Halberton, aboard the Agamemnon-class ship, snapped back to reality as he watched the scene unfold.
"Isn't the overall commander over there also a Natural?" Halberton asked his adjutant.
In reality, Ptolemy being so close to their Ptolemy Military Base meant that half the personnel in the Natural command center were essentially their people.
"Yes! We owe this success largely to him."
Halberton didn't respond to his adjutant's words, but inwardly he wasn't entirely convinced that the operation had been initiated by that commander.
It wasn't that he looked down on the other party, but rather that someone in that position would prioritize stability above all else. The plan just executed didn't seem particularly stable, yet one had to admit it had been remarkably effective.
Since he was curious, the simplest and most direct approach was to go ask in person.
"We'll head toward Copernicus. The Remington and Misirlou should return to Ptolemy."
Just as both sides had decided to go to Copernicus to meet the mastermind behind the plan, Fred's cockpit was filled with prolonged cheers and applause.
The sounds transmitted through the comms were somewhat distorted, but they couldn't conceal everyone's excitement.
As for Fred, he was smiling too, though his face was pale from exhaustion. After emerging from that powerful state, he felt completely drained.
"Was that SEED?"
It didn't seem like it, since he'd never seen anyone in the series become exhausted after exiting SEED mode. Regardless, he had survived, and his family had survived too. His training hadn't been in vain.
His power truly could become a force to save his family and others.
That state, which seemed almost mystical, was actually just the fusion of all the knowledge he had accumulated over the years into a more efficient form. Though Fred might appear weak currently, he had learned many diverse things. Combining them all with his rapidly processing mind had produced miraculous results.
"They should be safe now too."
While Fred gazed out through his cockpit at the other side of the Lunar Pearl, Athrun, who had also narrowly escaped death, looked at the young man beside him.
Fred's maneuvers were still vivid in his memory. Fred was a Natural, yet those incredible moves had left Athrun utterly stunned.
Moreover... he might have understood why this person fought. He fought for his mother and sister, for his family. In that regard, Athrun, who had been sitting right beside him, shared the same sentiment - that desperate desire to protect those close to you.
"Brother Fred..."
Athrun's voice was drowned out by the cheers around them, but in his heart, he no longer held the wariness toward Fred that he once had.
Meanwhile, aboard Miha's Mistral, Kira watched the scene before him with overwhelming excitement - both because his family was safe, and because he had once again witnessed his brother's incredible power.
If he followed behind him, surely there would be nothing to worry about. The unusually commanding presence Fred had displayed just now gave him that assurance.
Not to mention that his brother was now the hero who had saved all of Copernicus. Though Kira didn't fully grasp the magnitude of this achievement, that didn't stop him from feeling proud to have such a brother.
"Brother is truly amazing..."
Kira chimed in with similar thoughts.
"Who could argue with that..."
Miha, drenched in cold sweat, lifted his sleeve to wipe his forehead.
Fred was nothing short of miraculous.
He couldn't even imagine how the higher-ups would react if he reported today's events.
Surely they wouldn't suggest eliminating a powerful individual in their infancy through assassination, would they?
Although as a spy he ought to follow orders, Miha—still unaware that Fred had saved their leader's son—felt deeply conflicted.
This matter couldn't be concealed even if he didn't report it.
At most, if the higher-ups truly decided to assassinate Fred, he'd give the guy a heads-up.
...
"Fred!"
No sooner had Fred parked his Mistral at the port and floated out a short distance than Uncle Heier grabbed him by the arms and pulled him into a massive bear hug.
"Uncle, your breath stinks."
Fred's deadpan remark made the crowd of coworkers behind Heier—who had been preparing to celebrate—freeze momentarily before bursting into synchronized laughter.
The scene instantly erupted into joyous chaos, with everyone embracing each other just like Fred and Heier.
After all, none of them had expected that mere maintenance workers could successfully protect Copernicus under Fred's command.
They certainly knew Fred—their locally famous prodigy—but nobody anticipated...
That this prodigy would prove to be this extraordinary.
"Fred! You're fucking amazing!"
"I'm following you from now on!"
"I don't bow to anyone, but I bow to you!"
Accustomed to rough camaraderie, they shouted these praises amid the laughter.
As they spoke, the crowd floated closer, patting Fred like a lucky charm to absorb some of his fortune.
"..."
Though delighted, Fred felt speechless being groped by so many men and women.
Fortunately, an authoritative voice soon rang out.
"With this crisis averted, I'll distribute rewards based on contributions."
"Stop crowding around young Fred! Go assess the damage to Copernicus's outer hull—we still have plenty of work to do!"
At the chief commander's shout, the crowd cheerfully dispersed.
Rewards based on merit! Though they hadn't thought about it during the action...
They were all heroes here—fame and money were guaranteed.
Even heroes need to eat, let alone us wretched Space Serfs.
Who wouldn't be happy about getting paid?
This very thought made them regard Fred with even greater respect.
Any previous seniority pride had completely vanished.
They'd even accept Fred as their senior if needed.
Thus the crowd soon scattered, and under the chief commander's guidance, Fred and a few others entered a small room in the port.
The sealed door muted the bustling noises outside.
The tranquility felt almost dreamlike.
Of course, the chief commander's exhilarated expression confirmed everything had been real.
"Fred, you performed exceptionally well."
The commander finally released his pent-up excitement, his composed demeanor vanishing as he stepped forward eagerly to clap the young man's shoulder.
"..."
Fred smiled modestly.
He couldn't help but feel that this reliable commander simply wanted an excuse to touch him, though he had no proof.
"Ahem, I also need to inform your rel..."
Before the commander could finish speaking, the room door slid open once again with a sharp "swish."