"152nd Extreme Training session complete, Major..."
"Continue."
"Understood."
Watching Ford Romfellow, who was so exhausted he barely looked human while using the Simulation Training System in his Mobile Suit cockpit, Jung and the others gloated. Meanwhile, Liddell Wolf and his group didn't dare to look directly, resolving to strictly obey the prohibitions and never break them.
"Fort really deserved this."
"He dared to violate the prohibitions the Major repeatedly warned us about. Isn't that just asking for death?"
"Hey, you all better watch closely. This is the consequence of violating a prohibition."
Hearing Travis Kirkland's reminder, Liddell Wolf and the others couldn't help but shudder. They, too, had started to develop a complacent attitude. After all, Yang Hui's combat results were always so impressive, and those who had participated in battles had swept through their enemies with the Luna's cover at Orlando Base. As a result, they had all gotten a bit arrogant.
Jung and the others had naturally noticed this. The new pilots weren't training as hard as before, and their attitudes and tones had become much more flippant. They had originally planned to find a suitable opportunity to teach them a lesson before arriving at the East Asia Theater, but then...
None of them had expected the first person to cause trouble would be Ford Romfellow!
Still, this saved them the trouble. Yang Hui took action himself, punishing Ford Romfellow to set an example for the others.
"It's the same as I've always said: if any of you want to hand the enemy a medal of honor, just let me know in advance, and I'll personally take care of it," Russ Kessel said.
"S-Sorry, sir!"
"153rd Extreme Training session complete, Major..."
"He hasn't met the standard. Continue."
"But Lieutenant Romfellow has reached his limit! His physical condition won't allow him to continue."
"Then he'll surpass his limit." Yang Hui's tone was calm and steady, as if Ford Romfellow wasn't his subordinate, as if the one being punished wasn't a person but a machine.
"Major!"
"Carry out the order. If you can't do it, find someone who can."
"...Understood."
Ford Romfellow's punishment continued. As the one being punished, Ford Romfellow never once begged for mercy. He knew he had made a mistake and had to accept the punishment. Otherwise, he would no longer be qualified to remain in the Twelfth Independent Technical Division.
Eventually, he no longer even had the strength to beg for mercy. His body was drained, his consciousness blurred, and he was operating purely on subconscious instinct, mechanically performing the Extreme Training.
Some of the onlookers couldn't bear to watch anymore and wanted to plead on Ford Romfellow's behalf, but the veterans stood by, watching them like hawks. Yang Hui's aura enveloped the entire area, and the memory of how Bernard Monsha had been crippled made them swallow the words stuck in their throats.
They wanted to leave early because they couldn't stand the sight, but Jung and the others forbade them from leaving. They had to watch until the very end, forcing themselves to suppress their sympathy and pity as they continued to watch, until...
"185th simulation training session interrupted! Major, Lieutenant Romfellow has fainted!"
"Send him to the medical bay."
"Yes, sir!"
The medical staff hurried forward, carefully lifted Ford Romfellow out, and took him to the medical bay for examination and treatment.
"Jung."
"Major."
"Revoke Fort's eligibility for the East Asia Combat Mission. Transfer him to the Maintenance Squad. When he returns will depend on his performance."
"Understood."
"Travis."
"Major."
"Excluding Banagher, Cima, Shirou, Christina, and Dique, you all can pick your teams."
"Yes, sir!"
Travis Kirkland and the others knew that it was time to officially form squads, and the people excluded were the members of Yang Hui's squad.
They weren't envious; Travis Kirkland and the others had already come to terms with it. Yang Hui had led them through two major battles and helped them achieve so many merits. It was time for them to graduate. Otherwise, what would it look like if they were always following behind Yang Hui, feasting on the meat while leaving only soup for the newcomers?
The Twelfth Independent Technical Division was a single entity. No one was a stepchild; they were all brothers and sisters. There could be no class discrimination.
According to the current size of the Twelfth Independent Technical Division, each squad would still have nine people, the size of a standard battalion. However, they were an Ace Unit and Revil's Direct Command Unit, so Yang Hui had a high degree of autonomy and didn't have to follow regulations.
Including himself, Yang Hui's squad only had six people, but they knew two spots were reserved for Ford Romfellow and Amuro. As for the last spot, Yang Hui had his own plans.
When the new pilots learned of this, they were envious of those chosen by Yang Hui, but it was only envy. Couldn't they earn merits elsewhere? Following the others wasn't bad either; anyone qualified to be a squad leader was definitely not to be underestimated.
Yang Hui let them discuss how to form the squads on their own while he returned to his room. Seeing that Natarle Badgiruel had come looking for him, they went back to his room together, and then...
...Two hours later...
"Honestly, can't you restrain yourself a little?" Natarle Badgiruel said with a hint of annoyance.
"If I could restrain myself with you in front of me, how much would I have to not love you?"
"Hmph! Next time, I'll summon you to the bridge to report."
"I'm your Military Commander! I have to go to you to report on my work? Don't I have a reputation to maintain?"
