Chapter 101: Departure
Volume 5. The New Era
—Black Dragon is still alive, and Rosen and Ling Yu aren’t dead either.
Berg's words finally saved Lin Yuan from the fiery depths of hell.
After learning of his father's death, the harrowing sadness made Lin Yuan's heart fall into a perpetual state of constricting and convulsing, in every breath he took, he would feel an aching hollowness in his chest. However, this pain had lasted less than a day and was superseded with the relief of the words "father" and "did not die”.
What's even more unprecedented is that his dad, Ling Yu, was together with his father!
He hasn’t been aware of his dad ’s whereabouts for many years, he looked forward to the day when he could reunite with his dad from day one. Now that he knows that his dad is likewise safe and sound without a scratch, Lin Yuan is so moved that he doesn’t even know what to say.
Seeing the little monster's eyes widen feverishly, Caesar was quick to grab Lin Yuan's hand gently and said softly: "Don't worry, with the Marshal and General Ling Yu’s abilities, as long as Black Dragon is still alive, it wouldn’t be difficult for them to pilot Black Dragon to a safe place in the universe."
Berg also nodded in agreement, "What Caesar says is right, I think that Rosen and Ling Yu are most certainly now settled temporarily on some distant planet. The reason why they haven’t returned to Naomi Star is probably because of Black Dragon’s internal energy storage being overused, so much so that it is unable to conduct a long-term excursion and space jump."
After all, Berg was the person who made the replica of Black Dragon with his own two hands. He has a very accurate grasp of the amount of energy inside the mech. Within the formidable airflow in the impending spatial shocks, the mech must have spent a lot of energy in order to maintain the equilibrium system. With the energy used up to break out of the cosmic wormhole, the energy reserve following Black Dragon’s escape should not exceed 30%.
With the cautious personalities of Rosen and Ling Yu, they wouldn’t be able to risk returning to Naomi Star with the mech energy being less than 30%. If by any chance they encounter enemy troops or another cosmic sandstorm along the way, piloting a mech with insufficient energy would be nothing other than a death sentence.
So, the greatest likelihood is—
The two temporarily stopped over at a secure place, trying to think up of a way to stock up on mech energy.
The inside of the Black Dragon mech holds a light energy conversion system and it can also extract energy from various special ores. So long as time allows Black Dragon to gather a fair amount of energy, the time for them to return to Naomi Star is peaking over the horizon.
Berg looked back at Lin Yuan and said: "According to the rate at which the Black Dragon's converts light energy, if all goes well, in another fifteen days or so, your parents should be able to return to Naomi Star… However, now the situation at present is urgent, we simply cannot wait that long."
Mentioning this, the look on Berg's face grows even more somber, "In reality, the news of the Marshal's sacrifice was not issued by the Hydra Legion. Drew found the Black Dragon replica's mech fragments from the cosmic wormhole a week ago. At that time, he had not reported it to the military. He tried to keep it under wraps from the military, just to get more time for the Marshal tooth and nail."
Caesar’s stare went blank and he frowned: "So what you’re saying is that the secret of the mech fragments discovery was intentionally leaked out by someone with underhanded motives?"
Berg nodded, "Correct, although I don't know who it is, it is certain that both the Hydra Legion and Glory Legion have military spies, and the military quickly heard that we found mech fragments. I asked Drew to just play their game holding the upper hand and say that those tatters of the wreckage were of the Marshal’s own mech. After the person the Mech Association sent carefully inspected the mech wreckage, they announced the Marshal ’s sacrifice.”
The materials used between Black Dragon's original body and the replica are practically identical, excluding its two manufacturers, Aston and Berg, there isn’t anymore else who could tell the difference. No one would second guess this Black Dragon was piloted by the Marshal.
Yet, Caesar was acutely aware of a slightly tense tone in Berg's voice and couldn't help asking: "Wang Shu, they were quick to announce the news of the Marshal's passing. Could there be some sort of conspiracy?"
Berg said with a heavy expression: "That’s right, it was their strategy for the Glory Legion to encounter an ambush. Someone in the military department colluded with the Federation's forces and intended to eliminate Rosen through the hands of the Federation due to Rosen standing as their greatest obstacle. Only with Rosen dead could they carry out their plan with peace of mind."
—Carrying out a plan? Could the military really have traitors?
Caesar suddenly thought of the badges that he found in the depths of Köln Forest when he and Lin Yuan were doing wilderness group training. He quickly turned back to Lin Yuan and said: "Xiao Yuan, the badges we found in Köln Forest, do you still have them on you?"
