Chapter Summaries

Long Fei reviewed Mobile Armor development files, shared plans for new units with Taoxiang, and discussed naming their unborn child Quan and building Gundams for their children in the future. While Taoxiang slept, Long Fei resolved to keep directing the group from behind the scenes and draw out dangerous internal enemies.

• Long Fei reviewed files on Mobile Armor and decided that some units should be developed for the Ferocious Hound Squad while other proposals needed the generals' evaluation.
• Taoxiang told Long Fei that their unborn child used telepathy to demand spring water, and the couple agreed that Quan could be the child's name.
• Long Fei transferred development files to Taoxiang and imagined building Unicorn, Banshee, and Phenex Gundams for Quan and their daughters; Taoxiang warned him not to send the children to battle before adulthood.
• Long Fei reflected that Taoxiang appeared to run the group while he secretly issued instructions, and he resolved to lure dangerous people inside the group out of hiding.

Taoxiang led a meeting at the main base to review new military blueprints and discuss which ships and weapons the Skywing Group should build. The commanders strongly backed several designs, especially Mobile Fortress Downs and Rabian Rose, while the Dogos-Gia Class Battleship emerged as a practical standard warship.

• Taoxiang gathered the commanders and senior officers, while Mother Rabbit attended beside her, as the organization dealt with the unexplained disappearances of corrupt and disloyal commanders.
• Taoxiang circulated blueprints for new warships, units, and weapons, prompting officers to consider whether they had come from Long Fei's technology.
• The commanders debated the Guanwana-class MS Carrier, Airdrop Transport Ship, Fa Zeos, and Fa Bose, including whether the Umbrella System could evade the Dion Army's Anti-stealth Device.
• The generals urged Taoxiang to build Mobile Fortress Downs to improve frontline production and resupply, and supported Rabian Rose ships for repairs and manufacturing.
• Taoxiang explained the Dogos-Gia Class Battleship's range, lower construction cost, and maintenance advantages, while the Gevadan Class Battleship remained under review.

Taoxiang warned company officials against corruption and leaking secrets, then Colony Sphere nations sought Skywing Group investment to stabilize their economies after the Dion Empire’s war temporarily halted. Long Xuan negotiated strict investment terms, and several nations accepted them to attract Skywing Group bases and outside capital.

• Taoxiang reviewed proposed aircraft and ground units for combat support, requested evaluation reports, and warned officials to stop skimming profits and selling company secrets.
• Taoxiang ended the meeting and left with Mother Rabbit and the commanders of the eight directly subordinate units.
• On June 22, Cosmic Year 125, the Dion Empire’s war temporarily halted without a ceasefire agreement, leaving Colony Sphere nations to rebuild amid economic hardship.
• Colony Sphere leaders sent officials to seek investment, and Long Xuan negotiated with them under Taoxiang’s authorization, with Fikes joining the delegation.
• Long Xuan required tax-free investment for ten years and other conditions, refusing to lower her terms when neighboring nations objected.
• Three nations accepted Long Xuan’s conditions, and the countries that secured Skywing Group investment publicized the news as capitalists rushed to invest.

The chapter described the Colony Sphere’s worsening pirate threat and the booming demand for the Skywing Mercenary Group’s escorts. With recruitment standards set to return to normal in August of Cosmic Year 125, mercenaries flocked to join while the Group’s forces struggled to handle a flood of commissions.

• Pirate Groups acquired powerful mobile suits through corrupt military personnel and black-market dealers, allowing them to threaten smaller mercenary groups.
• Criminal organizations feared the Skywing Mercenary Group and paid protection money after it wiped out a Pirate Group and attacked its headquarters.
• Merchants combined their fleets and pooled funds to improve their chances of hiring the Skywing Mercenary Group, whose commission mailbox crashed from the demand.
• Li Jiaming announced that recruitment standards would return to their original level in August of Cosmic Year 125, prompting small-group mercenaries to rush to join while they could endure the easier training period.
• The Skywing Mercenary Group’s regular forces, special forces, and Long Fei’s eight subordinate units took escort assignments, leaving even the Cross Vanguard to switch from pirate work to escorting cargo.

