After several days of sailing, the Diva finally arrived at Fading. However, as soon as they docked, the personnel from the Federal Inspection Bureau showed up, ready to arrest Grudick.
"What should we do?" Graham asked Yang Hui. They had prepared for so long, and they couldn't let their plan fall apart here.
"I'll handle it. You stay here and guard the Hangar. No one is allowed to touch Gundam, not even kids."
"Kids?"
"That's right, kids."
"Hmm... that's a bit strange." Graham scratched his head but accepted Yang Hui's instructions.
It was understandable that Graham didn't get it; after all, Desil's appearance was quite misleading. Who would have thought that a seven-year-old child would be the ace pilot of UE?
As soon as Yang Hui entered the captain's room, he ran into the personnel from the Federal Inspection Bureau.
"Oh? What's going on here?" Yang Hui pretended to be unaware.
"You are! Young Master Yang Hui of Yang Corporation! What are you doing here?" The officer who was supposed to arrest Grudick was startled by Yang Hui; he hadn't been informed of this.
"The Diva is on a top-secret mission, and I just happened to be able to help, so I tagged along. As a good citizen of the Federation, I naturally have to contribute," Yang Hui replied.
"But... there's an arrest warrant for Colonel Grodek Ainoa…"
"Don't say that." Yang Hui gently put his arm around the officer's shoulder, wearing a sly smile. "We'll only be staying in Fading for six days. Could you pretend you didn't see us?"
"Th-That's impossible!?"
"Is it? I was hoping to help you keep a few little secrets." As he spoke, Yang Hui shot Grudick a knowing glance.
Understanding, Grudick pulled up the secret account of this officer at the Fading Bank that he had found out about privately. It was filled with illegal income and records of ships allowed to pass without docking permits, very detailed. If this information were to be submitted, the officer might end up as Grudick's cellmate.
"Damn... how did you find out about this..." The officer thought he had been discreet, with only a handful of people aware.
Unfortunately, Yang Hui was here.
"Didn't you know? Some of those ships... belong to my family."
"What!? If that's the case, then you…"
"Want to give it a try? What if I'm not involved?" Yang Hui asked teasingly, his expression sinister and cunning.
In the end, it was just some gray income. Especially since Yang Corporation was one of the top military enterprises in the Federation, having some under-the-table dealings was quite normal. Even if it got out, it wouldn't matter; they could minimize the impact through their connections and simply push someone else to take the fall, or even just pay a fine to resolve it.
Moreover, Yang Hui had never participated in such gray transactions, so he remained Yang Hui, Yang Corporation remained Yang Corporation, the Federation's upper echelons remained the Federation's upper echelons, Fading remained Fading, and he was no longer a military officer of the Federation.
"Damn... what do you want to do?" The officer asked, his face twisted, feeling frustrated but not daring to lash out.
"Didn't I just say? Just pretend you haven't seen us. We'll leave in six days, and these secrets never existed, and…"
Yang Hui leaned closer to the officer's ear and whispered, "If our mission succeeds, I might consider adding your name to the list. By then, you might even get a promotion."
After saying that, Yang Hui stepped back, confidently asking the officer, "What do you think?"
The officer's face changed colors like a chameleon, constantly shifting. On one hand, he feared that his illegal activities would be exposed, leading to imprisonment; on the other hand, he was tempted by Yang Hui's mention of a "secret mission," and he was also unsure how to face the inquiries from above.
In the end, fear and desire overcame reason, and he agreed.
"Tch... Colonel Grudick and the Diva have been granted a six-day stay in Fading. Make sure to leave promptly when the time is up."
"Understood."
After sending off the grim-faced officer, Grudick nodded in thanks to Yang Hui. Although he could have found this information himself, it would have taken considerable effort. Moreover, with Yang Corporation backing him, his subsequent liabilities would be significantly reduced, and it wouldn't implicate the departing officer.
"Let's go meet our future comrades. By the way, put away the EZ7 file. If you really try to trade that, even if I want to help you, I won't be able to."
"How did you... Looks like I underestimated Yang Corporation's intelligence network."
"Your methods are indeed discreet, but as long as there's movement, traces will be left behind, and it won't be hard to follow the clues back to you."
"So, are you confident?"
"Are you misunderstanding my profession? Don't forget, I'm also the next head of Yang Corporation."
"Hmm... I understand now."
...
Yang Hui followed Grudick to negotiate with the two major forces in Fading, while Graham stayed behind in the Hangar. On one hand, it was Yang Hui's instruction; on the other hand, he didn't like wandering around. Rather than spending time playing outside, he preferred to relax with the MS.
