Long-term salvation

"Eh eh eh?!"

After saying this, Rhodes once again checked Trigger's position in the rearview mirror, and then he began to climb.

The throttle was pushed all the way to the bottom, the fighter's engine ejected a dazzling bright tail flame, and the entire fuselage was shaking violently, trying to use its body to break through the sticky air. Now, the fighter was climbing at an angle of nearly 80 degrees, even close to 90 degrees!

Trigger was startled, then he flew his fighter plane and chased after him. His radar was gradually locking onto the opponent:

The opponent wasn't even maneuvering to defend!

What on earth is the Lord thinking?!

Without further investigation, Trigger calmed down his emotions, stared at the opponent in front of him, and began to climb the fighter plane - the edges of his retina were blood red, and the continuous overload was tearing the capillaries. On the tactical situation display, the red symbol representing the enemy aircraft began to show double images - this was a precursor to brain hypoxia.

The moment the lock sound rang out, Trigger's finger was about to press the missile launch button... Wait, what is that?!

The pilot of the fighter plane ahead, the man known as "His Excellency," opened the hatch! He didn't even eject!

Rhodes' body slipped out of the fighter plane, and he immediately pulled out an anti-tank rocket launcher and fired it at the pursuer who had no time to roll to dodge. The rocket screamed and smashed the wing of Trigger's fighter plane, forcing the latter to eject as well, exploding into a white parachute in the sky.

Rendezook!

Just as Trigger was trying to get back to Rhodes in the fighter plane with a complicated look in his eyes, a pure white figure emerged from the clouds and flew down to pick up the falling Rhodes.

"..."

"..."

"……what is that?"

"Rendezook! That's a pretty good tactic, isn't it?"

Rhodes crossed his arms and nodded, with Weihua hugging his waist behind him. The girl's small wings were dancing rapidly, and she could even hold Rhodes and fly around Trigger several times. The latter turned his head with her movements, almost causing damage to his cervical spine.

"No, no, no, there's something wrong with this!!" Trigger could no longer maintain his previous silence. He grabbed the parachute strap with one hand and pointed at Weihua with the other, "How can humans fly in the sky?!"

"Weren't you flying in the sky just now? And you, a mere cement block, have no right to criticize my daughter, right?"

"No, no, no, there's a difference—wait, I should have won just now."

"It's just a draw," Rhode shrugged. "I'm not interested in chasing you around until my fighter jet runs out of fuel. So that's it for today, Trigger. We'll meet again."

Hearing this, Trigger wanted to say something else, but the meteor shower streaking across the sky at this moment attracted the attention of the two people——

In order to destroy each other's communication networks, Osea and Elgia accidentally sent out fighter jets equipped with satellite-destroying missiles at the same time. They attacked each other's military satellites, but... countless fragments also destroyed other satellites.

The world's communication network was cut off, and the two forces immediately fell into isolation and infighting, leaving the continent in chaos.

"Trigger, I told you, you're welcome to join the Army Without Borders," Rhodes' expression softened. "I hope you can help those idiots after I leave."

"…if there's a chance."

Chapter 288: The Grand Duchy of Shilaji (3/3)

The world has fallen into complete chaos, all because of a war and two stupid opponents.

When global communications collapsed, smaller nations and separatist factions within the Kingdom of Ergia, previously annexed by the kingdom, immediately rose up, declaring independence within a matter of days. Chaos reigned throughout the continent, with various factions, including the Ergia and Osean armies, fighting each other, resulting in the displacement of countless refugees... However, some factions maintained internal stability:

This was the case with the independent Kingdom of Shilaji.

But today, an uninvited guest arrived here again.

A Rafale N (BM, a two-seat carrier-based Rafale, but cancelled by France due to budget) fighter suddenly broke into the air defense network, and after playing tricks on the gunners there, it landed calmly and boldly on a road converted from a highway.

Rhodes turned off the fighter's engine, opened the hatch, and looked at a group of soldiers from the Kingdom of Shilaji - they didn't even have time to change out of the uniforms of the Kingdom of Elgia - the fully armed soldiers cautiously approached Rhodes and Weihua who poked her head out from the back seat.

"I am the leader of the Mercenary Group of the Army Without Borders, codenamed Lord. I want to meet Michael."

Rhodes lit a cigarette, seemingly unconcerned about the black muzzles of the guns. On his shoulder, the black cat Pickman was looking at the soldiers with his emerald green eyes.

"Just report this news, and he will understand."

The soldiers looked at each other in bewilderment. Just as someone was about to step forward to arrest Rhodes, six gunshots, almost overlapping, rang out on the empty highway! Then six more!

"If I were you," Rhodes raised his revolver steadily, looking at the soldiers holding their rifles, which were only half-broken or had only parts left, "I wouldn't think of risking my life to test a guest who came from afar."

“…We have reported it.”

"Very good," Rhodes lowered his pistol, not caring about the reinforcements who were pointing their rifles at him in the distance. He came to his senses and reached out to touch the girl's head with a silly smile.

Not long after, when Rhodes started playing the sixth round of Joker with Weihua, an open jeep drove over from not far away and stopped about five or six meters away from the Rafale fighter jet.

