episode_0022

[Simulation terminated. Winner: Pilot Kang Jin-woo] A cold system voice echoed through the empty simulation chamber.

I re-secured the battle-axe that had been slung over my shoulder to my waist, then looked down at Lazer’s custom mech, Sylph, lying miserably on the floor.

Its left arm and right leg had been severed, rendering it combat-incapable. It was a perfect victory for me.

The generous reward list displayed on the system window confirmed that fact once more.

A moment later, Sylph’s cockpit hatch opened and Lazer staggered down.

His face, flushed crimson with rage and humiliation, stared blankly at his damaged mech, as if unable to believe it.

“This can’t be… Me… to that piece of junk…!”

He muttered, almost howling.

It seemed he absolutely could not accept his defeat.

He punched the wall beside him hard with his fist.

“Damn it! The mission is soon, what is this…!”

His voice carried a mix of indignation and deep frustration.

He seemed worried that this defeat would exclude him from the mission he mentioned.

Just then, the simulation room’s entrance opened, and familiar figures entered.

It was Yuna, Titan, and Doctor.

They must have been watching our battle from the control room until just moments ago.

When Lazer saw them, his face instantly flushed even deeper, and he hastily lowered his head.

It seemed he’d rather die than be humiliated in front of his comrades.

Titan remained expressionless, but Doctor’s eyes twinkled as if he’d acquired interesting data, and Yuna’s expression was difficult to read.

She simply looked between me and Lazer silently.

I descended from Sparrow’s cockpit and approached Lazer.

I anticipated his reaction, but I thought it best to show at least a minimum of courtesy.

Or perhaps, I also wanted to observe his reaction more closely.

“Good work.”

I extended my hand to him. It was a gesture for a handshake.

But Lazer, seeing my hand, angrily swatted it away.

“How dare you! You lowly wretch!”

He glared at me with venomous eyes and shouted.

His face was now completely contorted with rage.

“What did you do, conspiring with Yuna?!”

Just as expected.

Instead of admitting his defeat, he suspected I had used unfair methods.

“That’s impossible! That sparrow-like junk training mech couldn’t possibly move like that! Yuna… Yuna must have tampered with the mech!”

He blamed Yuna, his voice filled with near certainty.

I let out a snicker at his absurd accusations.

It was clear how wounded his pride was.

But I felt no sympathy at all. Instead, his pathetic display struck me as pitiful.

“Oh, really?”

I said, not bothering to hide my sneer.

“If you’re so suspicious, why don’t you check for yourself? Whether Yuna tampered with it, or if your skills were just terrible.”

At my provocation, Lazer’s face flushed crimson again.

He couldn’t bring himself to confront Yuna directly, so he hurled every curse imaginable at me.

“You, you arrogant bastard! Just you wait!”

He seemed to think staying there any longer would shorten his lifespan, so he gasped for air and rushed out of the simulation room.

A short while after he disappeared, research and technical staff appeared from somewhere and began recovering Sylph and tidying up the simulation room.

“Hmph, serves him right.”

Titan muttered lowly, looking in the direction Lazer had vanished.

It seemed he also disliked Lazer’s arrogant attitude.

Doctor was still buried in his data pad.

He occasionally glanced at me, muttering to himself.

“Amazing reaction speed… energy efficiency… a mountain of data to analyze…”

“Let’s go up to the control room and talk.”

Yuna said to me.

Her expression was still hard to read, but her voice seemed a little softer than before.

I nodded silently.

The unnecessary clash with Lazer was over, but now the question was how Yuna and her colleagues would think of me, and how they would treat me moving forward.

I followed them out of the simulation room and stepped into the elevator heading for the control room.

Upon arriving at the control room, I saw that the entire wall of the spacious area was made up of a gigantic holographic screen.

On it, a replay of the battle I had just fought was displayed, along with complex data graphs being analyzed in real-time.

‘Was that an unnecessary action?’

Being the center of attention was not something I welcomed.

