USA, California.
Inside a twin-tower-like skyscraper.
"Is this Mr Athrun's first time attending as a representative?"
A blonde woman dressed in office attire, who appeared to be a secretary, spoke gently to the young man behind her.
The young man had neatly trimmed dark blue hair, striking features, and a melancholic demeanour that easily caught the attention of mature women.
Athrun nodded in response, then said with slight nervousness:
"Yes, this is my first time attending an SDS departmental meeting."
"I heard the participants are all high-ranking officials from various SDS departments, even the Directors in charge..."
Hearing Athrun's question, the secretary explained: "Apart from them, there are also some technical experts and representatives from closely affiliated partners attending the meeting."
"Like your father, Councillor Patrick Zala, who is one such partner."
At this point, the secretary couldn't help glancing at Athrun.
The only son of a California congressman, now attending the SDS high-level meeting as his father's representative, is clearly being groomed to inherit the family business.
What a golden bachelor...
Pity though.
Rumour had it that there was old history between Patrick Zala and Chairman Siegel. Given their families' connections, this young master probably knew the Supreme Chairwoman personally.
And since Congressman Zala had sent his son to this meeting, his stance seemed quite obvious.
An alliance between elite families then...
With visible regret, the secretary led Athrun to a grand door and paused.
"Before formal meetings, we usually hold a small cocktail reception. We hope you'll enjoy it, Mr Zala."
"Thank you." Athrun nodded, then stepped into the hall as the secretary opened the door.
The opulent hall already hosted numerous guests clustered in corners, holding wine glasses and conversing like aristocrats from a period drama.
As Athrun entered, an excited male voice called out:
"Athrun? Is that you?"
Turning towards the voice, Athrun saw a golden-haired man with striking azure eyes, high cheekbones and sharp features approaching with open arms.
"John." Athrun offered an awkward smile but reciprocated the embrace.
They'd attended the same high school – different classes, but maintained a good friendship.
After their brief hug, John chuckled teasingly:
"Getting an audience with you is harder than meeting royalty these days."
"Word is your father banned you from email just to force you into West Point applications?"
"Not quite that extreme, though the private tutoring sessions were real enough."
Athrun's smile carried resignation:
"Father... has rather high expectations."
"Ah, the tragic burden of being an only son."
John sipped his wine, moistening his throat before quipping:
"Unlike me – third son, conveniently disposable as bait."
"Bait?" Athrun blinked, studying John with genuine confusion.
He knew John was the fifth child (third son) of an American conglomerate's patriarch, with two accomplished elder brothers and sisters shouldering most familial duties. While this eased pressure on John, being "bait" was perplexing.
Noticing Athrun's bewilderment, John raised an eyebrow:
"You didn't... Ah, right, your marriage prospects are probably locked down by Congressman Zala, same as my brothers."
He gestured towards clusters of elegantly dressed young women on the hall's right flank:
"See those ladies?"
Athrun followed John's gaze to what resembled a blooming garden of seasonal flowers.
Frankly, his expectations for the SDS high-level discussions were abruptly derailed by this display of aristocratic femininity.
"Are there really this many female delegates?"
"Nope. Those are all delegates' relatives."
John seemed thoroughly accustomed to such social gatherings, casually explaining to Athrun:
"Mostly daughters of high-ranking Commerce Department officials, along with military elites from the USA, noblewomen from England, and heiresses of French conglomerates."
"Whoever they are, they're all excellent women worthy of us."
Athrun immediately grasped John's implication:
"So they're the fish, and we're the bait?"
"Put simply, yes."
John lightly spread his right hand, then raised his wine glass with his left, taking a sip:
"At every event like this, these women and men like us are brought by our elders to scout for suitable matches."
"Of course, since Mr Siegel is rather old-fashioned, there aren't any gardens or private rooms here for young people to... expend their energy."
Athrun's expression flushed slightly at this remark.
At some high-society balls or banquets, young men and women who fancied each other would sneak off to secluded rooms for... intimate exchanges.
Athrun wasn't unfamiliar with such situations. In fact, it was precisely after expressing his confusion about this to his father that he'd been briefly grounded.
