Gundam: From Piece to Player

Page 24

The actual procurement negotiations took place in another small room, and Monahan was indeed in charge. After the negotiations, Monahan appeared energetic, clearly having gained the upper hand.

After dinner that evening, Kalma went to a nearby balcony for some fresh air, and Monahan came over.

"Do you find this kind of work boring?" Monahan offered him a cigarette.

“There won’t be a second time.” Karma took the cigarette with a bitter expression and took a puff. “I would rather do a 10-kilometer mountain training exercise with heavy loads or a morning of military sand table simulation than do this kind of meaningless work.”

“I thought the same way when I was young, but I was frail and sickly as a child, let alone joining the army,” Monahan said. “After growing up, I became a secretary at the Prime Minister’s residence, writing articles for important tasks and taking meeting minutes. I got married, had children, and my family became the most important part of my life. I have a wonderful wife, and with her guidance, I gradually found enjoyment in this kind of work.”

Can we find happiness in the ordinary days?

“Most people in the world are ordinary people who want to live peaceful lives, even though they all dreamed of becoming heroes when they were young.” Monahan exhaled a smoke ring. “But what can we do? Our country’s conscription office is encouraging young people to go to the battlefield and become heroes. If ordinary people like me fill the army, then Zeon is afraid it will lose the war.”

"I agree. War is the worst strategy in military tactics. It is usually only resorted to when there is no other way. I don't think Zeon has actually reached that point."

Chapter 33 Love?

Monahan stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray on the balcony. "If General Kilian had been as insightful as you, perhaps we wouldn't have ended up in this war."

"Hey, you can say things like that in SIDE6, but don't say them back home. Don't get me into trouble," Karma couldn't help but remind her.

"Haha, I know my limits."

At 11 p.m., the day's diplomatic schedule came to an end. Karma used a projection camouflage device to modify her appearance and sent the escort vehicle to the capital hospital in Side 6. She found Haiwen, who was being escorted, near the operating room.

"Sir, you've arrived?"

"How is Sally?"

"He is currently in the intensive care unit."

This answer was so impactful that Karma paused in thought for several seconds.

The little girl finally realized that she seemed to have said something wrong, and added, "This kind of surgery requires observation for a day before it can be performed, and the surgery will be carried out tomorrow."

This child tends to breathe heavily when he talks.

Through the glass window of the intensive care unit, Karma saw Sally, who was wearing a white hospital gown and waved to him, which made Karma breathe a sigh of relief.

The following days were spent waiting.

This transgender surgery seems to be quite complicated, involving subjects like plastic surgery. Karma also brushed past the elderly woman who was in charge of the surgery a few times. The woman's expression was quite bad, which made him worry about Sally's surgery.

Haiwen did report some unusual circumstances to him.

"You said your contact person didn't reach you earlier today, and you couldn't get through when you called them?"

“Yes, it gave me quite a fright,” Haiwen said with lingering fear. “Luckily, Lady Sally asked me to pretend to be a regular patient and wait in line. Fortunately, I met the old doctor. The contact person called me at 9 a.m. because the timings didn’t match up. The surgery was indeed scheduled for tomorrow, the 14th. These kinds of surgeries require a day of observation. They said they didn’t expect us to go to the hospital so early.”

It seems to have been a false alarm.

Kalmar wasn't particularly surprised by this. These field workers often slack off, and their working hours are quite flexible.

Upon closer examination, the reason might simply be something like oversleeping.

These intelligence personnel were all under the control of the Guildon intelligence department, and Karma was not the commander-in-chief.

After this minor incident, to be on the safe side, Kalmar still had the armed forces waiting at the port drive the jeeps and weapons directly to the vicinity of the hospital.

Several crossfire points can be set up near the hospital, and armed helicopters can be deployed to provide fire support in the event of an accident, ensuring that the situation is under his control.

On the fifth day of diplomatic affairs, Sally's surgery was completed.

Karma continued using the projection disguise, still intending to listen to the doctor's request in person.

As soon as Karma entered the consultation room, she sensed that the old doctor had an inexplicable hostility towards her.

"You're Miss Sally's relative?"

"I am her fiancé."

"Okay." The doctor opened the medical record, no longer dwelling on it. "You should know that she is infertile, and there's something else you might not know."

"please say."

