Just as Gina's hand was about to touch Yang Hui's shoulder, it was abruptly slapped away.
Everyone fell silent. Even the hum of machinery ceased as Dawn Company became deathly quiet.
After a brief moment of stunned silence, Gina's expression twisted into something ugly.
"What do you think you're doing?"
"And what do you think you're doing?"
Gina's attitude irritated Yang Hui. From start to finish, Gina had been nothing more than a spectator, contributing nothing to the Stage Operation. In fact, his very existence held no significance for Orb beyond causing trouble and stirring up chaos.
Yet here he was, arrogantly acting as though he stood above everyone else, treating Yang Hui with condescension. What gave him the right?
Yang Hui had no patience for such behavior. In the past, he might have simply ignored it, but now, as the Commander-in-Chief of Orb's military, he represented not just the armed forces but the dignity of Orb itself. He would not tolerate disrespect from anyone.
"You! Hmph! Don't think that just because you're the Commander-in-Chief, you can act however you please!"
"Isn't the one acting recklessly here you, Gina?"
"What?"
"Let's be clear—you're nothing more than one of the Sahaku family's backup heirs. You hold no official position, and you contributed nothing to this operation. So… wipe that disgusting, superior look off your face."
"Yang Hui! You—!"
"Compared to your sister, you're far inferior, Gina."
"Yang Hui—!"
If Yang Hui's earlier rebuke had been a slap to Gina's face in front of everyone, then comparing him to Mina and declaring him inferior was like tearing his pride to shreds and trampling it underfoot.
Blinded by rage, Gina lost all reason. He drew his pistol, intent on killing Yang Hui.
"Commander!"
"Stop!"
Gina moved swiftly—so fast that no one could react in time. But Yang Hui was faster. The moment the barrel was aimed at him, his hand shot out like lightning, seizing Gina's wrist and twisting it backward.
"Ah—! Ugh…"
The sharp pain forced Gina to release the gun. Before it could hit the ground, Yang Hui caught it midair. As Gina howled in agony, the cold, dark muzzle was shoved into his mouth, cutting off his cries and replacing them with choked, pained whimpers. A kick to Gina's knee forced him into a twisted kneel.
"What is the punishment for attempting to assassinate the Commander-in-Chief?" Yang Hui asked coldly, looking down at Gina.
"Mmmph—!" Unable to answer, whether in protest or curses, Gina's violent struggles only brought more pain, failing to break Yang Hui's iron grip.
Yang Hui released him, then disassembled the pistol in front of Gina's eyes. He didn't order the guards to arrest him.
"For your sister's sake, I'll let you go this time." Leaning closer, Yang Hui's icy gaze sent chills down Gina's spine. "If you want to flaunt your superiority as a Coordinator, PLANT and ZAFT would suit you better."
"Yang Hui…!"
Forced to look up at Yang Hui in the most humiliating position, Gina's fearful eyes burned with fury and hatred.
"Take him away. No one releases him without my order."
"Yes, sir!"
Gina was taken away. Under the scornful gazes of everyone around him, he found everything utterly detestable, his chest burning with raging flames that threatened to consume it all.
"Yang Hui... Mina... and all these lowly commoners... One day... One day I'll make you pay a hundredfold~!"
"Is this enough?" Erica Simmons approached Yang Hui and asked.
"This will do," Yang Hui sighed.
Given Gina's actions, Yang Hui could have executed him on the spot without any issue—even Old Sahaku wouldn't have been able to object.
Erica Simmons' meaning was clear: she hoped Yang Hui would eliminate the threat permanently. Gina had clearly lost control, and after the humiliation he had just endured, he wouldn't be grateful that Yang Hui had spared him for Mina's sake. Instead, his hatred for Yang Hui, Mina, and even everyone present would only grow.
Yang Hui couldn't possibly be unaware of this logic, yet he still softened.
Gina was Mina's twin brother. Even if Mina knew Gina would one day pay the price for his recklessness, she would still grieve if anything happened to him.
This was, in a way, consideration for Mina's feelings—but only this once. If Gina continued to stir up trouble, Yang Hui wouldn't spare him again, no matter how much Old Sahaku or Mina pleaded for him.
"You shouldn't have let him go. He's an uncontrollable variable," Tieria said to Yang Hui.
"I know. But it doesn't matter. After all... he won't be causing trouble for much longer."
If nothing unexpected happened, they would soon receive intelligence that the Earth Alliance was constructing a large artificial floating island in the Pacific under the guise of a civilian project. With Gina now imprisoned and the Gold Frame confiscated, he naturally wouldn't be able to participate.
But Yang Hui was certain Gina would eventually escape, confront Lowe and Gai Murakumo in space, and die at their hands.
"You're fishing?" Lyle asked.
"Something like that."
