"Dearka!"
Before Heine could charge in, Yzak—who was already at the entrance—moved even quicker.
After all, when it came to bonds, Yzak and Dearka's connection was no less significant than that of Athrun and Kira.
So, drawing his gun, Yzak plunged headlong through the wide-open door of Durandal's residence.
"Yzak! What are you doing? This isn't some fairy tale rescue mission where you go in one by one just to get captured!"
Heine was frantic, genuinely frantic. Standing outside the door, he stamped his feet in agitation.
If something happened to Dearka alone, it would be enough to give him a headache.
But if Yzak got involved too?
Never mind that he was only a Red Uniform—even a White Uniform wouldn't be able to handle the fallout.
Why did these two second-generation hotshots have to outdo each other like this?
They were nothing but trouble!
"Follow me!"
But there was no use in complaining now. After massaging his temples in frustration, Heine knew he still had to do what needed to be done.
Leading the remaining Green Coats, he formed a standard Anti-riot Formation and cautiously stepped through the doorway of Durandal's mansion, which seemed to loom like a man-eating beast.
"Yzak!"
As soon as he entered, Heine, positioned in the center of the formation, spotted the unharmed silver-haired young man.
"Good, good. At least he's safe."
Muttering to himself in relief, Heine felt as if half the weight on his shoulders—symbolized by the red uniform he wore—had lifted.
"Now, where's Dearka?"
Scanning the room, he tried to locate the dark-skinned youth who had rushed in first.
But upon seeing that none of the fallen Green Coats scattered across the floor was his friend, Yzak didn't waste a single word.
He immediately dashed deeper into the house.
"You—"
Heine gritted his teeth, his outstretched hand still hovering in mid-air, the words to call Yzak back stuck in his throat.
"This guy."
His throat burned with frustration, and a metallic taste tinged the back of his nose. Heine clenched his fists.
"Once we're back, I'm applying for a transfer. I'm done dealing with these two."
"How did Captain Creuset ever manage them? With these entitled brats who never listen, it's a wonder he put up with them."
Sighing in resignation, a weary Heine had no choice but to lead his team after Yzak.
At least neither Dearka nor Yzak were among the bodies on the floor, and Yzak was still alive and kicking—that was something to be grateful for.
"Let Dearka go!"
Before Heine could catch up to Yzak, the silver-haired youth's furious roar echoed through the house, carried by the acoustics of the rooms.
A shiver ran down Heine's spine at Yzak's outburst, and he urgently urged the surrounding Green Coats to hurry forward.
"Keep your voices down. I don't care if we disturb the neighbors, but Mr. Durandal's reputation would be ruined."
When Heine finally reached the scene—the entrance to the basement—he saw their target, Wang Hu.
The ace Qilin of the East Asian Alliance was holding the dark-skinned Dearka hostage, with Durandal tied to a chair beside him.
With two hostages in his grasp, Wang Hu was facing off against Yzak.
"Seize the chance and take a headshot."
After assessing the situation, Heine hid behind the Green Coats and quietly issued the order.
Then, he stepped out from the crowd and stood beside Yzak, who was aiming his gun.
First pressing down the white-haired man's pistol with one hand, he then stepped in front of the white-haired man and said:
"Mr. Wang Hu, the elite of the ZAFT Forces are outside. You can't escape."
"Rather than confronting us here, why don't we talk? I'm here to help you."
Even if one hasn't eaten pork, they've seen pigs run. While military academies don't teach negotiation skills, there are plenty of movies about negotiation experts on screen.
Imitating the performances he'd seen in films, Heine set down his weapon, raised both hands, and began walking toward the room.
"Stop right there. Don't move."
Seeing another handsome blond man approach, Wang Hu waved a gun-holding hand in the air.
"Just stand right there and don't move."
"Okay, I won't move, I won't move."
Hearing Wang Hu's demand, Heine halted his steps, perhaps realizing his current position was blocking the sniper behind him.
He wanted to clear the line of fire.
"Don't move now. Believe me, I'll blow his head off with one shot."
The sound of a cocking hammer echoed as Wang Hu pressed his gun against Dearka's temple.
"Bastard, just kill me then."
Finding himself becoming a humiliating hostage, Dearka struggled while shouting for Wang Hu to kill him quickly.
"Don't!"
"Not afraid to die?"
The first exclamation came simultaneously from Heine and Yzak.
The following question came from Wang Hu behind Dearka's back.
"Would I be in the ZAFT Forces if I feared death?"
The answer was self-evident - these words again came from Dearka.
"Let's discuss this reasonably."
This time Yzak remained silent, his crimson eyes glaring at Wang Hu as if he wanted to tear him apart limb from limb.
So it was Heine who spoke. Whether Yzak would be affected was uncertain if Dearka really died before their eyes.
But he himself would definitely be in trouble. Dearka's parents might not be as famous as Yzak's mother, but their low profile didn't mean they were powerless!
