Three Aircraft

Public sentiment was inherently something that needed direction, and it was easily swayed. Under Azure's current circumstances and atmosphere, a romantic rumor between a heroic warrior and a female war correspondent would undoubtedly be a wonderful thing, serving to soften many blows. Especially when his name was Han Qingyu—yes, that very Major The Qing you know, or The King. And she was just an ordinary frontline correspondent. "'Headline: From Entering the Lens to Entering His Life. The Story Begins with That Famous Photograph Atop Xilang Peak...'" At this moment, as a seasoned professional and the Deputy Director of the Press Department, Mayne nearly shouted, "Hype it! Go all out and run with it!" "In addition, Major Qing has requested three source energy aircraft: a two-man Needlefish, a ten-man Swordfish, and a hundred-man Qing Spear." As the reporting soldier's voice died away at the entrance, the entire chamber gradually fell quiet, everyone's gaze turning toward the door. "What?!" "Are you saying he's using the privileges of the Starlight Azure Medal to demand three source energy aircraft? Does he realize what that means?" "The crux of the matter is that he never promised to return to Azure! So he intends to possess three source energy aircraft as an independent armed force?" "...This is the most outrageous privilege application I have ever seen in history." The faction of councilors that had previously been subdued quickly leaped at the opportunity to voice their dissent. This time, even the councilors who had consistently stood on Han Qingyu's side, including Mayne and others, were momentarily at a loss for how to counter. Because source energy aircraft were simply too precious. At the same time, they were currently Azure's greatest secret—a secret not in the sense of classified news, but in their absolute exclusivity; they had not yet been deployed on any battlefield. To a certain degree, source energy aircraft represented hope and dreams, like a disadvantaged youth in wuxia tales who suddenly possessed divine weapons. "..." Kemore tapped his forehead, furrowing his brows as he bowed his head in contemplation. Earlier, some councilors had proposed placing restrictions on the privileges granted to Han Qingyu, but it had been rejected. Looking at it now, that young man truly lived up to the rumors—he never felt the slightest embarrassment... "We cannot give them to him, Speaker! This has already exceeded the principled scope of Starlight privileges! This is a private party laying claim to absolute armed might!" "Not unless he returns to Azure first!" "In all of history, no recipient of the Star of Azure has ever made such an excessive demand!" "..." Noisy, furious shouts erupted in waves across the floor. "And yet, no recipient of the Star of Azure has ever brought us source energy engines either!" Liu Yiwu couldn't care less whether Han Qingyu's demand was shameless; after all, Liu Yiwu was hardly the type to feel embarrassed either... Smiling, Commander Liu scanned the entire room and said: "It's just three craft. Even if you treat it as an equity dividend, doesn't it rightfully belong to him?" "When you all were excitedly running your hands over those source energy aircraft, none of your hands were gripping the blades raised toward the sky atop Xilang Peak... Has the blood spilled into the air and snow already run cold in your memories?" Truly the man who had talked a Red Shoulder to death. With three mild remarks, Liu Yiwu instantly quelled the vehement outcries of opposition. "Are we giving them to him?" "Give them to him, and use this opportunity to demand... invite him to return." "Yes, I don't believe he would do anything detrimental to Azure or to this world. After all, even through those three-plus years spent in anger, he never harmed Azure." "..." Voices from the other side began to emerge. Kemore looked up. From his own standpoint, Kemore leaned toward granting the request. While considerable unease was unavoidable, having already come this far, turning back now would be utterly foolish. The source energy aircraft themselves were bound to be outfitted and unveiled sooner or later, and that day was likely coming soon. In that case, giving them to him now was unquestionably the choice that offered the best effect and greatest return. "In truth, so long as we don't believe he will defect to Snow Lotus or take the initiative to attack Azure..." Kemore spoke up, "allowing him to possess source energy aircraft might not be a bad thing." Kemore envisioned the battlefields that would very likely spread across the globe in the near future. He asked himself: which soldier wouldn't pray for the arrival of Major Qing? "Mind your words, Speaker. You are steering the council far too overtly." "Your indulgence will sow the seeds of catastrophe! That fellow will be far more dangerous than the commander of the Huaxia Front!" The two councilors who were very likely to resign in disgrace and face investigation over Proposal 31 were making their final, desperate struggle. These were words that should never have been uttered. Even if everyone present knew Azure's wary posture toward Chen Buer, it could never be spoken aloud. Yet they had said it. When laid bare in the open, it was a baseless slander against Azure's pillar, the invincible warrior of the mortal realm. This might bring terrifying consequences. In that moment, the entire chamber fell dead silent, everyone mute as cicadas in winter. *Tap! Tap! ... Tap!* Liu Yiwu's right index finger tapped slowly against the table, stroke after stroke, hammering at the heartstrings of every councilor present. He was holding back. Holding back with every ounce of his willpower. "Sigh..." In the end, it was merely a long sigh. Liu Yiwu exhaled slowly and said in a calm tone, "You people seem to have never understood just how horrifyingly powerful he truly is." The unsaid subtext behind those words: *He has long been strong enough to overturn Azure, yet you self-righteous fools still mistake his consideration for the bigger picture, his painstaking patience, and his endurance for the triumph of your power balances and precautions.* *** "Does Lieutenant Wu Xu talk much when he's with you guys?" Ashleia asked, still unaware that she would soon become the heroine of a romantic rumor. This was an interview—the first true interview The King had ever granted, and one Ashleia had likely secured with her tears. When he said his arm didn't hurt that badly and chatting a bit might be nice, Ashleia sat beside his hospital bed, wiping her tears as she racked her brain for questions to ask. There were countless questions in her heart, and plenty of things she wanted to learn about the coalition and the world. But under current circumstances, matters regarding humanity, Azure, the Huaxia Front, and the like were all far too sensitive. So Ashleia simply indulged herself, satisfying her personal curiosity instead. "We've been here three days, and we haven't spoken a single word with Lieutenant Wu Xu yet. We rarely see him talk to anyone either," Ian chimed in from the side. The nearby Stream Vanguard fighters chuckled. Han Qingyu: "Mhm." "...Does that mean yes? Does 'mhm' mean Lieutenant Wu Xu actually talks a lot with you in private?" Ashleia asked. "No. It means unless it's necessary, all he ever gives us is an 'mhm' too," Han Qingyu explained with a wry smile. "Oh, I see." Ashleia tilted her head back, imagining the scene. She nodded, smiling like a purely inquisitive girl, and continued: "Then I have another question I'm really curious about. Among Lieutenant Wu Xu, Second Lieutenant Shen Yixiu, and Second Lieutenant Wen and his gun... if you could only take one person with you onto a decisive battlefield, who would you choose?" "Good question. Now that you ask, we'd like to know the answer too." Wen Jifei spoke as he stepped inside, accompanied by Wu Xu, Rusty Sister, He Tangtang, Caixin, Mira, the Little Prince, and the others. Wu Xu glanced at Han Qingyu. "Mhm."