Shinji Ikari, the pilot of Unit-01 during the Spirit Awakening Era

"Shinji's smile is strange. I refuse to accept it," Rei Ayanami said again with a firm tone.

"Rejected. Rei, your outfit isn't enough. Although Nagisa-nee is busy and doesn't have time to take you shopping, there's someone downstairs who's incredibly bored." Shinji Ikari pulled out his phone and started messaging Mei Isayama, asking if she'd finished eating and suggesting they go shopping together to buy Rei some things. Mei Isayama naturally made a request, and Shinji agreed to buy her two outfits as payment. "It's settled! Let's go!"

"I refuse." Rei Ayanami reiterated her stance, but this time, she was clearly less resolute than before. However, it was evident that Rei Ayanami did not want to go out.

"Rejected again! Let's go!" Shinji Ikari stood up, grabbed Rei Ayanami, and headed out the door.

"Wash the dishes." Rei Ayanami put up a final resistance.

"We'll do it when we get back! I'll wash it." Shinji Ikari dragged Rei Ayanami down the stairs.

"trouble."

"What's the trouble? Let's go! Today we're going to buy everything!"

Chapter 152 The Deadly Order

Shinji Ikari, holding a glass of cola and slurping it down, crossed his legs and looked speechless. "Is the cola at the restaurant a little fizzy today?"

Misato Katsuragi glared angrily at Shinji Ikari below. Although the little brat had agreed with her that they were just acting, the extent of his performance was inexplicably making Misato furious. This little bastard was really getting into character (gritting her teeth...).

After all, the current meeting was none other than a coordination meeting between various departments to support TERRA, with representatives from the United Nations present. Shinji Ikari was drinking cola in big gulps at this meeting, burping uncontrollably, and openly slurping through the straw, making gurgling sounds that went far beyond just being "a little loud."

However, aside from Misato Katsuragi, whose rage meter was practically bursting, the UN representatives didn't seem to mind at all. Instead, they looked at Shinji Ikari with smiles, and even seemed to want to feed him something. After all, everyone knew that Shinji Ikari had recently gone out to resolve another high-risk incident: a previously undiscovered spirit had suddenly reappeared.

Interestingly, there are some rumors pointing to Morishita Yamato, whose death was far more sensational than his life. It seems he also went there and obtained something. However, after Shinji Ikari resolved the issue, the Onmyōryō (Yin-Yang Bureau) solved the main problem and completed the sealing, and opened Minakami Village, charging an entrance fee like a tourist attraction. You can go in and investigate for yourselves.

Those who went inside, well, they all found it very interesting.

Yes, it's very interesting...

Upon entering the village, there was a long row of graves. The Onmyōryō (Bureau of Yin and Yang) and the Countermeasures Bureau were also respectable people. After Shinji Ikari finished dealing with the matter, Mei Isayama abandoned the corpses that had been licked and left them alone. After burning all the corpses, they gave each person a respectable little grave.

Yes, after entering Minakami Village, there is a row of neat, unmarked graves. Since all the villagers of Minakami Village are dead, no one would have any objections. The stone slabs next to them roughly explain the cause of their deaths.

But for these outsiders, this was a powerful psychological deterrent. They were warned of the consequences of their recklessness: this little wooden box would be their final resting place.

After taking a detour, what they could see was a construction site still underway. The Countermeasures Bureau had prepared enough cement (5 tons) and steel (thousands of tons) to build a super-large residential complex, intending to help Xu Pai build a beautiful and sturdy burial mound! Layer upon layer of steel plates, carved with Buddhas and various deities, would be placed down. The combined thickness would definitely exceed the main armor belt of any battleship in history. If you're so capable, try to penetrate this composite layer of cement and steel plates.

Meanwhile, the carpenters at the nearby Yin-Yang Bureau are working diligently to prepare a beautiful and sturdy little shrine for the Kurosawa sisters, so that they can have a place to rest in their spare time.

