May 1, 2081.

Admiral Truman, commander of the Federal Army of Raymond stationed on Pluto, officially announced his surrender, and after signing an armistice agreement with Lieutenant General Aldrich, commander of the Army of the Republic, Admiral Truman took the core personnel of many consortia and left on a space shuttle under the full supervision of the Republic Air Force. The nearly 80,000 Union Army and Union citizens who were left behind on Pluto became Admiral Truman's pawns in exchange for personal freedom, and were collectively disarmed by the Republican Army.

May 13th.

The Raymond Federation Space Fleet officially admitted defeat, comprehensively gathered the various fleets scattered in the Pluto system, and signed an armistice agreement with Admiral Amos, the commander-in-chief of the Republic's Air Force, outside the Pluto system, to negotiate war reparations and exchange of prisoners of war.

After three consecutive days of talks, the Federal Air Force left behind two 100-million-ton Titan aircraft carriers and four 30-million-ton Apollo battleships to leave the solar system in humiliation. Since then, the ten-month battle of Pluto has finally ended with the victory of the Republic...... Pluto, Stanford Air Force Base.

The news of the victory of the Republic immediately made the whole city of Stan boil, and the tearful soldiers hugged their heads and cried and fired into the sky like vents, and a large number of soldiers poured into the streets, roaring, cheering, and throwing their military hats all over the sky, celebrating this hard-won victory in every way they could imagine.

At the same time, in a secluded place on the outskirts of the airbase, Robin and Zolo, who had just been discharged from the hospital, arrived here accompanied by Cecilia.

Compared to the joyful ocean in the distance, it is unusually quiet and oppressive. It was no longer high-pitched music and laughter that echoed in the sky, but hoarse cries and wails.

This is the cemetery, where nearly 10,000 soldiers of the Republic who died on the battlefield of Pluto are buried. Among them, Colin is also included.

In a remote corner of the cemetery, Robin and Zoro find the white cross engraved with Colin's name.

In front of the cross, a drunken Lee was holding Colin's tombstone and weeping loudly, as if to tell Colin the news of the victory of the Republic. On the other side of the white cross, two bouquets of artificial flowers are placed.

"Li ......"

Touched by Lee's hoarse cry, Robin stepped forward with red eyes and said in a choked voice, "Don't do this, it's not your fault." ”

"Nope! ~" Hearing Robin's words, Lee jumped up as if he had been electrocuted, pushed Robin away and roared: "If I could have fused the 'Eagle Eye' earlier, if I hadn't run away, if I hadn't been so incompetent, Colin wouldn't have died...... He's not going to die......"

"There are not so many ifs in the world! ～”

Perhaps touched by the self-blame that had been suppressed in his heart by Li's words, Robin pulled Li in front of him, and roared in a hoarse voice: "If it's all your fault, then what about me?" If it weren't for me, none of you would have gone on this mission. But there are no ifs in this world! Things have happened, there is nothing to undo what has happened, are you ready to cry here for the rest of your life? I'm sure Colin wouldn't have been grateful to you if he had known! ～”

"But what can I do......

Lee leaned against Colin's tombstone and collapsed to the ground with blank eyes: "What else can I do......"

"You want Colin to see that the man he saved at the expense of himself is a waste who only anesthetizes himself with alcohol?" Robin snatched the wine bottle from Li Ti's hand and smashed it fiercely: "If I were him, I would definitely feel that death is not worth it!" ”

“……”

Because of these words, Li's originally sloppy gaze suddenly became sharp, and he slowly stood up with his knees propped up.

Taking off the military plaque hanging from the cross, Lee squeezed it in the palm of his hand.

Seeing that Lee seemed to have recovered from extreme self-blame, Robin patted Lee's trembling shoulder comfortingly: "The ship has been refitted, and we will leave tomorrow." After that we have a month-long vacation, where are you going? ”

Putting Colin's badge in his pocket, Lee looked at Colin's tombstone and said as if promised, "Go to Wald, where Colin's parents live." I think...... I should go once......"

Hearing Lee's plan, Robin nodded, glanced at another bouquet of flowers next to the tombstone with some hesitation, and asked softly, "Aiwen...... Has he been here? ”

"Yes, he and Andy just left not too long ago."

"Then ...... him"

"He asked me to tell you that it was the honor of his life to fight alongside you......"

“……”

Hearing this, Robin's eyes immediately turned red, he shook off his Li and ran towards the exit of the cemetery.

Behind him, Cecilia wanted to catch up, but was pulled by Zhuo Luo and shook his head silently at Cecilia.

And at this time, at the exit of the cemetery. Andy, Aivan's classmate, pushed Aivan, who was in a wheelchair, and slowly walked to the traffic stop at the exit of the cemetery.

Since Evan was discharged from the hospital, Andy has been silently accompanying Evan all the time. But after today, Evan will be discharged from the army, and he will leave on the special transport ship of the military department. So at this moment of separation, Andy could no longer laugh with humor as usual, looking at Aven's empty trouser legs, Andy bit his lip and was speechless.

