pdf-ebookys Chapter 36: The hunting dogs have been released, and the net weavers have laid their pieces.
Chapter 36: The hunting dogs have been released, and the net weavers have laid their pieces.
[ZAFT Africa Theater - 7th Mobile Regiment Temporary Base]
Inside the hangar, the scorching air mixed with the smell of metallic coolant and ozone, creating a pungent odor unique to war.
Xiao Ran stood before a brand-new MS, its appearance both menacing and beautiful, his expression cold and stern. Behind him, Andrew Bartfield had just finished recounting the story of the "mysterious merchant," a hint of lingering interest and inquiry on his face.
"A self-proclaimed businessman pilot, driving a black, specially equipped Zeon, delivers you a packet of Earth's top-grade coffee, and then tries to undermine your strategic focus with a bunch of half-true, half-false intelligence." Xiao Ran's voice was completely calm, as if he were reciting a dry battle report. "Captain, your romanticism sometimes becomes noise in your judgment."
Bartfield chuckled dismissively. "Intuition is part of combat power, Xiao Ran. Don't you find him interesting?"
"Fun is the least efficient criterion for judgment."
On Xiao Ran's retina, a pale blue data stream flashed by; that was his cheat system—the ZAFT Armory System—conducting background analysis.
[Intelligence analysis module activated...]
[Target: "Mysterious Merchant" | Associated Target: "Ghost"]
[Behavioral pattern matching degree: 97.8%]
[Keywords extracted: "technology upgrade", "market information", "Panama", "blue cosmos", "bait".]
[Behavioral logic analysis: A typical asymmetric information tactic. By using a small amount of high-value technical and strategic intelligence as bait, the aim is to obtain intelligence of higher authority and to psychologically interfere with and strategically mislead the target commander.]
[Overall assessment: The target has been identified as "Anomaly-01," an extremely dangerous "player" skilled in information fraud.]
A cold smile curved Xiao Ran's lips.
Sure enough it was him.
From that incredible cooperation with Heliopolis, he knew that he wasn't the only "player" in this world. And this guy piloting the "Ghost" behaved in unpredictable chaos and erratic behavior, like someone who enjoyed the process.
But Xiao Ran is a results-oriented person.
"I've seen the data on his 'sample.' It's a heavily modified version of the Gene, with modifications to the drive and target acquisition systems, geared towards rapid response under high mobility." Xiao Ran reached out and stroked the cold armor of his vehicle. "Perfect, my 'Slaying Wind' was born to hunt these flies."
This TMF/A-802SE "Slasher," custom-built specifically for him, is Baku's ultimate modified model. It sacrifices some versatility, focusing all its performance on "target acquisition" and "hunting." The machine is covered with composite sensors, and its multi-directional vector nozzles on the legs and high-grip mechanical claws allow it to unleash terrifying grip and turning speed in any complex terrain.
This is the engineer's romance—using absolute rationality and precise calculations to stifle all so-called "genius" and "intuition".
"He promised you a 'gift' within three days?" Xiao Ran turned to look at Bartfeld-de. "No need to wait. Hunters should take the initiative."
He strode toward the cockpit elevator, his voice coming through the communicator with an undeniable decisiveness.
"Send me the Archangel's real-time location. Also, notify all squads to deploy the 'Necklace' formation, with my 'Wind Slayer' at the core. This time, I'm going to drag that black rat out of its hole completely."
---
【Obu United Chiefdom - Onogoro Island】
In an exquisitely simple Japanese-style room, Su Yunxiu knelt on the tatami mats. On the low table in front of her, a set of delicate tea utensils emitted wisps of steam. Outside the window was a meticulously maintained dry landscape garden, serene and far-reaching.
Compared to the scorching heat of the African desert, this place seems like another world.
Before her, several translucent, shattered glass-like light screens floated in the void. This was her cheat—the "Future Silhouette" intelligence system.
On the screen, several fragmented pieces of information with no beginning or end are playing in a loop.
[Fragment 1: Visuals]
An oasis, a previously unseen grey-black Zeon, and a ZAFT Commander-type Lako coexist in an eerie peace. A blurry figure sits opposite Andrew Bartfield, drinking tea.
[Fragment Two: Audio]
Amidst the hum of static, a distorted, genderless voice broke through the noise: "...The defense of Panama...will be the Union's Achilles' heel..."
[Fragment 3: Coordinates]
A red navigational forecast line runs across the North African continent, ending in Alaska. Next to the route is the label "Archangel".
Su Yunxiu picked up the teacup and gently blew away the steam. Her movements were elegant and composed, but her mind was working at an astonishing speed.
A "player" piloting a mysterious mobile suit has not chosen any of the three major factions, but instead appears in Africa as a third party.
While observing Kira and "lecturing" the Archangel, he also "had tea" with ZAFT's field commander, peddling strategic intelligence.
He brought up "Panama," which will become a key point in the future showdown between the United Nations and ZAFT.
All his actions, seemingly contradictory, revolve around one core—the Archangel. Like a master chess player, he is protecting the ship, or rather, protecting someone on board, in his own way.
"A... disruptor who believes in the neutrality of chaos?" Su Yunxiu murmured to herself.
She didn't believe violence could solve problems; that was the thinking of a "reckless fool." But she also understood that absolute peace required absolute power to defend it.
And what this mysterious "player" in front of us is showing is...
It is precisely this kind of power that can stir up the game.
This is an extremely dangerous variable, but also an excellent partner.
She put down her teacup, picked up the encrypted communicator beside her, and issued the command in a cool yet gentle voice.
"Activate the 'Golden Princess Contingency Plan,' Plan B-7."
"Tell Cagalli to go there in a fighter jet."
"Also, dispatch a 'scribe' to Africa. Mission level: Alpha."
"Mission objective: Contact, assess, and, if necessary... guide the 'ghost'."
She's about to make her move.
In this increasingly chaotic game, she needs a strategy that allows her to take the initiative.
A chess piece that can obey commands at any time.
The African sky was dyed a magnificent orange-red by the setting sun.
Xiao Ran piloted the "Slaying Wind" like a steel hound gliding close to the ground. On his tactical screen, a bright signal representing the Strike Gundam was moving slowly. Around that signal, an extremely faint, intermittent signal flickered like a will-o'-the-wisp.
That was "Ghost". He used some unknown energy concealment technology, only revealing a trace when there was a gap in high-speed maneuvering or tactical target acquisition.
But for "Lu Feng", this trace was enough.
Xiao Ran licked his dry lips, his eyes gleaming with the excitement of a hunter spotting his prey.
"I've finally found you, 'Ghost'."
Meanwhile, hundreds of kilometers away.
A secret base disguised as a civilian airport, a transport plane painted with the Orb logo, quietly lands under the cover of night.
The hatch opened, and a figure dressed in the uniform of the Obu Military Technical Department, wearing gold-rimmed glasses and with a gentle demeanor, carrying a suitcase, walked down the gangway.
He looked up at the unfamiliar starry sky, a sky belonging to war, and a meaningful smile appeared on his lips.