"You know each other?" Lowe had planned to surprise Yang Hui, never expecting Yang Hui would already know him.
"We do, though we've never met. First time seeing you in person, Jiang Kerry."
"Your reputation precedes you, Lord Yang Hui. I apologize for my previous refusal, but I hope you understand." Jiang Kerry extended his hand to shake Yang Hui's, speaking earnestly.
"Different allegiances—nothing wrong with that. If you'd accepted my recruitment offer immediately, I might have actually looked down on you," Yang Hui joked.
"Haha, truly worthy of Lord Yang Hui."
"So, Jiang Kerry, I formally extend my invitation once more—join us, join Orb." Yang Hui's offer was sincere.
Yang Hui commanded an elite unit, but truth be told, its strength was questionable. Aside from Barry Ho, the others were merely fillers—competent, perhaps, but far from elite.
Yet Yang Hui knew Jiang Kerry's capabilities well. He was truly deserving of the "elite" title. Now that they'd crossed paths during Jiang Kerry's lowest moment, Yang Hui wouldn't let this opportunity slip.
"...Lord Yang Hui, with all due respect, Orb has already..." Jiang Kerry hesitated, unable to finish. Orb had fallen, ceased to exist—only Yang Hui and his people remained.
"True, Orb has been occupied. But remember: lose the land while preserving the people, and both may yet return. Lose the people while preserving the land, and all is truly lost. We still stand, and countless Orb citizens endure. Orb is not gone. The smallest spark can start a prairie fire." Yang Hui spoke with conviction. "Orb will be reborn from its ashes, stronger than ever. And that process will require countless hands. I want you to be one of us—one of many who share my vision."
"...Lord Yang Hui, truth be told, I'd already decided to join Orb before meeting you. Please forgive my earlier impertinence." Jiang Kerry bowed in apology.
"No matter. Your willingness to join is enough. Welcome aboard, Jiang Kerry."
"My deepest thanks, Commander." Now that he'd joined Orb, military protocol dictated he address Yang Hui by rank.
"Speaking of which—you mentioned deciding to join before we met. What changed your mind?" Yang Hui asked. Logically, after being cast aside by the Earth Forces despite his contributions, Jiang Kerry should have been disillusioned with military service.
"Well... I've already accepted a gift. It's only right to repay the debt." Jiang Kerry looked somewhat embarrassed, shooting a glare at Lowe.
"Hmm? What's this about?" Yang Hui turned to Lowe in confusion.
"Ah... haha, well, you see—remember we came from Ame No Minashira? When we left, Mina gave Jiang something. He didn't want to accept it, but I took the liberty of doing so on his behalf."
"What was it?"
"Uh... better come see for yourself."
Baffled, Yang Hui followed Lowe and Jiang Kerry to New Home's hangar. The moment he saw the Mobile Suit waiting there, everything became clear.
"Mina gave you this machine?" Yang Hui pointed at the perfectly intact Gold Frame, addressing Jiang Kerry.
"Y... yes, she did."
"Haha, Mina is truly generous," Yang Hui thought to himself, giving her a mental thumbs-up. The current Gold Frame—no, it should be called Gold Frame Amatsu now—equipped with the Calamity Life Katana, the Tri-Horn Kai Offense-Shield System, and the Mirage Colloid System, was undoubtedly an ace Mobile Suit. Although its power source was an Ultra-Compact Energy Battery, the Calamity Life Katana could forcibly discharge enemy units to absorb energy, making it virtually limitless in battle—only growing stronger the longer it fought.
And yet, Mina had gifted such a machine to Jiang Kerry the first time she met him. Should he praise her for her boldness or her keen judgment?
"I'm ashamed. If the Commander wishes, you may take it back..."
"No need to say more," Yang Hui interrupted, patting Jiang Kerry on the shoulder. "Since Mina gave it to you, I have no reason to reclaim it. A wise ruler values talent over material gifts. I believe you'll make good use of it."
Did Jiang Kerry truly want Yang Hui to take it back? Of course not! To an MS pilot, a high-performance Mobile Suit was like a wife—who would willingly give up a goddess-tier partner once obtained?
But Jiang Kerry was still a stray dog with nowhere to call home. Having just joined Orb without any achievements—or even before officially joining—he had received such an extravagant gift. The guilt weighed heavily on him.
His emotions were tangled, but hearing Yang Hui's refusal to reclaim the machine and his show of trust moved him deeply. He felt the urge to lay down his life for someone who understood his worth.
"Thank you, Lord Yang Hui. I will fight desperately for Orb."
"No," Yang Hui corrected. "I don't need you to fight desperately for Orb. I want you to fight for yourself—for your own goals. Orb isn't the property of any one person, nor is it ruled by a single voice. It's a nation built upon countless beliefs and aspirations, big and small. Orb didn't create its people; its people created Orb. Do you understand?"
