Reid watched Orga shouting passionately below, feeling completely unmoved.
The reason was simple: Reid was certain that Orga, this "gambler," was betting again.
In the original storyline, Tekkadan allied with Teiwaz to secure the backing of Raiden Wazi (the leading corporation in the Jupiter Sphere that even Gjallarhorn couldn't touch—as long as they conducted normal business in the Earth Sphere, neither side interfered with the other).
Now, although Reid only had one Mobile Suit here, various miraculous methods and the dire situation prompted Orga—who didn't even know Reid's name—to gamble on Reid's side. If they succeeded, the ability to teleport objects out of thin air alone offered hope of repelling Gjallarhorn and turning the tables completely.
Unfortunately, Reid had no interest in the majority of Tekkadan's members. Most of them had undergone Alaya-Vijnana System implants. Taking such a large group to the CE Universe would be impossible to justify with the excuse of a lab rescue, even if the system provided them with identities.
The Alaya-Vijnana System couldn't be hidden—the abnormal spines of the bearers were too obvious. Reid couldn't restrict Tekkadan members from appearing in public forever.
If exposed, Reid would become the prime suspect. Other nations weren't fools; even with the ruins as a cover, if investigations yielded nothing, suspicion would still fall on Reid.
The narrative Reid had deliberately crafted—making nations believe he had a deeply hidden underground intelligence network—would backfire. Tekkadan would be seen as troops provided by that cooperative organization.
Thus, for Orga's request, Reid would at most agree to take a few elites like Mikazuki. After all, they were practically free protagonists, worth the effort to legitimize their identities so they could walk openly on the streets.
But there was still time—negotiations shouldn't reveal the bottom line outright. So Reid outright refused:
"Leader Orga, are you joking? To be honest, it did make me laugh a little.
McGillis (at McGillis's own request, Reid now addressed him directly), what do you think?"
Seeing this "friend"—who, though unwilling to reveal his name, was somewhat familiar—ask him, McGillis naturally smiled and replied:
"They're courageous and quick-witted. I actually think these people could be useful."
McGillis was still testing here.
First, to see if this mysterious "friend" truly had the capability to deploy Mobile Suits on a large scale.
Second, to observe whether this mercenary group, if pledged to the mysterious "friend," could also be teleported away.
Reid hadn't expected McGillis to recognize Tekkadan's potential so early.
But he certainly couldn't take all of Tekkadan. So Reid decided to solve the problem with money.
Based on the data Nein retrieved from Tekkadan's database, Reid discovered many practical things.
For example, the Smoke Grenades used in the Smoke Screen Tactic that Tekkadan favored in the original storyline.
It's important to understand that under normal circumstances, smoke cannot be deployed in space - this is a near-vacuum environment without air or other gases to carry smoke particles. Any smoke particles generated by explosions would disperse into the vastness of space within seconds due to inertia, never forming anything resembling smoke.
Unless smoke was continuously ejected in a specific direction for extremely close-range visual obstruction, but even then it would be more efficient to simply install thrusters that could burn out enemy detection equipment with direct flame.
However, the Tekkadan universe has solved this problem. Though the principles remain unclear, smoke grenades here can create smoke screens in space while also interfering with enemy electromagnetic and thermal sensors.
Just for these space-capable smoke grenades alone, Reid was willing to spend more G-Coins on Tekkadan. Because Nein had already learned through Tekkadan's internal communication devices that Mikazuki was informing everyone about Orga's plan to disband Tekkadan and distribute severance pay.
So Reid directly returned to the cockpit, activated the Blade Angel, and announced through external speakers:
"Leader Orga, since McGillis thinks so highly of you all, I don't mind giving you a small test.
I don't keep useless people around. In my view, Tekkadan's technical and tactical capabilities are frankly subpar without the assistance of the Alaya-Vijnana System.
But skills can be trained, tactical awareness can be taught - loyalty and mindset are potentially bigger issues.
So, Leader Orga, do you dare to bet your own life on your crew's response?"
Orga already sensed something ominous, but the current situation didn't allow him to back down.
After all, this mysterious pilot had already activated his Mobile Suit. If he retreated now, the other might think he was being toyed with and simply crush him. He could only steel himself and ask:
"How would this bet work?"