This was another reason Yang Hui hadn't killed Gina despite knowing he was out of control. Within Orb, there were undoubtedly people supporting Gina—perhaps even agents from other factions in contact with him. Compared to Gina, the so-called "Orb's Dancing King," these hidden individuals were the real ticking time bombs.
Using Gina, who was no longer a significant threat, to lure out these people was a bargain by any measure.
Of course, the rats caught through Gina wouldn't be all of them. But what Yang Hui truly wanted to see was whether Gina could help uncover the mastermind behind the scenes—someone he had been investigating but had yet to expose.
Librarian Works. Wang Liu Mei's operatives had already found traces of this terrifying organization. Even if Gina died, he would return as a Carbon Human, fueled by boundless hatred for Yang Hui.
So, could Gina's original body provide more clues about Librarian Works?
Yang Hui didn't know, but it was worth a try.
...
The next day, Old Sahaku came knocking after learning Yang Hui had placed Gina under house arrest.
"You know the outcome," Yang Hui said before Old Sahaku could speak.
"Yes, I do."
"Then why come?"
"As a father, I had to. As the head of the Five Great Families, I also had to."
Hearing this, Yang Hui nodded silently, inwardly sneering. It seemed Old Sahaku's paternal affection for Gina wasn't particularly strong after all.
As a father, he had no choice but to come. He couldn't show others a cold and indifferent side. Whether successful or not, as Gina's adoptive father, he had to approach Yang Hui and put on the act of pleading for leniency.
That's right—adoptive father. The twins Gina and Mina weren't Old Sahaku's biological children but Coordinators he had adopted, all for the sake of fulfilling the Sahaku family's long-cherished wish: to break free from Orb's shadow. With even greater ambition, it was to replace the Athha family as Orb's leading force.
However, Old Sahaku now understood that no matter how incompetent Cagalli might be, and no matter how outstanding Gina and Mina were, neither of the twins could become Orb's next leader. Because among the younger generation, there was now Yang Hui—this monster.
Uzumi had promoted Yang Hui to Commander-in-Chief of the entire military, appointed Sumeragi as Chief of Staff, and supported a plan no one else believed in—all to pave the way for Yang Hui.
As the head of one of the Five Great Families, Old Sahaku had no choice but to come because his son had attempted to assassinate the Commander-in-Chief. Though collective punishment was no longer practiced in this era, Gina's actions would undoubtedly affect Old Sahaku and even the Sahaku family's reputation.
Thus, even knowing it was impossible, he had to visit Yang Hui and put on this show for everyone to see.
This was also Old Sahaku's way of signaling to Yang Hui that the Sahaku family supported his rise to power.
In his youth, Old Sahaku had been ambitious, constantly opposing Uzumi. But now he was old. He could no longer fulfill the Sahaku family's aspirations and could only pass them on to the next generation.
Gina was already a lost cause, while Mina had maintained a good cooperative relationship with Yang Hui. From Mina, Old Sahaku had learned of Yang Hui's promise to bring the Sahaku family into the light—and that was enough for him to make his decision.
Moreover, with age came wisdom. Old Sahaku sensed that the relationship between Yang Hui and Mina wasn't as simple as mere cooperation. If possible...
Old Sahaku stayed at Yang Hui's residence for a short while before leaving. Apart from a few words at the beginning, he never mentioned Gina again, simply passing the time in private.
After Old Sahaku left, someone else came to see Yang Hui—not Mina, as expected, but Yang Hongyu.
"Wasn't this time... a bit too much?" Yang Hongyu asked.
"Gina dared to point a gun at me. All I did was place him under house arrest. Is that really excessive?"
"You know I'm not talking about Gina."
"...Without going this far, we wouldn't be able to demonstrate Orb's resolve."
"Early this morning, the Foreign Ministry received a condemnation and inquiry from PLANT."
"I assume there was also an alliance request from the Atlantic Federation?"
"Correct."
"Expected."
"Aren't you going to ask how we responded?"
"I trust you can handle it, Dad."
"You brat, still joking around at a time like this." Yang Hongyu couldn't help but laugh at Yang Hui's antics, though he was still pleased by the flattery.
"The condemnation from PLANT was directly refuted. It's an indisputable fact that ZAFT Forces unlawfully entered Orb's territorial waters. As for the Atlantic Federation, we outright rejected their claims."
"Dad, you're so badass!"
"Shut it, you brat! Weren't you the one who caused all this trouble in the first place?"
"PLANT and the Atlantic Federation can only wage a war of words right now. They don't have the capacity to deal with us. Orb just needs to control the narrative."
"Domestic affairs are already handled. As for international matters..."
"Let Liumei assist you."
"I was waiting for you to say that."
"Take it easy, Dad. Don't overwork your future daughter-in-law."
"Get lost! I care more about such an outstanding daughter-in-l
aw than you do!"
"Isn't this just because Mom wants grandchildren? Knowing she can't persuade me, she sent you to test the waters? How many nights have you slept in the study now?"
"Get out! Out! Out!"
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