After seeing Cagalli off, Wang Hu immediately turned around and headed back toward the fleet's flagship with Unato.
Meanwhile, Cagalli rushed back in anxious haste.
Heaven knew how anxious the young girl felt upon learning that the East Asian Army was truly preparing to take action.
The East Asian Army—it was the East Asian Army!
Probably no one in the world believed that Orb could defeat the East Asian Army!
If anyone did, they were either out of their mind or harbored ill intentions!
For this reason, Cagalli had even exercised her privilege to implement traffic control along her route—a rare measure.
Although she drove unimpeded all the way to the residence of Orb's highest authority, she still felt the pace was too slow.
When she finally, after hurrying as fast as she could, returned to the residence and reappeared in the office that served as the center of Orb's highest power,
she sensed the tense atmosphere inside as soon as she entered.
"What happened?"
She had intended to immediately bring up the matter of the East Asian Army's decision to use force, as informed by Wang Hu.
But seeing the heavy atmosphere in the office, Cagalli thought it better to first ask what new problem had arisen.
"Cagalli, have you been to the East Asian Army's side?"
The question was phrased as an inquiry but carried a tone of certainty. It was not asked by the girl's father, Uzumi,
but by the head of the Sahak family, whose prestige and influence in Orb were second only to the Asuha family.
"Yes, that's right."
Cagalli held respect for this pillar of Orb and supporter of the Asuha family.
So the girl answered his question first.
"The East Asian Army—no, Wang Hu gave me an ultimatum. If we still refuse by the deadline..."
"They... they will attack Orb!"
"I see." Nodding slightly, the Sahak family head forced a faint smile and said,
"You've worked hard, Cagalli. You've endured much for Orb."
"You've suffered a lot, haven't you?"
"No, it's nothing. It's all for Orb."
The Sahak family head's words warmed Cagalli's heart like a flowing stream.
This sense of being acknowledged made the girl feel that all her efforts were worthwhile.
However, Cagalli did not dwell on this feeling for too long.
She hurriedly asked again,
"What exactly happened?"
Yet when Cagalli repeated this question, no one in the office answered her immediately.
Blinking her eyes, the girl was baffled. She couldn't understand what kind of situation could make everyone adopt such a silent stance.
"Father?" Cagalli felt it inappropriate to ask others. Probably, if her father weren't present,
no one would resolve her confusion.
Another stretch of heavy silence ensued. Uzumi clasped his hands together on the sturdy office desk.
In truth, even he himself didn't know how to broach the subject of what was currently happening.
But before he could figure out the right words to explain to his daughter,
the office door was suddenly pushed open from outside, and a residence attendant rushed in.
"Representative Asuha, the citizens... the citizens have taken to the streets in protest."
The attendant's face was filled with terror as he delivered yet another piece of bad news.
"I see."
Uzumi could no longer maintain his composure. In his view, how had things deteriorated to this extent?
Where exactly had things gone wrong, and why was it different from what she had imagined?
"What on earth is happening?"
Finally finding someone to answer her questions, Cagalli noticed that no one in the office was responding to her inquiries.
So
The young girl grabbed the unfortunate attendant and pressed him for an explanation.
"The East Asian Alliance issued a war warning, and citizens panicked after learning about it."
"Somehow, suddenly, the public flooded the streets to protest Representative Asuha's decision."
"They raised slogans calling for peace, not war."
Like pouring beans from a bamboo tube, the attendant had no reservations like the others, especially given Cagalli's status.
He directly revealed the reasons and the current situation.
"How is that possible?" the girl exclaimed in disbelief.
In Cagalli's eyes, the citizens of Orb were usually very obedient.
"What about before? What else happened earlier?"
Still holding onto the attendant, Cagalli wanted to know why the people in the office had worn such grave expressions when she entered.
The citizens taking to the streets was clearly something that happened later—there must have been something before that!
"Before?"
The attendant was taken aback. Could it be that Miss Cagalli didn't know?
After a moment of confusion, the attendant honestly replied.
"It's still because of the East Asian Alliance's announcement—they proposed new conditions."
"I know about the new conditions. Get to the point."
"I don't believe it's because of those conditions that everyone is so tense."
Interrupting him abruptly, Cagalli demanded he focus on the key issue.
"The key point?"
His mind a bit muddled, the attendant thought for a moment before suddenly understanding.
"The East Asian Alliance also emphasized the current crisis across the entire Earth Sphere and called for nations within it to unite."
"To avoid the worst-case scenario, now is the time to set aside disputes and overcome the difficulties together."
"To reassure us in Orb and ensure we won't be dragged into the war,"
"They've invited the neutral faction, led by the Kingdom of Scandinavia,"
"To form a monitoring team to oversee the Allied Forces' use of our Mass Driver."
"At the same time, they've invited the monitoring team to supervise the repair progress of the East Asian Alliance's Mass Driver. Once theirs is fixed,"
"The Allied Forces' East Asian Army will immediately withdraw from Orb."
"Is that so?" Cagalli released the attendant's collar. In principle, such measures seemed quite reasonable and thorough?
The East Asian Alliance had given both face and substance—refusing now would indeed seem unreasonable.
"Also," the attendant added another point.
"The Kingdom of Scandinavia has already issued a statement agreeing to the East Asian Alliance's proposal."
