Sometimes things are truly marvelous, like right now.
After separating from the crew of the Archangel in the desert, Wang Hu took the Zeta Gundam and the evacuees ahead through the East Asian Army's underground channels.
By the time Wang Hu and his group had returned to their respective homes, the Archangel had just arrived at Orb.
They still had quite a distance to go before reaching their final destination—the Allied Forces' headquarters in Alaska.
Holding the latest military intelligence he had obtained from the intelligence department, Wang Hu strolled through a military base located at the northern core of the East Asian Federation.
"What's wrong? Still worried about Kira and the others?" Li Chengzhi, walking alongside Wang Hu, glanced at him and said.
"True warriors don't grow up under the wings of their predecessors. Eaglets must face storms head-on from a very young age."
"I get it, I get it."
Wang Hu shot his friend an annoyed look. He knew exactly what Li Chengzhi was thinking.
He was undoubtedly worried that Wang Hu, upon seeing the Archangel's current journey so closely mirroring the original timeline, would rush back. But since he had already made his decision, Wang Hu wasn't one to change his mind on a whim. Moreover, compared to the situation over there, his own current circumstances were the more pressing matter.
Looking around the heavily guarded base, Wang Hu knew that what was coming would eventually come.
"So, how does the higher-ups plan to deal with me?" Wang Hu asked, putting away the intelligence report in his hand. He had already taken quite some time to rest and recuperate.
"Huh?"Li Chengzhi's steps faltered unnaturally for a moment, and he feigned nonchalance as he retorted, 'Deal with you?" What do you mean?"
"You know, you're not very good at lying, especially in front of those close to you."
Wang Hu chuckled lightly and pointed at his friend's chest.
"Back at Nova, the intelligence department under the Ministry of War had already investigated me inside and out, hadn't they?"
Li Chengzhi fell silent, not denying it. He stopped walking and stared intently at his friend.
An awkward silence fell. The corridor grew quiet, tension thick in the air.
Wang Hu and Li Chengzhi stood facing each other, neither speaking nor looking away.
A moment later, the ringing of an old-fashioned telephone broke the silence. Li Chengzhi finally averted his gaze and pulled out his phone.
"Understood, General."
Listening to the voice on the other end, Li Chengzhi nodded and replied respectfully.
Standing opposite him, Wang Hu watched his friend take this conveniently timed call, then smiled and looked up at the surveillance camera blinking with a red light on the ceiling.
"Let's go."
After hanging up, Li Chengzhi put on an indifferent expression, as if whatever was about to happen had nothing to do with him.
"Did you put in a good word for me?"
This time, it was Wang Hu—usually the one leading the way—who followed closely behind, step by step.
Li Chengzhi still didn't respond, acting as if he hadn't heard Wang Hu's question.
Shrugging, Wang Hu also fell silent. He followed his friend quietly through the corridor, all under the watchful red lights of the surveillance cameras.
After walking for what felt like a long time, the two finally arrived at an office door that looked utterly ordinary in every way—except for the nameplate.
"Base Logistics Office?"
Wang Hu silently read the plain nameplate before following inside.
After entering, Wang Hu scanned the interior furnishings - the environment inside was just as ordinary as the exterior gate.
The only noteworthy feature was the star-adorned general inside.
A general who definitely wouldn't appear on any published list of active service generals, one who bore seventy percent resemblance to his friend Li Chengzhi.
"Captain Wang Hu?" The rhetorical question came, unsurprisingly, from the standing General Li.
"Yes! Wang Hu from the Third Brigade of Nova Garrison Training Unit, reporting for duty!"
Snapping his heels together, standing at attention and saluting, Wang Hu shouted loudly.
"Captain Wang Hu."
General Li extended a hand in a calming gesture, his face wearing a spring-like smile.
"No need to be nervous. I've heard quite a lot about you from Captain Li Chengzhi."
"So I have some understanding of you already."
"Yes, I'm deeply grateful for Captain Li Chengzhi's daily guidance and care."
Wang Hu didn't let the general's friendly demeanor make him overstep. He knew exactly what to say when - after all, the real business hadn't even started yet.
"Heh heh heh." General Li examined Wang Hu carefully.
They were both old foxes who knew better than to play games with each other. Seeing Wang Hu maintaining his formal demeanor,
Further pleasantries would be redundant. So General Li casually pulled a document from the files on his desk.
"Take a look." The smile remained, but his tone changed as General Li motioned for Wang Hu to come forward and take it.
"Yes!" Wang Hu responded loudly, accepting the materials with impeccable military bearing that left no room for criticism.
"Rustle, rustle, rustle." The now quiet office was filled only with the sound of Wang Hu turning pages.
They say a nation possesses mountain-moving, sea-filling capabilities. For a normal major power,
when the machinery of state begins operating at full capacity, when you truly appear within the higher-ups' field of vision,
it becomes extremely difficult - nearly impossible - to remain hidden.
Just like the documents in Wang Hu's hands now - from his birth to his growth, many old incidents that Wang Hu himself might have forgotten
were recorded in these files, complete with photographic evidence.
Especially the comparative data from before and after the Nova Resource Satellite campaign!
His eyes narrowing, Wang Hu looked at the comments marked with bold red lines, examining his detailed physical data.
"How thorough and practical."
Wang Hu sighed without feeling particularly surprised.
The Nova campaign coincided with his arrival in this world. The identity of an outstanding military academy student couldn't possibly explain his performance during the Nova operation.
Outstanding people are allowed to become more outstanding, but when outstanding people directly evolve into superhumans -
if the higher-ups didn't initiate investigations in such cases, simply accepting it as normal...