Li Xiucheng escorted a merchant convoy while reviewing how the Skywing Mercenary Group cared for and trained war orphans. After Shadow Mad Dog Squad members rescued children from an abusive pickpocket ring and uncovered organ trafficking, Song Guowei sent Li Xiucheng a report about the case.

• Li Xiucheng agreed to lead the Shadow Mad Dog Squad in escorting a merchant convoy to the Gas Empire after Base 22 asked for help.
• Merchant employees discussed why the corporations trusted the Skywing Mercenary Group to protect the convoy and wondered whether the Dion Empire would ransom its captured soldiers.
• Li Xiucheng reviewed the program that tested and trained war orphans for mercenary service or work in Skywing Group subsidiaries.
• Song Guowei and other members caught children stealing, later found them being abused, and rescued them along with other children held by their controllers.
• Song Guowei learned that the adults had beaten children to death and sold their organs, questioned the adults about the trafficking network, and sent Li Xiucheng the details.

Li Xiucheng heard how the Skywing Mercenary Group rescued abused war orphans, while Alexandre returned to the Mars Sphere and learned that Yelishao De had consolidated power during their father’s unconsciousness. Duke Mollicet warned Alexandre that the great noble faction was weakened and would have to act cautiously.

• Li Xiucheng saw that the rescued children had been given safe lives and prosthetic limbs, following Taoxiang’s orders to rescue children and destroy the criminal groups exploiting them.
• On July 22, Cosmic Year 125, Alexandre returned to the Mars Sphere with Manius, where Yelishao De and the officials welcomed them.
• Alexandre learned that his father remained unconscious, noticed Yelishao De’s people occupying important posts, and visited the emperor before leaving with Duke Mollicet.
• At Duke Mollicet’s residence, Alexandre asked about Yelishao De’s power, and his grandfather explained how Yelishao De had prepared to take control and expose corruption among the nobles.
• Duke Mollicet told Alexandre that the great noble faction was now on the defensive, with the Annihilation Army as its chief remaining leverage against Yelishao De.

Yelishao De worked to stabilize the Dion Empire, rebuild its economy, and avoid civil war while agreeing to diplomatic contact with the Oya Cross Nation. Meanwhile, the Oya delegation prepared to travel to the Mars Sphere, and Long Fei and Taoxiang discussed their company’s affairs and Taoxiang’s younger sister.

• Yelishao De ended child conscription in the Annihilation Army, returned the children to their families, and transferred forcibly conscripted young soldiers into the regular army.
• Yelishao De asked Grisina to handle government documents carefully and hoped to negotiate with the Skywing Mercenary Group for the return of captured soldiers.
• Yelishao De agreed to the Oya Cross Nation’s request for diplomatic contact, and the Oya Cross Nation prepared a delegation led by a diplomatic bishop because pregnant Saintess Aina could not travel.
• The Oya Cross Nation’s diplomatic visit became public, prompting speculation that it would seek a ceasefire with the Dion Empire.
• Taoxiang complained to Long Fei that people blamed her for harshly disciplining the company while he handled documents from his hospital room.
• Taoxiang told Long Fei that her younger sister had visited only once in the past month and had since gone on another mission.

Yelishao De sent Christoffen to negotiate with the Skywing Mercenary Group for the return of captured Dion Empire soldiers, but Li Jiaming and Salamander demanded exorbitant ransoms and compensation. Christoffen left without an agreement after realizing the mercenary group had no intention of bargaining sincerely.

• Yelishao De sent Christoffen to the Skywing Mercenary Group's main base to negotiate for the return of Dion Empire soldiers.
• Christoffen reunited with her former colleague Salamander as Li Jiaming welcomed the delegation.
• Li Jiaming gave Christoffen a list of steep ransom conditions, including payments based on soldiers' ranks and prior compensation owed to the mercenary group.
• Christoffen's delegation protested the terms, but Li Jiaming and Salamander refused to lower them.
• Salamander had Sky Wing Mercenaries enter the negotiation room, and Christoffen's delegation left without an agreement.

Long Fei refused to return the captured Dion soldiers, believing their release could help the Dion Empire resume the war. He reviewed the Skywing Mercenary Group’s booming business and expanding military production, while warning that spies had infiltrated the Skywing Group and access to sensitive information would come at a price.