"I... I see."
"Good. You'll be assigned to this ship. The hangars of the White Tiger and the Archangel are already full."
Yang Hui sighed helplessly. Like the Archangel, the White Tiger's hangar could only hold 12 MS units. The Dawn Gundam, Exia, Cherudim, Virtue, Freedom, Justice, Rebirth, Covenant, and Strike already occupied nine slots, leaving only 15 spaces. Even the elite members of the Special Forces had to leave their weakest behind at Ame No Minashira—there simply wasn't room for Jiang Kerry and his Astray Gold Frame.
"Understood."
"By the way, Lowe," Yang Hui asked, "can you contact Gai and the others now?" Since Lowe was here, it was only natural for his best friend to show up too.
"Of course. Kazahana and I have been keeping in touch."
"..." Yang Hui gave him a deadpan stare, patting Lowe's shoulder with a grave tone. "In any country, messing with a minor is punishable by at least three years in prison—up to the death penalty."
"What the hell are you talking about?!" Lowe bristled, slapping Yang Hui's hand away. "Kazahana and I are just friends!"
"You really don't have much credibility after groping Juri all over when you first met," Yang Hui teased with a shrug. "After all that, you still won't take responsibility? That girl talks about you nonstop."
"I didn't! It wasn't like that! Don't make things up!" Lowe protested, already realizing what this was about. The thief who'd tried to steal the Astray Gundam Red Unit back then had been Juri Wu Nien. It was true he'd touched her all over, but... wasn't that unavoidable at the time? They'd been surrounded by enemies, nearly dead—who would care about such things then?
"Just admit you did it," Yang Hui crossed his arms, smirking.
"I... ahhh!!! I should never have come to help you!"
"Who asked you to come? Heh, if you're too embarrassed, I can play matchmaker?"
"No need!"
"So you're just going to take advantage and abandon her? Tsk tsk... I never knew you were that kind of person, Lowe."
"Shut up! Get lost already!!!!"
Jiang Kerry watched Yang Hui and Lowe's playful bickering from the side, unsure what to do or say. The leader of the nation and military he'd just joined turned out to be a mischievous schemer who enjoyed stirring trouble!
Well... when he thought about it, maybe this wasn't so bad after all.
"Alright, let's get to business. Contact Kazahana for me and ask where they are."
"Fine, fine. Go do your thing. Can't argue with you."
"Thanks, appreciate it."
Lowe waved dismissively without turning around. Between them, such formalities weren't necessary. Since the day they'd met, they'd helped each other countless times, argued occasionally, but their friendship remained unshakable.
...
After leaving New Home, Yang Hui was intercepted on his way back to the White Tiger by Athrun, Kira, Nicol, and Dearka.
"Did you... plan this?" Yang Hui asked dryly. He'd just been dragged away by Lowe after meeting with Siegel Clyne, gaining a skilled pilot with his own Mobile Suit while teasing Lowe in the process. Now barely departed, here stood Kira and Athrun's group blocking his path.
"Plan what?" The four looked at him blankly.
"Never mind. What do you need?"
"I want to borrow a shuttle. I need to return to ZAFT," Athrun stated directly.
At this, Yang Hui's casual expression vanished, replaced by seriousness.
"You know what awaits you there?"
"Yes. But... he's my father. No matter what, I have to try talking to him one more time!" Athrun understood perfectly well that returning alone to PLANT to face Patrick Zala—without even the Justice Gundam, and with the things he intended to say—would almost certainly mean arrest.
But Athrun was right. That was his father. He had to try, even if failure was inevitable. At least he wouldn't live with regrets.
"Understood. Go ahead."
"Yang Hui!" Kira, Nicol, and Dearka stared at him in disbelief. They'd accompanied Athrun hoping Yang Hui would refuse this suicidal mission.
"This is Athrun's decision. I respect his choice," Yang Hui told the three firmly.
"But..."
"Thank you, Yang Hui." Athrun turned and left, leaving Kira, Nicol, and Dearka with unspoken words—especially Dearka and Nicol, whose fathers were also high-ranking officials in PLANT. By all rights, they should have followed Athrun's example and returned to persuade their own fathers, but they knew it would be futile and were already aware of the outcome, so they gave up.
Yang Hui could tell what the three were thinking and asked them, "How are Freedom, Rebirth, and Covenant doing?"
The three froze for a moment before smiling wryly and shaking their heads. "Perfect condition."
"Good." Yang Hui nodded, pulling out a PAD and editing a message in front of them before sending it to a string of garbled text. They didn't know who the recipient was, but it had to be one of Yang Hui's measures to protect Athrun. "Prepare yourselves. I'll accompany you in sending him back to PLANT."
"Understood!" x3
(End of Chapter)