Watching the captains and crew members of each ship leave, Juzo Okita, standing beside Xiao Ran, also watched as First Officer Sanada and Kaoru Niimi vanished from sight with appreciative, hopeful eyes. Only after the massive iron doors had fully closed did Juzo Okita nostalgically touch his pipe and slip it into his pocket before turning to face Xiao Ran.
"I'll leave the rest to you."
"Mm." Xiao Ran nodded heavily and solemnly. He knew Juzo Okita's words carried two meanings: first, that he was entrusting his own body to Xiao Ran and the others; second, that he was entrusting the Yamato and the New Chronology World to Xiao Ran.
"I promise I'll take good care of the Yamato. When you wake up, we'll either be on our way to Iskandar or heading from Iskandar back to New Era Calendar Earth. I'll definitely save the New Chronology World."
"You have that ability. I believe the Victory Fleet can do it." Juzo Okita smiled faintly, then looked at Mr. Renard standing farther back. "Then I'll have to trouble Mr. Renard to take me for treatment."
"Please follow me." Renard nodded to Xiao Ran, then made an inviting gesture and led Juzo Okita briskly toward the medical room inside the Burning Legion. Only the Enhanced Treatment Pod from Prometheus in the Burning Legion's medical room could truly resolve Juzo Okita's current physical condition.
After Renard and Juzo Okita left, Xiao Ran turned and headed for the bridge. As soon as he entered, he heard the sounds of the entire bridge bustling with activity. At the same time, communications with every ship, including Danner's Son, the Nadeshiko, and the Ptolemaios, were all connected. The captains had not yet returned to their ships, so for these few minutes, or perhaps a dozen minutes, Mwu