"Really? Can I talk to him?" Anna looked at Lenoya Sala excitedly.
"Of course it's true, but it may still take some time before you can speak with him." Lenoya Sala was suddenly at a loss for words. In truth, she had made it all up.
How could Noer have awakened so quickly? According to the news from January Colony, Noer's condition was actually very poor.
Or rather, the fact that he was barely clinging to life was already remarkable.
Although the gene-neutralizing medicine made from Seedling No. 16 had temporarily stabilized Noer's condition.
Gene Potion No. 4 was far too overbearing. Noer's body was still on the verge of collapse and could break down at any moment.
"Aunt Lenoya, you don't have to lie to me. I know Brother Noer won't forgive me!"
Although Anna was young, every Coordinator possessed above-average intelligence. After her initial excitement faded, Anna still noticed the flaw in Lenoya's words.
Though she desperately wished she hadn't.
"How could that be? When have I ever..." Lenoya Sala was not someone who knew how to lie, nor did she wish to deceive anyone.
But when faced with Anna, she had no choice but to lie.
"How would that help? Would Brother Noer even be able to see it?" Anna asked through her tears.
She was truly terrified—terrified that Noer would die just like that. Whenever she thought of it, she would wake from the darkness in fright.
"How would you know if you don't write one?"
Looking at Anna's face, Lenoya Sala secretly made up her mind. Later, she would gather some of Noer's notes. No matter what, she had to forge a reply!
"I'll write it right away!" Anna bit her lip, broke free from the embrace, and ran toward her room.
When someone with no choices was suddenly given one, even if that choice was wrong, they would still try it with all their strength.
The next day, February 14—Valentine's Day.
Anna handed the letter she had written through the night to Lenoya Sala. To her, it was the only way to ease the unease in her heart.
So she had written it with great care.
Holding the letter she had just finished, Anna skipped happily over to Lenoya Sala, ready to ask Sala to send it to January Colony thousands of miles away.
However, when she found Lenoya Sala with the letter, she discovered everyone staring blankly at the television projection.
"PLANT must pay the price for those who died at the lunar conference!"
"We have tolerated enough! Yet all we have received is PLANT's relentless aggression!"
"From today onward! On behalf of the Earth Federation and all Naturals of Earth, I declare war on PLANT!"
"..."
On the television projection, a man in a suit stood on a stage, delivering a declaration to the entire world.
No one knew what kind of future that declaration of war would bring, but there was no doubt that the moment he spoke those two words, the tragedy that would sweep across the universe had completely erupted.
"Make PLANT pay in blood!"
"War is wrong! We cannot let humanity become beasts!"
"The truth has not yet been uncovered, so why are we so eager to declare war?"
"Those self-important genetic products must be completely eliminated!"
"Operation: Clean Purity!"
"PLANT will learn the consequences of angering Earth!"
"War is cruel! We don't want war!"
"..."
As the declaration of war concluded, the world went mad.
Some advocated war, while others advocated peace.
Naturally, Cagalli and the others in Orb had also learned of the declaration. At that moment, all of Orb's representatives had gathered to discuss Orb's future.
"Father! We..." Cagalli pushed open the door and was about to say something when she suddenly realized the occasion was inappropriate, leaving her momentarily stunned.
However, her personality would not allow her to back down. Instead, she faced everyone and said bluntly, "Father, does our declaration of neutrality still stand?"
"Cagalli!" One of the seated representatives could not help but rebuke her. "Things aren't simply whatever you want them to be! Facing..."
"We will remain neutral!" Uzmī Ula Asaha cut him off.
"What?"
"Why?"
"Representative?"
The other Alliance Forces representatives looked shocked as they stared at Uzmī Ula Asaha in disbelief. Neutrality was not something that could be maintained merely by saying so, especially under the current circumstances.
The Earth anti-PLANT Alliance Forces were far stronger than Orb. This was not a gap that technology alone could bridge.
"We will remain neutral! Orb will remain neutral forever!" Uzmī Ula Asaha seemed to cast off a heavy burden after saying that.
He did not know whether this decision was good or bad, but he knew he had to make one and take responsibility for it.
In truth, given the current situation, joining the Earth Alliance would have been Orb's most suitable choice. However, the Earth Alliance's sudden declaration of war gave him a bad feeling.
This declaration of war had been far too hasty and taken for granted.
War was no child's play. The decision had been made too quickly, as though it had been planned for a long time.
"Representative! Do you know..."
"Orb was founded on neutrality! Or do you wish to hand over Orb's Coordinators, abandon Orb's dignity, and forsake the very foundation of Orb's nationhood in exchange for temporary peace?" Uzmī Ula Asaha retorted.
Orb was indeed on Earth, but its population structure was far too complex. Coordinators and Naturals had long lived together in harmony.
The Earth Federation's slogan was to destroy all Coordinators. Under such circumstances, once Orb chose to enter the war, no matter which side it joined, it would become a primary target for both the Earth Alliance and PLANT.
Therefore, Orb's neutrality was not a hasty decision, but the final and best choice after weighing the advantages and disadvantages.
Though he did not know what kind of future this choice would bring to Orb, Orb had only this one choice now!
The other representatives fell silent. No one who could reach their positions was a fool; it was only that their differing positions led them to different choices.
Moreover, Uzmī Ula Asaha held tremendous prestige in Orb. The choice he made would inevitably be supported by most people.
The following day, Uzmī Ula Asaha announced his declaration of neutrality to both sides. Orb would remain neutral forever, favor neither side, and join neither side.
"Heh heh, what an interesting old fox. Neutrality... You think it's that simple?"
"Orb's neutrality is neither good nor bad news for us."
"A neutral nation... Interesting."
Before you continue