In the industrial age, steel bars and cement were the cheapest materials, and the costs associated with them were exceptionally affordable compared to the expenses required for frequent reinforcement of the seals!

Such methods naturally opened the eyes of various organizations around the world. What on earth is this?! The style seems a bit off. However, after careful calculation, it seems... this is indeed very cost-effective. After all, sealing an S-rank normally, not counting the lives of the experts who died in battle and the exorbitant material costs, is a normal project. This little bit of steel and cement... rounded up, is practically free!

So after visiting the village of Minakami, guarded by a pair of A-rank peak evil spirit sisters, and presenting tribute on behalf of the United Nations, Helena Babem visited NERV headquarters again under a different identity. When the smiling woman sat down in the conference room, the entire NERV staff felt a bit like they were in the military.

After all, compared to the relatively independent NERV, TERRA has deeper ties with the United Nations in all aspects, and the United Nations provides them with more support.

"I heard you like to drink cola, so I had someone buy some cola concentrate and a matching machine, and it's already been delivered to your apartment building." Helena Barbem wasn't angry at all about Shinji Ikari's rude behavior. Instead, she said she had brought a gift. (At this moment, Mei Isayama, who lived opposite Shinji, stood with his hands on his hips watching as several people from NERV across the street were unloading a beverage machine and a truckload of bottles and cans.)

"Oh! Okay, thank you." Shinji Ikari twitched his lips. Although he knew that some of the rude behaviors of those with abilities would be disguised as spontaneous, he really did not expect Helena Barbem to be so compliant this time. Shinji Ikari really did not expect it at all.

"So you'll fight with all your might this time, right?" Helena Barbem nodded. Now that Shinji Ikari's attitude had softened, it seemed she could make her request.

"Oh... well, wasn't I giving it my all in that battle?" Shinji Ikari chuckled, exchanging glances with Misato Katsuragi and Kozo Fuyutsuki, who was sitting in the main seat next to Misato. What was the Babem Foundation up to? They were so decisive.

“That’s fantastic! I’ve contacted a top American chef for you and prepared the perfect ingredients. I’ve heard that their dishes can be a great help to a martial artist like you.” Helena smiled knowingly, noticing Shinji Ikari swallow hard. Yes, once you’ve tasted the extraordinary culinary skills of those top chefs, no one can resist the intoxicating experience that surpasses any illegal drug. Shinji, of course, definitely needed such a meal.

"Hiss..." Shinji Ikari's back teeth were aching. He gave Misato Katsuragi a look. What to do? The other side had offered a condition that he couldn't refuse right now.

Misato Katsuragi covered her face. The conditions offered by the Babem Foundation were so sincere that even she, let alone Shinji Ikari, could feel them. So she exchanged a glance with Kozo Fuyutsuki and said bluntly, "You!" (emphasis) "What you hope NERV will do, and what you hope Shinji will do."

“Oh, you’re too kind. We at the Barbem Foundation have no other intentions than to ask Shinji Ikari to provide a guarantee for this matter,” Helena Barbem said with a smile, slightly smoothing her long hair. Her confidence was palpable. “We are almost certain that the alien race that has occupied Tokyo will definitely pursue TERRA. And right now, only the EVAs at NERV headquarters can provide support to TERRA. The Barbem Foundation has poured a lot of resources into this operation, and we hope that this operation will be a success.”

“TERRA will receive NERV’s full support, but the coordination work in between will be crucial.” Kozo Fuyutsuki nodded. Shinji Ikari wouldn’t refuse, so why would NERV? He and Gendo Ikari had already agreed that they needed to mend their relationship with the United Nations. While SEELE wielded considerable power within the UN, it wasn’t entirely under their control. The Babem family, through their control of a certain New Rome, indirectly exerted enormous control and influence over the UN. This was something they needed.

