"Position 3 in place... Position 4 in place... All equipment at designated locations..."
"The [Umbrella] system is activated."
Between Side 6 and Side 3, a giant umbrella shimmering with brilliant light unfurled, calming the anxious hearts of the people.
"Alright, the deployment of this system can be considered a success. You can breathe a little easier now," Yang Hui said to Char.
"Can this system really block it?" Char asked worriedly.
"...Then don't use it!" Yang Hui was genuinely annoyed. Even if it was a rushed job, wasn't it better than nothing? "I specifically brought it over from Axis for you, stayed to help you deploy and install it, and this is the thanks I get? We're done! Friendship over!"
"Cough, cough, that's not what I meant..." Char knew he had misspoken and tried to argue his way out of the awkwardness.
"Then what did you mean?"
"...Nothing." Char turned his head away, not letting Yang Hui see his embarrassment.
"Hmph, figure out your new Mobile Suit on your own then!"
"Wait, I really didn't mean it that way!"
"Speak! What did you mean?"
"This... that... anyway, that's what I meant!"
"Get lost!"
"Wait—"
"Wait my ass!"
"Hehehe." Lalah Sune had been following behind Char and Yang Hui. Watching these two powerful figures, who held the fate of the world in their hands, bicker like children made her chuckle.
She was happy because this side of Yang Hui and Char was truly amusing. On the other hand, Lalah Sune was also happy for Char.
Although Char had changed and could now open his heart a bit more to others—no longer seeing them merely as tools—he still wasn't at ease. Because of his identity and his position, he was destined to be a solitary figure. Even his most trusted confidant, Ramba Ral, couldn't communicate with Char as an equal.
This was the helplessness of those in high positions.
Only Yang Hui could make Char so relaxed, allowing him to show his true self without reservation.
...
The next day, the Federation's escort fleet and transport ships returned to Axis. With five full fleets stationed around the Zeon Republic, those dozen or so warships weren't needed.
Yang Hui stayed behind alone with his Mobile Suit, accompanied by Kira, to help Char familiarize himself with his new machine.
"I say, are you even trying?" Looking at the Sazabi, which was covered in colorful splotches from marker rounds, Yang Hui asked teasingly.
"Again!"
"Again my foot! All your cameras are blocked. Go back and wash up," Yang Hui said crossly.
"...I'll kill you one of these days."
"What did you say?"
"I didn't say anything." Char started cursing in his head. In his excitement, he had forgotten to close the communication channel before muttering under his breath.
"Tch, all talk and no action. No wonder you're looking for a mother."
"Yang Hui! Switch to live rounds! Today, it's either you or me!"
"You have the nerve? I was holding back a sea's worth of effort and still beat you like this, yet you talk about 'it's either you or me'?"
"Get lost!"
"I don't know how. I never learned, why don't you teach me?"
"..." Char gave up. He really couldn't win a war of words against Yang Hui, so he chose to fly back to the hangar in silence.
"Tch, what a wimp. Let's go, Kira."
"Um, okay."
Char needed to get used to his new Mobile Suit, and so did Kira. Although his custom machine, the Strike Freedom Gundam, also possessed Controlled Autonomous Combat Units in the Gundam SEED world, the Dragoon System and the Psycommu System were different. The core of the Psycommu System was the Newtype's Psychic Wave, and he wasn't sure if a Super Coordinator's Psychic Wave was the same as a Newtype's.
"How does it feel?" After disembarking, Yang Hui found Kira.
"It's different from the Dragoon System, but there are similarities. Ultimately, both are applications of Psychic Energy. It's just that the Psycommu System differs from the Strike Freedom Gundam's Psycho-Link System in how the Psychic Energy is inputted. I should be able to master it completely in two days."
"That's good then."
Hearing Kira's assessment, Yang Hui felt relieved. Since Kira wasn't a Newtype, his Psychic Wave was different. If Kira couldn't use the Psycommu System, then building this machine would have been a waste... well, not a complete waste, as Lalah Sune could use it, but whether Char would let Lalah Sune pilot a new machine on the front lines was another question.
At the same time, one of Yang Hui's theories was confirmed. Whether it was an Innovator, a Newtype, or a Super Coordinator, as long as they were users of Psychic Energy, they were fundamentally the same. There might be differences, but there was no incompatibility.
Super Coordinators weren't specialized Psychic Energy users; rather, they were enhanced in physical fitness, reaction speed, mental processing, and Psychic Energy across the board. They excelled in being balanced without having one specific supernatural ability, but they still possessed Psychic Energy far beyond ordinary people. Through special systems, they could also use remote weapons like Funnels or other Controlled Autonomous Combat Units.
"What about you? How does it feel?" Yang Hui asked as Char walked over.
"I don't really like the sensation. It's like my body has grown more..."
"More tentacles?"
"..." Char narrowed his eyes and squinted at Yang Hui. Although Yang Hui's metaphor was vivid and accurate, he... just felt like the man wasn't saying anything good!
"Get used to it. As a man, you shouldn't reject tentacles," Yang Hui said, patting Char's shoulder with mock gravity.
"...Get lost!"
"Hehe."