"Then have that sniper behind you withdraw. Actually, besides you and that white-haired guy over there, everyone else should back away."
"Better not appear in my line of sight, or I can't guarantee my hand won't shake."
"Like this!"
"Bang."
While speaking, Wang Hu slightly moved his gun barrel away from Dearka, then fired right beside the unfortunate dark-skinned man's ear.
The explosive gunshot not only startled Dearka but left his entire ear ringing.
Both white-haired Yzak and blond Heine felt their hearts leap into their throats.
"Ah!"
Following the gunshot came someone's muffled groan.
"Fall back, fall back!"
This time without waiting for Heine's instruction, Yzak urgently kicked and shoved the Green Coats behind him away to save his friend.
"Councilor Durandal?"
Only then did Heine have time to notice the person who had groaned earlier.
Since there was still no concrete evidence to accuse Durandal of treason, he habitually used honorifics.
"Hello."
Shot in the leg, Durandal had only emitted an instinctive groan initially. Though pale-faced, he maintained a spring-like gentle smile.
Nodding toward Heine who had finally noticed him, Durandal turned to look at Wang Hu.
Especially at the still-smoking gun barrel in the other's hand. This bastard, could he be planning to use this opportunity to finish me off?
Doesn't he understand the concept of the "self-injury stratagem"?
Noticing the glance Durandal shot his way, Wang Hu used Dearka as a shield and responded with a meaningful look of his own.
I don't believe a word you say!
Durandal quickly shot back a glare, clearly conveying: You did that on purpose.
"Wang Hu, release Council Member Durandal and our comrade Dearka!"
Heine interrupted their silent exchange of coded glances. Having confirmed Wang Hu's willingness to pull the trigger, he grew even more cautious about making any sudden moves.
"That depends on your sincerity."
Tapping the still-warm gun against Dearka—who was now completely frozen in fear—Wang Hu's voice came from behind the dark-skinned man.
"Get me a car, a helicopter, and a Mobile Suit."
"I want to see them parked outside in half an hour, or I'll start executing hostages."
"A car, a helicopter, and an MS?"
Yzak couldn't help speaking up. "Don't even think about it. Impossible."
"Your only option now is to raise your hands and surrender, otherwise—"
"Otherwise what?"
Another audible click of the hammer being cocked echoed as the gun barrel pressed against Dearka's temple once more.
Wang Hu's leisurely voice rang out.
"Care to guess whether my hand will shake this time?"
Silence fell. Both Heine and Yzak were rendered speechless.
"Are you sure this guy is really the Qilin Wang Hu of the East Asian Army?"
Heine retreated to Yzak's side and whispered the question.
He had joined Yzak's squad relatively late and missed the major battle at Panama, so he'd never actually encountered Wang Hu before.
But this first meeting was an eye-opener. Was this really the East Asian Army's legendary Qilin Wang Hu?
And not some notorious century-old bandit?
Since when did he have such polished operational procedures?
"I'm certain it's Wang Hu. I could never mistake that voice."
Gritting his teeth as he stared at the enemy hiding behind his friend, Yzak gave a firm nod.
"He doesn't really want a car or a helicopter—his real target is the Mobile Suit."
"If we give him an MS, things will only get worse!"
"So do we give it to him or not?"
Heine glanced at Wang Hu, who seemed content to wait patiently for now, then asked uncertainly.
"Absolutely not."
Yzak rejected the idea without hesitation.
But if they refused... He looked at Dearka, who appeared utterly drained after having a gun fired so close to his ear.
He wasn't sure what to do. He couldn't just let his friend die right in front of him.
"Hey, hurry up and decide. I'm in no rush, but Mr. Durandal here beside me might not have much time left."
Just as Yzak and Heine were weighing their options, Wang Hu spoke up like a grim reaper urging them on.
"Durandal?"
Hearing this, the two looked over and suddenly realized Durandal's face was growing increasingly pale.
It turned out Wang Hu's earlier gunshot had left Durandal bleeding profusely, forming a pool of blood beneath him.
If they delayed any longer, Durandal would likely bleed to death!
"What should we do?"
Heine nudged Yzak, already regretting why he had come along.
If he hadn't, none of this would be his problem.
"Let him die then."
As for Durandal, Yzak didn't think much of him at this point—just some moderately famous neutral faction council member, wasn't he?
Even if he might not have been secretly colluding with the East Asian Alliance, it wouldn't have mattered.
For the sake of PLANT and all Coordinators, sacrifices could still be made.
Bang.
"Ah!"
The gunshot rang out, followed by Dearka's pained cry.
As if realizing that Yzak and the other man held no regard for Durandal, Wang Hu—right in front of the two who were quietly scheming before him—fired a shot directly into Dearka's leg.
"Can you make a decision faster now?"
His unhurried voice echoed like the whisper of some unspeakable entity from the abyss, as Wang Hu added a bit of motivation for the two of them.
(End of Chapter)