The large man lay sprawled on the ground, blood gushing from the wound on his head and spreading across the floor, the thick scent of blood permeating the air.
Athrun, who had just stopped vomiting, caught the smell and couldn't hold back another violent retch.
The Military Cap Rabbit, its outer shell burned away to reveal the metal skeleton beneath, scanned the two with its mechanical eye.
After confirming that Lenore and Athrun were no longer threats, the White Rabbit sent Zhou Tianming a mission completion signal and simultaneously released the shuttle's communication system. The Ginns, who had been fighting thin air, received the shuttle's distress signal and grew restless.
Though Smith knew something was wrong, he had no choice but to lead his team back for rescue. Still, he remained highly vigilant, ordering his squad to maintain formation and observe their surroundings. Upon receiving the information, Zhou Tianming stopped evading and boldly positioned himself in the path of the returning Ginns.
Soon, the two sides made contact.
All Ginns raised their rifles.
But in an instant, seven red beams shot from all directions, blasting the assault rifles to pieces.
"What!"
"Where is the attack coming from!"
The Ginns stood back-to-back, their pink mono-eyes swiveling around.
Red beams suddenly shot out from the surrounding debris.
The beams pierced through the trash and instantly struck the Ginns.
Five pilots were vaporized by the beams before they could even react.
Only Smith managed to dodge the beam aimed at him, though his Ginn's leg was hit.
He also collided with Tris's Ginn, saving him but costing him an arm.
Amid the exploding Ginns, Zhou Tianming did not attack again.
The two sides faced each other in silence.
A communication alert lit up in the Vermilion Bird's cockpit. Zhou Tianming pressed the connect button, and Smith's face appeared on screen.
"It really is you, Zhou Tianming."
"That voice..." Zhou Tianming laughed. "Perfect. I still remember that shot you took at me."
"Heh." Smith smiled bitterly. "I really regret not killing you back then. I still can't figure out what could have blocked that shot. Care to enlighten me?"
"No. That's a secret."
"Still as tight-lipped as ever." Smith sighed. "If only I hadn't followed orders and just eliminated you then."
"Who would have won was never certain."
"Hahaha!" Smith laughed loudly. "What a shame you're not on our side."
The communication cut off.
The Ginn's mono-eye glowed as thrusters on both machines deployed, emitting blue light. Their speed suddenly increased as they charged straight toward the Vermilion Bird.
The next second!
Seven Feather Plumes swam toward them like fish, red beams shooting out.
Tris slammed into Smith's back, pushing him aside, and was pierced through by the beams, exploding.
"Ah!!!!"
Using this momentum, Smith roared and drew his sword, thrusting forward.
A beam shot forth, instantly piercing through the Ginn's limbs, thrusters, and cockpit.
Flames erupted in a violent explosion.
Only a severed hand gripping a Heavy Sword flew straight ahead.
A [Feather Plume] flew over and halted in front, its tip glowing with red light.
A beam surged forth, instantly melting and piercing through the Heavy Sword.
The Vermilion Bird spread its wings, the [Feather Plume] returned, and with a flare of its thrusters, it transformed into a red meteor and departed.
Shortly after, the Black Tortoise arrived to pick up Lenore and Athrun.
Athrun, his face pale, showed distress upon seeing the people lying scattered on the ground. He opened his mouth as if to speak.
Lenore shook her head at him. "Athrun..."
He lowered his head.
Zhou Tianming welcomed the mother and son aboard the Black Tortoise. When he noticed Lenore's hand, he apologized, "I'm sorry you still got injured." Lenore shook her head with a gentle smile. "Don't worry about it. It's just a minor injury. Thank you for rescuing us—otherwise, who knows what they might have forced Patrick to do using us."
"Let's head to the medical bay first to get you treated. After that, we'll go to the Bridge to help you contact Uncle Patrick."
"Alright."
Just then, Athrun approached, hesitating as he spoke. "Those people..."
Zhou Tianming smiled reassuringly. "I'll hand them over to your father. They'll face the punishment they deserve."
Hearing this, Athrun let out a relieved sigh, his complexion improving. "Okay."