“There’s a mountain of analysis to be done here!”

Doctor groaned softly.

Titan also frowned, and Yuna glanced back at me for a moment.

“I’m sorry, but you’ll have to wait here for a moment.”

She didn’t explain further.

Yuna, Titan, and Doctor exchanged glances, then moved their feet, exited the control room, and headed for another elevator.

#

The heart of Icarus Technology’s Far East Branch,

First Command and Control Center.

Numerous operators were busily working at their respective consoles.

On the gigantic holographic screen at the front, a star system map, various military intelligence, and real-time surveillance footage were intricately displayed.

In the innermost part of the Command and Control Center, on a high platform, a burly middle-aged man sat in the commander’s chair, arms crossed, staring at the holographic screen.

His well-trimmed beard, sharp eyes, and immaculate black uniform, devoid of any superfluous details, showed that he was no ordinary person.

He was Commander Gideon, the general manager and de facto commander of the Icarus Far East Branch’s mercenary unit.

The door to the Command and Control Center opened, and Yuna, Titan, and Doctor entered.

They approached Commander Gideon and saluted respectfully.

Commander Gideon took his eyes off the screen and slowly turned to them.

“You’re here.”

Commander Gideon said in a low voice.

His gaze swept over the three in turn.

“But it seems one is missing. Where is Lazer?”

His voice contained a subtle taunt.

Yuna stepped forward to explain, but Titan spoke first.

He subtly restrained Yuna and said,

“Lazer is currently undergoing mech inspection. He’ll join us soon. If you could just wait a moment…”

Titan tried his best to save his comrade’s face, but Commander Gideon scoffed, as if mocking his words.

“Wait? Wait for what? Until he reports that his mech’s limbs were severed by a mass-produced training unit and is now under repair?”

Commander Gideon’s eyes gleamed coldly.

“Did you think there was anything happening here that I wouldn’t know?”

Titan could say nothing more and closed his mouth.

Gideon was right.

Icarus’s surveillance network tracked all situations within the branch in real-time.

Commander Gideon’s gaze turned to Yuna.

His voice became lower and more stern than before.

“Yuna, I’ve received reports on your recent actions.

You illegally intruded into the Chronos Mercenary Group’s base, caused a disturbance, and engaged in mock combat with an unregistered mercenary, correct?”

His voice clearly conveyed reproach.

“Furthermore, you entered the dangerous Ashy Wasteland alone without permission and brought that problematic pilot all the way here.”

He rose from his seat and took a step closer to Yuna.

His burly physique put pressure on Yuna.

“I admit that you are our best ace.

And I know you have a certain degree of autonomy.”

Commander Gideon’s reprimand was sharp.

“But even you, no matter who you are, have rules to follow. Don’t you think you went a bit too far this time?”

Yuna did not avoid Commander Gideon’s gaze but met it directly. Then, she straightened her back and replied,

“It was my unilateral decision, Commander. I have no excuse. I will accept any punishment willingly.”

Her voice was unwavering, and her resolve to take responsibility for her actions was firm.

At her dignified attitude, Commander Gideon stared at her silently for a moment.

Then, he suddenly let out a chuckle.

“Heh… that’s always your problem. You’re too serious.”

He returned to a softer expression.

But his gaze was still sharp.

“It’s a joke, of course, your actions were a violation of regulations, but I’ll overlook it this time. The friend you brought seems to be worth it.”

A subtle nuance of warning returned to his voice.

“But there won’t be a next time. Remember that.”

Commander Gideon returned to his commander’s chair and settled the situation.

“As for Lazer… well, tell him to be confined to quarters for a while and fix his mech. He won’t be deployable for a mission in his current state anyway.”

He looked at Yuna and said,

“Yuna, bring that pilot you brought, Kang Jin-woo, here. We’ll explain the mission then.”

At Commander Gideon’s order, Yuna, Titan, and Doctor exchanged glances for a moment.

And then, they saluted respectfully and exited the Command and Control Center.