I Have Returned, but I Cannot Lay down My Gun

Chapter 236 – ICARUS Tech

“Did we have a barbecue party today? Why are the researchers dividing up pork ribs?”

“They’re objects used as targets during the incineration turret modification test. The charred exterior is from maximum power dispersion.”

“I didn’t expect a research institute under the Department of Defense to be developing weapons that violate the Geneva Conventions.”

At 5 a.m., in the deep night when the sun hadn’t yet risen, the conversation continued.

Despite Janet’s sharp retort, her counterpart didn’t seem to mind much.

She knew too.

The data for the ICARUS Gear stored in the ultra-high-performance storage device brought in via diplomatic pouch included ‘things’ like this.

Anyway, even though it wasn’t developed, it was still bewildering to come and see the prototype performance made by another world’s DARPA.

The word incineration turret was enough to leave even the Iron Lady’s cold rationality in shock.

The remnants of the intuitive scent that brushed her nose still lingered despite sufficient ventilation. It wasn’t enough that she had to visit DARPA suddenly at dawn, but now she also had to smell something akin to a midnight snack, adding to the chaos.

However, it hadn’t been long before the live-fire test of the turret woke her completely.

───Rrrr!

“How long does it take from deployment to fire support?”

“If pre-identified by the integrated UI, within one second. Otherwise, it takes some time to identify the target. Its survival capability is quite significant, with partial camouflage functionality applied.”

“The firing rate is about 800 rounds per minute, but it can be adjusted freely according to the user’s preference.”

“Hmm.”

Literally equipment for urban warfare. Not for countries ending with -stan or the exhausting deserts of Central or Southwestern Asia, but for battles in large cities like New York.

The performance limited to specific areas wasn’t a plus from the perspective of her position as the Secretary of Defense. Rather, it was a disadvantage.

But she wasn’t too disappointed. She remembered that there were still even more effective pieces of equipment left to review.

“What about the other equipment?”

“We have produced prototypes for each of them. Let me show you the Pulse. Please wear these goggles.”

She received the goggles handed over by the researcher.

They were digital goggles currently supplied to the U.S. military, capable of popping up basic UI systems in the battlefield.

The word Pulse appeared in the upper right corner and synchronized. In the meantime, a makeshift building was swiftly erected over the experimental area. Walls, buildings, internal equipment, and corners—it looked like a kill box that could perfectly recreate CQB.

Two researchers with guns waited behind the walls with fairly skilled movements, while golden concentric circles spread from a device on the shoulder of a researcher, visible only through the goggles.

At that moment,

“Hmm.”

-[Alert: Identified four unknown personnel.]

The goggles showed real-time movement of enemy silhouettes beyond the wall. Not only that, but the internal equipment of the building was also visible.

Two figures that looked like hostages and two enemies hiding behind wooden planks waiting for a chance. However, before those two silhouettes could respond, the researchers who had moved first pulled the triggers, shattering the planks and turning the enemy silhouettes into polygons.

The scene in her memory was recreated before her eyes.

“It feels like I’m watching something unbelievable.”

Revolution beyond innovation.

There was a way to dramatically reduce friendly casualties during urban warfare right in front of her—but the next moment, with a buzzing sound, a word appeared over the goggles.

There was no need to interpret it; the word overload was easily understood.

Originally, it was a skill based on ICARUS Gear, so it couldn’t be helped.

“We still have a long way to go.”

“Yes. Output, real-time display, UI sharing… unless it’s ICARUS Gear, these expensive goggles will be used as disposables. However, we’ve grasped the principle to some extent, so we can start downgrading soon. Let’s move on to the next.”

The test area was quickly dismantled again.

This time, a mannequin with skin-like material and a dome-shaped shield were placed, and a machine gun on the opposite side was ready to fire.

There was nothing particularly noteworthy except for a device rolling on the floor, resembling a wasp nest.

But she knew what it was.

“Hive.”

“Yes. We will show it along with the shield technology.”

“Should I look forward to it?”

“You won’t be disappointed, no matter what.”

───Tududududu!

Then the machine gun fired.

Flames spouted in the air. The trajectory of the bullets twisted or was blocked. Despite the roughly 30 rounds of continuous fire, the shield remained intact, which wasn’t in her memory.

She turned and asked.

“This is different from the concept of the shield I had in mind.”

“Unfortunately, we couldn’t implement the shields embedded in the ICARUS Operators’ equipment. That technology requires the combined power of the gear’s computing power, network synchronization, and a dedicated power field, all of which are currently unavailable.”

“Then what is this?”

“We barely managed to produce it by scaling it up from the original. With the current manufacturing equipment DARPA has, it couldn’t be miniaturized any further.”

“Hmm.”

In the meantime, the firing ceased.

After 90 rounds, the field overloaded, and the mannequin had several small and large wounds.

The lower part of the power field generator, red-hot, showed a message that nanomachine recharging was needed.

But then, with a cheerful sound, something glowing green floated in the air. With a buzzing noise, the Hive’s bullet popped out and burrowed into the machine. As the generator began to recharge, the small and large wounds started to heal bit by bit.

It might have been easy to dismiss it as nonsense, but she, having seen America’s cutting-edge technology firsthand for a long time, said something entirely different.

“How effective is the Hive in treating severely injured patients?”

