Leaving Cornelia's office, Yang Hui took Regene Regetta to the hangar to select his new mobile suit. Yang Hui had pushed the previous Glasgow, specifically assigned to the Knights, until it fell apart. Although Regene Regetta's unit was relatively intact, the Maintenance Squad's report suggested it be either scrapped for metal or kept as a display piece.
However... scanning all the units in the hangar, Yang Hui shook his head. They were all trash, not much different from one another. He randomly picked two units and gave a few instructions to the Maintenance Squad: "Strengthen the skeleton a bit using the method I taught you, strip off the unnecessary outer armor, and prepare some explosive grenades."
To be honest, in Yang Hui's eyes, the Glasgow's armor was worse than having none at all. Aside from reducing the unit's mobility, it served no purpose; it couldn't even withstand two hits from a tank cannon, barely managing to block machine-gun fire from infantry.
"Yes, Your Highness."
"By the way, did you finish those little things I asked for last time?" Yang Hui asked the R&D department staff member standing beside him.
"The modification of the Knight Lance has been successful. We've installed four 80mm machine guns, though the ammunition capacity is only 50 rounds each—too little. The detachable shell and the concealed alloy saber are also functioning without issue."
"It doesn't matter. It's just to add some long-range options; it can serve as a hidden trump card. What else?"
"The vambrace with the retractable blade is also complete. We've produced a few units, but..."
"But what?"
"The Knights feel that such a weapon is too insidious and goes against the honor of a knight, so..."
"Heh, forget it then. Just install them on mine and Regetta's units. Also..."
"Please speak, Your Highness."
"Try to broaden your thinking. For the arm's external equipment, besides a retractable blade, couldn't it be a machine gun module? A rocket launcher module?"
"This! We know what to do now, Prince Yang Hui."
"Nothing else?"
"Only two have been completed for now; the others are still in development." The researchers felt ashamed. They were embarrassed that a prince rumored to be mediocre not only possessed formidable combat skills but also surpassed them in weapon design and R&D. As Cornelia's exclusive researchers, they felt they had nowhere to hide their faces.
"Alright, I understand. Keep up the hard work." Yang Hui was helpless. He had only proposed very simple weapon modifications or external components, but he hadn't expected Cornelia's subordinates to be unable to keep up with his pace, lacking even basic divergent thinking skills.
This only reinforced Yang Hui's determination to poach people from Schneizel's command. The two most outstanding scientists in this world—one was definitely under Schneizel now, and as for the other... he didn't know if they had left yet.
"Regetta, tell the people below to help me find the whereabouts of these people: Laksharta Chala, Gino Weinberg, Anya Alstreim, Monica Krushevsky, Jeremiah Gottwald, Villetta Nu, Orpheus Zevon, Adeline Zevon, and Joan Roe."
"Understood. Once we find the targets' locations, should we bring them in directly?" Regene Regetta asked. He knew Yang Hui was planning to build his own core team.
"Invite them to my private residence outside the Imperial Palace. At the latest, we'll be returning to the Imperial Capital in a month."
"Understood."
"Prince Yang Hui." At that moment, as Yang Hui expected, Gilbert arrived, though... he arrived a bit quickly.
"You're here so early?"
"Yes, Prince Yang Hui. Princess Cornelia ordered me to serve by your side until the start of 'Operation Ischandar'." Gilbert bowed respectfully. Yang Hui's strength had already earned his respect.
"I see. You'll stay by my side for the next couple of days."
"Yes, Your Highness."
"Your Highness, what are they doing?" Gilbert noticed the Maintenance Squad members stripping the armor from two Knight-use Glasgows and processing the frames. He also saw never-before-seen vambraces and unusual Knight Lances being brought over, prompting him to ask.
"Modifying the units, obviously," Yang Hui explained to Gilbert. "A Glasgow's armor can't even take two tank shells. It's better to strip it to increase mobility and strengthen the frame so the unit doesn't fall apart again this time. And then there are these two little toys I had the R&D department make."
"Uh... I... I see?" Gilbert's lip twitched. If anyone else had said that, Gilbert would have scoffed, but Yang Hui... when he heard the Maintenance Squad say Yang Hui's unit had self-destructed from operating beyond its limits, his jaw had nearly hit the floor.
"Your Highness, may I ask what these 'little toys' are?" Gilbert pressed. Cornelia had told him that being by Yang Hui's side was for learning; he shouldn't miss even the smallest detail of his daily life.
"One is a modified Knight Lance with four machine guns added for some long-range capability. The shell can be detached from the machine guns, and it hides an alloy saber inside to solve the awkwardness of the lance being too long when an enemy gets too close. The other is an external vambrace with a hidden retractable blade. If we weren't short on time, I would have wanted to add a machine gun to that too."
"Your Highness, you designed these?" Gilbert was stunned and asked blankly.
"Yeah." Yang Hui nodded as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"Your Highness... is there anything you can't do?" Gilbert asked cautiously.
"Quite a lot."
"For example?"
"I can't give birth."
"..."
Princess Cornelia, please forgive the incompetent Gilbert for being unable to fulfill your expectations. This hellish task of learning from Prince Yang Hui is something this subordinate truly cannot complete!
"But Your Highness, the retractable blade... wouldn't that be too cowardly?" Gilbert asked. As a knight, one should be upright and fair, even on the battlefield. Such a weapon, suited for sneak attacks, did not align with the code of a knight.
