Two days had passed, and Nicol, who had fallen unconscious due to excessive blood loss, had finally awakened. Apart from the sickly pallor still lingering on his face, all his wounds had completely healed.
Nicol gazed with a complicated expression at the person before him. Half a month ago, they had met under less-than-friendly circumstances. Yet now, at a time he least desired and in a situation he never wished for, they were face-to-face again.
"How are you feeling?"
"Fine..."
"Good. It would've been troublesome if you died."
"...Why did you save me?"
"Why not? Your value is quite high."
Nicol fell silent. Was his value truly that high?
Though his father, Yuri Amalfi, was one of the twelve members of the Supreme Council, Nicol knew his father wasn't the type to let personal feelings jeopardize PLANT. The Supreme Council would never allow it either. So his value wasn't particularly high—perhaps not even worth as much as the wreckage of the Blitz Gundam.
If he could realize this, he doubted Yang Hui hadn't considered it as well.
"Rest well. I've already contacted the ZAFT Forces. They'll send someone to retrieve you soon."
Nicol needed quiet recuperation, so Yang Hui didn't linger. He stood to leave but paused at the doorway.
"Thank you."
Yang Hui's steps hesitated briefly. Without turning around, he smiled faintly and waved before exiting the ward.
Just as Nicol had guessed, Yang Hui had saved him without any intention of using him as leverage in negotiations with PLANT. He simply wanted to avert a tragedy, expecting nothing in return.
However, after rescuing Nicol, Yang Hui realized there were still benefits to be had.
Nicol's survival and safe return to the ZAFT Forces could slightly improve ZAFT's impression of Orb.
It was a minuscule improvement, but better than nothing. Moreover, as Yuri Amalfi's son, Nicol's safe return would instantly quell the radical sentiments rising in his father's heart. Yuri would continue following the Clyne faction, remaining a pillar of the moderate faction.
Of course, this alone wouldn't dispel ZAFT's anger toward Orb, nor would press conferences and diplomatic statements be enough to convince everyone that "Orb isn't joining the Earth Alliance."
But the next move would be sufficient.
Beep beep beep...
"Speaking."
"We've obtained intel on the Giant Artificial Floating Platform."
"Understood."
"We might need to act quickly."
"Why?"
"ZAFT Forces have also acquired the intel and are preparing to dispatch a unit to sabotage it."
"Got it. I'll arrange personnel immediately."
"There's one more piece of intel you might find interesting."
"What is it?"
"They've hired an acquaintance of yours to protect the floating platform."
"...Heh. A useful ally. This just increased our chances."
As the call ended, Cagalli came rushing over in a panic.
"Yang Hui! Yang Hui!"
Yang Hui frowned at the sight of her. If he recalled correctly, Cagalli was supposed to be under house arrest by Uzumi. But seeing Kisaka and several guards closely following her, he understood—apparently, even house arrest could come with parole.
"Quiet! This is a hospital," Yang Hui reprimanded in a hushed tone.
"Huh? Oh, wait! This isn't the time for that! Kira's in trouble!"
"Hmm?" Yang Hui turned to Kisaka. "What happened?"
"There's been a massive explosion in the Marshall Islands. Judging by the scale, it was likely caused by an MS detonation."
"I see..." Without relying on the original plot, based on the Archangel's speed and course projections, the ship should indeed have reached the vicinity of the Marshall Islands by now.
"Yang Hui, please... I'm begging you, go help them!" Cagalli pleaded tearfully, still under surveillance and unable to act. The thought of the Archangel in danger and Kira in trouble sent waves of anguish through her heart.
"Understood. I'll arrange for someone to investigate. You should head back now."
"No, wait! I want to go too!"
"You?"
"Don't worry, I won't cause trouble! Kisaka and the others will keep an eye on me! Please, let me come along!" Cagalli begged.
"..." Yang Hui studied Cagalli intently before shifting his gaze to Kisaka. "Can you handle this?"
"We can," Kisaka affirmed solemnly.
"Fine." Trusting Kisaka's word, Yang Hui immediately pulled out his PAD and contacted the Defense Ministry.
"Commander."
"Dispatch the 7th Escort Fleet to the Marshall Islands for reconnaissance. The 1st Squadron of the 2nd MS Battalion and the 6th Air Wing will accompany them. Retrieve everything you find."
"Roger."
Ending the call, Yang Hui nodded at Cagalli. "Go ahead."
"Really? You're actually letting me go?" Cagalli looked up in disbelief. She'd fully prepared for rejection, even ready to stubbornly insist until Yang Hui relented. Yet he'd agreed so easily?
"Never mind then."
