When Kycilia Zabi returned to Side 3, she was met with Gihren Zabi's frost-covered expression.
"My deepest apologies, Supreme Commander. Due to my negligence, it led to—"
"Enough, Kycilia." Gihren Zabi cut off her apology directly. He stood up, walked slowly toward her, and stared down at her from his height. "Apologies are meaningless. The priority now is how to change the current situation."
The total annihilation of the Space Fleet, Dozle Zabi's status being unknown, the restoration of the Zeon Republic, and the internal fracturing of the Principality of Zeon—all of these were pushing the Principality toward the abyss of destruction.
Right now, Gihren Zabi did not care about the extent of the losses; he only cared about how to reverse the situation. This was the real reason he had urgently recalled Kycilia Zabi to space. All that talk about rebuilding the Space Fleet was nonsense.
"Supreme Commander, I believe we must suspend our retaliatory actions against the Zeon Republic to avoid unnecessary losses. We should use the remaining fleet as a core to reorganize the Space Fleet..."
"You don't need to concern yourself with those matters, Kycilia."
"Supreme Commander!" Interrupted again, Kycilia Zabi snapped her head up, looking at Gihren Zabi in disbelief. Her suggestion was absolutely correct. The fleet sent from A Baoa Qu had suffered heavy casualties, and even Gihren Zabi's Personal Guard had been wiped out. The Federation must have been prepared, laying a trap for them to step into!
Continuing retaliatory actions at this time would only increase casualties for no reason. It was utterly meaningless.
During her return journey, Kycilia Zabi had also received intelligence. The Twelfth Independent Technical Division had intervened. Not only that, but the Zeon Republic's brand-new MS and warships—Kycilia didn't even need to think to know that Yang Hui had prepared them. This meant the Zeon Republic's own strength was not weak, let alone when coupled with the Federation.
Initially, Kycilia Zabi had guessed that because Dozle Zabi was MIA, Gihren Zabi called her back to command the Space Fleet and reclaim Zeon's greatest advantage.
But now, Gihren Zabi was telling her not to worry about those things. This sent a chill to the core of Kycilia's heart. She felt that Gihren Zabi was stripping her of all her power, taking this opportunity to purge her.
Kycilia Zabi knew Gihren Zabi had been looking for a chance to move against her and push her out of the inner circle of the Principality of Zeon, but she hadn't expected him to strike at such a critical moment.
But the moment she looked up, Kycilia Zabi froze. What met her gaze was not Gihren Zabi's cold eyes, but a document held right in front of her.
"Look at this."
Gihren Zabi's voice remained icy, stinging Kycilia's heart. Suspicious, she took the document and began to read it carefully.
"This is!"
"This is your next mission."
"But Supreme Commander, the existence of Newtypes has not yet been fully confirmed. If it fails..."
"Then make the failure a success." Gihren Zabi's voice left no room for doubt.
"...Yes, Supreme Commander."
Kycilia Zabi knew there was no room for maneuver. Although Gihren Zabi had lost his Personal Guard, her own subordinates had also suffered heavy losses. Her ace, the Chimera team, remained on Earth to help Mark Be stabilize the front lines. Her other trump card, the Magatsiya Squadron, had been completely lost in the confrontation with the Twelfth Independent Technical Division. Most of her other subordinates were on Earth; she didn't dare turn against Gihren Zabi at this moment.
However, if the project in her hands succeeded, she would have the leverage to challenge Gihren Zabi. If she could create a second Yang Hui, she wouldn't just be unafraid of Gihren Zabi—she wouldn't even have to fear Yang Hui and his Twelfth Independent Technical Division anymore.
A certain plan in her heart that had begun to waver suddenly became firm again.
"Lady Kycilia." Just as she was leaving the headquarters, a newly appointed Adjutant stopped her.
"What is it?"
"His Majesty the Sovereign requests your presence at the manor." The Adjutant reported in a low voice, gesturing with his eyes toward a man in black waiting nearby.
"Father?" Kycilia Zabi was stunned. Ever since the war between the Federation and the Principality began, Degwin Sodo Zabi had stopped interfering in any affairs of state. He was like a mascot, quietly staying in the manor to live out his retirement, only appearing when needed for public view.
His sudden request to see her now was thought-provoking.
"I understand." Kycilia Zabi didn't overthink it. Since Degwin Sodo Zabi didn't pose a threat to her, she might as well go and see him.
