"Young Master Yang Hui."
"Yasaki, Mayura, has the morning training session concluded?"
"Yes, it's finished. We were just about to head for lunch."
"Go quickly then, don't miss meal time. Prepare yourselves for the afternoon's live machine training."
"Finally starting? Ah! We've been waiting for this day!"
"The OS is finally complete?"
"That's wonderful!"
Not just Yasaki and Mayura, but even Juri—who was always clinging to Lowe—was excited. As the original test pilots for the M1 Astray, these three naturally anticipated returning to live machine operation more eagerly than any other trainees. Having experienced real machine piloting, they found simulator training pale in comparison.
"Mm, go ahead and get ready. Due to limited space, you'll be in the first batch for live training."
"That's fantastic!" x3
The three girls skipped away merrily, needing to replenish their energy after the morning's rigorous training to face the afternoon's real machine operations in peak condition.
Of course, Juri didn't forget her "little sweetheart," dragging Lowe along regardless of his protests while regaling her giggling friends with tales of their "romantic" first meeting, making the other two blush shyly.
At this moment, Erica Simmons arrived with another familiar face—Kazahana Azure.
"Hmm? Kazahana? What brings you here?"
"Director Simmons' request. Gai and my sister are occupied with another mission, so I'm handling the handover."
"Is that so? Quite impressive." Yang Hui patted Kazahana Azure's head approvingly—it was remarkable for someone so young to be assisting the team.
"Mm... even if you praise me, I won't disclose mission details," Kazahana murmured, cheeks flushing as she looked down.
"Hahaha, do I seem like someone who breaks rules to you?" Yang Hui laughed.
Mercenary organizations strictly guarded mission and client confidentiality. Whether Erica Simmons commissioned Serpent Tail or Serpent Tail accepted contracts from her, Yang Hui remained an outsider who shouldn't inquire about their operations.
While rules could be bent when necessary, one should generally remain disciplined.
"N-no, not at all."
"Alright, since Director Simmons brought you to me, there must be business to discuss?" Yang Hui asked Kazahana.
"Correct." Switching to professional mode, Kazahana straightened up. "Beyond mission coordination, Gai requested weapon procurements from Dawn Company—particularly components for Blue Frame. Director Simmons couldn't authorize this, so she directed me to you."
"Pricing?"
"Market rate purchases, including Blue Frame's specialized equipment. Final settlement will be based on your provided specifications."
"Understood. Standard equipment is no issue, but Blue Frame's requirements... specifics?"
"Here."
Yang Hui reviewed the document on his PAD.
"A universal space combat system for ranged/melee engagement, plus aquatic warfare modules... Noted. However, delivery will require time—we're currently overloaded."
"No problem. Serpent Tail has enough downtime before the next mission begins. Gai mentioned he trusts Yang Hui's abilities and is confident you can complete it within the stipulated time."
"Haha, I'm truly honored to receive such high praise from Gai." Yang Hui smiled. Gai Murakumo was a rational and objective man—he wouldn't inflate his evaluation of someone just because of personal connections.
"It's simply the truth."
"Alright, I'll arrange for Blue Frame's equipment as soon as possible. Let's grab a meal first. You're still growing—if you don't eat well, you won't get taller."
"That's not true!" Kazahana Azure pouted shyly before Erica Simmons had someone escort her to the cafeteria. She herself, however, stayed behind. Seeing this, Kazahana understood that Erica had something private to discuss with Yang Hui and didn't press further.
"What's the matter?"
"Lord Rondo has arrived."
"Gina?" Yang Hui's brow furrowed. If there was one person he least wanted to see right now, it was Gina. "What's he here for?"
"Repairs and modifications for Gold Frame."
"Tch. He really never learns, does he? Barely got taught a lesson, yet he's already forgotten it all?"
"How should we handle it?" Erica Simmons didn't like Gina either. Flaunting his Coordinator status, he looked down on Naturals and always issued orders with an air of superiority. Though not as unreasonable as Cagalli, he was merely clever in small ways—nowhere near Yang Hui's level, not even matching his sister Mina.
"As long as his requests are reasonable, fulfill them. A single Gold Frame won't pose much of a threat to our plans."
"Understood. Lord Rondo's demands have been fairly reasonable so far..."
"...Unlike Cagalli, he at least knows better than to ask for the impossible..."
"...But there's one condition—he insists that you personally design the modifications for Gold Frame."
"..." Yang Hui narrowed his eyes slightly, his expression turning unreadable as he stared at Erica. "Are you serious?"
Erica nodded solemnly, though the corners of her lips curled into a smirk.
"Tell him to get lost!" Yang Hui waved his hand dismissively, outright ordering Gina's expulsion. The audacity—making demands? Even his sister wouldn't dare speak to me like that.
"We can't exactly do that. He's still the young master of the Sahaku family." If it were possible to kick Gina out, Erica would've done it long ago. But in terms of status, Gina was a candidate heir of one of the Five Great Families—effectively one of Orb's future rulers. Erica, as Dawn Company's technical director, held considerable power and trust from the higher-ups, but she was still just an employee. Unless she planned on quitting, she couldn't afford to openly defy her boss.