• Yelishao De heard Christoffen’s report and set aside the Skywing Mercenary Group’s unaffordable ransom demands while preparing for the Oya Cross Nation delegation.
• Long Fei decided to keep the Dion prisoners rather than strengthen the Dion Empire’s depleted forces or risk their return coinciding with Fadis waking.
• Long Fei reviewed the Skywing Mercenary Group’s overcrowded ranks, expanding bases, and profits, which Li Jiaming was investing in Mobile Fortress Downs and other warships.
• Long Fei approved the increased production and upgrades, but postponed building psychoframe Gundams such as the Unicorn while his children were young.
• Long Fei warned that spies from various countries had infiltrated the Skywing Group and that sensitive information would require a price to obtain.

Long Fei reviewed nonlethal capture weapons intended to handle child soldiers if the Dion Empire went to war again, and watched a field test in which Sky Wing Mercenaries used them to capture a bandit leader and rescue a hostage. After Taoxiang remarked that Long Fei had changed since his battle with Fadis, he reflected that he wanted to spare both children and his troops the lasting harm of killing them.

• Long Fei reviewed plans for capture weapons, believing the Dion Empire might again send teenagers and children to fight on Mars.
• Long Fei watched a field-test video in which Sky Wing Mercenaries used tranquilizers, sleep smoke, and an electric baton to subdue a settlement and extract a bandit leader and hostage.
• Long Fei watched further tests showing Viscous Guns, rope-binding guns, Net Guns, and Stun Guns immobilizing their targets.
• Taoxiang joined Long Fei and asked why he had developed weapons for capturing people.
• Long Fei explained that he wanted to avoid hurting child soldiers and protect his troops from the lasting psychological harm of killing them.
• Taoxiang told Long Fei that he had changed since fighting Fadis, and Long Fei acknowledged that he least wanted to hurt children forced onto the battlefield.

The Oya Cross Nation diplomatic delegation arrived in the Mars Sphere to establish relations with the Dion Empire, where Yelishao De received them in place of his bedridden father, Fadis. Yelishao De considered the delegation’s peaceful neutrality a chance to reduce the empire’s potential enemies, while its representatives remained uncertain about who truly held power.

• Major powers studied intelligence about the Skywing Mercenary Group’s new weapons and debated whether Mobile Fortress Downs revealed old technological reserves or Long Fei’s recent awakening.
• The Skywing Mercenary Group offered second-hand Irish Class MS Carriers for sale, and countries around the world rushed to buy them despite their lack of Mirage Systems.
• On September 15, Cosmic Year 125, Bishop of Foreign Affairs Radoslav and Grand Elder Adrian arrived in the Mars Sphere with the Oya Cross Nation delegation and accompanying reporters.
• Minister of Foreign Affairs Sigmund welcomed the delegation and introduced its leaders to Yelishao De, who received them with high honors.
• Radoslav and Adrian asked Yelishao De to convey their greetings to Fadis, and Yelishao De said his father was unwell and confined to bed.
• Yelishao De recognized the delegation’s diplomatic purpose and hoped Oya Cross Nation would remain neutral if war broke out, while regretting his father’s policies had weakened the Dion Empire.

Radoslav and Adrian negotiated with the weakened Dion Empire, restoring diplomatic relations and existing agreements despite disagreements over new terms. Yelishao De prepared to use the renewed ties as a path toward rebuilding the empire and reconnecting with other Earth Sphere nations, while Alexandre criticized his concessions and was urged to learn from his brother.

• Radoslav and Adrian told Sigmund and Felix that the Oya Cross Nation had joined the United Army because Dion’s massacres of civilians had turned its people against the war.
• Sigmund and Felix acknowledged Dion’s excessive actions and agreed to negotiate the restoration of diplomatic relations.
• Radoslav’s delegation proposed agreements, including protections for civilians during any future conflict, and Dion accepted some terms but rejected others.
• The Oya Cross Nation and Dion restored their previous diplomatic relations and agreements, allowing trade and economic exchanges to resume.
• Yelishao De planned to send an ambassador to the Oya Cross Nation and viewed the restored relationship as a step toward rebuilding Dion and renewing ties with other nations.
• Alexandre called Yelishao De weak for accepting the Oya Cross Nation’s demands, while Duke Mollicet and Manius praised Yelishao De’s patience and urged Alexandre to learn from him.

