The readers' enthusiasm was so overwhelming that Yi Zui felt both confident and ashamed. I admit that one chapter a day is a little too slow and doesn't satisfy everyone, but Yi Zui types too slowly, and taking care of the baby alone lately has kept me rather busy. Two updates a day really are difficult. Still, I won't dwell on that. Although I can't manage two updates every day for now, three updates every two days shouldn't be a problem. Please wait a few more days. Starting on the 30th, Yi Zui will post one extra chapter every other day to repay everyone's enthusiasm. Thank you again for your support.
On the Archangel, Xiao Ran's appearance also surprised Mwu. Mwu and Harborton had only been separated by a door earlier and had not heard what Xiao Ran and Bargyll said outside. Nor did Mwu know why Xiao Ran had appeared here at this time, so the moment she saw him, she looked at him with confusion.
Harborton, however, seemed to have expected Xiao Ran's arrival. He smiled and nodded at him. "You're here. Please, sit."
"Thank you." Xiao Ran placed himself properly, thanking Harborton like a junior before taking a seat in a chair beside him.
Seeing Xiao Ran's upright posture, Harborton nodded in satisfaction. The reports Mwu had submitted mentioned Xiao Ran's name many times. Not only could he pilot an MS in battle, but he could also make decisive suggestions at critical moments. He was quick-witted and decisive. Leaving aside anything else, at least two warships had been preserved because of him. That contribution could not go unrecorded.
Now that Harborton saw Xiao Ran's neither arrogant nor servile attitude, the favorable impression he had accumulated from written reports transformed completely into an excellent first impression. He immediately felt that Xiao Ran was someone worth cultivating.
Harborton smiled with satisfaction and spoke to Xiao Ran in a relaxed tone. "I saw quite a lot about you in Mwu's reports. I think you have courage, ideas, and most importantly, ability. Don't you feel that working as an assistant instructor at the academy is wasting your talents? I have many positions here that would suit you. If you're willing to join the Earth Force, I can let you choose a good post."
Harborton's words left Mwu stunned for a moment, but she soon looked at Xiao Ran with a trace of anticipation in her eyes.
Xiao Ran would have been lying if he said he was not pleased by Harborton's words. Being praised so highly was incredibly rare for a half-shut-in like him, and a slightly embarrassed delight appeared on his face. After rubbing his nose, Xiao Ran spoke. "Thank you for thinking so highly of me, General Harborton. I came here today precisely because of this matter."
"Oh? Have you already decided to join the Earth Force?" Harborton laughed heartily and looked at Xiao Ran with satisfaction. "Good, very good."
Xiao Ran chuckled and glanced at Mwu. "Forgive my presumption, but General Harborton is one of the rare clear-headed people in the Earth Force, so I don't wish to hide anything from you regarding this matter. Originally, I had no intention of joining the Earth Force. I happened to hear some news about the Earth Force's upper ranks through one source. As far as I know, the upper echelons of the Earth Force are not as pure as outsiders imagine. There are many internal factions. What is even more unbelievable is that pure extremists like Blue Cosmos are among them. And behind Blue Cosmos, there seems to be an even larger organization pulling the strings. It is hard for me to imagine joining such a force, only to be sacrificed one day for the interests of certain higher-ups and die without even knowing why."
Harborton's brow gradually furrowed as Xiao Ran spoke. By the end, his expression had darkened, and a trace of worry appeared between his brows. "Where did you learn all that?"
"I have some friends who are Scrap Dealers. I believe their information channels are reliable," Xiao Ran answered without hesitation.
"Scrap Dealers?" Harborton sighed softly and nodded. "If it was those people, then it is indeed possible for them to obtain information that ordinary people cannot."
"You're right." Harborton stood, clasped his hands behind his back, and paced several steps. Then he suddenly turned to Xiao Ran. "Everything you said is correct. Some people in the Earth Force's upper ranks do indeed have Blue Cosmos behind them, supporting and helping them. They have become a powerful faction within the military, an incurable cancer that cannot be removed. Even comrades who share my ideals and I have no way to suppress them. We can only hold on and refuse to join them in their corruption."
"The G Project was intended not only to close the weapons gap with ZAFT. It was also meant to use the project's success to greatly expand the influence of people like us within the Earth Force. Though we fought hard to secure it, it would be more accurate to say that the people from that faction deliberately yielded this opportunity because their goals aligned with ours. Otherwise, how could a mere brigadier general like me, an admiral of the Eighth Fleet, possibly have produced enough resources to cooperate with Orb? Especially in such an intimate technological partnership, with the manufacturing base placed on Orb territory."
"Admiral..." Mwu's lips parted and closed, her face filled with disbelief. The amount of information revealed by Harborton and Xiao Ran was simply too enormous, and its contents too terrifying. For a moment, Mwu felt as though her faith had collapsed. She could not accept that more than half of the military she had fought for was already controlled by Blue Cosmos, an organization that could only be called terrorist.
"Mwu..." Harborton looked at his longtime subordinate and let out a deep, helpless sigh. "Though I never wanted to tell you all this, you know it now. I don't care what the other fleets are like, but at least our Eighth Fleet has no such problems. No matter who stands before us, we can pound our chests and loudly declare that our consciences are clear!"
Mwu steadied her emotions and breathing, then nodded gently. "Yes, Admiral. I was out of line."
After hearing Harborton's words, Xiao Ran finally understood how a brigadier general of a single fleet could have pushed through cooperation between two major powers, especially such intimate technological cooperation, even placing the manufacturing base on Orb territory. It was not merely the Hassak Family's influence mentioned in the side story. There had also been pressure from the Earth Force's upper ranks—pressure from Blue Cosmos.
