In a prison cell on Luna II, Dozle Zabi leaned against the wall, his eyes vacant. He stared at his own large, thick hands as the sins he had once committed flashed before his eyes one by one.
"A demon like me... am I even worthy of the word 'kindness'?"
"You don't think you're worthy?"
Hearing an unfamiliar voice, Dozle Zabi numbly raised his head and looked at Yang Hui, who had appeared beside him at some unknown point.
"You are..."
"Allow me to introduce myself. Yang Hui, of the Twelfth Independent Technical Division, a unit directly under General Revil of the Federal Army."
"So it's you."
After Yang Hui introduced himself, a flicker of life returned to Dozle Zabi's eyes. Perhaps he wanted to see the man he had lost to, the one who had managed to capture his older sister, the one who had severely hindered Zeon's offensive plans.
"It's me."
"What are you doing here?"
"Didn't you want to see me?" Yang Hui asked in return.
"I wanted to see you? Heh, there's no need for such a boring joke, Yang Hui. I never said I wanted to see you."
"It seems Casval can joke with me now too. If you don't want to see me, then I'll just be on my way..."
"Wait! Who did you say?" As Yang Hui turned to leave, Dozle Zabi immediately stopped him.
"Casval."
"Casval... Casval... So you're the one..."
"You could say that."
Dozle Zabi understood now. It was this man before him, this man who struck fear into all of Zeon, who had asked Char to spare him.
"...Why?"
"Didn't he tell you?" Yang Hui asked again.
"He told me... He told me... Heh." The last words Char had said to him echoed in Dozle Zabi's mind, calling him "the last conscience of the Zabi Family." He couldn't help but laugh at himself with bitter self-mockery. "A man like you, calling me a 'conscience.' How ironic."
"Enemies are merely on different sides. That doesn't prevent one from appreciating and acknowledging another."
"A demon like me is worthy of appreciation and acknowledgment?"
"A demon? You? Hahahaha, you think too highly of yourself, you big gorilla." As he spoke, a tangible killing intent filled the entire cell, making the air thick and difficult to breathe. "How many lives are on your hands? And you have the confidence to use the word 'demon' in front of me."
"This... You... How is this possible!?" Dozle Zabi was a veteran of the battlefield and was sensitive to killing intent. As a soldier who had been to war, he naturally had his own aura of lethality, but... just how many people did one have to kill personally to possess such a dense killing intent? His own bloodlust and ferocity were like that of a back-alley thug in front of this man.
The next second, Dozle Zabi's body relaxed as the air around him became fresh again.
"The number of lives that have died by my hand is far greater than yours. If you're a demon, then what am I? A demon king? But I don't see it that way."
"You... Yang Hui..."
"Do you know what the biggest difference between us is?" Yang Hui asked, looking down at Dozle Zabi.
"What is it?" Dozle Zabi was curious, and even more so, expectant and excited. Yang Hui's killing intent was far denser than his, and the number of people who had died by his hand was far greater. Why didn't he suffer from a guilty conscience? Why could he be respected by everyone? This was the answer he desperately wanted.
"Your true heart."
"My true heart?"
"I've always been very clear about what I want. Everything I do is to protect what I have, to protect everything around me. What about you? After doing so much, what was it all for? Are you sure you know?"
"I... I did it for..."
"The glory of Zeon? The glory of the Zabi Family? That excuse can't even fool yourself. Are you going to use it to fool me?"
"I... I..."
"You see, you have nothing. The glory of Zeon? The glory of the Zabi Family? These are just excuses you use to absolve yourself. You have no true heart of your own, no will of your own. You're just drifting along with the current."
"...But I really don't know!" Under Yang Hui's verbal assault, Dozle Zabi gradually broke down. He had no way to refute Yang Hui. Helplessness and powerlessness transformed into a sorrowful roar.
"Actually... it's very simple."
"Very... simple?"
"That's right, very simple. For example... being a father your daughter can be proud of?"
"A father my daughter can be proud of! Mineva! A father Mineva can be proud of!"
"A very simple goal and wish, but you can't even accomplish something of this level. What glory of Zeon, what glory of the Zabi Family? Even if they were real, could you achieve them?"
"You're right. I can't even achieve the simplest goal, so what's the point of talking about grand ambitions? Heh, only now do I realize that I was just making excuses for myself. I... am an unqualified father, and an unqualified soldier..."
