"There's still time." Nodding, Yang Wei gave an affirmative response to Wang Hu's question.
"Actually, the organization over there still needs some time to prepare before they can truly launch their operation."
"And they need to choose the right moment to make their entrance. I believe that should give you enough time to handle things here."
"Besides, you're almost at the final stage, aren't you? I don't think it'll take much longer.As he spoke, Yang Wei couldn't help but feel a sense of emotion—the kind you get when you return home after just a few days away, only to find that things have changed so much you barely recognize the place.
"I took a quick look through the Homeworld on my way here."
"Our side is really well-prepared this time. We're no longer at the point where comrades have to sacrifice their lives to fill the trenches."
"By the way, can I ask? How far does the higher-ups plan to take this war?"
"Complete annihilation of the Coordinators, or just a temporary victory?"
Before Wang Hu could answer, Lelouch, who had been listening nearby, suddenly perked up.
He had already studied the ongoing war in this world before arriving.
Since this was the country where his sister would be staying, the outcome of this war would reveal the true nature of this nation.
After all, actions speak louder than words.
Words can deceive, but actions cannot.
As a master of deception through language, Lelouch knew this all too well.
He not only wanted to hear the answer but also hoped to witness the actual outcome.
"What kind of question is that?"
Wang Hu gave his former superior a strange look.
"We're the East Asian Alliance here. Don't make it sound like we're natural-born killers."
"The higher-ups have long since decided. The ideal scenario is to have the Coordinators become an ethnic minority within our country."
"Of course, considering we still need to provide aid to the Breaking Ball World and the C World, depending on how the war ultimately plays out..."
"Maintaining nominal peace for the time being is also acceptable."
"After all, if we insist on occupying PLANT, we have to consider the timing, especially since the Atlantic Federation next door unlocked the power of the Light of Peace earlier than expected."
"Actually, the higher-ups are quite troubled by this. If the Atlantic Federation goes mad and the ZAFT Forces follow suit..."
"Then we'll have no choice but to prepare for the worst-case scenario."
"The worst-case scenario?"
Lelouch interjected. Since his world had no equivalent to the Light of Peace,
and the Goddess of Love didn't even exist in the C World when he left,
he found it hard to imagine what this "worst-case scenario" could be.
Based on his understanding, it probably meant a massive war where both sides exhaust each other, only to be replaced by other waiting forces.
"The worst-case scenario."
Looking at Lelouch, Wang Hu took out his phone and pulled up several videos.
Needless to say, they showcased the destructive power of the Light of Peace and the lethality of ZAFT's Genesis weapon.
"This!"
His pupils contracted sharply as he quickly watched the demonstration videos of both weapons. Lelouch could hardly believe that such weapons existed in this world.
If I could possess such a weapon, wouldn't revenge against that curly-haired emperor be a matter of minutes?
"Can I have this?"
His hatred for his father was second only to his love for Nunnally. In his emotional outburst, Lelouch blurted out the request.
"Dangerous weapons become shields of protection in different hands."
"So don't even think about it."
Wang Hu directly rejected Lelouch's wild fantasy and turned to Yang Wei.
"Previously we speculated that the Atlantic Federation would use the Light of Peace to clear their path."
"Blasting their way into space, although using the Light of Peace in the stratosphere is harmful to both others and themselves."
"But with those Blue Cosmos maniacs, no one can guarantee they won't do exactly that."
"For this reason, we had no choice but to reveal ahead of time that our spaceport is still operational."
"Forcing their bloody conflict to cease after only a brief period, facing the established reality."
"But we still need to consider that the combat power between enemy and ally has become unbalanced, preventing the Coordinators from deploying super weapons too early."
"Seeing victory becoming hopeless."
"Oh."
Yang Wei could understand Wang Hu's current distress.
What could be more frustrating than having to worry not only about your own side but also about the enemy's situation?
After learning about the super weapons both sides possessed, Lelouch considered the power balance from their perspectives.
If he were in the Coordinators' position, he might have already deployed Genesis long ago.
Especially since the Coordinators didn't yet know about the Atlantic Federation's possession of the Light of Peace.
Having the first-strike advantage without psychological burdens - there really was no reason not to fire first at the Allied Forces.
"Should we showcase our family's weapons?"
After some consideration, Yang Wei suggested.
Just like in history, when both sides hold cards capable of destroying each other.
Neither dares to reveal their hand easily.
"With Nina's basic theories and the Sakuradite smuggled from C World."
"From what I've seen, our family already possesses the Goddess of Love."
"We could test fire one to show the opposing Coordinators that we also have equally lethal weapons."
"Or I've also seen that you brought a miniaturized Planetary Engine from the Breaking Ball World, right?"
"Has it been modified into a weapon? We could preemptively strike the enemy's Genesis!"
Pricking up his ears, Lelouch felt as if a storm had erupted in his heart.
He had underestimated this world's East Asian Alliance!
Although he didn't yet know what exactly the so-called Goddess of Love and Planetary Engine were.