"Then my observation for today will conclude here, Vice Commander. Please remember your promise; Babem awaits your fulfillment of it." Helena Babem stood up. She knew very well that she was unwelcome here, extremely unwelcome. She bowed slightly to Kozo Fuyutsuki, nodded to Shinji Ikari, and then turned to leave. "As for the cooperation from all parties, please do not worry. The Babem Foundation will handle communication with the UN naval fleet and TERRA."

"Traitor!" After the electronic door closed, Misato Katsuragi glared fiercely at Shinji Ikari. "You've been bought off with just one meal?! What happened to all those promises? Ha, a man's words! A liar!"

Shinji Ikari, seeing everyone's eyes turn to him, shrugged in annoyance. "Is this what I wanted? I didn't want to either, there was no other way, okay? They offered so much, if you were in my shoes, you would agree too."

"Shinji, I'll contact the Totsuki Group. A head chef will cook you a nice meal. Consider this a reward for your time at NERV." Kōzō Fuyutsuki shook his head. They had indeed been a bit stingy before. Look at Shinji Ikari's recent actions; they simply didn't contact NERV to let him profit from their success. It's clear they've harbored some resentment.

While taking Shinji to meet Gendo Ikari might be a scene Shinji desperately wants, Kozo Fuyutsuki would never do such a thing. If he did, NERV would probably be in complete chaos...

“Okay!” Shinji Ikari nodded happily. Indeed, sometimes a person’s value is revealed in the bidding process.

"But what should we do, and to what extent?" Misato Katsuragi took a deep breath. She didn't care about Shinji Ikari for now, but she needed to know about NERV's upper echelons, their determination, and what they wanted to achieve.

"Prepare to handle the situation independently. Bring the mobile cable as well. This time, we can't let Shinji Ikari face the same power shortage situation as he did in Tokyo Bay." Kozo Fuyutsuki made the final decision. "Shinji, if necessary... if TERRA is up to no good, you don't need to hold back."

“Oh…” Shinji Ikari looked up at Kozo Fuyutsuki. “This is really a deadly order.”

"Indeed, it's quite deadly."

Chapter 153 Little White

"Oh... so this is the final result of TERRA's massive resource investment in Operation Overlord?" Standing on the deck, looking at the giant mechanical humanoid RahXEPHON, who was hoisted onto TERRA's twin supercarrier Lilia Litviak (which seemed to be the name of a Soviet female pilot), he wore a somewhat sarcastic smile. He turned to look at the group of guards who looked like they were facing a formidable enemy, and the sarcasm on his face deepened.

As agreed between TERRA and NERV, Shinji Ikari arrived at the catamaran supercarrier belonging to TERRA in a special plane. Unlike NERV, which was digging underground fortifications, TERRA built a large number of massive mechanical structures. This catamaran aircraft carrier was equipped with a dedicated heavy electromagnetic rail catapult for launching super-heavy fighters, making it a formidable force in combat.

In a sense, both TERRA and NERV are masters at wasting tax money!

However, Shinji Ikari's arrival on TERRA's territory did cause some trouble. After setting sail, TERRA wanted to conduct a medical examination on Shinji to collect his physical data. After all, who wouldn't want the data of an ace combatant from a competing unit?

"This isn't included in the agreement, is it? Don't get me wrong, you unlucky guys from TERRA. If it weren't for the Babem Foundation's invitation, I'd rather stay in Third New Tokyo and watch you make a fool of yourselves, so don't do anything unnecessary." That was Shinji Ikari's reply.

That's right. Although Shinji Ikari was tempted by Helena Barbem's offer, his trust in TERRA and Barbem was... negative. The reason is simple: they genuinely possessed an entire army of clones, you know? And the Barbem Foundation's good reputation... well, you know.

Shinji Ikari had no doubt that if the Babem Foundation obtained his genetic sample, they wouldn't mind creating some clones to see if they could possess special powers. And one day, perhaps they would set their sights on Unit-01, so blood sampling? In the next life!

