I Have Returned, but I Cannot Lay down My Gun

Chapter 242 – MOH

—

“These dishes are extremely hot. We have three more coming out; would you like them all at once?”

“Please bring them out in halves.”

“Excellent choice. The top is sirloin, and the bottom is tenderloin. I’ll divide them into individual pieces.”

The sound of butter and beef fat sizzling was loud.

As the liquids bubbled on the hot plate, they spread an aroma that stimulated both taste and smell, while thickly sliced pieces of meat were placed on four plates.

After a spoonful of buttery oil was applied, they were ready to be devoured.

Picking up one of the two juicy pieces with my fork and popping it into my mouth, the sensation of chewing was tender, while the rich flavor filled my mouth.

Everyone nodded, enjoying the texture of the first lunch of the day.

“Did you say this was dry-aged?”

“Why ask us amateurs about that? We’re people who’ve been surviving on tasteless MRE trash while on operations.”

“Haha, I guess the food at Fort Bragg isn’t great? Coastal bases always have good food.”

“The food’s good, but there’s never time to eat it. Damn it.”

What could I say?

Special forces members usually talked like that. Though they didn’t often discuss work, they were always good at complaining. SOF guys could turn even their dire situations into black humor, making them excellent comedians.

Anyway, the meat was tender and flavorful, with a hint of cheese. These two plates alone weighed 3.2 kg. Considering the T-bone, the actual meat weight was less, but it was still substantial.

It wasn’t quite up to the standards of superhumans. The senior officer laughed as he watched the food rapidly disappear from the table.

“If you leave any food, I’ll invoice all three of you.”

“Have you ever seen me leave food?”

“The rookie must’ve been hungry. She’s eating very well. I’ll go get the third and fourth plates.”

Laurentina called over the waiting server to request the third and fourth steak plates. Glancing at the juicy steaks, she added in a slightly disgruntled tone.

“I wouldn’t mind if they were a bit bloodier.”

“Why didn’t you ask for one to be rare?”

“I ended up ordering everything uniformly.”

Sharp teeth glinted in her mouth as she opened it to speak.

They looked human but were sharper, resembling a shark’s. Considering her shark-like traits, her preference for bloodier meat was likely personal.

I was more like Logan.

My canines were noticeably different from an average person’s.

This was a characteristic of superhumans. It wasn’t always apparent in their appearance, but EM-levels often displayed at least four or five distinct traits.

My bite strength was likely similar to the original animal I resembled.

After swallowing a piece of steak and cautiously sipping the paired red wine, Laurentina drew the soundproof curtains.

Achieving complete soundproofing was challenging, but with ICARUS Gear, the noise-blocking barrier soon became perfect.

Then the shark spoke to me.

“I hate to spoil the surprise, but you’ll probably meet Henry in a few days, Yoo Jin.”

“Henry… the President?”

“Here, he’s still a candidate, but considering his current approval rating, getting into the White House shouldn’t be an issue. Anyway, he personally asked to have a meal with us.”

“Just me?”

“Unfortunately, no.”

…Hmm.

Given the context, it seemed likely that all four of us would attend.

I wondered why she was telling me this until she handed me a branded shopping bag I recognized.

Inside were clothes. Apparently, Camp Henry had sent them for us to wear to the meal.

Of course, it wasn’t just clothes.

“A handbag? It’s not even a 5.11 Tactical Backpack, and I don’t have anything to carry. What’s this for?”

“It’s fashion.”

“When did you ever care about fashion?”

“You can’t say that to someone who gets bombarded with modeling offers whenever she goes out.”

These people, who smelled more like gunpowder than perfume, getting modeling offers? What a world.

Apparently, Laurentina and even Logan had received countless similar offers.

The senior officer sitting across from me added another unbelievable story.

“Both of them got accessory modeling requests from agencies a few months ago. Do you want to know what they said?”

“Please, tell me.”

“They didn’t ask if it was for necklaces or earrings. They asked if it was for dot sights, suppressors, or other gun accessories.”

“…Wow.”

“Why tell that story during a meal!”

“Cough, you’re killing me…!”

What could I say? Any admiration or relief I’d felt for them melted away like a sandcastle in the waves.

They were fascinating people.

The senior officer, having started the conversation, retreated, leaving the two to sheepishly continue, as if recalling an embarrassing past.

“…When we conducted a major urban assault drill at the Delaware River in Philadelphia, we had just finished organizing our gear and went to eat. Our callsign was GA2… Maybe I shouldn’t have said that.”

“In civilian clothes?”

“Our team would always make a fuss if we wore Multicam clothes casually. So, we had to avoid standing out. We wore visors covering our faces and hid our hair.”

