Vol 7 Chapter 2 (1/2)

Chapter 2

Part 1

“Torrington Base?”

It was a name Alberto had never heard of before, and he could not help but parrot it in his ht, it’s a Federation base located in Australia” Martha answered while seely annoyed by this hassle

“After that Zeon reotten about that place The base is surrounded by wilderness without people, so it shouldn’t attract a lot of attention even if the “Ra Cailuet on a shi+p to space”

Martha sank into a sofa that had brand new cushi+ons and sighed “Looks like our holiday in the Mediterranean is going to be delayed” She rested her head on the back of the sofa as she gave a glance aside with that bewitching expression on her face Ever since she brought Mineva Zabi onto the shi+p, she had been trying to show off her bewitching char this shi+p to space?” and asked with a stiff voice

“We can’t rely on this shi+p that exchanges inforht? Besides, it seeht is a sly old fox that’s not easy to deal with We have to find a way to keep the “Ra Cailum” on Earth”

Martha finished, and closed her mouth, ostensibly annoyed to talk any further It was ostensibly the sight of a chairwo in a suite roo roohly carpeted floor, but of course, this place was not a hotel This VIP room was installed in a corner of the “Ra Cailuuests visit the shi+p From the small , the Indian Ocean 1000m below could be seen froht made when Martha demanded to have the co inside the captain’s room, and the commander’s room that was often kept empty should be okay for anyone’s use, but this was a serious probleht had been beco a common scene to the crew, but it could be said that this room was the start of the dispute between the two

In fact, this was not the reason behind Martha’s fatigue and anxiousness “Then, how’s it going?” Martha stopped rubbing her eyes and gave a sharp glance as she questioned, causing Alberto’s shoulders to jerk in shock

“Well…he insists that he won’t provide the correct inforhness Mineva”

“It has been two days, and you haven’t ress? How useless”

She frowned as she reached her hand for the coffeeon the table It had been two days since they used Mineva Zabi as a hostage, and 4 days had passed since the day they reclaiher was completely futile, and the for his eyes to peek at Martha’s expression from time to time

“Maybe he’s just bluffing about the next coordinates pointing to space? I don’t want to be led on a wide goose chase”

“Hhness Mineva was a great shock to him I feel that there’s no room for him to bluff his way He’s still a kid no s—”

“He’s Cardeas’ child after all Don’t forget that”

Martha interrupted with a forceful tone as she set aside the coffeereached Alberto’s ears, and he hurriedly lowered his stare to the floor

“He’s obstinate, stubborn, and gives the look that he’s bearing the weight of the world…you inherited your her is practically a clone of Cardeas They were definitely living separate from each other How inexplicable”

Martha’s voice softened as she ot up from the sofa She walked to theand looked at the ocean surface that aiting dusk Her slender back profile appeared in the sunset, and her long shadoas dragged till Alberto’s feet

“But perhaps he was not lying The chances of the “Laplace Box” being in Founder Syarandfather’s cryo room would be located on Earth”

Only a few people, namely, the Foundation leader and the direct associates to the Founder knew the location of Syam Vist’s cryo room—the room installed with cold sleep installation The Founder’s direct associate organization was a different entity from the Foundation, and the coe and e both With the current leader dead, there was no way Martha could make contact After Cardeas’ death, Martha once tried to investigate the inforhly, but she did not find even an avenue with the Founder’s direct organization, let alone where the cryo room was located The extent of this secrecy made Alberto and Martha deduce and believe firmly that the “Box” was hidden in the hidden location of a Founder

The problenition of the Founder, and without the knowledge of the “Box”, there was no way Martha could be accepted officially as the Foundation’s leader Sheto prevent the “Box” froot up to the seat of the substitute leader, but there definitely was not just one executive aement as repulsed by her forceful actions The Founder Syam had already known the truth behind Cardeas death, and when adding everything together, there was no guarantee that he was trying to prevent her plan Alberto timidly looked at the back of the person in front of him, and Martha probably sensed that she was on thin ice as her back, covered by the shadow, looked even more tense than before

“We still have to carry out the estiet the correct coordinates before we leave Earth…well, never mind He’ll have to accompany us until the end Let’s try to convince hi”

Martha turned her face back, and the temporal moment of feebleness disappeared fro Alberto’s feet went away, and once he sensed the usual atain, “About this” he said tentatively

“If ant to bring the “Banshee” together with the specimen into space, I suppose it’s best if she doesn’t take the sahness”

“Why?”

