Chapter Sixty-Six: Faction Mission

Silently striking, silently resupplying, silently destroying a patrol-use GINN, and silently retrieving a rescue pod.

“You really do like picking things up, don’t you?” All these rescue pods were ones Kira had brought back.

Kira pressed his lips together in a quiet smile.

Several gun barrels were aimed at the door of the rescue chamber.

“Hello~ Hello~ Hello~ Lacus!” A round, chubby object was the first to fly out from the single-person escape pod.

“Thank you all so much for your hard work.” The newtype songstress who had taken the universe by storm—Lacus Clyne—made her entrance.

Kira let out a moan—was this love at first sight, young man?

“My, isn’t this a ZAFT ship?” The songstress, with waist-length pink curls and a golden hairclip, covered her mouth in surprise upon seeing the military insignias worn by Kira and the others.

Everyone looked as if they had been defeated… except Hao Ren.

That hairclip, Hao Ren had one too—it was a complimentary gift from a New Era shopping spree, probably only cost the manufacturer three to five yuan. They must be making a killing out of it!

Lacus’s first impression on Kira and the others was just one word: adorable pink.

There’s a saying: “Cut open pink and you’ll find black inside.” When it comes to this enchanting songstress, the phrase couldn’t be more fitting.

Honestly, compared to the sly old foxes sitting at the negotiating table, this born-politician and songstress was far more intimidating to Hao Ren. Just ask, which major incident in SEED and SEED Destiny wasn’t related to her in some way? Her childhood fiancé Athrun was discarded without a second thought, and she held on to Kira, this promising talent, with an iron grip. Terrifying, isn’t it?

Hello, Lacus. Goodbye, Lacus. After seeing her in person, Hao Ren—who admitted his intelligence wasn’t the highest (was it really only a little low?)—curled his lip, gathered up his own girls, and prepared to leave.

His own girls were still the best—so pure and sweet; the “enchantress” had nothing on them.

Nemesis objected. Calling me pure—isn’t that an insult? My devious side just never shows in front of my master.

At home, Nemesis was the only one to play the role of the schemer—a rare attribute indeed.

“Wait just a minute! You’re coming with us,” Bakyulu grabbed Hao Ren by the collar as he tried to slip away, her face fierce.

How many times has this happened? Why does someone always grab my collar? Am I some kind of canine? Being dragged away by Bakyulu, Hao Ren looked plaintively at An, who showed no intent to help, while Maya and Nemesis only laughed and followed behind.

In an empty room, “Big Pink” Lacus hugged “Little Pink” Haro, while “Loli-lover” Hao Ren held his “Little Schemer” Nemesis—eyes wide as they stared at each other.

“Excuse me, are the Earth Forces’ laws this lax now?” The songstress pressed her hands together, her voice unfailingly gentle.

“Why do you ask?” Murrue was caught off guard by the sudden question.

“Why hasn’t this gentleman in front of me been arrested yet?” Lacus tilted her head, smiling adorably.

Well, that was a shot straight to my knee.

Unforgivable! Hao Ren, his face frozen, glanced meaningfully at Nemesis in his arms.

“Little lady, take a closer look.” Like a balloon inflating, Nemesis transformed into a tall, curvaceous beauty, her ample figure giving Lacus tremendous pressure.

“My, how amazing,” Lacus couldn’t suppress the wonder in her eyes.

Murrue and the others, long used to such strangeness, simply averted their gaze.

“Master, stop hogging our owner—let Sister An enjoy his embrace too,” Maya said, her lollipop crunching noisily.

“If An wants this embrace, she just has to say so,” Nemesis, now a glamorous lady, luxuriated in Hao Ren’s arms.

“Maya, just speak for yourself; don’t drag me into this,” An replied coolly.

“Heh, then I won’t be polite.” Maya, shifting into her own mature form, also wrapped herself around Hao Ren.

The spectacle of two women vying for their man left the surrounding single men blinded by envy.

“I already regret bringing you along, Blackflame. You may go,” Bakyulu consoled herself—no getting angry, anger ages you.

“Aye aye!” Why the extended drama? This was the line he’d been waiting for.

Hao Ren and his three companions vanished without a trace.

Scheming and intrigue—how he loathed it.

“Player ‘Blackflame Dragon’ has chosen the Archangel’s faction. Subsequent mission chain will now commence.”

Faction Mission: Ensure the safe landing of the Archangel on Earth. Guarantee that the main character, Kira, survives, and that the Archangel is not destroyed.

Completion Reward: Choose one from four Golden Chests

Failure Penalty: Deduct twice the player’s current LP points.

Optional Mission: Destroy the Vesalius; kill the story boss Rau Le Creuset.

Mission Note: The penalty is based on the LP points you have at the moment the mission is issued. Regardless of subsequent changes, the penalty remains fixed. The local ZAFT faction will issue its own mission to destroy the Archangel, setting up a faction confrontation.

The mission prompt instantly dashed Hao Ren’s hopes of squandering his points—failure would mean instant erasure, skipping even cremation.

He planned his retreat before making any moves. Seeing he had 189 LP points, Hao Ren decided to open the three badges he had, hoping to offset the penalty.

Opening the relic of Captain October (though Hao Ren wasn’t entirely sure whose relic it was), he chose LP points. Thanks to “Golden Rule,” he got a 100% share—29 LP points.

…

“Golden Rule” was so awkwardly stingy, it was almost painful to look at!

He opened another badge, and this time struck gold—237 LP points!

Ha—finally, enough to cover the penalty. Now, even if the Archangel is destroyed, Hao Ren could escape with his life.

Hao Ren was like a well-fed man unmindful of hunger—how many novice players ever came by a broken skill like “Golden Rule”? Of course, these intermediate players had it rough, most of their points likely spent on self-enhancement and paying tribute to their organizations.

For the last badge, he opted for an item—couldn’t resist the itch.

“Player ‘Blackflame Dragon’ has obtained the items ‘Red Adi-King’ and ‘Altar of Equivalent Exchange.’”

Tch—only two? How stingy.

Item: Altar of Equivalent Exchange. Sacrifice items or skills to summon another of equivalent rank. Usable once every 24 hours.

Item: Red Adi-King. Sneakers imbued with mysterious power, Strength +7. Gather all seven pairs of Adi-King and, with a specific incantation, you can summon the legendary beast “Adi-Dragon,” which will grant one subconscious wish.

How am I supposed to feel about you, my dear Adi-King?

Hao Ren quietly slipped on the red sneakers.