Four conscious survivors
Just then, the phone of a man beside Norton suddenly rang.
It was the police chief of Los Angeles Headquarters.
The old policeman took out his old-fashioned phone and answered.
"Yes, that's right... what did you say?"
The old man's voice suddenly rose, making Norton and the others frown at him.
Before Norton could say anything, however, the old policeman explained.
"The other four missing people have been found! They're not fully lucid, but they're not unconscious!"
"Where?"
Norton stepped forward and snatched the phone, only to find that the call had already ended.
"They're undergoing a full examination in the isolation ward at City Hospital. They're responding well, and we can head over now."
Hearing the old policeman's words, Norton and the others did not hesitate.
Leaving only the necessary personnel at the crime scene, everyone else got straight back into their vehicles and headed for City Hospital.
The officers on the perimeter only saw the people from that special department arrive in a hurry, then leave just as quickly.
"Jack, Joseph, Baru, and Otos. The four of them were found lying deep in the wilderness."
The detective outside the isolation ward was one of the patrol officers who had found the four survivors.
He was now briefing the chief and Norton's group on the basic situation.
Clearly, however, the chief no longer had much say here.
Norton took control of the conversation.
"Where exactly?"
The detective was perceptive enough to understand the situation and cooperated readily.
"About twenty meters north of the middle stretch of Highway 5."
A member of the Organization Department had already found a map of the outskirts of Los Angeles and spread it directly on the corridor floor outside the ward.
Norton took a red pen, pointed at a spot, and looked up at the detective.
"Here?"
The detective crouched down as well and carefully checked the location on the map.
Without another word, he took the red pen from Norton's hand and drew a red circle half a palm's width away from the spot Norton had indicated.
"This is the exact location."
His actions made both Norton and the chief of Los Angeles Headquarters give him an appraising look.
Their minds soon returned to piecing things together, however.
Norton drew another red circle around Old Ode's salvage yard, then connected the two circles with a line.
According to the map's scale, the distance in a straight line was more than five kilometers.
Norton's brow furrowed.
That far away? Why were they there?
Everyone else present was wondering the same thing.
Had they run there?
That was clearly impossible. According to the doctors, the only difference between these four and the six who remained unconscious was their awareness. Their physical condition was just as terrible. Never mind running-they could barely stand.
"Where are the files on these four?"
A team member immediately handed him a tablet containing detailed files on all four men.
Jack and Joseph were passed over immediately. Norton paused only briefly on Otos before focusing his attention on Baru's file.
"Baru Gersonier, nicknamed 'Eagle,' former Navy SEAL. Served in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, participated in Operation Sun Wheel, helped lead the successful Jockman Garden Infiltration... experienced in jungle warfare, amphibious operations, and small-scale raids..."
There were many red bars in the file. Clearly, anyone without his level of clearance would not have been able to view it.
Impressive!
That was the first thought of everyone who saw the file.
He was like the protagonist of an action movie.
This was a hardened warrior through and through, one of the core personnel of the Hercules Security Company!
A man like him warranted close attention wherever he went.
Norton's reaction was no different.
Just then, the door to the isolation area's decontamination room opened, and three doctors in protective suits emerged.
Everyone immediately gathered around to ask about the patients.
The doctor in the lead removed his mask.
"Aside from being physically weak, the patients are in good condition. We found no unusual infections or parasites, and they've regained enough awareness to communicate. You can go in now."
Inside the ward, Baru lay in bed, staring at the ceiling.
A glucose IV was still attached to his arm.
His other three companions had probably been admitted separately to nearby wards. Someone would likely come to question him soon.
Baru knew his service record was unusual. They would certainly approach him first.
Sure enough, the ward door opened.
A group of people wearing full-body protective suits entered.
Even as Baru scoffed inwardly, he knew his mission was about to begin.
This will be my first mission for Dawn! Sooner or later, I'll become a true Silent Knight!
He looked at his clean right hand, determination flickering in his eyes.
I'll earn a Dawn Seal of my own!
As Norton looked at Baru, Baru looked back at him.
"I know what you want to ask."
Before anyone could question him, Baru spoke first.
"But before that, before I recount those horrifying memories, there's something I'd like your person in charge to clear up for me."
Despite phrasing it that way, Baru kept his gaze fixed on Norton. Clearly, he had recognized the group's leader at a glance.
After a moment of surprise, Norton said nothing more.
He walked straight to the chair beside Baru's bed and sat down.
"Go ahead."
A trace of approval appeared in Baru's eyes.
Calm, no bureaucratic posturing, no wasted words, and no arrogance. A man who got things done.
Baru "struggled" to sit up in bed and took a deep breath.
"What I saw was certainly beyond anything conventional science could explain. That kind of horror..."
He stopped halfway through and instead stared at Norton.
"Sir, I want to ask: are we ready? Is America ready to deal with these things?"
The question sent a jolt through Norton's heart.
His first thought was of the current state of his department and the country's efforts in this field.
No! Not at all! We don't even understand what's going on!
But he could not say that aloud, especially as the person in charge.
Then Norton immediately caught on.
Why would Baru ask that?
Wouldn't a normal person think they had been caught up in an isolated incident? After narrowly escaping death, shouldn't they be complaining or afraid, or perhaps blaming someone or pouring out their feelings?
Yet Baru sounded almost as though he knew there would be more incidents like this-even enough to affect the entire country.
Despite the questions mounting in his mind, Norton chose to answer Baru first.
"Mr. Baru, we're the department directly responsible for handling this matter. America naturally has the power to deal with any threat, and we will need your cooperation in doing so."
A thoroughly official response that said nothing at all.
But Baru now had a direction in which to look for his answer.
In any other circumstances, there would have been nothing wrong with Norton's response. Just not here and now!
The information implicit in Baru's earlier words had been deliberately offered as bait-bait that would instantly draw the attention of anyone quick enough to catch it.
With that as the premise, the weight given to his answer would naturally be different.
An official answer that said nothing could also mean there was nothing he could say.
For him to say that America's power can handle any threat... it seems they may have no idea what they'll be facing in the future...
Baru closed his eyes slightly, and his concern deepened.
PS: Thanks to reader Bloodkin Nightblade for the 1,000-coin tip, readers Dragon Witch and I'm Not Freaking Cute for their 500-coin tips, and reader Hong Bolin for the 100-coin tip~~,
About updates: I generally post two chapters a day, but because of various odds and ends, the second chapter usually goes up very late. It's better to read it the next day. I'm not cutting back to one update without telling you~
Then there's the book's new title. I don't know whether I can still change it...
On an unrelated note, I just happened to discover that what I posted for Chapter 46 was actually the draft, while the final version was lost. That means one or two of the best bits were left out...
I can't remember them anymore, either. Even after adding a little back in, it doesn't feel as good as the original final version. Sigh, how disappointing. Sometimes inspiration only lasts an instant.