"Her genes have some degree of abnormality, which is reflected in telomere lesions. She will live to be at most 40 years old."

"...40 years old?"

“Yes, and extravehicular activities can worsen the condition,” the doctor said. “If you can’t accept that, I advise you to make a decision as soon as possible and not let the child suffer.”

Back in February of this year, a powerful figure, who claimed it was "for my own good," advised me to make a decision as soon as possible.

Damn it, why are there always people pointing and whispering around?

Is this an eyesore to you?

I can do whatever I want, what's it to you?

If you keep gossiping, I'll send you all to the sky with the 101st Airborne Division.

"What decision?" Karma was furious upon hearing this and stood up abruptly. "What do you know about our relationship?"

“Sir, I know you are of high status and have a very powerful background. It is true that your people gave me a lot of money, but they also forced me to have this surgery at gunpoint.” The female doctor was not angry. “My profession has made me very clear that love is the most unreliable emotion in the world. It is nothing more than a reproductive impulse catalyzed by male and female hormones.”

"What you're obsessed with is just that child's body... To put it bluntly, you're just a lecher."

Unable to listen any longer, Karma turned and left. Opening the door, she saw Haiwen standing guard outside.

"Girl, go listen to the doctor talk about the post-operative care, and then go back and prepare a brief report for me."

"……OK."

Hywen instinctively tried to salute, but stopped after being glared at by Karma.

Upon entering the ward, one sees Sally sitting on the bed, her mental state improving better than Kalma had imagined.

When Karma arrived, Sally was calmer than she had imagined. She simply looked at him with a faint smile, like the warm sun in winter.

Sally extended her hand to Karma, who naturally shook it back.

The soft touch in his hand made him feel that warmth.

Their eyes met, as if their souls were merging, until Karma was the first to shyly look away.

"So this is what it feels like to be a real girl and look at your seniors."

"You're already tempted? That won't do." Karma feigned nonchalance in the face of Sally's advances.

How could this feeling be the lowly reproductive urge that the female doctor described? This is clearly the emotion of traveling together, fishing together, and watching the sunset together—this is love.

"You must have had a tough surgery. What gift would you like?"

"There's another gift?" Sally asked, somewhat surprised.

"Of course, there should be a reward."

"I want to go to Pluto."

Sally clasped her hands together, thought for a moment, and then made a wish that he hadn't expected.

"what?"

"Is it not allowed?"

"It's not that it's impossible, but what's so interesting about that place? It's just ice and rocks."

Karma began to plan how to make this happen.

Even in this modern era, going to Pluto is not an easy task.

The solar system is actually much larger than we imagine.

The distance from Earth to the Moon is 38 kilometers, the closest point to Mars is 5500 million kilometers, and the closest distance to Pluto is 42.75 billion kilometers.

Even the fastest spacecraft in the Universal Century would take years to reach this destination. The cost of the helium-3 fuel needed for the round trip to accelerate and decelerate would be enough to buy several civilian spacecraft to start a small transportation company.

"Can't I?" Sally looked very disappointed.

"I was just worried you'd get bored. I'll make arrangements as soon as the war is over."

What would be an outrageous request for the average person is not particularly difficult for Kalmar. It can be arranged together with the Helium-3 city in the asteroid belt.

"I'll keep my word, pinky promise."

"Pinky promise."

Chapter 34 Theory of Life and Science

Sally's smile made Kalma feel that it was all worth the cost of helium-3 fuel.

As for that quack doctor who said Sally only had about twenty years left to live.

Is there still a theory about lifespan?

If this happened before the Universal Century, Kalmar might have felt despair, but now that hibernation technology is so advanced, even if a solution isn't found within twenty years, Sally can remain a Sleeping Beauty, waiting for a breakthrough in genetic technology.

Marisa said that the power of love is limitless.

He's not that idealistic; he only believes in science.

The communication device in my hand suddenly started beeping.

"Go ahead and get busy, senior," Sally said softly.

"Mmm." Karma kissed Sally on the forehead. "Baby, you get some rest."

Sally, who was usually so at ease, blushed instantly, as if she had flipped a switch.

Wow, I didn't expect such an unexpected bonus.

I never had such a strong reaction when I kissed other places before.

Is there some sensitive area on your forehead?

Just as Karma was about to try it again...

Drop drop drop.

Karma had no choice but to connect to the unresponsive communication device.