Great, we're doomed now!

He tightened his arms slightly, and Ruri seemed to sense it in her dream, letting out a very soft murmur and burying herself deeper into his embrace. Lucy stirred, finding a more comfortable position, and continued to sleep soundly.

Ye Shou hesitated for a moment, but ultimately made no further move. He closed his eyes and began to meditate, allowing his mind to gradually calm down...

-

Not everyone can handle complex situations with the same ease as Ye Shou; most people just rush around in a panic.

For example, Olga Itsuka, the first leader of the Knights of Askeladd, was called "Captain Who Works Harder" because she was a novice and worked very hard.

Managing the miners was not difficult for Olga. He was very respected among the youths, and although the adult miners were resentful, he managed to appease them. With the help of Ye Shou's prestige and the support of the Tower of Babel, he quickly organized the Knights into a respectable organization.

With the help of technicians, Mikazuki gradually adapted to Barbatos and began to receive formal pilot training with his manual. It can be said that everything is on the right track.

Give him a few more months, and he might be able to win over all the miners on Titan to maintain social order on the planet.

However, Earth and Mars reacted quickly. Not only did a large number of pilgrims come from the general public, but the government also sent a fleet to visit. As the only "regular" military force on Titan at present, the newly established Knights of Askeladd was responsible for receiving and protecting them, and they would be held responsible for any accidents that occurred during the process.

This undoubtedly put Olga under tremendous pressure.

To suddenly make someone who is not yet an adult and has not received a proper education into a person who can decide the affairs of the country... Olga felt that her life was like a roller coaster, the difference between the beginning and the end was just too great.

He was forced into this role, and most of the clerical work was handed over to the employees of [Babel Tower]. Even so, he was still under a lot of pressure, but fortunately, he would soon be less stressed.

Because McGillis Farid, the representative sent by the "Inner Ring," has already led a large number of people to Titan and will arrive soon to help establish a new administrative system there.

The residents of Titan, including Olga, speculated that once the situation stabilized, "that person" would take the opportunity to select talent, appoint officials, and initiate a bill to allow Titan to become independent and autonomous.

Everyone is really looking forward to it!

The natural environment of this planet is harsh, far inferior to Earth and Mars, and even to closed worlds like lunar cities or artificial satellites. However, if they can be freed from corporate exploitation and all their output is used for surface improvement and livelihood projects, they would be very willing to stay and build their home.

To put it bluntly, regional discrimination exists even in interstellar civilizations. As the saying goes, people are less valuable when they leave their hometown. If you can make a living locally, who would want to be looked down upon by others?

Especially the Earthlings, they look down on even the Martians, let alone these gray rats on Titan!

The rapid growth of the Knights of Askeladd is largely due to the fact that they are all locals. Even though their members are of varying quality, the residents of Titan believe that supporting the miners is better than supporting foreign armed forces.

...And so time slowly passed, and McGillis's fleet, escorting the "pilgrims," ​​had arrived outside Saturn's orbit, temporarily anchoring at the spaceport. For a time, this artificial satellite, which was essentially a logistics port, was packed to the brim, with a large portion of them remaining outside, requiring shuttles to provide supplies.

Fortunately, McGillis had anticipated this, and with several supply ships in the fleet, there shouldn't be any problems for the time being.

"Citizens from all administrative regions, today we have gathered together for the same goal, and I believe you are eager to meet the greatest hero in human history and listen to his holy teachings."

In the public broadcast, McGillis paused slightly, adjusted his words, and continued: "But everyone must understand that the Lord has just awakened from a long slumber. He is not yet familiar with the world and needs to rest and recuperate... Not everyone will be lucky enough to have an audience this time, so please don't be too disappointed."

in addition--"

Sizzle!!

A burst of radio interference cut off McGillis's announcement and replaced it with another video. After a brief blackout, a gray-haired, shrewd, and capable middle-aged soldier appeared in the view of tens of thousands of pilgrims, while simultaneously forwarding the message to Earth and Mars.

Most people have seen this person in the media.

