Rio Grande (Part 1)
Thanks to this, Russia and China—who had shifted from competing with the United States, Britain, and France through military might to economic and technological power—now held far greater favor toward me.
'Now the Russian nationalists will think, at a glance, that I've had absolutely no hand in reclaiming their country's glory. Because, in their mindset, reclaiming their homeland's glory means building a strong Russia, not a wealthy one. So I'll exploit that in reverse: let America shoulder their military burdens, while taking just a modest sum for garrison costs that won't strain them. Of course, they'll rage even more at the idea of American boots on their sacred soil. But that will inevitably draw them into the logic of "the enemy of my enemy is my friend." From the start, it's a contradiction for them to accept support from the Jefferson family—one of America's Diagrams of Mystery—while claiming to champion Russia's glory. Still, to stave off internal divisions, they'll frame it as genuine backing from certain American figures. This is their chance to pull in as many factions as possible, flaunting their freedom from our battlefield control.'
But even that remains firmly within my calculations.
From the outset, only the Strange Zombies have been the true enemy; everything else is mere sideshow.
That's why, rather than launching a full-scale war with the Strange Zombie forces, my brother has limited himself to one powerful strike for deterrence—otherwise, he's only appeared on battlefields as a ghostly benefactor, delivering aid to straggling soldiers and refugees before vanishing mysteriously.
To hasten a frontal clash with them, I must publicize my activities on Earth.
叮
'Brother, I've succeeded on Earth in linking the G4 and Coffee Club's sensitive talks with China and Russia's current maneuvers, paving the way for U.S. troops to garrison their homelands. Naturally, you didn't lead every last federal or National Guard unit all the way to Mephauric.'
'Of course not.'
'So I'm stationing the remaining U.S. forces in China and Russia. The Brussels talks boosted their favor even more by framing a peer competition through their economic and technological strengths.'
'In exchange, the nationalists and Third Worlders will curse you as the "virgin bathing in human blood." Your looks aside, our personalities make such rumors all too plausible.'
'Dragging you into it too, treating us—practically one flesh—as some blood-mad ice demon?'
'Exactly. You can't expect common sense from this world's humans. It's a realm built on endless hatred and slaughter. Full demonization isn't a stretch. People splinter into factions and brawl everywhere, anytime. They can't even grasp the V.E.L.C.P. (Vacuum Energy Localization Collapse Phenomenon) I created or your V.M.N.C.P. (Vacuum Mass Nonlocalization Conservation Phenomenon), so they slap on concepts like ether and phlogiston. Our very existence strikes them as unreal.'
'True. And their research into it lags far behind scientists' rational analysis... They could believe it without issue.'
'Humans are beyond hope. Their common sense and concepts are hopelessly warped; they've long lost their capacity for thought and feeling. They fancy themselves the wisest, but that's just parroting their inherited civilization.'
'Agreed. Anyway, I've prepared something extra this time. Want to hear?'
'What is it?'
'Melin and I will investigate a sort of "Canada-fication" along the Mexican border ourselves. We need to gauge how severely people have clustered near the frontier.'
'Planning to use Nanocripplers?'
'Hardly. No need to kill outright. Even if we did, the U.S. government would spin it as abandoning them—though they'd never suspect us.'
'A perfect expression of their gripe that the Land of Infinite Possibilities' gates are too firmly shut. So, what's your plan?'
'They're not unhappy with America's tech gifts, but there's no reason to lightly welcome them crossing into sacred territory. You know how our artificial wombs and cloning tech pushed pure white bloodlines in the U.S. past 80%?'
'Right. So what will you do on-site?'
'That's for me to direct Melin on. I'll stay at command; she'll gather intel from locals.'
'Why trust those pathetic humans over soldiers? They might hate you enough to lie. Humans only submit sincerely after you stoke their cunning into terror—making them fear touching what's forbidden—then bestow favors, letting them think forgiveness is possible.'
'I disagree. Our presence doesn't just breed envy and jealousy. Their degraded intellects and senses mean they crave miracles all the more. If I simply pass by and showcase my aura of influence, they'll idolize me as an absolute icon.'
'Unbelievable. Even then, they'll cling blindly to dogmas they invented, twisting them self-servingly at best. Their emotions will warp to fit those creeds, not normal human feelings. That's the best case—and its purity will tempt them to defile it. Especially factoring in our ties to Martin Kendrick Lennox; guilt by association is likely.'
'Then why didn't you choose the best path, Brother? When right means only what's right for you?'
'If I bent everyone's minds to my will, there'd be no difference between me and those arrogant, hypocritical worms.'
'I agree. But I won't dodge crises or flee. I intend to see just how far they've fallen.'
'They've never fallen—they've just never admitted their vicious true nature, indulging it freely until they went mad with denial and hypocrisy. Their only path left is chasing whatever pays. "Falling" would mean ascending to angels. If their nature is thoroughly exploited, with all beliefs and ideologies erased, they'll squat here as contradictory lumps—mindlessly loving this land while hating its very soil, chasing no honor or power.'
'You won't stop me, then?'
'Of course not. Truthfully, I don't think those "fallen" humans could harm you even if you went. Odds are zero. I just don't want your naive faith in human goodness shattered. Isn't that the core of your beliefs?'
'Beliefs are forged, not immutable. I'll observe their actions firsthand.'
With that, I severed the telepathic link and headed to the site.
Flash!
Melin was already waiting when I teleported in.
"You made it, Cleas. Let's begin."
"Don't get emotional. Mission first."
"You really have no feelings. I can't get used to it..."
I ignored her and strode forward.
"Hey! Hey! Come with me!!"
The border grew noisier at the sound of our quiet approach.
"W-What's that person?!"
"Hey... isn't that Sylvia Cleas Lennox?!"
"Why's she here?"
"No way!!"
"She just here to mess with us?!"
"Ugh, so full of prejudice and preconceptions. Just welfare leeches."
"Good they're thinking that. Strictly speaking, we could demand everything outright—no issue."
"Ran the scenarios: skirmishes likely. They keep badmouthing us despite not needing them, harping only on why they do."
"Right? But do they truly know all about us?"
"No chance. If they did, they'd shut up."
"Exactly. So exploit their half-knowledge. Brother warned they'll call me the 'virgin bathing in human blood'—turn that against them."
"What, planning to get gang-raped by those starving wolves?"
"Obviously not. Why fixate on 'bath' and 'virgin'? Focus on 'human blood.'"
"Hah, so you're..."
"Yes. They'll lose their minds just from us approaching. Rumor-fueled fear + our allure + their secret shared wish for a hero. Combine it all. Like getting caught badmouthing the class topper."
"Perfect. Their intellect's even lower."
"Let's go. We don't even need makeup."
"That's for you, with the human shell!"
"Then keep up slowly. No reason for you to bare your face to me anyway."
"Aw... can't even joke? Don't be so boring."
"I wasn't made to feel such emotions."
And so we headed to the border region along the Rio Grande.