Chapter 274: Encounter 2
"Hey, you mangy mutt, long time no see." Tolle immediately stepped forward, pretending to act close as he locked his arm tightly around Yzak's neck so he couldn't move.
He leaned toward his ear with a smile and whispered, "If you don't want to blow your cover, keep your voice down. Otherwise I'll start yelling and bring the entire Orb military down on us."
Yzak had no choice but to swallow his temper and speak at a normal volume. "You bastard! Remember this—my name is Yzak, Yzak Joule! Stop calling me the wrong thing!"
Tolle wanted to tease him a little longer—*Sure, Yzak. Got it, Yzak. Totally, Yzak.*
But considering Yzak's explosive temper and ridiculous pride, he stopped. There were more important matters.
"All right, Yzak." Tolle shrugged helplessly, then deliberately pointed at Dearka and asked, "And this slightly tan guy—what's your name?"
Dearka felt his fist twitch; he was almost sure Tolle was discriminating against him—but there was no proof.
And since even Yzak was controlling himself, he had no choice but to endure it. He replied dryly, "My name is Dearka Elsman."
"Oh, got it, *Duck-ka*."
"It's Dearka."
"Sure—*Duck-ka*."
Tolle had no intention of letting him off easy. After all, this guy had both motive and potential for NTR—better to mentally crush him now.
Dearka could only pull a bitter face. If even Yzak was subdued, he definitely wasn't picking a fight.
Ignoring him, Tolle turned to Athrun and the others. "Want to find somewhere to talk? There's a seaside park nearby—should be pretty quiet at this time."
Tolle led them for a short walk until they reached the park by the sea. Since it was working hours, almost no one was around.
Tolle got straight to the point. "You're looking for the Archangel, right? It's here in Orb."
The bluntness left the four of them speechless. Except for Nicol, the rest tensed up immediately, ready to fight at any moment.
"Relax. Since we've already run into each other, that much should be obvious."
Yzak glared and asked, unconvinced, "Why did you bring us here? Don't tell me you want us to kill you?"
"If you want to try, go ahead. I'm just afraid I'll end up killing the four of you instead. If you don't believe me, ask Athrun."
Yzak shot Athrun a doubtful look. Athrun let out a sigh.
"He's telling the truth. I can't beat him." After recalling the incident on the island, he added, "Even if the four of us went at him together, I'm not sure we'd win."
"You've got to be kidding." Yzak turned to Tolle and demanded, "Are you a Coordinator too?"
"No. Just an ordinary Natural. I'm just… a bit stronger than average."
As he spoke, Tolle picked up a random pebble and handed it to Yzak, who squeezed it a few times without leaving a mark. Tolle then took it back and casually crushed it to powder with one hand.
Yzak's jaw dropped, staying open for a long moment before he finally managed, "If you're that strong, then how did Nicol capture you before? Don't tell me you let it happen! Were you trying to steal a mobile suit?"
Nicol stiffened, suddenly nervous—his conscience wasn't clear.
Tolle, on the other hand, didn't even blink. "He had a gun. And explosives. You know the saying—no matter how good your martial arts are, a kitchen knife still wins. Never mind a gun and bombs."
The four of them were speechless.
Athrun complained internally: *I had a gun too, you know. You sure weren't afraid then—you beat the hell out of me. I still have nightmares about it.*
Tolle broke the silence. "Hasn't it ever crossed your minds? If the Archangel and the Strike are so important—
Why hasn't the Earth Alliance done anything? No reinforcements, no support at all.
And we received orders telling the Archangel to make its own way to Alaska.
Not a single supply drop—not ammunition, not food, nothing.
Doesn't that make the Archangel look like bait?
For all we know, they might have already built units more powerful than the Strike somewhere else.
Or maybe that Alaska base itself is a trap.
The Earth Alliance has done this before. At the Artemis lunar base—your ZAFT forces got crushed by the Cyclops System.
Who's to say they won't use the same tactic in Alaska or another base?"
"Now *that's* the truth. With the way those Earth Alliance scumbags act, I'd say it's very possible." Yzak agreed immediately and without hesitation.
Nicol, though he knew all about this, had remained silent because of Tolle's earlier persuasion—and because the mental conditioning made him trust Tolle completely. Now, hearing Yzak speak, he couldn't help adding, "I agree too. The Earth Alliance would definitely do something like that."
Athrun and Dearka both nodded as well.
Tolle continued, fully shifting into persuasion mode. "And honestly, can you really blame them? Their own soldiers die alongside ZAFT pilots too…"
Before he could finish, Yzak cut him off. "What's that supposed to mean? Are you saying we should feel sorry for you? That would make us stop hunting you?
Impossible! So many of our comrades were killed by your Long Dagger and the Strike. I'm going to avenge them!"