“They knew each other before the adjust time interaction, it’ll probably cause a mental burden on the specimen President Bentner also reported that there seens of that—”

“Alberto”

Martha looked like she wasa child as she showed a pitiful bitter s Alberto to be unable to finish what he wanted to say “Fro about a ‘speci your concern for a ‘lover’” The words that followed caused his body to suddenly heat up

“Your protection for her ends here The reason you’re chosen as her enders are easier to control As long as the memory in her mind is reset to zero, this relationshi+p will end You should understand, right?”

Martha walked towards Alberto as her blond hair let out a rasping sound and the strong perfuht As he iers touched his lower belly, “If you like to play with dolls, it’s fine” and her whisper entered through his ears

“But is this good? She can only use her mouth”

He felt the pressure gathering below his belly for an instant vanish because of this line, and inadvertently withdrew back as he glared back at Martha “WAKE UP!!” The angry chiding voice suddenly rang like a slap to his face

“If unit 1 is the Unicorn, the “Banshee” as unit 2 is the lion It’s just like the symbolism on that tapestry, they’re the co the “Box” You’re the successor to the Vist Foundation, so you better make them listen to you”

The heavy presence of the tapestry, “The Lady and the Unicorn” that was allanica”, appeared in Alberto’s e that suddenly swelled up in hiue because of this, and he could only lower his head quietly

“If you can’t ht now, even though the “Unicorn” is chained up, it continues to roam the wilderness If you don’t want to lose to your little brother, you better not let go of the lion”

Little brother This term, which bore no relation and yet felt extremely realistic, seeped into Alberto’s heart, and the last ounce of will to argue back melted His restrained body andinto floor as he answered with a murmur, “…yes”Martha snorted back and turned her face away, obviously having nothing to inform left

Part 2

Alberto arrived outside the rooasped as he saw the deep blue eyes looking right at hiaze as he walked down the corridor with her behind “…Are you alright?” He asked

“Yes I had President Bentner carry out the adjustments”

Marida followed Alberto on the right side as she answered with a her, her neural waves were once messed up to a point that she nearly could not resonate with the psycoh the symptoms had subsided, the frequency of the headaches she had was obviously increasing Bentner indicated that Marida took hypnotiss, and that they would need to carry out external operations if they wanted to carry out proper ‘adjustments’ Since they did not have the time to carry out the operations, they could only carry out treatainst the symptoms to ease and eliminate the headaches caused by the reactions

But could she still remain as herself even after the operation on the brain? No, if everyone’s mind could be rewritten, there would be no need to let her remain as herself It was just like what Martha said in her hts Alberto thought to himself as looked over his own shoulder at Marida, dressed in Vist Foundation fors and hypnosis, but she did not seem as helpless as those of sleepwalkers, and her footsteps seem no different from an ordinary person However, there was no shred of e back at Alberto, and they looked like two hollow glass eyes, extremely unnatural

He thought that those were the eyes of a puppet The deep blue eyes that once covered hientleness were not present Once he confirloomy, and he stopped in the middle of the corridor He looked back at Marida who stopped as well, and averted his sights, “…Don’t endure it if you’re having it tough” He squeezed out a voice as he said,

“If you feel the slightest bit unwell, tell me”

“Yes”

“The “Banshee” is not an ordinary mobile suit If you can’t perform your best like usual, it’ll affect the machine’s abilities”

“Yes, I’ll do my best”

The glass pearl-like eyes did not waver at all as Maridain his mind, and an inevitable rash of anxiety suddenly rushed up his heart, “DO YOU UNDERSTAND OR NOT!?” he yelled clumsily,

“IF YOU FIND IT UNBEARABLE, UST SAY IT IF YOU SAY THAT YOU CAN’T CONTINUE TO PILOT IT, I’LL GET THEM TO SWITCH YOU OUT!”

