Chapter 16: How the Rumors About Char Originated!

It was evident that Gihren, a man who always prized his public image, was deeply dissatisfied with the recent turn of events. Even the frantic efforts of Dozle, the principal of the Zeon Military Academy, to remedy the situation with a spirited speech to the cadets proved futile.

During the brief military parade that followed, the rhythmic thud of the Zeon National Defense Force soldiers' boots failed to elicit a single smile from the Leader. He sat in his seat, eyes fixed intently on the floor, as if he intended to bore a hole through it. Though Macarius did not know this high-ranking Leader well, he knew that the man was surely replaying the moment in his mind—regretting his choice to shout "Sieg Zeon" instead of seizing the initiative to order a salute first.

After all, no matter how loudly the slogan "Sieg Zeon" was shouted, it was merely an exercise in self-indulgence for the Zeon people; the Earthlings remained unmoved. A salute, however, was different. When students from both sides saluted Revil, it signified mutual acknowledgment. While it was standard for Zeon cadets to salute a figure of Revil’s stature and prestige, the political implications were entirely different. Zeon had always sought to transition from being a mere faction of the Earth Federation to a sovereign power standing on equal footing. That was precisely why Gihren was present—the Federation had sent two Lieutenant Generals whose seniority and military achievements far eclipsed those of his own naive, muscle-bound brother. Even in terms of rank-for-rank equivalence, Zeon was at a disadvantage. By allowing this to happen, his plan to overshadow the Federation had fallen through.

Like Gihren, the Zeon cadets, who had been pumped up just moments before, sensed that something had gone wrong. They could hardly be blamed; years of rigorous military training had ingrained in them a reflexive habit—hands moving faster than the brain, accepting orders without considering the consequences. Thus, when the command to salute was given, they had raised their hands instinctively. Now, they hung their heads, some even beginning to harbor quiet anxieties.

After all, their Leader was not a man of broad mercy. Though many of the younger cadets had only vague memories, they had heard their elders speak of that dark period of purges. The Leader, having established a secret police force and consolidated national power, had made hundreds of thousands of people vanish into the shadows of the nation in a shockingly short time.

"How truly interesting."

Among the Zeon cadets, the only one without a hint of worry was Char Aznable, who stood behind his sunglasses. In truth, he had realized what was happening the moment the order was given, but he had followed the crowd and saluted anyway. On one hand, even he held a genuine respect for General Revil’s character; on the other, it was for the sheer pleasure of seeing his enemy squirm. At that moment, his heart could not have been more jubilant.

The Federation side, conversely, was delighted. Back in his seat, Revil was so amused he could hardly stop himself from slapping his thigh. The cadets were equally stifled in their laughter, though their strict training allowed them to maintain their composure.

The only ones who felt like fools were the Zeon soldiers participating in the parade. No matter how perfectly they executed their goose-step or how precisely they maintained their vehicle spacing, they failed to recapture the audience's attention. Months of hard work had essentially gone to waste.

Even so, the better part of the day was consumed by these proceedings. Afterward, it was time for the student exchange. To prepare for this meeting, Principal Dozle had even refurbished the academy’s auditorium. The massive crystal chandeliers reflecting brilliant light from the ceiling, the large Zeon national flag spanning the entire wall, and the exquisite handmade sashes worn by the Zeon cadets all served to highlight the grand and imposing atmosphere they had striven to create.

"Char, do you see? Brother Dozle has been planning for today for a very long time!"

Garma Zabi, walking at the front as they entered the auditorium, picked up two glasses of wine from a nearby table and handed one to Char, who was inseparable from his side.

"I see. It must have been a great deal of effort for the Principal."

Char spoke while holding his glass, but his attention was entirely fixed on the Federation students entering the hall from the other side. He was still searching for the person who had given the command.

"Federation students, let's go and greet them. After all, we are the hosts!"

Garma also noticed the Federation group. The two sides were currently divided by the center line of the hall, as if they were about to engage in a brawl. To break the tension, Garma took the initiative, gesturing toward the cold buffet on the table.

"You must be hungry after standing for so long. Please, don't be shy!"

The Federation students looked at the two men standing before them—one was Macarius, and the other was John Miller, a fourth-year student from the Infantry Academy.

"Thank you for your hospitality; we won't stand on ceremony!"

With that, the heavy atmosphere vanished into thin air. The students scattered, gathering in small groups around the tables, engaging in polite and friendly, if somewhat awkward, small talk.

Macarius walked directly toward the two Zeon figures.

Years later, facing the various rumors and gossip circulating in the galaxy, Char would often recall that afternoon when he first met Macarius.

"The two of you are very close, aren't you? It must be difficult to be together like this!"

"Ah, for us? It’s not really difficult! It’s actually quite simple!"

At the time, Garma was still naive and prone to blushing at Char’s teasing; he answered instinctively. In reality, as a Zabi scion, his power was virtually limitless; arranging for Char to be in the same dormitory was effortless. Furthermore, the 16-year-old Macarius appeared entirely harmless, so Garma was completely off his guard.

"I see. Then your daily life must be very happy!"

"Happy?"

Garma thought about his daily routine at the academy. Although it was grueling, having such a fortunate group of companions made it seem quite happy indeed.

"Yes, although it’s exhausting at times, I suppose it is happy. I imagine it’s much the same for you all!"

"Garma!"

Char had by now realized that the other party’s question might not have been as innocent as it seemed, but before he could warn him, he saw Macarius pull out a camera.

"My name is Macarius Clini. If you don't mind, could we take a photo together?"

"No problem, of course!"

"That’s wonderful!"

Macarius stepped between the two, raised his hands, and gave a thumbs-up against his chest. One of Garma’s entourage took the camera and snapped a picture of the three of them.

"Hmm, lovely. You two really look like a married couple! It’s just a pity that I have a friend named Amuro who couldn't make it to the end like you two!"

Macarius said as he took the camera back.

"Wait, a married couple? No, no, you’ve got it wrong! We’re just good friends!"

Garma, finally realizing the implication, waved his hands and denied it, his face flushing deep red.

"Is that so? My mistake, then. My deepest apologies. But this blonde friend of yours and you really have a special chemistry. Standing together, you two have quite the 'CP' vibe!"

At that moment, Garma seemed to dwell on the thought, and his face grew even redder. This sight was naturally observed by the other students, and even the so-called "Garma Guard" standing behind him could not help but nod in agreement.