Traveling Through the Sea of Sand (Extra-long chapter, please vote with your monthly tickets)

If he wasn't even afraid of death, what did he have to fear from taking a risk?

Before, he had seen no hope. Now that someone had pointed out a path, there was no reason not to give it a try.

Es took a deep breath, and a little color returned to his previously gloomy face.

He gazed at He Ao, paused, and finally said, "It's hard to imagine you giving me this advice. Are you really a follower of 'K,' like the rumors say?"

"Strictly speaking, I wouldn't call myself a follower," He Ao said, looking at him. "I'm just offering you a suggestion."

"Aren't you afraid you'll be impeached if this gets out?" Es asked, puzzled.

"Then let them impeach me." He Ao shook his head with a smile.

Es gazed at He Ao as though he were meeting this vice president for the first time.

He paused. "To be honest, I always thought you were a chameleon, a lackey with no convictions of your own who got lucky, picked the right side, and was propped up by the conglomerates."

He looked at He Ao. "But now I see that luck wasn't what brought you this far. You're a true hero."

You could have left out that first part.

He Ao looked at him, the corner of his eye twitching.

By then, Es had regained his composure. He drew a breath and looked at He Ao. "Anyway, thank you."

"No need." He Ao shook his head.

Es climbed back into the mecha and powered it up.

As the Red-and-White Mecha rose into the sky, the Mecha Force pursuing them in the distance gradually came to a halt.

He Ao drew his gaze back slightly.

The troops here that hadn't taken action were easy to deal with. The ones