Mobile Suit Wars: Starting with Gundam OO

Bored out of his mind, Graham finally awaited the arrival of rescue. After retrieving the machine, he caught Billy Katagiri once again.

"That guy, right? It must be that guy!"

"Calm down, Graham." Billy Katagiri raised both hands, signaling with his eyes to be cautious. Although this was their private lounge, it was better to be careful.

"Ha—" Graham took a deep breath to calm himself, but his gaze remained intense as he looked at Billy Katagiri, hoping for an answer.

Billy Katagiri didn't respond verbally, only nodding slightly.

"Damn it... you all... treating me like an outsider." Graham glared fiercely at Billy Katagiri, though the one he really wanted to vent his frustration on was Yang Hui, but Yang Hui wasn't here.

"Ah haha..."

"Sigh, that guy really shows no mercy. Lost the Linear Rifle and the plasma sword, and now I've lost both arms. This will make for an interesting report."

"Feeling down?" Billy Katagiri offered Graham a cup of coffee.

"Of course not!" Graham abruptly lifted his head to take the coffee. Billy Katagiri saw no hint of discouragement in his eyes; instead, they were filled with fighting spirit. "I'm becoming more and more interested in your plans. If he's involved, how can I be left out?"

"Uh... is that so?" Perhaps Graham's enthusiasm was too intense, causing Billy Katagiri to take a few steps back in surprise.

"Is there a way to contact him?" Graham asked.

"There is, but it has to go through a middleman. After all, we are just observers, responsible for monitoring the Gundam Meisters' execution of tasks and evaluating the process. Myer... is our superior."

"Is that so? Sorry to trouble you, Katagiri."

"Sure..."

"Beep beep—beep beep—"

Just as he opened his mouth, Billy Katagiri's PAD rang. He took it out and saw it was an encrypted communication. Billy Katagiri guessed who was contacting him and didn't shy away from Graham, directly connecting the call while signaling him to remain silent.

"Mr. Katagiri, long time no see. This is Wang Liu Mei."

"Long time no see, Miss Wang. Do you have any instructions?"

"Myer wishes to meet with you. The time is 2100 hours the day after tomorrow, at the bar where you first got drunk."

"Ha—cough cough... Myer said that?" Billy Katagiri's face turned a mix of embarrassment and anger. That memory was too painful to recall, and if he could, he would prefer to forget it forever, especially not in this manner.

"Yes."

"Got it."

After the call ended, Billy Katagiri wore an expression identical to Graham's when he was shot down by Yang Hui—twisted and terrifying.

"That bastard..."

Even Graham, known as "Brave Bull," dared not disturb Billy Katagiri at this moment. Despite his usual gentle demeanor, there was one switch that should never be flipped: that drunken incident. Once activated, the person provoked would...

"Ha—" After a long while, Billy Katagiri finally calmed down and found a way to shift his focus.

"What was it like to face that Gundam directly?" Billy Katagiri asked.

"Well... it's a monster. Its output power is several times that of the Flag, and it has beam weapons for single-machine use," Graham evaluated.

"Yeah, I was shocked just looking at the data back then."

"The most important thing isn't just that; it's that it has a monster of a pilot. He is the ultimate guarantee for your plan to proceed smoothly, right?"

"That's not wrong. He is one of the few aces in the world, and with such a next-generation machine, what can stop him?"

"Haha, indeed. But I won't just give up like that. Katagiri, you'll have your hands full when you get back."

Billy Katagiri met Graham's gaze, paused for a moment, then understood and said, "Don't hold too much hope for me."

"Hahaha, I have faith in you."

...

Two days passed quickly. On the night of the confrontation with Gundam Rasiel, Graham and Billy Katagiri were summoned and ordered to form a special investigation team for Gundam, with Graham as Captain and Billy Katagiri as the technical advisor. They also submitted the data obtained from their battle with Gundam Rasiel as a cover, balancing the scales for Graham's loss of two weapons and the damaged Flag.

After accepting the appointment, Billy Katagiri took Graham to the designated location.

"Hey, you made it." Yang Hui greeted them from the bar.

"You bastard..." Upon seeing Yang Hui, both of them were filled with anger.

"Don't be so petty, come sit. I've already ordered drinks for you, all your favorites." Two glasses of alcohol sat quietly nearby, waiting for their drinkers.

"Hmph!" Both of them snorted coldly at the same time, sitting down and picking up their glasses, but they didn't drink immediately.

"Isn't what you're doing a bit unfriendly?" Graham asked Yang Hui, glancing back a few times.

With their arrival, all the patrons, bartenders, and waitstaff in the bar stopped their actions, staring intently at Yang Hui's back, and the noise abruptly ceased.

