Fales and his trusted subordinates were each assigned a shuttle and sent to destinations of their choosing.
The surrendered underlings were placed aboard several modified spacecraft and were to be taken to nearby countries, which would be notified to receive, investigate, and try them.
This arrangement greatly dissatisfied the rescued civilians, who even began protesting. They believed the Skywing Mercenary Group had gone after the small fry while letting the big fish go, and that the major figures should be arrested and tried as well.
In response to the civilians' protest, the Skywing Mercenary Group stated that they were mercenaries who worked for money. It was not impossible to capture those people again, so long as someone could afford to hire them.
That immediately silenced the protesters. These civilians who had been held hostage by pirates were all ordinary people. Those with money had long since paid ransoms to secure their release, while those without money could only beg their families to scrape together ransom funds. Where could they possibly get the money to hire the Skywing Mercenary Group to capture those Pirate Group bosses?
The rescued civilians would be sent to nearby countries. Once they arrived at the colonies, they could seek help from their embassies themselves.
Meanwhile, Yue Yangchun protested to Long Fei in his office, demanding to know why he had not killed the Evil Fang Pirate Group's captain and key members. He also accused Long Fei of breaking his promise.
"I promised to wipe out the Evil Fang Pirate Group that killed your parents, but I never promised to kill every single pirate."
"But you can't just let the bosses go!" Yue Yangchun said excitedly.
"They bought their lives with their vast wealth."
"Even so, Boss, you could have taken their money and killed them afterward."
"I gave them my word. Going back on it after the job is done violates my principles. I can't do that."
"Then aren't you afraid of letting the tiger return to the mountains and giving them a chance to take revenge on you?"
"Do you think they can still stir up any trouble? Even if they manage to rise again, the Skywing Mercenary Group will be far stronger by then. They'll be like sheep we've put out to pasture—we'll slaughter them once they've fattened up."
After speaking, Long Fei pushed two bank cards toward Yue Yangchun.
"Take these two cards. One is for you, and one is for your sister. You and your sister can use this money to buy property and live peaceful lives in the future."
Yue Yangchun accepted the two bank cards and put them into his pocket.
Long Fei turned his executive chair and looked out the window. As if speaking to himself, he said, "The Skywing Mercenary Group is ultimately still a mercenary group. Mercenary groups are armed organizations that accept commissions and work for money. We aren't like national militaries, supported by their countries and people. Without money, how can we support everyone? Without money, how can a mercenary group keep operating?"
Yue Yangchun understood what his boss meant. The Skywing Mercenary Group had been taking on countless commissions and earning substantial money, but whenever battles occurred, the group had to bear all losses itself. Compensation and condolence payments had to be paid for casualties, while damage to mobile suits, warships, and everything else required money to repair.
Then there was the mercenary group's development, as well as the members' salaries. All of it required money.
On the surface, Fales and the others had used money to save their lives. In reality, his boss had taken the money to support the mercenary group's future operations and development.
"The Gundams whose development is currently on hold also require money. This money can be used to continue developing and manufacturing those shelved Gundams."
Yue Yangchun's eyes lit up. Those were incredible MS. He could experience piloting newly developed Gundams. Since his boss had taken the money for the shelved Gundams, he would let the matter of sparing Fales go.
Long Fei waved Yue Yangchun away, and Yue Yangchun left the office.
Most of what Long Fei had said was true. The part about the Gundams whose development had been put on hold, however, contained some falsehoods.
The shelved Gundams did have a funding issue, but it was not because they lacked money. They could still continue investing funds, but doing so would affect the company's other operations.
Development of the shelved Gundams had not stopped; it had merely slowed down. After each month's accounts were settled, Long Fei invested the net profit into continuing Gundam development and speeding up progress.
The money handed over by Fales and the others allowed the slowly progressing Gundam development to return to normal.
"If it weren't for manufacturing more Gundams, my net worth and available funds would definitely be at least ten times what they are now. Every Gundam costs an enormous amount to produce. They're practically vacuum cleaners, sucking in endless piles of cash."
Afterward, Long Fei finished reading all the documents and reports, then left his office to get some air.
Looking out the window at the pitch-black universe dotted with starlight, Long Fei sometimes wondered whether the boundless cosmos might contain higher life-forms and more advanced civilizations. Sometimes, he wondered whether Gundams could stand against the weapons of a more advanced civilization.
"Long Fei, why are you standing here spacing out by yourself?" Shi Tingfen asked as she came over to his side.
"Nothing. Just getting some air."
Shi Tingfen studied Long Fei. She had never expected that this old classmate, who had excelled academically and been deeply interested in military affairs, would become the boss of a mercenary group after just a few years apart.
"Old classmate, among all our graduating classmates, I think you're one of the most successful."
Long Fei smiled. "Not bad."
Shi Tingfen was at a loss for words. With a bitter smile, she said, "If you call this not bad, then someone like me belongs in the trash."
"How are the others doing?"
"I've lost contact with most of them long ago."
"Oh, I see."
Shi Tingfen suddenly remembered something and said to Long Fei, "Oh, right. Zhao Xinlin has been looking for you."
"What does she want with me?"
"Well, you disappeared, so she's been searching everywhere for you."
Long Fei fell silent.
"Come to think of it, Zhao Xinlin has always treated you as her man and refused to let any woman get close to you. She even dared to warn the Third Princess not to approach you, and everyone thought Zhao Xinlin was your girlfriend."
"She wasn't my girlfriend. I was always doing research back then and had no interest in dating. Even if I wanted a girlfriend, I wouldn't want a woman like Zhao Xinlin."
"True. Anyone with eyes could tell Zhao Xinlin was the only one who thought you were her man. What normal man would choose such a possessive, unstable woman? Besides, even though you were a research fanatic back then, you were one of the school's stars—an outstanding student with top grades, exceptional physical ability, and talent in both academics and martial arts. If you had wanted a girlfriend, plenty of girls at school would have lined up for you to choose from."
"Enough about me. Is that guy Luo Tianyou still pursuing you?"
"Ugh, don't even mention him. After years of him pursuing me, he nearly drove me mad. Every company I worked for, he bought it and said he wanted to give it to me. So many coworkers thought I was being kept. Worse still, whenever I spoke to a man, he sent people to beat him up. Those guys started avoiding me like I was a ghost. Everything he did made it clear he saw me as his personal possession."
"You came out traveling this time because you wanted to avoid him for a while, didn't you? You just didn't expect a trip to end with you being kidnapped by a Pirate Group."
"Although I was terrified during the kidnapping, at least I was free of that man's harassment. It actually gave me some peace and quiet."
"Now that you've been rescued, you'll have to suffer Luo Tianyou's harassment again."
Three black lines seemed to appear over Shi Tingfen's head as goosebumps rose on her skin. She asked Long Fei, "Old classmate, do you have any way to keep that man from finding out where I am?"
"Having you join my mercenary group wouldn't work. Your physical ability isn't up to it, and it would waste your talents. I remember that back in school, you earned a degree in software engineering—probably a master's degree, right? I happen to have another company that should suit you. Once we return to the main base, think it over."
Before you continue