Mecha: Return of the Pioneers

Chapter 2082 Conversation with the Steelbuster Crew!

In the distance, Noriko Takaya and Kazumi Amano, who were touring the area with Lux, also noticed the commotion on He Ming's side.

Because of insufficient permissions, I could not get close and could only watch from afar as the excited project team members walked out of the test site in twos and threes.

After vaguely learning from the conversations of these project team members that they had been personally promised extended leave by He Ming, Noriko Takaya chuckled.

"It seems your marshal is quite capable!"

"Yes. The master has always been very considerate of his subordinates. They must be exhausted during this time."

Lux nodded, a slight smile appearing on her face.

"I've heard that you are the chairman of a colony nation called PLANT within the Human Earth Alliance?"

Amano Kazumi's gaze darted back and forth between the testing grounds and Lux, as if she had noticed something.

"Yes, that's right. My father was the former Chairman of PLANT. But unfortunately, our world was in the midst of a civil war at that time, and my father, the then Chairman of PLANT, was assassinated by the enemy..."

Even after so much time has passed, Lux still can't help but feel sad when she talks about her father.

"Ah! Sorry! I didn't mean to mention it."

Amano Kazumi quickly apologized.

"No. Ms. Amano was unaware of this. I don't blame you."

Lux shook her head, indicating that it was alright.

"It's been a long time since then, it's just a temporary sadness. If my father could see that humanity can now unite and cooperate to fight against external enemies, he would probably be gratified!"

Noriko Takaya and Kazumi Amano were starting to feel a bit of a headache.

Having no idea about Lux's background, they had no idea how to comfort her.

Fortunately, after saying goodbye to Leslie and Monica, He Ming, who was still wandering around, discovered this sightseeing group.

"Lux, Noriko Takaya, and Kazumi Amano, or perhaps I should call you Mrs. Ota?"

"Hmm? Mrs. Ota?"

Lux's eyes flashed as she looked at Amano Kazumi.

"I'm sorry! This was not something I intentionally concealed."

Kazumi Amano raised her hand to stop Noriko Takaya, who was about to explain for her.

"It seems the Marshal does indeed know some things about our home world!"

Amano Kazumi paused, raised her hand in salute, and solemnly introduced herself to He Ming and Lux.

"A pleasure to meet you! Marshal He Ming of the Human Earth Alliance Army, and Lady Lux, the Director of PLANT. I am Lieutenant Colonel Kazumi Ota of the Human Empire Space Force."

"I am···"

"No! Fazi, you are the pilot of Gunbuster. That's enough."

Before Noriko Takaya could introduce herself, Kazumi Amano—or rather, Kazumi Ota—took the initiative and confessed everything.

"What is the name of the Human Earth Alliance? It's a pleasure to meet you!"

The return gift is a gesture of welcome.

"Lieutenant Colonel Ota, Noriko Takaya, welcome to Earth! Welcome to this chaotic world! But unfortunately, humanity is now facing a threat from outer space, just like the crisis your home world once experienced."

"Yes. We have learned something during this time! Marshal, if there is anything we can do, please don't hesitate to give the order!"

Kazumi Ota volunteered that she and her partner were willing to contribute to the world.

"That's natural. The reason I asked you two if you were willing to repair Gumbuster is because I wanted to ask for your help!"

He Ming frankly revealed his true thoughts. "Furthermore, if you two don't mind, please move over and we can sit down and discuss this in detail."

"it is good!"

Soon after, on a sunny, lush terrace surrounded by countless flowers, He Ming, Lux, Kazumi Ota, and Noriko Takaya took their seats one by one with the help of the maids led by Ren.

"Don't be shy. Let's eat and chat! This conversation might take a long time."

He Ming glanced at the sun overhead and nodded to Lian.

Lian responded clearly and led the maids to prepare the necessary arrangements.

"Come! Please allow me to pay tribute to these two heroes who have returned from a long period of twelve thousand years with this glass of juice!"

Lux raised the juice drink in front of her and smiled as she saluted Kazumi Ohta and Noriko Takaya.

"Thank you! We were just fighting to survive. We're nothing heroes!"

Kazumi Ota and Noriko Takaya picked up their glasses with both hands to thank Lux.

"Not everyone dares to stay behind at the Heart of the Galaxy to cover the retreat, knowing they will be swallowed by the black hole. Lux is right! You two are undoubtedly heroes. I believe that when you truly return to your original world, the people there will think the same way."

He Ming also raised his glass and said from the bottom of his heart.

After everyone drank their beverages, the atmosphere gradually relaxed.

"Could the Marshal elaborate?"

After exchanging glances with Noriko Takaya, Kazumi Ota asked a question.

"Well. If you don't mind, I can tell you some things I know."

"No problem at all! Thank you, Marshal!"

Noriko Takaya quickly responded.

He Ming nodded slightly and organized his thoughts.

"Perhaps, if it weren't for the interference of the Ghost Faces, you two would have returned to Earth smoothly this time. But just like when you came to this chaotic world, when you arrived on Earth, twelve thousand years would have passed."

He Ming paused, observing the changes in the expressions of Kazumi Ota and Noriko Takaya.

Apart from a hint of sadness in their eyes, there wasn't much change.

It's likely that after the two woke up, they made some inferences based on the data presented by Gunbuster at the time; otherwise, Ota Kazumi wouldn't have taken the initiative to ask Heming about their home world.

"Twelve thousand years. I'm afraid the people we know are no longer here."

From He Ming's words, the two had already guessed that humans still existed in their home world, but that long period of time was enough to turn any human from the same era as them into ashes whose whereabouts were unknown.

"Logically speaking, that is indeed the case. But I think that even after twelve thousand years, there will still be someone waiting for your return, waiting for the moment when they will personally say to you, 'Welcome back.'"

He Ming's answer gradually revealed a hint of excitement in Kazumi Ota and Noriko Takaya.

For their home world, twelve thousand years is too long.

So long ago, people have forgotten the determination of humanity to go to the Galactic Center and fight the enemy at any cost in order to survive.

But for the two of them, those twelve thousand years felt like yesterday, and the experience of going to the core of Unit 3 and triggering a supermassive black hole was still vivid in their minds.

Before that, the face of the friend who had risked everything to follow the two to the core of Unit 3, but ultimately had to make a promise to them under terrifying pressure that he would welcome them back, was even clearer.

As this vivid memory stirred their hearts, He Ming slowly uttered the name of his dearest friend.

"Jung Freud. After returning to Earth, in order to wait for your return, she chose to enter a hibernation pod, enduring a long period of hibernation to fight against time, until she saw you return with her own eyes and personally said to you—'Welcome back.'"

(End of this chapter)