"General." At that moment, the adjutant knocked and entered the office, giving Yang Hui a meaningful glance before whispering into Revil's ear.
"Hmm?" Revil was taken aback, looking at Yang Hui with a strange expression. "You crippled the Ace Pilot from the Immortal Fourth Squad?"
"Indeed." Yang Hui waved his hand dismissively, as if it were no big deal.
"You went too far." It's common for new recruits to be unruly and for veterans to put them in their place, but crippling someone like Yang Hui did was unprecedented. If someone were to pursue the matter, it would be enough to land Yang Hui in a court-martial.
"When they arrive at my unit, their first priority isn't reporting to me but rushing to the Hangar to see the MS. I showed mercy by not having them all shot."
"Well, alright." Revil had nothing more to say. The adjutant had only told him that Yang Hui had crippled a newly transferred Ace Pilot without knowing the details. After hearing Yang Hui's brief explanation, he could roughly guess what had happened.
A group of newcomers, eager to see the MS, went straight to the Hangar without first reporting to Yang Hui, their commanding officer. Then, an unruly troublemaker acted arrogantly, and Yang Hui made an example of him—or perhaps vented his frustrations, as his mood had been sour lately due to Revil and his old partner.
The matter could be blown out of proportion or downplayed. In terms of who was in the right, Yang Hui held the trump card of "MS being top secret," making it impossible for anyone to touch him.
"But wasn't he someone you specifically requested? It's not good to cripple someone you asked for and then have to explain it to the Undying Squadron."
"Heh, I requested him because I saw his potential. But if he lacks skill and still acts arrogantly, he deserves to be crippled. Speaking of which, General Revil, I'm very disappointed with the military discipline of other basic units. They're disorganized and undisciplined—nothing but a bunch of military ruffians." Yang Hui ignored the adjutant glaring at him from the side and spoke bluntly.
"Ahem, General, I'll take my leave." Revil's adjutant had always disliked Yang Hui, but as someone who served as Revil's adjutant, he was far from foolish—in fact, he was quite clever. Although Yang Hui was only a major, all signs indicated that his relationship with Revil was far more than just superior and subordinate.
To protect himself, it was better not to know certain things, so he chose to leave.
"Alright, go ahead."
"Yes."
After the adjutant left, Yang Hui said to Revil, "Deputy Officer Park is quite capable."
"Yes, he was the top graduate of his class at the Federation Central Military Academy. He's skilled, but he has too many ulterior motives."
"Understood." Yang Hui also stood up to leave. Having learned what he needed to know, he wouldn't linger to chat with Revil. Both of them were busy people with no time for idle talk.
Returning to the unit's base, Yang Hui planned to check on the newcomers and meet those outside the MS units. Unexpectedly, he ran into someone he hadn't anticipated.
"Tim? What are you doing here?"
"The projects are all completed. I came to deliver some things and request further orders."
The newcomer was none other than Tim Ray. While Yang Hui was leading eight men on the battlefield, Tim Ray, far away at Luna II, hadn't been idle either. He and his research team had been tirelessly developing the Aerial Backpack and Aquatic Specialized Backpack. Through their efforts, the technical hurdles were finally overcome. After completing the Prototype Unit, Tim Ray immediately descended to Earth with it.
On one hand, although he had already heard about Yang Hui's achievements at Luna II, he couldn't resist wanting to see with his own eyes the child he had developed wreaking havoc on the battlefield.
On the other hand, the new equipment urgently needed testing in Earth's environment. If the tests succeeded, it would also provide Yang Hui and his team with even greater power.
As for requesting orders, that was purely a joke. Yang Hui had laid out a long-term development plan for them from the very beginning. Not to mention the warship department being short on personnel and supplies, the follow-up development of the Gundam Astray Series had already been put on the agenda.
Although Yang Hui had given them leave to go home and see their families, they were researchers. Their pursuit of new technologies never ceased.
See? Tim Ray's leave had just begun, and he couldn't help but cancel it to return to work.
However, Yang Hui had told them to go back and see their families, and they had done so. See? Wasn't there a rather cocky-looking teenager standing behind Tim Ray?
"Who is he?"
"My son, Amuro." Tim Ray was quite proud of his son. Most boys and girls his age were still in the hormone-fueled throes of adolescence, thinking all day about how to rebel and have fun.
But Amuro? He had already shown considerable talent in mechanical engineering, and his hands-on skills were stronger than many adults.
So Tim Ray thought, since his son was also very interested in mechanical engineering and MS, why not let him follow along and teach him personally?
"Oh? The son you're always talking about?" Yang Hui was surprised, looking at the cocky-faced Amuro.
"Yes." Tim Ray smiled proudly, pushing Amuro forward. "Amuro, this is Major Yang Hui, my current superior. He's a very impressive person."
"Hmph!"
"Uh..."
