News of Those People

After Harborton thanked the students and Xiao Ran, he left with Mwu and two others. The excited students cheered for a while before dispersing, packing their belongings at top speed to leave the Archangel at any moment.

The initial departure time had also been set. After the Archangel completed its resupply, shuttlecraft would arrive to ferry the students down to Earth. About half an hour later, a discharge notice was delivered to Xiao Ran.

The moment he touched the notice, Xiao Ran trembled all over:

"Number 678 has obtained a special item: Earth Force Discharge Notice. Using this item allows for penalty-free departure from the current faction and grants an opportunity to choose a new faction. This item is only valid within this world and will be recalled upon leaving."

The words that popped into his mind stunned Xiao Ran. Then, under the confused gaze of the staff, he suppressed his excitement and repeatedly thanked the two staff members before carefully putting it away. However, after the staff left, Xiao Ran immediately stored the Earth Force Discharge Notice in his inventory.

"I never expected something like this to exist. With this, I don't have to worry about belonging to the Eighth Fleet at all," Xiao Ran paced his room with joy, his fists punching the air repeatedly. "I wonder if all discharge notices are like this item, but I assume it must have received some kind of recognition to become an item. It seems like there would be some penalty for leaving a chosen faction. Fortunately, the plot hasn't progressed to the point where the Archangel arrives at Orb, otherwise, I might have done something foolish."

"Besides, now is not the time to use it. Getting this is a pleasant surprise," Xiao Ran clapped his hands and happily sat on the bed. "I wonder what Harborton wanted to talk to me about. He said he wanted to talk, which is quite surprising."

As Xiao Ran was pondering what the tactician Harborton intended to discuss with him, Miriallia and Tolle arrived at his room. Upon seeing Xiao Ran, they looked as if they wanted to say something but were hesitant.

When Miriallia and Tolle came to find him, Xiao Ran knew what they wanted to say. However, seeing their expressions, he found it amusing and put on a confused face, asking first, "What's wrong? Did something happen?"

Tolle chuckled sheepishly, scratching his head, and glanced at Miriallia before saying, "Teacher, I'm afraid we can't leave with you."

Xiao Ran looked astonished. "Why?"

"Tolle and I, along with Kazui, have decided to stay here. We heard the Archangel is heading directly to Earth, and we want to decide whether to leave after we get there," Miriallia replied softly, looking down and hugging her arms, not daring to meet Xiao Ran's eyes. "Because Frey decided to enlist and stay on the ship, Sai is also planning to accompany her. Sai didn't know how to tell you, Teacher, so he asked us to come."

"So, you want to stay with them?" Xiao Ran frowned and pondered. After a while, he asked, "What about Kira?"

Tolle shook his head. "We haven't told him yet. Leaving here would probably be better for him, after all, this is the Earth Force for ordinary people."

"Ordinary people or Coordinators, regardless, you should at least tell him your decision," Xiao Ran sighed and paused, then looked at them seriously. "Are you sure you're not leaving now?"

"Yes, we're sure," Miriallia and Tolle exchanged glances and answered firmly.

Xiao Ran shook his head and smiled. "Heh, you know, if you don't leave today, once you participate in combat again, the discharge notice will be almost useless."

"Ah!" Miriallia gasped, covering her mouth, and even Tolle's eyes widened. "No way."

Xiao Ran looked at them, and seeing their genuine bewilderment, he chuckled. "But I can talk to Captain Mwu and try to at least postpone your departure time a bit."

"Ah, Teacher! You scared us to death!" Miriallia, who had been hesitant and panicked, instantly realized Xiao Ran was teasing them upon hearing his words. She shouted playfully and turned her head away.

"You little rascals, this is to make you remember that once you stay here, your departure is no longer up to you," Xiao Ran shook his head as he looked at them and stood up. "You go talk to Kira, and I'll go find Captain Mwu now."

"Then... what about you, Teacher?" Miriallia asked hesitantly as Xiao Ran left the room.

"Guess," Xiao Ran turned back, a half-smile on his face. After saying that, he strode away, leaving Miriallia and Tolle staring at each other in confusion.

Arriving outside the captain's room, Xiao Ran could occasionally hear faint arguments from within the closed door. He intended to wait outside, but a sentence that drifted out made him frown and press his ear against the door.

"Absolutely not! I will never agree to let G be piloted by people whose backgrounds we don't know! This is our military's secret. Why should it be given to people who have only been in the army for a short time? There are clearly people on the Archangel who can pilot it!" It was Bargyll's voice.

Mu's voice also reached Xiao Ran after Bargyll finished speaking. "But Kira might not continue piloting the Strike Gundam. He might be packing his bags and preparing to leave the Archangel right now."

