Facing the figure rushing towards him, Yang Hui showed no hesitation, directly catching her in his arms and spinning around a few times before setting her down.
"Oh my! Has my little cotton-padded jacket grown up this much? Finally willing to meet your uncle," Yang Hui affectionately ruffled Unoa's hair.
"Hehe, I've just been busy, right?" Unoa said, clinging to Yang Hui's arm and acting cute.
The last time Unoa and Yang Hui met was when Kio was born. Unoa had been dedicated to medical assistance activities worldwide until recently when she joined the military and was assigned to the Diva.
Although she had returned home occasionally, she always missed Yang Hui and the others, so they hadn't seen each other for over a decade.
Kio and his little girlfriend were left dumbfounded. To them, Unoa was gentle and mature, taking her work very seriously.
But now, she was acting like a little girl, almost overturning their worldview.
"Yes, yes, yes, you're busy. My Unoa is the best!" Yang Hui said, pinching Unoa's cheek.
"Hehe, I knew Uncle loves me the most."
"So, how is it? Are you adapting to military life?"
"I can adapt. When my team and I went to the mountains back then, that was real hardship."
"Alas, my little cotton-padded jacket is so sensible, much more than your brother."
"Uncle, can you not belittle me to praise Unoa where I can hear?" Asemu, who had been following behind, covered his face in exasperation. He had always felt like he was picked up off the street in front of his sister.
"Hmm? Do you have an opinion?"
Yang Hui shot a glance, and Asemu immediately shrank his neck, not daring to speak again.
"Hehehe." Unoa playfully stuck her tongue out at Asemu.
"Kio, come here."
Releasing Unoa, Yang Hui waved Kio over.
Seeing this, Kio obediently approached Yang Hui. Although he didn't know much about Yang Hui, he had seen his dad and aunt behave obediently in front of him, so he figured he should be good too.
"Grandpa Yang Hui."
"You little rascal…" Yang Hui said with a half-smile, glancing at Wen Li standing behind him, secretly lamenting how the Asuno family truly passed down their traits. The art of "raising" was something they all seemed to grasp without a teacher.
"Why do you want to pilot a Gundam on the battlefield?" Yang Hui asked Kio.
"Because… because Grandpa said I'm also of the Asuno bloodline, and it's my mission to pilot a Gundam and become a savior…"
For some reason, even though Yang Hui appeared very kind, Kio felt an almost imperceptible pressure weighing down on his shoulders.
"Mission… savior… Do you understand? Kio, every MS you destroy, every enemy you face, is a living life. You are killing people." Yang Hui's gaze turned serious, his tone grave.
"Killing… killing!" Kio was startled, suddenly feeling his mind go blank, unable to think of anything.
"Exactly, you are killing. No matter how noble your reasons or goals may seem, they cannot hide this fact."
"But… but… Grandpa said… said… VEGAN is…"
"The demons invading Earth? Have you ever seen a VEGAN? Have you spoken to them? Do you know they have families too? Do you know why they invade Earth?"
"I… I don't know… but they… they really invaded Earth! I… I saw it with my own eyes… what they did to the cities…"
"Kio, you're still young and don't truly understand what battle is, let alone what war is. I hope you can think this through before deciding whether to get into a Gundam." Yang Hui said earnestly.
"But VEGAN…"
At this, not only did Yang Hui laugh, but Graham, Yurin, Asemu, and Unoa behind him all chuckled.
"You little brat, your grandparents were the nightmares of Ezelcant back in the day. We're still alive, so it's not your turn to carry the banner yet."
Saying this, Yang Hui left with Graham, while Yurin, being the gentlest, stayed behind to have a good chat with Kio, and Asemu needed to talk with his son too.
As for the battle deployment… with Yang Hui back, did the Celestial Being still have a place for him?
…
"How's the situation?" Yang Hui asked Argreus as he and Graham entered the command room.
"The latest intel from the intelligence department indicates that the VEGAN fleet has assembled, and the reconnaissance team has discovered their traces." As he spoke, Argreus projected the intel and reconnaissance results onto the large screen. "I suspect VEGAN will launch an attack from both the ground and space."
"What about our arrangements?"
Yang Hui's qualifications and prestige could allow him to replace Argreus as the commander, but Yang Hui wouldn't do that. Although the tone of their exchange didn't reflect the respect of a subordinate to a superior, it still maintained the attitude of an elder to a younger.
But he would never overstep his authority, nor would he seize power; that was the duty of a soldier.
"Just like before, free hunting." Argreus grinned.
