The Brother Is Not Quite Normal

"Alright, you may return for now."

"Also, the three-day challenge period still stands. Keep an eye on things yourself; don't let yourself get knocked out."

"Yes, sir!"

After saying this, Xu De stood at attention and marched out of Revil's office with a vigorous stride.

Of course, he would not be surpassed by the others in his unit.

As long as he didn't grow careless, the Moebius was as good as his.

Now that the safety issue was basically resolved and he had made sufficient preparations, this step could be considered half-completed.

Look two steps ahead for every one step taken.

He should start planning for what comes after this step.

After all, if he survived after completing this step, it would be too late to start thinking about the next one then.

It was just like walking.

Once the first step is taken, one must immediately consider where the next one will land.

First, although the First to Third Fleet had been scattered, they likely wouldn't be completely disbanded.

However, there was no great significance in being an ace here.

If he were to be wiped out midway by a beyond-visual-range strike from Genesis, he probably wouldn't even know how he died.

Conversely, the most dangerous place is the safest place.

Following this line of thought, perhaps he should try to find a way to become a Gundam pilot.

If he could secure training as a Gundam pilot, he should be kept off the battlefield for a period of time.

It wasn't that he was afraid of the battlefield, but rather that he didn't want to risk his life for the Atlantic Federation.

Furthermore, the military academy would make it easier for him to meet more people and expand his connections.

Military academies, whether in reality or in anime, were much the same.

Didn't Char make good friends back in the day? Although he couldn't go to the military academy in PLANT, going to the Atlantic one wasn't bad either.

However, the problem now was that the Gundam was a top-secret project; he couldn't just walk up to Revil and say he wanted to pilot a Gundam.

Perhaps the opportunity lay on the battlefield of the World Tree, where Halberton's Eighth Fleet was stationed at the lunar base.

If something happened there, Halberton would certainly be responsible for the cleanup.

And if they were to retreat, these space warships couldn't descend to Earth, so they would surely head to the moon.

Thinking this, Xu De rubbed his fingers together, a plan forming in his mind.

Creating value is what matters most.

Over the next three days, Xu De naturally did not have his Moebius taken away.

Moreover, after witnessing Xu De's performance, only a handful of people dared to challenge him.

"Xu, excuse my presumption."

Flint, who came to challenge him this time, was a fan of martial arts; after stepping out of the simulator, he performed a cupped-fist salute toward Xu De.

His expression was full of respect and admiration.

"Not at all, not at all."

Hearing this, Xu De cooperated fully and returned the salute.

Only five people, including Flint, came to spar with him knowing they would surely lose; most of them were extremely passionate about combat.

They were also highly motivated, and these people were all from humble backgrounds.

Most of them had also stood up to support him during the Thomas incident.

In other words, they were progressives.

For Xu De, these people were a massive resource pool, and he did not reject the idea of forming a clique.

Only by banding together could they better survive.

If they just listened to the orders of those death merchants above, they wouldn't even know how they died.

Especially that Muruta.

If he wanted to resist, he needed to accumulate strength.

But all in all, that goal was too grand and was not currently within the scope of Xu De's considerations.

"I'll come find you again after I go back and study some tactics!"

Although the three days had passed, it was clear that Flint didn't care about that.

"Good."

Watching Flint depart, Hans, who had been observing from the side, walked over to Xu De's side.

"Which one was that, again?"

Hans asked.

"The fifth."

Xu De laughed.

Out of one hundred people, he had managed to win over five.

Although these five were not entirely on his side yet, there was plenty of time ahead.

It was only just beginning.

"God of Ruin, the name is well-deserved."

Hans chuckled.

Because Xu De chose to conduct most of his simulated battles in the ruins of low-Earth orbit, he had naturally earned such a moniker.

Hearing this, Xu De merely shrugged.

Whether it was meant as mockery or respect, Xu De did not care.

"I really don't know what kind of screw came loose in your head, kid."

Watching Xu De, who only smiled without saying a word, Hans couldn't help but complain.

"It's even more insane than a damn genetic mutation."

As he spoke, the envy in his heart grew even more intense.

If Hans hadn't grown up with Xu De since they were children, and if this brother of his didn't still remember their past, the birthmarks, the eyes, and the color of his hair—which was still black—he would have truly suspected that his brother had been swapped.

"Let's put that aside for now."

Xu De changed the subject.

"I asked the higher-ups; the five of them and you have all been assigned to the Fifteenth Fleet, responsible for the right-center flank."

"If you don't hear any orders from above when the time comes, take them with you, pretend you were attacked and scattered, and head to this coordinate."

As he spoke, Xu De used the specialized communication device here to send the other party a coordinate outside the World Tree.

"...Xu De, do you really think the ZAFT attack will cause us to be completely scattered?"

Hans asked hesitantly.

"I don't know, but it's better to be prepared."

Xu De said.

The six of them—he could try to protect them.

But it wouldn't work if only he put in the effort.

"Also, although they said seven days, that's just the maximum. Half a week has already passed, and ZAFT could launch at any time."

At most seven days; the correct interpretation should be that the closer it gets to that number, the higher the probability of them arriving.

"And these next few days, you and the others need to step up your training immediately, using the Mistral."

"Alright, we've been training all along."

Hans nodded vigorously.

Facing the trust of his brother, who agreed without asking for further explanation, Xu De stepped forward and patted Hans's back hard.

"Don't die."

He was not arrogant enough to think of himself as a savior, but he was human, and humans have those they are close to and those they are distant from.

At the very least, he wanted to ensure Hans's survival.

"Don't worry! My life is tough."

Hearing this, Hans also struck Xu De's back with equal force.

It made a loud slapping sound.

"If you have time to set a flag, keep training."

After saying this, Xu De let go of him and, ignoring Hans's bitter expression, sat back into the simulator.

"Fine."

Seeing this, Hans couldn't say anything else and could only respond with a sullen grunt.

Xu De had been training like a madman lately, and he insisted on dragging Hans along too.

Even though he knew Xu De was doing it for his own good, this kindness was simply too heavy to bear.

Every time, he was trained until he was on the verge of a breakdown, yet Xu De—who knew how he was built—possessed an impossibly enduring stamina.