The arrival of Yang Hui and Char drew everyone's attention.
"Looks like you're all getting along well," Yang Hui teased.
"Hehe." The members of the Twelfth Independent Technical Division and the Phantom Corps were either slinging arms over each other's shoulders or standing side by side, showing no signs of friction at all. This was good.
"For the next few days, we will resupply and prepare on Colonel Yang Hui's turf. Once that's done, we will immediately head to the SIDE6 Reia Republic," Char announced, stepping forward.
"Yes, Your Highness."
"Oh? So you're into that sort of thing," Yang Hui quipped upon hearing the Phantom Corps members call Char "Your Highness."
"Ahem..." Char was embarrassed. It wasn't that he hadn't told his subordinates not to call him "Your Highness"—it was too mortifying. But... he was Casval Zym Deikun, the inheritor of the Zeon Will, the new standard-bearer of the Deikun Banner. His status was lofty, and it was indeed appropriate to address him as "Your Highness."
"Hahaha..."
"Alright!" Yang Hui clapped his hands, silencing everyone. "Our comrades-in-arms will be staying here for an estimated three days. During this time, let them feel the passion of the Twelfth Independent Technical Division! Do you hear me!?"
For no reason at all, upon hearing these words, the members of the Phantom Corps instinctively stiffened, the smiles on their faces vanishing in an instant.
"Loud and clear!" came the unified, ill-intentioned reply.
The men turned, wanting to run, but suddenly two people appeared on either side of each of them, grabbing them and holding them in place.
"Wh-What are you doing?"
"Hehe, don't be scared."
"D-Don't laugh... I-I'm scared..."
"Hehe, I said don't be scared."
"L-Let me go..."
"Everyone, the alcohol is here!" Just then, a crisp and pleasant voice soothed all malice and fear. Rita Bernal arrived, hopping and skipping like a cute little elf. Following behind her were several Engineering Vehicles pulling carts loaded with alcohol.
"Rita is such a good girl!"
"That's our Rita!"
"So cute! Rita is the best!"
"Rita! Come give your big sister a hug!"
Seeing that it was alcohol, the members of the Phantom Corps breathed a sigh of relief. They had thought they were in for some kind of inhuman treatment, but it was just drinking. What a joke. What did it mean to be an ace? It meant you were an ace at everything! Drinking was no exception!
However, the appearance of such an elfin, adorable little girl at the Twelfth Independent Technical Division's base puzzled them.
"She is?"
"Hello, big brothers and sisters. I'm Rita Bernal," Rita Bernal greeted the members of the Phantom Corps politely.
"Hello there, little sister." Whether they were tough-as-steel men or iron-willed women, no one could resist melting in front of Rita Bernal.
"Big brother? Little sister, you should be calling me uncle..."
"The Colonel is her big brother. Are you trying to promote yourself to his generation?"
"Uh..." The one who spoke was Hardie Steiner. It wasn't just him; many in the Phantom Corps were old enough to be Rita Bernal's aunts and uncles. But with this reminder, everyone froze. Hardie Steiner turned stiffly to look at South Burning. They were old friends and also among the oldest in their respective units.
South Burning's mouth twitched. He didn't answer Hardie Steiner, merely nodding before turning his head away. To be honest... being called "big brother" by a little girl when you were in your forties or fifties... was utterly shameless!
"Oh, one more thing. Rita is the little sister of everyone in the Twelfth Independent Technical Division."
"Huh?" came the unified response.
"Well, there's a bit of a story behind it."
"..." The members of the Phantom Corps fell silent. Looking at the bright and lively Rita, then at the fleeting shadow of gloom that crossed the faces of the Twelfth Independent Technical Division members, they understood a great deal and didn't press the matter.
"Little sister, can I be your big brother?" Johnny Ridden asked with a smile, crouching in front of Rita Bernal.
"No!" came a unified chorus of opposition from behind her before Rita Bernal could even answer.
"You? You want to be Rita's brother?"
"Did you ask for our permission?"
"Have you passed the trials?"
"Can you even compete with us?"
"Heehee." Rita Bernal received the signals from her big brothers and sisters through her Sensing Ability and giggled, taking two steps back.
"Uh... what are you guys planning to do?" Johnny Ridden asked Jung and the others with a dead-eyed stare.
"What are we doing? Hmph!"
Bang, bang, bang, bang...
As if by magic, a row of square tables and chairs suddenly appeared between the two groups. Barrels of alcohol were neatly arranged on the tables, and then... there was no "and then."
"Tch, it's just drinking, isn't it? I've never been afraid of anyone when it comes to drinking!" Gabriel Garcia sat down disdainfully and slapped the table. "Where are the cups?"
"Hehe."
Clang~
An iron basin larger than his face was placed in front of Gabriel Garcia.
"..." Gabriel Garcia's eyes went wide and dead. "Are you serious?"
