Chapter 117. Grand Canyon
Chapter 117. Grand Canyon
"Let us discuss this among ourselves for a moment; we'll contact you shortly."
"Yes, if you help us, we'll repay you generously as well."
After briefly ending the call, I asked Lieutenant General Go.
"What is the speed of the drones they have?"
"It varies from model to model, but the fastest speed is roughly 1,000 kilometers per hour."
There was no technology that could shoot one down with a single attack, or even a barrage of bullets. Not in a world like this, where it was so hard to exert full power.
"In that case... the probability that this is the work of someone who crossed over from Titan is nearly 100%."
"They said nothing else stood out, so it seems they're just taking a defensive stance and defending."
"It would be hard to launch indiscriminate strikes without even knowing what's there."
That was right. From a position of not knowing exactly what kind of being was there, striking could be like poking a hornet's nest. If they had the military force to precisely target something moving at over 1,000 kilometers per hour, missiles would be meaningless anyway.
"The ground... the terrain... weapons...?"
The group watched me muttering to myself and spoke up.
"Do you have any guesses, perhaps?"
"There is one thing that bothers me a little, but..."
At the very least, it wouldn't be orcs and goblins. If it were them, their outdoor lifestyle would have been detected, and they don't have the ability to shoot down drones.
"The fact that nothing was detected means they live hidden... As far as I know, the Grand Canyon is an enormously vast gorge, isn't it?"
"Yes, that's correct. It's a national park bustling with tourists every year, captivated by its vastness."
"The fact that nothing was detected in such a place... There's also the possibility they live underground."
"Huh..."
"If I were to speculate, it's highly likely to be 'dwarves.' They are famous as a race that builds cities and lives underground, after all."
"The... the race made up of master craftsmen, correct?"
"Yes, with their technology, shooting down a drone isn't so impossible."
"Shooting down a drone with weapons made by such a race... That image is a little different from what I know..."
The other party members nodded in agreement. The dwarf they all imagined was probably a figure sweating at a forge, hammering away. That image wasn't wrong, but dwarves were far more scientific than one might think. To put it simply, it was easiest to think of them as genius engineers and scientists.
They weren't idiots who ceded air superiority just because they lived burrowed underground. On the contrary, they seized air supremacy faster than anyone else to safely explore the outside from their subterranean homes.
"I absolutely cannot imagine that kind of image..."
"Their outward appearance fits the image you all have. It's just that they're a bit more scientific."
"Then why did they attack the United States?"
"They didn't attack. They simply defended because it entered their territory."
"Then what kind of stance should we take?"
"We'll settle this under the condition of receiving the U.S. research complex data."
"...?"
At the sudden suggestion of receiving research data, people looked bewildered. I had made a choice that looked a little further ahead. If dwarven technology and Earth's science were combined, we could prepare for the future a bit more easily.
"That's certainly a reasonable thought. I will negotiate in that direction."
We reconnected the briefly suspended video conference and told them our demands. Absorbing the dwarves would be even better from the United States' perspective, but they don't understand dwarves and wouldn't find it easy to accommodate them. However, we had achieved perfect self-sufficiency, and above all, the fact that we all originated from the same 'Titan' would play a huge role.
'Using my name like this isn't great, but...'
"Unfortunately, while providing the research data is possible, it seems we will have to recapture the research facility ourselves and retrieve it."
"I expected as much."
It looked like it was going to be a rather lengthy itinerary, passing through the Grand Canyon and then having to recapture a research facility.
* * * * * * * *
As the ones providing help, we were currently heading to the United States on a chartered plane provided by the U.S.
"Reconnaissance all the way from Washington to the Grand Canyon is impressive."
At my muttered words, the Special Forces Commander responded.
"The United States is so sensitive about national security, it seems that's the reason."
Our itinerary was to refuel the plane in Washington, land in Las Vegas, and then proceed to the Grand Canyon.
"I will first go ahead with my men to gather information on the research facility in Washington."
We would have to spend a day in Las Vegas en route, but just the flight time alone was a long 20-hour journey. Just thinking about it was exhausting.
"Sis, this is my first time going to America!"
"I wanted to visit the Grand Canyon too, but I didn't think it would be for this reason."
Chatting and eating again and again on the flight to Washington, we eventually arrived at Washington International Airport, where the zombies had been cleared out and soldiers stood on heavy guard.
