After leaving Meer's house, Felix followed the route back home. Shortly after stepping through the door, he waited for his parents to return from outside.
Wendy saw her son sitting in the living room playing games and walked over with a warm smile, slightly bending to rest her arm on his shoulder.
Feeling the touch on his shoulder, Felix turned to look at his mother behind him and asked, "Mom, what's for lunch later?"
"I bought your favorite dishes," Wendy replied, gazing at her son with a tender, loving smile. After quietly staying with him for a while, she straightened up and headed toward the kitchen.
Meeting her husband, who had just put away his things, they hugged each other and shared a light kiss on the cheek before parting.
Wendy continued to the kitchen, while Chris walked toward the living room.
Sitting on the sofa, Chris glanced at the game on the screen and then at his son, who was fully absorbed in playing. He smiled slightly, took out his phone, and began browsing news articles.
"Felix, is what the news says true?" Chris asked his son while reading the news.
Hearing this, Felix turned to his father with a puzzled expression. "Dad, which news are you talking about?"
"The one about us soon negotiating with Earth Union," Chris said, referring to the news pushed to his phone.
Felix shook his head decisively. "Fake!"
"Fake?" Chris was taken aback, his voice tinged with surprise as he looked at the news content.
Felix nodded and explained, "If there were really negotiations, I would have gotten some hints by now. So far, I haven't received any information about this." He took a deep breath and asserted, "So the negotiation news is fake." Glancing at his father's phone, he added, "And soon, this news will be removed, and the media outlet that published it will be penalized."
"I see," Chris said, understanding dawning on him.
He stopped asking and quietly lowered his head to continue reading other content on his phone. With no further questions from his father, Felix focused back on his game.
After a period of calm, Chris set his phone on the table, gathered his thoughts for a moment, and asked his son again, "Felix, when do you think the war will end?"
Hearing the question, Felix's hands paused briefly while playing the game before he resumed his actions. As he played, he replied calmly, "It's unlikely to end anytime soon." Then, turning to his father, he continued, "Dad, you don't need to worry about this. Just focus on going to and from work peacefully and living each day well with Mom."
"I was just asking casually," Chris said with a light laugh in response to his son's words.
After saying this, Chris didn't bring up the question he had just asked his son again. Felix glanced back at his father, and seeing that he wasn't dwelling on the matter, turned back to continue playing his game.
More than half an hour later,
His mother's voice came from the dining room.
"Dinner's ready!"
"Dinner's ready."
Chris stood up, patted his son's shoulder, and spoke in a gentle, affectionate voice.
Hearing his father's words, Felix put down his game controller, stood up, and walked with his father toward the dining room.
Two days later,
Felix bid farewell to his parents and left home.
Departing from Junius Seven District, Felix took a shuttle to the satellite where the MS Integrated Development and Design Bureau was located.
At the MS Integrated Development and Design Bureau
"Captain Griffith, your timing is perfect."
Bartley looked at the approaching Felix, a joyful smile on his face as he spoke. Seeing Bartley's delight, Felix smiled and asked,
"Is there something particularly happy going on?"
"The Illusion Particle Conical Dispersion Furnace has completed the production of its prototype."
Seeing Felix's interest, Bartley shared the good news with him. Upon hearing this, Felix couldn't help but show a pleased expression on his face.
He looked at Bartley and inquired,
"Where is the prototype currently?"
"It's right here in the design bureau."
As he spoke, Bartley led Felix inside the design bureau.
Following behind Bartley, Felix soon arrived at the location where the prototype was stored. Looking at the pure white conical furnace before him, Felix reached out to touch it.
Feeling the coolness of the metal, a faint smile of satisfaction appeared at the corners of his mouth.
He turned to Bartley, his eyes filled with anticipation, and asked,
"When will the formal testing begin?"
"The testing has already been approved."
Before hearing Bartley's reply, Felix first heard another voice responding. Turning toward the direction of the voice, he saw a man in his thirties standing not far away.
Looking at the man, Felix greeted him,
"Long time no see, Director Arnold."
"Long time no see, Captain Griffith."
Arnold wore a gentle smile as he responded, walking toward Felix as he spoke.
Standing before Felix, he looked at the prototype and said,
"Captain Griffith, if this test goes smoothly, we can equip the MS currently under construction for you with this device as well.
I believe that with this, your combat operations will become much smoother, Captain Griffith."
"Thank you!"
Hearing this, Felix expressed his gratitude to Arnold. Arnold smiled slightly in response, waving his hand to indicate it was nothing.
More than half an hour later,
In space outside the satellite
The Illusion Particle Conical Dispersion Furnace was installed on the corresponding testing platform, while Felix and the others were in the control room beneath the specially designed platform.
"Captain Griffith, let's begin the test!"
Looking at Felix, Arnold nodded with a slight smile.
Felix, who had been eagerly awaiting the test, replied with excitement in his voice upon hearing that they could proceed,
"Yes!"
With that affirmation, Felix pressed the activation switch.
With the press of the switch, the furnace installed on the test platform was officially activated. The tightly sealed conical furnace underwent a slight deformation as three seams appeared on its body. The Mirage Particles stored inside were released through these three seams.
Control Room
"How's the situation?"
Arnold glanced at Felix and asked with some apprehension in his heart. Felix continued operating while slightly turning his head to look at Arnold before speaking.
"Everything is normal so far. The dispersion of the Mirage Particles is exactly the same as during the simulation tests, showing no signs of uneven distribution or particle loss whatsoever."