"The enemy's true identity is unknown, and it involves space-time issues..." Hikari said, pinching his chin.
"I'll report this to the Garrison Commander."
How to handle subsequent matters still needed to be decided by the Garrison Commander—Father of Ultra.
They currently took space-time issues very seriously.
"By the way, how's the situation with that mysterious golden giant Absolute Tartarus being handled?" Natsuki suddenly remembered to ask.
Before he'd been transferred to this universe—
The Land of Light had been dealing with a rather thorny matter. A mysterious golden giant with space-time abilities had awakened numerous powerful enemies. To deal with this guy, many of the Land of Light's top fighters had mobilized.
However, Natsuki's insufficient strength meant he didn't even qualify to participate in the operation.
"Tartarus..." Hikari thought of that troublesome enemy, speaking gravely. "Zero led a group of young warriors and temporarily drove him back."
"For a while after being repelled, there's been no news of him. He's probably plotting something in the shadows."
"My intuition tells me... in the near future, we'll definitely face new battles with him."
Listening, Natsuki nodded.
Seemed like during his time away, matters on the Land of Light's side had been mostly handled.
He no longer qualified to participate in battles of that level. The rest could apparently only be left to those young warriors to resolve.
"Then this mission here doesn't need to continue being executed by me, right?" Natsuki asked.
With his strength, if he later encountered that top-tier level of enemy, it'd be trouble. Once controlled by the enemy, he might easily have the Land of Light's internal intelligence stolen.
"The specific plan needs to wait for the Garrison Commander's decision." Hikari shook his head. "But the result will most likely still be having you continue executing this mission."
Judging from current circumstances, the organization behind those Travelers probably wasn't too strong.
Though Natsuki's current strength ranked at the bottom even within the entire Space Garrison, he excelled in rich experience. This kind of mission requiring deep investigation suited him perfectly.
"Besides, Zero—who's most suitable for this mission—has run into a small problem right now." Hikari spoke with some hesitation.
"What?" Hearing this, Natsuki's eyes immediately grew serious. "What happened?"
After all, this was a child he'd watched grow up. Even though the other had become tremendously capable, hearing about trouble, his first reaction was still worry.
"Uh..." Hikari was still hesitating, because this incident's cause was connected to himself.
"Speak!" Natsuki urged anxiously.
From his posture, if Hikari didn't talk, he'd strangle him.
"Ahem... A theft occurred at the Space Science and Technology Bureau. Zero took a young warrior named Zeta to chase the thief." Hikari explained with a long sigh.
"Then on the way, they encountered the fourth-dimensional monster Bruton."
As director of the Space Science and Technology Bureau, having the Bureau stolen from was truly shameful to speak of.
Natsuki: "..."
And here I thought it was something major. Though Bruton was troublesome, it couldn't hurt Zero.
As for the Space Science and Technology Bureau being robbed—that was too normal.
That place's security was virtually nonexistent. In the past, even when they'd specifically guarded against Natsuki for certain reasons, he could still slip in like coming home.
The Space Science and Technology Bureau's weak security was partly because theft couldn't possibly occur within the Land of Light, and outsiders wanting to break into the Land of Light to steal... that was purely suicidal.
Natsuki didn't even need to guess—that thief would definitely experience a series of desperate events in the end.
"Really... dumping such an important mission on me."
"Not considering my feelings at all." Natsuki scratched his head with an annoyed expression.
His body had long since lost the ability to fight like young people. He genuinely wanted to retire.
To this, Hikari only said with emotion: "Though you'll be lax in some unimportant missions, for crucial missions like this, you won't be that careless."
He understood Natsuki too well.
This mission was also Natsuki's first important mission after his mindset shift.
No matter how many colors a person used to disguise themselves, their inner foundation would never change. Hikari knew that in truly important missions, Natsuki would definitely show a serious attitude.
Never give up, never abandon any comrade, charge to the front even when facing the most powerful enemies, protect weak life—that was the Lias in Hikari's memory.
"You used to be more outstanding than any warrior. I still remember to this day that moment when you risked your life to save ours in our youth." Hikari spoke seriously.
"Countless young juniors take you as their example. We're also proud of you."
"When Belial caused havoc, you also—"
"Stop!" The more Natsuki listened, the more his scalp tingled. He quickly called a halt.
"Those are all past events. You know I don't want to hear these things."
Bringing up old history now—that was somewhat messing with people's mindset.
He didn't want to live in the past.
"No matter what, we all hope you can successfully pull yourself together." Hikari spoke earnestly.
He hoped this mission could help Natsuki regain his fighting spirit.
Speaking, he pointed at the black bangle on Natsuki's wrist. "That bangle contains miraculous power that can reawaken the potential within you."
"After training again and again, you'll quickly recover your former strength, even... become stronger."
Hearing Hikari say this, Natsuki's heart grew very complicated again.
He reached up to cover his forehead, fingers threading into his hair, momentarily silent.
They were all too kind... That's why his former self had desperately protected them.
"This bangle isn't entirely your creation, is it?" he asked aloud.
Making a crippled body reawaken its potential—such miracle-level functionality, even a genius like Hikari couldn't achieve.
"Mm." Hikari nodded.
"I understand." With that nod, Natsuki immediately understood the bangle's true origin.
In the Land of Light, only one could create miracles with a wave of the hand.
"I'll investigate the Travelers and Space-Time Source Energy thoroughly. When there's progress, I'll contact you again." Natsuki slowly raised his head, speaking to Hikari.
"Also... thank you."
Hikari first nodded, then shook his head. "No need to thank me. This is what a valiant warrior deserves."
Afterward, the projection transformed into light particles and returned to the bangle.
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