"Why the hell do I have to follow you around?"
Inside the shuttle, Canard Pars grumbled while staring out the window, his voice loud enough for Yang Hui, Creuset, and Athrun to hear, all three shaking their heads with wry smiles.
"Seriously, why did you bring this brat back?" Yang Hui complained to Creuset.
"His piloting skills are undeniable," Creuset replied. Since Athrun was present, he kept his mask on, maintained his raspy voice, and deliberately altered his speech pattern to avoid revealing his true identity.
"Fine. Since you brought him back, he's your responsibility. No matter how skilled he is, an unstable mindset makes him a ticking time bomb."
"...Understood."
Behind his mask, Creuset's lips twitched violently, suppressing countless retorts. If Athrun weren't here, he would have cursed Yang Hui as a ruthless corporate overlord. He had just returned from South America before being dragged into space, and now he had to babysit? Who could tolerate this?
If Wang Liu Mei hadn't temporarily taken over intelligence operations, Creuset might have outright refused Yang Hui and stayed grounded.
Moreover, he marveled at Yang Hui's audacity. His identity was already a secret, yet Yang Hui was taking him to PLANT—the place most familiar to him and where he was most recognizable. Wasn't he afraid of exposure?
"Um... Yang Hui, is it really appropriate for me to return to PLANT?" Athrun, like Creuset, was reluctant to go back. But unlike Creuset, who had a new identity that even Athrun couldn't recognize, Athrun would be returning as Athrun Zala.
Though many remnants of the Zala Faction had been uncovered, there was no guarantee they were completely eradicated. If someone exploited his presence, it could cause trouble for both PLANT and Orb.
"Why wouldn't it be? You're one of the heroes who ended the war. You should be welcomed with cheers."
"But..."
"Your father is your father, and you are you. Besides, haven't you figured out why I insisted on bringing you to PLANT?"
"...Bait, right?" Athrun replied with a complicated expression.
Exactly. Unlike Cagalli, who wanted Athrun to stay hidden while accompanying her to PLANT, Yang Hui had no such reservations. If he needed bodyguards, there were plenty besides Athrun. Moreover, Yang Hui had brought the Dawn Gundam, and Creuset had his temporary custom unit. Together, few threats could challenge them.
Not to mention, upon learning of Yang Hui's trip to PLANT for negotiations, Mina had dispatched eight Unicorn-Class escort ships for his protection.
Yang Hui's real reason for bringing Athrun was to use him as bait—to lure out any remaining Zala Faction members. Though their numbers were dwindling and their core leadership had been wiped out, they were still a potential hazard. Better to eliminate them now than deal with the fallout later.
"Mr. Yang Hui, we're approaching DSSD," the shuttle pilot announced over the intercom.
"What's their stance?"
"We have been granted permission to dock, and there are no signs of resistance."
"Understood. Proceed with docking as guided by their instructions. The escort fleet will maintain perimeter vigilance."
"Roger."
DSSD, short for Deep Space Survey and Development Organization, was an institution jointly established and participated in by the Earth Alliance, PLANT, and non-aligned neutral nations. Its purpose was to explore and develop regions beyond Mars' orbit, guided by the philosophy of "Frontier Advancement"—transcending all nations, political systems, religions, and ethnicities to propel humanity as a "species" further into the cosmos.
True to its founding principles, the organization had consistently focused on research for outer space exploration, abstaining from any acts of war and dedicating itself solely to scientific pursuits.
Yet while they remained unchanged, others had not.
Since a year ago, the Atlantic Federation had been exerting increasing pressure on DSSD, particularly after learning of the organization's research progress, intensifying its coercive measures.
Although in the original timeline, the Phantom Pain unit's attack on DSSD occurred after the Julius 7 incident in CE73, the world's landscape had undergone drastic changes. Yang Hui couldn't be certain when the Atlantic Federation would launch its assault, so he decided to preemptively bring his fleet to take control of DSSD.
As the shuttle docked, Yang Hui disembarked with Creuset, Athrun, and Canard Pars, greeted by their welcoming party.
"Welcome to our facility. I am the director, Soloi Aztec."
"Pleasure to meet you, Director Aztec. Thank you for receiving us."
"Hohoho, it is my honor to host a distinguished guest such as yourself, Mr. Yang Hui. Please, follow me."
Under Soloi Aztec's guidance, they took a brief tour of DSSD. In the hangar, they saw the Stargazer Gundam still undergoing adjustments, as well as its two test pilots, Selene McGriff and Sol Ryuune L'ange.
Of course, neither the Stargazer Gundam nor the two pilots were Yang Hui's true objective. What he sought was the Voiture Lumiere system—whether it had already been installed on the Stargazer Gundam remained uncertain.
