The duration of the transition was even shorter than Roz and the others had imagined.
When the Nahel Argama leaped out of the transition passage, this was the sight that met their eyes:
An infinite starry sky. Within a massive spaceport, a vast number of battleships of varying models, shapes, and sizes were either departing or entering harbor, looking incredibly busy.
Roz even spotted a General Revil-class ship that was several times larger than the original version, resting peacefully in its dock.
Roz watched with his own eyes as a La Vie en Rose passed the Nahel Argama and approached a dock.
When the La Vie en Rose entered the dock, it took on a strange flickering quality—as if it had entered a state of visual trickery. Seeing it parked there, Roz fell into a stunned silence.
Just as Roz was suspecting his eyes had deceived him and that the La Vie en Rose couldn't possibly be that big, Big Haro spoke up.
"The docks all utilize folded space."
Big Haro's eyes flashed as it perked up.
"The dock looks small, but it's said they can accommodate a fully weaponized Death Star the size of Jupiter."
"Space folding..."
Hearing of a technology that seemingly only existed in fantasy, Christina, who had come to the bridge with Roz, widened her eyes. "If all these docks use space-folding technology, the cost of these berths..."
"In fact, it doesn't cost much at all."
Big Haro commanded the Nahel Argama to approach a specific dock. "As a joint organization of numerous worlds, the resource expenditure for maintaining folded space accounts for a very small percentage."
"With such a massive supply of resources... shouldn't we, under normal circumstances, be able to crush that 'Lord God' or whatever it is directly?"
Hearing that the application and maintenance of such high-consumption technology was as simple as drinking water in Big Haro's words, Natarle Badgiruel raised this question.
"Both you and Murrue are Earthoids."
Big Haro watched as the battleship completed its docking and nodded with satisfaction before detaching from its position. "The analogy might not be perfectly accurate, but you should be familiar with things like cockroaches."
"When you see one, there are already dozens or hundreds nearby, likely forming two or three nests."
Big Haro moved in front of Roz, continuing to address Murrue and Natarle. "Even if you use insecticide, they can constantly evolve resistance. Moreover, our Executors are not insecticide; they are just powerful individuals. Being able to handle the problems of a single world is already quite impressive."
"...I understand."
Natarle merely applied the metaphor for a moment and instinctively felt a chill. "They are indeed very persistent enemies."
"So now you know why we've been working overtime constantly."
Saying this, Big Haro extended its mechanical arm and pulled on Roz's hand.
"I'll take Roz to handle the onboarding procedures first. The rest of you stay here; do not wander off the ship."
Watching Big Haro lead Roz away from the bridge, Murrue felt a headache coming on.
"It hasn't been long since one great war ended, and yet there are endless battles ahead?"
At the thought, Murrue sighed.
"Notify the whole ship: aside from essential watch duty, everyone else can rest."
"You guys go ahead and rest first."
Christina pulled a tablet from her lab coat pocket, scrolling through various datasets. "I want to look at the data sent back by the sensors."
She was currently very curious about the data recorded by the external sensors while in the transition passage and the folded space.
If possible, could she manufacture a transition engine for use on battleships... or even research a transition engine for Roz's MS?
With that thought, Christina quickly left the bridge.
-----------------------------------
Roz followed behind Big Haro, walking through the streets of the Courtyard.
For some reason, even though the Courtyard sounded like such a grand and high-end place, it ultimately felt more like a well-developed space colony to Roz. The streets were lined with numerous shops featuring completely different decoration styles; a sense of retro and high-tech felt as if they had been played with a "Fusion" magic card, revealing a strange sort of beauty amidst the eccentricity.
If one word were to describe it, it might be "Punk."
"Because this is the sense of reality for many retired Executors," Big Haro's words explained the situation before Roz's eyes.
"If it were truly necessary, we could actually complete everything on the battleship—including buying supplies, entertainment, and processing paperwork..."
"But after a period of surveying Executors from various social strata, the Courtyard's Council unanimously agreed that it was necessary to maintain a place where Executors could interact face-to-face or even have physical contact."
With that, Big Haro projected a virtual interface resembling an online shopping mall. "Thus, two sets of plans exist simultaneously, satisfying both the efficiency-seekers and those who prefer a lifestyle or retirement pace."
"Moreover, this is a method to prevent psychological issues in these retired Executors who have come back from the front lines."
At this point, Big Haro extended a mechanical arm and pointed toward a certain area. "Even if these people are retired, they still possess immense power. If something goes wrong, a whole group of people will have to work overtime."
It was a crowded area, similar to a supermarket or shopping mall. Several massive hanging paintings were displayed there, the contents of which caused Roz's vision to momentarily darken.
[The brand-new masterpiece by the famous Newtype growth and education expert, Char Aznable. Let him reveal the secret sub-directions of Newtype evolution.]