"Isn't this General Elion?"

"Did he come as a representative of the Tower of Babel?"

"No, General Elion should be from the lunar orbit fleet..."

[Dear human citizens, I am "Lesdal Elian", commander of the extralunar orbit unified fleet, and a former knight of the Tower of Babel.]

My ancestor, Angelica Elian, followed the great leader Kuze Ye Shou and participated in the Moon Recapture Campaign and the Mars Expedition, saving humanity from the brink of extinction. Later, as a member of the Inner Circle, she worked tirelessly in the Legion's upper echelons to protect human civilization.

As a member of this honorable family, I always keep my mission in mind, dedicating myself, both physically and mentally, to the future of humanity!

Airports, the ground, spaceships—everyone was captivated by this declaration. While the general public remained bewildered, McGillis and those involved had already begun to have serious, even alarming, speculations.

'Lord Elion, are you really going to do this?'

The blond McGillis stared intently at the face on the screen, feeling both anger and confusion.

He couldn't understand how Ellian dared to openly rebel in front of tens of thousands of citizens!

This not only puts him in opposition to the public, but also easily drags innocent people into the mess. In such a situation, even the extra-lunar fleet that he built himself might not be able to wholeheartedly follow him.

Doesn't this commander know that, regardless of victory or defeat, he will surely be condemned for all time?

However, I have to painfully convey a cruel truth to everyone—

The Tower of Babel is already rotten!

This organization, which originally aimed to protect world peace and lead humanity forward, is no longer what it once was. It has lost its passion and beliefs and has gradually degenerated into a corrupt organization focused solely on maintaining its own status.

They ostensibly use 'morality' and 'risk' to limit technological development, but behind the scenes they are conducting large-scale genetic modification experiments!

I could not condone this behavior under any circumstances, but I did not have the courage to confront it, so I silently left the Tower of Babel... But today I can no longer bear it and must expose their crimes to the world, because their actions have crossed my bottom line!

Gentlemen! Do not be misled!

The appearance of 'Kusei Yamori' on Titan the other day, including the previous attack on the Temple of Solomon, were all farces orchestrated by ambitious individuals!

The descendants of Grand Consul "Agunica" betrayed his trust, treating the Royal Mech as their private property and secretly conducting extensive research... What we see is undoubtedly a clone of "Kusei Yoru"!

—What is this guy talking about?

The news was like a pebble thrown into a pond, creating ripples in people's hearts and inevitably causing confusion.

But what followed was even more shocking, to the point that even the members of the Tower of Babel were shaken—

[The evidence is right here!]

The video feed then cut to another location, where a man in military uniform had a taut face and was sweating profusely. His face was quite well-known among the public, which made McGillis' eyes widen in surprise.

"Father……"

[Secretary Farid... if you still have the most basic sense of honor as a soldier, then have the guts to admit your past mistakes.]

[Um... I, I am Iznario Farid, the honorary first generation of the Gundam family... I abandoned the family's honor long ago... I made an irreparable mistake, which was to succumb to the fear of death and accept the current 'Agunica's' terms.]

They offered me 'immortality' as payment, instructing me to support the Cayel family within the Tower of Babel and execute a plan...

Specifically, it involves using a clone of 'Kusei Yoshimori' to consolidate the legion's power, cooperate with major conglomerates on Earth and Mars, and formulate a series of laws to solidify its position and forever suppress any thoughts of resistance among the people.

Meanwhile, the higher-ups... can break through lifespan limitations through 'immortality surgery' and become the eternal rulers of the solar system!

A thousand years, ten thousand years... Ordinary people experience the changing of generations, and our rule, like the rising and setting of the sun and moon, becomes part of the natural order... But I was wrong!

As a human being, I should never do such a thing... I am the glorious Farid, and I should not collude with the devil!

Soldiers and citizens, do not be deceived! What is happening on Titan is a conspiracy by ambitious individuals!

These words struck a chord with everyone, whether they were pilgrims or natives of Titan. They had been looking forward to a grand celebration, but in the blink of an eye, they were told about such a huge conspiracy. For a moment, they were in a daze and did not know what to believe.

