Just like in Yu Zhou's original world, this Earth too was suffering from the greenhouse effect. The glaciers at the North and South Poles were gradually melting away.
But here, the situation was even worse. To slow it down, massive cooling systems had already been built beneath the polar seas to keep the ocean water cold. Otherwise, the polar ice would have disappeared within just a few years.
Of course, Yu Zhou wasn't particularly concerned with solving this world's greenhouse problem.
What occupied his mind was something else: in the original timeline, during the Antarctic incident, Dyna had been frozen inside the glaciers and nearly perished there.
"Ah, that's right. Captain Hibi—I came here today to bring you the training instructor I promised."
Yu Zhou turned toward Hibi as he spoke.
"Oh?" Hibi's eyes brightened with delight. He glanced at Daigo and asked, "You mean… Daigo?"
"That's right." Yu Zhou nodded.
"That's wonderful!" Hibi, being a man of open emotions, clapped Daigo warmly on the shoulder. "From now on, we'll be counting on you, Instructor Daigo! Make sure you give them proper guidance—especially that rascal Asuka."
Hibi made a point to single out Asuka, who had given him plenty of headaches by disobeying orders more than once.
"Then I'll be in your care," Daigo said with a gentle smile.
Originally, he had left the front lines to live quietly on Mars, tending flowers and enjoying a peaceful life. Now Yu Zhou had dragged him into serving as the Super Victory Team's advisor.
Daigo found the situation both amusing and a little exasperating. Still, since it was only about sharing experience—and not throwing himself into frontline battles—he didn't mind.
"Daigo-senpai, we'll be relying on you!"
The Super Victory Team members greeted him with respect. Toward a former Victory Team veteran, they showed nothing but deep admiration.
"For this Antarctic mission, let me come along as well," Daigo added.
Having just assumed the role, he felt he should set an example.
"That would be excellent." Hibi was thrilled. With Daigo on the mission, their chances of success would be much higher.
As for Yu Zhou, he had to return to the Southern Hemisphere anyway, so tagging along to Antarctica posed no problem. And truthfully, even if he hadn't gone, the situation probably wouldn't spiral out of control.
In the original plot, a monster had hijacked Earth's network and redirected the artificial sun headed for Jupiter, steering it toward Antarctica to melt the glaciers.
But this time, Masaki was already keeping close watch over the artificial sun. If anything went wrong, he would intervene. And even if Dyna couldn't handle it alone, Daigo was here—two giants would certainly tip the balance.
On the Antarctic seas, a floating base awaited them. Yu Zhou and the Super Victory Team flew there aboard their fighters.
As soon as they stepped into the main hall of the base, the Ocean Development Bureau's Director Ejiri revealed his sense of authority.
"According to orders from above," Ejiri declared, pacing with hands clasped behind his back, "this investigation will be commanded by me, as a specialist in marine geology.
"You will all follow my instructions. Keep that in mind."
He turned his eyes toward Yu Zhou and Daigo. "You two, being former Victory Team members, will also obey my command. Is that clear?"
His lips curved into the smug smile of a man enjoying his self-importance.
The Super Victory Team members bristled inside. They despised the way he spoke, but none dared show it.
Yu Zhou, however, was different.
"You son of a—!"
The instant Ejiri finished speaking, Yu Zhou's hot blood boiled over. His "Zu'an heritage" ignited, and he immediately started rummaging through his dimensional bracelet—for a frying pan.
"Yu Zhou-kun, calm down!" Daigo rushed to grab him, trying to keep him from doing anything rash.
"Don't stop me, Daigo! I'll show this fool what it means to respect his seniors!"
"What are you—what are you doing?!" Ejiri panicked when Yu Zhou suddenly looked ready to strike.
"What am I doing?" Yu Zhou snarled, grinning with both anger and amusement. "You really don't know who you're talking to, do you? Back in my TPC days—tell me, when have I ever been afraid of anyone?"
"I—I'll report you to my superiors!" Ejiri stammered. Too terrified to argue further, he fled the hall in a fluster, muttering threats as he went.
"That felt so good," Asuka said, his mood instantly lifted.
"Indeed," Ryō agreed with a firm nod. Ejiri's words had been insufferable, and though Yu Zhou's outburst shocked them, it also filled them with relief.
"But won't this get Yu Zhou-senpai into trouble?" Koda asked worriedly. "He said he was going to report you…"
"Yeah, Yu Zhou-senpai, what if he does?" Mai added with concern. She already disliked the old man, but she still worried for Yu Zhou.
"Don't worry." Yu Zhou waved it off casually. "He can't do a thing to me."
If Ejiri really escalated it, Yu Zhou would explain directly to Megumi. After all, not only was she the former Victory Team captain, she was now TPC's Chief Strategist.
And Megumi knew Yu Zhou well—she still vividly remembered the day he knocked down an entire squad of alien impostors with nothing but a frying pan, even when they had been disguised with Director Sawai's face.
Sure enough, a few moments later, Ejiri returned, carrying a communicator.
"You explain this to the higher-ups yourself!" he barked, tossing the device to Yu Zhou.
Yu Zhou glanced at the screen. As expected, it was Captain Megumi.
Of course, his antics had been reported to her.
"Captain, long time no see!" Yu Zhou greeted with a broad grin, waving at the image.
"Yu Zhou—you're still as impulsive as ever," Megumi said, smiling warmly instead of scolding him.
"It wasn't me trying to be impulsive," Yu Zhou protested with a helpless shrug. "It's that Ocean Development Bureau guy—no ability, yet he wants to command the Victory Team. Worse, he thinks he can order us around. Compared to you, Captain, he's nothing."
He slipped in a compliment without missing a beat.
Megumi chuckled, accepting it. "In that case, how about I hand the command of this mission over to you?"
"Eh?!" Yu Zhou was taken aback. "Captain, isn't that… a little inappropriate?"
"What's inappropriate about it?" Megumi's voice came through the communicator with firm authority. "If I say it's appropriate—then it is."
(To be continued…)