I Have Returned, but I Cannot Lay down My Gun-Chapter 785: Washington D.C (7)

"Great news came from Manhattan. They told us to help those guys until further notice. I’m not sure how long we’ll stay, but it’ll be at least six months."

"Six months. It brings back memories. I never thought I'd experience what it feels like to be deployed domestically, but here we are."

"This must be the first time for the youngest, right? This sort of thing will happen more often. To be honest, it was pretty rare for us to stick around in Manhattan for over a year."

"I thought you guys were always traveling around, though, so it's a bit odd to call it 'sticking around'..."

"Hey."

Early January 2031, Washington D.C.

On a snowy day, the Dagger Team was told that they wouldn’t be able to go home for the next six months. And, of course, everyone except me reacted with, "Well, of course."

Outside the window, there was nothing but a white sky. It wasn't the gloomy weather when it rains, nor the bright, sunny weather, but that very specific white sky that appears when snow falls. Almost as if the clouds themselves were glowing in a strange way.

As I gazed at that scene, I casually threw out a comment.

"If we stay this late, won’t Lapland’s belly be all swollen when we get back?"

"...Oh, I see. The kid’s picked up some bold thoughts now that the wolf is gone. Nice."

"Doesn’t that mean we’d have to stay for about a year, not six months?"

"I’m curious about the reaction, so I’ll text Lapland."

...Did I say something unnecessary?

The moment I said that, the entire Dagger Team grabbed their gears and started texting Lapland. I regretted it immediately, but it didn’t matter much. After all, Lapland couldn’t come after me.

How much time had passed after that? The furious wolf’s long-range ambush began.

"Hey, what the hell did you say!?"

"Oh, Lapland, hey. It’s been a while. We’re doing well."

"I didn’t contact you to hear your greetings!"

"But Lapland, you can’t come to Washington D.C anyway. Just stay there and rest."

"..."

Unlike us, Lapland looked incredibly energetic. With that loud voice, it seemed like he would be great at howling.

With the legal contact done, the conversation began. Perhaps because we weren’t there, Lapland was wearing a rather bored expression. It made sense. Still, I wasn’t worried since he had made plenty of friends along the way.

Anyway, we were always busy, and since we were directly involved in the operation, we didn’t care much about what was happening here, but it seemed like Central Park TOC had a lot of curiosity about the situation.

"I heard you’ve been doing weird things again..."

"A lot of ups and downs. It wasn’t weird. If you say that, the Dagger Team might get revenge on you."

"I guess they’d be too busy to come to Manhattan, just like you can’t come to me. I don’t know."

"Well, I don’t know either, but maybe there are plenty of people who could secretly go."

"Don’t lie!"

Lapland’s holographic head, which had been hovering in the air, subtly turned in the opposite direction.

Then came the next words.

"...I didn’t say anything. I only said it to him."

"Hmm. The youngest, lower-ranking than Eugene, seems braver now. Suddenly wanting to breathe Manhattan air?"

"Uh... It was excellent tactical command. I could never have imagined it. I think I’d prefer to stay as an operations officer from now on."

"Yeah, yeah. Just don’t forget in six months."

Ah, Dagger Team. Unforgiving as always.

Anyway, after that light jab, we started to explain what was happening in Washington D.C. Normally, we’d write a report with bodycam footage, but that wasn’t going to happen.

The reasons were many, but the biggest one was simply that we didn’t have time. We didn’t have the time to type away. That was something the operations officers at the Washington D.C TOC should handle. It was like that in Manhattan.

Strictly speaking, the Dagger Team doesn’t look back at the past. Through debriefings, we just shove the flaws to newbies like me and say, "Fix it before the next battle."

Anything beyond that... well, who knows. Maybe while we’re writing the report, we’ll get orders to move to the next battlefield?

So, for the operations officers who were thirsty for on-the-ground data, information like "the battlefield seen through Dagger Team’s eyes" was the most important right now.

I’m sure Central Park HQ was waiting for that too, but since the Dagger Team was busy, they probably didn’t say anything.

"You probably already know, but for now, Janet, the Secretary of Defense, is recovering without major issues. We finished the treatment on the way here... Dagger Team also got caught in the White House collapse. They’ll need to rest for a while."

"...Can you rest?"

