"An unfamiliar ceiling—no, a very high-tech-looking ceiling."
Wang Hu, who had just opened his eyes after being reborn, stared at the ceiling where not a single light tube or strip could be seen and muttered these words to himself.
Then, a cacophony of voices surged into his ears like a demonic chorus.
"Doctor! Where's the doctor?! Someone, help him!"
"Damn it, what are you all doing? Please, you have to save him!"
"Ah—my leg, my leg! I can't lose my leg—how am I supposed to fight without it?!"
"Let me go! I'm fine! I can still go back to the battlefield!"
"You need rest, you idiot! This is a field hospital, and I'm the doctor—you listen to me!"
"Are you kidding me?! My comrades are still fighting out there! We can deal with this after we push back those Coordinators!"
"A minor injury like this can be overcome with willpower alone! Are you trying to make me a deserter?!"
The barrage of furious shouts made Wang Hu's brow twitch.
"So...?" Wang Hu sat up from the pristine white hospital bed and scanned his surroundings.
What met his eyes was, unsurprisingly, nothing like the orderly field hospitals depicted in some of the overly dramatized war shows from his past life.
No nurses in spotless uniforms carrying dainty bags, looking as glamorous as runway models.
No doctors in immaculate white coats with hair so slick not even a fly could land on it.
Here... everything was stained with blood.
Nurses rushed about, doctors moved frantically—everyone radiated tension, like bombs ready to explode at the slightest touch.
"This doesn't look good..."
Shaking his head, Wang Hu glanced at the wounded soldiers on the surrounding beds—missing limbs, grievous injuries.
Then he looked at himself.
Rifling through his memories, he clicked his tongue as realization dawned.
After all...
He ran his hands over his body—not a single wound.
No wonder the people around him were staring at him with such strange, almost alienating expressions now that he was awake.
And even though he had already woken up, countless nurses and doctors had passed by his bed—yet not a single one had bothered to check on him.
The original owner of this body might not have intended it, but in the eyes of others, he was nothing more than a deserter.
And on the battlefield... deserters were despised.
Exhaling quietly, Wang Hu ignored the scornful glares from the doctors, nurses, and wounded soldiers around him.
He stood up, grabbed the military cap hanging on the bed frame, and placed it firmly on his head.
Then, he strode out without hesitation.
"That coward actually left the hospital?!"
As Wang Hu walked out of the field hospital, one of the wounded soldiers behind him spoke up in disbelief.
"Ha! Probably scared by the sight of us and ran off to hide somewhere else!"
"Pathetic. When he was first assigned here as a trainee, I actually had some expectations for him."
"Supposedly the top graduate of this year's Space Battleship Command Department—even trained in Space Fighter piloting. But... seeing is believing!"
"Exactly! Just a disgrace to the military—a rotten apple in the barrel!"
Hearing the comments from these soldiers who had sacrificed for their country, a young nurse who had just been urgently transferred from a rear colony satellite couldn't help but feel puzzled.
She curiously stared in the direction where Wang Hu's figure had already disappeared from view.
In her eyes, that handsome soldier didn't seem at all like the worthless person described by these wounded soldiers.
"What are you looking at? Come help quickly!"
An older nurse with blood-stained hands shouted at the newcomer, clearly displeased that the young nurse was wasting time standing there dumbfounded during such a busy moment.
After all, saving lives was as urgent as putting out a fire.
Perhaps just this brief moment of delay could mean losing the chance to save the life of one of the world's most admirable people.
"Coming!" The young nurse hurried over, whispering as she ran, "Sister, who was that man just now? Why does everyone...?"
"Him?" The older nurse rolled her eyes and said disdainfully, "An overrated top student. Came here with a shiny resume, but turned out to be nothing more than a silver-plated spear shaft. When the Coordinators attacked, he supposedly fainted from a fall."
"After examination, they found nothing wrong with him. Yet he insisted on staying here for two whole days. Hmph! Don't bother with that guy. I bet he'll be back soon enough."
"Oh, I see." After hearing the explanation, the young nurse suddenly felt an odd sensation toward Wang Hu in her heart.
That's it?
What a disgrace to East Asian soldiers!
Naturally, Wang Hu, who was currently searching for his unit, knew nothing about what was being said after he left the field hospital.
And even if he did know, the present Wang Hu probably wouldn't care.
After all, could the actions of the past Wang Hu really be blamed on the current Wang Hu?
"How meticulous."
Soon after arriving at his unit's command post, Wang Hu remarked with admiration.
Outside, the battle raged on. Due to the Coordinators' sudden attack and the deployment of new weapons like the MS GINN, coupled with their true trump card—the Neutron Jammer—the East Asian forces, accustomed to traditional combat modes, found themselves at a significant disadvantage in the current war.
The endless stream of wounded soldiers being brought into the field hospital was proof enough.
Yet even so, even though Wang Hu was a genuine East Asian soldier, he still underwent thorough scrutiny before entering the command post.
And in an impressively short time, he was able to locate his assigned unit.
"If this were the other two allied forces..." Wang Hu sighed quietly.
"Wouldn't anyone with a uniform just waltz right in under these circumstances?"
"Lieutenant Wang Hu!" Just as Wang Hu was uncharitably criticizing the other two allied forces in his thoughts, a stern-faced lieutenant colonel approached with his adjutant.
Their unfriendly gazes immediately fell upon Wang Hu.
For this subordinate who had fainted at the mere news of the enemy's attack and then lingered in the hospital for so long...
They found it hard to muster any goodwill!
Even if his academic record had been outstanding and his initial performance during fleet training had been exemplary!
"Yes, Lieutenant Wang Hu reporting. Regarding the previous incident, I sincerely apologize!"
"Attention, salute!" Wang Hu declared with unwavering determination.
"I request to be deployed to the most intense frontline. That concludes my report."
"Oh?" Wang Hu's words left the lieutenant colonel and his aide visibly surprised.
This guy?
Their expressions turned intrigued before they exchanged a glance.
Was Wang Hu trying to cleanse the stains and disgrace on his record through this method?
Both the lieutenant colonel and his aide reached the same conclusion.
"Very well." After brief consideration, the lieutenant colonel quickly approved Wang Hu's request.
First, it was the man's own appeal.
Second, having such a notorious figure among his subordinates didn't reflect well on the lieutenant colonel himself. If Wang Hu performed admirably—or better yet, sacrificed himself for the nation—
Then... at least he wouldn't disgrace the uniform he wore.
"The Kangji-class Drake Frigate still needs a few fighter pilots."
Staring straight at Wang Hu, the lieutenant colonel spoke deliberately.
"Go. Prove yourself worthy, and do not dishonor the Military Emblem on your head."
"Understood." Standing at attention and saluting, Wang Hu answered without hesitation.
He was confident that even without piloting a Gundam, the Amuro template granted by the Core wouldn't fall short of the "White Devil's" reputation when applied to fighter jets!
Wang Hu had that much faith.