"I'm going! Kisaka, let's move!" Terrified he might change his mind, Cagalli grabbed Kisaka's hand and dashed off. After a few steps, she paused, turning back with flushed cheeks to mumble awkwardly, "Thank you... You're a good person."
"Pfft—cough!"
The sudden "good person" remark nearly made Yang Hui choke on his own saliva. He stared bemusedly at the direction where Cagalli had dragged Kisaka away, momentarily stunned.
"...What was that about? Well... at least with that 'good person' card, she won't have any other ideas." Relieved, Yang Hui refocused, contemplating the Marshall Islands situation and the Archangel.
"So it happened after all? Kira and Athrun should be fine, but the others... Nicol's status is unknown, though Orb already sent notices to ZAFT and PLANT about his survival and willingness to return him. Athrun's group should've received word by now. Unless..."
Yang Hui realized—someone might have replaced Nicol. Tolle could also be in danger, with the two becoming triggers for a deadly confrontation. In that case...
"Dearka? Yzak? Or..."
Unable to obtain any results, Yang Hui set the matter aside for now. He needed to head to Dawn Company to oversee the maintenance status of the Dawn Gundam, Gundam Exia, Gundam Cherudim, and Gundam Virtue. Once all four Mobile Suits were fully prepped, they would immediately launch to seize control of the artificial floating island.
The next day, the Seventh Escort Fleet returned from their reconnaissance mission to the Marshall Islands. The bad news was that aside from the wreckage of the Strike, Aegis, and Skygrasper, they had also found the remains of the Buster Gundam.
The good news was that, in addition to Athrun, they had also discovered Tolle and Dearka, both severely injured and on the brink of death.
"How are they?"
Upon receiving the news, Yang Hui immediately returned to the hospital to inquire about Athrun, Dearka, and Tolle's conditions.
"This one is doing alright. He should wake up after a few days of rest," the doctor first explained Athrun's condition before moving on to Dearka and finally Tolle. "This one is also relatively stable—severe blood loss and multiple fractures, but his vitals are steady. With proper rest, he should recover fully. However, his..."
"What is it? Just say it."
"He'll need someone to take care of him for the rest of his life."
Taking the diagnostic report, Yang Hui flipped through it, his pupils contracting as he realized just how dire Tolle's condition was.
Complete spinal nerve damage had left him paralyzed from the waist down. His left arm had been severed, and prolonged exposure to seawater had caused severe infection, necessitating amputation. The right side of his face was also disfigured. According to the doctor, the fact that he had survived at all was already a stroke of luck.
"I understand. Do everything you can to treat him. I'll cover the costs."
"Understood."
While Tolle's injuries were indeed severe, Yang Hui had secretly brought along a medical pod from Prometheus Fortress. Regrowing limbs might be beyond its capabilities, but repairing nerve damage and restoring his facial features were well within its scope. As for the missing arm—if Tolle still wished to continue fighting, there would be plenty of ways to treat him once they returned to Prometheus Fortress.
"Wait! How could I have forgotten about him?"
Thinking of Athrun reminded Yang Hui of Kira, and thinking of Kira led him to someone he had overlooked all this time—Reverend Malchio.
A blind Natural, Reverend Malchio lived on a secluded island near Orb, where he took in orphans who had lost their families in the war.
This man had played a minor role in the original events, but now that Yang Hui recalled him, he realized there was something unusual about him. A blind Natural who wielded significant influence and trust from both Earth's forces and PLANT—how had he managed that?
Wang Liu Mei's intelligence network had gathered information on all influential figures across Earth's major factions, and Yang Hui had reviewed them all. None of them had any connection to Reverend Malchio.
So how had he done it? Especially gaining PLANT's trust—that made no sense at all!
With that in mind, Yang Hui immediately contacted Wang Liu Mei.
"Reverend Malchio. I need intel on him—the more detailed, the better."
"Who is he?"
"That's exactly what I need to find out—who he really is. The current intel suggests he's a blind Natural named Reverend Malchio, likely residing in the Marshall Islands, specifically the same island where the 7th Escort Fleet discovered the Strike and Aegis. He's also known to have adopted many orphans. Investigate everything about him!"
"I'll arrange it immediately. You'll have the details by the day after tomorrow at the latest."
"Good."
After ending the communication, Yang Hui rubbed his temples, cursing himself for overlooking this man. Among all the figures from the original storyline, Malchio was undoubtedly the most enigmatic. Someone like him shouldn't have slipped his mind.
Mysterious. The word gnawed at Yang Hui's nerves. He realized he had been subconsciously i
gnoring Malchio all along—unnaturally so. There was an eerie dissonance to it, screaming that something was off. This man was hiding something. He had to be.
"Reverend Malchio... just who are you?"
(End of Chapter)