"What!? Someone is planning to launch an attack at Miss Lacus's concert!?" Ethan Rhea exclaimed in horror after hearing Natarle Badgiruel's report.
Lacus was far more than a simple songstress. Her influence was immense in both the Federation and Zeon, earning her the titles "Diva of Peace" and "Symbol of Peace" from her fans.
If anything were to happen to her during a concert in his jurisdiction, it wouldn't just be one person who suffered; the entire Federal Army would be put in an extremely passive position.
Although Lacus was a citizen of the Federation, she had never favored either side in the war. Even after Zeon launched the atrocious attack known as Operation British, Lacus only publicly condemned and questioned Gihren Zabi, who had ordered it, without placing the blame on Zeon as a whole.
Lacus's influence among the populace was enormous, and both the Federation and Zeon hoped to win her over to their side. If nothing else, a single recruitment video from her could attract countless young people to enlist.
But both sides had failed. Not only did Lacus refuse to be swayed, but she also earnestly rejected their invitations, refusing to serve any faction. Even when filming commercials, if she discovered that one side had slipped in some hidden propaganda, she would immediately pull out.
It wasn't as if they hadn't resorted to underhanded tactics. Both the Federation and Zeon had tried everything from public blacklisting to covert threats and kidnappings.
Yet, Lacus emerged unscathed every time. Standing behind the Diva of Peace was a protective force that left both the Federation and Zeon helpless. Coupled with Lacus's influence among the people, if they were to truly anger her and she exposed these unsavory matters, the top brass of both the Federation and Zeon would be in a very difficult position.
If Lacus were to have an accident now, within Federation territory and specifically in the East Asia Theater, then Ethan Rhea's military and political careers would be over. As the Commander-in-Chief of the military district, the responsibility would be his to bear.
Not only that, but Gihren Zabi would certainly seize the opportunity, mobilizing the public and manipulating public opinion to let the whole world know that something had happened to Lacus in a Federal Army district. He would use it to stir up the indignation of Zeon's citizens and shake the Federal Assembly's and the Federal Army's control over the Federation's people.
"I'll send people to investigate at once..."
"The Major has already made preparations. The 1st and 2nd squads are already piloting their MS to protect Miss Lacus. The others are responsible for security at the concert venue."
"That's not enough. We must find those people," Ethan Rhea insisted.
"The Major feels the same way. That's why, Colonel Rhea, you can secretly deploy trustworthy personnel, preferably not of too high a rank. The Major judges that those people will definitely attend the concert to witness the final result with their own eyes. So, don't alert them. Cooperate with our people to identify them first, and we'll round them all up after the concert," Natarle Badgiruel said.
"Hmm... Let's do it that way, then. I'll go make the arrangements immediately." Ethan Rhea agreed with Yang Hui's plan. A concert was a chaotic and confusing environment. If a conflict broke out, it would lead to mass panic. The snakes in the grass could easily escape in the confusion, and it would also cause a severe stampede, resulting in countless casualties.
"I'll have to trouble you, Colonel."
"It's my duty. If something happens to Miss Lacus in my jurisdiction, I won't be able to wear this uniform anymore."
With that, Ethan Rhea summoned his personal guard. Compared to the sycophantic high-ranking officials, the guard was the subordinate he trusted most. With something like this happening, he was beginning to wonder if there was a problem with those ass-kissing, idle officials.
Although the guard was Ethan Rhea's absolute confidant, they were also grassroots officers and soldiers. Their minds were relatively less complicated than those of high-ranking officials, which was why the top brass dared to entrust their lives to them.
"Then I'll be heading back, Colonel."
"Alright."
Natarle Badgiruel returned to the concert venue and reported to Yang Hui.
"This will do. I don't trust a single one of Ethan Rhea's men." Although he had Natarle tell Ethan Rhea to secretly send people to cooperate with his plan, it didn't mean Yang Hui trusted them. Ethan Rhea certainly wouldn't participate; after all, this was his jurisdiction, and he couldn't escape blame if something went wrong. But the same couldn't be said for his subordinates. There were plenty of ways to make someone do something against their will.
"I've already instructed Blog and the others."
"Now we just wait for the show to start."
After lunch, five minutes before the concert was scheduled to begin, the rearranged audience area was already packed. Due to the limited space, it was impossible to seat everyone. To grab a spot, many people had rushed to their seats with their lunch trays and waited, some even forgoing food altogether, leaving those standing in the back without seats to beat their chests in frustration.
However, their excitement at this moment was not just for the impending concert, but also for the Astray Gundams surrounding the stage. For many people present, this was the first time they had seen a Federation's MS, the first time they had witnessed the "legendary" heroic figure with their own eyes.