Dion Empire and Oya Cross Nation restored diplomatic relations under Yelishao De’s leadership, drawing international debate as Fadis remained in a coma. Kuroda Seiya prepared his long-planned revenge against Fadis and launched Operation Izumo.

• Alexandre rejected his elders’ advice to learn from Yelishao De, while Manius and Duke Mollicet warned that he needed to change.
• On September 19, Cosmic Year 125, the Dion Empire and Oya Cross Nation restored diplomatic relations and began preparing to exchange ambassadors.
• Purvi denounced the Oya Cross Nation’s renewed ties with the Dion Empire, while nations around the world remained uncertain whether Fadis and Long Fei had awakened.
• Kuroda Seiya reflected on Yelishao De and Long Fei, then learned that his warriors and the Izumo Project were ready.
• Kuroda Seiya ordered Operation Izumo to begin, declaring that his revenge against Fadis had started.

Long Fei and his allies discussed the Dion Empire’s likely recovery, possible internal conflict, and the United Army’s response as they planned how to prepare for a future war. The chapter ended with the Dion Empire and Oya Cross Nation opening embassies and the Dion Empire reaching out to other Earth Sphere nations.

• Long Fei told his allies to prioritize development and prepare for war, while they discussed the Dion Empire’s potential moves and needed battleships.
• Salamander warned that Alexandre might undermine Yelishao De and that Kuroda Seiya could cooperate with Alexandre to provoke a civil war.
• Aixisi asked Salamander to help map Mars, and Shlaik argued that the United Army might intervene in a Dion civil war under pressure from military-industrial interests.
• Long Fei decided they should avoid rushing into battle and let the Dion Empire and United Army weaken each other first.
• On October 20, the Dion Empire and Oya Cross Nation opened embassies, and the Dion Empire began courting other Earth Sphere nations.

Alexandre conspired with Severino and neutral-faction nobles to undermine Yelishao De, while a series of political attacks intensified unrest in the Dion Empire. The chapter ended with an explosion near Ilena’s vehicle after she left lunch with Yelishao De and Grisina.

• Alexandre met Severino, who offered neutral-faction support against Yelishao De, and Alexandre agreed to consult his grandfather and uncle.
• Alexandre secretly instigated the Oya Cross Nation ambassador’s assassination, and Yelishao De’s apology and punishment of the assassin provoked protests from extreme-minded Newtypes.
• Bombings and ambushes struck members of Yelishao De’s faction, the Great Noble faction, and the neutral faction, while Manius suspected Alexandre was responsible and Duke Mollicet warned him to watch his nephew.
• Alexandre told Severino that his grandfather approved of their actions, then ordered his driver to make someone disappear once the plan was finished.
• Yelishao De left lunch with Ilena and Grisina after receiving urgent news, and a thunderous explosion sounded just after Ilena’s vehicle departed.

After Ilena and Imperial Consort Iliya were murdered, Yelishao De investigated the attacks and suspected an unseen force was manipulating events. Duke Mollicet was later found poisoned, and rumors blaming both him and Yelishao De spread beyond the empire’s control.

• Ilena and Imperial Consort Iliya were killed in separate attacks, devastating Yelishao De and Grisina.
• Alexandre argued with Severino over the killings, then arranged for Severino to be killed and his information destroyed.
• Evidence linked the attackers to Duke Mollicet’s estate, prompting Yelishao De to surround it while Manius defended his father.
• Yelishao De learned that Lion Feuchtwanger had led the attacks and that he was connected to Severino, whom Alexandre had recently worked with.
• Yelishao De ordered Julius to suppress information implicating Alexandre, while Duke Mollicet planned to meet him and seek a resolution.
• Duke Mollicet was found poisoned after drinking wine, and rumors spread that he had killed himself, been murdered, or been framed by Yelishao De.

The Dion Empire descended into civil war after political accusations and attacks intensified the conflict between the Second Prince and the great noble faction. As foreign powers prepared to exploit the chaos, Long Fei rejected the United Army’s overtures and watched the fighting spread.