"Then tell him I said it!" Yang Hui was genuinely amused by Gina's nerve. They were of similar standing, and as a Coordinator, Gina was outclassed by Yang Hui in every way. Yet he had the gall to phrase it as a "demand"—what a joke.
"But..."
"What? Even with me backing you, you still don't dare?"
"It's not that, just..."
"Just wh—"
Yang Hui initially thought Erica had some unspeakable difficulty, but the next second, his expression darkened, turning icy.
"Hahaha! Yang Hui, I knew you'd be here. It was worth coming to this noisy place just to find you." Gina maintained his haughty demeanor as he approached Yang Hui with several guards in tow.
"What do you want?" Yang Hui asked coldly.
"Mind your tone, Yang Hui."
"Oh? And what tone would that be?"
"Hmph! You're just a Natural after all, while I— Ugh!"
Before Gina could finish, Yang Hui's hand shot out like lightning, gripping his face and silencing him. No matter how much Gina struggled, he couldn't break free from the iron-like grasp.
Gina's guards immediately drew their guns, but Yang Hui merely glanced at them before fixing his icy gaze back on Gina.
"Do you want to tear Orb apart, Gina?"
"Ugh...!"
"And one more thing..." Yang Hui leaned closer, whispering words only the two of them could hear. "Since childhood, what have you ever surpassed me in, Coordinator?"
"Ugh—!" Gina's eyes widened in shock, his struggles intensifying as fury and resentment burned in his gaze.
"So keep your arrogance in check around me, Gina. You're not qualified."
With that, Yang Hui released him. Predictably, Gina immediately threw a punch the moment he was free, only for Yang Hui to effortlessly twist his wrist.
"Ah—!!"
Clutching his limp right hand, Gina staggered back, sweat pouring from the excruciating pain.
"Tch. That's it?" After the icy taunt, Yang Hui exchanged a few words with Erica Simmons before leaving—he still had a plan to carry out.
"Lord Rondo, as per Young Master Yang Hui's instructions, we'll accommodate any reasonable requests of yours. However, regarding Mobile Suit design modifications, I personally suggest you seek alternatives elsewhere."
"Simmons!"
"Lord Rondo, do you have any further orders? If not, I must attend to my duties—Young Master Yang Hui has assigned me plenty of work." It wasn't a question but a statement. Without waiting for a response, Erica Simmons turned and left. She had never liked Gina to begin with, and after the earlier confrontation, her disdain had only grown. With Yang Hui backing her, she had no reason to fear him.
"Damn it! You insolent—!"
"My lord, what should we do now?" a guard whispered to Gina.
"Hmph! Let's go! I refuse to believe Yang Hui is the only one capable of this." Bearing the pain, Gina led his guards out of Dawn Company. Having already lost face, he couldn't stay any longer.
Meanwhile, Yang Hui boarded the Archangel and found Murrue and Natarle Badgiruel on the bridge.
"Yang Hui? What brings you here?" Murrue and Natarle brightened at his arrival. They hadn't seen him in days and had missed him more than they cared to admit.
"I figured you'd be on the bridge, so here I am."
"You came to see us?" Their cheeks flushed slightly with shy delight.
"Of course. I heard you haven't taken any breaks, so I thought I'd show you around Orb. It'd be a shame if you didn't explore while you're here."
As soon as these words were spoken, before Murrue and Natarle Badgiruel could respond, Arnold and the others immediately started whistling.
"Woo-hoo~! Captain, Lieutenant, a date!"
"Yang Hui! You're amazing!"
"Hey~! The Captain and Lieutenant are blushing!"
"Say yes! Say yes!"
"Wait, Yang Hui, are you inviting both the Captain and the Lieutenant? Playing both sides?"
"Scumbag! Scumbag!"
...
"Shut up, all of you!" Yang Hui glared at Arnold and the others, then wrapped his arms around Murrue and Natarle Badgiruel's waists, leading them out of the bridge.
Initially startled by Yang Hui's sudden embrace, both women instinctively tried to resist. But as they felt the warmth of his touch around their waists, their bodies grew weak, and they allowed themselves to be held.
"Hmph, you guys couldn't be scumbags even if you tried. I don't care about the whining of single dogs."
With that final taunt, just as the bridge doors closed behind them, Yang Hui, Murrue, and Natarle Badgiruel heard furious roars from inside. The quick-witted Yang Hui immediately set a timed lock, trapping Arnold and the others inside to prevent them from chasing after him.
"Pfft—you're so bad," Murrue giggled.
"Bad boys get the girls."
"Yang... Yang Hui, this isn't... isn't right. You already have a fiancée," Natarle Badgiruel murmured shyly, lowering her head.
"Well, if I already have two, what's two more? Might as well go all the way as a scumbag."
Seeing Yang Hui proudly declare his scumbag manifesto, Murrue and Natarle Badgiruel suddenly regained their strength, no longer feeling shy.
Slap! Slap!
"Ow~!"
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