Arriving at the Ministry of Defense, Yang Hui found Sumeragi busy at work, staring intently at a map. Quietly, he approached from behind and wrapped his arms around her waist.
Feeling the familiar warmth at her waist, Sumeragi smiled softly and leaned back into Yang Hui's embrace.
"Tired?"
"Mhm."
Though it wasn't war, maintaining peace demanded even more effort than warfare. Sumeragi had been so tense she hadn't noticed her exhaustion—until Yang Hui's embrace made all the fatigue from the past few days suddenly wash over her.
"Take a break? I heard you haven't rested properly in days."
"I can't. Not yet. The military exercises have already begun, and the Atlantic Federation's stance is ambiguous. I need to prepare countermeasures in case they get desperate..."
"They're already half-dead—no desperation left. Don't worry." Yang Hui scooped Sumeragi up in his arms and sat down on a nearby sofa, settling her onto his lap to rest against his chest. "As long as we don't actually strike at them, they won't interfere with us."
"That's exactly what worries me." Sumeragi's concern wasn't unfounded. The Atlantic Federation had been spoiled rotten—their behavior at the peace talks as a defeated nation, still posturing as if strong, proved it. "Because they're doing nothing, I fear they're plotting something."
"Civil unrest?"
"Hehe, I know you're just trying to trick me into resting, but I appreciate it." Sumeragi chuckled, gently stroking Yang Hui's cheek.
She was right. Neither Sumeragi nor Yang Hui—nor any high-ranking official with eyes—could ignore the fact that the Atlantic Federation's so-called "civil unrest" was nothing more than child's play. The federation wouldn't be allowed to fracture. Blue Cosmos wouldn't permit it, and LOGOS, standing behind Blue Cosmos, certainly wouldn't either.
In fact, Yang Hui and the others knew that the shadowy forces behind LOGOS would never allow it.
"Big sister Sumeragi, I—Oh my? Am I interrupting?" At that moment, Wang Liu Mei entered the room. Having finished her own tasks, she had come to see if she could assist Sumeragi—only to find this scene.
"Of course not." Yang Hui grinned, shifting Sumeragi to his left thigh and patting his right.
Wang Liu Mei giggled and gracefully walked over, seating herself on his right thigh and leaning against his chest just like Sumeragi.
"You've worked hard, Liumei." Yang Hui stroked her hair, his voice tender.
"I'm actually fine. The people's unity is strong, so there isn't much administrative work I need to handle personally—just delegating is enough. But Big Sister Sumeragi's side... that can't be handed off to others." Wang Liu Mei was also worried about Sumeragi's exhaustion. Military affairs weren't like domestic governance. Orb's military expansion, regional defense deployments, new unit training—these could be delegated. But many tasks only Sumeragi could handle.
It wasn't a matter of distrust. Simply put, no one else had the capability. Take intelligence analysis, for example—the entire General Staff combined couldn't match Sumeragi. When it came to analyzing intel and formulating plans, they could only help her spot gaps and offer suggestions.
Setsuna, Lyle, and Tieria followed the First Fleet for military exercises—the easiest assignment of all. Even after their return, Setsuna and Lyle would be dispatched to space to assist Mina in securing the captured Boaz Fortress and establishing a cosmic defense line.
However, these were short-term missions. Once completed, they would return to Orb and resume their roles as Mobile Suit pilot instructors, training elite pilots for the nation.
Meanwhile, Yang Hui oversaw the broader strategy. Aside from personally handling research and development, he delegated the finer details to his subordinates, focusing only on major directives.
"By the way, judging by the timeline, Creuset's side should be—mmph!"
"Enough, Liumei." Wang Liu Mei had just begun discussing matters in South America with Yang Hui and Sumeragi when Yang Hui abruptly silenced her with a kiss. Pulling away, he wore a reproachful expression. "I finally convinced Sumeragi to take a break, and here you are, ready to drown her in work again. Do you want to exhaust her to death?"
"Ahaha, exactly." Wang Liu Mei covered her mouth with a sly, playful smirk. "If Sister Sumeragi works herself to death, wouldn't that make me the rightful empress?"
"You little—! So this was your scheme all along? You deserve punishment!" Sumeragi lunged at Wang Liu Mei, tickling her mercilessly.
"Ahahaha—! I surrender, Sister Sumeragi! Hahaha—! Spare me! Hahaha—!"
"No! Today, I'll make sure you remember—your elder sister is always your elder sister!"
"Hahaha—! Husband, save me! Hahaha—!" Realizing that neither pleading nor laughter would stop Sumeragi's assault, Wang Liu Mei turned to Yang Hui for help—only to find him already standing by the door, having locked it to prevent outsiders from witnessing the scandalous scene. Leaning against the wall with crossed arms, he watched the two beauties tussle with amusement.