Alberto inadvertently grabbed Marida by her upper ar hollow eyes However, the latter did not back away, and her unwavering eyes merely blinked once

“If you have that intent, I can take you away from here if you want to Think more for your own sake, I—”

“Is that an order?”

The thoroughly emotionless stare and voice cornered Alberto, and his arrabbed Marida by the arrip “This isn’t what I h, “Is that woman the pilot of the “Banshee”?” However, a third person’s voice caused him to jolt with shock

He looked back, and found Riddhe Marcenas standing at the cross junction of the corridor, “It confounds me to think that this lady here is a Cyber-Newtype” Riddhe said as he frowned and approached Alberto Since when has that guy been standing there watching? Alberto resisted the urge to click his tongue and turned to face Riddhe, ostensibly trying to block Marida’s sights

“She’s ht? Does the Vist Foundation deal with hu too?”

“What is it you want, Ensign Riddhe?”

Alberto used his hand to restrain Marida, who had an intent to fight, and gave a refusing look to thehim not to approach At about approximately 2m distance, Riddhe stopped in his tracks and, “I hope to meet Mineva Zabi” He said fiercely

“Just 5 ht her to Earth in the first place There’re sos I want to know”

“I should have said before that it’s ihness Mineva is under the protection of the Foundation Even if it’s the prince of the Marcenas’ fahness to meet an officer of the Federation”

“Then let her” Riddhe continued to er “I was ordered directly by the Senate Council, and it’sthat happens on this “Ra Cailuive me instructions”

“Unfortunately, I can’t allow that each If we’re talking about authority, I’ under the authority of the Senate Council chairman If you want a request to talk directly, please obtain the permission of the superior”

Upon seeing the speechless Riddhe, he felt like gloating over it He s that were still, walked by the otherthe ht?” and added

“Banagher Links is the son of the ex-Foundation leader, Cardeas Vist He’s an illegitmate child, but he does have the Vist family name”

“Banagher’s a member of the Vist family…?”

Stupefied Riddhe’s face showed this description as he frowned and turned his widened eyes at Alberto During the escape two days ago, this her escape The situation surrounding the “Box” is one thing, but what sort of change will happen to his eher as allies? Alberto sneered, “You should understand, right?” and deliberately emphasized in a cocky manner

“This is si to do with the “Box” and the “Unicorn” His existence itself is a shame to the family I hope that you as an outsider will ask less next time”

Upon seeing Riddhe’s legs crumble as he retreated to the wall, Alberto felt that he vented out all his frustrations, and intended to leave the scene However, a little snicker suddenly rang, causing him to stop in his tracks

Riddhe was leaning against the wall as his body, arched forward, treot louder, “This is really a voice entered Alberto’s voice

“So I’ve been actually fighting against the 100-year-old enemy…even if this is caused by the “Box”, this is really set up too perfectly It’s really a joke”

Riddhe’s bitter sloo fist at the wall Alberto felt a chill that could cool his heart, “What do you mean?” and frowned as he asked “Go ask Syam Vist yourself!” Riddhe answered back furiously as his expression changed, and turned a hideous look at Alberto

“What did your Founder do 100 years ago, and how did he get the “Box”, build the Foundation? Once you know that, you can only laugh dryly at it”

The bitterness swelled out from Riddhe’s shoulders as well, and before Alberto could ask, he turned away and left The unexpected counter was not the only thing that shocked Alberto, and it felt like there was so his inner heart as he stared at that back with the speechless Marida

Alberto clearly remembered the Foundation’s history, when he married into the Vist Foundation However, the basic development of the Foundation—how Syam obtained the “Laplace Box”, and the “Box” itself were classified There were no reasons for any outsiders to know about it, and the family e establishment, the “Box” had become a revered object that would not normally become a conversational topic, and nobody would talk about the Foundation Syam as well Alberto had not talked to him ever since he retired from his position as the leader of the Foundation Alberto himself only knew of the other rand retireue memory from his youth

Despire this, Riddhe sounded like he knew Syam He called the Vist Foundation his 100-year-old enemy, and told Alberto to understand how Syam obtained the “Box” As the descendant of the first pri soue understanding as he felt an unknown chill surge up his body, and he looked very tentative as he stared at the back that was leaving

Does he knohat’s inside the “Box”—?

