Vol-2: 115. Reunion After a Long Time

115. Reunion After a Long Time

Its design was quite simple, angular with a recessed inverted triangle head illuminated by twelve green electronic eyes. The turbine engine on its chest spun rapidly, distributing the reactor's energy throughout its body. The overall lines were sharp, like acute triangles, giving it a futuristic and sci-fi aesthetic full of sharpness.

The mech's paint job was simple: white, with some yellow and black along the edges. Despite the simplicity of the color scheme, it exuded an indescribable sense of oppression.

Almost like a warning.

It held a rifle and a shield as tall as itself, standing alone amidst the ruins of the city, like a knight still upholding justice in the post-apocalypse.

The three pairs of large sail-like thrusters on its back were covered with various cannons and missiles. The rocket pods on its shoulders, as well as the two electromagnetic railguns on its waist, made it clear that it was a pure war machine.

Li Aozi hovered in mid-air, facing the nameless mech, and asked again:

"Du Zexin, is that you?"

"…Why did you make the Frost-Plated colonies independent?"

The only response was a cold voice over the broadcast:

"Aren't you from Frost-Plated? Or are you not?"

Li Aozi scratched his chin:

"Well, I just got my Red Arrow green card—"

Boom!

The beam rifle lifted, aiming at Li Aozi.

"You lied to me! Li Aozi!"

Du Zexin shouted in anger:

"You said you were doing it for the Frost-Plated people's benefit, so why did you take away our colonies?!"

"Did Law III send you to assassinate me?"

"Answer me, Li Aozi! Did you never intend to help the Frost-Plated people? You said you were from David Lin's faction, and even introduced Miss Yavanna to me—were all those things lies?"

Li Aozi, holding his waist, slowly opened his face armor, revealing his calm expression.

"I didn't lie to you."

His tone was sincere as he threw his weapon to the ground:

"Du Zexin, I've told a lot of lies, but the one person I never lied to is you."

[Charisma check successful: 'Du Zexin' believes your lie.]

"Li Aozi… why do I always end up believing your sweet words?"

Du Zexin lowered his rifle but still maintained hostility. He opened the mech's cockpit, standing in front of the massive monitor. Compared to a few months ago, Du Zexin seemed to have made significant progress. His black-and-white hair fluttered in the wind, and he wore Law III's elite agent uniform.

But his face was gaunt, filled with a despondent expression:

"You… who exactly are you?"

"In Frost-Plated, I'm a Frost-Plated man; in Red Arrow, I'm a Red Arrow man."

"This is no time for jokes. Tell me, I don't want to shoot you. Li Aozi, you've helped me a lot, but you've also taken the colonies from the Frost-Plated people… I, I don't know what your intentions are anymore, or how I should face you."

"How are you this strong?"

"Why are you so unpredictable?"

"How did you know David Lin had been captured?"

"Why did you cause chaos at the Tianhuan assembly?"

"If you're not a Red Arrow spy, I really don't know what else can explain it."

Du Zexin looked at him with a complicated gaze:

"I thought… we could be friends."

For a moment, his tone reminded Li Aozi of a kitten abandoned in the rain, curled up in a cardboard box, hoping a kind person would take it home.

But it made sense. After months of dealing with the Abyss Humanitarian Relief Organization, Frost-Plated, and Glant events, Du Zexin had grown deeply disillusioned with his nation, and Li Aozi's actions had only shaken him further.

Now, he probably didn't even know why he was fighting anymore.

"You're saying all that, and if I don't answer, I'd seem like a scumbag."

Li Aozi shrugged and replied seriously:

"My true identity is No. 13 of the Narrative [Empire of Heroes]—an envoy from the Galexi civilization—Fenesis Federation, codename 'The Echoer'. I've been living on this Azure Star for over 20 years, only recently awakening."

Du Zexin twitched at the corner of his eye: "Do you think I'm stupid?"

"Otherwise, how do you think a bank security guard like me advanced so rapidly in just a few months, becoming a powerhouse capable of killing four Gamma-tiers?"

Li Aozi's words left Du Zexin speechless.

Because, in fact, there was no flaw in his logic.

If Li Aozi were truly an alien, it would explain his strength and many of the mysterious things about him.

But…

"Li Aozi, if you really are an alien, then why are you doing all of this?"

"For you guys."

"For us?"

"Yeah, I like you all." Li Aozi rubbed his fingers together, lighting a flame at his fingertips, which quickly healed. He said with a sense of nostalgia, "There are people on this planet who understand me. I feel like watching you all perish would leave me with a bad feeling."

"Are you saying—"

"Yes, exactly what you think," Li Aozi looked up at Du Zexin. "This planet is about to be destroyed. I'm going into space to find a way to save it."

"From the beginning, I've been working towards that. Whether infiltrating Abyss Humanitarian, coming to Tianhuan, or going to Glant, I've been searching for a way to reach space."

"And now, I've found it."

The barrier had already shattered, and Li Aozi pointed to the Hōjō Tower not far away:

"Beneath Hōjō Tower, in the discarded mist, lies a 140-million-ton hydrogen bomb."

"I'm going to use that thing to blast myself into space."

"That's my plan, Du Zexin. If you still want to stop me, then you can try."

As he spoke, Li Aozi summoned his weapons back into his hands, carefully facing off against Du Zexin, ready to prevent himself from accidentally killing him if Du Zexin chose to act.

He knew his actions had hurt Du Zexin's national pride, but he had no choice. Glant was destined to be liberated sooner or later, so it was better for him to do it in exchange for the chance to attend this gathering.

What would Du Zexin think?

He probably thought Li Aozi's actions were despicable. As a native of the Azure Star who had never seen the sun, Du Zexin surely couldn't understand Li Aozi's reasoning.

But that didn't matter much. After all, when they first met, Li Aozi and Du Zexin had fought. Between men, if reasoning didn't work, fists would settle things clearly.

Still, Li Aozi didn't quite know why, but he intended to trust Du Zexin.

Perhaps because of his strong [Charisma] that could persuade others, or maybe he didn't want to make Du Zexin, this unlucky guy, even more miserable. Or perhaps Li Aozi simply liked Du Zexin and didn't want to hurt him further.

In any case, even though Tianhuan's regular army and the remaining three Gamma-tiers were fast approaching, he still gave Du Zexin plenty of time to think.

However, after a long silence, Du Zexin suddenly sighed, running his hand across his forehead, and jumped back into the cockpit.

[As expected, he still doesn't understand.]

A faint sense of disappointment welled up in Li Aozi's heart.

Well, if that's the case, then there's nothing more to say.

Reluctantly, he raised his blade and was about to strike at Du Zexin, but then he heard Du Zexin's voice over the broadcast:

"One hydrogen bomb is not enough."