"We've finished negotiating with the 'Junk Guild.' Their leader, who calls herself 'Professor,' would like to come aboard for a visit. I've agreed. If you're free, come back to the bridge and join us?"
"'Professor,' huh... Got it. We'll be right back."
After ending the intercom call with Tessa, Luther turned to Cima.
"By the way, Cima, where's Monica? I haven't seen her."
"She went straight back to the bridge after returning. What do you think that means?"
Cima's question had an obvious answer. It seemed Monica had found the 'evidence' Luther needed in the port and administration districts, so she'd returned to the bridge to process and save it.
"Then Haman and I will head back to the bridge. Cima, are you coming with us?"
"No. As the mobile weapons unit's leader, I still have work to do in the hangar. But I'll be back in time for the draw tonight!"
Though she was actually pretty 'bad' at nightlife, Cima still enjoyed it;
Luther naturally had no complaints. After all, it was an important part of keeping the team together.
After a quick farewell kiss with Cima, Luther and Haman returned to the bridge together. Before entering, though, they both needed to straighten themselves up a little.
Even after taking plenty of time to tidy up, the moment they entered the bridge, Monica greeted them with an annoyed shout and an appraising look up and down.
"You're so late! Luther, you really need to show some restraint!"
Luther said nothing, feeling a little guilty, but Haman wasn't afraid of Monica.
"Coming from you, Ms. Monica, could you please stop always insisting on being on top and clinging tightly to Luther's waist?"
"I don't want to hear that from you, Haman, when you're stuck to him all day and supposedly have to stay in contact with him to maintain your Newtype abilities!"
This routine had ramped up considerably since they'd crossed over to the CE World. The crew, who'd seen plenty of it back in the UC World, had gotten quite good at holding back their laughter. A few of the middle-aged guys even gave Luther sympathetic looks.
Fortunately, the communications officer's report brought the scene to a temporary end.
"The Junk Guild's shuttle has landed on the shuttle deck."
"Understood. Please escort Professor to the reception room."
After replying to the communications officer, Tessa turned to Monica and Haman, who were glaring at each other.
"Monica, Haman, are you joining us?"
"You've already reviewed the information. I'll sit this one out and get ready for the press conference."
"I'll pass too. Don't worry, I'll hold down the bridge for now."
Monica and Haman, still trying to kill each other with their eyes, both declined Tessa's invitation.
Tessa nodded to each of them, then took Luther's outstretched hand and rose from the captain's chair.
"Then let's go, Luther. Since she's our guest, we shouldn't keep her waiting."
"Yes, my captain. Hold on tight to my hand, and be careful not to trip over nothing."
Tessa looked a little embarrassed, but didn't pull her hand away. Under the envious gazes of Monica and Haman, and the crew's warm smiles, the two left the bridge hand in hand and floated toward the reception room.
Nothing happened along the way, but Luther and Tessa still enjoyed their time alone together, chatting briefly about fleet matters.
Not long after Luther and Tessa reached the reception room and had just settled their nerves, an officer appeared at the door to make an announcement.
"Sir Luther, Captain Tessa, the Junk Guild's representative has arrived."
"Please show her in."
Tessa and Luther exchanged a nod. After replying, he stood up with her.
The door opened, and the officer ushered in a mature, intelligent-looking woman in her thirties or forties;
she had wine-red hair similar to Monica's and Kurisu's, but the three of them had completely different hairstyles and auras. Professor truly lived up to her name, giving off the air of an academic.
"Welcome aboard the Gwameir, Professor."
"I'm honored that you've both taken the time to receive me, despite my calling on you without warning, Sir Luther and Captain Tessa."
Hearing Professor's polite reply, Luther glanced at Tessa. She gave him another slight nod, confirming that she must have told Professor how they should be addressed during their earlier communication;
And the fact that Professor knew how to address Luther correctly despite never having met him suggested that she was either clever or particularly attentive.
At Luther's gesture, the three took seats at one corner of the square conference table.
Once the officer had served tea and left, closing the door behind him, Luther invited Professor to drink. After taking the first sip of tea, he got straight to the point.
"Since we've already authorized the Junk Guild to salvage the wreckage of Heliopolis and rescue the civilians in the shelter escape pods, may I ask why Professor still wanted to meet with us in person?"
Professor answered without hesitation.
"With a third party that's clearly a regular military force suddenly appearing alongside the Earth Alliance and Zaft, it would be strange not to ask questions about something that could decide the future of the Junk Guild, or even the entire Earth Sphere.
"Of course, I'm also deeply honored that you agreed to meet with me in person."
Luther chuckled. After checking Tessa's expression and seeing her support, he pressed further, right to the heart of the matter.
"Then forgive my bluntness, Professor, but who exactly are you representing on this visit?"
Facing Luther's rather knowing expression, Professor gave a gentle, 'serious,' and 'correct' answer that he found 'interesting.'
"You're joking, Sir Luther.
"'The Junk Guild' is just the Junk Guild. We're hyenas and vultures, scavenging whatever scraps the powerful leave behind wherever there's a profit to be made.
"I'm supposedly the leader only because I'm fair-minded and have some influence. I can't even fully represent the Junk Guild, so who else could I represent?"
Luther wasn't surprised by Professor's 'modesty' and 'evasion.' He patiently continued to press her, step by step.
"During wartime, the Junk Guild can even get its hands on military mobile weapons.
"So rather than hyenas, wouldn't it be more accurate to call you hounds let off the leash?
"Besides, this is remote L3, and the battle just ended, yet the Junk Guild managed to arrive so quickly... Heh.
"If that's really all there is to it, Professor, your instincts are wasted on the Junk Guild. Why not join us instead?
"I can personally offer you the benefits of a major's rank."
Before you continue