“There are 45 embedded charges, and using about one-third of them should allow for partial mobility, even if not complete recovery. Unfortunately, we couldn’t produce a Hive solely for resuscitation.”

“A matter of technological capability?”

“Yes. Frankly, if we hadn’t contacted Yoo Jin beforehand, none of the prototypes here today would have operated.”

“Keep going.”

The seemingly magical technology continued.

Oxidizers that devour metal, basic forms of nanites, steam napalm, or chemical injectors capable of firing therapeutic chemicals, seeker mines for attack or healing, hologram projectors, and more.

More than half were highly useful in special situations, but conversely, less than half could be broadly used in almost any combat scenario.

Having internally adjusted her assessment of the other world’s DARPA capabilities, she asked nonchalantly.

“It should have been impossible to produce prototypes in such a short time. How was it done?”

“The schematics and software were included. Some devices couldn’t be made without special processing equipment, but others could. Or they required only a bit of application. But a month was still short… None of us here have been home in a long time.”

“…”

So that was the result.

Unfortunately, Janet couldn’t sympathize with their hardships, having herself hastily dressed and rushed to DARPA at dawn.

Nodding slightly, she added.

“We should erase the competition proposals from the pre-planned defense contractors and research institutes. We’ll say it was developed in-house.”

“Haha. You always work hard.”

“After a certain period of rest, conduct full-scale research. Once I step down as Secretary, keep it confidential within DARPA, not reporting it to the Pentagon.”

“Of course, Madam Secretary.”

Phew.

Though she came out at dawn, the sun was now rising.

It seemed she would be entering her office early today.

“It’s really enviable that the athletes don’t have to bring their own clothes. ICARUS provides almost everything.”

“You’d think Min Ah isn’t getting anything at all.”

“Hehe.”

Ten days before departure.

With a suspiciously simple carrier in front of her, she checked the electronic passport and plane ticket that popped up.

Six first-class seats contracted a year ago. Apparently, a large airline contracted with ICARUS reserved up to six first-class seats in preparation for this time.

Unfortunately, last year, half of these reservations were canceled, but this year, all six seats, including Harmony’s, would be used by the main event participants—although Harmony paid for her own first-class ticket.

Anyway, the complications weren’t limited to the athletes.

They had been ongoing since the Asian preliminaries until now.

The conversation with Min Ah during the call was part of that.

“I read the manual given to the Korean representatives, and it’s like a moving billboard. Surely, there’s no time to wear clothes from Korea.”

“It would be a bit difficult for Dice and the others. I’ll probably wear the given top, though.”

“Yeah, Yoo Jin can’t wear just any pants. But wouldn’t the skilled designers in New York tailor them?”

“Just tell them not to. It’s cold if I expose my tail.”

“Oh… Ah! Ahaha!”

*Sigh.*

Why did these people enjoy seeing me embarrassed or in an awkward situation? Dice suggested we have hot soup as it got colder, but she chose the coldest day in November.

When I mentioned trying the Anaconda Twist flavor, she immediately suggested meeting the next day. What nonsense.

Everyone’s starting to lose their minds.

Anyway, that’s how things were around me. I hadn’t expected something that started around August to roll on to this point. Indeed, you have to start things to see where they go.

“See you soon at Incheon Airport. Can I stay over at your place the day before?”

“Why does everyone say the same thing?”

“Did that person also ask to stay over and go together?”

“…”

“Oh my.”

Silence was affirmative.

Of course, the house was big enough, so it wasn’t a big issue.

It was just a bit unfamiliar that my home had become a meeting place.

Then, the next words were thrown out as casually as discussing lunch.

“I plan to broadcast early on the day of departure.”

“What kind of broadcast?”

“Since I’ll inevitably reveal my true self in the U.S., I might as well do a surprise reveal. Dice will do the same.”

“Ah…”

A brief silence.

Then Harmony added.

“Well, even if someone tells you not to, you’ll still do it. Dice got permission from SSM to reveal her appearance?”

“Yes. Since Dice and I share similar issues, we discussed it a bit earlier. I’ll probably start around 5 a.m., so I wonder how many will watch.”

“…It will be packed with people.”

“I suppose.”

Many in Tricky had their day and night switched—it was certain. Though I didn’t say this out loud, it was clear that many lingering viewers would flock without cooldown.

Come to think of it, Harmony was also an experienced face-revealer. Now she occasionally did mukbangs at night, but not before. Clearing the scattered luggage, I asked, and she answered.

“I surpassed ten thousand viewers for the first time then… I can’t imagine what will happen when Yoo Jin reveals herself. And if Dice joins… Oh…”

“I get the gist.”

But my fingers were already moving.

The first thing I wrote was the title. Then I wrote the content briefly. Start simply, including only the essential parts. Hint at important parts nonchalantly and finish it.

The completed title was as follows.

‘There will be a small surprise this Saturday.’

The broadcast time was early, and there would be a guest, with a simple broadcast before leaving for the airport. Harmony had notifications set for my Tricky-personal site announcements, so she went to read it with a ding.

After some time,

“Yoo Jin.”

“Yes?”

“That’s why people call you a villain.”

…Wasn’t this a sufficient announcement?

But unfortunately—my thoughts were ruthlessly suppressed by Harmony, and 30 seconds later, I had to change the broadcast start time to dawn. The first comment was a hissing emoji from Harmony.

It was a day that reminded me I still had a long way to go as a streamer.