But judging from Yang Wei's tone, these two things were clearly comparable to the Light of Peace and Genesis.
Possessing more than one super weapon, this world falling to the East Asian Alliance seemed only a matter of time.
Delving deeper into his thoughts, behind Wang Hu in his own world stood such a massive organization!
Stealing an unnoticed glance at his sister, Lelouch weighed his options.
To succeed in this world, one needs not only personal capability but also organizational backing!
Starting from scratch sounds admirable, but the risk resistance before truly transforming is far too weak.
What might be just a small hurdle for major powers could mean complete annihilation for minor factions.
"Forget it, forget it."
With this thought in mind, and considering that Wang Hu of the C World had already done his sister a great favor by saving her, Lelouch was prepared to wholeheartedly assist him upon their return.
After witnessing an even more despairing reality this time, Lelouch had mentally steeled himself to devote every ounce of his effort.
As long as the East Asian Alliance didn't go too far, and he showed them loyalty while they reciprocated with sincerity...
That would be enough.
His eyes flickered. For the sake of his only sister, Lelouch seemed to resign himself to fate.
Noticing the demeanor of this future Demon King beside him, Wang Hu quickly ran through the other's mental journey in his mind.
His eyes shifting slightly, Wang Hu then asked in a somewhat testing tone:
"And you? Do you have any good suggestions regarding our current problem?"
"Hmm?" Still lost in his own thoughts, Lelouch frowned slightly when suddenly hearing Wang Hu's question.
He had originally intended to first ask Wang Hu about the exact situation regarding the so-called Goddess of Love and Planetary Engines,
to better understand both sides. But Lelouch noticed Wang Hu's expression.
His mind stirred into action, countless possibilities flashing through his thoughts in an instant.
"Foolish mortal thinking."
He openly mocked Yang Wei, who had made the initial suggestion, making Yang Wei grind his teeth in frustration.
Lelouch carefully studied Wang Hu's expression before saying,
"You can't possibly reveal your trump card first, can you?"
"Because you're afraid the war might end prematurely? Or perhaps the weapons you possess don't have sufficient range to reach the Coordinators' Genesis?"
"Kid, what nonsense are you spouting?"
Yang Wei wasn't the type of easygoing person to take this lying down. Looking at Lelouch spouting such arrogant words before him -
back when he was still alive in this world, he couldn't compare to Wang Hu, but was he supposed to become this kid's stepping stone now?
Let himself be shown up by this kid's intelligence?
Having died once already, Yang Wei wasn't particularly happy about this prospect.
"Our East Asian Alliance doesn't like war at all. If we could end the war sooner, why wouldn't we want to?"
"And let me tell you, the Coordinators' Genesis was originally designed as a propulsion system for large-scale outer space exploration spacecraft."
"Since they were able to modify a propulsion system into an ultra-long-range superweapon,"
"there's no reason we couldn't modify the Planetary Engines capable of moving Earth into weapons no less formidable than theirs."
"So how could there possibly be a range issue?"
Hooked. Lelouch felt a surge of satisfaction inside. The reason he had mocked Yang Wei was precisely to provoke him into refuting himself.
Since he couldn't obtain confirmed intelligence from Wang Hu, he would voice the most likely possibilities,
using the mouth of this Yang Wei who had close ties with Wang Hu, while observing Wang Hu's expressions,
to ultimately deduce the truly critical information!
However, to Lelouch's disappointment, even though Yang Wei had rambled on at length, Wang Hu's expression remained as solid as rock, revealing no useful information whatsoever.
This guy!
His eyes narrowing, Lelouch felt troubled. Was this another person like his imperial brother Schneizel?
Possessing intelligence not inferior to his own, and reportedly having courage surpassing even Suzaku's.
The Kirin Wang Hu of East Asia - what a fearsome individual.
So, steeling himself, Lelouch waited a while longer, but seeing that his objective was truly unattainable...
"I have a basic understanding of this world's situation - the blood feud between one billion people and their irreconcilable conflicts of interest."
"Allowing hatred to spread in this world is like an unsolvable knot. Consider this: if both sides hold kill switches capable of destroying each other,"
"would the masses on either side be content with merely pausing the war?"
"The hatred hasn't been vented, with each side believing the other's wrongs haven't been accounted for."
"Not enough blood has been shed. Such a ceasefire is like forcibly pushing a balloon underwater."
"There can only be two outcomes: either the balloon rebounds with greater force, or it explodes under pressure while submerged."
"Obviously, the East Asian Alliance doesn't want to see either outcome."
"As for why I believe the range is insufficient - do you even need to ask?"
Pointing at Wang Hu, Lelouch chuckled with that indescribable certainty.
"If the range were sufficient, would he still be here worrying?"
"Is that true?"
Completely overwhelmed by Lelouch's analysis, Yang Wei turned to Wang Hu and asked.
"Is what this kid said true?"
Facing this question, Wang Hu looked at Lelouch with approval and began to speak.
(End of Chapter)