"Let's go. I'll take you to the medical bay."
With that, he led the way.
Turning his back to the mother and son, Zhou Tianming made a slicing motion across his neck. A nearby camera nodded up and down in response.
Before the Black Tortoise departed, White Rabbits carrying explosive packs flew out from a small door in the rear storage bay.
They infiltrated various parts of the Shuttle and initiated self-destruct countdowns.
Ten minutes after the Black Tortoise left, explosions erupted throughout the Shuttle. The deck was torn apart, flames roiling.
Along with three nearby Ginn units, it was consumed in a fiery inferno.
Inside the Black Tortoise, Lenore was receiving treatment for her arms in the medical bay.
Both her hands were broken, and her spine had suffered a heavy blow, causing some misalignment that required rest and recovery.
Reviewing the medical report, Zhou Tianming frowned. After receiving a report from the White Rabbits, he sighed.
"I'm sorry. I didn't plan thoroughly enough."
Lenore smiled and shook her head. "You've done very well."
She turned to Athrun. "Help Mommy fetch some water."
"Okay." Nodding, Athrun left.
Lenore spoke seriously. "Thank you for not killing anyone in front of Athrun."
Zhou Tianming gave a wry smile. "But in the end, he had to do it himself. It would have been better if I had."
"That was an accident." Lenore exhaled softly. "Patrick is the Defense Committee Chairman. Whether he wants it or not, Athrun will eventually face situations like this."
"But he's still too young."
Lenore chuckled softly at Zhou Tianming's concerned expression. "I didn't expect someone so young to understand children so well."
He shrugged. "Recently, there's a child at home, so I've been reading up a bit."
Lenore's expression shifted, her eyes scanning Zhou Tianming with a hint of curiosity.
His face darkened. "Adopted."
She immediately lost interest.
"Mom, water." Athrun walked in with a cup of water, gently helping Lenore drink.
As he fed her, he asked, "Zhou Tianming, are you keeping some kind of animal in your room?"
"Huh?" Zhou Tianming was baffled. "No, why?"
"Then why did I hear something smashing inside one of the rooms when I passed by?"
"Smashing?"
He froze.
He turned and ran in a panic: "Damn! Lacus! I forgot about her!"
Lenore and Athrun exchanged glances.
"Siegel's daughter?"
"Uncle Siegel's daughter?"
When he opened the door, Lacus stood smiling in the middle of the room: "Hello, Tian Ming brother, I'm a little hungry."
After saying this, she walked out of the room on her own.
Zhou Tianming looked at the room in complete disarray—as if it had been torn apart by a husky—and shuddered.
"Lacus," he said with a serious expression, "I didn't do it on purpose!"
"Believe me! I just finished my work!"
Lenore, Athrun, and Lacus met.
Facing the elder Lenore, Lacus bowed politely and immediately started chatting familiarly.
Athrun stood quietly to the side, looking bored and saying nothing.
"Not familiar?" Zhou Tianming asked curiously.
"Only met a few times," Athrun replied. "I don't have much to talk about with girls. It's troublesome; we can't play together."
Zhou Tianming shook his head helplessly at Athrun.
This guy is hopeless, not fun at all. Too bad Kira isn't here.
"Zhou Tianming, your ship can go anywhere, right?"
Athrun looked at him expectantly: "After taking my mom back, can you take me to Kira? I haven't been in touch with him for a long time."
Zhou Tianming rolled his eyes: "Call him yourself."
Athrun's face fell, full of sadness: "His number was deactivated. I don't know where his family moved to either."
"Deactivated?"
Zhou Tianming took out his phone and dialed Kira's number.
Sure enough, the prompt said the number didn't exist.
Caridad is being way too cautious.
At this rate, even asking Haruma-Yamato wouldn't get them the new address.
"You and your mom go report your safety to Uncle Patrick first. I'll try to figure out where he is."
"Really!" Athrun's face lit up with joy. "Thank you, Tian Ming brother."
Zhou Tianming looked at him with disdain.
"Now you know to call me brother."
"Hehe~"
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