It featured a steady-looking man smiling gallantly, giving a thumbs-up to anyone looking at the giant poster. However, anyone who actually knew him would, upon seeing his works, instinctively cover their faces and pretend not to recognize him.
[Complete Guide to Newtype Pre-school Education and Advanced Directions] . Editor-in-Chief: Char Aznable. Executive Editor: Amuro Ray (Consent Pending)."
[Includes Pre-school Education Compulsory Subject I: How to Find a Loli Mama...]
[Brand new masterpiece, selling hot now.]
Looking at this abstract poster, Big Haro froze for a moment.
"Eh... a new book is out. Looks like I'll have to buy it again..."
Big Haro tapped away on the still-open virtual interface with its mechanical arm, beginning to search the mall. "No matter how much we suffer, we can't let education suffer. If I plan my savings carefully..."
At that moment, Roz reached out and grabbed Big Haro's mechanical arm.
"Eh?"
Seeing Roz's action, although he didn't feel Roz using much force, the sense of resistance was already impossible to suppress.
"Your savings are already spread pretty thin, aren't they, Big Haro?"
Roz felt as if his face as a Newtype was being completely thrown away by Char. "I feel that regarding 'growth,' while a bit of guidance in the early stages is good, from now on, please let my abilities grow naturally on their own."
"Hmm... you have a point."
Big Haro thought about it and, appearing to be convinced by Roz, closed the mall interface.
Just as Roz let out a sigh of relief for having persuaded Big Haro to stop buying works that ruined the reputation of Newtypes...
"Char!!"
The voice of a young man, full of vigor, rang out beneath the giant poster.
A youth with purple hair was seen chasing a man wearing a red vest and black sunglasses.
"Kamille! I told you, I'm not him! I am Quattro Bajeena!"
The man in sunglasses sprinted, weaving through the blocking crowd and escaping gallantly toward the intersection.
"But you look the same, your sexual orientation is the same, even your personality is the same!"
Kamille shouted loudly, completely ignoring the gazes of the crowd. "You actually really like the things written on there, don't you!"
"What if I do like them?!"
"Quattro" gave up on quibbling and roared, "The women written about there are the most perfect existences in countless parallel universes!"
Hearing Quattro's words, everyone in the vicinity instinctively took a few steps back, acting as if they didn't know the man.
"Those are minors! You pathetic loser!"
Kamille spotted his timing and leaped suddenly. "I'm going to correct you!!"
A standard Rider Kick landed accurately on the back of the man named "Quattro," sending him flying.
Although the fight looked intense, Roz did not read any emotions related to "dislike" or "hatred" from their brainwaves.
Instead, there was more of a certain sense of relaxed pleasure.
However, it was worth noting that many of the powerful brainwaves Roz could sense in the surroundings simultaneously released emotions of "shame" or "I can't look at this"—most likely fellow Newtypes.
While Roz stood there in a daze, a powerful psycho-power suddenly burst into his range of perception.
"Good grief... what a pathetic sight, my past self."
A man wearing sunglasses and a brownish-yellow suit stood before Quattro.
Although his face was partially obscured, Roz was certain that the fellow in the suit was the same disgraceful individual printed on the posters—Char Aznable.
"After retiring, do you spend your time writing such things just to torture your past self?"
Quattro pushed himself up from the ground with both hands, brushed the dust off his clothes, and straightened his slightly crooked sunglasses and hair. "Haji-Char, you bastard..."
"And where did you learn a word like that?"
Hearing this phrase from his younger self, Char was momentarily stunned.
"A man must stay in touch with new things; after all, I haven't retired yet," Quattro said, adjusting his sunglasses. "Otherwise, how am I supposed to hang out with youngsters like Kamille?"
Looking at Quattro, Char seemed to recall his own past, his expression turning complex.
He once had the chance to become like the current Quattro, if only Kamille had ultimately... unfortunately, there are no "ifs" in reality.
"Well then, I'll have to trouble you all to help me draw some of the fire."
"Are you using your superior strength as an excuse to make us the scapegoats after you've retired?" Quattro's expression was somewhat helpless.
"By the way, I think I just felt a very strong psycho-power..."
Recalling the sensation from his earlier psycho-power scan, Char began to look around.
Very quickly, his eyes landed on a familiar figure.
"Amuro... no, it's not him."
Seeing Roz's familiar face, Char had instinctively thought it was Amuro.
However, the black hair and that sense of "clear, innocent stupidity" typical of a college student made him realize that the person before him was not the Amuro he knew.
"I see... a newcomer."
As if realizing something, a smile curled at the corner of Char's mouth, and he gave a slight nod toward Roz. Then, without looking back, he walked into the mall where the posters were hung.
This was, after all, a book signing for his brand-new work as a "Famous Newtype Growth and Education Expert."
Surely, many excellent Newtypes would come to attend the signing.
Or so thought the retired old man, Char Aznable.
.......................