Ha ha ha, did they think this was some legendary novel?
This was exactly why Wang Hu had chosen to reveal his identity to Li Chengzhi earlier.
Better than waiting for continuous investigations from above, letting their curiosity about his power source grow through layers of mystery, eventually evolving from curiosity into suspicion.
"At that time, although my repeated military achievements might prevent the higher-ups from taking action against me due to my merits,
would someone with lingering doubts about them be entrusted with important responsibilities?
Being sidelined would likely be the most probable outcome for me—like Amuro, only pulled out when absolutely necessary, otherwise confined like a symbolic monument."
"Finished reading?" General Li asked with a smile when Wang Hu stopped flipping through the documents.
"Finished." Wang Hu closed the documents and stood in place without another word.
"Nothing you'd like to say?"
General Li suddenly made an expression unbefitting his status, blinking mischievously as he inquired.
"No." Wang Hu shook his head and waited for the other to announce his fate.
"A great nation must possess broad-mindedness. Our country has weathered countless storms throughout history.
Numerous historical enemies ultimately became integral parts of our nation. So what does one extra-dimensional traveler matter?
As long as Yan-Huang blood flows in his veins and Yan-Huang spirit resides in his thoughts, no matter where he comes from—
he is one of us Yan-Huang people."
Seeing Wang Hu's expression, General Li stopped teasing him and directly revealed the higher-ups' decision.
"Yan-Huang, huh?" An unconscious smile touched Wang Hu's lips, wholly unsurprised by the final ruling.
Naturally, this outcome couldn't have been achieved without his assistance. Wang Hu turned to glance at his expressionless friend
Li Chengzhi, who appeared to have neither seen nor heard anything.
Though his friend had spoken cynically about the matter, this resolution undoubtedly bore his efforts.
"Could you tell us about the Homeworld?"
After announcing the decision, the atmosphere relaxed, and General Li asked with keen interest.
"I subscribe to the theory of inherent human wickedness. Captain Li Chengzhi has told me much about you,
but I'd like to hear your deepest personal reasons. After all, saying nothing wouldn't affect your status or honors in the slightest.
Speaking might only create unnecessary barriers and suspicions—I don't take you for a man who gambles on probabilities."
"The Homeworld?" Wang Hu gathered his thoughts.
"As I told Captain Li Chengzhi, it's a core relic left by a hyper-advanced civilization, containing unimaginable technological wonders.
What I currently understand is that this starship seeks to revive its own civilization.
To this end, the core granted me power and projected me into countless worlds.
When I encounter someone I deem suitable, I can actively invite them to join the Homeworld."
"Invite?" General Li's eyes flashed with understanding. "Those you approve of, who also approve of you—correct?"
"Yes." Wang Hu nodded, explaining why he had revealed his identity.
As an individual, how many people can you truly influence?
Gaining the approval of everyone around you is practically the limit. Even becoming a public celebrity—how much time and effort would it take to earn universal acceptance?
And how many who claim to support you truly mean it in their hearts?
Besides, what Wang Hu needed wasn't mindless followers!
However, with the backing of national power, it becomes entirely different. With the state's endorsement, the scope of recognition and the success rate are self-evident!
"Captain Yang Wei went to the Homeland?"
As expected of General Li, who holds a high position, he cut straight to the core with his question.
"Yes." Wang Hu was not the least bit surprised that the other party would ask such a question.
After all, hadn't every detail of his life been thoroughly investigated?
"Must it be someone who has passed away?"
General Li pressed further. This question was crucial. If only the deceased could go to the Homeworld, the restrictions would be far too great!
"Not necessarily." Wang Hu shook his head and explained cautiously.
"In necessary circumstances, living individuals can also go, but they will face two choices."
"Swear allegiance to the Homeland and become a member of the super-civilization, severing all ties with their original nation. Apart from being dispatched to other worlds on missions, they cannot freely travel back and forth."
"Of course, since they may not identify with me, nor I with them, they will face significant restrictions."
"Formal members and external temporary workers—you can't expect them to have the same authority or treatment."
"If they wish to travel back and forth, that's the second option: operating in the lower regions of the Homeworld, which are the so-called public areas."
"Lower regions? Public exchange zones?"
His eyes instantly lit up like light bulbs, and General Li immediately thought of many, many possibilities.
"For now, it's unclear whether technology from the Homeworld can be directly brought out through the public areas."
What General Li had thought of, Wang Hu had naturally considered before.
So he added another remark to prevent General Li from having high hopes and then facing great disappointment.
General Li showed no reaction to this.
Because merely the ability to travel between the Homeworld and the public exchange zones of this world already made him think of countless possibilities for manipulation.
For instance, Wang Hu had once mentioned that the core of the Homeworld had sent him into countless worlds.
Did that mean people from countless worlds could also meet in that public exchange zone?
Technological development has never been something that can be achieved behind closed doors. Countless worlds naturally have countless unique products.
Perhaps what our world desperately needs as a core technology is something readily available in another world?
The technology of the Homeworld itself is undoubtedly important, but even more crucial is the collision of wisdom from countless worlds!
Additionally,
General Li also had his own thoughts about the Homeworld. Swearing allegiance to the Homeworld and becoming a member of the super-civilization—isn't that similar to changing one's nationality?
Nationality can be changed, but can a person's will be altered as well?
Moreover, if the entire East Asian Alliance were to swear allegiance to the Homeworld, what difference would there be between the Homeworld and the East Asian Alliance?
(End of Chapter)