Tour

Seven days after the Gundam Chrysanthemum test, distinguished guests arrived at the shared headquarters of the Skywing Mercenary Group and Skywing Arms Manufacturing Company.

King of Thrace arrived aboard his own Royal Battleship, accompanied by his eldest son and youngest daughter. His eldest son was Gleidy, twenty-five years old, while his youngest daughter was Robina, only eighteen.

The Royal Battleship was surrounded by his Royal Guard Fleet: two MS Carriers and eight Escort Ships.

Prince Glaed watched the countless asteroids outside the window. He understood why his father had brought him and his sister here: a private armed organization far stronger than the kingdom's military had emerged within the kingdom's territory.

Prince Glaed had reviewed all the intelligence on the Skywing Mercenary Group's development since its founding.

At the beginning, no one had expected a private armed organization established only around two years ago to grow so rapidly.

His father had not slept well these past few days. Although intelligence indicated that the Skywing Mercenary Group had shown no hostile intentions toward the kingdom, it still left him unable to eat or sleep in peace.

His father had brought him and his sister to the mercenary group's main base. Having guessed his father's purpose, he was furious with him.

But there was nothing he could do.

The communications console sounded, and a guard notified him that the king had summoned him.

Prince Glaed went to his father's command seat to pay his respects.

His sister Robina was already standing to the right of their father's seat. Princess Robina had a beautiful cascade of soft, flowing silver hair, bright silver eyes brimming with moisture, an oval face, delicate features, and an elf-like beauty. She was petite, standing under 160 centimeters tall, with her hands elegantly folded over her abdomen.

"Your son pays his respects to Father."

"No need for formalities. Come, stand beside me."

Prince Glaed stood to his father's left.

A massive projection screen appeared before them. The footage showed numerous Skywing Mercenary Group Escort Ships and GM Mobile Suits sailing around their fleet.

"Father, what do they mean by this?"

"Don't be nervous. They are merely escorting us."

Princess Robina, standing on the right, pointed at a Gundam on the screen. "Father, is that their super MS?"

"Yes. They used that kind of MS to defeat the Sea Wolf Pirate Group, which had troubled many nations, including ours."

Princess Robina stared at the Gundam with shining eyes.

King of Thrace knew that his daughter was especially fond of MS.

Gleidy said somewhat skeptically, "Just one Gundam MS was enough to crush the Sea Wolf Pirate Group, which has plagued us and other nations for decades? That is exaggerating the Gundam MS too much."

"There isn't just one Gundam. Look, another one has appeared." Thrace pointed at another Gundam that had appeared on the screen.

"Father, exactly how many Gundams do they have?"

"According to intelligence gathered by our kingdom's intelligence department, we currently know that they have at least five Gundams."

The captain of the Royal Guard arrived, dropped to one knee, and respectfully reported to the king, "Your Majesty, we have arrived above Skywing's main base and are preparing to land."

"Mm."

King of Thrace led his son and daughter as they prepared to disembark.

Before long, the Mika'ang Kingdom's royal fleet was stationed at Skywing's main base.

Many employees of Skywing Arms Manufacturing Company and mercenaries from the Skywing Mercenary Group came to watch.

Quite a few foremen and mercenary captains drove the onlookers away, ordering them to return to their posts.

Long Fei did not personally receive King of Thrace. Instead, Commander-in-Chief Li Jiaming and President Sakchi received him in person, with Li Jiaming also arranging a reception team to handle the king's visit.

A Royal Guard unit stood in formation, awaiting the king's arrival. King of Thrace disembarked with his children.

The Royal Guard in formation placed their right hands over their chests and saluted the king, prince, and princess.

Li Jiaming and Sakchi spoke in unison. "Welcome to our company, His Majesty King of Thrace, His Highness Prince Glaed, and Her Highness the Princess Robina."

King of Thrace extended his right hand to shake theirs. To show respect, both of them clasped his right hand with both of theirs.

King of Thrace looked at the mercenary reception team, who were wearing War God Armor Battle Suits.

"This combat suit is one of the main weapons that allowed you to defeat the Sea Wolf Pirate Group, correct?"

"As Your Majesty says, the War God Armor Battle Suits indeed deserve much of the credit for defeating the Sea Wolf Pirate Group and suppressing their base."

King of Thrace looked around again and asked, "Why do I not see your chairman?"

"Your Majesty, the boss has traveled far away on business and cannot return anytime soon. We hope Your Majesty will forgive us." Sakchi answered with a sincere and apologetic expression.

"It is nothing. Your company's boss has traveled far away on business; I do not mind at all."

"We sincerely invite Your Majesty, His Highness the Prince, and Her Highness the Princess to tour our base." Sakchi bent ninety degrees as she spoke to Thrace.

"Very well."

Besides the prince and princess accompanying their father, three male and three female personal guards followed at their side.

In truth, Long Fei had not traveled anywhere.

Long Fei was currently wearing a Skywing Mercenary Group uniform and a Skywing Mercenary Group peaked cap as he adjusted a newly built Gundam.

While touring the manufacturing zone, King of Thrace discovered that production here was carried out by automated systems, while the employees merely handled details and adjustments.

As Gleidy observed the manufacturing zone, he saw mechanical arms and various instruments operating automatically, drones transporting materials, and robots handling cleanup. The employees in the manufacturing zone were only responsible for inspections, adjustments, and issuing commands.

Such operations truly reduced manpower requirements and improved efficiency.

Next, they toured the interior of a newly completed Escort Ship, where many systems were likewise automated.

As Princess Robina toured the Escort Ship, her eyes gleamed while she looked over the many instruments, the command room, gun turrets, and more.

"President Sakchi, will the Escort Ships your company develops be sold?" King of Thrace asked.

"Your Majesty, we currently have no plans to sell them."

"President Sakchi, if your company intends to sell this model of Escort Ship, please notify our kingdom at once. Our kingdom will purchase them in large quantities."

"Of course, Your Majesty. We will notify your kingdom immediately."

Then Thrace looked at Li Jiaming and asked, "Commander-in-Chief Li Jiaming, may we observe the combat suits that suppressed the Sea Wolf Pirate Group's base?"

"No problem, Your Majesty. We will make the arrangements."

Then they headed toward the Skywing Mercenary Group's section.

As Thrace and his children walked, they looked over the Skywing Mercenary Group's equipment.

While looking inside the cockpit of a GM Mobile Suit used by the Skywing Mercenary Group, Princess Robina's sharp eyes noticed several differences. She walked to her father's side and whispered a few words to him.

"Commander-in-Chief, this card slot inside the cockpit of the GM Mobile Suits you use is completely different from the GM Mobile Suits our kingdom purchased. The cockpits of our kingdom's GM Mobile Suits do not have this card slot."

Commander-in-Chief Li Jiaming gave a brief explanation.

"Then when can this AOTOS, the Automatically Orchestrate the Operating System, be installed as an upgrade in the cockpits of our kingdom's GM Mobile Suits?"

"We must first complete a series of verifications before we can formally consider whether to equip the cockpits of future MS sales with the AOTOS Automatically Orchestrate the Operating System."

King of Thrace nodded after hearing this. "Have the Armored Combat Suits been arranged for demonstration?"

"They have been arranged. Please come this way, Your Majesty."