No one could have imagined that the world's most powerful nation would be almost dismantled in a single week.
Granted, from the very beginning, the United States' defeat had been expected.
But no one had imagined that in one week, that force would kill its way through the entire nation with only one machine and one man.
It was not just the Tactical Surface Fighter that was monstrous. The mysterious pilot was a monster as well.
No matter how many soldiers there were, even soldiers armed to the teeth, they could not stop that monster. They could only watch as the people they were supposed to protect were killed.
In the end, the United States had gone so insane that it had tried to drag the whole world down with it, even using nuclear weapons as a threat.
First was the hydrogen-bomb mine belt in Alaska. The United Nations forces at Yukon Base had now confirmed that a massive number of hydrogen bombs had indeed been buried there.
The reason they had not detonated was not because the other side had lost the nerve to press the activation button in the end. It was because the hydrogen bombs had been neutralized.
The other threat had been the G-bombs. However, the remaining G-bombs had reportedly already been seized by the forces supporting Kōzuki Yuuko.
And now, with almost no military strength left to resist, the United States was officially placed under United Nations administration and divided among the nations.
It was not that all of its armed forces had been destroyed down to the last scrap. Some units had realized resistance was meaningless and surrendered directly, handing over their equipment. Those forces had not been destroyed.
Thus, after receiving Yuuko's information, the United Nations orbital forces deployed airborne troops directly to those sites, taking over bases and weapons.
As for the United States' new provisional government, it would be established under the "assistance" of the United Nations and placed under supervision.
Why call it a provisional government?
Because Yuuko hoped a unified Earth government could be established as soon as possible.
If anyone else had said that, the governments of various nations probably would not have paid much attention. But when it was Dr. Kōzuki Yuuko, they had no choice but to consider it seriously.
Because there was a very real possibility that if they dragged their feet, the force behind Yuuko would once again "clean up" every opponent with swift and ruthless efficiency.
"This went much better than expected."
Yuuko muttered those words as she looked over the documents in her hand.
Under Yuuko's original plan, she had estimated that ninety percent of the United States' existing military equipment would have to be destroyed. In the end, almost thirty percent of the equipment had survived and been taken over by the United Nations.
And after commissioning him this time and watching how he performed in her world, Yuuko was convinced that with his power, if he ignored all consequences, he would not need seven days to crush the United States. He could likely cut that time in half.
The reason it had taken seven days was, of course, because she also did not want to trigger more attacks from people who would act with no regard for the consequences, like what had happened some time ago.
Of course, innocent people had definitely been caught up in this operation as well. That was a sin she had to bear.
"Marimo, you worked hard."
"It was nothing."
Only Marimo knew how much pressure her dearest friend was under. And only she knew that there was something wrong with the so-called mysterious force supporting her.
In reality, the only one supporting Yuuko was that man. Yuuko had told her as much.
As for some other mysterious force, no such thing existed. There was only that man.
The so-called old man and his attendants were all artificial humans—robots disguised so well they looked human.
But how could one man provide this much support?
There had to be some kind of power behind him, right?
Although Marimo was confused, she did not press further. When it was time for her to know, she would know.
Because of that, there were not many people they could truly trust. Over the past few days, everyone Yuuko trusted had been under tremendous pressure, with each person being worked like several people at once.
Today, most of that pressure could finally be lifted. Their tightly strung nerves could finally relax.
Because from this day onward, the United States existed in name only.
"Let's go. Call everyone and take a soak in the hot spring to relax."
The hot spring had been dug out on Sado Island itself.
And over the past seven days, using his construction templates as a foundation, Sado Island had already built the beginnings of a proper base.
"All right."
In the blink of an eye, the six members of Valkyrie Squadron 1—the pilots of the XV104 Riptide Battlesuits, including the two new members Yuuko had added three days ago, Cui Yifei and Stella Bremer—along with Marimo herself, Kasumi, and the captive sister pair he had brought back as temporary workers, all entered the hot spring room together.
There was no Japanese-style design here. Instead, the room was full of metallic textures, all for the sake of safety.
However, when they stepped inside—
"Huh?"
Haruka Suzumiya stared blankly ahead. It felt as if she had walked into a hot spring resort surrounded by excellent scenery, complete with a perfectly natural ecosystem.
"Is this a holographic projection?"
Yui Takamura saw through it at a glance. Since the scenery was fake, this was the only technology she could think of.
Suddenly, there was an odd sound from the ceiling overhead. It seemed to open, revealing a night sky full of stars.