"Mr. Yang, this probably doesn't comply with the rules," Wang Liu Mei stepped forward to speak to Yang Hui.

Although she had a good impression of Yang Hui, she was also an agent of Celestial Being. It was one thing for Billy Katagiri to meet outsiders, but this already violated Celestial Being's confidentiality agreement.

"Are you questioning my orders?" Yang Hui asked Wang Liu Mei with a half-smile.

"...I wouldn't dare." Even if she truly questioned him, she wouldn't dare say it out loud. After all, Yang Hui was ultimately the second-in-command of Celestial Being. Unless Aeolia reappeared, his orders were the highest command, and everyone in Celestial Being had to obey, unless they betrayed.

"Graham is an old friend of mine. He is trustworthy. Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."

"...Understood."

Hearing this, Wang Liu Mei said no more, allowing the agents in the bar to resume their disguises and taking Hong Long with her to leave.

"Looks like your status is quite high," Graham teased.

"What? Are you envious?" Yang Hui shot back.

"How could I be? Right now, I'm very interested in defeating you."

"Well, you might not get that chance, after all..." He didn't finish, shrugging his shoulders, the meaning was clear.

"Tch! Then you better get me a machine too, so we can have a fair fight!"

"You must be dreaming!" Yang Hui rolled his eyes, scolding him. Getting another machine? The six Gundams they had were already the painstaking results of Celestial Being; they were running low on resources themselves.

"Regardless, add me to the mix. For such a crazy plan, the pioneers of world change can't do without me, Graham Aker!"

"Of course, otherwise, why do you think I would voluntarily expose my identity to you?" Yang Hui smirked.

"Hahaha, I knew you wouldn't forget me. So, what do you want me to do?"

"So direct? Would you go to your death if I asked you to?"

"Would you?"

"Others might not, but you..."

"Come on, come on, let's get serious."

"Alright, I really can't joke around. I hope you continue to act as an enemy of Celestial Being, ruthlessly dealing with the Gundam Meisters." Yang Hui said seriously.

"Are you serious?" Not only was Graham stunned, but even Billy Katagiri and Wang Liu Mei beside him were taken aback.

"Although the Gundam Meisters have improved significantly after my training, they are still too immature to bear the burden of being pioneers of world change, especially mentally. Some of them don't even know which path to take; they are just mechanically and numbly executing the plan. So I hope..."

"…you want me to be their sharpening stone, so they can grow quickly?" Graham finished Yang Hui's sentence.

"Exactly." Yang Hui nodded.

"Aren't you afraid of dulling the blade?" Graham asked with interest.

"If it dulls, it means they aren't worthy. Besides... isn't there still me?"

"Tch, just one sharpening stone might not be enough, right? Who else is there?" Graham prided himself on understanding Yang Hui; he was not someone who would put all his eggs in one basket.

"My brother, and Kati. Not just you, but the entire Human Reform League, UNION, AEU."

"Playing this big?"

"We are testing the world; isn't the world also testing us? This is... the first phase of the plan."

Looking at Yang Hui, who seemed to have everything under control, Graham paused for a moment, then felt relieved.

This was the Yang Hui he knew, always confident, as if everything had already been arranged.

Of course, except in front of Sumeragi.

"Alright, since you're so confident, I'll take it on. Let me see if your Gundam Meisters are worthy of such excellent machines, worthy of the title of pioneers."

"Leave it to you." The three raised their glasses and clinked them together, while Yang Hui handed a storage device to Billy Katagiri.

"What's this?"

"You'll know when you see it. Only you two and the professor can look at it."

Hearing this, Billy Katagiri nodded seriously and carefully stored the device away.

After the two left, the once-crowded bar gradually quieted down. The disguised agents all departed, leaving only Yang Hui, Wang Liu Mei, and Hong Long, who had taken over bartending duties.

Yang Hui continued to drink, Wang Liu Mei sipped on juice, and Hong Long wiped the glasses, occasionally filling their cups when they emptied.

Thus, the bar fell into a mysterious silence.

After about an hour of silence, whether it was because she couldn't hold it in any longer or couldn't drink anymore, Wang Liu Mei took the initiative to speak.

"Mr. Yang, do you have anything to explain?"

"I thought you would keep silent and report me to the other observers."

"That depends on your explanation."

Wang Liu Mei did not deny her good feelings towards Yang Hui, but her wish was to change this world she despised. The foundation of all this was the smooth execution of the Celestial Being plan.

In the face of the plan, personal feelings had to take a back seat.

"What do you want to ask? Go ahead, I'll answer what I can." Yang Hui continued to stare at his glass, not looking at Wang Liu Mei.

(End of Chapter)