"And it's not just the Kingdom of Scandinavia—the rest of the neutral faction has agreed as well."
"Right now, international opinion is urging us in Orb to agree."
"I see."
Hearing this, Cagalli finally understood why everyone in the office had worn such expressions when she entered.
This was truly a case of external threats and internal troubles.
Even Orb's usual allies in the neutral faction had sided with the East Asian Alliance.
This diplomatic offensive by the East Asian Alliance was executed flawlessly, leaving no room for resistance.
In that case, Cagalli felt a surge of relief.
Surely her father would have to follow the will of the people now?
"Father, we should agree to the East Asian Alliance's proposal."
Returning with the intention to persuade her father once more, Cagalli pressed her advantage while the iron was hot.
"No, Orb's principles cannot be shaken."
It felt like a bucket of cold water had been dumped over Cagalli's head. Uzumi stood firm in his beliefs without wavering.
"Why?"
Cagalli couldn't understand, nor did she want to.
Slamming both hands on the table in front of Uzumi, she raised her voice.
"Even the Kingdom of Navia is urging us to agree!"
"Why are you still so stubborn, Father?"
"They're afraid."
Uzumi's gaze sharpened. How could someone like him not know the reason behind Navia's agreement?
"Facing the Coordinators in space, facing the Light of Peace that could drop from the sky at any moment."
"The Kingdom of Navia and other nations are all afraid, all terrified."
"So even if it makes neutrality a joke, they have to find a reason to prove it."
"They are still neutral—it's just that circumstances are forcing them to be flexible."
"But we in Orb are different. Only by holding firm to Orb's principles can Orb remain Orb."
"Otherwise, an Orb that changes its principles is no longer the true Orb!"
"Huh?"
Cagalli was stunned, and the others were somewhat taken aback as well.
It was as if he meant "death before abandoning principles."
But isn't a miserable life better than a noble death?
"The more dangerous the situation, the more we must stand firm."
"As long as we remain resolute, there will always be a way."
Uzumi's eyes swept across the faces of those present as he continued to expound on his ideals.
He genuinely believed his decision was without fault.
The East Asian Army was surely just bluffing. Despite their current firm stance,
if he stood even firmer, they would inevitably hesitate and retreat.
After all, the Mass Driver was in his hands. If they wanted to obtain the Mass Driver intact,
without his approval, wouldn't the East Asian Army worry that he might go to extremes
and simply blow up the Mass Driver?
This was Orb's true source of confidence, especially in the current situation.
"What about the citizens?"
Cagalli had no choice but to seek a breakthrough here. Wasn't her father always saying that the people were the foundation of a nation?
If that were the case, then for the sake of the citizens, couldn't he bend a little?
"The citizens will understand."
With unwavering determination, Uzumi believed that for Orb's future, the people must endure hardship. Once victory was achieved,
they would naturally understand, and he would compensate them doubly—that should suffice.
"Father!"
Furious and exasperated, Cagalli's hand inadvertently brushed against something hard on her person.
Perhaps rage had clouded her judgment, or perhaps the pressure of the current situation was too overwhelming.
Without a second thought, Cagalli drew the pistol from her waist—a weapon more ceremonial than practical.
"Father, you're wrong about this."
Pointing the gun at Uzumi, her voice was frantic.
"The people of Orb—they came here because they believed Orb could bring them peace."
"And now? For the sake of so-called principles, are we going to drag them into war?"
"What everyone wants is simple: a peaceful life."
"Principles, principles—are principles more important than peace?!"
"Then weren't we just deceiving them all along?"
"Cagalli, put the gun down now!"
Uzumi faced his daughter's gun muzzle expressionlessly, completely unafraid.
But the others in the office couldn't just stand by and watch this situation unfold.
Two or three people rushed to Cagalli's side, attempting to wrest the gun from her hands.
Just at that moment, another attendant burst through the door.
Without even assessing the atmosphere in the office, he shouted on his own accord.
"Terrible news! The masters from the East Asian Bureau of Barbarian Affairs have been attacked!"
"Terrorists stormed the hotel where they were staying!"
"According to witnesses at the scene, the attackers were shouting ZAFT Forces slogans and using ZAFT weapons."
"It's over."
Those who had been trying to seize the gun no longer bothered, turning instead to look at Uzumi.
The reason they looked to Uzumi was because they all believed he was behind this incident.
They thought our representative Asuha was using this to pressure the East Asian Army.
Otherwise, why would the timing be so perfectly coordinated?
Just as Orb was facing unprecedented public opinion pressure, a new variable emerges.
Indirectly reminding the East Asian Alliance not to forget the Coordinator threat.
But...
Wasn't this playing with fire a bit too much? If the East Asian Alliance decided to go all out...
Representative Asuha, this isn't how you walk a tightrope!
"It wasn't me."
Seeing his subordinates' gazes, Uzumi could no longer remain seated and hurriedly stood up.
"Quick, send people to the scene. We must get to the bottom of this."
He wasn't foolish - why would he do something so unnecessary at a time like this?
Yet no one believed Uzumi's explanation.
Just think - without inside help, without Uzumi's approval...
The residence of the East Asian Bureau of Barbarian Affairs masters was protected by three layers of Orb's most trusted elite forces inside and out.
If ZAFT could still succeed under these circumstances, then what right did Orb have to claim it could become a responsible major power!
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