Success and Failure

"Xu De, I hear you're pretty good."

Xu De had only just returned to their Drake-class ship when he ran into Lieutenant Libby in the corridor.

The lieutenant, who had been in high spirits earlier, now looked distinctly tired. Even his arms were wrapped up tightly in bandages.

"Sir, it was just a matter of luck."

Xu De replied with his usual modesty.

"Luck..."

At that, Libby's mouth twitched as if the word had hit a nerve.

His own side hadn't even taken down a single Ginn. Comparing that with the man before him, someone he had once dismissed, and seeing Xu De's indifferent expression—

It felt as though their roles had been reversed, with Xu De now standing above him.

That thought mingled with all the resentment he'd built up on the battlefield, with nowhere to vent it. Libby stepped forward.

"You coward! You had the ability, yet you ran to the rear to save your own skin!"

Jealousy burned in Libby's eyes, as if it might become a fire and consume the young man before him.

If... if he'd been at the rear, he could have achieved results like that too.

To Libby, who wanted to become a hero, Xu De's very existence made him feel as though he'd gone from hero to commoner.

"Do you know how many of us died?!"

"I do."

Xu De met Libby's gaze without looking away.

Libby just wanted to stand on the moral high ground and berate him.

But if Xu De could have prevented the deaths of the people on the front lines, he would have done so long ago.

And besides, he had only just arrived. Even if he'd joined them, would they really have accepted him?

Libby's attitude made it clear that they wouldn't have.

The elite here were all proud.

They thought they were different from ordinary people, and in Libby and the others' eyes, Xu De had been just an ordinary person.

He would have had to follow their orders, and he might have died even sooner.

So he didn't regret his decision.

"But even if I'd joined you, what difference would it have made?"

Xu De asked.

"Or do you think I could have turned the tide of the battle, sir?"

"..."

Xu De's retort left Libby speechless, his face flushed red.

His anger was clearly about to boil over after losing the argument.

Xu De took a step back. His posture hadn't changed, but he was ready in case Libby lashed out.

Just as the atmosphere grew heavier and the situation seemed about to erupt, a deep voice cut in.

"That's enough."

Revil came around the corner.

"Lieutenant Libby, go back and get some rest."

"But—!"

"Lieutenant Libby!"

Revil's louder voice drowned out Libby's shout.

"...Yes, sir."

Under Revil's commanding gaze, as imposing as a lion's, Libby could only shoot Xu De one last resentful look before turning and leaving.

"He's on edge."

Revil watched Libby's retreating back and spoke only after he had disappeared from sight.

"I know."

Xu De nodded.

He didn't want to make enemies, but he wasn't afraid of them either.

Looking at Xu De's usual expression, Revil sighed again.

His subordinates were too impatient. In truth, if Libby hadn't fallen apart on the battlefield, he might have achieved something and reduced their losses.

He'd ranked first in the simulator and had been capable enough in ordinary circumstances, yet Revil hadn't expected him to react so poorly to an emergency.

Of course, Revil had no intention of telling Xu De any of this.

As for Libby, he would deal with that later.

With that in mind, Revil continued.

"I looked into Bella's background."

"She's from the Phoenix family, one of the major shareholders behind Sikorsky. They own plenty of other businesses, too."

Revil spoke gravely. The weight on his face made Xu De furrow his brows.

Sikorsky—the name had "sky" in it, but it was an Atlantic company, founded in 1923 by an American aviation engineer of bear descent.

The famous Air Force One was built by them.

It had existed in Xu De's previous life, too.

Later, though, it was acquired by their competitor, Martin.

They were unquestionably a giant in the industry.

A young lady from a family of that caliber was here?

There were different ranks even among the powerful. If Bella really was a Phoenix, there was no need for her to come here in person.

As Xu De considered it, he looked at Revil. The admiral wasn't especially excited; instead, he seemed grave. Xu De began to form a few suspicions.

"Bella's from a branch of the Phoenix family, right?"

"That's right."

Revil had wanted to keep Xu De in suspense and see whether he'd lose his head. He was pleased to see that Xu De remained calm and judged the situation clearly.

Most people would have had their heads in the clouds by now upon hearing that she was a young lady from a powerful family.

With that in mind, Revil continued.

"She carries the future of her branch on her shoulders. That's why she came here."

Revil sounded a little wistful as he spoke.

"In any case, be careful when dealing with a family like that."

"Understood."

Xu De answered.

A family like that, with the future of its branch resting on her shoulders, was bound to bring trouble.

But if he played his cards right, he might be able to learn more from them.

Now that he understood her background, and knew she wasn't someone he'd be crushed for so much as touching, he'd at least have some idea how to deal with Bella when he saw her on the Moon Base.

"Thank you, sir."

Xu De lowered his eyes as he spoke.

Revil had looked out for him.

That meant Xu De owed him a debt, but he didn't mind what had just happened with Libby. He certainly didn't blame Revil for it.

"It's all right. I believe in your future."

"Just keep working your way up."

Revil smiled and patted Xu De on the shoulder. Then his expression turned serious as he continued.

"And there's the matter of the Mobile Suits."

"The admiral will hold an assessment at the Moon Base."

"If you pass, you can return to the homeworld and receive systematic training at the military academy."

"If you fail, you can choose whether to stay with the Eighth Fleet or the Third Fleet. You'll be given the rank of second lieutenant, a bonus of one million, and the Cosmic Silver Cross Medal."

"Of course, if you pass, you'll still keep the rank, bonus, and medal."

At that, Xu De's expression grew more serious.

The second option would have been tempting to most people.

But if he chose it, he'd have little control over his own fate.

Staying with the Third Fleet meant the Moon would be wiped out. The Eighth Fleet would also be wiped out in the Low Orbit Battle.

And both outcomes had been brought about by Le Creuset.

Even if Xu De kept improving, the pressure of fighting Le Creuset would only grow without a Gundam.

His own strength wouldn't be able to keep pace with the intensity of the war.

If he chose the second option, all he could do was run.

And he didn't want to run.

If he wanted to control his own fate, there was really only one path left.

Pass the assessment and go to the Atlantic to receive systematic training as a pilot.