Hermit Wizard

The Master of Vigilance (2)

“The Eraser will also be very happy to know that you are here to provide information. These days, he’s asking these agents about their progress more than once a day. I think he has high expectations.”

Listening to Jeffrey’s words, Simon swept his bearded chin with his hand. Eraser…alien race codename: Amazon. Instead of a codename that took the name of an area discovered and captured a month ago, this branch’s people seem to call it by their own nickname. He could guess why such a nickname was given. He smiled bitterly and looked at the papers.

Through the Mapo Bridge Channel, Korea’s only Channel, there were three invasions of alien giants, and 79 people were injured during the first invasion. And only then did a bizarre thing happen that no other country had ever seen. Dozens of flying creatures with an unknown power arrived at this world through unknown means. It was clear that the 28 living creatures with a nearly spherical flesh-colored body and blackbird wings weren’t Earthly creatures.

The creatures fought the giant from the Channel, killed it, ate it, and then flew somewhere in the city and disappeared (although the report suggests that the last two actions may have shifted in order). In the meantime, there was a strange incident that left a huge environmental disaster. However, it was restored to its original state in less than a month.

“A creature of the other world that appeared without going through a Channel. This in itself is most likely the rare phenomenon he referred to.”

Jeffrey nodded.

“That’s right.”

Simon was lost in thought for a moment. In exchange for sharing information, the Uppers wanted to make a deal with the alien race.

“I read the report, but his attitude itself is fairly moderate?”

“Yes, he hasn’t had any friction since staying here. However, before the handling protocol was completed, several agents with devout religious convictions were exposed to him… and they had a peculiar reaction.”

“Right…”

“The agents who had the peculiar reaction seem to be able to cope with the mental shock they received, although they have been pointed out and surprised by their surroundings. It is considered as something they didn’t know in the first place, not forgotten.”

Simon nodded his head.

“But it was a serious change for the people around them who knew their past. The company’s judgment also considered that the damage was a serious human rights violation even if the person wasn’t aware of the damage, so the current protocol was created.”

“Then, those agents who showed the peculiar reaction…?”

“After the intensive screening, they still work for this branch if they wanted to. Except for one thing, there’s no disruption to their daily lives or work. But they can’t enter Isolation Camp No. 25. Nothing has been verified, but I’m not sure what would happen if a person who had a peculiar reaction approaches the Eraser again.”

“I see.”

Upon hearing that, Simon threw his gaze back at the being beyond the special mirror. Not knowing that there are two people beyond the wall, he remained seated toward the TV. The TV wasn’t connected to the broadcasting network in real-time, but only broadcasts and movies that the headquarters had censored. He wasn’t allowed to receive information on dimensions portal, Channels, which had occurred throughout the world.

A small room of about 30 sqm with a recliner, a bed, and simple furniture other than a TV. He had been stuck here for quite a long time, but there had been no violent resistance so far. Simon made a decision after some contemplation.

“I will negotiate face to face. Please make time for tomorrow.”

For the first encounter with this alien race this evening, he must go through all the records of contact with Eraser accumulated so far and familiarize himself with them to be flexible in responding to the negotiation process. Simon stared through the glass wall with sharp eyes. Jeffrey asked him carefully.

“I think the head office has already done the preliminary investigation, but Mr. Van de Camp, perhaps?”

Simon replied with a slight frown on his face as if he was sick of it.

“Don’t worry. No religion for 38 years!”

***

Next day.

Like yesterday, Jeffrey personally guided Simon. The two opened an iron door inside the El Paso branch and entered. This was the beginning of the area classified as Isolation Camp No. 25. Simon questioned him as they walked through the windowless corridor.

“I have memorized all the precautions in the work order. Do you have any advice for me based on your experience?”

“Well, according to the protocol, the most important thing to check before entering Isolation Camp No.25 is, as you already know, whether they are a devout believer or not.”

“…Actually, it seems that the examiner who interviewed me puts great importance on whether or not I have faith, regardless of how faithful I am or not.”

“Since there is no way to measure the depth of faith objectively, the policy is to prohibit entry unconditionally to people of faith.”

Listening to the explanation, Simon recalled that he had been curious from the moment he first learned the name of Isolation Camp No. 25. It was only half a year since the channel crisis broke out, and there was no way that the Isolation Camp for alien races would be numbered up to 25. Was this a fake number to deceive the size and number of the entire quarantine? Or were there so many Isolation Camps operating all over the United States without his knowledge?

“Is the only alien race that is currently being housed in this quarantine…the codename Amazon?”

“Yes, the only being who is quarantined here is the one who is going to see you now.”

Jeffrey laughed dryly, leaving a strange tone.

