Chapter 1712
The first confrontation!
Chapter 1712 The first confrontation!
The city was covered in thick, sticky blood after the war. Streams of blood that had not dried even after several days still lingered in the area. The cleanup forces could only carry out some emergency treatments before carefully cleaning up the mess in the days that followed.
This has little to do with He Ming.
No matter how complicated the post-war procedures may be, they will not bother He Ming or other members of the penal units.
Because, under Gendo Ikari's arrangement, some core members of the Punishment Force, including He Ming, arrived at the NERV headquarters located deep underground.
Amuro and Murasame led the MS force to remain on the surface to await orders, while Rosami, Hassawi, Clovis, Lelouch, and others followed He Ming deep underground to meet Gendo Ikari.
"I never imagined that such a massive base would be hidden underground in the Third Tokyo metropolitan area."
As a neighbor, Clovis was also surprised by the secrecy and sheer size of NERV's headquarters.
"This is the last barrier to allow humanity to be reborn in this world after resisting the invasion and impact of the apostles."
NERV's official reception staff, represented by Gendo Ikari and Kosuke Fuyutsuki, personally came to the elevator entrance to greet He Ming and his group.
"Nice to meet you! Colonel Akira. I am Gendo Ikari, Commander of NERV."
Gendo Ikari looked around at everyone, then casually glanced at Shinji Ikari standing next to He Ming before looking away and bowing to He Ming.
"Nice to meet you! Commander Gendo Ikari. I am Akira, and as you can see, I am the commander of the Punishment Force."
After responding with a military salute, He Ming raised his hand and patted Shinji Ikari on the shoulder.
"Shinji, you must be tired. Go change your clothes before we talk!"
Shinji Ikari glanced at Gendo Ikari, who had no expression on his face, and nodded in response.
"Yes, Colonel."
Immediately afterwards, Misato Katsuragi, standing in the crowd, stepped forward and saluted He Ming.
"Miri Katsuragi belongs to the Operations Bureau of the Tactical Operations Department of the NERV Special Operations Headquarters and is Shinji Ikari's direct superior."
"Well, I'll leave Shinji Ikari in your care for now, Ms. Katsuragi."
The initial meeting between the two parties ended when Misato Katsuragi took Shinji Ikari to change and rest.
Next came the main event of this meeting.
Apart from Rosamia, the other members who came to NERV headquarters, including the core members of the Punishment team led by Hathaway and the delegation from the First Tokyo Metropolitan Area represented by Clovis and Lelouch, all visited the underground headquarters under the arrangement of Fuyutsuki Kosuke.
As for the name, he personally had a conversation with the famous Commander Ikari Gendo.
Led by Gendo Ikari, He Ming and Rosamia arrived at a teahouse with an elegant and secluded atmosphere.
"I thought Commander Ikari would have us sit in the conference room and have a proper talk."
He Ming glanced at the maids dressed in kimonos, who were walking in with small, quick steps and carrying tea sets, and then gestured to Rosamia to stop them.
"I'm sorry! It seems this was my oversight."
Seeing that Rosamia had stopped the people, Gendo Ikari raised his hand to signal the maids to leave, then got up and went to the tea cabinet to personally start making tea.
"It was my oversight to have such arrangements made without knowing the guests' preferences. I hope Colonel Ming can understand."
"Perhaps it's because Commander Ikari has never received any guests before."
When He Ming's voice came from behind the mask, Gendo Ikari paused slightly, but only for a moment.
Before long, Gendo Ikari, who had personally brewed a pot of tea, poured a cup of hot tea for Naoki and Rosamia.
"I apologize for the embarrassing situation. Indeed, as you said, it has been a long time since I have personally received guests."
"Thank you for your trouble." He Ming did not pick up the teacup, and Rosamiya, who was standing behind He Ming with a serious expression, did not come forward either.
The two men's attitudes gave Gendo Ikari a hunch.
"Well then, let's get down to business, Colonel Ming."
"Very well. Commander Ikari. Please."
As a guest, He Ming did not want to pressure the other party too much.
"Very well! I wonder what Colonel Ming knows about our plan?"
Gendo Ikari didn't waste any words or try to probe further; instead, he directly expressed the doubts in his heart.
In the previous battle with the Angels, although He Ming did not reveal much in his words, Gendo Ikari was able to glean a great deal from his guidance to Shinji Ikari.
"Know a little."
He Ming gave an ambiguous answer.
This answer was exactly what Gendo Ikari expected.
Judging from the fact that He Ming allowed Shinji Ikari to control Unit-01 and devour the core of the Fourth Angel, Gendo Ikari did not believe that He Ming's understanding of the plan was limited to a superficial level.
However, given the current situation, this is a mutually beneficial answer.
Ultimately, He Ming and the Punishment Force's intervention this time was due to Gendo Ikari's order for NERV to launch an experiment without the Earth Federation Forces' knowledge, which ultimately led to the arrival of the Fourth Angel.
"Is that so? Then I understand!"
Gendo Ikari nodded, and then he made a suggestion.
"During this experiment, the defense forces recognized their shortcomings and, after the battle, requested that I communicate with Colonel Ming..."
"Regarding communication issues between the two sides, please consult the Earth Federation Forces Headquarters. Although the Punishment Unit has considerable independent operational authority, all actions are subject to the opinion of the Earth Federation Forces Headquarters."
He Ming directly revealed his hand, rejecting Gendo Ikari's next line of reasoning.
The so-called communication probably refers to their targeting of the Earth Federation Forces' mobile suit technology.
After all, look, the defense forces were just randomly bombing with a bunch of live ammunition, but the actual effect was not as strong as the MS unit led by He Ming.
Not only did it completely destroy a city, but it also failed to stop the advance of the Fourth Apostle.
This scene not only made the defense forces lose face, but also made them realize that the weapons they had were no longer suitable for this chaotic and ever-changing era.
"I will inform the defense force."
After saying this, both of them fell silent.
He Ming neither wanted to nor would he speak up, lest he be seen through by Gendo Ikari, the man who was constantly probing how many secrets he knew.
Gendo Ikari couldn't figure out exactly how much the masked man, He Ming, knew.
Does he know the secret of Unit-01?
Or perhaps they know the true secret hidden deep within this underground headquarters?
Gendo Ikari couldn't figure it out.
This was the first time that Gendo Ikari, who always presented a cold and unpredictable demeanor, had encountered such an opponent.
Moreover, the mask on the other party's face concealed too much, further preventing Gendo Ikari from observing the other party's weaknesses through psychological warfare techniques such as micro-expression observation.
Gendo Ikari sighed inwardly in frustration.
"A difficult man."
(End of this chapter)