Everyone's Questions About Xia Ya's Identity

Just as I thought. Xia Ya mused inwardly. Every time he gave this name to someone from the Earth Alliance, they invariably showed the same shocked expression, as if they had seen a ghost. From Captain Murrue Ramius to Lieutenant Natarle Badgiruel, even his own brother Mu seemed to think such a reaction was only natural.

Was he really that famous? Xia Ya could not help wondering. True, the network of connections he had built since crossing over was far beyond that of an ordinary teenager, but aside from a handful of core members aboard the Archangel, a local fortress commander at Garcia's level should not have known so much about him.

Filled with doubts, he pondered in silence as he followed Garcia and the others toward the base hangar, slowly leaving the cafeteria.

As he walked, Xia Ya keenly sensed Jiliang's gaze boring into his back like thorns.

His steps paused almost imperceptibly, but he did not turn around in the end. He had a feeling that if he looked back now, Jiliang would be unable to stop herself from rushing out.

Before long, he was brought into the enormous hangar. Under the bright lights stood a red-and-white mobile suit, its streamlined armor and sharp angles displaying its outstanding speed and assault capabilities—none other than the Blaze Gundam, the sister unit developed alongside the Strike Gundam.

Xia Ya looked up and saw that the technicians had already opened the cockpit and were busy inside. It seemed that the moment the Legged Ship docked, they could not wait to crack its operating system.

"You want me to unlock this Blaze Gundam's operating system, right?" Xia Ya asked calmly.

Garcia nodded slightly, though an unusual gleam flickered in his eyes. "Yes... but with your 'abilities,' I imagine you can do far more than that, can't you?"

Xia Ya raised an eyebrow, feigning confusion. "...What do you mean by 'far more'?" As he watched Garcia's reaction, he stepped toward the Blaze Gundam's lift.

Garcia's eyes were full of expectation and probing as he lowered his voice. "For example, analyzing this thing's structure. Or developing and modifying units on its level—or even stronger ones. Say, developing a new MS whose performance surpasses this thing's." When he referred to "this thing," his tone carried unconcealed greed and ambition.

The corner of Xia Ya's mouth lifted in an almost imperceptible curve, carrying a faint hint of provocation. "...Well, if the equipment and personnel here are sufficiently complete, it might be possible."

Like a stone cast into a still lake, those words instantly made the atmosphere around them turn subtle. Garcia's brows rose involuntarily, his gaze sharp enough to seem as though it could see straight through Xia Ya. The technicians who had been bent over their work also raised their heads, their burning eyes fixed on Xia Ya with scrutiny and anticipation.

Xia Ya did not care in the slightest. He strode onto the lift and entered the cockpit, unceremoniously gesturing for the technicians working inside to move aside. Once seated in the pilot's chair, he leisurely brought up the operating system interface and prepared to begin the unlocking process.

Then... I'll take my time with this work next. Xia Ya mused. Though before that, some kind of "unexpected situation" might occur and make it impossible for me to remain here.

Develop an MS that outperformed the Blaze Gundam? Xia Ya's thoughts drifted. He remembered that Garcia was a lieutenant general. At that rank, it would not be strange for him to know some "inside information." But that raised another question. When he had participated in certain "projects," he had clearly signed the highest level of confidentiality agreements and had even agreed to let others take credit as the developers in order to conceal his existence... Could Murrue and Natarle's shock back then have been about more than just the surname "La Flaga"? Could it also have been related to those concealed "achievements"?

If that was the case, then he really had every right to complain a little... Once this matter was settled, he had to contact them through encrypted communications and get a clear answer. Come to think of it, the technology capable of greatly improving communications under Neutron Jammer conditions had clearly already taken shape, yet those military hardliners had turned a blind eye to it, focusing wholeheartedly on the so-called "Neutron Jammer Canceller" instead... At most, that thing could offset the side effects of communications interference. It could not interfere with the Neutron Jammer's effects themselves at all. That old professor had explained it in detail back then.

Are they all idiots? A wave of regret surged through Xia Ya. If I'd known it would turn out like this, I never should have developed those things...

Though it was too late for regret now, deep remorse still hung over his heart like dark clouds. His fingers moved slowly across the control panel as he began the unlocking process, while secretly preparing for whatever change might come at any moment.

After Xia Ya was taken away by the noncommissioned officers, the commotion in the cafeteria still had not subsided.

Tolle watched Miliaria's hand with concern and asked softly, "Mili, is your hand all right?"

His voice was full of worry, as though he feared that Miliaria had suffered even the slightest injury.

Miliaria raised her head slightly and forced a faint smile. "Yeah, thank you, Tolle."

Though her voice was soft, it carried clearly through the noisy surroundings.

Tolle shook his head slightly. "It's nothing... The two of us should be thanking that guy."

His gaze drifted unconsciously in the direction Xia Ya had been taken, and his thoughts seemed to drift with it.

Naturally, the conversation revolved around Xia Ya.

There was no need to mention Jiliang. Having been rescued from danger by Xia Ya, she was now completely preoccupied with concern for him.

Miriallia, who had also been rescued, along with Flay and Tolle—everyone in the cafeteria who knew Xia Ya was worried for his safety.

Worry and unease intertwined in their eyes, as though invisible threads tightly bound them together.

"...Um." At that moment, a weak, cautious voice slowly rose from a corner of the cafeteria. Like a small stone dropped into a calm lake, it instantly drew everyone's attention.

Everyone turned to see Sai raising his hand with some unease,

his eyes fixed directly on Neumann.

Sai's lips moved slightly, as though he were arranging his words. In the end, he asked the question that had lingered in his heart for a long time. "That person... Xia Ya La Flaga. Who exactly is he? Just now, and before when he introduced himself to Captain Ramius and the others, everyone's reactions to hearing his name were so strange. They all seemed incredibly shocked..."

Sai was indeed worried about Xia Ya, who had been taken away after saving his friends. Yet at the same time, his curiosity about the secret hidden behind the name "Xia Ya La Flaga" grew wildly like weeds, almost overwhelming his concern. He had never heard of someone whose name alone could leave officers aghast and even move a base commander. That was far too unusual.

It was understandable that Sai cared so much. His question also voiced what Jiliang had been thinking. Had Sai not spoken first, she likely would have been unable to resist asking Neumann or the old soldier Mador about Xia Ya's true identity. How many secrets did that boy, always so calm and seemingly in control of everything, hide within him? And what did the surname "La Flaga" represent? Jiliang's heart was full of questions and worry as her gaze remained locked on the cafeteria entrance, unable to look away for a long while.