"Andy." Perhaps guessing the thoughts in Andy's heart, Evan suddenly turned his head to look at Andy: "You want to leave the army, do you?" ”

“……”

Aivan's sudden words made Andy tremble, and he subconsciously touched his pocket, and what he put in his pocket was a written report of his application for discharge.

Glancing at Andy's pocket, Evan smiled bitterly and shook his head: "Actually, you don't owe me anything, I just lost my leg, and I don't need to be taken care of." So, you don't need to be responsible for my injuries. ”

"But I ......" Andy bit his lip and said tremblingly, "but I betrayed you, and when you resolutely decided to fight, I cowardly hid in the crowd, I ......"

"So, you're going to run away again?" Evan interrupted Andy's words and pulled out a second lieutenant's epaulette from his pocket: "You see, I got a promotion before I was discharged from the army. I became a real officer, so when I was discharged from the army, I was sent to Earth to be a farmer or something. ”

Looking at the silver ensign epaulette in Aiwen's hand, Andy smiled with red eyes: "Congratulations ......"

"Andy, don't you understand?" Evan suddenly grabbed Andy's arm and said loudly in an excited tone: "Life has just begun for me, losing my legs is not the end of the world for me, I don't need your care." Moreover, I can go to Earth after I am discharged from the army, but what about you? Will you be able to come with me? ”

"......" Aven's questioning left Andy speechless.

He knew that Evan was right, in the Nine Star Republic, only military officers and citizens who had made special contributions could apply for residency on Earth. In the harsh natural environment of space, the earth is a heavenly existence, a holy place that anyone dreams of. And now, Evan used his bravery to get the ticket to Earth, but he didn't...... Clutching the discharge application in his pocket, Andy suddenly understood what Evan was trying to say.

"Andy, I've always been behind you since I was a kid. But this time, I'm ahead of you. Now, I can proudly tell others that I fought a great battle, and I can enjoy the warm sunshine of the earth with glory. Andy, I hope that one day in the future, you will come to me......"

"Looking for your ......"

Silently chewing on Aiwen's words, Andy suddenly took out the discharge application in front of Aivan, tore it up and yelled like an oath: "I will definitely ......"

"Then I will wait for you, and when the time comes, I will entertain you with the freshest fruits and vegetables. And......" Evan patted his empty trouser leg: "Colonel Archill has applied for a medical exception for me, so I will be fitted with the best metal-like skeleton, and I can guarantee that by the time you come, I will definitely run faster than you!" ～”

"You can't outrun me even if you put on four legs! ~"Infected by Aiwen's optimism, Andy is finally in the mood to joke with Aivan.

At this time, a maglev truck from the War Department suddenly drove in front of the cemetery and stopped in front of Aven.

Looking at the car door that had been opened, Evan stopped laughing and said with a little sadness: "I have to go......"

"Have a nice trip." Andy pushed Aven into the car, suddenly looked back at the rushing figure in the cemetery, and asked, "Don't you say goodbye to him?" ”

"No, I know he doesn't like this sad scene." Evan smiled at Andy, and suddenly waved vigorously at the speeding figure in the car, shouting, "Thank you for making me a hero...... Goodbye, my captain......"

“……”

Not far away, Robin, who heard Aven's farewell, stopped breathlessly, he supported his knees, and silently looked at the maglev car that was away in an instant.

"Goodbye, my brother......"

The next day, the new TR-735, which has been refitted, appeared on the tarmac of Pluto Air Force Base with a new look.

Due to the outstanding performance of the TR-735 Marine Corps in the Battle of Pluto, Pluto's senior commanders, including Aldrich and Archier, came to see Robin and them off.

Fastening a captain's epaulette and two ensign epaulettes on the shoulders of Robin, Zolo, and Lee respectively, Achill, who had been officially promoted to brigadier general, looked at Zolo who had applied to join the Marine Corps on the TR-735 with some regret.

"You really don't think about it anymore?"

"Nope." Zolo shook his head coolly.

"Forget it, I lost a you, but I dug up Claude of the 11th Army Division, and it wasn't too much of a loss." Brigadier General Archill shook his head and set his eyes on Robin: "Miracle boy, although I know you don't like me very much, but in order to thank you for letting me hang up the general star, I still decided to send you a few gifts privately." ”

Hearing Brigadier Achill's words, Robin couldn't help frowning suspiciously: "What is it?" ”

Achill laughed a few times, pointed to the three boxes of special items that were being loaded into the transport compartment of the TR-735, and whispered in Robin's ear, "I secretly withheld this from General Aldrich." ”

After speaking, without waiting for Robin to express his surprise, Brigadier Archier heroically pushed Robin onto the elevator of the spaceship: "Goodbye, I hope I will still hang the star next time we meet." Don't rise too fast, Wonder Boy! ～”

……

(To be continued)