Lin Yuan was quick to nod, he took out the purple badges from Suzaku's storage space and handed them over to Caesar.
Casaer passed the badges over to Berg, saying: "Wang Shu, would you know why these Thunder Legion badges were left in Po Military Starfield’s Köln Forest?"
Caesar has always suspected that these badges were left behind when the Thunder Legion pursued and launched an assault against Suzaku 19 years ago, but he had yet to be born at that time and there was not a wink of evidence for this conjecture. Berg, however, was a different story. With him as the head of the Undercurrent for the entire course of Suzaku’s capture and arrest, he knew it clear as day.
Looking at the badge Caesar handed over, Berg said nothing as he lowered his head for a moment, then abruptly stated: "Right, when the two mechs, Comet and Phantom teamed up to hunt down Suzaku, there were a few subordinates of the Thunder Legion and the Phantom Legion accompanying them. But, when it came time to return to Cepheus, there were three officers who didn’t come back. It was reported that they had lost their lives in the pursuit of Suzaku."
"Lost their lives?" Caesar frowned slightly, "This explanation seems a bit far-fetched. If their lives were really lost in the pursuit of Suzaku, why would their badges be left behind in Köln Forest?"
Berg could help but to wrinkle his brows as he heard Caesar say this.
As an S-Class mech, Suzaku was equipped with a giant light energy cannon powerful enough to blow up an entire city when its offensive system was initiated. Three officers’ lives were sacrificed by an artillery barrage during the pursuit of Suzaku. This reason did not arouse anyone's suspicion at the time.
However, at this moment, looking at those three badges in Caesar’s hands, Berg's back was suddenly exuding a layer of cold sweat—
Obviously, things are not so simple.
Those three officers may not have been sacrificed, but rather, they saw something they shouldn’t have on Po Military Starfield and were murdered, silenced by their Generals!
If this conjecture is true, to put it in other words, some people in the military department were arranging this plan as early as nineteen years ago!
The sudden estrus of Ling Yu back then followed by the dissolution of the Dark Night Legion, and now with Rosen encountering an unexpected ambush, the Hydra Legion being moved from Cepheus… With everything falling perfectly into place for this plan, the arrows are all pointing in the same direction— Cepheus, Capital Star, the Empire’s Imperial Palace!
Perhaps His Majesty Trent had long been aware of this to an extent that he would have Berg leave with a mech the moment he learned that the Marshal was missing. As the reigning monarch of the Empire, he could not leave the Capital Star without authorization, so when he perceived the looming crisis, he could only send away all people close and dear to him as a way to protect them.
The thought of His Majesty Trent being trapped in the Imperial Palace with a sword constantly dangling by a thread over his head, a burst of sourness erupted behind Berg’s eyes.
…Caesar, Xiwei, and himself were all sent away by His Majesty Trent ahead of time. Now in the Imperial Palace, those remaining with His Majesty and the Queen have already sworn their life to follow the ruling family’s Royal Guard Squadron. In the event of a militaristic mutiny mobilization, it could be said that His Majesty Trent has no means of resistance…
Berg took a deep, profound look at Caesar and said in a low voice: "Caesar, about the matter of those badges, Ling Yu and Rosen ought to know better than me. The main concern now is— we must find them as soon as possible! "
This sentence coincidentally coincided with Lin Yuan's thoughts. Worried about the safety of his two fathers, Lin Yuan immediately said nervously: "Uncle Berg, could I go looking for them myself?"
Berg looked at Lin Yuan and nodded, saying: "This is also the reason why I called you all over here. Only you can find them, because of the S-Class mech connection Suzaku and Black Dragon have between one another. This connection is not disturbed by the signal of the space station. Even if there is no communication signal on that planet, as long as each respective unit initiates its detection system, Suzaku can sense the existence of Black Dragon."
—Black Dragon, Suzaku, White Feather, and King Lion, there exists a kind of special connection system of the S-Class mechs personally crafted by Mr. Aston that bypasses the space station’s signal dispersion system.
Even on a distant planet that is entirely incapable of sending signals to the outside world, the mechs can still detect each other's existence.
In the vast and obscure universe, if you want to find Black Dragon as soon as possible, utilizing the S-Class mech Suzaku, White Feather, or King Lion is a must, using the special connection system between the mechs to locate the specific coordinates of Black Dragon.
As a result, Berg was anxious to call Lin Yuan and Caesar back. He wanted them to find the two Rosen and Ling Yu with their mechs at the fastest speed possible.