"If you don't cooperate, we will expel you." Jin glared at Shinji Ikari and said bluntly. To be honest, he never intended for NERV to get involved; it was the United Nations that pressured TERRA into accepting.

"Alright, hurry up! But let's get this straight, don't go back on your word. The responsibility is yours. We at NERV showed our sincerity, but you tried to steal the classified EVA pilots' genetic data. Even if this case goes all the way to the United Nations headquarters, we won't back down." Shinji Ikari shrugged. Hurry up and get rid of me! Quick! It's like we at NERV are begging you.

The expressions of the NERV members behind Shinji Ikari were also very unpleasant at this moment. They had just wanted to refuse and protest, but they did not expect Shinji Ikari's attitude to be even more resolute.

"Do you think you're still in Tokyo-3?" Jin looked at Shinji Ikari, his eyes flickering, but this look didn't seem to be one of disgust or hostility. It seemed... there was a hint of appreciation in it, which surprised Shinji.

"Isn't it a big deal?" Shinji Ikari shook his head. Don't get it wrong. At this time, the robots they went to plunder in Tokyo and Jupiter hadn't arrived yet, but Shinji's Unit-01 was standing by at an altitude of three kilometers above them. And if a fight really broke out, how many people in TERRA could stop him?

"Um... it's just a blood test for basic checkups, there's no need to be so tense," Yakumo Souichi said, seemingly trying to ease the tension.

"How about this handsome young man gives me some of your blood and I see what tricks I can pull off?" Shinji Ikari laid out his credentials from the Onmyōryō, the Spellcaster, and the Countermeasures Bureau on the table and gestured to them. "How about we start with... diarrhea? Or maybe we can just offer it as a sacrifice to that person at the Himuro Mansion and have her mark you?"

"Eh..." Shinji Ikari's words made everyone on the ship turn to look at him. This explanation was truly irrefutable. In this damned era, having obtained the other party's blood, there were simply too many tricks they could play. They could easily slap a few curses in the face. Therefore, Shinji Ikari's refusal was perfectly reasonable.

The two sides remained deadlocked. Finally, after looking at Kōto Jin's expression, Yakumo Sōichi sighed, steeled himself, and said firmly, "Since you are unwilling to do it, we have no reason to force you. However, from now on, TERRA's core confidential area will no longer be open to you. Please, everyone in NERV, have some self-respect. If..."

"Oh? So where is the non-core classified area?" Shinji Ikari asked with a smile. The other party was obviously going to kick him out of the bridge, so he might as well ask him.

"Deck." Gong Daoren suddenly said, and everyone in the command room looked at him. After all, TEERA's attitude was really too bad. It was as if they had kicked Shinji Ikari and the others out of the warship and left them on the deck.

“Alright, let’s go. Let’s go to the deck and sunbathe. Our NERV headquarters is underground, so we really don’t see the sun more than a few times a year.” Shinji Ikari nodded. This seemed very close to the implication of Fuyutsuki Kōzō: NERV and TERRA could cooperate, but they absolutely could not get too close.

Both sides actually wield considerable power. What if these two powerful groups in Japan decided to march on Kyoto together someday? While Japan does have its unique circumstances, and we can't disobey our fathers (the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office will have work to do if we do), we can't let them start a boycott.

"Sir... this isn't quite right." Yakumo Souichi felt somewhat embarrassed as he watched Shinji Ikari turn and leave. After all, Shinji Ikari had been invited by the United Nations to assist them, and if he was treated like this, TERRA would really lose face.

"When it's time to rest, take them to the hangar's rest area." Gong Daoren didn't want to say anything more. That brat Shinji Ikari actually left very decisively. Either someone had already warned him in advance, or this kid is exceptionally clever. Either way, it's very surprising.

Therefore, TERRA and NERV have maintained a very good tacit understanding, occasionally undermining each other a little; when one party is involved in something, the other party basically just watches silently, with no intention of collaborating. This time, it was really because of the higher-ups that the two sides were forcibly combined.