"It won’t be that easy. If something else happens, we’ll need to rush, so we’re recovering to the point where it won’t interfere with the next operation."

Just as he said.

It often seemed like the Dagger Team was invincible, as if we just brushed off every operation with the ever-reliable Icarus gear, but after a tough mission, the aftereffects pile up on the body.

Especially when several hundred kilograms or tons of objects surround you, it’s natural for your body to twist at unnatural angles. That’s why Chester’s ankle wasn’t in good shape right now.

...If I wasn’t a mutant, maybe I would’ve been resting by now. But if I wasn’t a mutant, I probably wouldn’t be able to be part of this team of extraordinary Avengers...

Anyway, I briefly explained to Lapland what had been happening in Washington D.C.

Of course, Manhattan TOC already had complete information on Black Eagle and the Syndicate. The cleaners already knew, and since we were the first to make contact, they couldn’t have missed it.

Thanks to that, I didn’t have to give much background information.

"Black Eagle openly attacked Washington D.C. If you sum up their troops and equipment, they’d be at least a division. They were also trying to replace Secretary Janet."

"Replace... like a cyborg?"

"You seem to know well. Yeah, just like that. A robot-like thing, the one that tried to kill you last time, tried to take out Janet with the same appearance and wiped out the strike team. It pulled out all sorts of weird weapons from its arms."

"I saw the video. Before heading to the capital, the researchers who gave the daggers and tomahawks were hoping the Dagger Team would return safely. They said they wanted to drink."

"Ha, those funny guys."

I said it casually, but in reality, more important information was slipping out, almost unconsciously.

For example, the battle with the androids this time—well, to be precise, I didn’t know if it was a human who’d been modified or something made to look like a human—was the first time Dagger Team had deployed its full strength.

Also, the various bizarre weapons used by Black Eagle, like attaching air-to-air missiles to tiny drones, were completely unexpected.

There were other things too, like hovercrafts that could launch interception missiles and cruise missiles, but unfortunately, the latter disappeared before we could identify them.

The TOC thought the landing craft had been moved somewhere, or that they had used other means, but unfortunately, all the unmanned reconnaissance drones got destroyed when the hovercraft approached and turned into scrap metal.

It was unfortunate.

"Anyway... the information you've given has already been scripted and sent to Central Park HQ. Don’t worry about that, where are you heading next?"

"No change in objectives. We’ll recover the remaining two Icarus gear units scattered around Washington D.C in sequence. Once I’m recovered enough, I’ll move ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) to the Potomac Event Center."

"Understood. The Aricon folks are eagerly waiting for the combat data, so we hope you return safely."

"Of course. I won’t die until I smash the heads of those who can’t even control their own bodily functions, so don’t worry."

Of course, it would’ve been nice if that was the end of it, but unfortunately, Lapland didn’t quite fit a peaceful ending.

"You’ll do operations work over there, and you’ll get some CQB training from the Aricon folks. And if you send out wedding invitations without us, I’ll kill you."

"W-what did you say!?"

"Logan, you might as well ask Captain Farquharson directly."

"Hmm. Is that so?"

"...Damn it, I’m hanging up! Don’t get hurt and come back safe!"

"If you want souvenirs, let me know in advance. I might forget."

By then, the communication was already cut off, and we were all snickering.

I wasn’t sure what souvenirs to get, though. Maybe something like a keychain shaped like the Washington Monument or a snow globe shaped like the White House.

The problem was that both of those had been destroyed in reality. Even if I brought them, they wouldn’t be too happy, so I might as well ask later.

While I was thinking that, the conversation continued.

"Can we get through today quietly?"

"One thing’s for sure: the moment you said that, the trigger was pulled."

"Dammit. I can’t even speak now."

Sadly, when you analyze the statistics of what Dagger Team has gone through, the saying "If you say it, it happens" is no longer just a superstition. It’s practically scientific.

It had been only three hours since we heard the report that someone was about to mess with the second Icarus gear that the Dagger Team had prepped.

"That’s a pretty big number."

"They’re all wearing proper gear too. They look just like the ones we saw in Newark last time. It seems like there are even more of them than when we first encountered them."

"They’re swarming like ants. Am I the only one who wants to drop something on them from above?"

"Well, if you plan to vaporize the gear too, you can go ahead."