Kycilia Zabi did not notice that from a window behind her, Gihren Zabi was watching her every move, including her getting into Degwin Sodo Zabi's private car to return to the Zabi family manor.
"Hmph, as expected, they are all obstacles. In that case, don't blame me."
...
At the Twelfth Independent Technical Division, Yang Hui listened to Natarle Badgiruel's report. "Regarding the Flanagan Institute, the Intelligence Department hasn't found much more information."
"What about our people?" Yang Hui asked.
"Not much gain there either. The location of the Zeon Newtype Research Institute is extremely hidden. Anyone involved has never appeared again. It's likely a completely closed-off facility."
"Track the supply routes," Yang Hui instructed. "Personnel might be managed in a closed system, but they definitely need supplies."
"We checked. Everything is normal; no problems were found."
"..." Yang Hui began to analyze the current situation and the potential locations for the Flanagan Institute. In the original timeline, the Flanagan Institute was established in the Balder Bay Colony in Side 6 of the L4 Sector. Now that Side 6 was part of the Zeon Republic, it couldn't be there.
Suddenly, he thought of someone—someone closely linked to the Flanagan Institute.
"Where is Kycilia Zabi?"
"She just returned to Side 3 and hasn't left yet."
"Keep a close eye on her." The Flanagan Institute was established under Kycilia Zabi's supervision. Although Gihren Zabi was now in control, there had to be a reason he recalled her to space at this time.
Initially, Yang Hui guessed Gihren was having Kycilia take over Dozle Zabi's duties to rebuild the Space Fleet.
But the emergence of the Flanagan Institute made Yang Hui dismiss that thought.
"Understood."
"Any word from Creuset?"
"Yes. Creuset says he and Char are getting along very pleasantly."
"Heh, of course. They must be quite surprised by each other." Hearing this, Yang Hui grinned. Creuset and Char, two very similar men—both masked, both veteran schemers—would surely have much to talk about.
"By the way, here is the investigation report on the Continental Revival Foundation and Haman Karn. We lost ten men to get this intel."
"Hmm..." Taking the report, Yang Hui read it carefully, his eyebrows arching. "As expected of that old fox. Ruthless and sinister."
The intelligence showed that the destruction of the Kleismann family years ago was orchestrated by Haman Karn, even if he didn't strike personally.
According to the report, the plan was devised by Hymen Jamirov. Back then, as a young man using his identity as an illegitimate son, he united a large number of the Kleismann family's rival families. They banded together to wipe out the Kleismann family and carve up all their industries and assets. As for him...
In the shadows, he used his own identity to gather some of the old subordinates and assets, forming his initial power base. Then, holding the truth of the Kleismann massacre over them, he acted as both friend and foe to those families, using their strength to grow. He even took over the leadership of the Restoration Society, eventually developing it into what was now the Continental Revival Foundation.
It had to be said that Hymen Jamirov was essentially another version of Syam Vist, only he hid himself much better. If a subordinate who had narrowly escaped being silenced hadn't survived back then, the truth would never have been uncovered.
"Send a copy of this intelligence to Revil and Gopp. They'll know what to do."
"Understood."
The next step was to wait, for both space and Earth required time.
Yang Hui also took this opportunity to properly train the new recruits of the 9th and 10th Squadrons. Losses naturally meant replacements. After the 9th and 10th Squadrons lost half their members in the last battle, Tianem had wasted no time selecting a group of elites from the Luna II forces to join the Twelfth Independent Technical Division.
He didn't know what the next battle would look like, but since he was free, Yang Hui figured increasing their chances of surviving the battlefield was a good use of time.
...
On Earth, at Jaburo Base, Gopp's usually genial expression changed after receiving the intelligence from Natarle Badgiruel. If he had been a fox before—hiding a knife behind a gentle smile—he was now a wolf, his eyes filled with the hunger of a predator.
"Good. With this intelligence, those fellows won't be able to escape."
The wolfish bloodlust lasted only a few seconds before vanishing. Gopp transformed back into the inscrutable old fox. He calmly picked up the phone and dialed a number. "It's me. Watch these people. Trace their middle and lower-level networks..."
At the same time, Revil received the same intelligence. However, he only took one look at it before destroying it. This was Gopp's job, and he trusted his old friend to handle it. He only needed to ensure the stability of the military.
However... as one of the people who knew Gopp best, Revil stroked his chin, imagining Gopp's current expression. "Heh, that smiling tiger is finally going to bite. I haven't seen him like that in a long time."
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