"Kira, can that Wang Hu pilot the Strike Gundam?"
Watching the Gundam's cockpit door close, Sai found it difficult to describe his feelings as he asked this question.
Due to his background, he was thinking more deeply than the others.
On one hand, if Wang Hu—that ace pilot of the East Asian Army—could pilot the Gundam, then his good friend wouldn't have to board the Strike Gundam or get involved in the potential dangers ahead.
But on the other hand, based on what he had seen and heard from his father's side, if Wang Hu could indeed pilot the Gundam, then Kira—who had not only seen but even operated the Allied Forces' classified technology—would lose his value!
And along with that, their own safety might no longer be guaranteed!
Sai had seen and heard too many cases where individuals or groups suffered tragic fates simply because they witnessed or learned things they weren't supposed to. He couldn't help but worry.
"Sai, what are you talking about?"
Before Kira could answer, Katz spoke up confidently.
"Brother Wang Hu is the East Asian Army's ace, the pride of us Naturals! Even those Coordinators were crushed before him. If Kira can do it, how could Brother Wang Hu possibly fail? There's no way Kira is stronger than Brother Wang Hu, right?"
Hearing his friend Katz's words, Kira forced an unnatural smile.
"Y-yeah… there's no way Brother Wang Hu is weaker than me, right? He can definitely do it… right?"
As he spoke these unconvincing words, Kira mentally prayed to every deity he could think of.
No one understood the difference between Coordinators and Naturals better than Kira. And the Strike Gundam's current operating system was tailored specifically to his abilities. Could Wang Hu, a Natural, really control it?
Even if Wang Hu was called the strongest Natural, Kira had his doubts.
Or perhaps…
A shudder ran through him as an unrealistic thought surfaced in his mind.
Glancing at Kira and Katz, who were still talking, and then turning his gaze to Murrue, the Allied Forces lieutenant who was watching intently, Sai sighed quietly. There was nothing left to do but resign himself to fate.
Under the watchful eyes of the group, the Strike Gundam, kneeling on the ground, suddenly moved!
It stood up steadily.
The Gundam—the Gundam stood tall upon the earth!
"It moved! It moved!" Katz jumped for joy.
"Yeah, it moved…" Kira's expression was complicated, a mix of relief and unease.
"It really moved…" Sai discreetly observed Murrue, who was overjoyed, already calculating whether his father's status could protect them.
"As expected of the Allied Forces' super ace, Wang Hu!" Murrue cheered as she watched the Strike Gundam move smoothly across the ground, then flex its limbs with agility.
"In that case, they…"
Her gaze fell upon Sai and the others.
Her original intention was to say that since Wang Hu could pilot the Gundam, Kira and the other civilians could now evacuate to safety.
However, the half-spoken words from Murrue sent a shiver through Sai's heart, as he silently cursed his bad luck.
Don't tell me this female captain of the Allied Forces is planning to silence us to protect so-called classified information!
"Captain Murrue, my father—"
Before she could act, Sai was about to desperately invoke his father's name as a last resort, hoping it might give her pause.
"Pssht!"
The sound of the pressurized hatch decompressing rang out as the Strike Gundam knelt back down on one knee.
"Captain Wang Hu, how are you feeling?"
Without even sparing a moment to listen to Sai, Murrue rushed over as Wang Hu descended from the cockpit via the lift cable.
"You truly live up to being our elite. The earlier test pilots could barely make the Gundam walk properly."
"Yet Captain Wang Hu managed to control it so smoothly right from the start!"
"You flatter me."
Wang Hu stepped off the lift cable and onto the ground, smiling modestly.
"I can only operate it at a basic level. It's not combat-ready."
"Huh?"
Murrue's hopeful expression froze at his response.
"But Captain Wang Hu, you piloted it so well! Why do you say it's not combat-ready?"
"Even—"
She abruptly cut herself off.
"If even our strongest pilot can't do it, then who can?"
The unspoken words were clear to everyone present.
She meant to say: Even a civilian like Kira managed to take down a GINN with it.
So why can't you, the Prodigy of Nova, the Strongest Natural, the Fangs of the Alliance?
Are you just a fraud?
At this thought, Katz's face fell the most, his expression one of shattered disillusionment.
Kira, Tolle, and Miriallia also wore skeptical looks.
Only Sai secretly sighed in relief, thinking that whether it was true or not, his life might be safe for now.
"Compatibility."
Wang Hu offered this explanation, then turned to Kira.
"Impressive. I've heard about the original OS—apparently, just making this thing move could take half your life."
"The current system was modified based on your own parameters, right?"
"Huh?" Kira blinked, then nodded hastily when he realized Wang Hu was addressing him.
"Yes, I adjusted it to my own specs. If you need, Captain Wang Hu, I can modify it for your parameters too!"
"I see." The group collectively had an epiphany upon hearing this exchange.
So Wang Hu really was that skilled after all—he could pilot it normally even with an OS not tailored to him!
Instantly, everyone gazed at Wang Hu with admiration, Kira most of all.
Though he didn't yet know he was the Ultimate Coordinator, if Wang Hu truly was a Natural...
For a Natural to handle a Coordinator's technology like this...
Amazing.
"Captain Wang Hu, in that case, why not have Kira adjust the system to your parameters?"
Just as hope seemed lost, Murrue found a new path forward.
Compared to the meek Kira, she undoubtedly trusted Wang Hu—the Strongest Natural—far more!
"Time, immediate combat capability, and the enemy."
Facing Murrue, who was looking at him with hopeful eyes, Wang Hu raised three fingers and asked.
"The system just now can't even be considered half-finished. Kira's ability only allows the Strike Gundam to move, barely making it combat-ready."
"Moreover, Kira is familiar with himself, but what about me?"
"Even if I tell him my personal parameters and habits, how much time would he need to adjust them properly?"
"How much combat capability could I possibly display by forcing myself to pilot an untested product?"
"And will the enemies outside give us that chance? Since they dared to attack a neutral nation's satellite against all odds."
"Lieutenant Murrue, do you think they'll stop here, knowing we still have another Gundam on board?"
"Won't the enemies attack again?"
"This!" The series of questions completely overwhelmed Murrue.
The flicker of hope she had just seen was extinguished, leaving her at a loss for what to do.
"Sigh." Looking at the oversized headlights that showed no military bearing whatsoever, Wang Hu turned to Kira and said.
"Get up there and contact the Archangel through the comm system."
"My Qilin is on that battleship. Compared to the unreliable Strike Gundam, our chances of survival would be much higher if we pilot a Mobile Armor."
(End of chapter)