The three of them didn't continue the adaptation training because the Great Degwin, carrying Degwin Sodo Zabi, was about to arrive at the capital of the Zeon Republic. Char had to go freshen up and lead people to welcome Degwin Sodo Zabi.
Since Char was the primary subject of the adaptation training, Yang Hui and Kira didn't continue once he left. Furthermore, Char had requested that Yang Hui be present for the meeting.
...
"You are Yang Hui?" Sovereign Degwin asked the moment he saw Yang Hui.
"I am. It is a pleasure to meet you, Sovereign Degwin."
"Hmm... You are indeed no ordinary person. No wonder Gihren suffered repeated failures at your hands."
"You flatter me, Sovereign Degwin."
"My visit this time, besides discussing the peace negotiations, had another purpose: I wanted to meet you."
"You're joking, Sovereign Degwin. I'm just a minor figure."
"Hah. A minor figure? The person who single-handedly turned the tide and direction of an entire war?" Degwin Sodo Zabi gave a cold laugh.
"Of course. I am but a trivial part of the world and this universe. Naturally, I am a minor figure."
"..." After taking a long look at Yang Hui, Degwin Sodo Zabi said no more. He had wanted to see Yang Hui simply to see him, to use his own eyes to judge what kind of person he was. Now that he had seen him, there was no need for further small talk.
However, this also made Degwin Sodo Zabi more certain that his choice was correct. Having lived so many years and experienced politics, the battlefield, and the business world, he might lack other things now, but he certainly didn't lack insight.
He couldn't see through Yang Hui. Moreover, standing before him, even without Yang Hui deliberately exerting pressure, he felt an immense weight.
"Casval..." Degwin Sodo Zabi looked at Char, his eyes filled with complex emotions.
"If you have any requests, speak them directly. There's no need for us to make small talk," Char said, sensing Degwin Sodo Zabi's complex emotions and putting a stop to it before anything could happen.
He and Degwin Sodo Zabi truly had nothing to talk about. Aside from seeing him a few times as a child, Degwin Sodo Zabi was a stranger to him—or worse, an enemy.
"...The matter regarding Deikun was not my doing." Degwin Sodo Zabi didn't start with the peace talks or the surrender; instead, he chose to bring up the past. This was the source of the greatest grudge between Char and the Zabi Family.
"There's no need to say it, Degwin. I have already investigated the truth of what happened back then," Char said flatly. Degwin Sodo Zabi's confession did not affect his mood.
As early as a year ago, with Yang Hui's help, Char had discovered the truth behind Zeon Zum Deikun's death. It indeed hadn't been arranged by Degwin Sodo Zabi, but...
"Then why did you..."
"It wasn't your doing, but it was your son's."
"Gihren!"
"Gihren Zabi conspired with certain people in the Federation to arrange that assassination."
"...I am willing to represent the Principality of Zeon in peace negotiations with the Zeon Republic and the Federation," Degwin Sodo Zabi said to Char and Yang Hui. In his eyes, Yang Hui was the representative of the Federation; this was the final reason he had insisted Yang Hui be present.
After their brief encounter, Degwin Sodo Zabi was certain that Yang Hui was a true dragon taking flight. No one could control him, not even Revil. Negotiating with Yang Hui was far more useful than negotiating with Revil.
"Peace negotiations? Heh, I'm sorry, but the Zeon Republic does not accept peace talks with the Zabi Family," Char sneered.
"The Federation won't accept peace negotiations either, Sovereign Degwin. Please be mindful of your wording," Yang Hui added flatly, spreading his hands.
"..." Degwin Sodo Zabi's expression turned grim. The worst-case scenario he had envisioned was unfolding. "What about Garma?"
"He is well."
"...I can surrender to the Zeon Republic, but I will not surrender to the Federation."
"That's fine with me." Yang Hui shrugged. He understood Degwin Sodo Zabi's line of thinking. Whether it was the Principality of Zeon or the Zeon Republic, they were both Zeon. The Principality was merely the form the Zeon Republic took after Zeon Zum Deikun's death; now, it was simply returning to its original owner.
But the Federation was different. Degwin Sodo Zabi did not trust them. If they surrendered to the Federation, the Federation would surely continue to oppress the Spaceoids. If that happened, his surrender would lose all meaning and might even become the trigger for a brand new war.
Yang Hui didn't care at all. Once the missions were completed and this world was connected to the Prometheus Fortress, there would be no distinction between Earth Residents and Spaceoids, let alone between the Federation and Zeon. Everyone would be one family. And even if they weren't, Yang Hui would make them one!
"Hmm... Then it's settled."
"We'll discuss the specifics tomorrow. Get some rest, Degwin..."
Rumble, rumble, rumble...
Just as the two sides reached a preliminary agreement and Char and Yang Hui were about to leave, a violent tremor suddenly erupted beneath their feet. The furniture in the room toppled over, and both Yang Hui and Char nearly lost their footing.
"This is!" Yang Hui and Char exchanged a look, a suspicion forming in their minds.
Beep, beep, beep...
"What happened?" Char connected the communication and asked immediately.
"Your Highness, the Principality of Zeon has launched an attack on us! It's a long-range strategic weapon!"
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