Chapter 340: The Beginning of the Flames of War 3
After Tolle said that, Cagalli asked bluntly, "Then what about you? What are you going to do—stay or leave?"
Tolle gave Cagalli a disdainful look and said, "Do you even need to ask? Of course I'm staying to fight for Orb.
After all, I'm both a citizen of Orb and a colonel in Orb's Special Independent Unit. There's no way I'd leave.
And I still have to protect Orb's people—and you, and the people I care about."
"Hahaha, that's true." Cagalli scratched her head in embarrassment and gave Tolle a firm pat on the shoulder, then turned to Kira and asked, "What about you, Kira? What have you decided?"
Kira smiled and nodded. "To help bring this war to an end as soon as possible, and to protect this country, my friends, and the people I care about, I'll fight as well."
Hearing that both of them were staying, Cagalli happily hugged Tolle and Kira at the same time.
After chatting for a while, Tolle suddenly remembered that Dearka was still locked up in a cell.
Thinking that he needed to let him out later—after all, he was a rare and valuable combat asset—Tolle gathered up all of Dearka's belongings from when he had been captured, walked to the cell, opened the door, and went inside.
"Yo, you're here." Dearka looked blankly at his belongings and asked, "Are you here to visit me, interrogate me, or transfer me?"
Tolle set the items down by the bed and said, "Alright, you're free. I'm letting you out now and taking you off this ship."
"What? I can leave now?" Dearka couldn't believe his ears and asked again, "Really? I can go?"
Tolle spread his hands and said, "Yeah, that's right. The Earth Alliance is about to attack Orb, and this ship is going back into battle. So your sentence is up—consider it time served. Come on."
Tolle quickly walked out of the cell, and Dearka hurried after him, asking as they walked, "What's going on? Why are you fighting the Earth Alliance again?"
"Didn't I just say it? The Earth Alliance is coming to attack Orb, and the Archangel is going to join the fight. There's no point in keeping you aboard anymore, so you can disembark."
"Sigh… I still don't get it. Isn't this way too sudden? Can you explain the situation to me?"
"Fine. I'll tell you…"
Tolle then explained how ZAFT had captured the Panama base and about the Earth Alliance's unreasonable demands toward Orb.
"…So Orb didn't choose to stand with the Earth Alliance against ZAFT, and because of that, it's now going to war with the Earth Alliance."
After hearing everything, Dearka hesitated and said, "Um… well… what about my Buster Gundam? Can I have it back?"
Tolle said disdainfully, "That thing was ours to begin with, and it's already been taken by the Dawn Society. Don't get your hopes up."
Dearka said dejectedly, "How can this be…"
Tolle led him to an exit near where the Buster Gundam was stored at the Dawn Society, then shrugged and said, "There's nothing that can be done. You should leave as soon as possible. Follow Orb's instructions and evacuate."
With that, Tolle turned around and headed straight back to the Archangel, leaving Dearka alone outside the Dawn Society base.
To cut off any chance for Murrue and Mu to be alone together, Tolle hurried to the Archangel's bridge. He even manipulated the neo DG cells in Mu's body to keep him confined in his room.
In his heart, Tolle apologized to Mu. Sorry about this, Mu. I'll protect Murrue for you. I'll definitely introduce you to a few more girlfriends in the future to make up for it.
Arriving on the bridge, Tolle saw Murrue standing alone by the window and pretended to ask casually, "Sister Murrue, what are you doing here?"
Murrue replied gently, "Why did you suddenly come to see me? Today is Orb's last day of peace. Shouldn't you be spending some time with your girlfriend, Miriallia?"
Tolle immediately realized that his cursed charm stat was too low—there was no way to win Murrue over through normal means. He instantly had Nami begin slowly influencing her.
As the influence took effect, he said, "Only a little over a dozen people chose to leave the ship. Everyone's really admirable.
Or maybe… the incident at the Alaska base is still weighing on them."
"Perhaps." After a moment of silence, Murrue suddenly teased him. "But Tolle, why did you suddenly decide to come back back then? Was it for your girlfriend, risking your life for her?"
At that moment, Tolle received Nami's signal that the influence was complete, and he immediately said, "I came back because I wanted to protect you, Sister Murrue, and everyone aboard the Archangel."
Murrue suddenly stepped forward and gently hugged Tolle, saying gratefully, "Yes… you've always worked so hard. Thank you for all the support and help you've given me."
Just as Murrue was about to let go, Tolle pulled her back into his arms. Startled and slightly embarrassed, she said, "Tolle, what are you doing? Let go of me. This isn't right—you already have…"
Tolle ignored her words and kissed her, cutting her off mid-sentence. Murrue struggled at first, but when she couldn't break free, she gradually began to respond.
After a long while, Tolle looked at Murrue, who was breathing heavily with her face flushed, and said, "Do you really still not understand what I mean?"
Murrue said shyly, "I… I'm about ten years older than you…"
Tolle kissed her again, then after another long moment said, "Haven't you heard the saying? An older woman by three years brings gold bricks, by ten years brings a mountain of gold, by thirty years brings a kingdom, by three hundred years brings an elixir, by three thousand years earns immortal rank, and by seven thousand years grants a heavenly blade.
I don't mind at all. Age difference isn't a problem for me."
Murrue leaned shyly against Tolle and said, "You bastard… you already have women and still come to provoke me. But… fine. Let's consider it repayment for everything you've done. And at my age, I won't make things difficult for you."
"You really are the best, Sister Murrue," Tolle said, before kissing her deeply once more.
Slowly, he removed her clothes… and the two of them shared an intimate moment together on the bridge.
-------
[Support me and read ahead on Patreøn: patreøn.com/craxx_real.]
[WN Exclusive Powerstone Event: For every 50 powerstones, +1 chapter.]