The white-haired Michael got out of the car, followed by a handsome and somewhat rebellious young man - his code name was Wit, he was the No. 2 machine of the Sol Squadron, and he was also an active participant in the Shiraji independence movement.

Rhode jumped off the wing of the Rafale fighter, and stretched out his hands to catch Mika who also jumped down. Then, under Mika's scrutinizing gaze, he spoke:

"Let me make a deal with you."

"..."

"Hey listen, mercenary leader, you are not welcome here."

Wit spoke out loudly, his words full of provocation, and after his eyes swept over Rhode, they showed a bit of disdain. It was obvious that he regarded Rhode as some kind of playboy, or perhaps he had heard those... too bizarre rumors before. But in any case, the tone of the young pilot was not good:

"We have our own things to do, and you want to do something to us—"

"The Army Without Borders will support the independence of the Shilaji Kingdom, especially after this war is over," Rhodes said calmly. He took a puff of his cigarette and then put it out.

"An entire mechanized infantry regiment, complete with tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, and self-propelled artillery. The technical officers within are capable of serving as instructors in certain small countries. As for the fighter squadron... I believe you've heard of our battle record. Oh, and that Ossia pilot who nearly brought down Michael is also planning to join us after the war."

Looking at Wit's choked expression, Rhode smiled, turned to look at Michael, who had been silent from the beginning, and said slowly:

"The price—I need you to leave with me. Of course, this is the price to pay to the Kingdom of Shilaji. 'You', Michael himself, I have new conditions."

“…Tell me about it.”

Michael raised his hand to stop Wit from speaking. Wit pursed his lips and remained silent around the person he respected.

"First of all, you are responsible for this war, Michael. You are well aware of this." Rhode raised his head and looked at the bright blue sky. Light white clouds drifted by with infinite laziness. On the ground, humans were struggling in the flames of war. "Without you, this war would not have been fought. At least not in the next few years."

In order to allow his elderly self to fly again wearing a reinforced suit, Michael even uploaded his combat data to drones to create a war. Through his own experimental data, he accelerated Ergia's drone development by ten years... But the consequences of this war have exceeded his imagination.

Now, every minute and every second that the veteran left the sky, regret and pain were tormenting his heart - perhaps only dying in the sky and being shot down by an ace was the most suitable fate for him - if he lay in a hospital bed waiting to die of old age, that would be the cruelest punishment.

"I can't deny it."

"In that case, then come with us to end this stupid war."

Rhodes spoke calmly and resolutely. He then took a half step forward and whispered to Michael:

"The astronauts who were sent to destroy asteroids for the people of this planet, including Nagase Ying, a hero of the last Pacific War and benefactor of President Harlin, are returning...but the orbital elevator is still under the control of the Elgia radicals."

After hearing the words "Pacific Rim War" and "asteroid," Michael's face showed a touch of sadness and nostalgia. He restrained his emotions and sighed, saying:

"So what do you want me to do? Give up the throne, or give you those Shilaji Kingdom assets that have long been gone to who knows where?"

"No, follow me to another world, where we can help more people in need. There, we can be reborn and fly in the sky again."

After finishing what he had been wanting to say, Rhode's gaze passed over the pensive Michael and fell on the mountains, cities, and winding river behind him. The cities here were not very developed. Even after independence, it would be difficult for them to maintain their current state under the attack of a resurgent Ergia or any other major power in the future.

"..."

"What the hell are you talking about?!" Wit couldn't stand it any longer. He rushed forward and tried to grab Rhodes' collar. "It's fine if you blame Mr. Michael, but you actually dare to fool him...eh?"

Wit suddenly realized that his arm was being tightly grasped by the pink-haired girl, whose smiling face lacked a genuine smile. The next second, he saw a pair of pure white wings rise from behind the girl, grabbing him and flying straight into the sky!

"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa-"

Amidst the shrill screams from the sky, a flaming sword suddenly emerged from Rhodes' right hand. The flames pushed away the surrounding soldiers who wanted to pounce on them, and drew a circle with Rhodes and Michael as the center.

Putting away his sword, Rhode met those eyes filled with surprise and a hint of excitement, and said calmly:

"What's your decision?"

"...I agree, but can you ask that girl to put him down first?"

"Alas, he's a pilot, but he's afraid to fly in the sky," Rod sighed helplessly. He then raised his head and shouted to Weihua who was playing catch, "Weihua! Put him down!"

"Okay, Sensei!" The girl replied with a voice mixed with some joy. She grabbed Wit's collar and slowly put the young pilot, who had given up struggling, on the ground.

Michael: “…”

Looking at Wit, who had been put down and began to breathe heavily, Michael reached out and patted his shoulder, saying in a half-comforting, half-reprimanding tone:

"Recover quickly! As a fighter pilot, you should always stay calm, not be so flustered as you are now."

"I'm sorry, Mr. Mikay."

After glancing at the two people interacting, Rhode pondered for a few seconds and suddenly remembered something more important. He then asked:

"The Army Without Borders and potential allies, can we use the supplies and ammunition you have here?"

"...if you pay."

“Twice the price.”

"make a deal!"