A slight smile touched Yang Hui's lips. He patted Dozle Zabi's shoulder and comforted him, "Being able to recognize your own mistakes means you're not completely foolish. Keep it up. At least now you have a goal of your own."
"Heh, it's too late."
"It's not too late. The path of human progress is never smooth. Discovering problems, correcting them, and solving them—isn't that the way humanity is supposed to advance?"
"But now... I can't do anything. Yang Hui, I want to ask you for a favor."
"I refuse." After saying that, Yang Hui turned and left. He had already said everything he needed to say to Dozle Zabi.
"I haven't even said what it is!"
"Don't worry, you'll have your chance. When the opportunity comes, you can do it yourself."
"..."
Watching Yang Hui's departing figure, Dozle Zabi felt as if he were looking at a mountain—a great, radiant mountain that he admired and yearned for.
...
After leaving Dozle Zabi's prison, Yang Hui was immediately summoned by Tiam. Tiam had heard every word of his conversation with Dozle Zabi. After all, both Yang Hui and Dozle Zabi were sensitive figures; it was necessary to monitor them when they met alone.
However, due to Revil's instructions and orders, only he had heard the conversation. Tiam had dismissed everyone else, and no audio or surveillance recordings were made.
"What exactly are you trying to do?" Tiam asked with a grave expression.
"Since General Revil didn't tell you, you won't get an answer from me either, General Tiam."
"...I'm now suspecting you of colluding with Zeon and am considering arresting you."
"And then you'll be transferred back to Earth by General Revil, and I'll be released without charge."
"Hmph!" Tiam was speechless. Revil had already contacted him. All of Yang Hui's requests had to be met, and even if they couldn't be, they had to be. He was not allowed to have any conflict with Yang Hui.
"What are you two planning?" Tiam pressed. He was indeed part of Revil's faction, but after being a general for so many years, he had his own set of principles and standards of judgment.
"You only need to know that what we are doing will not threaten the Federation. It will only make the Federation, and this world, a better place. That is enough."
"...And the proof?"
"You will see it."
"That's not enough to convince me."
"Then go find Revil. You're Revil's man, Tiam." At this point, Yang Hui was no longer using honorifics with Tiam, indicating that he was placing himself in a position superior to Tiam's in their conversation.
"...Your plan?"
"In two days, send men to escort Dozle Zabi to Jaburo Base on Earth. Don't worry about the rest."
"...Considering the need for a safe and smooth transport, I believe your unit is the most suitable for escorting Dozle Zabi."
"We can't. I'll be heading to the Republic of Reah in Side 6 with Casval's unit and will be staying there for a while."
"Heh, the Federation's ace unit acting as bodyguards for an enemy nation?"
"First, the Zeon Republic that Casval is about to establish will be an ally of the Federation and one of the member states of the Earth Federation, not an enemy nation. Second, the establishment of the Zeon Republic is a crucial step in the plan. There can be no mistakes."
"...So what exactly is your plan?"
"Go ask Revil."
"Tch. Dozle Zabi's status is too sensitive. I don't trust anyone but you to handle this."
"Don't worry, something will definitely happen."
"...I'm even less willing to risk my subordinates' lives."
"There's no need. However many people go will be however many people come back. No one will be left behind."
"I understand. I'll let you know when the arrangements are made."
"Thanks, Tiam." Yang Hui thanked Tiam because Tiam, who had been kept in the dark, could have completely refused his request, or even imprisoned him. Even if he were released after a while, it would have disrupted all their plans. But Tiam didn't do that; he chose to support Yang Hui instead.
"...I'm a soldier. I'm just following orders."
"Go ask Revil again. If you insist a little more, you might get an answer, you know," Yang Hui reminded Tiam before he left.
The core of the plan was a triangle. Yang Hui represented Prometheus Fortress, Revil and Gopp represented the Federation, and Char represented the Zeon Republic. These three forces formed a stable triangle.
But within this triangle, there was a smaller one. The most complex structure, the Federation, was composed of Revil representing the Earth Forces, Tiam representing the Space Force, and Gopp representing the Federal Assembly, forming another stable triangle.
Therefore, in Yang Hui's view, it wasn't that Tiam couldn't know the truth. But Tiam was Revil's man, and Revil must have had his own thoughts and concerns for not telling him. If he interfered, he might disrupt Revil's rhythm. It was better to let Tiam ask Revil himself.
"Finished your chat?" Char asked when he saw Yang Hui return.
"All done."
"Where do you plan to send him? You can't go there right now, can you?"
"Granada."