Naturally, he understood his father's intent—that he could use the grounding as an excuse to decline future banquet invitations, with his father taking the blame.
But precisely because of that experience, Athrun now felt somewhat awkward around these beautiful women.
Fortunately, Uncle Siegel was very traditional. Even if some attendees harboured such intentions, they'd likely instruct their children to behave properly at such events... right?
"Athrun, you're still so transparent with your emotions."
John chuckled at Athrun's discomfort before teasing:
"Relax. Because of the Chairwoman's presence, the women who come here tend to be the more independent sort."
"Honestly, rather than 'eating' bait like us, those women would probably prefer to showcase their talents to the Chairwoman—to join the SDS and become part of it."
"Just like Ms Tachibana back then, or Lady Coco, who now serves in the Commerce Department."
As Athrun sighed in relief, he gave John a curious look:
"What about you, John?"
"Me?" John paused, then swept his hair back in a dashing pose. "Since I'm here, I might as well aim for the highest difficulty!"
"Besides, wouldn't a decorative piece like me look rather fitting in the Clyne family mansion?"
"Lacus?!" Athrun started, then stared in shock. "How could you entertain such a dangerous idea?"
"Dangerous?" John looked genuinely surprised. "Coming from you, Athrun, that's unexpected. Aren't you childhood friends with the Chairwoman?"
"Chairman Zala sent you here as his representative to maintain your father's friendship, didn't he?"
"Why would you call the Chairwoman dangerous?"
Athrun fell silent at this.
He couldn't very well say that the Lacus he knew was quite different from the one others perceived, could he?
In John's impression, Lacus was perhaps the perfect female archetype - career-driven, exceptionally capable, politically astute, stunningly beautiful, with a particularly charming personality.
The ideal romantic partner by all accounts.
But in Athrun's view...
At 16, she could smile as she ordered the execution of the organisation's traitors.
At 17, to prevent the spread of a dangerous gas, she'd unhesitatingly commanded saturation bombardment to erase an entire town and its inhabitants from the Earth.
After witnessing such incidents several times, Athrun began wondering if his father had deliberately arranged those childhood meetings between their families through Uncle Siegel to make him develop a fear of women.
A woman like Lacus struck Athrun as more terrifying than even his own father.
What chilled him most was how such a person could be hailed as the new generation's dove faction leader, while someone like his father represented the hawk faction.
That his friend would consider pursuing such a woman left Athrun utterly baffled. Was John trying to get himself killed?
Could someone like Lacus even be the type to engage in romantic relationships with men?
"Do you people not care about appearances at all?"
"Athrun, why'd you go quiet suddenly? Don't worry, if there's some secret you can't share, trust me - I'd definitely keep it confidential."
Faced with his friend's inquiry, Athrun dodged the question: "It's not exactly a secret. Maybe precisely because we've known each other so long that I've never considered Lacus in that way."
In truth, they'd only met about a dozen times.
After sixteen, excluding childhood encounters, every meeting had Lacus preoccupied with her work.
At least until the age of twenty, she'd kept her activities hidden, even from her father, Siegel.
During their brief encounters, Athrun had glimpsed the true nature behind that pink-haired woman's facade. Although bound by secrecy techniques that prevented disclosure, his impression of the so-called gentle beauty had been thoroughly shattered.
If he had to choose a partner, he'd prefer someone more straightforward - perhaps less conventionally attractive but bluntly honest.
Not the deceptively gentle type who turned out more terrifying than anyone.
"Because you've known her too long? I get it. Like how my brother feels about our maids - no interest despite their beauty."
John nodded as if finding Athrun's explanation perfectly reasonable.
To steer the conversation elsewhere, Athrun asked: "By the way, John, when does the department meeting start?"
"Ah, the meeting?"
John blinked, then gave Athrun an odd look: "Wait, you don't know?"
"Know what?" Athrun frowned.
With meaningful emphasis, John explained: "Everyone in this hall is nominally attending the meeting. It's really just a social function - giving executives' relatives a venue to mingle."
"You mean..." Athrun's eyes widened in realisation.
John nodded, then said meaningfully:
"The real departmental meeting started long ago!"
"Calculating the time, it's probably already reached the core stage by now!"