Although Argreus was different from Flit, he shared the same view as Flit regarding Yang Hui and the others. Placing them on any fixed front would waste their combat power; only by freeing them from constraints could their roles as hunters be fully realized.
"No problem." Yang Hui smiled; this was the kind of work he loved the most.
Knowing his mission, Yang Hui left directly, leaving the other arrangements to others.
Yang Hui and Graham went straight to the Celestial Being's base, preparing their Gundams hand in hand, and also…
"Hmm… Flit, you said you'd retire and put down your burdens, but looking at your Gundam… it doesn't seem like it." Yang Hui teased Flit.
"I… I'm just bored. Don't you always say that a Gundam is the best companion? I have to take good care of my old buddy, right?" Flit replied with a hint of pride.
"Ha, you old rascal. Let me see what you've modified." Yang Hui shook his head, both laughing and crying, and took the PAD to check it out.
"How is it?"
"Tsk tsk, no wonder you often run to my company."
The data for Gundam AGE-1 was quite impressive. Although it still looked plain on the outside, the armor and internal frame had undergone a complete overhaul.
The materials and technology for the armor and frame were all the latest generation, and the energy system, radar detection system, and sensor systems had also been upgraded. Without looking at the design and armaments, Gundam AGE-1 was no different from Dawn Gundam, Flag Gundam, and Luna Gundam.
"Humph!"
"What are your thoughts on the armaments?" Yang Hui asked Flit. Gundam AGE-1 was indeed well-maintained and upgraded, but it couldn't just go into battle like that.
Not to mention that Flit was different from Yang Hui and Graham; his physical capabilities had certainly declined. Moreover, the nature of warfare had changed; it was impossible to rely solely on a gun and shield to instill fear in the enemy.
"I've already had the armory working overtime, but I don't know if they can finish it before the war starts."
After saying this, Flit displayed his design plans to Yang Hui.
Yang Hui took a look and thought, wow, is this the incredible corrective power?
Unexpectedly, after seeing so many diverse weapons designed by Yang Hui, Flit still chose a simple design with no changes at all.
"I'm not you; I don't pursue flashiness, I pursue practicality." Flit saw through Yang Hui's thoughts and said with annoyance.
"Ha, whether it's practical or not, you can go ask VEGAN." Yang Hui rolled his eyes and sneered.
"Humph!"
"Alright, your design is fine; I won't interfere."
"...What about Yurin?" After a long silence, Flit, who was adjusting the OS (Operating System), suddenly asked.
"She's with Kio."
"...I'm sorry."
"I don't need your apology; the ones you should apologize to are Asemu and Romary."
"Hmm…"
"I'll tell you this, Flit. If Kio chooses to go to the battlefield, I won't oppose it. But if he does anything unworthy of a soldier, I will dismantle Gundam AGE-3 and send him home."
"...I understand."
"...Let's not talk about this anymore; just focus on adjusting your Gundam, or I'll be the one attending your funeral."
"Get lost! I wouldn't die even if you did!"
"Hey! You dare talk to your brother like that? You've grown some guts, huh?"
"Um… you heard wrong."
…
On the sea, the VEGAN fleet was advancing towards Lost Loran, with one particularly eye-catching red Faz.
"Is it really that easy to take Lost Loran?" Jehart wondered, the sound of his fingers tapping on the table echoing in the room.
"Ding ding…"
"Come in."
"Long time no see, Lord Jehart."
Jehart felt quite complex about the failure of the invasion plan due to the new Gundam, but upon seeing the visitor, a smile appeared on his face.
"Dol, Ofa, Diet, I've been waiting for you for a long time."
The visitors were the three guards who survived the Nordram invasion twenty-four years ago. Like Jehart, they had been retrieved back to VEGAN shortly after infiltrating Earth and placed in cryogenic sleep, so they still looked so young.
"Very sorry, Lord Jehart. The awakening program was delayed, and we came to see you only after restoring our physical functions."
"No worries, your presence is the best. Who is she?" Jehart noticed the petite girl standing behind the three.
"Nice to meet you, Lord Jehart. I am Fulamna, and Lord Zanard has ordered me to serve as your adjutant." The girl introduced herself.
"Zanard…"
Hearing this, Jehart smirked coldly. Would someone he had always been at odds with really send him a beautiful adjutant out of goodwill?
"Go back and tell Zanard that I don't need an adjutant; having Dol and the others is enough…"
"Lord Jehart." Before Jehart could finish, Dol Frost interrupted, bowing and pleading, "I'm truly sorry, Lord Jehart. Fulamna is my sister; please let her stay by your side to take care of you."
"Hmm?"
(End of Chapter)