Taking advantage of the fact that no Tekkadan members had entered the hangar yet, Reid directly stated:
"I'll offer generous severance pay alongside strict conditions for staying. If more than ten non-support personnel ultimately choose to stay with you, you win. I'll properly arrange positions for all who choose to follow you, with preferential treatment.
But if it's fewer than ten people, you've wasted my time, Orga. You and your remaining followers would be better off dead. I'll put collars on you, perform brainwashing, and use you as mere tools."
Orga had considered that this mysterious person might be difficult to deal with, but hadn't expected him to be this unreasonable. Now it seemed that regardless of winning or losing this bet, he'd still end up working for him - the only difference being the quality of treatment.
Of course, Orga could refuse to take this bet, provided his body could withstand attacks from the other's Mobile Suit.
Therefore, Orga knew that from the moment he came here to negotiate with this mysterious person, there was already no way back. Gritting his teeth, he said:
"Fine, I'll take the bet."
Seeing Orga take the bait, Reid said with satisfaction:
"Good. Later, unless I permit you to speak, don't say a word. This is testing your obedience. If you fail, you lose the bet regardless."
Orga really wanted to curse at this moment, but with the other holding all the power, he had no right to refuse.
Thus, Reid patiently waited as the Tekkadan members gradually gathered at the landing pad. Mikazuki and Orga held considerable prestige within Tekkadan, so even though some grumbled that the organization couldn't possibly have enough funds for severance pay, people still showed up. Even Kudelia and Fumitan watched from a distance.
After all support staff had assembled, Mikazuki ignored the Blade Angel and McGillis who was spectating nearby, walking up to Orga to report:
"Orga, everyone in the base is here."
Currently restricted by Reid from speaking, Orga could only acknowledge with his eyes that he understood.
Reid directly maneuvered his Mobile Suit to take a step toward the crowd, then activated the external speakers:
"Everyone, here's the situation. Your leader Orga accused me of ruining Tekkadan's mission and demanded I take responsibility by purchasing Tekkadan.
After some consideration, I don't mind buying Tekkadan. However, your current capabilities seem worthless to me beyond serving as cannon fodder on the battlefield.
Given that I've indirectly caused Gjallarhorn to besiege you all, I'll offer you a choice."
Having said this, Reid exchanged a massive amount of gold from his system. Gold bricks came crashing down "clang, clang, clang," quickly piling into a small mountain.
He only stopped the exchange after converting roughly enough G-Coins to directly purchase an NT-X2 Gundam.
At this moment, most Tekkadan members - who had never seen so much gold in their lives - had golden reflections shimmering in their eyes. (Gold remained valuable in the Iron-Blooded universe, as depicted in the anime when Maruba Arkay, leader of Chryse Guard Security, fled with crates of gold products.)
As the saying goes, "Sake reddens faces, wealth stirs hearts." To prevent anyone from impulsively rushing forward and triggering a stampede, Reid swept the area between the crowd and the gold pile with his Mobile Suit's head-mounted Vulcan Gun.
The machine gun's roar and spraying soil immediately snapped the Tekkadan members out of their gold-induced trance. They realized a Mobile Suit was standing guard - anyone daring to reach out recklessly would likely earn money they wouldn't live to spend.
Seeing the military threat had sobered the Tekkadan members, Reid reactivated the external speakers: "This is your severance pay." Now, only one person at a time may cross the machine gun trench to take one gold brick as compensation.
Anyone taking extra dies. If two or more people cross simultaneously, all trespassers die. Those taking gold bricks must leave this base within ten minutes and never return, or they die too.
Additionally, I'll delete the names of anyone who takes gold and leaves from Tekkadan's database. You're all small fry - if you break through the blockade, you won't need to worry about Gjallarhorn's future retaliation."
Reid's offer proved irresistibly tempting. Despite mentioning "death" three times, even Orga found himself thinking about taking a gold brick and leaving.
While a single gold brick meant little to the wealthy, for Mars' bottom class it represented decades of earnings without eating or drinking.
After Reid finished speaking, the Tekkadan members glanced at each other nervously. No one dared step forward immediately, fearing someone might cross simultaneously and get them all killed.
They certainly didn't believe a wealthy master capable of producing a mountain of gold at once would spare their insignificant lives.
