Chapter 228
"What is the meaning of this?"
Just as he disembarked from the aircraft, Eli found himself staring down the barrels of several military police rifles.
Despite the ominous muzzles aimed at him, Eli remained calm.
"We're sorry, Colonel Eli. We've received reports accusing you of abuse of power—of forming factions for personal gain, and of attempting to privatize several Sides."
The lead military policeman spoke with an equally calm tone, as if this were no more than routine procedure.
Eli remained silent, locking eyes with the officer for a long time. In his line of sight, he could see soldiers in black uniforms.
Clearly, they were from the Titans.
"I'd like to see General Revil. Is that still possible?"
Eli spoke up on his own initiative and even extended his arms, indicating his willingness to be handcuffed.
"General Revil is in poor health. He's already gone to the Mediterranean for rest."
Only after confirming the cuffs were secured did the MP respond to Eli's question.
"I see. Understood."
After saying that, Eli fell silent and obediently followed the MPs into Jaburo's interior.
Along the way, other soldiers watched with surprised expressions.
Some of the Titan soldiers even wore unsettling smirks as they looked at Eli.
They locked him inside a building.
If Eli remembered correctly, the top floor of this building was Jaburo's most frequently used meeting room.
"Sorry, Colonel Eli. Orders from above. We're just following them."
The MP who had escorted Eli this entire way finally spoke, his tone now carrying genuine remorse.
"There will be a questioning session later. Please get some rest."
That remark seemed to be the most he could do within his limits.
But after hesitating for a moment, he spoke again.
"Colonel Eli, I've overheard conversations among the higher-ups. It seems they don't truly want to take harsh action against you—it would crush the Federation's morale."
After all, Eli was both a war hero and a frontline Federation officer even in recent years.
Practically every fleet in the Federation Space Force had fought alongside Undertaker.
"So I believe… if you cooperate with the upper echelons, you might be able to get out of this cleanly."
That MP had, in fact, joined the army inspired by Eli's accomplishments.
"I see. Thank you for telling me."
Eli nodded, accepting the man's goodwill.
But judging by his expression, it was clear he hadn't taken the advice to heart.
The MP sighed, removed Eli's handcuffs, and turned to leave the room.
"You… do you know what those people are really planning?"
The MP halted.
"I don't know. I'm just a soldier."
"Even soldiers should think for themselves."
The MP didn't turn back.
It was said that Newtypes could read minds, and most people found themselves at a disadvantage when speaking to one.
Even though the Federation had issued an official definition for Newtypes, such rumors still spread internally.
"Maybe… they just want to stabilize the Federation?"
Even the MP didn't seem to believe the words coming out of his own mouth.
"What the people at the top are doing is no different from what the Zabis of Zeon did. They want to turn the Federation into their private property."
Eli said something that would be considered treasonous.
"…That sounds like something those Original Charter believers would say."
Among the conspiracy theorists in space, Ricardo Marcenas—who proposed the Original Charter—was seen as the true founder of the Federation. George Marcenas, who later assumed power, was viewed as the leader of a vested-interest group that had stolen the fruits of that Federation.
"This has nothing to do with the Original Charter. It's just the inherent corruption of bureaucrats. With leaders like that, how could the Federation ever be well-governed?"
"Enough! That's not something Colonel Eli, currently under questioning, should be worrying about!"
The temporary cell's door slammed shut.
Eli looked at the closed door, then turned and sat on the room's bed.
He hadn't been thrown into some random prison or detention room. They had cleared out an officer's dormitory just to detain him.
Even underground in Jaburo, the officer beds turned out to be far softer than he had imagined.
His body sank slightly into the mattress under gravity's pull.
If he checked the liquor cabinet, he might even find a drink.
He had a feeling about that.
The Federation had always been this extravagant.
"General Revil is on sick leave… heh, I suppose next will be retirement due to illness—or maybe he'll die on duty, clinging to his post until the bitter end?"
Eli raised his arm to block the ceiling lights.
Eyes closed, he recalled his past interactions with General Revil.
As he thought, his mind drifted back to the conversation they had after the Delaz Conflict ended.
"When you're finally ready to make that decision, I hope you'll think it through carefully before acting."
General Revil had said that to Eli.
…
Why is it that others always seem to understand me better than I do myself?
Thinking of how Revil had once tested him by entrusting him with Cima, Eli began to understand why the general had made that seemingly reckless decision that risked damaging their trust.
From the very beginning, Revil had seen that Eli was not compatible with the Federation's system.
Even if he didn't know Eli's stance, he instinctively took precautions.
Because no one knew the true nature of the politicians better than Revil himself. He had a clear understanding of just how long it would take to change the Federation from within.
Pessimistically speaking, Revil might not live to see that change.
"This Federation is rotten to the core."
It wasn't until today that Eli truly answered the question General Revil had once posed.
The light remained blinding, but Eli blocked it, giving himself space to think clearly.
Unicorn's plot may have felt a bit grandiose and hollow, but it did expose one undeniable truth—the Federation had long been controlled by political dynasties and capital conglomerates.
At the forefront, of course, was the Marcenas family.
Even Anaheim Electronics was actually a latecomer in the Universal Century era.
"If those who proposed the Original Charter had led the Federation… would the world be a different place?"
That question surfaced in Eli's heart.
It was one he could never answer.
But one thing was certain.
"Now, a new possibility has appeared before me."