“Is it true that all images of the DEVGRU Shark Face on Google are of you?”

“Let me finish before I kick your shins again.”

After a threatening warning, the explanation continued.

It was surprisingly straightforward.

They’d been approached by a fashion brand agency employee in Philadelphia.

They checked the agency’s website and promotional site right then.

They politely declined, saying they’d follow up later.

Before declining, they misunderstood the agent’s mention of ‘accessory brand’ as gun accessories.

What a ridiculous misunderstanding.

“…I don’t have much to add.”

“Are you trying to dodge?”

There was no escaping.

Their situations were similar.

Logan had met the agency while covered in gunpowder residue.

Experiencing strange, unprecedented things due to their transformations was bizarre.

I had fewer stories to share. I rarely went out, didn’t buy a car, and didn’t join any like-minded groups.

As special forces members, they had active lives.

If I’d been as active as them, maybe I’d have gotten modeling offers too.

“Well, I’m a bit different from Logan or Christopher. People might find my appearance a bit off-putting.”

I said this, wondering why they looked at me as if I were speaking nonsense.

Luckily, the soundproof curtains fluttered at that moment.

The third and fourth steak plates had arrived. It was the perfect opportunity to satiate our hunger and avoid further interrogation.

Alongside the steak came a burger. It contained two melted cheese slices, a patty thicker than a brioche bun, onions, and a long strip of bacon.

It was time to clear up the remaining questions.

“So, when is the meeting with the presidential candidate scheduled?”

“Tomorrow at 7:30 PM at Per Se in New York. It’s a Michelin 3-star restaurant. Conveniently, it’s only a few hundred meters from your hotel. You can relax until dinner. It’s right next to Columbus Circle.”

“Columbus Circle… where our Osprey crashed.”

“You have a strange way of remembering things.”

They all made faces like they’d remembered something.

The plates remained hot, the butter and beef fat bubbling.

Outside, thick snowflakes fell silently.

The wind died down, and beautiful snowflakes fell. It was a silent death I had seen and hated countless times.

I disliked winter back then because it reminded me of the remnants of a once-glorious New York. Every place, from markets to restaurants to clothing stores, was shrouded in silence and darkness, exuding a gloomy atmosphere.

But there was a reason I said this now.

“It’s warm even when it snows now.”

They all nodded silently.

We could finally let the past go.

Maybe today, I was learning to let go of my painful past and turn it into a memory.

—

“What’s the current approval rating?”

“Still leading. After expressing interest in the VR event, public opinion has become uncertain, but most view it positively.”

“At this point, just not messing up is the best strategy.”

“Other areas are seeing fluctuations. After the fifth presidential debate, support from states closely tied to the defense industry has slightly increased….”

“Don’t expect much from Republican strongholds. Not stirring the pot is beneficial enough….”

Numerous puzzle pieces fell into place, and we considered future policies.

But to be honest, I wasn’t too worried. Unlike the America Henry remembered, the current USA’s foreign policy was simply, ‘Don’t start anything.’

China, trying to assert dominance in Asia, and Russia, still clinging to WW2 glory and neglecting economic reforms, had always heavily influenced America’s foreign policy.

Steering the USA was like walking on thin ice for any president.

However, the reason for this detailed explanation was that such cautious choices were no longer necessary.

‘…China split into seven, and Russia collapsed and became a Western puppet. Amazing.’

Therefore, there was no need for risky adventures.

But adventures could come from anywhere, even within. He understood this from his nearly five years of memories.

So, the new policy was simple.

“Prepare for unforeseen outcomes.”

“What did you say, Congressman?”

“Nothing, just talking to myself.”

There was much to do.

For those with past memories, winter was never welcome. This year’s December was especially cold, and even brief exposure outside felt like skin was being peeled away.

Experiencing this biting cold in just a suit, a bright memory shone through the panorama.

I planned to face that memory tomorrow.

“…I’ll rest now. Call me if anything comes up. I’ll be out briefly tomorrow evening, so pay special attention to

security.”

“Understood. Should we assign bodyguards?”

“No need.”

Click.

The mahogany door closed, leaving me alone.

I carefully locked the door and retrieved a small cubic box from under the desk.

It was labeled M.O.H.

The first Medal of Honor that wouldn’t even be recorded in history.

A medal the recipient couldn’t even announce having received.

“The day has finally come.”

Returning to America, I’d hoped to receive the Medal of Honor through proper channels. But it wasn’t something to ask of someone who had risked their life in countless battles.

I closed the box and carefully stored it under the table again.

Tomorrow would be a very special day.