"How are you recovering?" Inside the hospital room, Yago sat on a chair. On the bed, Serena, wrapped in quite a few bandages, looked a bit helpless. Who would have thought that a trip to Paradis Island would lead to something like this?
"It's fine, just superficial injuries. The one next to me is much worse." Serena pointed to Lance lying on the adjacent bed. Compared to her, Lance could only be described as a miserable sight—his whole body wrapped like a mummy, still unconscious.
Yago nodded and said calmly,
"That's good. Once your injuries heal, Serena, return to Marley's capital as soon as possible. Rally and organize our Revival Army, and recruit as many soldiers as possible."
Serena asked in shock, "What? Why? Expanding the army—did something happen? Or is there a new plan?"
But Yago didn't answer her. He simply stood up with a blank expression, told Serena to focus on recovery, and left.
"Yago! What's wrong with you? You don't seem right lately. Why are you so down?" Serena's voice rang out behind him, but Yago had no mood to respond.
After visiting several other members of the Revival Army and those persecuted during this coup, Yago arrived at a hospital room at the corner of the corridor.
But after hesitating for a moment, he released the doorknob. He didn't want his current gloomy mood to affect his mother. He could only entrust Carla-san to take care of her for now.
If that madman Ebson was telling the truth, then not only Eldians, but all humanity in the world would face darkness. He had to stop him, using every resource he could!
Yago walked out of the hospital. The two Garrison soldiers standing guard at the entrance gave him a standard heart salute. The news of Yago becoming the Commander-in-Chief of Paradis Island had already begun spreading through the army.
With the promotion from the core members of the Eldian Revival Army who were assisting with military training and reforms across Paradis Island, many soldiers had grown curious about this unbelievably young Commander-in-Chief they had never met.
At the same time, under the influence of Floch and other local Restorationists, Yago's reputation had also spread among the civilians. Countless recruits in the Training Corps even regarded him as their idol.
As he stepped out of the hospital, someone was already waiting for him.
"Well? Did you find them?" Yago asked directly.
But his cold tone made the two opposite him uncomfortable. Connie and Jean clicked their tongues, and Connie said with a sigh,
"Hey, Jean, look at him—now that he's Commander-in-Chief, he's looking down on us~"
Jean: "Exactly. Yago, don't think just because you're Commander-in-Chief you can do whatever you want. We're not livestock for you to order around."
Yago rubbed his temples and said helplessly,
"Cut it out, you two. I can responsibly say that as Commander-in-Chief, I can do whatever I want. Believe it or not, I can transfer both of you to the Training Corps to clean toilets. Now hurry up—talk business. The Commander-in-Chief is very busy."
Of course, Jean and Connie weren't actually fooling around on purpose. While their former companion becoming Commander-in-Chief left them a bit amazed, the respect they owed him hadn't diminished. Their earlier banter was just a greeting between friends.
"The last time they were spotted was in Corner Alley. It connects to the Underground City, so we're sure they're down there. Should we arrange a few squads to search?" Jean pulled out a prepared map and pointed at it while speaking.
Honestly, Jean had grown like he was on steroids, shooting up to nearly 1.9 meters tall. It would be a waste not to use him like a workhorse.
...
Night fell. Yago sat alone on the railing outside his house. His mother Lucia was still in the hospital, being cared for by Carla. Not visiting her made Yago feel deeply guilty, but he was truly exhausted. There were many things he didn't dare tell his friends and family.
Even now, the upper ranks of Paradis Island were not united. Where there are people, there are disputes. That was why Yago had taken such a hardline stance in the council, practically forcing all the high-ranking officials to hand over the position of Commander-in-Chief to him.
Because Yago knew that without doing so, Paradis Island would still be a loose collection of sand when facing the world in the future. If that was the case, then he would forcefully correct its direction himself.
"It's so late. Why aren't you asleep yet?" A delicate figure appeared beside Yago—it was Annie. It seemed she had noticed his recent gloom. After telling her father, she hurried over to Yago's house.
Yago looked up at the sky. The scattered stars in the dark night reflected in his pupils.
Annie said nothing. She simply wrapped her arms around Yago's waist and leaned against him. Yago also remained silent. After a long while, Annie finally spoke softly,
"Yago, you said that no matter what happens, you wouldn't hide anything from me. Is that true?"
Yago: "Uh, of course it's true. How could I possibly hide anything from you?"
Annie raised her head, her light blue eyes locking onto Yago's dark ones. Their gazes reflected each other, each seeing only the other.
In the quiet night, the girl's clear voice carried a hint of shyness as she said,
"Then can you promise me one thing? You're not allowed to refuse."
A pair of broad hands covered a pair of delicate ones.
"Of course. I would never refuse Annie."
This was Annie's bravest moment. She took hold of Yago's sleeve and pulled him back to the room in one breath. Amid his stunned expression, she locked the door with a click and turned off the lights with another.
"Annie, you—!! Mm!!"
Before he could finish, Yago's lips were sealed by another pair—softer and sweeter.
The night breeze brushed gently past, carrying faint, slightly pained murmurs from the girl.
Inside the house, not long after his daughter left, Mr. Leonhart sat at a desk carving a wooden cup. Suddenly, his eyelid twitched slightly, as if something felt off.