Part 3

The woman summoned onto the monitor in the second communication room was in her twenties, and her beauty could be described as coquettish, a feature one would wonder whether it existed just for her She had a nice look, but her alluring features could be mistaken as opportune areas as she was especially attractive Perhaps this was a type ht like

(I’ the results of the investigation you requested in lieu of senior er Stephanie)

Even so, the green-filled eyes had an adalint that would not allow others to approach easily Her proper greeting of a refined lady caused Bright to feel that he was overwhelmed in terreeted back and looked around the eful reason

“I didn’t think that you’ll be the one reporting Are you working at the Luio Chamber of Commerce?”

(I’m not affiliated as a Luio employee Please view me as a freelancer”

Beltorchika used her hand to tidy her blond hair that was cut short and gave a somewhat stiff ser Stephanie has been taking care of me, and Mr Kai shi+den would often come by too)

“Oh…it sounds like there’s quite a few people both you and I know of)

Bright said after giving a stiff smile The reason why both sides could not show their honest se hollow they saw in each other, the man called Amuro Ray After the One Year War, there was an internal conflict which divided the Earth Federation arht joined the Anti Earth Union Group, while Beltorchika joined the assistance group “Karaba” “Karaba” had its base located on Earth, and so, Beltorchika hardly had any interaction with Bright, as in the base However, Bright once inadvertently heard of Beltorchika from Amuro Ray, who joined “Karaba“ as well

The titans were a radicals rightist anization which ca their influence in the na the Zeon remnants, and once they were overthrown, the AEUG and “Karaba”, which were rebel organizations, naturally ended their roles Both organizations were absorbed by the governht and the other ed to return to their normal squads, but volunteers like Beltorchika, ere civilians, disappeared froot absorbed and went off to join the anti-governht heard from his old contacts in the past that quite a few people continued on in the inforht that Beltorchika would be the latter case here When the Gryps Conflict started, The Luio Chaest sponsor of “Karaba”, and since Beltorchika had a personal relationshi+p with the president’s daughter Stephanie Luio, there was no reason for the foret a job

But, unrelated to this, Bright could iine that Beltorchika had ot involved with athe One Year War, but after the War, he was feared as a proponent of Newtype thinking, and was i in influence, Beltorchika, not anyone else, was the one who caused the trauht heard from Amuro hiht gave a probing look at those eyes on the ain,

This insensitive line would touch upon a person’s old wounds, but Bright believed if this line would cause Beltorchika to waver, he could be certain that it was best not to trust in her abilities He realized that he was doing souilt and looked at the other person’s face with a nonchalant look Beltorchika herselflook, and then chuckled, (It’s Coave an unfettered tone

“Ah, you’re right Sorry”

(You don’t have to think for my sake We used to be deeply in love with each other, and then we broke up I heard he died in battle during “Char’s Counterattack”, and I was depressed for a while…but his body wasn’t discovered, right?)

“Yes…”

(Isn’t hiainst his arch-ne for a romantic like him? Up till now, I sometimes feel that he should be alive, somewhere Even if we lose the shell of the hued with space…)

Beltorchika looked like she was staring in the distance as she narrowed her eyes, and Bright felt that these words of her were not forced The brat who’s always crying about on “White Base” had becoht was suddenly overcorief as he too looked afar, and Beltorchika chuckled, saying, (You’re just like what Aht saw the hts were seen through, “I admit this” and could only smile wryly as he shohat little he had in his mind

“That’s why I can talk to you like this now Since the response is so swift, I suppose the Luio Cha to be wary of the Vist Foundation’s movements?”

