"You've actually thought through all of this in such a short time?"
Murrue looked at Lu Tianming with disbelief. She had originally thought his eloquence was a natural talent... but now it appeared this was far more terrifying than mere talent.
"Not entirely... After all, I could think it through before coming down."
Lu Tianming smiled modestly. Among allies, he saw no need to hide anything.
"Not only those we fight on the battlefield count as enemies... That's quite an interesting perspective."
Mu applauded in appreciation. Having grown accustomed to the Earth Forces' simplistic racial division of factions, he found Lu Tianming's rational and nuanced view of allies and enemies quite refreshing.
"...But it's also dangerous, isn't it?"
Badgiruel leaned more toward traditional views. As a soldier, she still held absolute loyalty to the military and her superiors.
Lu Tianming's... somewhat unorthodox perspective was something she couldn't immediately accept.
"Comparatively, I think becoming a puppet who's lost self-awareness is more dangerous."
Lu Tianming noticed Badgiruel's concerns and, after a moment's thought, spoke up.
"After all, this world isn't simply black and white. Not all Coordinators are irredeemable enemies, nor are all Naturals reliable comrades you can trust with your back."
"Only by observing with your own eyes and thinking with your own mind... can you see through the superficial distinctions of factions and races to identify true enemies and true friends."
He remembered from the original storyline that Badgiruel remained with the Earth Forces but gradually became manipulated by the extremist organization Blue Cosmos, being used as a pawn.
He hoped his current words might have some influence on her.
Hearing Lu Tianming's words, Badgiruel found them utterly rebellious... yet undeniably reasonable, leaving her momentarily speechless.
"Speaking of which, the hangar seems to be planning modifications for the Assault Suit. After you've rested, would you like to go take a look?"
Mu thought for a moment before asking. Ever since Lu Tianming brought back those components last time, the hangar crew had been considering modifying the Assault Suit.
But the situation had been too critical before—they hadn't even completed repairs on existing equipment, let alone considered modifications.
Now with somewhat more breathing room, they had begun reviving the modification plans.
After considering for a moment, Lu Tianming thought it sounded good and replied:
"Nothing would please me more."
————————————————————
Meanwhile, the refugees from the rescue capsules had gradually been settled. Everyone had their personal information registered, with scarce talents like doctors assigned to corresponding positions.
As for someone like Flay Allster, a young lady without particular skills... after being assigned a bunk, she was largely left alone.
Currently resting her chin in her hands with a gloomy expression, her large eyes scanned the corridor outside her door like sentries watching the passing crowds.
She felt... completely abandoned by the world.
Thinking of this, she couldn't help but reminisce about pre-war days... when her status and beauty made her the center of attention among classmates and admirers alike.
Unfortunately now, her proud beauty and status... had become utterly worthless aboard the Archangel.
Just as Flay, feeling somewhat down, let out a low sigh, she heard a familiar voice.
"Kira, look! Flay is really here!"
Hearing the familiar voice, Flay immediately looked up to see a familiar bespectacled face.
"Sai!"
Upon seeing that face, Flay's expression transformed like a Sichuan opera mask change - her previously bored look instantly shifted to a pitiful, teary-eyed appearance.
Sai was her fiancé, and they had been separated during the chaos of war... never expecting to reunite here.
The ones who had come looking were Kira and his friends. Sai had been helping the staff with information entry earlier and immediately rushed over when he saw Flay's name. The others, since Sai somewhat knew Flay, naturally followed along to see.
The pleasantly surprised Flay almost immediately stood up and threw herself into the arms of the person before her, putting on a delicate act of grievance and fright, acting cute in Sai's embrace.
"...You don't know how scared I've been without you by my side..."
Her voice carried a hint of tears - seventy percent acting mixed with thirty percent genuine emotion. Anyone who didn't know her true nature would likely be unable to distinguish truth from falsehood.
From a green tea perspective, she'd score nine out of ten points.
"There there, I'm here now."
Sai gently patted her back, comforting Flay.
"I heard you had a conflict with people on the ship earlier? Is everything alright?"
Sai had also heard about the refugee disturbance earlier. Thinking that Flay had been among the refugees, he instinctively expressed concern.
"Physically fine... just a bit frightened. That Mobile Suit pilot's attitude was too harsh..."
This part was true. Just thinking about what happened earlier made Flay shudder, and Lu Tianming's cold smile involuntarily surfaced in her mind.
The hostility from battlefield experience abruptly combined with the youth's handsome features... created a strong sense of unreality and oppression.
She remembered that because she had spoken first, she had briefly made eye contact with Lu Tianming... even if just for a moment, she felt chilled to the bone at that time.
That contemptuous gaze with a hint of arrogance seemed as if he had never regarded her as a living being.
At that moment, Flay felt as if he had stripped her naked and trampled her underfoot, examining her like a plaything that could be casually toyed with before being discarded like used goods.
That bone-chilling coldness was something she never wanted to experience again.
"Mobile Suit pilot? You mean Mr. Lu?"
Hearing this, Sai said with some surprise. Mobile Suit pilot... probably referred to Mr. Lu Tianming.
But... however he thought about it, the word "harsh" didn't seem to fit him at all.
"That can't be right. I remember Mr. Lu being very kind. He always explains things and reasons with us very kindly whenever something happens."
Miriallia shared the same view. In her impression, Lu Tianming was a friendly and reliable senior.
His attitude toward them was better than Ms. Murrue's, and he was closer to their age... which made them always turn to Lu Tianming first rather than Murrue whenever something happened.
Lu Tianming had always been willing to take the time to explain things to them. Whether it was initially requesting them to act together, later entrusting them with collecting supplies for the Assault Suit, or afterward explaining the decision to remain on the Archangel, she recalled that Mr. Lu had never shown any impatience.
Let alone any harshness...
Katz and Tolle both nodded in agreement, sharing similar views with Miriallia.
As for Kira... he was arguably the most steadfast in supporting Lu Tianming's stance. If anyone else had spoken ill of Lu Tianming in front of him, he might have rushed forward in a fluster to argue in his defense.
Seeing that almost everyone in their small group, including Sai, agreed that Mr. Lu Tianming was an exceptionally kind person, Flay found herself momentarily bewildered.
Wait, are we really talking about... the same person?