So why is Shinji Ikari on the deck right now, watching Rahxephon arrive with the other NERV members? A smirk plays on Shinji's lips. Another world reboot system... This world is truly blessed to have two world reboot systems descend upon it. To be honest, the malice directed at him is almost overflowing.

Now that this thing has arrived, it's basically confirmed that Ayato Kamina has reached this ship. Since I can't move around inside the ship, I don't know how to find this boy and have a proper chat with him.

At this time, Shinji Ikari and his crew received a notification to go to the rest area inside the hangar for a meal, and then return to the deck.

Then, when Shinji Ikari went down, he saw a scene that looked familiar to him. A boy who seemed to be about the same age as him was wearing casual clothes, which was very unusual for him. He was standing with another woman who was also wearing casual clothes, looking at the watches on their wrists. They seemed to be talking about something, but the woman seemed to have noticed something and told the boy to go first.

"Ah, sorry! Thank you." Ayato Kamina apologized honestly. The boy who was ordered to leave was naturally Ayato Kamina. He bumped into Shinji Ikari, who was on his way to eat. Because he didn't have Shinji Ikari's reaction speed honed over a long period of training, he was knocked over. However, Shinji Ikari caught him, so he thanked him in the process.

"Oh! It's nothing, but why aren't you wearing your uniform?" Shinji Ikari looked Ayato Kamina up and down, a smile playing on his lips. "TERRA's rules are pretty strict, you'll be in for a rough time if you're like this."

"I'm not one of this TERRA thing. Who are you? You're not wearing a uniform either." Ayato Kamina seemed quite pleased to have someone his own age here. After leaving his familiar world, Ayato Kamina was somewhat anxious, a point that Shinji Ikari could somewhat understand.

"Isn't this a coincidence? Me neither." Shinji Ikari's lips curled into a smile. You guys actually don't like the protagonist? Ha, don't blame me then. "Let's go together. I'm going to eat. Have you eaten yet?"

"Not yet..." As he spoke, Ayato's stomach immediately gave a reaction. Yesterday, he had eaten and drunk food and water that had expired long ago, and he dared not eat or drink too much. Now, touching his stomach, he was really hungry.

"Hmm~ I can see that. Let's go, food is the most important thing in the world!" Shinji Ikari said with a smile. He led Ayato Kamina to the rest area of ​​the hangar. Although there were meals available there, they were all kinds of heated rice balls and ready-made meals from vending machines. However, even so, they seemed to taste pretty good.

Shinji Ikari had Ayato Kamina choose a menu, and he chose one for himself. The two took free drinks and sat down to eat and drink.

"What's your name?" Shinji Ikari asked casually while eating.

"My name is Ayato Kamina, and yours?" The unsuspecting Ayato Kamina gave his name very naturally.

"Me? Shinji Ikari." Shinji Ikari nodded and gave his name. Under the astonished look of NERV's intelligence department, they naturally asked the crucial question, "From Tokyo."

"Yeah, where are you from?" The innocent Ayato Kamina thought Shinji Ikari was pretty good, so he nodded and sold his information.

"What a coincidence, I'm also from Tokyo." Shinji Ikari's smile was very natural. What, isn't Third New Tokyo Tokyo?

"Huh? Really? How did they bring you out?! These people are really rude and unreasonable!" Ayato Kamina thought he had met someone from his hometown, someone who, like him, had been lured out by them and followed them out, completely forgetting that when Shinji Ikari walked in, he was accompanied by quite a few NERV people.

“Oh! That’s true.” Shinji Ikari nodded. The idiots in Terra were incredibly rough and reckless, even worse than NERV. At least in NERV, there were enthusiastic people like Misato Katsuragi, but in Terra, there was only a bunch of Riddlers.

"Ayato! What are you doing here! I've been looking for you for ages! Eh! Shinji Ikari!?" Haruka Shito rushed in, then looked at Ayato Kamina with surprise as he and Shinji Ikari sat together eating and chatting happily.