After speaking, the head of the Farid family seemed to have exhausted all his strength, his head bowed and his eyes revealing a terrifying resentment... but he still took a deep breath, raised his head, and began his final performance.

[The evidence of my guilt is right here—McGillis Falid!]

"!"

You all know him, the rising star of Babylon, the right-hand man trusted by the current Agunica... but he is not my son!

A few simple tests will confirm that his true identity is that of a clone created in preparation for my 'immortality surgery'!

……

"'Father'."

On the bridge, under the astonished and uncertain gazes of everyone, the blond youth remained silent for a moment before giving a twisted smile.

"It's truly shameful... to have such a body."

Chapter 269: A man covered in dust is fearless in the darkness! (Bonus Chapter)

Everyone will probably be thrown into chaos—Elian secretly curled the corners of his mouth.

He knew that even if he sacrificed the head of the Farid family and produced the so-called "evidence," he could at most make everyone doubt him and not dare to express their opinions. It was impossible for him to completely believe in him and stand on the opposite side of the Tower of Babel.

In the past, it would have been easier to handle, since the Tower of Babel had been infiltrated by them for many years, and Earth and Mars had many allies. Even if they were not on the same side, most forces would choose to remain neutral.

After all, to put it bluntly, the Tower of Babel had always been in the position of regulator, which would have angered many people.

But not now, because the royal machine—[Bayeri]—has awakened!

Regardless of whether Kuzeha Mori is real or fake (Erian himself isn't sure), the mere presence of that silver demon is enough to stop the soldiers. Only brainwashed clone soldiers could remain completely unconcerned.

Elian's goal was not to argue about who was righteous and who was evil, but to take advantage of the chaos and establish a fait accompli while everyone was hesitant!

The fleet he brought this time concealed its true size. A large number of clone pilots were already in place, and with the addition of new drones, its combat power was definitely superior to the escort fleet and ground forces of the Tower of Babel.

Given that the enemy was already wavering, and his main force consisted of bloodless and ruthless soldiers, the difference in strength between the two sides was obvious.

The only thing to consider was the royal throne, but he had already taken that into account—

boom!!!

Before everyone could recover from the shocking news, an extremely intense crustal movement suddenly occurred on Titan, with a crimson eruption visible even from outer space.

"Fire, volcanic eruption?"

In the colonial city of Vulcan, Olga and Mikazuki, among others, drove their engineers to a high vantage point and stared in astonishment at the lava pillars erupting from the distant horizon, almost unable to believe their eyes.

Titan's surface is roughly a mixture of glaciers and rocks, making its structure very fragile. Earthquakes are a common natural disaster there. However, the upper mantle is very thick, and the lava below is relatively stable. Volcanic eruptions of this scale are unprecedented.

Why did it have to happen at this time...? It's just too inopportune!

"This is not a natural disaster."

Ye Shou's calm voice came through the earpiece: "This planet's supporting structure was probably destroyed by humans. If I'm not mistaken, some companies, while mining on a large scale, also used engineering machinery as a disguise to transport devices such as nuclear warheads deep into the Earth's crust."

"Nuclear bombs?" Olga could hardly believe her ears. "Those things were destroyed long ago!"

"It's probably because some were left behind or deliberately hidden... that's quite normal."

Ye Shou spoke calmly, as if he had expected it, which reassured Olga somewhat.

"If they launch it successfully, the nuclear warheads hidden underground are enough to trigger the tectonic plates of Titan to split apart, and all the colony cities will be destroyed."

"Damn it!" Olga clenched her fists tightly.

He had finally seen a glimmer of hope, and he and his companions were about to live a good life, and the entire planet was about to gain independence. But now he was being told that those ambitious people had never treated the immigrants as human beings from the beginning, and had directly stuffed nuclear bombs into the planet—maybe even stuffed them in through the holes they had dug!

Olga now wishes she could kill them all!

call--

calm down!

"Absolutely not! Lord Kuze, tell me what to do!"