"Of course, General, you are most wise."
Hearing his adjutant's flattery, the general grew even more pleased. His expression control gradually failed, revealing a touch of arrogance.
Shortly after the adjutant continued to flatter the general, the communications officer nearby looked up.
"General Flamingo, we've received the assistance request from PLANT."
"Good, let's move out."
"Let's give those poor wretches some proper help, hahaha!"
Seeing the plan proceeding smoothly as expected, the major general couldn't help but laugh heartily.
Meanwhile, above April City, Siegel wore a complex expression as he read the message sent by Yuri.
"Father, how did it go?"
Lacus blinked as she asked. Her gentle tone rarely betrayed any tension.
"It's done. But I never expected Fred would anticipate even this step."
Siegel sighed.
"Fred..."
Lacus repeated the name she had been hearing frequently lately. His existence was truly remarkable, especially this latest move that could be described as almost demonically clever.
Recalling Fred's previous conversation with her father, even Lacus felt a surge of admiration in her heart.
"If Fred truly acts for humanity's future, then his goals align with ours."
Lacus murmured softly.
The Clyne Faction worked for the Coordinators' future. Fred worked for all humanity, which naturally included them, the Coordinators. In a sense, he represented true neutrality, or rather, a balancer.
But was that alone sufficient?
Thinking of Fred's past words, Lacus felt her heartbeat quicken.
Though called the moderate faction, the Clyne Faction still fought for the Coordinators' future. Yet Fred's philosophy seemed to attract her more than her own faction's beliefs.
Humanity shouldn't be divided into superior and inferior.
Following this trajectory, even if Coordinators achieved victory, they would merely transition from victims to oppressors.
Where there is oppression, there will be resistance. Unless they created a perfect utopia, war would never cease this way.
As their mentor had said.
After all, the true Radical Faction aimed to domesticate Naturals in reverse - useful for breeding given low fertility rates, providing food supplies, with many radicals even calling for Naturals to regress to agricultural eras.
This resembled ancient lords and subjects - they would be the lofty lords, while Naturals became the subjects.
A far cry from Fred's philosophy.
As for the Clyne Faction, though their methods were more moderate and acceptable to Naturals, they ultimately still served the Coordinators' future.
Different paths leading to the same destination.
One sought physical domination, the other economic and spiritual domination.
Even if her father didn't intend it this way, what about future successors?
Goals and principles were most easily corrupted by desire.
As for working for all humanity... this was the first time Lacus had heard such a notion since her mentor.
It also made something in her heart seem on the verge of awakening through the haze.
Yet for the young Lacus, these thoughts remained vague concepts.
She knew achieving such things couldn't be accomplished through slogans alone - but how should one proceed?
If possible, she'd rather not ponder such complex questions.
But her mentor said this was something she must accomplish, something only she could achieve.
"Father, any leads on that person Fred mentioned?"
Despite the whirlwind of thoughts in her mind, the eight-year-old Lacus showed no outward sign, merely pursing her lips as she asked.
"Not yet - there are too many potential targets."
Siegel emerged from his own contemplation and shook his head.
"The timeframe he mentioned coincides with the peak of Coordinator persecution, when many people arrived in PLANT aboard our ships."
"Document screening wasn't particularly strict back then."
The records from that period were too disorganized, making investigation difficult.
"But clones should only possess Natural genetic characteristics. If we conduct genetic screening, we should be able to identify them, right?"
"Hmm..."
Siegel pondered for a moment before his eyes lit up.
Indeed, he could conduct comparative investigations.
The number of arrivals and those who underwent genetic screening were both fixed values.
While he couldn't rule out the possibility of someone assisting the target internally, this provided a promising direction.
Unconsciously, even Siegel had subconsciously come to trust Fred's words.
After all, Fred's intelligence had been clearly demonstrated through this operation.
Therefore, his warning couldn't be without foundation.
The only distinction was whether he sought this person out of genuine concern for maintaining Coordinator balance or harbored personal ambitions - this remained unclear to Siegel.
Thus, even if he found the person, he likely wouldn't immediately inform Fred.
Meanwhile, elsewhere, unaware he was being sought, Creuset sat in a dimly lit room playing chess with the long-haired young man before him.
"Your plan appears to have failed."
"PLANT has submitted a rescue request to the Atlantic Federation."
The long-haired young man - Durandal - spoke with a smile.
Yet the smile didn't reach his eyes, carrying a certain coldness.
"Indeed."
Creuset's lips curled into an indifferent smile.
His slender fingers lightly tapped the knight piece.
"You still believe there's something suspicious about that place?"
Durandal inquired.
"Don't you?"
Facing Creuset's counter-question, Durandal shrugged.
"Gathering intelligence from there remains quite challenging for me."
"I'm still new to working society."
"Has your information broker provided any useful intelligence?"
"Nothing substantial. Only that the Plantation area appears to have been sealed due to a Microbial Virus leak."
Creuset finished with a cold snort.
"Quite peculiar indeed."
Durandal nodded in agreement.
"After this break, I'll continue searching for samples in Mendel on your behalf. There might still be opportunities - it would be best for you to lay low temporarily."
As he spoke, the concern in the black-haired young man's eyes was evident.
"Very well..."
Creuset's expression grew increasingly sinister as he responded.
He had originally thought this was an opportunity—the beginning of their mutual destruction—but unexpectedly, it failed.
"I still have time, after all."
Creuset spoke, while Durandal merely shrugged. In the room, only the sound of their chess pieces falling on the board echoed between them.
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