• Kuroda Seiya fueled unrest with conflicting reports about the attacks, while Alexandre accused his second brother of framing him and falsely claiming imperial authority.
• After the Third Prince was attacked and critically wounded, the great noble faction blamed the Second Prince, and their forces clashed with his troops, beginning a civil war.
• The United Army sought to hire Skywing Mercenary Group, but Li Jiaming rejected its commissions because he suspected it planned to use the group as a weakened vanguard before seizing its technology.
• Purvi won the Wanluo Federation presidential election and threatened Skywing Mercenary Group with sanctions, while Long Fei dismissed his claims and reelection.
• By November 25, fighting between the Dion Empire’s factions had spread across numerous locations, while the Oya Cross Nation embassy remained one of the few safe places.

The Dion Empire’s civil war continued as the United Army prepared to exploit Fadis’s unconsciousness and Purvi’s campaign against the Skywing Group drew little support. Taoxiang gave birth to Long Fei’s son, Long Quan, whose powerful psychic fluctuations surpassed those of the Newtypes at the main base, while Long Fei considered training him as his heir.

• Oya Cross Nation reported that Yelishao De and Manius each controlled half the Dion Empire and were fighting away from civilian cities under agreements to limit damage.
• Purvi ordered Wanluo Federation businesses to stop trading with or hiring the Skywing Group, but merchants used foreign companies and the Cross Vanguard resumed robbing unescorted fleets.
• On December 15, Cosmic Year 125, Taoxiang gave birth to Long Quan, whose psychic fluctuations were sensed throughout the main base.
• Long Fei visited Taoxiang and Long Quan with his daughters and Long Xuan, and he said he would train his son to inherit the Skywing Group.
• Taoxiang warned Long Fei not to put too much pressure on Long Quan and said his daughters would also train and help their younger brother.
• Long Fei left the delivery room, received congratulations from Salamander and other commanders, and Lixiang later visited Taoxiang and the baby.

Taoxiang gave birth to Long Quan, whose powerful psychic abilities alarmed world leaders and amused his family. While the Dion Empire’s civil war intensified and the United Army argued over its commander, Long Fei waited for both sides to weaken each other before revealing himself.

• Skywing Group announced that Taoxiang had given birth to Long Fei’s son, Long Quan, and reports that the unborn child had emitted psychic currents frightened leaders around the world.
• Long Fei told Li Xiucheng, Salamander, Anton, Pan Zhenhua, and Lamiel that he would stay hidden until the United Army had attacked the Mars Sphere for a while, explaining that the coalition’s members were divided and pursuing their own interests.
• Salamander assessed that the Russo-Soviet Republic would be the United Army’s most proactive Earth Sphere nation, with the Nanyang Alliance and Great African Unified Front also likely to participate.
• Long Quan used psychic fluctuations to signal that he was hungry, and Taoxiang had a childcare nurse prepare milk for him.
• Taoxiang kissed the sleeping Long Quan, who protested with increasingly strong psychic fluctuations, while Long Fei decided he would teach the boy to respect his parents as he grew.
• As the Dion Empire’s civil war grew fiercer and the United Army debated its commander-in-chief, Long Fei waited for the two sides to fight so he could benefit as a third party.

As Yelishao De’s Newborn Faction gained control of Mars, Manius agreed to pursue peace negotiations rather than risk the Grand Aristocrat Faction’s destruction. He told Alexandre that the price of survival was fighting on the front lines, where he would face death or have to earn redemption through victory.

• Yelishao De gave the Neutral Faction and some Grand Aristocrat Faction members evidence linking Alexandre to the attacks and Duke Mollicet’s poisoning, weakening support for the Grand Aristocrat Faction.
• Manius summoned the Grand Aristocrat Faction, whose majority chose peace talks despite Alexandre and a few others opposing them.
• Manius confronted Alexandre with evidence of his crimes and explained that continued fighting could give the United Army a chance to defeat the Dion Empire.
• Manius told Alexandre that a peace agreement would send him to the front lines beyond the Mars Sphere, where victory could restore his standing and death could make him a national hero.
• Alexandre collapsed, realizing that Manius had abandoned him and that refusing the assignment would cost him his title.