"Ayato, let me give you a brief introduction. I am a member of the NERV organization, and this lady, um..." Shinji Ikari glanced at the intelligence department personnel, his eyes filled with blatant threat. If you don't even know this, you might as well prepare to commit seppuku when you get back.

"Captain of the Second Intelligence Section of the TERRA Intelligence Department, Yuuki Tō, whose real name is Haruka Mizuki." This time, the intelligence department did not disappoint Shinji Ikari, and very readily revealed the woman's identity.

"Did you hear that? The prettier a woman is, the more likely she is to deceive. Women from the intelligence department, hmm... be careful. Come visit me in Third New Tokyo sometime." Shinji Ikari was blatantly trying to steal her away, and Haruka Shito's expression changed.

The members of NERV's intelligence department stared wide-eyed. Ah, this... this is possible? Is this the level of NERV's top talent? The target that TERRA had spent countless resources to acquire was now being snatched away by Shinji Ikari. Moreover, their rhetoric was no longer just about mixing in the sand; they were practically dumping a whole train carload of yellow sand on him.

It's not surprising that Shinji Ikari has this level of skill. Although he didn't need to use his brain too much during the G High Martial Arts Tournament, whether he was a Hell Paratrooper or a Spirit Detective, using rhetoric to extract information or turn people to defect was common practice. It was basically a routine.

"Don't listen to him! He's a NERV agent." Captain Haruka Shito had just been punched by her best friend and was in a bad mood. Coupled with the fact that it was about Ayato Kamina, she was somewhat flustered by his concern and lost her composure when faced with Shinji Ikari's words.

“I already said that,” Shinji Ikari said with a smile.

"Uh..." Zi Dongyao quickly started thinking of words.

“Meiyu…” But what someone was concerned about seemed to be something else entirely.

Chapter 154 Boarding

The interaction between Shinji Ikari and Ayato Kamina caused great tension on the TERRA side. Many of them were eager to remove Shinji from Ayato's side, but such actions clearly aroused great resentment from Ayato himself.

However, before the conflict between the two sides could escalate again, TERRA received an emergency warning that a target was rapidly approaching. At the same time, the NERV heavy transport aircraft flying overhead also sent an emergency notification that it had detected the Angel's signal.

"Get lost!" Shinji Ikari stood up and leaped onto the bridge of the TERRA Lilia Litviak aircraft carrier. He pushed open the door from the observation deck and entered the battleship's command tower. A staff member standing by the door tried to stop Shinji, but Shinji grabbed him and threw him over his shoulder. "Within 7 meters, you?"

"I remember I already issued a ban to you." Gong Daoren nodded slightly, but still said what needed to be said.

“Yes, but the situation is special now. I just heard your alarm. Now I want to tell you that I just received a notification that it seems your stuff smells too good, and the Angels have arrived.” Shinji Ikari warned, “I don’t know what your plans are. According to the agreement, we will deploy Unit-01 to participate in the battle. According to the relevant provisions of the United Nations, NERV will deploy EVAs to counter the Angels. We need TERRA’s support. There shouldn’t be any problems, right?”

"According to this agreement, NERV will provide support to TERRA, right?" Shinji Ikari's words made Jin Kōdō frown slightly, but he quickly relaxed his brow, as if he felt that this was a good opportunity. The Evangelion Unit-01, which the whole world was curious about, was now being delivered to him. It wouldn't hurt to take a good look at it.

"Tsk... Do you want me to take care of both of them at once?" Shinji Ikari shook his head. He really had taken on a troublesome task from some conglomerate.

"After all, our ship's aircraft are currently undergoing maintenance, and our other armaments are very limited." Gong Daoren shrugged. "So we need you to fight hard."

"Well, that might seem a bit reckless, but if we don't want Unit-01 to be urgently deployed and crash onto the carrier, then we'll have to ask if there's a crazy enough pilot to take me up there." Shinji Ikari smiled. He pointed his thumb lightly at the sky. "Time's tight."

