Commander Andarm was perusing the materials in his hand. They were documents his subordinate had just sent up. Information regarding a person named Luan Almeiza was recorded there. Certainly, that name was listed in the military's roster as one of the members of the previous Dark Continent Investigation Team.
Contact with the 'Weapon Brion,' one of the Five Great Calamities cited as a top-class gruesome incident in the military history of the United States. The special forces members who returned alive from that incident numbered only two.
Luan belonged to Investigation Unit 3. This was one of the units that had been searching for Returns on a different route from the special forces that encountered Brion. Contact with the unit was lost on the fifth day after the start of the investigation. Afterward, their missing status continued, and headquarters presumed them to be wiped out.
Andarm looked over Luan's history. Born in the remote countryside of the State of Nedallas, Luan made a name for himself for a time as a hacker around the age of seventeen. Under the name 'Jam Maker,' he belonged to an international hacker group and dabbled in several electronic crimes.
However, two years later, he was traced from an unauthorized access to a certain large corporation and arrested by a Hacker Hunter. During his imprisonment, he rehabilitated earnestly as a model prisoner and finished his term in ten years. Afterward, he achieved a return to society as an engineer.
He enlisted at age thirty-four. He was an ex-convict, but due to the situation at the time where a chronic shortage of soldiers due to war continued, his enlistment was approved. His specialized knowledge was valued, and he was assigned to the Electronic Information Processing Unit. At this time, he learned of the existence of Nen and began training.
And then, at the age of forty-one, he was selected as one of the Dark Continent Investigation Team members.
Andarm placed the documents on the desk. Looking at his history, he didn't seem to be a man who possessed anything particularly 'special.'
Only the rotation of his mind seemed to be exceptionally fast, and he excelled in unit command abilities. It seemed he specialized in parallel processing (multi-tasking) as if he had a computer inside his head, but he didn't think one could survive the Dark Continent with only that level of ability. He likely had talent, but the time he learned was too late. As a Nen user, he was not a significant wielder.
If there was a possibility, was it that he adapted to the environment through some kind of Return? If so, he wanted to obtain information regarding that Return by any means necessary.
"...Commander, sir, what do you intend to do?"
As if to dampen the contemplation Andarm was continuing, the man beside him asked. Sweating greasy sweat more than usual and showing an expression with no composure, that man's name was Taponard. A staff member of the Special Affairs Division.
"We should consider all possibilities."
"Please do not evade the question. Surely you aren't thinking of letting that onto this ship."
"We should investigate, including that possibility."
"Are you sane...!?"
"If her story is true, leaving a young girl in a danger zone like this goes against humanity. She is a memento left behind by a soldier of 'our country'... 'As the United States,' we have an obligation to fully consider protecting her."
"Even though it might expose all of humanity to danger! Do you know how much damage the Five Great Calamities brought in the past? And if the response had been mistaken by even a single step, humanity would have been all too easily destroyed... That danger should be prioritized above all else!"
Andarm possessed a special skill that allowed him to disguise the quality of the aura he exuded. Perhaps due to that constitution, he also excelled at reading emotions by watching the flow of others' aura. Seen from his observational eye, Taponard's mental state was exceedingly calm.
He was not as shaken as he looked. He was able to judge the situation calmly. In other words, the distraught attitude that rubbed one's nerves the wrong way was an act. Even if rotten, he was a human dispatched from an international organization where the conspiracies of countries around the world swirled. He knew that level of belly talk.
However, some tremors were also seen in that emotion map. A slight indignation that appeared. This was likely antipathy toward Andarm trying to interpret the girl's protection within the scope of "his own country's discretion." That could lead to giving the United States of Saherta a pretext to monopolize the information obtained from the girl.
"Of course, I cannot deny that she is an unconfirmed threat. First, we need to know. Is she an enemy, or an ally, to us?"
"I agree regarding that."