"Hahaha!" Yang Hui couldn't help but clutch his stomach and laugh.
"Your Highness, what are you laughing at?" Gilbert's expression soured. He heard disdain and mockery in the laughter.
"I'm laughing at how naive and cute you are."
"Huh?"
"This is war, Gilbert, not a duel. To talk about 'cowardly' to your enemy on the battlefield—isn't that naive?"
"Prince Yang Hui, I am a proud Knight of Britannia!"
"And? Shall you perish gloriously with your honor?"
"..."
"My Royal Sister told you to learn things from me, didn't she?"
"...Yes, Your Highness."
"Then here is the first lesson: on the battlefield, let honor and such go to hell! Between you and the enemy, there are only two outcomes: either you die, or I die. Do you want to die?"
"...No."
"Then use every means necessary to survive, Gilbert."
"...Yes, Your Highness."
His answer was half-hearted. Gilbert's faith in chivalry was very firm, and he disdained using underhanded methods. However, out of respect for Cornelia's orders, he could only agree on the surface.
Yang Hui smiled thinly, noticing Gilbert's lack of sincerity but not minding it. He appreciated those who could carry their convictions to the end. In the original story, when ZERO (played by Lelouch) dueled him, Gilbert was tricked, yet he maintained his knightly loyalty until the very end, even after returning for revenge while heavily injured.
But it was only appreciation. Such people were usually the first to die on the battlefield. The fact that he could stay alive was likely due to the skills Cornelia focused on cultivating and a fair bit of luck.
There was nothing wrong with upholding chivalry, but being completely inflexible—to put it nicely, he was like steel that was too hard and thus prone to breaking; to put it bluntly, he was a blockhead!
Yang Hui had said what needed to be said; whether Gilbert took it to heart was his own business.
For the next three days, Yang Hui and Regene Regetta worked with the Maintenance Squad to tune their units, spending their spare time on casual training to pass the time.
However, Gilbert didn't see it that way. Since Yang Hui and Regene Regetta's physical fitness was beyond that of ordinary humans, what they considered "casual training" was absolute hell for a normal person.
"I say, you're a bit too weak, aren't you? This is just basic training." Looking at Gilbert, who was collapsed on the ground looking like he'd been fished out of a lake, Yang Hui's disdain was impossible to hide.
"I... I am deeply sorry, Prince Yang... Yang Hui... please... permit me... five minutes of rest... I will definitely... definitely finish today's... training..."
"...Fine, go back, take a shower, and get some rest. I'm setting out tomorrow. You'll probably be heading to the northeastern air defense positions with the Knights, right? Don't let this affect tomorrow's operation." Yang Hui patted Gilbert's shoulder.
"Don't... don't worry... Prince Yang Hui... I... I can..."
"No, you can't." Looking at Gilbert, who had broken past his limits countless times and could barely move a finger, Yang Hui rolled his eyes. If he trained any more, he wouldn't even be able to get out of bed tomorrow, let alone participate in the battle.
"But..."
"That's an order!"
"Ye... Yes, Your Highness!"
...
The next day, Yang Hui and Regene Regetta set out toward the northwest. Still in two modified Glasgows, they left the base facing the rising sun, looking solitary and thin compared to the Knights on the other side.
"Mr. Yang Hui, the word has come in from the people below." Only after ensuring the communication channel wasn't being monitored did Regene Regetta report to Yang Hui.
"What's the situation?"
"Everyone has been found. Laksharta Chala was formerly with the Imperial Royal Research Institute; she was planning to leave the Britannia Empire due to conflicts with her colleagues.
Gino Weinberg is a branch member of the prestigious Weinberg family, not highly valued by the main house.
Anya Alstreim, formerly known as Anya Mobert, was an apprentice maid at Marianne's palace. It has been confirmed she was at the scene when Marianne was assassinated; she is an eyewitness who narrowly survived, though her personality has changed drastically, becoming silent and withdrawn. Furthermore... she has shown incredible Knightmare piloting talent and has been adopted by the Alstreim family for military training.
Monica Krushevsky is an illegitimate daughter of the Emperor, currently living in the Imperial Capital, ignored and unsupervised.
Jeremiah Gottwald is the head of the Gottwald family, a former subordinate knight of Marianne, and a member of the Purebloods.
Villetta Nu and Joan Roe are both top students at the Imperial Military Academy; the former is a Pureblood member, while the latter has no factional leanings.
Orpheus Zevon and Adeline Zevon are siblings from the prestigious Zevon family. However, because the Zevon family is matrilineal, Orpheus Zevon was abandoned to a poor commoner family, while Adeline Zevon is the first in line to inherit the family headship."
"They're all secured?"
"Yes. All have been invited to your residence, awaiting your return."
"That's fine. As long as they don't leave, satisfy all their requests."
"Understood. However..."
"However what?"
"The commoner who adopted Orpheus Zevon sold him for a few silver coins. When our people were taking Orpheus Zevon away, they encountered a mysterious force and nearly came to blows."
"A mysterious force?"
"Yes. It should be a religious group. However, before the conflict escalated, the other party backed down and left. If I'm not mistaken... it was likely the Geass Order."
"...Has the witch's whereabouts been found?"
"Not yet."
"Keep looking. She must be found."
"Understood."