Wherever you look, Black Eagle is everywhere. The screen on the TOC only shows Black Eagle. I’m not sure if the Syndicate’s secret society can be so open.

If you are reading this translation anywhere other than Novelight.net or SilkRoadTL, it has been stolen.

It was a tough situation, but right now, from only a few kilometers north of here in Washington D.C, Black Eagle was clearly visible.

For the Dagger Team, who loves precision strikes more than anyone, the impulse to vaporize the enemy moving behind the screen was constantly there.

But, sadly, things don’t work out that easily.

"Those guys are clever. They know the biggest advantage of the U.S. military is airstrikes and long-range missile attacks, so they’ve blocked the airspace. They’ve got a mobile missile defense system, and it’s tempting."

"In the end, it’ll come down to who has more troops and how they use them. Those who know the manual are annoying."

"Exactly. We’ve got the advantage because we make the manual in real time during every battle, but even I’m starting to feel a sense of déjà vu."

"Yeah, it’s us. Of course."

We’ll keep doing what we do. Even if we’ve been doing the same thing for a year, it’s still true.

And the reason why the Icarus operators are the go-to tool for the upper brass... well, it’s because they’re reliable.

Frankly, if you ask, "Should we deploy the U.S. military?"... the outcome is as obvious as can be.

If we deploy the U.S. military, let's compare how it holds up against Black Eagle.

The number we can mobilize is definitely much larger than theirs, but numbers alone can’t decide a fight, especially in urban warfare.

As I’ve said before, the U.S. military can’t even mention the term "exchange rate" anymore. If we just throw in the U.S. military—against Black Eagle... how many of our soldiers will die before we take down one Black Eagle soldier?

That’s basically the situation.

"What should we say about this? It feels like some malicious bastard is making someone a hero for no reason."

"That’s a terrible interpretation, but it might not be wrong. Although, the Dagger Team might burn out eventually, if they keep going like this."

Updat𝓮d from freewēbnoveℓ.com.

"...I’ll look for another solution."

"I’m just kidding. Complaints are just complaints, after all."

Meanwhile, one of the TOC officers looked quite... uneasy.

It was understandable. If I were an operations officer, I’d be feeling just as uncomfortable. They have no choice but to ask us desperately. Without that, they’d have to bear a terrible exchange rate.

And so, despite the complaints, we accepted the facts. The difference between sending one operation team or sending a U.S. military force equal to—or greater than—the enemy.

The conclusion was obvious.

And today, there was one more reason we had to go.

The operations officer added:

"After consulting with the government investigation team, we found out that Black Eagle is composed of elite soldiers who’ve worked under the U.S. government for a long time. It’s also suspected that all of them have received some kind of combat enhancement."

"I see. It looks like you’ve found some new information."

"Yes. The key point is simple. The military network is still operational, and it’s possible to track the list of soldiers eligible for Black Eagle, either by reverse deduction or another method."

"Tell me more."

"We’ve identified enemies near the Potomac Event Center by cross-referencing data obtained from CCTV lines near Washington D.C. and military network photo lists. We’ve also intercepted their communications."

Finally, something more believable came up.

At this point, we needed more than just identifying the enemy—what we really needed was to figure out who the commander was. I wasn’t looking to understand their command style, but rather for assassination purposes.

And after some time, a name I’d heard before came up.

"Based on data from the center, we’ve confirmed that the field commander sent to the Potomac Event Center is using the codename 'Crow.'"

"...Oh?"

"I’d like to see if I can make them talk freely, even if they’re captured, but... the situation doesn’t seem favorable, does it?"

"If they broke into our communication network, we can break into theirs too."

"...I see you already know."

"Of course, there was a reason for that."

With a flick of his fingers, Logan made a clicking sound, and the Dagger Team stood up.

"Let’s move out."

It was time to do what we always do.

"Ugh... Aaaaah!"

"How’s the situation?"

"We’ve confirmed that the field commander, Race, is experiencing severe pain and allergic reactions at the gear contact points. What should we do?"

"Remove the gear. This kind of reaction is fascinating, but there’s no need to risk any further harm... I thought we’d catch up with the Dagger Team, but this is an unexpected result."

"Understood."

Meanwhile, at Black Eagle's command nest.

Another situation was unfolding.

And that's where the next part of the operation begins. The tension between tactical decisions, strategy, and the chaos surrounding them is escalating.