It’s already mid-December.
A few days before the 25th, Christmas trees were erected all over the United States, and symbolic colors of red and green were being painted here and there.
Of course, there should have been a heartwarming or pleasant special program on TV, but it didn’t.
Rather, the proportion decreased, and instead, the opposite video was continuously broadcast.
Mainly breaking news, current affairs programs that stimulate the hardline right, discussions by political groups calling for anti-war, and so on.
It was related to the Chinese invasion of Taiwan.
“Looks like there’s going to be a real f*cking war… … .”
Andrei murmured at the dinner table, where they often gather after training.
It was because the situation was so bad.
Americans had long since evacuated from Taiwan, air defense and interception weapons were filling the gap, and US troops were directly on standby near Taiwan.
In addition, the Chinese military also occupied the Taiwan Strait.
Harry was soon told.
“I’m glad though. Because the video doesn’t appear. It was fun to see you on TV, but it’s not good for security reasons to keep appearing… … .”
He nodded at those words.
It was because, fortunately, our video did not appear in the media any more while the misfortune of a war crisis was just around the corner.
To be precise, we started in social media from China, wearing black clothes.
It wasn’t even mentioned anymore.
Of course, it had already been circulated all over the world, and everyone who would see it saw it, and everyone who heard the rumors heard it, but at least there was no public talk in the media, and even what was uploaded online was deleted one after another.
And as time went by, nothing more seemed to come up.
It was because the Chinese light aircraft carrier and attack helicopters that appeared on the data screen appeared threatening, and the US war preparations against them were also stimulatingly mentioned.
how much you can die and how much you can kill.
Soon after, Andrei asked Harry, frowning.
“Lee’s video was f*cked up. I never thought the Chinese would solve that… … .”
“I mean.”
“Still, I can’t see that I’m happy. If war breaks out now, won’t we be able to sit still? is not it?”
“Well, will there really be a war?”
Harry murmured, as if he wasn’t sure yet.
This was because despite conducting military operations in mainland China, there was only a threat of war and no missiles were fired against the United States.
Even later, the video of the military operation was buried.
I thought it would be nice too, but Andrei, who was listening, didn’t seem to like it.
He replied with a frown on his face.
“Those f*cking Chinese bastards are needlessly proud bastards, aren’t they? will you stay Can’t you, a guy from an intelligence agency, predict that?”
Andrei asked, furrowing his eyebrows, and Harry turned his head to the side.
“Instead, Rachel knows. As I said, it was a case where I used it in a different way than analyzing information… … .”
“You are laughing. Did you hear anything, Rachel? Like an old friend.”
Andrei asked directly at Rachel.
After rinsing her mouth with water, she answered calmly.
“… Even they don’t know. I can’t say the possibility of war is 100% yet.”
I listened to her words.
It was because I learned a lot from Rachel lately.
For example, the international situation.
In particular, I learned quite a lot about the history and relationship between Taiwan, China, and the United States.
Of course, I didn’t understand everything because I had lived a difficult life after serving in the military in Korea, but I knew some things that I could recognize from the situation.
For example, the US domestic law called the Taiwan Relations Act enacted in 1979, the six guarantees made after that, and the current position of strategic ambiguity.
In addition, I heard about China’s economic power and the loss of the US military, and the conclusion was the same as what Rachel had just said.
That you can’t be 100% sure.
It contained not only Rachel’s information, but also the possibility of behind-the-scenes dealings.
So everything was uncertain.
This may be the reason why the United States has not officially declared its participation in the war even now, a few days before December 24, when China declared its invasion.
Only the TV was noisy.
Instead of the government, only the media was making noise.
It was just that the United States continued to demand that China withdraw its position while continuing to support various weapons and materials.
Of course, the amount of support was enormous, and the request to withdraw the position was strong, including various sanctions, but the important thing was the fact that they were not directly participating in the war.
Eventually, Rachel spoke.
“Even if what you see here is an exaggerated figure… If we participate in the war, the loss of the US military will be enormous. It’s on a completely different level from sending troops to Iraq.”
I watched TV with those words, and a panel from a former Pentagon was showing a graph predicting that the damage to the United States would reach 70%.
It was not an individual’s expectation, but data from a research institute affiliated with the Ministry of National Defense.
Andrei immediately frowned.
“You are f*cking. Isn’t that a ticket for an event made by Congress to win a budget? That the U.S. Army loses 70% of that? Even if you just fly the raptor, you’ll be able to take over the sky over China, right?”
“I think the same, but the damage won’t be small.”
“Even if it’s a lot, it’s probably 10%.”
“Even so, tens of thousands of people would be killed or injured… The second half of the presidency will be very dangerous. The voices of pacifists will not be small.”
“f*ck politics is the problem. We have to wipe out all those f*cking Chinese bastards.”
Jake, who had been quiet at those words, was also shaking his head.