"Putting everything else aside, if we're talking about crazy pilots, we do have one on board." Shi Dongyao, who had been caught in the crossfire by Shinji Ikari and thus had incurred Ayato Kamina's suspicion and slight dislike, sighed. Indeed, if all that was needed was a daring, crazy pilot, then TERRA certainly had one. This pilot must be full of energy, after all, he had just finished boxing with her.

“What she said is indeed possible, but what do you plan to do?” Gong Daoren glanced at Shinji Ikari, and his liking for the boy was surprisingly much greater.

"Huh!?" Elfi Hardiat stared in astonishment at his friend's words, wondering if he had misheard. "You want me to fly a plane and put this kid on a transport plane in the air? Get on a plane in mid-air? Are you guys crazy?"

“Yes… I also think it’s pretty crazy, but we have no other choice now. The enemy’s attack is coming very quickly, and we don’t have time for NERV’s transport planes to unload the EVAs. If we airdrop the EVAs, then the Lilia Litviak will basically be sunk by Unit-01.” Haruka Shito said helplessly. Now, Ayato Kamina, because of the series of events before, is very resistant to TERRA and completely unwilling to cooperate with TERRA. On the contrary, he has a very good relationship with NERV, which is just unbelievable.

If the Ride Goddess Seine cannot be activated, their only option is NERV's Unit-01. However, TERRA initially refused to deploy Unit-01 directly on the Lilia Litviak aircraft carrier, as that would cripple at least half of the Lilia Litviak's deck.

The slow-moving cargo ship couldn't keep up with the Lilia Litviak aircraft carrier sailing at full speed, so NERV could only send transport planes to circle over TERRA. Originally, Shinji Ikari was supposed to be waiting on the transport plane, but TERRA, for various reasons, had Shinji board the ship.

All the coincidences have led to the current trouble. Shinji Ikari now has to take some risks, otherwise he can only watch helplessly as the enemy attacks from this ship. As for fighting with his bare hands? Shinji Ikari feels that he shouldn't do that until he reaches the strength of Invincible East.

Although Ayato Kamina might be willing to engage in a battle, what if things go wrong when you rely on others? Besides, this time it's clearly a two-on-one situation, which is quite a headache.

“Fine, fine, this is your own idea. I won’t be responsible if anything goes wrong.” Elfi Hardiat, who seemed to have some Latin heritage, looked exasperated. The two of them boarded a transport plane that had already been pushed onto the deck. They didn’t have much time left; the transport plane above had already begun its descent. If Shinji Ikari’s ejection failed, they would have no choice but to forcibly airdrop Unit-01 onto the Lilia Litviak aircraft carrier.

"Listen carefully, kid." With limited time and no damn plan, Elfi Hartier could only find the fastest transport plane. He and Shinji Ikari boarded and prepared for takeoff. "Put on your parachute, I don't have one..."

Just as Elfi Hartier was about to turn around to say something, she saw Shinji Ikari already wearing his parachute and fastening the safety buckle, his movements as swift as a seasoned skydiver. Actually, he wasn't particularly skilled; in his previous life, Shinji had completed 47 orbital drops and hundreds of high-altitude parachute jumps. Listening to the howling wind while parachuting was the favorite pastime of the Hell Paratrooper named Lancer.

"Is there anything you need to tell me?" Shinji Ikari looked at the person in front of him and shrugged. Although he was supposed to open his parachute in mid-air and move into the bomber's cabin, Shinji Ikari wasn't too worried. He had done much more exciting jobs in the past. Although he hadn't jumped onto a Covenant ship, they had stolen a rebel transport ship. If only he had a power backpack.

"No, it seems you're quite skilled!" Whether someone has the ability or not doesn't depend on proof of credentials. Elfi Hardiat confirmed that Shinji Ikari must have extensive skydiving experience. A novice wouldn't be able to check and put on the parachute so proficiently.