Banquet (2)

"This is delicious, too!"

Shiro Amada had several plates laid out before him, tucking into the food with gusto.

Unlike the Zeon side, where banquets felt more like family gatherings, this welcome party hosted by Colonel Yinsen felt more like a networking event.

The bridge crew and Mobile Suit team of the White Base had been invited, as had the captain and vice-captain of the 86 Squad.

After all, in name at least, this banquet was also a mobilization meeting for the Apsalus operation.

"Shiro, mind your manners."

Eli stood nearby, watching Shiro Amada enjoy the meal with a helpless expression. But seeing Shiro Amada buried in his food, he knew it would be difficult to pull him away.

Fortunately, the public stereotype of Mobile Suit pilots was that they were crude and unrefined.

After all, right next to Shiro Amada, Kai Shiden and Hayato Kobayashi of the White Base were also eating in a way that could hardly be called elegant.

The White Base had received so few supplies that merely meeting basic nutritional needs was a struggle; dreaming of enjoying a gourmet meal was pure fantasy.

Eli sighed and turned his gaze toward the others.

Amuro, unsurprisingly, was also eating.

Regrettably, he couldn't enjoy it properly, as Bright had him in tow while conversing with Yinsen.

Further away, Frau watched Amuro with a worried expression, the bread in her hand having gone untouched for quite some time.

Meanwhile, Mirai Yashima and Sayla Mass were enjoying the food before them with ease and elegance.

Looking at the two young women, then back at the pilots beside him, Eli sighed deeply once more.

It was understandable, though; both of them were genuine young ladies of high standing.

"Lieutenant Eli, please come over here."

At that moment, Yinsen called out to Eli from across the room.

Eli glanced at the situation, set down his knife and fork, picked up a wine glass from the side, and did his best to project a respectful attitude.

After walking over slowly, Eli raised his glass to Yinsen first, and upon the latter's acknowledgment, took a sip of the wine.

"Although you have already met, I would like to introduce him again. This is the ace of our Southeast Asia base. In the three months since he began piloting a Mobile Suit, he has achieved 28 confirmed kills. He will be in charge of the operation against the Apsalus. I hope you can work together to take down that monster flying in the sky."

Yinsen wore a kindly smile, patted Eli on the shoulder, and gestured for him to do something.

Eli had no choice but to raise his glass again, signal to Bright and Amuro, and drain the contents in one go.

During this process, Eli glanced at Bright, who was also smiling as he drank, and couldn't help but feel how young he was.

Although Yinsen had only said one sentence, that sentence placed Eli—and by extension, the Southeast Asia base—in a position of leadership for this Apsalus hunting plan.

Even though Eli was also a lieutenant, equal in rank to Bright.

As the captain of the White Base, Bright should have had more autonomy, or even command authority.

This way, if they succeeded in capturing the Apsalus later, Yinsen could use it to trade for more merit.

He was truly a far cry from the young captain and the commander of Londo Bell who would later dare to raid Cheyenne Base.

"Captain Bright, I look forward to us fighting side by side. You too, Amuro."

Eli wore a gentle smile, not pointing out Yinsen's intentions.

"Lieutenant Eli, why don't you take Ensign Amuro for a walk? It would be better for you pilots to get to know each other. Besides, the Ensign is still just a child; I imagine he wouldn't enjoy conversations like ours."

Yinsen was clearly satisfied with the result, so he dismissed Eli, intending to continue buttering up Bright or perhaps even fishing for information.

Amuro clearly looked relieved; he walked over to Frau's side and finished the drink she handed him in one gulp.

"Are you nervous?"

Eli followed Amuro over and smiled lightly when he saw his expression.

"I hate conversations like that."

Amuro wiped the corner of his mouth and cast his gaze toward Yinsen.

"Calculating so much in a single sentence—are all adult conversations this complicated?"

This sensitive youth, even without his Newtype abilities fully awakened, still displayed a delicate perception that others lacked.

In that regard, Amuro was perhaps even more suited for social maneuvering than Bright.

"Some things cannot be simply defined by age. Even children have their own complex thoughts, don't they?"

Eli looked at Amuro, who still tended to keep his thoughts bottled up, smiled, and cut a piece of steak from his plate, placing it in front of Amuro.

"Enjoy the banquet."

"What an extravagant banquet. Isn't the Federation supposed to be facing a resource shortage?"

Amuro took the plate but didn't start eating right away; instead, he grumbled with dissatisfaction, poking at the steak with his fork.

Eli looked up and scanned the hall.

In this part of Southeast Asia, the fact that there was a hall decorated with such opulence was truly concerning.

"...That is the sin of adults, Amuro."

Eli had no intention of explaining himself; instead, he fixed his gaze on Yinsen, just as Amuro had done moments before.

It was a truly despairing sight—that men like these served as the backbone of the Federation, their minds occupied solely by how to climb the ladder.

That was precisely why Eli wanted to leave the military, to escape this den of intrigue.

Yet, considering the world would be plagued by incessant rebellions for the next seventeen years, the urge to fly far away only grew stronger.

Perhaps he should follow Boss Zhu's lead and head to Mars?

Eli handed a slice of orange to Amuro.

Watching the interaction between the two, Frau puffed out her cheeks in annoyance.

She couldn't help but feel like her niche was about to be replaced.

"Yo! Captain, leaving us behind while you go enjoy a feast is just cruel."

When they returned to the 86 Squad warehouse at the field base, two figures—one tall, one short—stood silhouetted against the light in front of the hangar.

There was no need to look twice; it was Eledore and Michel.

Since the Hover Truck wasn't needed for their trip to the sea, the two had been left behind at the base.

"Don't overthink it, I brought you guys something good."

Eli gestured toward Shiro Amada, who was walking up behind him, currently unloading two plastic bags from the jeep.

"Yes!"

Eledore and Michel immediately stepped forward to take the bags from Shiro Amada, peering inside.

The bag in Eledore's hand was piled high with food, but the one in Michel's hand was the real prize.

"Is this booze? You're a real pal, Eli!"

Hearing Eledore drop the stiff "Captain" and return to using his name, Eli knew the guy's minor grievances had already evaporated.

"Don't drink too much; we're moving out tomorrow."

"Already!"

Eledore, who had just pulled out a half-empty bottle, could only hold it up and wail, before Captain Nika appeared out of nowhere and snatched it away.