“Maybe they are negotiating behind the scenes with China. Our video won’t be uploaded either. In addition, Russia is said to be advancing into Ukraine… You can avoid fighting. We cannot be sure of a war unless US troops set foot on Taiwanese soil.”
“It makes no sense, but… Hey, did you hear anything, Nari, the team leader?”
Andrei asked directly at Jake.
It was because he was the field commander who received and delivered information from higher up and gave us instructions.
He just nodded while eating the chicken tenderloin steak in silence, then shook his head.
“doesn’t exist.”
“Damn it, the team leader is relaxed. After the war, we will definitely go to the rear or to the main point… … .”
“Shut up and eat. We are just following orders.”
“… You are very Captain America.”
“I’d better send you to the battlefield right away, because it’s quiet there.”
“Who goes alone? If I go, Lee must go too. I came here in exchange for operating with him when I signed the contract.”
When Andrei said lightly to Jake, who was sitting diagonally across from him, Jake shook his head.
“You talk a lot.”
“I was better than you, Jake Russell.”
“You said you wanted to be quiet these days, but are you scratching your temper? Either follow me for a while, or shut up, or choose one of the two.”
At those words, everyone looked at Andrei, and half a beat later his mouth opened.
“… Threats are as good as terrorists. One arm is enough for me.”
“Then you mean to shut up.”
“I never said I would, chief. There was no mention of being controlled even to the dining table. If you’re tired of hearing it, cover your ears.”
Around the time Jake was about to frown.
“Wait a minute, that… Isn’t that breaking?”
I looked at the TV at Jose’s voice. Just in time, it was because large letters were written at the bottom of the video on the screen.
[Russia recognizes the independence of eastern Ukraine and declares unification by absorption.]
“Oh, f*ck… … .”
Marcus, who had been absent from the scene and had been quiet for a while, let out a curse.
Because everyone knew what the words meant.
Russian invasion of Ukraine.
I blinked my eyes and barely let out a sigh.
“under… … .”
I thought it was only in China, but it wasn’t.
moved to Russia.
There was something else that was more disconcerting.
‘It exploded in real life, but this exploded again… … ?’
Russian war in real life.
Before I came to Larreple, there was a war in Russia.
But it had nothing to do with the game.
It was because the development of the game was so early that the Russian war was not reflected at all in Lareple.
There was only Russia before the war.
That’s why there were no words related to war in the game.
If there was, it was all that came out when we were facing a global end in relation to nuclear war.
But here Russia was showing the same appearance as reality.
I couldn’t help but feel embarrassed.
Above all, regardless of reality, it was a situation where China was invading Taiwan.
It was the moment when the word “exploited” came to mind.
“What if this happens? Rachel? Russia and China are paired up?”
“Well, looking at the breaking news that the White House briefing is being prepared, a Russian invasion seems certain. It would be nice to announce a corrective fact, but that’s not going to happen. Then we have to prepare for war, but Ukraine is not a member of NATO, nor is it a country that has no relevant laws like Taiwan, so there is no justification for participation in the war… That would also affect China… … .”
Rachel shook her head after saying many things as if she was embarrassed.
“The situation has become difficult. I don’t know how long Ukraine will hold out. I don’t know if it was an island like Taiwan, but I don’t know if it will be able to stop the Russian tank advance… … .”
While Rachel blurs out her words.
I pushed one more thought into my mind.
‘If I go as I am in reality, I’ll be able to block it.’
I deliberately kept silent.
It was because I didn’t even know the relationship between Taiwan and the United States, so I, who had learned from Rachel, could not predict a war with Russia.
And since it’s a game, it could be different from reality.
Although it was made based on reality, there was a virtual existence in it.
And there was no need to draw attention.
A situation that is already receiving a lot of attention internationally for its fraudulent capabilities.
It was when I watched TV and heard about the crisis of war between China and Taiwan followed by the crisis of war between Russia and Ukraine.
Jake’s phone rang.
It is also a work cell phone with separate security treatment provided by the US government.
“… … .”
In an instant, silence fell.
Everyone guessed what the phone call from Jake meant.
With the war between China and Taiwan imminent and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine announced, a related mission must have been given.
It was when the sound of the TV program that was on was playing like white noise.
Jake’s gruff voice came out.
A few simple answers.
I hung up the phone for a while to reply without asking anything or talking at length.
Then he turned his gaze to us, who had only been looking at his mouth.
“Vacation is over. Prepare for the operation tomorrow.”
At the same time, a series of questions were thrown from Harry to Andrei to Jose.
“Where are you going?”
“taiwan? russia?”
“Team Leader?”
Hearing that, Jake opened his mouth.
“They say I need to prepare for a visit to Korea.”
“… … !”
Power came into my eyes.
Since Taiwan is still lukewarm and cool, Russia was the only place that needed to prepare for a visit to Korea.
Soon, Andrei murmured as he drank the water.
“… The year-end party must be f*cking hot.”