Seti Andrews

The simulation room was located in the west wing of the Shatterdome's first floor, near the first corridor. As the name suggested, it was where Jaeger pilots conducted their simulated training. It wasn't just open to official pilots; reserve cadets like Rosen could also test their skills there, though they only got a measly one chance per week.

When Rosen was still full of youthful vigor, he could spend a whole day here without eating or drinking. But nowadays, he wouldn't choose to go in.

He knew his past bad temper had offended many people, and there were plenty of individuals harboring grudges against him. Rosen didn't want to invite trouble.

"Excuse me, is Angie Beckett inside?"

Rosen asked the administrator sitting inside through the window. To avoid being easily recognized, he deliberately rested his hand on his chin.

"Miss Angie? Let me check..."

The administrator was a fat man. He seemed suspicious of Rosen's actions, squinting his eyes and staring intently at Rosen, which made Rosen feel uneasy.

But he still typed Angie's name into the computer. After a moment, he shook his head regretfully. "No, there's no visitor record for Miss Angie."

"Alright, thank you." Rosen didn't waste any more time and turned to leave.

However, the scene he least wanted to see ultimately unfolded—

"Hey, you look like, you look like Rosen, right?"

The administrator poked half his body out of the window and asked loudly.

Although Rosen could hear pure surprise in his tone... unfortunately, this surprise came at the wrong time.

"Rosen?"

Rosen suddenly felt a chill down his spine. He sensed countless gazes converging behind him in unison with that question.

This was bad.

Rosen thought to himself.

"Oh my, it really is Rosen."

A voice rang out behind Rosen, getting closer and closer. Then, Rosen felt his right shoulder sink—a large hand had been placed on his shoulder.

As for the owner of this hand, Rosen had already guessed when he heard the voice.

Even if the man turned to ash, Rosen would recognize him.

"Seti Andrews."

Rosen silently recited the name, a name that was both his brother's and his enemy's.

He possessed a Sync Rate comparable to Rosen's—92%. They were born in the same year, even the same month, and both studied under Beckett. Apart from one being Chinese and the other a German Jew, they were almost identical.

They had known each other since childhood, eating, sleeping, studying, and dreaming of fighting Kaiju together. Their similar paths in life had shaped them into having almost identical personalities.

Arrogant, conceited, impolite, and looking down on everyone.

People at the time jokingly called them the "twin shadows."

But fate is unpredictable. Two years ago, they both competed for the pilot position for Kunlun. Their personalities made it impossible for them to tolerate each other's existence, leading to the breakdown of their relationship and a feud that continues to this day.

Rosen still remembered their last conversation before becoming enemies.

"From tomorrow, we will be enemies."

"Just like before, for life."

But things were different now.

Seti remained a favored son of heaven, while Rosen had fallen to earth.

So, the moment Seti called out Rosen's name, Rosen felt a sense of déjà vu, as if the scene after Kunlun's simulated activation failure was about to repeat itself.

"Long time no see... How long has it been? 2 years? Or 3 years, haha, too long, I can't remember!" Seti laughed heartily.

Asking the obvious, Rosen thought.

"Seven months, to be precise." Rosen still answered, without turning his head, his face calm.

"Right, right, 7 months!" Seti's tone was somewhat aggressive. "What have you been doing during this time? I bet you've done something amazing, haven't you?"

Rosen slightly turned his head to look at Seti.

Seti was about the same height as him, his brown hair spiked high, making him stand out. He was currently wearing a gray athletic shirt, and his face was filled with undisguised arrogance and self-importance.

Rosen found that expression familiar. If their positions were reversed, and he were looking at the other guy with this expression, perhaps it would have been himself.

"I... researched Kaiju." Rosen finally replied.

Originally, Rosen didn't want to say much. However, seeing the crowd of onlookers gradually growing, Rosen felt his last shred of dignity being challenged.

"Oh. Is that so?" Seti looked around, intending to incite everyone to mock Rosen. But Rosen's impeccable answer completely foiled his plan.

So Seti spat, deciding to stop playing games.

"Rosen, I've already secured the pilot position for 'Changbai'." Seti took a step forward, deliberately stopping slightly ahead and to Rosen's right, with his back to Rosen. "And that was 6 months ago. But what about you?"

The sarcasm in his tone was obvious, and even some of the onlookers showed expressions of indignation.

"I don't know why you still have the nerve to come back, thinking you still have a chance to turn things around? Give it up." Seti turned around, facing Rosen with a look of utter contempt. "Rosen, you haven't touched a Jaeger in 7 months. Your skills are long outdated. How about this, do everyone a favor and just disappear? Just like what happened 7 months ago."

Seti's eyes flickered as he issued his ultimatum to Rosen.

(He'll definitely lose his temper and punch me, and then I can accuse him of assaulting a pilot and get him kicked out.)

Seti sneered inwardly.

His intelligence wasn't any lower than Rosen's. If it were back when they were on equal footing, he wouldn't have said something so provocative.

But Rosen was just a cadet now, and Seti felt crushing him would be easier than crushing an ant.

However, what he hadn't expected was... this long-planned scheme had once again fallen through.

Although Rosen's hand trembled for a moment, it quickly steadied.

He first closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and then calmly asked, "Are you done?"

Rosen's reaction was beyond Seti's expectations, and he couldn't help but be taken aback.

"In a few months, or weeks, maybe days, the Kaiju swarm will arrive," Rosen said, not flinching, looking directly at Seti. "I don't want to argue with someone who's about to die. When the time comes, I hope you can survive."

"You?!"

Rosen's response left Seti speechless. After a moment's pause, as he organized his thoughts to retaliate, he found that Rosen had already turned and left.

"Fxxk."

Seti glared at Rosen's retreating back, cursing under his breath, but he didn't choose to pursue.

"He said... Kaiju swarm?"

Seti frowned, muttering to himself.

Rosen's words were deeply etched into his mind. This matter concerned his life, and Seti absolutely would not allow himself any carelessness.

"What are you looking at? Get lost!"

After shooing away the onlookers, he immediately left the simulation area and headed for the second floor.