"Captain Ral..."
"Shall we talk?"
"Yes."
Char led Lalah Sune into the room. He and Lalah sat on one side, while Ramba Ral and Crowley Hamon sat opposite them, all wearing serious expressions.
"Char Aznable, what exactly are you trying to accomplish? Who... are you really?"
Actually, Ramba Ral and Crowley Hamon had long wanted to ask this question. They both felt a sense of familiarity with Char - not the Char Aznable they knew, but rather a feeling of having known him from much earlier.
"Captain Ral..." With an extremely conflicted expression, Murrue's words echoed in Char's mind once more. Finally, he chose to remove his mask. "It's been a long time, Captain Ral, Miss Hamon."
"You! That face!" Ramba Ral and Crowley Hamon were instantly shocked. Though their memories were of a child, they could never forget that face even after all these years.
"Casval... Your Highness Casval!?"
"It's me, Captain Ral, Miss Hamon."
"You... you're actually alive!? I heard..."
"Yes, I died once before, as Casval Rem Deikun."
"But... what exactly..."
Char told Ramba Ral and Crowley Hamon everything about his experiences over the years - from escaping Side 3 and living incognito on Earth while being hunted, to their life on Side 7, then being separated from his sister, and finally joining the Zeon Army using Char Aznable's identity...
Even Char himself found it incredible. He never thought he could be such an honest person. To him, everyone was just a pawn or tool to be used, and he would never normally reveal his true identity and past experiences to others.
But...
At this moment, he suddenly felt relieved. The heavy, invisible shackles fell away from him, the pressure lifted from his shoulders, and he could stand straighter. He wanted to keep talking, to savor this feeling of liberation.
"..."
After hearing Char's entire story, Ramba Ral and Crowley Hamon remained silent for a long time. Their feelings were complex - the child from back then had become this detestable person, and they felt angry, thinking all their efforts to protect him had been wasted.
But at the same time, they understood. They couldn't imagine what Char had been through, and without experiencing that life themselves, they had no right to judge him.
"So... Your Highness Casval, what... exactly do you want to accomplish?" Ramba Ral asked Char. He still remained loyal to the nation of Zeon, still detested the Zabi Family, and was willing to return to serve under the Deikun name. But if Char's plans didn't align with his ideals, he wouldn't agree, even if it meant death.
"I want... to revive the Zeon Republic, the nation my father envisioned!"
"Wha... this... is this true?" Ramba Ral asked.
"Yes, the ideal nation my father fought for his entire life - a homeland for space residents free from oppression and discrimination - that is my goal." Char wasn't lying, though he was only telling half the truth. His goal of revenge could be accomplished while achieving this objective.
"...This is difficult, no, it should be called a pipe dream. Your enemies include not only the Zabi Family but also the Federation," Ramba Ral said.
"I know. Both the Zabi Family and the Federation will become our enemies, but... only part of the Federation for now."
"Part of the Federation?"
"Correct. You've witnessed how capable my partner is."
"Hmm..." Ramba Ral and Crowley Hamon fell silent. They had indeed witnessed it—being secretly and safely transported from under Kycilia's Agency's watchful eyes to Granada, this military fortress, with brand new excellent MS and exceptionally skilled pilots. The person capable of achieving this was certainly no ordinary individual.
But... it wasn't enough!
"He has already attained a high position within the Earth Federation. We will have collaborators on the Federation side as well. Moreover, until the war between the Federation and Zeon concludes, they won't hinder me—they'll only try to win me over."
"But after that, the Federation won't simply stand by and do nothing. And... you alone cannot restore the nation."
"That's why I need your help, Captain Ral."
"Me?"
"Yes, Captain Ral. Back when you were still in the Zeon Army, you had excellent connections within its ranks. Your status and reputation were also high. With your assistance, we can rally more people from within the Zeon Army. I believe there are many in the Zeon Army who, like you, are dissatisfied with the Zabi Family."
"Hmm..." Ramba Ral tacitly agreed. Many within the Zeon Army had long been discontent with the Zabi Family's cruel actions. And... many, like him, missed the Zeon of the Deikun era and cherished the time they served under Deikun.
"I will do my best, Lord Casval, but... it's still not enough." Ramba Ral remained rational, not easily swayed by Char's few persuasive words. To join Char's cause, he needed more proof, especially since he was no longer alone now.
