Outside the square, even at a glance, more than a hundred reporters had gathered. It was a scene as if every foreign correspondent dispatched to the capital of R had converged at once.

  As the time approached for the press conference with the Asian woman who had emerged from the extraterrestrial craft, the black-clad soldiers stationed on one side of the square moved in a quiet formation to clear a path.

  Reporters rushed through the gap, breathless, and entered the center of the square. The sound of camera shutters and murmurs blended together, but everyone was looking in the same direction.

  In the center of the square, a woman in a long skirt was quietly reading a book. As the reporters entered and gathered near her, she stood up, looked at them, and tossed a silver sphere she was holding into the air.

  The spheres hovered in the air for a moment before moving behind her back, where they connected to form a square, transparent digital screen. The screen displayed a clear, real-time, full-body image of the woman along with text. It was fixed at an appropriate height so that reporters in the distance, and even people outside the square, could see it easily.

  Words appeared on the screen alongside her image:

  ‘Let us speak of macroscopic issues.’

  The reporters were positioned directly in front of her. Even those standing in the back did not miss a thing, and the press conference was being broadcast live beyond the square.

  Instantly, the square fell into silence. Every reporter present was intensely focused on her every word and action.

  With a faint smile, she began to speak. Simultaneously, her words were converted into text and appeared clearly on the aerial screen.

  "Hello, members of the press, thank you for gathering here. My name is Lillik."

  "First of all, we are mercenaries contracted by U. Officially, we hold the authority to conduct military activities for 24 hours on behalf of the U forces."

  After catching her breath for a moment, she added:

  "Of course, we may not need your permission regarding our technology, especially the use of weapons. However, we wish to minimize the harm to innocent people and resolve issues peacefully. Just because an interstellar craft is here does not mean we are here for the purpose of harming or destroying Earthlings. We are here to protect the peace of Earth based on the powerful cosmic technology we possess."

  "We are not here for the purpose of destruction."

  The reporters' cameras flashed in unison.

  "Today, the R government officially promised a prisoner exchange and declared a cessation of hostilities on the front lines. I believe the creation of a dialogue table with U toward ending the war is also very encouraging. Therefore, since the primary objective of ending the war has been achieved, we will protect the cathedral you see before the square. We want peace."

  The Asian woman’s gaze swept across the reporters.

  "However, our appearance will likely seem shocking to the eyes of the world. That is why I have invited you here to make an official appearance."

  "I will answer your questions sincerely."

  At ? moment, hands shot up simultaneously. Questions erupted like an explosion.

  “Are you human? Or an alien, or perhaps a god?”

  The woman answered without hesitation.

  "I am human. I have a human body and am subject to gravity. I simply possess technology that does not exist in this era."

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  “Does that mean… you can die?”

  "Yes. I can die in the same way a human does."

  Another reporter shouted:

  “Where on earth did that hovering airship and these soldiers come from?”

  The woman appeared lost in thought for a moment.

  "That is a very difficult question to answer. However, we have existed on this Earth since the dawn of humanity. These soldiers are AI droids. You can think of them as the ultimate version of the AI robots currently under development."

  “Then does that mean you came from another planet in the universe in the past?”

  "You could say that. However, there isn't enough time here to explain the detailed process of our arrival. In fact, Earth is also a part of the universe. So, one could say you all are aliens as well."

  A short ripple of laughter flowed through the reporters.

  “Is all the technology shown here non-existent on Earth?”

  "It could be, or it might not be. The speed of Earth's technological development is already reaching a cosmic level. I expect you will reach the initial level of technology we once had before long."

  “The current AI, robotics, semiconductor technology… did you perhaps help us?”

  "Not directly. However, we have influenced you in indirect ways. Specifically, we have provided inspiration to many scholars."

  Another question followed.

  “Why reveal yourselves at this specific time? Why this war?”

  The woman’s eyes deepened for a moment.

  "The Buddha, Jesus, Allah that you believe in… have any of those numerous gods ever actually appeared before your eyes? Humans have always believed in an 'invisible power.' Isn't it time to see a 'visible power'?"

  A stir went through the press gallery.

  “Why did you become mercenaries for the U side?”

  The woman said firmly:

  "Because they are weak. Because they are not strong. A new order always begins from the weak. We hope for a new order to emerge on Earth."

  “What is this 'new order'?”

  The woman tilted her head slightly.

  "I will list some words: Palestine, Gaza, Syria, Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan, Venezuela, the Kurds, Uyghur, Tibet… and North Korea. There are so many, it is difficult to list them all."

  She continued slowly.

  "Think about the common sorrow within these words. It is the people. The people in the weakest places. Wouldn't they need a new order? If death is unavoidable anyway, they would want to experience a different order before they die."

  A final question was tossed.

  “Now that the war is over, will you disappear? Or will you cooperate with Earth?”

  "We will leave this square and land our spacecraft in the fields of the U front lines. We will then monitor the R government's fulfillment of its promises for 24 hours. The hundreds of spaceships seen on the front will soon disappear. Only our craft will remain on the front line."

  Questions continued, and the woman repeated short, clear answers. Not all doubts were resolved, but her demeanor provided a strange sense of relief. Those watching the scene from around the world also felt that she was not an enemy. At the same time, they felt an intense curiosity about the term "new order" and were overwhelmed by the staggering power they possessed.

  Just then, a woman stepped forward from behind the reporters. It was Natasha. She raised her hand and shouted:

  “You said you would blow up the cathedral in this square if R did not listen. Isn't that an extremely violent method? Aren't you ultimately justifying violence just like Earthlings do?”

  The eyes of the woman who called herself Lillik flickered for a moment.

  "I followed the methods of Earthlings. It was for propaganda effect. We know that physical violence begets more violence. However… I was certain that our words would be heard."

  Natasha did not back down.

  “Making people listen. How elegant. If the new order is ultimately created because of you, aren't we just becoming subordinate to another power, only without the physical violence?”

  Lillik answered calmly.

  "We have already revealed ourselves. It has become a history that cannot be undone. The development of future technology must be accelerated. Unnecessary wars and human suffering must now end. Dictatorship and political persecution must also disappear."

  She paused for a moment and then added:

  "I hope our strength helps in that process. We are not your enemy."

  With that statement, the press conference concluded.

  Lillik turned her back toward the small craft that had landed. Then, she suddenly stopped and looked back at the reporters. Her face and words appeared on the aerial screen once more.

  "Oh, one moment. We need a liaison to connect us with Earth."

  She shook her head side to side and pointed toward the far side of the square. Everyone’s gaze followed her gesture. There stood a soldier of R, who had been controlling the crowd at the edge of the square.

  Lillik gestured toward him. The soldier seemed frozen for a moment, but after receiving an approval signal from his superior, he began to run.

  When he stood before Lillik, panting for breath, she spoke:

  "From now on, you will be the messenger connecting us and the people of Earth."

  Leaving those words behind, Lillik stepped inside the small spaceship. The black-clad soldiers also boarded one by one after her, and the craft soon rose and disappeared into the massive starship floating in the sky.

  Natasha pushed through the reporters, searching for the soldier. And when she finally found him, she screamed with all her might:

  “Vadim!!!”