Hidden Management Department Garrison.
First Floor.
Luo Shu had barely returned when he spotted Lacus waiting to greet him from afar. Sighing inwardly, he quickened his pace:
"I told you, your priority right now should be resting."
"Do you think wielding Authority comes without side effects?"
Pausing, he couldn't help asking curiously:
"But how did you know when I'd be back?"
"I simply asked Miss Mai Sakurajima when you'd finish lunch and calculated the timing."
Hearing this ostensibly critical yet caring remark, Lacus smiled:
"As for resting, I had a proper four-hour nap in the recovery pod before coming."
"You of all people should understand what that means, Luo Shu, with your precise sleep control?"
Luo Shu raised an eyebrow at Lacus before sighing in resignation:
"You're impossible."
He extended his arm, allowing Lacus to link hers through it as they walked side by side towards the elevator:
"So you're here to brief me on work matters?"
"Department staffing is tight, so we have to make do temporarily."
Lacus added with a playful smile:
"Though I do have ulterior motives."
"I probably won't be staying in Japan much longer."
As they reached the elevator, Luo Shu pressed the button with a surprised expression:
"Because of the Union?"
"Does the Desire Faction's attack on us relate to them?"
Lacus shook her head, smiling as she explained to Luo Shu:
"There is currently no evidence to prove that the Desire Faction's operations have the Union's support."
"However, our operations against the Desire Faction in the EU do have the Union's backing."
"Hmm?" Luo Shu's tone rose sharply at this: "Our operations in the EU? Is there some new development?"
"It was merely a proportional counterattack."
Lacus seemed to have anticipated Luo Shu's reaction, as she smiled faintly and said:
"When the Desire Faction collectively attacked the Hidden Management Department's garrison, I had Familia personnel coordinate with various SDS departments to conduct orbital drop operations against Desire Faction bases within the EU."
"Although we haven't tallied the exact results yet, according to AI estimates, this operation should have destroyed about 90% of the Desire Faction's active forces."
"You'll probably receive the detailed report once you meet Yukinoshita."
Hearing this, Luo Shu fell into silent contemplation as he entered the elevator with Lacus.
Only when Lacus pressed the descending button did Luo Shu voice his incredulity:
"The EU actually approved such a military operation?"
"Weren't they afraid the attack on the Desire Faction was just a pretext for declaring war?"
At this, Lacus gave Luo Shu a reproachful look, her tone tinged with grievance:
"Do I really seem like a warmonger to you?"
For someone who self-identified as a pacifist, Luo Shu's words had genuinely upset her.
Did he really see her as the type of warmonger who would attack without declaration?
Luo Shu gave an awkward chuckle before swiftly changing the subject:
"Isn't that just a nation's necessary concern?"
With a sigh, Lacus explained:
"The Five Great Powers are fully aware of the SDS's direct military strength. So rather than worrying about military action, they're more interested in assessing the SDS's current military technology level."
As a legally recognised mystic side organisation, before Luo Shu's involvement, the SDS's core troop numbers had been under Union supervision.
Hence, Lacus's assertion that the Union knew the SDS's forces inside out.
Of course, this was also related to the Desire Faction's headquarters being located in Milan, Italy.
Even if the SDS were to occupy a country, it would only be Italy - not exactly a significant loss for the French or British Unions.
Yet Luo Shu shot Lacus a sceptical look before leaning closer and whispering:
"You're certain they truly believe they know everything?"
Feeling his breath near her ear, Lacus shivered slightly before whispering back:
"The Union is indeed fully aware of the SDS's military strength. No matter how much they doubt or investigate, they'll only ever find the same answer."
Here, Lacus' smile took on a cunning edge:
"Except our family doesn't just have the SDS as its armed force."
Hearing this, Luo Shu paused before suddenly realising: "This world has the Zodiac Alliance, too?"
Now it was Lacus' turn to look surprised: "You actually know about the Zodiac Alliance that Father and Uncle Patrick established?"
The Zodiac Alliance.
In the SEED universe, it was a civilian armed organisation formed by Adjusters living in space colonies in response to the Earth Federation's inaction against racial discrimination and terrorist attacks.
Its founders were Patrick and Siegel.
The two of them began with the Zodiac Alliance, consolidated ten million Adjusters, and established the Adjuster nation PLANT in space.
Considering Lacus mentioned having more armed forces than just the SDS, Luo Shu naturally thought of the PLANT faction.
After all, according to the circumstances of the SEED world, Siegel Clyne could be considered the founding father of PLANT, while Lacus was practically its undisputed princess.
At this thought, Luo Shu couldn't help but conceive a bold idea:
"Don't tell me all ten million Adjusters from PLANT have crossed over?"
Hearing this, Lacus' expression turned slightly peculiar:
"That's not entirely accurate."
"The actual total isn't ten million."
'So the entire nation really did cross over...' Luo Shu mentally complained before asking:
"Then what's the exact number?"
"Last year's census put PLANT's population at approximately 9.77 million."
Lacus briefly explained PLANT's situation.
Only then did Luo Shu understand that the Adjusters had indeed crossed over as a nation, but their destination was the periphery of the Patch Tribe's ancestral lands.
That area seemed to be a massive alternate space roughly the size of South America, where many indigenous American tribes lived.
"So the Adjusters are now coexisting with the indigenous people near the Patch Tribe's ancestral lands?"
Luo Shu's expression turned somewhat peculiar upon hearing this news:
"Now I understand how Uncle Siegel managed to marry a Patch Tribe noblewoman."
"Turns out he brought along an entire nation as dowry!"
Lacus gave Luo Shu an exasperated punch. When the elevator reached its destination, she stepped out first and murmured:
"My dowry is also an entire nation~"
Luo Shu froze momentarily at her words. Before he could collect his thoughts, he saw Lacus's back as she said:
"Anyway, through deploying autonomous armaments and Familia remotely controlling IS units for orbital drop operations, we've basically eliminated the hostile Desire Faction."
"Although this might provoke some backlash, the results should still be quite effective."
"More than just effective."
Luo Shu sighed:
"The Union's higher-ups probably can't sleep soundly anymore!"