And, as discussed beforehand, a helicopter prepared to take us to the White House was waiting for the special forces unit.
"President Cheon, please take care of yourself."
"Yes, will do. There shouldn't be any trouble, but if anything happens, contact me."
We watched the helicopter depart for the White House, then boarded the chartered plane again after it finished refueling. Perhaps because we had flown for such a long time from Korea to the United States, the flight to Las Vegas felt relatively short.
"What will you do? As you can see, staying a day here would be uncomfortable..."
"We'll just take any suitable hotel and settle in."
Our guide must have already heard from the higher-ups, as he didn't say anything further.
"Yes, if you contact us tomorrow, we will send a helicopter to that hotel."
He simply gave a slight bow of his head in greeting and departed. It seemed he intended to spend the day in this secured area.
"Sihu, why did you specifically say we'd go to a hotel?"
"I wanted to sleep a little more comfortably..."
"..."
We headed for what looked like the best hotel around. In the past, this neighborhood would have been noisy with revelry and pleasure, but now it was wrapped in deathly silence.
We went up to the hotel's top floor and spent the day. And, as promised, when we told them the hotel's name, they came by helicopter and landed on the rooftop.
"We will escort you straight to the Grand Canyon National Park."
We entered the Grand Canyon and landed on a suitable patch of flat ground.
"Going further in from here risks being shot down, so our escort stops here. Radio us when the job is done, and we will come to that location."
We already had a walkie-talkie, but he gave us another one, saying it was a radio equipped with GPS. And, before we departed, he added one more thing.
"If by any chance the matter isn't resolved, you may return to this spot. We plan to remain here for a few days."
They saw us off, and we ventured deeper into the canyon.
* * * * * * * *
"Oppa, what will you do if it's dwarves, as expected?"
"Since they're a race you can at least communicate with, I'll have to try talking."
"Were you close with dwarves too?"
"Rather than being close, I once did them a favor. So they won't be able to refuse me outright."
Because dwarves were so dexterous, their tribes were often taken hostage by greedy dragons and suffered considerably. However, I had clashed quite often with dragons, who grew arrogant upon seeing beings they considered inferior, and back then, I saved several dwarf tribes. Of course, dragons are intelligent beings; not all of them had that mindset.
'Of course, every single one of those bastards died by my hand...'
If they were dwarves, with the kind of manual dexterity that even dragons coveted, they would be a tremendous help in getting social infrastructure running again. Because they were a race that, once absorbed in something, would work for days without sleep.
"Anyway, this place is the only spot on Earth that looks no different from before the apocalypse."
"Right. Is it because it's so vast, and we've come deep inside where people don't usually go?"
Places untouched by human footsteps even before the apocalypse wouldn't show a difference afterward. We had climbed to a fairly high vantage point where the land below was fully visible, but to the naked eye, nothing seemed particularly changed.
"Hmm... I don't see anything at all."
"I don't see anything either. Sihu, do you see something?"
"Nothing obvious on the surface."
Perhaps they wouldn't attack even if we approached like this. In the case of the drones, they probably shot them down out of fear of the unknown. If humans approached directly, they would at least ask the purpose of the visit.
But, contrary to expectations, nothing happened even after we had approached quite closely.
"That's a bit strange... why is there no reaction at all?"
"Maybe they don't know we're here?"
"No way... three people walking around in this desolate place?"
"Right, that's true..."
If things went on like this, I'd have to spread out my mana to find them directly, which would be a huge pain. We found a suitable spot and ate, and I could see the sun was gradually setting.
"Should we pitch a tent here and look again when morning comes...?"
"Ugh... it feels like it'll be cold at night..."
"Well, what can we do? We're the ones in need."
We pitched the tent and were just about to rest when we heard the sound of something rushing this way. The two of them must have heard it too, as our eyes met.
"Sihu, I think someone's coming?"
We cleared the tent and went outside, and Jia, having spotted something, shouted.
"Oppa, aren't those people dwarves!?"
People roughly the size of my navel were running toward us. Just in case, the women had drawn their weapons, but I didn't feel any bloodlust from them.
"Calm down. Doesn't seem like they're here to fight."
They had run so urgently that they were panting heavily as they spoke to us.
"Humans? Looks like you're trying to camp rough, but why in the world would you camp rough in a place like this?!"