"During the war between the Federation and Zeon, we must secretly accumulate strength. With the help of our collaborators, by the time we restore the nation, we will possess military power that the Federation fears. Defeating the Federation outright may be unrealistic, but making them hesitate to act against us is achievable. That's the first point. And... my partner has prepared a gift for me—one that will make the Federation think twice before moving against us. Once we obtain that thing, we will have the real qualification to negotiate with the Federation."
"That thing?"
"Apologies, Captain Ral. That thing is too important. Even I cannot confirm its existence at this moment, so I cannot disclose the details to you now."
"...I need to think it over," Ramba Ral said.
"Understood. We will remain here for a week. You have ample time to consider."
After speaking, Char put his mask back on and left the room with Lalah Sune. Ramba Ral and Crowley Hamon remained behind, silent for a long while.
"What's troubling you?" Crowley Hamon finally broke the silence, asking Ramba Ral directly.
Ramba Ral simply looked at Crowley Hamon without speaking. The answer was already clear.
Indeed, he cared about Crowley Hamon. Now that the Rahl family was gone and his old father had passed away, the only person worth Ramba Ral's concern was Crowley Hamon alone.
The Deikun era had passed; now was the age of the Zabi Family. To put it nicely, Char's actions were about restoring the nation; to put it bluntly, it was treason!
If successful, all would be well. But once it failed, both he and Crowley Hamon would face eternal damnation, not even retaining the decadent life of drowning themselves in intoxication.
"Ramba... actually, you don't need to struggle. No matter which path you choose, I will walk it with you." Crowley Hamon held Ramba Ral's hand and spoke gently. From the moment she first laid eyes on Ramba Ral, she had fallen in love with him, just as he loved her. For him, Crowley Hamon was capable of anything—otherwise, she wouldn't have risked her life back then to rescue the Deikun siblings from the Deikun ancestral home and send them to Earth, all because of Ramba Ral's distress.
"Hamon... sigh."
"And Ramba, we have no choice, do we?"
Ramba Ral remained silent, tacitly agreeing with Crowley Hamon's words. Char was no longer the Casval Rem Deikun of the past. He had grown up, matured, learned schemes and intrigues, and mastered ruthlessness.
After learning so much, if Ramba Ral refused to join Char's faction, would Char let them go?
...
"Major, will you let Captain Ral and the others go?" Lalah Sune asked with a smile.
"Why would you think that?" Char asked Lalah Sune in surprise.
"Because the Major is a gentle person."
"Gentle? Heh." Upon hearing this, Char covered his face with a bitter smile. The word "gentle" had nothing to do with him—like two parallel lines that would never intersect.
"Then why did the Major save me?" Lalah Sune insisted on her viewpoint.
Back when Lalah Sune was sold from her hometown to South America, she became a tool under a warlord. Though her psychic abilities helped the warlord earn a lot of money, and she lived without material worries—even sending money home—her life was filled with constant fear, often suffering beatings and abuse.
Even after her previous master died, the next one was no different. Lalah Sune continued living a precarious existence, never knowing if she would see tomorrow.
It was only when Char actively approached her, pulling her out of endless suffering, that things changed. He kept her by his side, cared for her, treated her well, taught her many things, ensured she had no worries about food, clothing, or shelter, and even gave her money to send back home.
"I'm actually no different from those people, using you as a tool..."
"Lying won't work on me, Major."
"Hmm..."
Char's lips twitched, cursing himself inwardly for ever having a trust list—the mere two names on it kept causing him setbacks.
However, Char found himself conflicted. If Ramba Ral truly refused him, would he actually eliminate Ramba Ral and Crowley Hamon? The Char of before wouldn't have hesitated—he would have resolutely removed all potential threats. But now...
That feeling of ease, he truly cherished it. He knew he shouldn't possess it, yet that didn't stop him from yearning for it. If... if things could always be like this, if he had as many followers around him as Yang Hui did, perhaps he wouldn't feel so exhausted.
Just then, Char suddenly felt his head being embraced by a small figure.
"Lalah?"
"It's alright, Major. You can rest properly now."
"...Thank you, Lalah."
Though Char still hadn't found his answer, Lalah's embrace was warm and comforting. It emptied his mind, letting him cast aside his tangled thoughts as he drifted into sleep against her.
"You're welcome, Major. Rest well." Feeling Char's steady breathing, Lalah whispered tenderly.