Cagalli shook her head and rushed to Mikazuki's side, her voice urgent.
"If it's just about repairing your machine, Orb can do that too! Morgenroete's technology is world-class. Are you worried that we'll steal the data from Barbatos? Don't worry, I'll personally oversee the process..."
"I have considered that, but it isn't just about the data. The most important thing is that I can't get what I want here in Orb."
Mikazuki looked up, meeting Cagalli's eyes. Cagalli, who hadn't noticed his eyes at first, suddenly saw something off. It felt as if Mikazuki's right and left eyes were somehow different now.
Screech
A low-profile car pulled up not far from the group. Cagalli's father, Uzumi, the Lion of Orb, stepped out.
"Father?"
"Lord Uzumi?"
Mikazuki clearly saw the middle-aged man with the thick beard nod at him. He shoved his hands into his pockets and walked past Cagalli and the others toward Uzumi.
The two of them got into Uzumi's car. Uzumi had already sent the driver away, leaving only Mikazuki and himself inside the vehicle.
Cagalli and the others stood there watching the car, but the glass was one-way; they could see out from the inside, but no one could see in.
Lowe muttered under his breath, "So that kid isn't just friends with the princess? He's that close with the leader of Orb too?"
Inside the car, Uzumi paused before speaking. "It seems you intend to go to PLANT."
"Yeah. I have a friend there. Only there can Barbatos get the best repairs. You don't have armor that matches Barbatos here." Mikazuki stated his reason bluntly.
"I see. Very well, I can send you to PLANT. But in exchange, I hope you can promise me one thing."
"What is it?"
Uzumi looked out at Cagalli and said in a low voice, "If there comes a day when a disaster strikes this country that we cannot withstand, I hope you will help that child."
Mikazuki followed Uzumi's gaze and saw the girl outside, looking pouting and frustrated. "Alright."
"Thank you." Uzumi gave a genuine smile before changing the subject. "By the way, aren't you going to ask about Akihiro?"
"No need. Even if we're headed in different directions, our goals are the same."
Uzumi blinked, then burst into a hearty laugh. "Hahaha! You really are a family, aren't you? Even your answers are the same."
A smile played at the corner of Mikazuki's mouth. He knew the temperaments of everyone in Tekkadan perfectly, so he naturally understood what Uzumi meant.
"Pardon my rudeness. Do you need to leave right now?"
"Yeah. The Archangel is still waiting for me to return. I need to get Barbatos fixed as quickly as possible."
"I understand. Give me an hour. You can depart in an hour, and someone will meet you when you arrive."
"I'll keep my promise to you," Mikazuki said.
Uzumi nodded. He believed the words of the boy beside him; he knew he wouldn't lie. "One more thing. Please do not tell Cagalli about this."
"Okay."
Mikazuki didn't ask any more questions and stepped out of the car. The driver returned to his seat, started the engine, and drove away.
Cagalli immediately ran over. "Mika, what did Father say to you?"
"Nothing much. He just agreed to send me to PLANT."
"What? Father agreed?" Cagalli was stunned. She turned to look at Erica, who was holding a phone. Erica gave a nod into the receiver and then looked at Cagalli with a helpless expression.
"It's true. Lord Uzumi just gave orders to prepare a shuttle for transporting Mobile Suits. The destination is PLANT."
"I'm going to find Father and demand an explanation!" Cagalli started to run after Uzumi's departing car, but Erica grabbed her.
"Give it up, Cagalli. Lord Uzumi is already on his way to a council meeting. You understand how important this session is, don't you?"
Cagalli stopped in her tracks, her face darkening. "Fine! Do whatever you want, you idiot Mika!"
"Is that so? Then that's fine."
"Aaah! You're infuriating!!"
Erica stood to the side, stifling a giggle behind her hand.
An hour later, Mikazuki and Barbatos boarded the shuttle from Orb to PLANT. Cagalli stood at the port, her cheeks puffed out in a pout as she watched the shuttle lift off on the screen.
The Professor suddenly remembered something and spoke up. "Right, Lowe. You said you saw the whole battle between that boy and a black mecha, right? Did you record it?"
"Yeah, I had 8 record the whole thing. Just thinking about it gives me goosebumps." Lowe shuddered, then added, "Do you guys want to see it?"
Hearing this, Cagalli marched over to the members of the Junk Guild with an aggressive aura. "I want to see it too! I want to see what kind of guy that离谱 idiot Mikazuki ran into to end up in that state!"
Lowe looked at the Professor. Only after the Professor nodded did Lowe toss his hair and say, "Alright then."
Lowe opened a laptop nearby and spoke into the microphone. "8, transfer the footage recorded from this mission."
While waiting for the video to load, Erica asked, "Is that boy really that strong?"
After all, based on Mikazuki's stature and behavior, he looked like nothing more than an ordinary teenager.
"Super strong," Lowe and Cagalli said in unison, their expressions becoming incredibly solemn.
Cagalli let out a long sigh and stepped forward slowly. "The reason the Archangel hasn't been sunk to this day is eighty percent due to Mikazuki. You might not believe it, but I'm certain that there isn't a single pilot in this world who could beat him in a one on one duel."
"The recording is here!"
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