However, the ceiling had not truly opened completely. A pane of reinforced glass still separated the interior from the outside. It allowed those inside to see out, but those outside could not see in.
As for why Yui knew that, it was because she had participated in building this hot spring pool. Dr. Kōzuki had made her and several others operate their battlesuits to help construct it.
To be honest, Yui did not approve of wasting what seemed to be extremely valuable metal on a room meant for enjoyment. But Kōzuki Yuuko was the commanding officer, so she could only obey.
Before entering the hot spring pool, which was large enough to rival a swimming pool, they naturally had to rinse off first.
Yui also wanted to properly enjoy the hot spring.
Over the past few days, she had barely taken off her combat suit and had slept very little. Her body was clearly exhausted.
If any ordinary personnel had been put through the same high-intensity patrols as Yui and the others over these last few days, they absolutely would not have lasted.
The reason everyone had endured so long was probably because something called the Earth Elixir had enhanced their physical abilities.
"How does this hot spring feel compared to the one on that island before?"
Yuuko, who had already stepped into the hot spring first, said that, making Marimo pause. Was she asking her?
Just as Marimo was about to answer—
"The temperature's a little higher here. Otherwise, it doesn't feel that different."
The sudden voice made everyone who had been rinsing off and half fooling around freeze as if time had stopped.
Because none of them had expected someone to already be enjoying the hot spring.
Should they leave?
In the blink of an eye, everyone was in the hot spring pool. But because there was a man present, they were all rather restrained.
Marimo, however, felt Yuuko was going a little too far. Mr. Kain had only just finished dealing with the United States and had finally gotten a chance to rest. He should have been allowed to enjoy the hot spring properly. Instead, Yuuko, this workaholic, would not even let him rest while soaking.
She had actually handed him the intelligence files they had gathered over the past few days on several dangerous organizations, apparently intending to have him clean up those dangerous groups after he finished his soak.
Among those organizations, some could be called anti-human without the slightest exaggeration, because they worshiped the BETA.
"Dr. Kōzuki, isn't this going too far?"
Someone with a relatively direct temper finally could not hold back. It was Cui Yifei from China, who had heard Yuuko say that after he finished soaking, he would go deal with those groups.
Joining Valkyrie Squadron did not mean joining this nation, because the Valkyries themselves had been made independent. If they had to be assigned somewhere, they belonged to the United Nations.
At present, one could also say they were Yuuko's private force.
Returning to the issue at hand, Marimo also felt Yuuko's attitude had crossed a line.
Mr. Kain was not Yuuko's subordinate or anything of the sort. He was the power behind Yuuko. If she kept pushing her luck and made him disgusted enough to abandon his support, Yuuko would be in serious trouble.
"Oh? Then, Sergeant Cui Yifei, what brilliant insight do you have?"
"What brilliant insight? Does it have to be this urgent? Mr. Kain doesn't look like your subordinate. Even if he were your subordinate, he just came back, and you're not giving him enough time to rest or rewarding him with anything. Instead, you immediately want him to go fight again. You're pushing your luck!"
Although Cui Yifei still did not fully understand the situation, she could tell that Mr. Kain and Dr. Kōzuki Yuuko were on equal footing. Or rather, without Mr. Kain, this woman Kōzuki Yuuko would have no way to act this arrogantly.
Yet this woman was treating him far too much like a tool. She would not even give him time to rest.
"You're right. But this man doesn't seem to need rest. He also wants those flies dealt with as soon as possible."
That made Cui Yifei glare at "this man" as well. Could this guy not fight for himself at all?
With him staying silent like this, she, the person speaking up on his behalf, felt deeply awkward. Was he even a man? Was he really going to let this woman handle him like that?
"But since you mentioned a reward, is there any reward you want?"
As Dr. Kōzuki Yuuko said that, her actions made Cui Yifei's expression stiffen even more.
That woman put on a fox-like smile and moved beside him. Quite deliberately, she pressed what lay beneath her neckline onto the tablet computer in his hands.
"Don't play with fire."
Unable to see the information anymore, Kain raised an eyebrow and looked at the woman in front of him, whose demeanor had suddenly turned extremely seductive.
So this was the surprise she had wanted to give him by letting him enjoy the hot spring first?
"How about this reward?"
Kain fell silent at once.
Because before the words had even fully left her mouth, the reward had already been delivered.
With perfect accuracy, she settled herself onto his lap.
(End of Chapter)
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