No matter how much the Special Affairs Division hated taking anything out from the Dark Continent, this case was an exception. It was not a matter where saying 'there was a suspicious girl so we ignored her and came home' would pass. Even as the Special Affairs Division, they were in a position where they could not block an investigation regarding the girl's identity.
In other words, they would settle on the conclusion of "wait and see." They were merely asserting the benefits of the organizations they belonged to while understanding that compromise.
"Even for me, I have the feeling of wanting to save that girl. However, as long as there is even a 1% possibility she will become a calamity (risk) to humanity, I have no choice but to take a firm response. Even if it is decided to welcome her onto this ship, please do not forget that from the viewpoint of safety, the custody and protection rights belong to the Special Voyage Division."
Regarding resources (Returns) discovered through the investigation of the Dark Continent, the share would go entirely to the country that conducted that investigation. However, regarding articles and organisms taken out other than that, it was decided by treaty in secret that management rights must be transferred to the Special Voyage Division.
This was a measure for countries around the world to share the danger of the risk and that information, and to respond internationally. Because the management oversight of a single country could lead to the destruction of all humanity. In particular, organisms seen to be contaminated by risks (such as humans who contracted cause-unknown illnesses) were isolated, preserved, and researched under a strict surveillance system by related agencies of the Special Voyage Division.
In short, it was an assertion to hand over the custody of the girl naming herself Quinn to the Special Affairs Division.
You filthy hyena...
Andarm's heart filled with anger.
"Is that not a way of speaking as if deciding she is a risk from the very beginning? Let me say it clearly: I believe it is best that we, the United States, take responsibility and protect her."
"On what basis do you say such...!"
"It may be an exaggeration, but I think of everyone in this investigation team as family. Irreplaceable brethren. I sent such precious comrades out to investigate... and let them die... I know that as a person in a position of responsibility, I should not whine like this, but I feel regret as if my body is being torn apart."
"E-Ehh... well, that is certainly so, but what on earth does that..."
"At such a time, the daughter of an investigation team member I thought had been wiped out long ago appeared. I know nothing of Mr. Luan. But he was also a soldier who shared the same aspirations. A child drawing the blood of a brother is alive and seeking help. Without answering this, I cannot face her now-deceased father, nor the comrades who have died...! You wouldn't understand this feeling. You people, who think of her only as a risk and see her only as experimental material for research!"
DON!
Intimidation as if accompanied by sound was emitted from Andarm's body. Nails dug into his clenched fists, and blood oozed out. His expression was tightened as if desperately suppressing passion, but only the power of his eyes revealed his exploding emotions as he glared at Taponard.
That skillfully disguised wave of aura could not be seen by Taponard, a non-Nen user. However, he could sense that abnormally swollen anger. Unable to even use Ten, he was slammed squarely with the intimidation from the front and looked like he was about to tumble off his chair.
"Hyah...!? A-Ah, s-surely you are misunderstanding something...!? I-It troubles us if you think of us as some mad scientist group that only does suspicious experiments!"
Against the man from the Special Affairs Division who unexpectedly regained his spirit and retorted, Andarm clicked his tongue internally.
There was not a speck of composure to mix acting into that desperate state, and his trademark greasy sweat was recording an all-time high discharge volume, but even so, his heart had not broken. He had not awakened to Nen, but his courage was something to behold.
He was also a man who had resolved himself to board this ship. He carried the mission of surveillance of the investigation team, risking his life. Andarm gave up, realizing that no matter how much of a bluff he launched, it would have no effect beyond making him flinch.
"I apologize. I unintentionally got caught up in personal feelings and became emotional."
"No, that goes for both of us... I will rest for a while. We will continue this talk later..."
Andarm was worried. Earlier, he said things defending the girl, but that was a facade to keep the Special Affairs Division in check. In reality, he wanted the knowledge that could likely be obtained from her so much that his hand would shoot from his throat, but he had to avoid at all costs a conclusion where he was driven by that greed and invited in a calamity.
