That evening, Yang Hui and his three companions changed into formal attire and headed to the venue for Yang Hui's welcome reception under PLANT's arrangements.
"Why do I have to attend such a boring banquet too?"
Canard Pars had been tugging at his collar and complaining nonstop since getting into the car.
"You're a bodyguard. You need to make an appearance."
"Tch, isn't he here too? The war hero must be better than me, right?" Canard Pars was referring to Athrun, who shared the same role as him in the group—both were bodyguards.
"In MS piloting, he's definitely better than you. In firearms and combat... he's also better than you," Yang Hui teased. Athrun was a top graduate from ZAFT's military academy, having earned the Red Uniform—an elite candidate—upon graduation. This elite status wasn't just about MS piloting skills but also his individual combat prowess.
Of course, not all Red Uniforms were like this. It was just that Athrun's batch was exceptionally talented. Not to mention Yzak, Dearka, and Nicol, there were also Rusty and Miguel—all-round elites. They were just unlucky; there were only five Red Uniform slots that year, with Miguel ranking sixth, so he debuted as a regular Green Uniform. Then there was Rusty... even more unfortunate, dying before achieving anything, killed during the Gundam Raider operation.
As for later Red Uniforms, honestly, Yang Hui felt the standards had dropped significantly. Among the current Red Uniforms, the only ones he found decent were Shiho Hahnenfuss, who admired Yzak (nicknamed "Balsam Flower"), and Heine Westenfluss.
The rest... well, let's just say each batch was worse than the last. Especially Shin's batch—it was downright unbearable.
"What did you say?!" Canard Pars might have used Athrun as an excuse, but it was just that—an excuse. Competitive by nature, he refused to believe he was inferior to anyone. Now that Yang Hui claimed he was worse than Athrun in both areas, it was no surprise he couldn't take it.
"Athrun's piloting skills are on par with Kira's, and his individual combat ability is at the level of a top soldier. If you have time, you two can spar..."
"Duel me, Athrun Zala!"
"I refuse. Yang Hui, could you stop causing trouble for me?" Athrun covered his face in frustration. He had zero interest in duels—his personality leaned toward peace and stability, the complete opposite of Canard Pars.
"No! You have to duel me! Once I beat you, I can challenge Kira Yamato!"
"...I think Kira would refuse too."
"Then I'll force you both to agree!"
"Enough."
"..."
As Canard Pars grew increasingly agitated, Creuset's hoarse voice cut in, and Canard immediately quieted down. Though he still glared intensely at Athrun, he didn't dare speak another word—like a son under his father's watchful eye, terrified of the belt coming out.
Yang Hui stared blankly at Creuset. He couldn't ask directly, but his eyes clearly questioned: "When did you adopt a son?"
Ahem... "We're here."
"..."
Suppressing their doubts for the moment, they focused on the matter at hand. The vehicle came to a gradual stop, and as the doors opened, they were greeted by a long red carpet laid out on the steps, surrounded by reporters. The moment Yang Hui and the others stepped out, camera flashes erupted incessantly.
"..." Whether it was Athrun, Canard Pars, Yang Hui, or Creuset, they all wondered if they had arrived at the wrong place. Was this really a political welcome for Yang Hui, or some kind of film festival event?
"Welcome, Lord Yang Hui."
"...The honor is mine."
Since the welcoming party had arrived and even called Yang Hui by name, it confirmed they were in the right place. But still...
"Durandal... you've got some nerve!"
"Either scare him to death later... or beat him to death!"
Both Yang Hui and Creuset silently vowed in their hearts to teach Durandal a memorable lesson at the first opportunity. The dignified entrance of a nation's highest leader had been turned into a celebrity red-carpet walk—what kind of nonsense was this?
Despite their inner fury, they maintained a friendly demeanor on the surface, waving politely to the reporters. After all, this was a goodwill visit. If Yang Hui wore a bitter or hostile expression, the media might misinterpret it as him arriving for vengeance... Well, that might be an exaggeration, but it would certainly create a poor international impression.
Eager to escape the relentless flashes, the group unanimously quickened their pace and swiftly entered the venue. Inside, there were no reporters—only a high-level banquet. Apart from the four guests from Orb, the attendees consisted solely of PLANT's high-ranking officials, wealthy merchants, and political elites.
"Welcome, Lord Yang Hui, Lord Vidar." As Yang Hui and his companions arrived, Durandal warmly stepped forward to greet them. His gesture drew the attention of everyone present, and all conversations ceased as eyes turned toward Yang Hui.
Though many had learned about Yang Hui through news reports and intelligence channels, seeing him in person for the first time left them astonished. Such a young Natural not only possessed unparalleled combat prowess but had also risen to become the highest leader of a nation, steering it into rapid development and establishing it as one of the world's foremost powers.
Especially among the young ladies accompanying their parents, many had imagined Yang Hui—given his fearsome battlefield reputation—to be a terrifying figure. Yet, to their surprise, he was strikingly handsome, exuding an elegant and gentle demeanor, which made their eyes gleam with admiration.
"Apologies for the wait."
"Not at all. You are our guests, and as hosts, it is only natural for us to extend our hospitality."
"Thank you."
After the brief exchange of pleasantries, Durandal escorted Yang Hui to the center of the hall, formally introducing him to all present before declaring the banquet officially open.
As the guests of honor, Yang Hui and his group couldn't immediately seek a private conversation with Durandal. First, they had to engage with the endless stream of political, military, and business elites approaching them. Military officials sought to glean any possible intelligence about the Orb Military, politicians subtly probed for the purpose of Yang Hui's visit, and businessmen hoped to secure potential collaborations with Orb.
In response, Yang Hui also adopted an attitude of mutual flattery and evasion, revealing nothing and leaking not a single piece of information. This left the military officials and political figures disappointed as they returned empty-handed. As for business collaborations, Yang Hui was naturally open to them—as long as the transactions were fair and beneficial to Orb, he could accept them. While Orb currently had ample resources, they couldn't afford to rest on their laurels, could they?
Aside from Yang Hui, Athrun and Canard Pars became the targets of the young noble ladies—especially Athrun. As the son of the former chairman, though his family had declined, he still came from an esteemed lineage. Moreover, Athrun was undeniably handsome and carried the title of "Hero of the war's end," an aura that held irresistible allure for the sheltered young ladies.
Canard Pars had taken great care with his appearance today—his once messy long hair was neatly tied into a ponytail, and dressed in formal attire, he looked every bit the dashing gentleman. However... whenever someone tried to approach him, a single glare from him sent them retreating, leaving him relatively undisturbed.
As for Creuset, who wore a mask and never revealed his true face, his terse manner of speaking left those who sought him out with no choice but to walk away. He remained alone by the wall, observing the varied scenes of life unfolding at the banquet.
Yet, one person was not deterred by Creuset's behavior and actively approached him.
"Lord Vidar, such a rare opportunity—why not remove your mask and enjoy the fine food and wine?"
"...No need." Creuset glanced at Durandal as he offered a glass of wine, the corner of his lips quirking slightly before he outright refused.
"What a shame." Durandal appeared to concede, but after turning to place both glasses back on a server's tray, he continued speaking to Creuset. "You know, it's quite strange, Lord Vidar. I've never seen your true face, yet I feel as though we've known each other for a long time. Don't you think... that's rather peculiar?"
--Enjoying the story? Want more chapters? Check out my Patreon and support me for 40+ advance chapters.
Just search for "TLGod" on Patreon!"
Thanks!