"Of course! We'll drink until we drop next time!"
Hans said regretfully.
Although this was a bar, it was still a military base. Aside from the drinks being ridiculously expensive, each person was only allowed one.
It just wasn't enough to satisfy him.
"We'll get the chance."
Xu De said softly.
The world had already been nudged a little by the butterfly that was him.
The future would probably be a little different too.
So they all had a chance—a chance to see the sun rise tomorrow.
A chance to make a name for themselves.
Just as Xu De finished speaking, a petite figure appeared in the doorway. She hopped and skipped through the packed crowd, waving at Xu De.
The girl's soft curves bounced along with her movements, stirring a warmth in the hearts of those who watched.
Naturally, the girl was Bella.
"Sorry..."
Seeing that she was clearly asking him to come outside, Xu De looked at the others apologetically.
"It's fine. We've eaten about as much as we can."
The others had all spotted the lovely figure too, and their smiles turned a little suggestive.
"No wonder you weren't interested in those girls from communications earlier. Turns out you've found someone this impressive."
Hans teased him with a grin. She was a beautiful young officer, after all.
And from the looks of it, she was a good match for Xu De.
Of course, if they knew that a powerful family stood behind the beautiful young officer, they probably wouldn't think so.
"Stop talking such nonsense. See you later."
Xu De laughed and chided him.
"Sure. We'll come see you off later."
Flint nodded, and everyone watched Xu De's straight-backed figure leave.
It was as if the alcohol hadn't affected his will at all.
"Xu's really changed a lot."
Watching his figure disappear, Hans couldn't help sighing.
"Come to think of it, you two came out of the orphanage together, right?"
"Was Xu always that impressive?"
Price asked curiously.
"Not really..."
If Xu had been that impressive, they probably wouldn't have joined the army so cluelessly.
Back then, life at the orphanage with Xu De hadn't exactly left them naked and starving, but they'd certainly never had enough to eat or wear. Supplies had been scarce.
Drinking and eating their fill was their dream.
If someone had told him back then that Xu De would make that dream come true so easily, he wouldn't have believed it. Xu De probably wouldn't have believed it either.
But now, that dream had come true.
And what next? Xu De seemed to have set his sights on an even greater dream. Who knew how far he would go?
As for the rest of them, if they followed in his footsteps, perhaps they could reach places Hans had never even dared to imagine.
Unaware of the complicated thoughts running through their minds, Xu De followed Bella to a small lounge.
It was available for a fee, like a room at an inn. It had a bed and was well soundproofed.
The moment they stepped inside, the noise outside was completely shut out.
"You've been drinking~"
Bella's cheeks were a little flushed.
It was hard to tell whether it was the smell of alcohol on Xu De or the stirrings of her own feelings.
"I had a little. It's no big deal."
Xu De spoke without noticing the ambiguity in his words, while Bella's cheeks grew even rosier.
She bit her cherry-red lip, looking like a small, delicate, juicy peach.
"Congratulations~"
The girl spoke softly, a hint of shyness in her voice.
"I went to see you earlier too, but Uncle stopped me, so I had to leave first."
"Xu, you were amazing!"
Meeting the girl's eyes, which seemed to sparkle like stars, Xu De smiled.
"Thank you."
"Mm!"
Looking into the boy's gentle, smiling eyes, Bella finally gathered her courage. Her love for him welled up, and she took a step toward him.
The two were already standing close. Now their bodies brushed together, and Bella pressed a light kiss to Xu De's cheek with her cherry lips.
"This... this is a greeting where I'm from. Don't get the wrong idea."
Looking at Bella, Xu De felt a ripple stir within him.
It didn't show on the surface, but the alcohol had still affected him a little.
After a brief hesitation, Xu De took a step forward as well and kissed Bella's smooth, glowing cheek, which was flushed a deep red.
"When in Rome."
Before she could react, Xu De's teasing words sounded beside Bella's ear.
Bella was unexpectedly innocent about such things, and her reaction stirred an inexplicable flutter in his heart.
Xu De had spoken with his lips almost against Bella's ear.
His breath brushed against it as he spoke, making her ear tingle.
The tingling quickly spread from the sensitive tip of her ear to the depths of her heart.
"You're a quick learner..."
Bella replied in a soft, sweet voice, like a feather gently brushing the boy's heart.
Then Bella's soft, curvaceous body pressed closer to Xu De, and she wrapped her arms around him.
Bella was quite well-endowed, but Xu De didn't feel cramped. Instead, he felt the warmth of her body and the beating of her heart, and his own feelings grew stronger.
Even so, Xu De didn't do anything beastly.
Part of the reason was that he was afraid Cook would kill him. He also wanted to give Bella time to think.
Besides, he needed time to train. Who knew when ZAFT's airborne and space forces would arrive?
He'd had plenty of social engagements lately, with the elites he'd met during the evaluations and with Hans.
They were all necessary, but they had still cost him some time.
The two held each other for quite a while before finally letting go.
Only then did Xu De calm himself and continue.
"By the way, Bella, do you know anything about clean energy?"
"What?"
Bella, who had still been feeling shy, was caught off guard by Xu De's sudden question.
"Clean energy—that is, power generation projects that don't use nuclear energy?"
Bella asked curiously.
"That's right."
Bella didn't hide anything. She shook her head and said,
"Not really. Our family mainly focuses on improving energy efficiency and design."
"Almost no one does green energy these days. We do have a subsidiary responsible for it, but it's just there to satisfy inspections and comply with policy."
Xu De's expression grew a little more serious.
"If the Neutron Jammer is deployed, green energy will become more important."
Just as Halberton had said, they couldn't defend against everything.
So regardless of the outcome, green energy would most likely become far more important.
Bella's eyes widened slightly at his words, and she looked surprised.
"You mean... they can launch the Neutron Jammer at Earth!?"
"I think it's very likely."
Xu De replied.
Bella opened her mouth, about to ask how likely he meant, but when she saw how serious Xu De was, she couldn't bring herself to ask.
The way Xu De spoke now reminded her of when they had first met while they were with the Garrison Force at the World Tree.
Back then, he had spoken to her in much the same tone.
The conviction in his manner made Bella believe him without a second thought.
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