The Voiture Lumiere system was an interplanetary propulsion mechanism that harnessed solar wind to propel objects forward, maintaining constant thrust. According to Newton's first law of motion, this would allow the unit to accelerate indefinitely, eventually achieving speeds sufficient for interplanetary travel. The system generated a high-G thrust accompanied by intense luminous phenomena, providing the mobile suit with perpetual propulsion. Starting with an initial acceleration of just 0.5 cm in the first second, it would reach 18 meters away after one minute. After an hour of acceleration, it would be 64 kilometers from its starting point, moving at 128 kilometers per hour—and once activated, it could accelerate without limit.
Meanwhile, the [Voiture Lumiere] also served as a unique dual-purpose offensive and defensive weapon. Under the effect of the Neutron Jammer Canceller, the photonic barrier formed by the [Voiture Lumiere] could operate for 17 minutes. These luminous rings could not only intercept Beam attacks targeting the Mobile Suit but could even capture the Beams to generate a Beam cutting field to counterattack enemies.
Whether as an engine or a special weapon, the [Voiture Lumiere] was an exceptionally advanced technology—one that Yang Hui was determined to obtain.
Upon arriving at the conference room and taking their seats, Soloi Aztec, the president, finally inquired about Yang Hui's purpose for visiting.
"Now then, Mr. Yang Hui, while we all welcome your inspection visit, could you kindly state your official business?"
"Since you've asked so directly, I'll get straight to the point. I want DSSD to relocate to [Heliopolis] and hand over the technical data for the [Voiture Lumiere] to me."
"I'm afraid I must disappoint you, Mr. Yang Hui. We are quite safe here, and as for the [Voiture Lumiere]... I don't know where you heard about it, but its development has not yet been completed. So, I'm afraid your trip may have been in vain," Soloi Aztec replied regretfully.
"Truly safe, are you? President Aztec, you asked me to be direct, yet you show no sincerity yourself. That's hardly the attitude for a proper discussion," Yang Hui said with a faint, ambiguous smile.
"Mr. Yang Hui, I am speaking the truth. DSSD is a research institution jointly established by nations worldwide. Even the Atlantic Federation can only pressure us—they wouldn't dare take any real action."
"Is that so? Then why have I heard... that your research funding has been suspended for two months?"
"This..." Soloi Aztec's expression flickered, but he quickly regained his composure. "Mr. Yang Hui must have been misled by rumors. I can retrieve the financial records of our research institute..."
"It was your own friends—and your personal assets—that you sought out, wasn't it?"
"What—"
Before Soloi Aztec could rebut further, Yang Hui gave Creuset a glance. Understanding the signal, Creuset retrieved a PAD and pulled up a document. Yang Hui hadn't come here to play nice—he wouldn't have arrived unprepared.
Had it not been for the second phase of his mission, Yang Hui might not have adopted such a forceful stance toward DSSD. But now, for the sake of this world, the bonds he had formed here, and the women and comrades who stood with him, he had no choice but to assert himself firmly—to strengthen his side's capabilities and eliminate all potential threats in advance.
Sure enough, upon seeing the documents Creuset presented, President Soloi Aztec slumped in defeat. The records meticulously detailed DSSD's financial transactions—as well as his own—leaving no room for further excuses.
Moreover, Soloi Aztec could see that Yang Hui had come with ill intentions. Otherwise, he wouldn't have prepared so much to pressure them—even more aggressively than the Atlantic Federation. The highest leader and strongest combatant had personally arrived with a fleet. Whether DSSD sought help from other factions or fought Yang Hui to the bitter end, neither option was feasible.
"It seems you won't relent until your goal is achieved, Mr. Yang Hui? How do you intend to deal with us?" Soloi Aztec asked.
"That depends on your choice," Yang Hui replied calmly. The first question was already understood by everyone present, so there was no need to answer it.
"And if we accept your demands?"
"Then it's a win-win. DSSD can continue its current research projects. Orb won't force you to study anything else—only requiring a copy of the research results."
"..."
"Moreover, if DSSD relocates to Heliopolis, as one of the first institutions to transfer after its reconstruction, the Orb government can offer additional benefits—such as funding, material resources, and protection from the Space Fleet. You won't have to worry about being bullied anymore."
"Only to be bullied by Orb alone?"
"That statement shows a rather narrow perspective, Chairman Aztec. I said Orb won't force you to do anything else—meaning DSSD retains its autonomy. You'll still be in charge, and you'll be safer. Isn't that better than your current situation?"
"...Mr. Yang Hui, Orb's principle is absolute neutrality. Aren't you afraid of condemnation from other factions for acting this way?"
Yang Hui chuckled coldly, standing up with an overwhelming pressure. "The current Orb no longer needs to heed the opinions of others."
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