"Sorry, but harem affairs fall under Sumeragi's jurisdiction as the rightful empress. I can't interfere."
"Hahaha—! You—hahaha—you and Sister Sumeragi are ganging up on me!"
"Who told you to plot my demise?"
"It was just a joke!"
"Well, I took it seriously!"
"Ahaha, Sister Sumeragi is the best! Fine, tonight I'll—"
...
While Yang Hui and his two wives stole a rare moment of leisure, Orb's transport fleet in South America had finally come within visible range of the coastline.
"Are we there yet?" Creuset observed the shore through binoculars, detecting no anomalies but maintaining high vigilance.
"Lord Vidar, all preparations are complete."
"...Mm." The corner of his mouth twitched beneath his mask at the title. "Have the MS units land first. The escort fleet will spread out and remain alert. The transport ships must be protected at all costs."
"Yes, sir."
Once his subordinate left, Creuset gripped his mask, trembling with barely suppressed frustration. Even after several days, he still couldn't shake the humiliation of his new identity.
To avoid exposure, his original identity had to be discarded. Now, he wore a full-head helmet—sealed tight with no gaps—along with a voice modulator to disguise his speech.
But still…
"So why did you make me take this name? Do I resemble the Norse god of the forest? Is this your revenge?" Creuset didn't particularly mind taking a deity's name as his new identity—given his past deeds, he could certainly claim the title of "god" without hesitation.
But... the god of the forest? That didn't suit his image at all! He'd have preferred being called Loki!
Moreover, though Creuset had no proof, he was certain Yang Hui hadn't named him Vidar because of the forest god. There had to be another reason!
Sigh. "When under someone else's roof, one must bow their head."
Creuset was a man who accepted fate. He had once learned of his destiny and resigned himself to death, choosing to take revenge on the world for his tragedy, refusing to believe his fate could be altered.
But when fate did change, granting him a new life, logic would suggest a man like him wouldn't submit to another's authority. Yet here he was, yielding once more.
Why? Because he realized that while his tragedy had been rewritten, a new one had taken its place. Beyond Yang Hui's side, he had nowhere else to belong. And... not only had he accepted Yang Hui's domain as his refuge, but he had also surrendered to his own desires.
The chance to journey to other worlds, encounters with the unknown, the endless horizon of exploration—his insatiable curiosity screamed in his mind, compelling him to seek it all.
...
The Orb fleet drew closer to the port. M1 Astrays leaped from the warships one after another, landing on solid ground as the vessels escorted the transport ships into position before fanning out in formation.
As the transport ship docked, Creuset disembarked with his entourage of officials, greeted by a warm reception. The president of the United States of South America had arrived in person with his cabinet to welcome them.
"Welcome, Lord Vidar." Though puzzled by Creuset's mask and inwardly deeming it somewhat discourteous, they were the ones seeking aid—patience and flattery were necessary.
"My deepest apologies for not showing my true face, Mr. President. A fire long ago took both my visage and my voice." The rasp that emerged from behind the mask was part of Yang Hui's carefully crafted backstory—his face burned away, his voice ruined.
"I see." The explanation eased the South American delegation's concerns, though they still wondered why he hadn't sought treatment. Modern medical technology could easily heal burn scars.
But everyone had their past. The documents from Orb had identified Creuset as the diplomatic minister overseeing all support operations for their nation, backed by a full fleet and MS units. That assurance alone proved Orb wasn't sending some insignificant, masked figure to brush them off.
"Lord Vidar, please follow me. Accommodations have been prepared for you."
"Your hospitality is appreciated, Mr. President."
After brief orders to their subordinates regarding the unloading of supplies, both parties boarded their vehicles and departed the port.
"Lord Vidar, regarding the agreement between our nations..."
"Is there something unsatisfactory about the terms, Mr. President?"
"No, Lord Vidar, your nation's demands are not unreasonable, and I believe your country would never act like those bandits from the Atlantic Federation." The South American Union could fully accept the terms regarding the mine ownership. Although the mines would belong to Orb, the workers employed would still be locals, which would help the South American Union government solve employment issues. Why wouldn't they agree?
As for using the mineral resources to expand military capabilities... The South American Union harbored no grand ambitions. Perhaps after being bullied by the Atlantic Federation for so long, they simply wanted to peacefully maintain their nation's existence.
"I merely wish to ask how your nation plans to fulfill our agreement?"
Hearing this, Creuset's lips curled slightly, his calm demeanor carrying a hint of dominance: "That's not something you need to concern yourself with, Mr. President. We already have an operational plan, and when it comes to such secrets... the fewer who know, the safer it is, don't you agree?"
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