It o days ago since the moment when he first established contact with the Luio Cha involving this incident—right after Mineva Vist visited the “Ra Cailuuest and the “Unicorn” pilot escaped, creating a commotion It was impossible to think that the other party would be so quick with their response if they had not been investigating all this while As Bright probed in, (Yeah, the Luio Chaanizations coainst each other, at least on Earth) Beltorchika siave a direct answer

(On the surface, the situation is that ‘the rich are lazy to spend the effort fighting each other’, but there are a lot of strings being pulled underneath… regarding the “Laplace Box”, it seemed that the Luio family had already known of its existence The Vist Foundation had the “ Box”, so the Luio family could only try to avoid a direct confrontation—this see superstition in their family Miss Stephanie has not explained this to be me clearly, but the Chamber of Commerce once had a scuffle with the Foundation in the past and took a severe defeat This incident started because the ex-leader of the Foundation, Cardeas Vist, made his own decision to release the “Box”)

Beltorchika started to explain to Bright how everything happened, the negative ru Cardeas’ death, the current substitute leader Martha planning to reclaim the “Box”, the Settle to use this chance to get the “Box” and establish the Federation’s authority once the Zeon Republic got dissolved, and how Neo Zeon, called the “Sleeves”, had the shadow of the old Republic of Zeon behind it…

(With regards to the relation of the “Sleeves” leader, Full Frontal and the Zeon Republic, we couldn’t investigate it clearly There were ru under the ex-pri, but the information control here is too strict…)

“I read in a report that the era after the Wars had been starting to rise within the Republic, and the Nationalis There also appears to beNeo Zeon fleets in Side 6 This is getting tough”

(Even so, the Federation is in the power struggle for the “Box”, and can’t seeoal)

“Yeah Martha of the Vist Foundation and Ronan of the Settlement Issues Council want to use the ar of Char” who intends to topple the establish”

Beltorchika made a froith her primp and proper eyebrows, perhaps because she just heard these unexpected words froht to feel the heaviness of his head as he leaned on the back of the chair, “Ahed as he said

“Leaving aside the One Year War, it has been the sareed or not, it’s true that they had their own thoughts too The wars that were started in the past was because people had opposition against the establishment called the Federation, and where humanity stood at this point; However, there’s no such ideals now I’m not sure what this “Box” that can topple the world is, but I can see the greed of those ant to ain authority In other words, the season for politics is over, and the era of a cold world that can only be moved by self-profit and authority has come before us That’s why this individual rule was disorderly, causing the tragedy at Dakar”

(I do understand what youYour words see as we have our own ideals)

On hearing this direct refute, he felt that someone just poked him in the head (I’m sorry I’m someone who speaks too much Amuro used to relance she shot through theher words Bright was shocked that he was unabashed in beautifying the past and criticizing the present, and that perhaps was the proof that he was advanced in age “No, I was insensitive inthis too” He tried to calm himself down as he was a little shocked by how outdated his personal ideals were

“Anyway, thank you for telling me this I can ards to seniorto be easy repaying this favour…”

(The Luio Chamber of Commerce won’t simply watch the Federation’s internal strife from the sidelines, so I suppose you shouldn’t be too concerned by it…but what do you intend to do?)

“This isn’t easy I want to end the fight over the “Box” as soon as possible to prevent incidents like Dakar froain…but it’s really pointless to choose sides between the Foundation and the Settlement Issues Council Actually, if the Vist Foundation people enter space, the “Ra Cailum” will lose its opportunity to intervene”

Once the higher-ups ordered for the people froton Base, the “Ra Cailuainst terrorist attacks Most likely, this was the instruction given by Martha to the Senate Council The only one who could overturn the current situation was Ronan Marcenas himself, but there was still no news from him Even the unbelievably potent card, Mineva Zabi, seemed to be sent over from Ronan himself From the current situation, it seemed that the Foundation had the Settlen Riddhe proved that this was not a decoy strategy

With the Vist Foundation sealing theoal in his ada thein an unexpected direction Logically, if he could relax his tense shoulders, he should be able to find a way out with his inherent intellect…

(So even the “White Base” captain that h Zeon forces with one shi+p has to surrender with both hands up now?)

“The situation’s perilous now It’s not as siot promoted to the position of a coh with a single shi+p is really—”

The ht felt an electric flow surge through his ht repeated in his heart, and let his thoughts work as he did not want to let go of thisattention to Beltorchika, who gave him a serious look and called him

(What I’ to do with the Luio Foundation Please treat it as , there was a tramp shi+p on the South Pacific that broke off from its anticipated routes and broke off contact)