Chapter 1715
Shinji, this is your mission!
Chapter 1715 Shinji, this is your mission!
Somewhere on the winding mountain road.
He Mingzheng and Shinji Ikari stood by the roadside, gazing at the city slowly rising from the ground in the distance.
The sight of skyscrapers slowly rising under the setting sun was so breathtaking that Shinji Ikari couldn't help but widen his eyes.
"Isn't it amazing? Shinji. This is a city that was preserved thanks to your protection."
He Ming laughed.
"The city I'm protecting?"
Shinji Ikari turned around and looked at the mask of Nagato, which shimmered in the glow of the setting sun.
"Yes. This is the city you protect, and it won't be the last city you protect, Shinji. This world is so vast and so complex; it's not as simple as this city appears to you. Your future is still very long."
Shinji Ikari was taken aback by He Ming's meaningful words and immediately realized that there was something more to them.
"Colonel, are you leaving? Leaving this place?"
He Ming slowly nodded, raised his head, and looked at the sky that was already twinkling with stars.
"Next, I'm going to go to space to accomplish some things."
"The universe?"
Shinji Ikari also looked up at the starry sky.
This was the first time he had looked up at the starry sky so easily, and the first time he had felt a longing for the starry sky above him.
All of this was brought about by Colonel Ming (He Ming) beside him.
"Colonel, I also want to go to space."
Shinji Ikari's lips moved, and he finally mustered the courage to speak out the thoughts that were surfacing in his heart at that moment.
"Of course. You will naturally also be going to the universe, but not now."
He Ming readily agreed to Shinji Ikari's request, but also told Shinji not to rush.
"Alright! I trust the Colonel's judgment. If the Colonel allows me to go to space, I will go. Otherwise, I will stay here, work hard, and wait for the day when I can go to space."
A hint of frustration flashed across Shinji Ikari's eyes, but he immediately encouraged himself.
This state shows that he has indeed gradually emerged from the cowardly Shinji Ikari of the past.
"Hmm. Don't be impatient. The situation is still unclear. I'm going to the universe only to accumulate more power before that moment arrives."
He Ming raised his hand and patted Shinji Ikari on the shoulder, speaking softly.
"Furthermore, leaving you here is not to abandon you. Rather, it's to give you a more important task, Shinji."
"Yes, Colonel! Please give your orders!"
Upon hearing that He Ming had assigned him a task, Shinji Ikari immediately agreed with a serious expression.
There was even a hint of excitement in his eyes.
“Kid, don’t get too excited. This is not a task that can be easily completed. Because, to complete this task, you have to face your father, Gendo Ikari.”
Shinji Ikari's momentum immediately weakened by three points.
Don't be fooled by the fact that you were able to ignore Gendo Ikari's words and walk right past him in the hangar.
That's all because He Ming was standing there, supporting him.
If Shinji Ikari were to continue ignoring Gendo Ikari after Heming leaves, it might be a little difficult.
"What? You're scared as soon as I leave? How are you going to complete the task I gave you then?"
He Ming found it somewhat amusing, but he also understood Shinji Ikari's hesitation at this moment.
No matter how Shinji Ikari changes, he has only gained a little more confidence during this period thanks to the help of some people.
If he truly wants to overcome his past cowardice, the final step can only rely on his own awareness and effort. "No! Colonel! I can complete the mission!"
Shinji Ikari shook his head repeatedly, gritting his teeth as he spoke.
"Haha! Don't look like you're ready to die. It's not that scary."
He Ming laughed and then pointed to the ground of the city in front of him.
"After I leave, try to master Unit-01's power as soon as possible. Also, while you are in control of Unit-01, try to communicate with it."
"To master the power of Unit-01? And to communicate with Unit-01?"
Shinji Ikari blinked and quickly asked in return.
"The colonel believes Unit-01 is alive?"
"Yes, that's right. Unit-01 has its own consciousness and a very deep connection with you. I hope you remember this, but don't mention it to anyone else, especially your father, Gendo Ikari."
"why?"
What Heming said aroused a lot of doubts in Shinji Ikari.
"Because the files related to the experiments conducted in the early years have been erased. NERV's top management, including Gendo Ikari, does not want others to know the true nature of Unit-01."
"But why is that?"
Shinji Ikari asked why once again.
"There's no reason why. It's just that Unit-01 has a very deep connection and relationship with you. You must remember this and find the answer yourself."
Shinji Ikari was silent for a moment, then nodded heavily.
"I understand, Colonel."
"Okay! That's all for today! After you go back, everything will proceed as usual. Whether it's going to school or training, follow the same schedule. Also, the Federation Army has also stationed a unit at NERV. And you know the commander of this unit."
"I know him? Is it Lieutenant Colonel Rickon?"
Shinji Ikari looked at He Ming with surprise.
Aside from the Federation officer He Ming, the officer in charge of the garrison base, Ricoon, was the one Shinji Ikari was most familiar with.
"Yes. Based on the results of the previous battle with the Fourth Angel, the Earth Federation Forces Headquarters has decided to establish an additional garrison to assist NERV in deploying defenses around the Third Tokyo metropolitan area, in order to guard against any possible future invasions by the Angels."
He Ming nodded and explained the short-term agreement reached between NERV and the Earth Federation Forces headquarters.
This time, it was He Ming's Punishment Force that seized NERV's weakness, and after NERV and the Defense Force witnessed the power of the Federation Army in the battle with the Fourth Angel, a short-term agreement was quickly reached.
The timeframe is neither long nor short.
Whether this agreement will be renewed in the future depends on the effectiveness of the cooperation between the two parties during the next apostle invasion.
Even so, both sides felt they had come out on top.
The Earth Federation Forces dispatched a garrison to assist NERV in its defense.
In return, NERV handed over a considerable amount of research data and results in exchange for the support of the Earth Federation Forces.
But who actually reaped the greatest benefits from this agreement?
No one knows that while He Ming was personally piloting the Banshee Gundam to fight the Fourth Angel, the small intelligent AI cube Adino was constantly collecting data on the AT field and using it to perform a series of calculations.
Ultimately, a highly feasible solution was found.
Next, it was time for He Ming to personally deliver the plan to the lunar city of von Braun and assist them in developing a new type of mobile suit.
Looking back, it seems Amuro has always had a thing for Gundam!
(End of this chapter)