So Yang Hui's assessment of him... a lonely old man for life, he was beyond saving.
While browsing through previous battle records, Graham suddenly saw a child rush into the Hangar, with Flit closely following.
"A child I don't recognize? Hmm? That direction is!" Noticing that the intruding child was heading straight for Gundam, Graham recalled Yang Hui's warning and quickly stepped in front of the child.
"Hey, kid, this isn't a playground. You need to leave."
"Don't be so stingy! Let me play a bit…" Desil tried to use his innocent appearance to deceive Graham, then attempted to slip past him and dive into the cockpit of Dawn Gundam. However, he didn't expect that Graham would be completely unaffected, grabbing Desil and handing him over to Flit.
"That's not allowed. This isn't a toy for kids, Flit."
"Understood!"
"I don't know who he is, but hurry and take him away. This is a military restricted area; don't bring strangers in."
"I... I understand."
At this moment, Graham was very serious. Flit realized he had made another mistake and, disregarding Desil's struggles, hurriedly took him away.
"Seriously, this kid still doesn't get it, but that child…" With Graham watching, Flit's mistake wasn't too severe, so a little education afterward would suffice. However, Graham sensed something different about Desil.
As an experienced warrior, Graham could tell that everything Desil displayed was a facade, and... his instincts sensed a hint of threat emanating from Desil.
In the end, he felt that Yang Hui's warning seemed to be directed at Desil, though it was just a hunch without evidence.
"Forget it, I'll ask Yang Hui about it later."
...
Desil also realized that his objective couldn't be achieved and left the Diva after saying goodbye to Flit.
Once outside, Desil's expression twisted, feeling frustrated that his plan had failed, reminiscent of the feeling he had when Dawn Gundam had defeated him back in Nora.
However, it wasn't a total loss; Flit wasn't Graham and completely failed to see through Desil's disguise, answering every question without hesitation, spilling all the information about Yang Hui, Graham, and Gundam.
"Tch, this is so infuriating!"
"Acting on your own is causing us a lot of trouble, Desil." A few figures cloaked in black approached Desil from behind, led by Yake Dore, who expressed his dissatisfaction.
Desil adjusted his expression, turning around with his usual cute facade: "Did you find out so quickly?"
"You, who have been recognized as a resident of Eden, are actually associating with such a person."
"I thought it would be interesting, but the plan failed." Desil pretended to be cute, sticking out his tongue, hoping to charm his way out.
"Next time, it won't be allowed, Desil."
"Hi hi, I understand. But it's not a total loss; I got information on three new machines. They're all called Gundam. The white one isn't interesting like Flit's brother, but the purple-gray and black-red pilots are named Yang Hui and Graham. You can look them up." Desil said, knowing he might not get away with it, so he planned to redeem himself in one go.
"Wha... this is very important information, Desil. Well done."
Desil was young and only liked to do what he enjoyed, but Yake Dore was different. As a weapons dealer mingling in various Colonies, he was also responsible for gathering intelligence, and being involved in arms trading, he must have heard of Yang Hui and Graham.
"However, we'll talk about this later. Let's leave here first."
"Hmm, I'm hungry. Take me to eat something delicious!"
...
Meanwhile, Flit, who had been deceived by Desil... was naturally receiving a lesson from Graham.
"Flit, although we haven't joined the Federal Army yet, the Diva is still a warship of the Federal Army. Emily and Dique can be excused, but how can you casually bring outsiders on board?" Graham lectured.
As a new cutting-edge warship of the Federation, it's safe to say that every brick and tile inside is considered military secrets, let alone Gundam, which could potentially change the Federation.
"But... Desil is just a kid, right?"
"Do you have the right to say that?" Graham facepalmed in exasperation. "Remember, Flit, military restricted areas cannot have people brought in casually, especially strangers. It could be a spy, even if it's just a child."
Having experienced the Gundam OO world, Graham wasn't being alarmist. The most dangerous thing on the battlefield is a child; beneath their deceptively innocent appearance, you might never know what kind of heart is hidden inside. Child soldiers, espionage agencies, etc., are not uncommon.
"It's not that serious..." Flit muttered, unconvinced.
"Hmm? What did you say?"
"Nothing! I got it!"
Just as Flit was about to run away, Woolf was preparing to enter the cockpit of Genoece.
"Hey! Woolf, where are you going?"
"Visiting an old friend! I've already received permission!"
"Huh?"
(End of Chapter)