Chapter 289: Temporary Alliance on Taylor Island (1/5·3K)

10 month 15 day.

When the Osean Army's Long Range Strategic Strike Group (LRSSG) recovered its combat capability and planned to head to Taylor Island, which was once the base used by the Osean Federation to support the orbital elevator and was also the closest island to the latter, it was surprised to find that the Elgian radicals and conservatives were participating in the event on the island:

The Ergia and Ergia sides were fighting over the mass accelerator of the supply ship that was supplying the Armament Bird, with the defeated Osean army and groups of refugees caught in the middle... It was truly a hellish scene.

In desperation, the LRSSG had no choice but to send a strike group led by Trigger to help the evacuation of friendly forces and refugees. However, just as the battle was about to end and the radicals seized the mass accelerator and prepared to launch the supply ship:

A shell, accompanied by a sharp whistle and a faint electric arc, came from hundreds of kilometers away and directly destroyed the mass accelerator track!

This scene instantly silenced the entire battlefield. Within a few minutes, the joint announcement from the Army Without Borders and the Kingdom of Shilaji resounded throughout the communication channel:

"Notify all forces on Taylor Island that we will requisition Taylor Island to attack the orbital elevator. We hope you will lay down your weapons on the spot or join our camp to end this stupid war!"

A mere announcement is obviously not very convincing, but the facts prove that:

Humans who are prone to violence often succumb to greater violence.

In just half an hour, the soldiers stood at a loss beside the tanks that had been blown to charcoal, and the exhausted refugees raised their heads and cheered - several large transport planes were landing with clean water and food, emptying them, and taking off again. This journey will be repeated dozens of times in the next week.

Six fighter planes, two by two, flew over the island in combat formation, alert for any possible fighting or attack. At the same time, they were also trying to prevent the warring parties, who had responded to the call to end the war, from engaging in further fighting... The war had already forged a blood feud between the two sides, and there was no need to shed more rare rational blood.

At this moment, at the highest point of Taylor Island, Rosa Cossette D'Elise of the Kingdom of Elgia was standing in the sea breeze, quietly gazing at the orbital elevator vaguely visible in the distance. This creation was so magnificent and beautiful, revealing human wisdom and longing for the starry sky.

It was this that triggered the war... or was it really so? In the early stages of the war, too many lies were spread in every mouth, too many falsehoods were embedded in the fragile truth, and finally revealed to everyone at the moment the flames of war were ignited.

"Aha, Princess, you're here," Avril, often called the "Scrap Queen," walked up the hillside a little tiredly and came to Princess Cosette's side. "The meeting will start in two hours. You must attend."

"I...what qualifications do I have to participate?"

Princess Cosette said blankly. She lowered her head and looked down the hillside. She saw that the destroyed vehicles on the road had been towed away, and she saw refugees, surrendered soldiers, and even people from the Kingdom of Shilagi walking along both sides of the road... She knew what the name meant - those people who came from outside the island were maintaining order, while the commanders discussed the plan to attack the Elgia radicals entrenched around the orbital elevator.

Everyone is doing what they should do, but I, a useless and sinful person, am the only one enjoying my leisure time.

"Of course I could say I'm just a figurehead, just the face of my country, and completely shirk my responsibility for supporting the war... But is that possible? I supported them, and their actions brought about a nightmare. This is my sin, a sin that can never be washed away no matter how many actions I take..."

Princess Cosette could no longer shed tears. She had completely cried when she saw the suffering of those who were displaced by the war:

"What's even more ridiculous is that when I said I was the princess of the Kingdom of Ergia, I couldn't stop my own soldiers from shooting, or even tell them not to shoot at me. I was an ignorant fool, and I only realized it when disaster struck me... but it was too late."

The salty sea breeze blew across Princess Cosette's cheeks, causing them, stained with countless tears, to ache slightly, as if they had been slapped in the face. She didn't know what to do now. Perhaps it would be nice to jump from here and become a corpse rolling in the mountains and forests, like those killed in the war.

"It's not too late. You're much better than those beasts who think that 'starting a war and causing casualties is enough to apologize, and that as long as the predecessors bow and apologize, the future generations will be guiltless.' You've taken real action, haven't you?"

Avril reached out and put her arm around the princess's shoulders, shaking her vigorously. A rare look of comfort appeared on her face:

"In the battle just now, you pulled out the signal stick, stood in front of the refugees to block the tanks, and pointed out the targets for the fighter pilots! Those who were saved by you, and those who heard about this, don't blame you; they are very grateful to you!"

"This gratitude does not diminish my sin..."

"That's true, but after the war, there's still a lot to do."

A man's voice was heard through the sea breeze, and he appeared behind the two women like a ghost.

Not only that, on the shoulders of this man with silver hair, there was a lovely blonde girl riding - she was wearing a dark Gothic coat and dress, like a princess running away from a kingdom - at least more like her than the dirty Princess Cosette.

Looking at the face of the newcomer, Princess Cosette pursed her lips and said:

"I recognize you, leader of the Army Without Borders, ace pilot codenamed Lord... You and Mr. Three Lines both dealt a devastating blow to the Ergia Kingdom's army, completely changing the course of the war."