However, among Tekkadan's current members, there were also lone wolves who only cared about profit. Togo Millonin, the character who repeatedly attempted to betray Tekkadan in the original work, was the first to step out of the ranks and loudly declared:
"Everyone, I'll test the waters for you."
After saying this, he was the first to cross the chasm, picked up a gold brick, and then said to Orga:
"Orga, you've finally made a wise decision. Let's bid farewell forever."
With that, Togo Millonin immediately ran toward Tekkadan's main gate and left the headquarters in less than three minutes.
With someone taking the first step, others who were tempted no longer hesitated and rushed to cross the chasm. In their eagerness to get ahead, they ended up brawling right in front of the chasm, inadvertently giving others an advantage.
Of course, during this chaos, there were instances where multiple people tried to cross the chasm simultaneously. Without hesitation, Reid used his Funnel Blade to kill them.
Under the tangible threat of death, the remaining members of Tekkadan quickly fell in line, obediently crossing the chasm one by one to take a gold brick and leave.
Naturally, there was a minor incident: Togo Millonin, the first to leave, still tried to cheat. After exiting, he circled around and attempted to climb back over the wall, seemingly hoping to take something else from Tekkadan.
But Nein was still monitoring the base. Reid immediately controlled the Funnel Blade to fly out, impaling Togo Millonin as he scaled the wall. He then announced over the public address system:
"Togo Millonin just circled back and tried to climb the wall. I'm not joking—those who take a gold brick cannot return, or it's certain death."
It must be said that Togo Millonin's reputation was truly poor. The remaining members of Tekkadan all believed he was capable of such actions, so no one raised any objections.
Soon, the number of Tekkadan members on the landing pad dwindled. After all, when faced with the choice between continuing to serve as cannon fodder or taking a gold brick to live lavishly for a considerable time, few were willing to be cannon fodder. Who would willingly go to the battlefield if they could live comfortably?
In the end, only about a dozen people remained standing in place, watching the significantly diminished mountain of gold without making a move. However, half of them were support staff.
Cross-referencing with the Tekkadan roster provided by Nein, the frontline personnel present were only Mikazuki, Norba Shino, Eugene Sevenstark, Biscuit Griffon, Dante Mogro, Akihiro Altland, Chad Chadan, and Ride Mass.
Reid observed this and remarked that more people had stayed than he expected, but it was still only eight. He laughed and said:
"Commander Orga, you've lost. There aren't ten combat personnel here. A cook like Atra Mixta can't claim to be a combatant just because she holds a kitchen knife. By the way, you may speak now."
After Reid said this, among the remaining Tekkadan members, Naze Turbine, the maintenance chief, realized something and stepped forward, saying:
"Sir, you shouldn't underestimate people. Even though I'm a maintenance chief, I doubt many of these kids on the battlefield are qualified to face me. Why shouldn't I be considered a combat personnel?"
Hearing this, Reid didn't mind and replied:
"Fine, veterans are important, so you're in. But we're still short one person. Don't tell me those two girls shorter than Mikazuki (Biscuit's younger sisters) count as combat personnel too."
Orga, thinking quickly in this critical moment, walked directly into the remaining Tekkadan lineup and knelt on one knee, saying:
"The tenth combat personnel is me. Since you've bought out Tekkadan, I'm no longer the leader, which means I can be counted as combat personnel."
Orga was gambling again - betting that this man willing to spend a fortune to disband most of Tekkadan wasn't actually cruel, without the habit of treating subordinates like disposable tools.
As for the earlier bet's terms, Orga could only hope it was just a threat. After all, the final interpretation rested with the man above him, who now seemed to consider himself the winner.
It could only be said that Orga had gambled correctly once more. The remaining members were all promising talents who could quickly become combat-effective, along with their unmodified family members and children - all whom Reid was willing to accept. He then declared:
"Orga, you've got courage. Now for the final test - everyone here must consent to the confirmation voice in your minds, entrusting your futures to me alone. Only then can you truly win, Orga."
Having said this, Reid initiated the recruitment process for everyone below.
Perhaps because they had become numb to Reid's displays of power, no one questioned the voice appearing in their minds, and they all accepted the recruitment one after another.
(End of Chapter)