Before the conversation between Lieutenant Xian Zhu and Lu Ande ended, Ronan had already confirmed that this was the backdrop from his earlier "Offline Test":
The "Red Wheel" Two Star Gate Battle.
It was merely viewed from another angle, and at a lower level—from the commander of a supply ship down to the rank of lieutenant, reflecting a small part of the battle.
Moreover, what he was touching now remained intricately connected to what he had experienced in the Relay Station dream.
Not only Xian Zhu, but also this Sir Lu Ande...
Ronan was not quite sure whether this was the "Senior Lu Ande" whom he had met once before, the one Liang Lu had admired so deeply.
Back then, he had seemed to be only a lieutenant. Now he was already a Noble Lord. By comparison, Xian Zhu had fallen somewhat behind.
Well, it was more likely that Lu Ande's promotion had been exceptionally rapid.
Back at the Relay Station, they had all belonged to the same combat sequence. It was hardly strange for them to meet again during a larger campaign.
After all, this was only a "test scenario"...
Was it really only a test? Why did it have to be like this?
Ronan's thoughts were still drifting when the communication with the Command Department ended.
When Xian Zhu's mechanical voice rang out again, his target had already shifted to Ronan. "We're in the same combat sequence now... so when did you get to know me?"
"At the Relay Station on Vanguard 4th Planet." Ronan answered instinctively, still somewhat dazed.
So during his time as captain of the Rainbow Bridge, he had used the most clumsy command imaginable to send an outstanding mechanic like Xian Zhu, along with his comrades, to their deaths?
Even knowing it was only