***

After passing through the long corridor in the Isolation Camp No. 25, the two arrived in the observation room and stood in front of the glass wall. Jeffrey picked up the phone on the wall. His voice resonated through the glass wall and in the room of the alien.

“Good morning.”

The Eraser watched TV with his body on the recliner, not different from what they saw yesterday. As if he heard a voice, he opened one of his closed eyes and looked into the special mirror. There were fewer eyes open today than Simon saw yesterday. There were only five or six open out of over twenty. The alien race spoke toward the special mirror.

It was awkward, but the meaning was clearly communicated.

“Good morning, Jeffrey.”

Simon was amazed at his voice, which was harsher than expected. It was clearly spoken in English, and the meaning was distinct, but it was a tone that he had never heard of anywhere. Regardless of Simon’s reaction, Jeffrey spoke.

“A guest is here. He says he wants to talk for a moment. Let’s see what gift this person brought for you.”

Eraser reacted when Jeffrey talked happily, implying that Simon, the guest, had the information he wanted.

“Gift?”

The alien race responded with a rattling sound, presumed to be light laughter. It was unnatural English like that babbled by foreigners.

“Okay. But I want to see him with my own eyes. And talk.”

This was the expected response. Simon and Jeffrey made eye contact and nodded quietly.

“Okay.”

He operated the equipment briefly, then turned to Simon.

“Now, Eraser can see you.”

The special mirror that isolated them from the alien race turned into the transparent glass on both sides. The alien stood up from the recliner, approached the wall, and sat in a chair placed in front of the glass. Simon, too, sat in a chair in front of the glass wall in his observation room and picked up the handset placed there.

Now, they were sitting face to face with a glass wall in the middle. The alien opened a few more closed eyes. Simon calmly counted. One, two, three…eleven. The orange eyes that were too bright glowed strangely. According to the report, Eraser had 23 eyes. Of the 23 eyes, 11 were currently open. Simon managed to suppress the tension rising behind his back and quietly took a deep breath so that it wasn’t obvious. Suddenly, he missed his father. How would his father have dealt with this moment? He would have started negotiating calmly without being nervous whether the opponent was human or not.

Simon hardened his heart as he recalled his father, who he had relied on and respected the most. Then, the alien greeted him first.

“Good morning? Nice to meet you. How are you feeling today?”

“…Hello. I am also pleased to meet you.”

“How are you feeling today? You didn’t answer.”

“…Very good. And you?”

“I am also very good. Thank you. People here call me Eraser. What is your name?”

“Mine is Simon.”

After an English-like conversation broadcast for foreigners, Simon raised his hand and signaled OK. Jeffrey nodded and went out of the observation room. According to the guidelines above, he would observe this only with CCTV without audio in a separate space outside the observation room. From now on, some of the conversations between Simon and the alien were confidential.

Jeffrey probably knew the secrets of this quarantine, which Simon had no access to. But Simon, from the headquarters, also knew secrets that Jeffrey didn’t know. Apart from the level of status, the level and type of confidentiality disclosed depended on the individual’s work. When Jeffrey was away, Simon, who was left alone in the observation room, quickly got to the point.

He informed Eraser of very little information that the company collected concerning a particular channel, as instructed by the upper part, and made a short proposal. Although Eraser responded mostly moderately to agents in contact with him, he was very keen on providing information. He avoided the answer, giving the excuse that crucial information was difficult to explain in English.

The mission Simon received today was to answer the questions the upper part wanted to know from Eraser in exchange for the information the Eraser needed. When he finished speaking, the alien, who was keeping silent, opened his mouth.

“I understood. You want information from me. I also want information from you.”

He seemed to think for a moment, then opened a few more eyes and stared at Simon. Now fourteen. Nine of the fourteen open eyes were looking at Simon.

“Good. Will you ask first? Or do I go first?”

“You ask first.”

The alien race laughed.

“I want to ask. What do the animals look like? What can they do?”

Simon explained the appearance and presumed abilities of the raw creatures seen on the Seoul Channel. It was a detailed narrative as he read through a few pages of a report. This analysis level was a report that was only allowed access to some personnel, even at the headquarters. And, among the contents, there was one piece of information that wasn’t disclosed at all in the media.

A body fluid that caused decay, sprinkled by raw organisms, was collected by the Korean government and sent to a research institution. Still, after a while, the test tube stored in a sterile chamber was checked, and it was reported that it completely disappeared without leaving a single molecule. This was different from simple liquid evaporation. The traces of the liquid in the test tube had also completely disappeared.

The moment he heard it through Simon, the alien’s body slightly stiffened. Maybe he was a little surprised.

And…

Gurrrrrrh—-

The alien race laughed loud and long.

“Where is the city?”