Well, that fell flat. Amuro didn't give Yang Hui a friendly look at all, snorting coldly and turning his head away.
"Hahaha, your son certainly has personality." Yang Hui wasn't about to get angry with a teenager. He knew Amuro well enough at this stage—he really was a cocky brat.
"Ahaha." Tim Ray scratched his head awkwardly, shooting a reproachful glare at Amuro.
"But why did you bring him? I thought he was on Side 7?"
"I plan to have him stay with me."
"Hmm?"
"Amuro has a lot of talent in the mechanical field. I figured I might as well bring him along and teach him myself."
"So... your main purpose in coming to Earth was to ask me for a favor?"
"Is that not allowed?"
"Remember to go through the proper procedures. You know the drill."
"Haha, thanks."
"I can decide on such a small matter. But Tim, once your son joins our unit, he can't act like this anymore." Yang Hui said seriously to Tim Ray. If he weren't joining the military, it would be fine for a boy to be a bit of a brat. After all, aren't teenagers supposed to be lively and active?
But joining the military was different. Having pride was fine, but one needed the skills to back it up, and they absolutely had to follow military discipline and obey orders. There was no room for throwing tantrums here.
Yang Hui had no intention of recreating the classic scene of Bright Noa's "Correction Punch." If he were to take action, it might be extremely rough—so rough that a spoiled brat wouldn't be able to handle it. That's why he advised Tim Ray to think it over carefully.
"Hmm, I understand. I also want to give Amuro some training." No one understood his own son better than he did. Amuro had great talent, but his personality was terrible. Of course, this was partly his own fault—he had been too busy with work since Amuro was young and hadn't been there for him. That's why he hoped Amuro would join the military to temper and grow.
"And what about you? What's your own choice?" Yang Hui asked Amuro. Although he was still a teenager, in this world, sixteen was considered adulthood, giving him the right to decide his own future.
"Whatever." Amuro turned his head away, avoiding Yang Hui's gaze, his tone low and resigned. "It's not like I've ever had a choice since I was little."
"..." Yang Hui raised an eyebrow and looked at Tim Ray.
Tim Ray felt both awkward and guilty. His wife had separated from Amuro when he was very young because she couldn't adapt to life in space, and he himself had been too busy with work, leaving Amuro starved for both paternal and maternal affection.
"I understand. You'll follow me for now."
"Fine."
"That's for the best." Tim Ray was pleased. Although he had initially planned to teach Amuro himself, he had changed his mind. Following Yang Hui was better. If he wasn't mistaken, Yang Hui's abilities in research surpassed his own. Everything he knew, Yang Hui knew, but there were things Yang Hui knew that he didn't.
Moreover, Yang Hui wasn't just a researcher. He was also a top-tier Mobile Suit pilot, an excellent commander, and a hardened soldier.
Only by staying by Yang Hui's side could Amuro learn more, face greater challenges, and grow into a better person.
"Then come with me."
Yang Hui led Tim Ray and Amuro to where the new recruits were being assessed. He intended to leave a lasting first impression on Amuro.
"Director Ray." Upon seeing Tim Ray arrive, Travis Kirkland and the others saluted him.
"Who are they?" Tim Ray asked, looking at Travis Kirkland.
"General Revil's orders. The Twelfth Independent Technical Division is expanding, and these are the new recruits currently undergoing assessment," Travis Kirkland replied.
"The division is expanding?" Tim Ray looked at Yang Hui for confirmation but quickly realized it made sense. Given the achievements Yang Hui and his team had accomplished, expansion was only natural.
"But why the assessment?" Tim Ray was puzzled. Based on his understanding of Yang Hui, even if the division were expanding, Yang Hui would personally select the members and wouldn't accept anyone forced upon him by higher-ups. If he had personally chosen them, why would an assessment be necessary?
"Ahem, well..." Travis Kirkland felt awkward. Although Yang Hui's approach was satisfying, it wasn't something to be openly discussed.
"Nothing much, just a bunch of troublemakers," Yang Hui said nonchalantly, unbothered by the situation. He wouldn't deny what he had done. "I took down the most arrogant one to teach them a lesson."
"Uh..." Tim Ray was taken aback, quickly wiping away nonexistent cold sweat. Yang Hui was indeed capable of such things. Back at Luna II, when some clueless individuals came to the Twelfth Independent Technical Division to provoke and mock, Yang Hui didn't tolerate it. He preferred action over talk, charging forward alone and knocking down over a dozen people. If Tianem hadn't arrived quickly, those dozen would have been truly done for.
"How were the results?"
"Not bad." Travis Kirkland took the assessment scores from the nearby test personnel and handed them to Yang Hui.
"Hmm..." Yang Hui skimmed through them. They were indeed decent, but just decent. In his book, there was no such thing as a passing grade, so...
"Already legs giving out after just 5 kilometers? Run! Speed up!"
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