"So this is a Federation's MS? So cool!"
"I wonder when I'll be able to pilot an MS."
"It should be soon, right? I heard the mass-produced MS have already started being distributed to the major theaters."
"Mass-produced models, huh..."
"What? You still want a Custom Machine?"
"Why not?"
"Bro, do you have what it takes to capture Kycilia Zabi?"
"Uh, no."
"Then don't even think about it. Custom Machines are definitely reserved for aces."
"Can't I even think about it?"
"Heh heh, of course you can. You can have anything in your dreams."
...
Russ Kessel and the others, responsible for maintaining order, heard all these conversations. There was a sense of pride, but they weren't overly moved. They knew that all of this was given to them by Yang Hui. If they hadn't met Yang Hui, they would probably be just like everyone else here, filled with envy, jealousy, and resentment.
Moreover, their current mission was crucial, and they couldn't afford the slightest lapse in concentration. So, when people tried to strike up a conversation with them, they would end it in a few sentences, avoiding excessive interaction and focusing their energy on observing everyone present.
Time ticked by, second by second. The unbearable anticipation ended. As smoke erupted from the center of the stage, Lacus walked out in a pink formal dress, shrouded in a dreamlike mist.
"Konna ni tsumetai, tobari no fukaku de
Anata wa hitori de nemutteru
Inori no utagoe
Sabishii nohara o
Chiisana hikari ga
Terashiteta..."
"Fields of Hope," one of Lacus's golden hits. Lacus didn't have many songs, but every single one was a classic among classics, hailed by this world as something that "can only be imitated, never surpassed." And only when sung by Lacus herself could these songs achieve their stunning effect.
Because Lacus's voice contained a power that calmed people, dispelling all restlessness.
As she sang, Unit 02 on the right side of the stage knelt and extended its hand. As the song gradually neared its end, Lacus walked onto the palm of the Astray Gundam, rising little by little into mid-air.
The moment Unit 02 stood up straight, the prelude to the next song began. The hands of Unit 02 and Unit 03 overlapped, creating a second stage for Lacus.
"Mizu no naka ni yoru ga yureteru
Kanashii hodo shizuka ni tatazumu
Midori nasu kishibe
Utsukushii yoake o
Tada matte iraretara
Kirei na kokoro de
Kurai umi to sora no mukou ni
Arasoi no nai basho ga aru no to..."
The clear and pleasant singing voice rang out again. The audience, who had just been marveling at the MS being used as a stage, calmed down once more, closing their eyes and swaying their heads. Viewed from above, they looked like waves, one after another, moving in unison.
However... not everyone was like this. There were a few people staring at Lacus in mid-air with ferocious expressions, their hands clenched into tight fists, their eyes bloodshot.
"Target spotted, Section A, seat A151..."
"Target spotted, Section B, seat B231..."
"Target spotted..."
A series of reports came through the WeChat earpieces to Yang Hui, who marked each seat and had others look up their information.
To confirm the identities of these individuals, everyone had undergone an identity verification after being seated, so their identities could be checked immediately.
After the first, second, and third reports, the incessant stream of updates finally stopped. Amuro handed the compiled information to Yang Hui.
"The 2nd Independent Mixed Brigade?" He quickly skimmed through it. Most of them were scattered across various units, with only one or two people in any single unit. But this 2nd Independent Mixed Brigade had yielded over a dozen people. That was very conspicuous. "Whose unit is this?"
"It's Lieutenant Colonel Elan's unit."
"Elan?" Yang Hui was taken aback. This was an unexpectedly big discovery. He had originally thought this person had disappeared due to his intervention, but he hadn't expected him to still have entered the Federal Army as a spy.
"Yes. Lieutenant Colonel Elan was promoted by General Koneman. It's rumored that two months ago, when General Koneman was returning to space, he was attacked by Zeon. It was Lieutenant Colonel Elan who acted in time, displaying astonishing combat command and adaptability, allowing General Koneman to escape."
"Heh." Yang Hui sneered. To think that Zeon would stage a whole play just to get Elan deep inside the Federation. "Note this down. Mark it with the highest priority."
"Understood."
"Major, these people are very scattered. They might not be part of the same group," Amuro, who was responsible for compiling the data, said, well aware of its contents.
"It seems we still have many enemies within the Federation. But... I hope Revil and Gopp can handle it. If it's really too much, I'll have Creuset help them," Yang Hui thought to himself.
"Major?"
"Order everyone to remain vigilant. Until the concert is over and Lacus has safely left the East Asia Theater, no one is to relax for even a single moment."
"Understood!"
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