So the Earth Force's upper ranks and Blue Cosmos had prepared everything long ago. Damn, these waters ran deep. Xiao Ran suddenly understood. He also thought of the three Enhanced Humans called Living CPUs who appeared during the Battle of Orb, and the mention in the story that they could simply be replaced like parts once broken. There was also the massive base in SEED-D that produced those Living CPUs. That could never have been completed in just a few months. Perhaps it had begun at the same time as the G Project.
Once the G Project succeeded and the units entered mass production... where would the pilots come from? Especially for the countless specialized units. Ordinary people simply couldn't handle them, and even those who could pilot them skillfully would be few. The remaining slots could only be filled by Enhanced Humans. Terrifying. The more Xiao Ran considered the possibility, the more he felt it might be the truth. The more he thought about it, the more terrifying the Earth Force's upper ranks and Blue Cosmos seemed. They were plainly waiting to reap the rewards. No wonder they pushed the G Project so hard.
Xiao Ran considered it for a moment, then suddenly had an idea. He raised his head and looked at Harborton. "General, there's something I don't know whether I should say."
"Hm? Go ahead." Harborton nodded. Although Xiao Ran had exposed the Earth Force's ugly side, Harborton valued him even more because of it. Perhaps it was because Xiao Ran also detested Blue Cosmos.
Xiao Ran frowned. "My friends told me something. Something also happened in Heliopolis, and now, together with the appearance of the Gundams, it gives me chills when I think about it."
"Oh? What happened?" Harborton was curious, and Mwu wore the same expression.
"Then I'll speak plainly. Whether I'm right or wrong, I hope General Harborton will not blame me." After seeing Harborton nod, Xiao Ran continued. "A Scrap Dealer friend once told me that the Earth Force secretly built a hidden base somewhere. He did not tell me where it was. He said the base appeared to be an ordinary military installation and also conducted research on humans, but its real hidden purpose was to develop Enhanced Humans."
"Enhanced Humans?" Harborton and Mwu were both confused by the term.
Seeing their expressions, Xiao Ran knew they did not understand, so he explained. "I asked him at the time what Enhanced Humans meant. My friend said one thing: doesn't the Earth Force hate genetic modification? Then they would not care about any method other than genetic modification. For example, using drugs to enhance humans, erasing their fear, emotions, and memories, and using all kinds of methods to cultivate living, expendable CPUs. Those are Enhanced Humans."
"Living... expendable... CPUs?" Mwu instantly understood what those words meant. Her eyes widened as she turned to Harborton. Harborton's mouth also fell open, his face full of disbelief. "Using living people as expendable parts?"
Xiao Ran answered calmly, "That's right. General Harborton, Captain Mwu, now you understand why I hate the Earth Force."
General Harborton's brow was tightly furrowed. He paced back and forth around the room until Xiao Ran's eyes were nearly dizzy from following him. "Do you know whether they succeeded?"
"I don't know. But on the day Heliopolis was attacked, the Heliopolis Spaceport was also attacked. There were only around a dozen people, perhaps even fewer. Yet those people wiped out at least two Orb defense units and slaughtered quite a few civilians." As Xiao Ran said this, he deliberately emphasized the words "slaughtered civilians." He paused thoughtfully, then continued. "To be honest, Captain Mwu, Kira, those students, and I all faced those people directly at the time. Even bullets could not pierce one of their skin. You could see bullet holes in his clothes, but there was no sign of bleeding. I can guarantee that he was not wearing any body armor."
"What!" Harborton stared in astonishment. Mwu also looked at Xiao Ran in shock. "When did that happen?"
"You had passed out at the time. Otherwise, how do you think I got the gunshot wound on my arm?" Xiao Ran pointed to his now-healed arm. "If Kira had not reacted quickly, perhaps we would not be sitting here today."
"Bullets couldn't even penetrate his skin?" Harborton tapped his fingers on the desk. "Was everyone like that, or just one person?"
"Only one," Xiao Ran answered. "But the others' reflexes, execution, and shooting accuracy all completely surpassed ordinary humans. Perhaps even Coordinators would not be their match."
Harborton's eyes instantly sharpened as he stared at Xiao Ran. "If they are that capable, then they might be able to pilot MS units. Is that what you're trying to say?"
Xiao Ran's eyes were crystal clear as he returned Harborton's gaze without yielding. "That's right. The timing was far too coincidental. At first, I never considered this. I merely thought those people were terrorists. But after what you said today, General Harborton, and when I connect it to the appearance of the Gundams, I strongly suspect that those people appeared in Heliopolis for the same reason: the Gundams."
With a swish, the Captain's Room door suddenly opened, and Bargyll appeared before the three of them. She held a tablet in her hand, her brow tightly furrowed. The moment she entered, she saluted Mwu and Harborton. "Report!"
"Speak."
Bargyll glanced at Xiao Ran, her eyes filled with an indescribable emotion. "After investigating, I suspect that the people from Heliopolis mentioned by the general earlier are connected to an extremist criminal organization. I request that you rescind the order to transfer those people to the Archangel until the investigation results are available."
"Approved." Harborton answered without hesitation, frowning as he added, "Notify the flagship. Restrict the movements of those four people and place them under surveillance twenty-four hours a day."
"Yes, sir."
Watching their exchange, the corner of Xiao Ran's mouth lifted imperceptibly before returning to normal.
Before you continue