helicopters would form a formation and fly in while burning oil just to catch illegal fishing, right?
“Rather than that, I guess it’s because I don’t want to be noticed by the military in operation. Because there’s nothing good about being involved.”
The monitor screen changed to an enlarged image of a fishing boat.
The fishermen, who were completely distraught, were hurriedly packing up their equipment and running away.
“If I don’t want to see more, I’ll leave quickly.”
The rotor, which was heading toward the sky, slowly tilted forward and began to gain speed again.
“Are they just leaving it alone?”
“Why do you want to become a police officer on the Korean Peninsula?”
“Hmm…”
“Anyway, thanks to the large amount of fish they catch, the food situation in the area is barely sustainable. “I understand it’s uncomfortable, but there are no scientifically confirmed risk factors.”
“Well, I guess I can’t stop everything anyway.”
There are countless areas where the remains of marine monsters are submerged. We can’t monitor all the sea anyway.
“We will soon be leaving the territorial waters of the Republic of Korea.”
With those words, Artemis got up from her seat and headed toward the back.
The cockpit is, of course, in the front, and it is autonomous driving anyway. She can also be controlled remotely without having to hold the steering wheel.
In the back is the kitchen used by the maids, a room for grooming, and…
“Is it a bathroom?”
I muttered something softly, but it seemed to have reached Artemis’ ears. The sight of her walking back gives me a momentary shock.
All attempts to feed her still failed, but her aversion to drinking was gone. Because I’m actively enjoying it on Artemis’ side.
And when the body accepts something, it has to let it out.
Although she is so particular about her cleanliness, she seems to be slowly getting used to her urine.
* * *
Our squadron entered Japanese territorial waters.
Japan is a neighbor who is an extension of us in both air and ocean currents. Therefore, it is the second country in the world to benefit from vaccines.
It is an island country with a large population to begin with and an advantage in creating warlords in the region.
This means that there are many forces that have begun to make their voices heard.
“Jinsu, communication came through our squadron.”
“Who sent it?”
“Japanese Self-Defense Forces.”
“What?”
It was an unexpected answer.
“The Japanese government, who had fled to Hokkaido, dispatched detachments to various places to restore national order. “I am touring the country and appealing to each warlord and civilian camp for support.”
“Let’s all come together and go back to the country we were before! Something like this?”
“That’s it.”
Recently, similar activities are being carried out in Korea, starting from Jeju Island and some forces sympathizing with it.
“I don’t think there will be a very good response.”
“Of course. The anger of the abandoned people is the same everywhere. “I’m still communicating. Would you like to listen?”
“Huh. “Connect me.”
Immediately, the speakers installed in the cabin activated and a young man’s voice rang out. A disciplined and strong pronunciation is that of a born soldier.
Since it was in Japanese, Artemis added subtitles to his monitor.
-Notify unconfirmed flights departing from Korea. You are in Japanese airspace. Identify your affiliation and purpose. We urge you to respond urgently.
“Isn’t this dangerous? Even anti-aircraft missiles are flying.”
“At all! The Self-Defense Forces have also been completely destroyed.”
What appeared on Artemis’ face was a clear sneer.
“Besides, this is Kyushu? As you may know from their home base of Hokkaido, the number of troops that have come down here is really only a handful. It was so easy that it was even looted by explorers.”
Meanwhile, communications were coming in non-stop.
-We strongly demand that further advancement be halted. This is an act of invasion.
“You think we’re an army.”
“It has to be that way. “The military is the only one in the world today that can operate a squadron of this size.”
-We will officially protest to the Korean government.
“Did you hear? “You can’t say you’re going to shoot it down.”
“Hmm.”
But there is always what if. I remembered the time I heard the lock-on warning while riding a helicopter during my deployment. It gave me goosebumps.
Artemis took off her shoes and extended her feet to me.
“The risk factors have already been confirmed several times, and even if a hidden missile comes by, it can be easily intercepted.”
Her feet gently stroking my knee, as if admonishing me.
“So you don’t have to worry at all.”
Now I could feel the warmth past her knees and onto her thighs. The sense of stability that arises there dispels anxiety.
Artemis is becoming increasingly adept at terrifying persuasion using both logic and body.
“Oh, there’s a fight now.”
She laughed as she tapped my thighs with both of her feet as if playing a rhythm game.
“What fight?”
“An argument between the warlord who invited us and the passionate Self-Defense Forces from earlier.”
Noise was heard from the speaker for a moment and then switched to a public channel.
[I am everything!]
The voice heard as soon as it was turned on was not that of a Stoic soldier before.
This unique, goofy sensibility that cannot be hidden! It was touching to hear those vocalizations that I often hear in movies live.
-Disclose your affiliation. We are a self-defense force officially authorized by the Japanese government.
-It’s been a while since I last voted. What are you talking about? Where is the government elected?
-Regular elections have been suspended due to the national emergency, but will soon be restored. Until then, the previous regime will continue to exercise authority…
-It’s terrible. Since the war broke out, these bastards are stuck in a corner of the village, carrying only good things with them!
“Life in the world is all the same.”
What was happening in Korea was being replicated.
-There is no time for us to fight among ourselves now. It means that Korea invaded.
-Uh, he’s a guest we invited.
-Are you kidding me? That’s not a lost fishing boat or a small helicopter. It’s the army!
-What are you going to do if I tease you? What can you do, you bastards? Idiots who ride bicycles and make patriotic campaigns through loudspeakers.
-You traitors!
Now the two of us were arguing as if we weren’t even paying attention.
The Self-Defense Force communications officer threatened to send punitive forces and tanks to push them out, but it had no effect.
-Is there any oil that will roll all the way here?
You just hear the same ridicule.
“Anyway, the relationship between the private sector and the government is much worse than in Korea.”
Artemis tipped off.
“Is it because it’s an island country?”
“Huh. The Japanese even call it the second Sengoku period. Among them, those who are in contact with us are among the top five. Ah, now we’re there.”
The land of Japan appeared.
“You’re familiar with this place because we sent an expedition team there once before, right?”
The port sea where the destroyed U.S. Aircraft carrier fleet sank here and there, creating a dark shadow.
It was Fukuoka.
“The last time I came, it was as quiet as a dead city.”
“It’s been three years.”
Now, people who were wandering around here and there were blankly looking up at our squadron.