However, the encounter with the girl was also a turning point for Andarm, who was about to end the investigation period without being able to make any new discoveries. He felt that depending on how she was handled, she could become either poison or medicine.
First, he would assess her. The girl offered to accompany Quantum and cooperate in collecting Returns. Andarm had issued an order to Captain Gragg to accept that proposal.
Shall we see what she can do?
There were still too few materials for judgment to proceed with hardline measures ignoring the girl's will here. He didn't know what the girl was plotting, but he would likely be able to grasp her general intentions and humanity from her actions. Andarm intended to offer Quantum as an offering for that experiment.
Having finished the first contact with the human investigation team, I was once again reflecting on and thinking about my actions.
In the initial plan, I intended to look for an opportunity for contact a little more carefully. I would tail the investigation team, and when they encountered some threat, developed into a battle, and fell into a predicament, I would feign coincidence and rush in, magnificently rescuing them. With this flow, I might have been accepted more smoothly.
But unexpectedly, the humans of the investigation team were excellent. Mastering a terrifyingly wide-range En, there was no gap to approach at all. In the end, I was lured into the En, and my tailing was exposed. At this rate, I was just a suspicious person. The first impression probably wasn't very good.
Well, what's done is done. For the time being, I glossed over my identity with plausible lies. Regarding the parts I would be in trouble if asked too deeply about, I pushed through with feigned ignorance. Currently, the impression they held of me likely hadn't left the realm of a suspicious person. I couldn't think they would let me on the ship smoothly with this.
So, I conveyed my intent to cooperate with their investigation as payment for boarding. There were several calculations in this. There was a danger that I would have to disclose information that would be bad if known, but I chose this strategy after considering that.
As long as we searched for Returns, an encounter with a risk had to be assumed. If that happened, it would be difficult to get through without using the power of the Almeiza Machine. If I was stingy with it poorly, not just the operation but my life would be in danger. In other words, my power would be seen by the humans.
That would also raise the caution they directed at me further, but it wasn't all inconvenient things for me. I thought I had to show that I possessed military force to some extent.
First, they must be wanting to know how I survived this Dark Continent. This place wasn't sweet enough for a mere human child to cut through with just good luck. They would be predicting I held some kind of special ability.
The power of the Almeiza Machine would be the explanation for that. There was no need to speak of it being a virus that multiplied feeding on life energy. I would leave it as a special poison bullet created by the main body.
By showing power, I think I can conduct somewhat coercive negotiations. If I hid everything and sought rescue as just a frail girl, I would have no standing. It would become difficult to refuse conditions issued from their side.
For example, it could end up that Quinn's boarding is allowed but the main body cannot be brought on. Also, Quinn's body might be inspected in detail. If that happened, the possibility of being seen through as not human was sufficient.
While seeking rescue, I would also push through my demands. How to strike the balance of that negotiation was important. As a trump card for that, I think I will still hide the existence of the 'Soul Stone.' There is no need to expose all my cards from the start.
If I recall correctly, several flowers I obtained during the Withered Tree Human incident should remain in my item bag. They've dried up and become crisp, but the components should remain. I don't know if this counts as a Return, but if I line up lies or whatever and sell them, they might find value in them. Anyway, I'll use anything I can use.
Cooperating with the investigation team's Return search is also a part of advancing the negotiations advantageously. This can be called the main axis, the liver of the strategy. By showing a cooperative attitude, I appeal that I am a friendly existence to humans.
A reliable comrade who appeared like a comet before the investigation team who had been in extreme difficulty. We share a search risking life and death, and deepen that relationship of trust. Effort, friendship, victory. I had already prepped from the memories of my previous life (mainly manga) that humans were easily swayed by these words.
Dealing with strong enemies, my power might not reach, and I might let some of the investigation team die. However, by overcoming the deaths of those comrades, our unity will likely deepen even further.
No matter how it rolled, there were no blind spots. However, without letting my guard down, I divided my consciousness body and simulated various situations.