"Can we even report properly if I come to you?" Natarle Badgiruel complained in a soft voice.
"Can't we do it now?"
"Hmph!" Natarle Badgiruel pushed Yang Hui away. After they both showered and got dressed, she began her report. "A message came from General Revil. Your intelligence has been exposed."
"If it's exposed, it's exposed. It was bound to be discovered sooner or later."
"It was members of the former military committee who leaked your intelligence. As revenge, I suppose."
"Heh, a bunch of short-sighted old fools. If they hadn't done this, they could have lived out their later years in peace. Now... heh heh."
"General Revil has already completely purged them. The Federal Assembly originally had some complaints about General Revil's actions, but General Gopp blocked them."
"Speaking of the Federal Assembly, how is Creuset doing over there?"
"He already has one-third of the assembly members under his control, but he's also out in the open now. Many people see him as a thorn in their side. He's been targeted by over a dozen assassination attempts in the last month."
"How foolish. Aren't they just handing Creuset leverage?" Yang Hui shook his head with a laugh. Assassination attempts were useless against Creuset; he was a master of that game. Unless someone dared to carpet-bomb an area with cluster missiles or drop a nuke within Federation territory, trying to eliminate Creuset was nothing but a pipe dream.
"However, his progress is a bit slow. Tell him to get two-thirds of the members under control as soon as possible. We can't keep Char waiting forever."
"I'll inform him. By the way, there's another piece of news I think you'll like."
"Since when did you learn to keep me in suspense?" Yang Hui looked at Natarle Badgiruel, stunned.
"Sumeragi and Lacus taught me."
"...Learning bad habits instead of good ones!" Yang Hui complained, pinching Natarle Badgiruel's nose. "What's the news?"
"To boost the soldiers' morale, the Federation's top brass paid a hefty price to have Lacus hold a concert in the East Asia Theater. What do you think? Happy?"
"Lacus is going to the East Asia Theater? What is she thinking?" Yang Hui was stunned for a second time. Where Lacus wanted to sing or hold a concert was entirely up to her mood; no one could force her. It was strange that she would accept the Federation's invitation this time... Wait, could it be...
"Does she know I'm going to the East Asia Theater?" Yang Hui asked with a frown.
"Mhm, it's precisely because we're going to the East Asia Theater that Lacus accepted."
"You told her?"
"No."
"...Who proposed it?"
"Assemblyman Ronan Marcenas. He's a rising star in the Aristocrat Faction now."
"...Heh heh." Having figured out the key connection, Yang Hui gave a cold laugh. "It seems my dear second sister has grown up quite a bit."
The Twelfth Independent Technical Division's movements and combat missions were all top secret. Very few people in the Federation's high command knew about them. Although Lacus was a world-famous songstress, she was still an ordinary person. How could she know he was going to the East Asia Theater?
Therefore, someone must have leaked their whereabouts to Lacus. Moreover, they must already know about the relationship between him and Lacus and deliberately told her so she would go to the East Asia Theater to see him, all to achieve some purpose.
Yang Hui couldn't figure out how this person had discovered his relationship with Lacus, nor could he initially guess who had done it. But since Ronan Marcenas had proposed it, the person behind it became much clearer.
"This second sister of yours is no simple woman. She's joined the Aristocrat Faction and even the Military Conservative Faction. She's now Kinnikuman's Confidential Staff Officer, with the rank of Lieutenant Commander."
"Doesn't Revil do anything about it? She becomes a Lieutenant Commander right after joining? That's a higher rank than me!" Yang Hui was horrified. Even if Martha Vist was from the Vist Foundation, it was impossible for her to become a Lieutenant Commander right after joining the military. Not even Kinnikuman would dare to do that, as it would be breaking the rules, and anyone who breaks the rules becomes a public enemy.
Although Yang Hui was a Major, he had provided many valuable things and earned numerous merits for the Federation. Hadn't they noticed that despite his continuous achievements, his rank hadn't changed? He was paying his dues!
What could Martha Vist possibly do? Could it be that she slept with...
"No way?" Yang Hui looked at Natarle Badgiruel with a strange expression. "She could actually bring herself to do that?"
"That I don't know. But according to the intelligence I've received, Kinnikuman takes her everywhere he goes."
"Heh heh, alright, I admit I underestimated her lack of a bottom line. Cardeas must have a huge headache."
For Martha Vist to do such a thing was to truly throw the Vist Foundation's reputation on the ground and stomp on it. Although it wouldn't be made public, wouldn't anyone with a discerning eye be able to see it?
As the head of the Vist Foundation, Cardeas would absolutely not allow such a situation to occur. But Martha Vist was now a favorite of Kinnikuman, so he couldn't touch her. He must be in a lot of pain.
And just like that, far away at the Anaheim Corporation headquarters, Cardeas Vist was confronting Martha Vist, the very sister he wished he could kill.
"You still have the face to see me, Martha? Look at what you've done!"