"Hah, you coward. Let me show you how it's done." Ford Romfellow scornfully pried open a barrel lid, lifted the entire barrel, and started chugging. To the utter astonishment of everyone in the Phantom Corps, the sound of "glug, glug, glug" was incessant. In no time, the barrel was empty. He slammed it on the table with a bang.
"Hic~ That was refreshing! Your turn."
"Gulp~" The arrogant Gabriel Garcia swallowed hard, clearly intimidated. He began to wonder if he or they had a misunderstanding of the term "drinking."
"Well, it's your turn."
"I... I think..."
"No, you don't think." Two more people suddenly appeared behind Gabriel Garcia and pressed down on his shoulders. One kindly poured him a basin of alcohol, while the other held an open barrel. "A or B?"
"I... Mmph! Glug~ glug~"
"I have something to do..."
"I need to pee..."
"I..."
"Brothers, get them! The Colonel's orders, don't let a single one escape!"
"Still want to be Rita's brother? We'll drink you under the table!"
"None of you are leaving on your feet today! I said it!"
"Nooo~!!!"
...
Yang Hui and Char stood to the side, watching the show without getting involved. Yang Hui was purely enjoying the spectacle, while Char was completely numb. In a situation like this, the best course of action was to become invisible and quietly disappear. If he got dragged into it, he was doomed!
"How about it? The passion of the Twelfth Independent Technical Division. Are you moved?" Yang Hui asked Char playfully.
"I don't dare move. I really don't dare move."
"Hahaha." Yang Hui patted Char's shoulder, signaling for him to follow. It was fine to let the men relax for three days, but Char had important business to attend to. He couldn't let him get drunk into oblivion right now. He'd make a mental note and settle the score later.
Char understood and certainly didn't object, quietly following Yang Hui away from this hellish battlefield and into his office.
"Are you ready?"
"Heh, I've been ready for many years."
"Is that so?"
"Yes. I've already ordered Ramba Ral to do his best to gather the Zeon Army forces who have pledged their allegiance to me. But that's only the Space Force. As for Earth..."
"That's simple."
With that, Yang Hui immediately opened a communication channel with Revil and Gopp. The call connected quickly, and the faces of the two men appeared on the screen. However, Revil's expression was rather grim, and even Gopp had lost his usual smile.
"General Revil, General Gopp."
"Kid, do you have any idea what you're doing?" Revil demanded.
"Of course I do. I've been waiting for this day for a long time," Yang Hui replied.
"...So this was your plan, Yang Hui."
"Only a part of it."
"A part of it?" they both asked.
"Yes, a part of it." Yang Hui knew Revil and Gopp had gotten the wrong idea. With the plan having reached this stage, it was time to be frank with them. "Generals, what was the reason for deciding on space colonization in the first place?"
"..." Revil and Gopp fell silent. They knew, but they couldn't say it out loud, because it was a Federation scandal. Back then, the population had grown too large, exceeding the Earth's capacity. To alleviate the pressure of the population boom, the decision was made to colonize space. And those sent to space... were mostly the lowest class of civilians. To put it bluntly, they were discarded pawns.
"Once the war ends, human civilization will enter another period of rapid development. The same problem will inevitably arise again. Space colonization is an unavoidable trend; it cannot be changed. Without Zeon, other nations will rise. Are Earth Residents and the people of the space colonies destined to fight forever?"
"..." Revil and Gopp remained silent, but their expressions shifted from grim solemnity to thoughtful contemplation.
"What is your plan? What... is your ultimate goal?" After a long pause, Revil asked.
"My goal has never changed: for Earth and the space colonies to coexist peacefully, to unite humanity."
"That's impossible, Yang Hui, my boy," Revil said, shaking his head.
"It is indeed impossible at present, but... what if there's an external threat?" Yang Hui's lips curled into a smirk as he asked with great interest.
"An external threat!" Not only Revil and Gopp, but even Char shot to his feet, staring at Yang Hui in utter shock. "What do you know? Who in the world are you!?"
"What do I know? Who am I? Before I answer those two questions, please answer one of mine first. Jonah Ibrahim Revil, Alesso Gopp, Casval Zym Deikun, the truth is often more terrifying than you can imagine. Are you... willing to know this truth?"
"..." The three men were silent, staring intently at Yang Hui, trying to read something from his face. They had to admit, Yang Hui had frightened them. That unknown fear made even them, men who had weathered great storms, feel the urge to retreat.
But... they were no ordinary men. Though their ideas and paths differed, they shared common goals, ideals, and an abundance of resolve and courage.
"Speak. At my age, what great storm haven't I weathered?"
"Let's hear it, Colonel Yang Hui. I hope you don't scare this old man to death."
"Heh, Yang Hui. I've always wanted to understand you, and then defeat you. Now that you've given me this chance, I certainly won't miss it."
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