Caesar quickly came to an understanding of this and gently held Lin Yuan ’s hand, saying: “White Feather can sense the existence of Black Dragon too. I will go to find the Marshal and General Ling Yu together with you.”
Knowing that looking for his two fathers throughout the cosmos would very possibly mean running headfirst into harm's way. As a prince, Caesar shouldn’t risk such dangers. However, the warmth coming through the palm of his hand made Lin Yuan unable to have the heart to say any words of refusal.
Turning his head back towards Caesar a bit emotionally stirred, Lin Yuan said softly: "Caesar, you would be better off staying here, after all, you are His Majesty’s sole Alpha heir and if by any chance there’s some danger…"
"What rubbish are you spouting?" Caesar interrupted him in a low voice, gently tightening his fingers, he leaned into Lin Yuan's ear and said: "Don't you forget, I'm your Alpha, how could I make my Omega go on a perilous journey by himself?"
Lin Yuan: "………"
Caesar's voice was lowered to a quiet hush beside his ear, using a volume only Lin Yuan could hear the words spoken in confidence, and his burning hot breath ghosted on his ear, making Lin Yuan's ears immediately go red.
After marking each other, the feeling of being bound makes a person feel embarrassed, while at the same time, can’t help striking ribbons of warmth into their heart.
—I'm your Alpha, how could I make my Omega go on a perilous journey by himself?
With a few simple words, Lin Yuan suddenly lost any reason to object.
Because putting himself in his position, he would hold the same sentiment. If Caesar encountered any difficulties, he couldn’t let Caesar brave it alone. As Caesar's Omega, he would also want to be at Caesar's side… not just sharing the joy, but also sticking through the hardships.
The moment they marked each other, belonging to the other party may not be limited to the physical body.
The psychological sense of dependence in their relationship grew increasingly stronger.
Berg looked at the appearance of the two youths leaning into each other, whispering in confidence, he couldn’t help but smile slightly, saying: “Okay, don’t squabble, the four of you are going together. With the two mechs, White Feather and Suzaku, your safety can be guaranteed."
Brian did not expect that the little monster Lin Yuan was trying to find his dad, and he would be following after him as well. He suddenly looked at Berg with some surprise: "Pa, I’m going too?"
Berg aimed a glance at his son and said lightly: "Ling Feng originally wanted to go and find his brother in person. Udir refused to let him go. Ling Feng specifically requested for Snow to accompany Xiao Yuan in order to take care of each other. Of course, it’s really none of your business, it doesn't matter if you don't want to go."
Brian: "…"
Dad must be doing this on purpose, Snow is going, how could this not be any of his business?
Brian immediately got closer and squeezed his Dad’s shoulder, smiling sweetly and saying: “Who said it’s none of my business, I’d be more than thrilled to tag along. In case either Lin Yuan or Caesar’s mech malfunctions en route, can’t I repair it on-site? Pa, please just let me go, in the mech energy field, I have a much vaster comprehension than they do."
Berg gave his son a blank look and said: "I’m assigning you a task first and foremost, do the work of Suzaku's upgrade within a day's time."
Brian froze for a moment then nodded immediately: "Understood!"
***
If Lin Yuan wants to take Suzaku to find his two fathers, it must be upgraded back to S-Class to deal with varying unexpected circumstances.
At the time, it was Brian who completed Suzaku’s downgrade to C-Class, upgrading it now will be much better being left in his hands.
Berg is still very confident in his son's ability to downgrade Suzaku without destroying any of its wirings. Brian's innate talent in mech manufacturing is even better than that of himself back in his youth.
The very next day, Brian remodeled Suzaku in the spacious and vacant mech room in the underground base.
Brian dismantled and reassembled the parts one by one in accordance with the original modification plan. Dave and Berg helped him out and with the joint efforts of the three people, in just one short day, Suzaku was upgraded back to S-Class with all of its former glory intact.
Looking at the gigantic red mech in front of him, Lin Yuan couldn't help but sigh from the bottom of his heart— when he saw the Suzaku in the museum, the mech was bound by a multitude of electromagnetic chains, quietly soaking up the sun’s rays like a blazing flame.
At the moment under the illumination of the light, every inch of metal on Suzaku's body shone with a dazzling luster. The beautiful red color, after so many years of dormancy, was like a fire rising from the ashes, making one unable to look away.
—This is the Mech God of War that once made the enemy forces of the Federation cower at the slightest breeze, Suzaku.
—This is Suzaku, the personal S-Class mech of the Empire’s Legendary Young Omega Major General, Ling Yu.
Lin Yuan stood gaping up at Suzaku, craning his neck to look at the wonder-filled presence of this S-Class mech. The rims of his eyes uncontrollably heat up a bit.