Inside the captain's room, General Harborton was sitting in Mwu's usual seat. Mwu stood by, head bowed, lost in thought. Bargyll and Mu were arguing. Seeing Mu's relaxed and indifferent demeanor, Bargyll felt her temper flare. She exclaimed, "Isn't there Xiao Ran? If he can pilot a Ginn, he can surely pilot a G. Compared to Kira and Xiao Ran, aren't those who have such strong abilities right after joining the army less trustworthy!"

Mwu, who had been silent, suddenly looked up after Bargyll finished speaking and said calmly to Bargyll, "Xiao Ran is not a soldier. He made it very clear when he first joined the Archangel that he would not become part of the Earth Force. Asking him to officially join the Earth Force and pilot a Gundam now, I don't think it's likely."

Harborton looked at his subordinates arguing and felt a headache. "You don't need to argue anymore. Our Earth Force doesn't need to rely on a fifteen or sixteen-year-old child. Although I'm also very reluctant for those old guys to force these people on us, as pilots for newly produced Mobile Suits to familiarize themselves with the machine's operation, I have no choice but to accept this reason. That's settled. Later, you will take those people down to Earth and head to Alaska."

"Yes!"

Xiao Ran, standing outside the door, heard all of this. However, this small amount of information caused his pupils to contract several times, and his heart involuntarily pounded erratically. He never expected that coming here because of Tolle and Miriallia would lead him to hear such explosive news. If he had come a little later, after they had finished their discussion, he might not have known if Mwu and the others had already boarded the Archangel.

"Those people? They have such strong abilities right after joining the army? This is something that didn't appear in the plot at all!" Xiao Ran pulled his ear away from the door, his brows furrowed tightly as he leaned against the corridor. "Those people are definitely not enhanced humans. It's still at least several months until enhanced humans appear according to the timeline. They wouldn't appear so early. There's only one possibility: Participants! Participants who have joined the Earth Force!"

Xiao Ran's breathing became a little rapid. "How long has it been since the second Main Mission was issued? In such a short time, they've already gained the attention and recognition of the Earth Force high command? And they've been ordered to participate in the G mission and familiarize themselves with the machine's operation. Could it be that the Earth Force high command is preparing to customize special machines for these Participants!? Who are these Participants, and how can they have such fast action speed and luck to stumble upon the main plot of the story?"

"There shouldn't be many of these Participants. Judging by Mwu and the others' conversation, there should only be a few. But these people, who encountered the main plot so soon after the second mission was issued, are definitely not simple characters. Perhaps they have already completed several Side Missions, or they possessed powerful abilities and awakened skills before coming to this world. Such people, once on board, regardless of whether they are in the same faction as me, are the biggest threat to me."

Xiao Ran narrowed his eyes and gritted his teeth. "I absolutely cannot let them board the Archangel, and the Strike Gundam must not be given to them. Stall, stall for time, stall until the battle begins. Cruze, I've never missed you so much. Hurry up and appear!"

"Swish!" The captain's room door suddenly opened. After two people came out, it closed again. Xiao Ran immediately relaxed his expression and smiled at Bargyll, who had just walked out.

Bargyll looked at Xiao Ran appearing there, somewhat puzzled, and asked with a frown, "Aren't you preparing to pack? What are you doing here?"

"I have something to discuss with Captain Mwu, and didn't General Harborton also want to talk to me?" Xiao Ran smiled, lightly pushed himself off the wall he was leaning on, walked in front of Bargyll, and spread his hands with a smile. "The key is that I can't bear to leave you all, so I've decided to stay. Aren't you welcome?"

"Hm?" Bargyll was stunned for a moment. Mu, who was about to come out behind her, also froze for a few seconds before winking at Xiao Ran and giving him a thumbs-up.

"Haha, if you're really staying, we'll celebrate properly. I'll go prepare!" Mu said this and then quickly slipped away. He felt a bit guilty that Bargyll might start arguing with him again about the discussion in the captain's room.

"Really?" Bargyll didn't pay attention to Mu's departure, but instead frowned, scrutinizing Xiao Ran, her tone laced with doubt.

Xiao Ran patted his chest. "Absolutely true."

Bargyll glanced at Xiao Ran, snorted lightly, and turned to leave. "I hope you mean what you say."

"Wait." Xiao Ran grabbed Bargyll, who was about to leave, and leaned close to her ear, whispering, "Before I come out of the captain's room, absolutely do not let those people board the ship. Trust me!"

Bargyll immediately turned her head, her eyes shooting sharp glances at Xiao Ran. "What do you know!"

"Trust me, and we'll talk later," Xiao Ran pulled away, now facing Bargyll directly. Seeing the strong suspicion and wariness in Bargyll's eyes, Xiao Ran added again, "You want Kira to continue piloting the Strike Gundam, or for me to take Kira's place, I agree to both. And Kira won't leave the ship, because I still have Miriallia and Tolle, and they've all decided to stay on board, so Kira will definitely stay too."

"Whether you believe me or not, Kira and I are more trustworthy than those people we've never met, right? You must stop them from boarding. I'll give you an explanation later. Please."