Looking up at Felix, Corey swallowed the refusal that had been on the tip of his tongue. Under Felix's gaze, he reluctantly nodded in agreement.
Seeing Corey's nod, Felix smiled with relief. Taking two steps back, he leaned against the table and looked at Corey.
"Corey, I have a task for you."
Hearing this, Corey's eyes instantly lit up, his entire demeanor revitalized. He had been disappointed about not being able to continue contributing on the front lines.
His shining eyes looked at Felix as he spoke with some excitement.
"Captain, your orders!"
"Return to PLANT and help me find someone."
Felix grew more serious as he looked at him.
Corey was taken aback, confusion rising in his heart.
Keeping his doubts to himself, Corey calmly said.
"Captain, please go on."
"Aren't you confused?"
Felix smiled as he asked him.
Corey froze, pressing his lips together.
Noticing Corey's reaction, Felix glanced at Aric's expression nearby and found it nearly identical to Corey's.
Instead of addressing them directly, Felix turned and sat back in his chair, presenting some materials he had written during the waiting period for both of them to see.
After reading the materials, their expressions turned grave.
They looked at Felix simultaneously, their faces serious, speaking in unison.
"Captain, will it really be as you've written here?"
"War is a hungry beast. Once it breaks free from its cage, it will grow without limits, eventually becoming a ravenous monster that devours everything."
Looking at the two of them, Felix spoke with deep emotion.
They pondered Felix's words. While they were reflecting, Felix continued.
"Think back - from the initial armed conflicts until now, hasn't the war been continuously expanding? Hasn't the intensity of our conflict with the Earth Alliance been constantly increasing?"
Under these two questions, Corey and Aric gained greater clarity in their hearts. Seeing their understanding, Felix smiled slightly.
Then Aric looked at Felix and was the first to ask.
"Captain, what will happen in the end?"
"What would you do if someone punched you?"
Felix looked at him and countered.
Aric answered without hesitation.
"Naturally, I'd punch back hard!"
"The other side thinks the same way."
Felix replied with a smile.
Aric froze momentarily, images instantly forming in his mind. Applying those images to the context of war, a chilling feeling rose from within him, making him shudder involuntarily.
"Too terrifying."
A look of lingering fear crossed Corey's face as he pondered alongside Aric. With a hint of trepidation in his voice, he spoke. Aric glanced at Corey before turning his gaze to Felix, his expression turning extremely serious as he asked:
"Captain, what should we do?"
"Put the shackles back on war. Find a stick to separate two people fighting."
Leaning back in his chair, Felix looked at Aric and Corey and replied with confidence.
Upon hearing this, Aric and Corey instantly understood what he meant. However, they still couldn't comprehend how this related to the person their captain wanted them to find.
What exceptional qualities did this person possess?
Though confused, they knew their captain must have his reasons for doing this—it must be connected to preventing that terrifying outcome.
"Corey, just follow my instructions and find this person. She will be of great use in the future."
Seeing the confusion on their faces, Felix looked at Corey and spoke with utmost seriousness. Corey stored away his thoughts, saluted Felix, and said:
"Yes, I guarantee I'll complete the mission!"
"Corey, I'm entrusting this to you. Don't let me down." Nodding slightly, Felix looked at Corey with five parts seriousness, three parts expectation, and two parts appreciation.
Corey nodded, giving his earnest assurance.
"Captain, I won't disappoint you, and I won't let that terrible outcome happen."
"Hmm."
With this acknowledgment, Felix waved his hand at Corey.
"Dismissed!"
"Yes, Captain."
Saluting and responding verbally, Corey lowered his hand and was about to turn and leave when he suddenly remembered something. Halting his departure, he stood in place looking at Felix.
Noticing Corey hadn't left, Felix asked:
"Is there something else?"
"Captain, since you've already predicted this terrifying future, why not report it to the Ministry of Defense or the Council?"
Corey thought for a moment, organizing his words before asking.
Seeing that Corey's question was nearly identical to what he himself had been about to ask, Aric saved his breath and directly turned his gaze to the captain, awaiting the answer.
Hearing Corey's question and observing both their expressions, Felix spoke under their expectant gazes:
"What I can foresee, the Chairman, the Speaker, and other council members can foresee as well. However, their positions differ from ours—they have to consider many other aspects.
Under such circumstances, some matters become beyond their control."
Pausing his words, Felix looked at the two, then shifted tone and asked reflectively:
"In a duel, when you punch someone, your fist hurts them but also hurts itself. If the fist wants to stop, can the brain simply say stop?"
After speaking, Felix smiled as he looked at them.
Aric and Corey pondered these words, remaining silent without any response. After a moment, they exchanged a glance before simultaneously turning to look at Felix.
"We understand, Captain."
Smiling and nodding, Felix felt gratified that his subordinates grasped the concept so quickly. Corey saluted Felix once more, lowered his hand, turned, and walked out.
Watching Corey leave, Aric also prepared to depart.
Felix stopped him.
"Aric, you stay."
About to salute, Aric lowered his arm, letting both arms hang at his sides as he stood waiting for Felix's instructions.
Felix handed a document to Aric.
"Set up the corresponding stage in the cafeteria according to the document's contents for Miss Lacus and others to perform, while arranging for on-duty personnel to watch the performance."
"Yes."
Responding verbally, Aric raised his arm to take the document. Holding the document in one hand, he saluted Felix with the other.
"Captain, I'll get to work now?"
"Hmm."
Nodding, Felix voiced his acknowledgment.
Aric lowered his arm, turned around, and walked out.
After watching Aric leave, Felix leaned back in his chair, toying with a pen on the table, the corners of his mouth curling up slightly.
After smiling, Felix placed the pen back on the table. His hands moved to the virtual keyboard as he closed the open document on the computer and reopened the operational plan file for Endymion Base.
Reviewing the existing content, Felix began checking for omissions and filling in gaps.
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