It had accompanied Ling Yu through countless twists and turns and countless suffering, it had also brought about countless glories and victories with Ling Yu.
It was because of Ling Yu’s crimes, it’s master, that it was cruelly imprisoned for nineteen years. In order to survive, after escaping from the museum, it had neither the choice nor option to feign it’s demise and willingly downgrade itself to a C-Class mech…
At this moment, it finally has the opportunity to see the light of day once more. Its regale body is also just as it was before!
Suzaku saw Lin Yuan blankly staring at itself, it couldn't help but gently put its palm down, stretched it out in front of Lin Yuan, and said softly, "Master."
Lin Yuan put his hand up to its wide palm, looked up at Suzaku, and said with a smile: "Suzaku, I’ve always felt that I never had the qualifications to truly own you … you are my dad's mech. After following my dad through so many twists and turns, I think the connection between the two of you is one of a kind… As soon as we find dad, return to his side, alright?"
Suzaku was so moved that it was at a loss for words at the thoughtful and generous declaration of this young man.
At this time, it sticking Lin Yuan's side was indeed for the purpose of finding its Master, and Lin Yuan's body carried the blood of it’s Master, which made it feel very familiar— in order to protect Ling Yu's child and look for an opportunity to find Ling Yu, it recognized another Master and became Lin Yuan's mech for the time being.
However, as Lin Yuan said, its connection with Ling Yu is one of a kind.
The only person who it truly recognized as its Master was Ling Yu.
After all, it had been at Ling Yu’s side from the day its memory began, they have fought side by side for so many years. It has experienced countless ups and downs. This connection cannot be replaced by anyone.
Suzaku gently placed its broad palm on top of Lin Yuan's head to make a "stroking" motion, but unfortunately, the palm of the mech was too large and Lin Yuan's entire person was shrouded in that red shadow. Suzaku fretted that it would hurt Xiao Yuan and immediately retracted its hand.
Lin Yuan couldn’t help laughing, he gently reached out and touched the smooth, shiny metal palm of Suzaku. He looked up at it and said, “It ’s okay, you were my dad ’s mech to begin with, even though I like you too, I know you carry special importance to dad. He must be very happy that you can return to his side, and I am also very happy that you and Dad can be reunited."
Suzaku was silent for a moment before whispering, "Thank you, Xiaoyuan."
Lin Yuan laughed: "You're welcome!"
—The candid and hearty smile of the youth is as dazzling as the sunshine.
Suzaku suddenly thought that after all, he had too many memories and emotional ties for his former master, Ling Yu, he could not serve Lin Yuan with his heart and soul. This earnest and hard-working child should have a mech that genuinely belongs to him.
Seemingly aware of Suzaku's thoughts, watching Lin Yuan happily place Suzaku where its heart lay, Berg couldn't help but ask in a low voice: "Xiao Yuan, the degree of your mental threshold compatibility with Suzaku has already exceeded 100%, right?"
Lin Yuan turned back in confusion: "Yep, the first compatibility match seemed to go over 100%. What of it?"
Berg said with much thought: "It seems that the person Wang Xiong spoke of was you…"
Unable to make heads or tails from Berg’s words, Lin Yuan couldn't help scratching his head in bewilderment.
Berg said with a smile: "Well, I still have to do the final inspection and debugging on this new mech with Dave, but after you come back with your parents, you can try to pilot it."
Lin Yuan widened his eyes in surprise, "A new mech? What is it?"
Berg spoke seriously: "It is the latest SS-Class mech developed by Mr. Aston and his final and only disciple, Dave. It is the first SS-Class mech in the history of the Empire. The requirements for its pilot are extremely high. You have inherited the talents of both of your fathers, your mental threshold should be able to reach the standard for piloting that mech."
Berg smiled slightly at Lin Yuan's dark and clear eyes, saying: "If you have the ability, it will belong to you completely."
(TN: An explanation for my absence is due orz. The short rundown is I had a life crisis over what direction I would take my life after graduating high school— college, or enlisting in the military. Then after deciding to enlist and starting on the process, a close relative got super sick so I had to fly out to the other side of the country and help out. After that, between working a full-time job and now preparing for my enlistment, I have a lot less free time on my hands, especially now that I want to hang out with my friends as often as I can with them going away to college soon. I'm not dropping either of my novels per se, but I wouldn't exactly be adverse to anyone wanting to pick it up either. I'll still be translating them in the meantime, I just can't say how often I'll be able to push chapters out. That's all, stay safe everyone xoxo)