Colonel Wallace went forward to meet her, but instinctively stopped when he was two meters away.
According to the mission the Council had given him, he should immediately communicate with the other party at this point. But Wallace wondered whether the alien could even understand him.
He had imagined countless ways of meeting an alien, but when the other party actually appeared, he found himself at a loss.
"Could it be that I'm supposed to say... 'Do you speak English?'"
At that thought, Wallace realized that silence spoke louder than words.
Suddenly, inspiration struck, and a classic scene flashed through his mind.
Wallace extended his index finger and gently reached it forward. This was the contact gesture from E.T.
Countless cameras focused on him. Behind the scenes, everyone watched that index finger through the screens, holding their breath.
The woman glanced at his finger and said calmly, "I need a formal reception. Don't tell me this is it?"
Wallace's finger froze in midair. He quickly said awkwardly, "Oh? Oh! Yes, sorry, we're already prepared... Please!"
The woman's fluent English caught him completely off guard. He hurriedly withdrew his finger and smoothly made an inviting gesture.
"When did she learn our language?"
"Perhaps within the last few days?"
"As expected. I told you, the Black Sphere has been observing us all along."
The channel was filled with heated discussion. In fact, the Global Council had prepared everything. Even the municipal hall near Angel Beach had been temporarily converted into a reception venue.
They immediately had Wallace escort the alien visitor there.
Wallace walked ahead, while the woman suddenly reached out toward empty space behind him.
Just as everyone was wondering what was happening, a black metal inverted-triangular container appeared in the air, perfectly accommodating the woman's lower body.
The empty space