Chapter 246
“How did you know about this place and come here?”
Han Yaseong was curious about the process that had brought these intruders. He could chase them off after hearing their full story.
“Could you give us a moment?”
“Make it quick.”
Colonel Elbert, along with Major Kenneth and a group of scientists, huddled together for a consultation.
“Is it okay to tell them about us?”
“If we don’t talk, who knows what that thing might do to us.”
“He might kill us after hearing us out.”
“He looks pretty aggressive somehow. Doesn’t feel like a peaceful species.”
“So what do you suggest? That we fight right here?”
“Let me, the scientist, step forward and talk to him. Dealing with soldiers might just spark a battle.”
Dr. Schumann, the lead physicist among the scientists, made the proposal. Colonel Elbert agreed it was the best way to ease the tension.
“Very well. Share our side while digging into his. Everyone, lower your weapons!”
To signal they had no intent to fight, the soldiers were ordered to lower their rifles.
As Dr. Schumann stepped forward, he spoke up.
“I’m Dr. Schumann, a physicist.”
“Tanya Gurane.”
Hearing the response, Dr. Schumann sensed that this otherworldly being understood courtesy. It felt like conversation would be straightforward.
Han Yaseong had replied simply because an elderly man, reminiscent of Einstein, had come forward to speak. Korean culture’s respect for elders had kicked in instinctively, even if he hadn’t wanted to engage. His tone was softer than it had been with the two officers.
“We discovered a portal a few months ago. While investigating it...”
Dr. Schumann laid it all out honestly. There was no reason to hide anything. Of course, Colonel Elbert and Major Kenneth behind him frowned slightly.
After listening to Dr. Schumann’s lengthy account, Han Yaseong nodded.
“I see. But it only opens every hundred-some days?”
“That’s right.”
Strange. Why every hundred days? His own portal opened daily. Apparently, portals varied by region. Spread across tens of thousands of years, they weren’t all identical.
“We’ve told you everything about us now. Nothing held back. So we’d like to ask Tanya Gurane some questions in turn.”
“What?”
“How do you speak English? Have you ever been to Earth?”
“It’s a language converter. My words get automatically translated into English through the device.”
The Americans let out awed “oohs,” marveling at the technology. They seemed to think they could develop something similar soon enough. The soldiers’ eyes gleamed with the notion that their civilizations weren’t so far apart—though their grips tightened on their assault rifles.
Dogs... They always got cocky the moment you seemed lenient. Even playing nice, he wasn’t sure he’d let them live—but now he resolved to smash them later.
“Is this your land?”
“Yes.”
“Then why did the portal appear?”
“An error.”
“Are there others besides this one?”
“I’ve seen troops from other countries too.”
“As expected...”
Dr. Schumann and the officers and scientists all looked troubled. They’d apparently anticipated that survey teams from other nations had arrived here as well.
“What do you plan to do? Are you open to exchanging with us?”
“No.”
“We’ve met like this—it’s fate, isn’t it? Since we can communicate, wouldn’t it be good to learn about each other’s civilizations and cultures?”
“I already know all about your civilization.”
“You do?”
“Never been to America, but I know it. I know all the other countries too.”
They looked surprised, but not shocked. They’d probably long suspected visitors had come and gone through the portals.
“Have you ever been to Earth?”
“I created Earth.”
The declaration stunned them all. Han Yaseong had decided to troll them hard. I’m your creator...
“You created Earth? That’s a lie!”
Major Kenneth, a devout believer, shot back.
“How would you know? Earth’s history.”
The giants must have gone there and sparked life. Otherwise, Earth wouldn’t show up on his screen. It was within the giants’ sphere of influence.
“When your portals appear, go home. This is my land—you can’t enter freely.”
“We can’t do that. We’re a pioneer expedition. We don’t believe this planet is yours.”
Colonel Elbert’s words ratcheted up the tension. He seemed ready for combat if needed.
“Is that how you killed off the natives and stole their land?”
“You seem to know American history. That’s what made the United States a superpower and a developed nation. If it had stayed with the natives, it would’ve amounted to nothing.”
“So you plan to pioneer here too?”
“That’s why we came.”
Dialogue’s going nowhere. Soldiers were always so stubborn. He worried about dealing with the military later. No—he wouldn’t. He’d never serve. He’d get another country’s citizenship first. No one praised you for it, and the nation didn’t treat you like a hero. It just proved you were a commoner. The elite never went. Better to explore this planet than endure bullying in the barracks.
“Words won’t cut it, then.”
As he unshouldered his gravity weapon, Major Kenneth shouted urgently.
“Everyone, battle stations!”
The soldiers hastily aimed their assault rifles at the hovering Tanya Gurane.
Seeing this, Dr. Schumann panicked and tried to stop them.
“Wait! We don’t want war! Let’s all think rationally!”
This was why he’d opposed bringing the military. They were too belligerent. Tanya Gurane was a being capable of dialogue. With more talk, they might reach a good outcome—but the soldiers’ opposition had suddenly made everything too volatile. Fighting now wouldn’t end well. Convincing Tanya Gurane for permission to stay was key. He’d shown some goodwill by letting them remain until the portal reopened. They could build a positive relationship, but the overbearing soldiers were ruining it.
The U.S. troops readied their rifles to fire.
Yeah, this is how you wiped out the Indians. Labeling them unreasonable savages when talk failed.
Anger surged in Han Yaseong. He’d planned to let them all live and send them back—but they were plotting to kill. They wanted to seize this place. Unforgivable.
“No more talk.”
As the otherworldly being grew furious, Dr. Schumann rushed forward, waving his arms.
“No! We don’t want war!”
He then shouted at Colonel Elbert, who was drawing his pistol to fire.
“Order the soldiers to lower their weapons!”
“I can’t! He’s trying to kill us!”
“If we don’t attack, Tanya Gurane won’t either!”
Dr. Schumann looked up at him, as if to confirm.
Han Yaseong snorted.
“No, doesn’t matter. Attack or not, it won’t affect me. Your weapons are useless against me.”
“What do you mean?”
Major Kenneth narrowed his eyes and countered.
“Maybe a nuke, but peashooters like those rifles can’t harm me.”
Mentioning nukes shifted the mood oddly. They were exchanging glances, like kids caught with shit in their pants.
Han Yaseong didn’t get it at first, but realization hit like a bolt.
“What? You didn’t bring a nuke, did you?”
Even Dr. Schumann faltered, unable to respond.
These bastards...
Han Yaseong’s rage exploded.
“You dare bring a nuke here? You all wanna die?!”
He dropped swiftly to the ground. Had to find and destroy the nuke.
Hovering two meters above the surface, Colonel Elbert tensed and commanded.
“Open fire!”
Tat-tat-tat-tat-tat!
Dozens of soldiers unleashed a barrage from their rifles. Bullets pinged off his suit—ting-ting-ting—ricocheting harmlessly to the dirt. Hundreds hit in a blink, but no impact. Like peanuts bouncing off. The suit and his body were unscathed. Truly the ultimate armor.
“Wh-what the hell!”
As every bullet deflected, Colonel Elbert and Major Kenneth panicked.
The soldiers now hurled grenades. Boom-boom! Dust and smoke billowed around his suit.
They kept shooting and bombing for over five minutes. Dr. Schumann, prone on the side, watched and sighed.
“Ahh... a historic encounter with an alien, ruined like this...”
What happens when we meet aliens? Most scientists had answered: war. They wouldn’t communicate peacefully.