Chapter 159: Treize
Treize turned off the communicator and sat on the windowsill, muttering to himself.
"I didn't think that rumor was true… I never expected Zechs to have any living relatives left. That kid really keeps his distance from me."
He then looked at the little bird he had set free earlier, which had flown back and perched on his hand. He continued murmuring to himself.
"Is that so? You think this is a nice place too?"
After the battle had ended for quite some time, Relena called out to the motionless Wing Gundam.
"Heero—it's you, isn't it? Answer me!"
Looking at the silent Heero and his unmoving Gundam, Relena shouted again.
"Heero! Why did you save my life?"
Even without Heero saying a word, Tolle could tell what he was thinking: Yeah… why did I save her?
After all, Heero was at that age—adolescence, when one begins to yearn for love. Faced with a beautiful, persistent girl who refused to give up on him, how could he possibly remain completely unmoved?
But Relena kept shouting beside him, "Didn't you say you were going to kill me? Then why did you save me? Answer me!"
Heero piloted the Wing Gundam, picked up the broken buster rifle from the ground, and slowly walked toward her.
Then, raising the shield, he struck toward Relena's side—but seeing her stand there so calmly, he wavered. "Why… can't I bring myself to do it?"
With a complex expression, Heero glanced at Relena one last time, then transformed the Wing Gundam into its mobile armor form and flew off without a word.
Left standing alone in the wind, Relena murmured in confusion, "Don't run away… please, Heero…"
The transport plane carrying Tolle finally arrived at the OZ base in New Edwards.
Led by Lady Une, Tolle entered Treize's office. She saluted and reported,
"Lord Treize, Lady Une reporting."
Treize glanced at the man beside her—disguised as an ordinary soldier—and nodded to Lady Une.
"Hmm, good. You've returned safely. But who is this? I don't recall there being such a person in OZ. And you, Lady Une, don't normally bring regular soldiers into my office. Answer me—who are you really?"
Tolle immediately activated the neo DG cells, sealing off the entire office and cutting all external communication.
"Ah, so I've been exposed this quickly—no surprise there, Treize. But don't blame Lady Une; I had to work quite hard to persuade her to bring me here."
Lady Une lowered her head and said softly,
"Lord Treize, I'm sorry. But I haven't betrayed you. Bringing him here will actually benefit our plan, so—"
Treize interrupted her. "I know. You wouldn't betray me." Then, turning to Tolle, he asked, "Aren't you going to introduce yourself? And what business do you have with me?"
Tolle disengaged his nano-armor disguise, made a courteous bow, and said,
"My name is Tolle Koenig. I'm a traveler through time and space, capable of jumping randomly across parallel worlds.
After arriving in this world, I observed many people—and I found your abilities truly admirable. I also discovered your true plan.
First, you destabilize the Unified Earth Government, drawing out all the restless nations. Then, you crush them all at once.
After achieving true unity between Earth and the colonies, you plan to pin all of OZ's sins upon yourself, and die heroically—am I right?"
Treize, who had remained perfectly calm even upon hearing that Tolle could travel between worlds, finally showed a flicker of surprise when his secret plan was exposed. But just as quickly, his expression returned to calm composure.
"Rather than dying in vain, why not join my organization—the Sword of Damocles? Contribute your strength to saving more worlds."
Treize replied with an even tone, "Oh? And how do you intend to prove you can travel to other worlds? And what worlds, exactly, are worth saving?"
Tolle spread his hands.
"Well, proving inter-world travel isn't exactly easy—after all, I never know where I'll end up next. Coming to this world wasn't easy either. If I just left now, who knows if I'd ever return?
But… I do have a world of my own. Would you like to take a look?"
Treize nodded slightly. "Very well."
"Good. Then don't resist. I'll take you and Lady Une to see it."
Tolle stepped up to Treize, placed his hand on his shoulder, and at the same time injected the neo DG cells into him. Then he placed his other hand on Lady Une's shoulder, transporting both of them into the core space of his battleship.
He then sat down on the sofa and projected his spiritual body into that same space.
"Treize, this is my little world. Let me show you around."
Tolle led Treize and Lady Une on a quick tour of the battleship's core space. Soon, they arrived at the living quarters, where he planned to introduce them to Ange and the others.
But as soon as Coco saw Lady Une, she pointed and shouted,
"Ah! The bad woman who tried to catch us is here! Master, did you capture her?"
Miranda chimed in, "Yeah! That bad woman got caught!"
Tolle shook his head. "Coco, Miranda, it's not what you think. Actually…"
He then explained the situation to Ange and the others, making it clear that Lady Une and Treize weren't as bad as they had assumed.
"So from now on, they're our comrades too—members of the Sword of Damocles."
Treize shook his head. "I don't recall agreeing to join your group."
"Heh, you're already here—whether you agree or not doesn't make a difference. Do you really think I'd let someone who knows my biggest secret freely walk out of my world?"
Lady Une immediately stepped protectively in front of Treize, shielding him like a mother hen guarding her chick.
Treize gently reassured her. "It's all right. He doesn't seem like he means us any harm."
Tolle helplessly spread his hands.
"Ah, you've seen through me again. True, even if you refuse, I won't harm you.
But I will keep you confined here in this world, take on your appearance, complete your plan in your stead, fake your death—and then bring you with me when I leave this world."
Looking at Tolle's eager eyes, Treize sighed and said with resignation,
"It seems you won't let me go easily… Fine then. I'll join your Sword of Damocles."
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