Chapter 4: Stockpiling Food?

"Can I live with you?"

After a simple graduation ceremony, He Kui and Shi He stood in front of the dormitory. After gifting her an improved Haro, He Kui sincerely asked the girl in front of him.

To encourage childbirth, especially among high-skilled talent, the Helan Design Bureau had various humane measures, including family dormitories.

Two people could share a room of about thirty square meters—small but noticeably more spacious than a single room.

It would also help increase their favorability.

"Um..."

Shi He's serene face flushed slightly as she quietly agreed.

[Shi He Hanivis Current Favorability 80]

[Experience Bonus 4]

[Micro Component Processing C-level: (218/1000)]

The relationship between favorability and skill level was mutually reinforcing. He Kui had noticed that the more valuable the gifts he gave, the more significant the increase in experience. As long as he continued crafting them, reaching B-level wouldn't be a dream.

He imagined that one day, he might participate in developing new mobile suits and become a national treasure.

Lost in thoughts about the future, He Kui's smile grew even brighter.

The rating process was swift, akin to the entrance exam, and He Kui easily earned his C-level evaluation.

"Look at this Haro! It may look cute, but when it counts, it can deploy a shield to defend against incoming attacks. The shield is robust enough to withstand most light weapons—an essential item for home and travel! Last one available!"

In the bustling area of May City's downtown, right across from the Mercenary Guild, He Kui called out energetically.

Having completed ten sets of materials, he had gifted five to Shi He to boost his experience, kept one for himself, and was now selling the rest. Although not flying off the shelves, selling them for 500 each was reasonable, especially when ordinary shields went for 300.

Before long, he had sold four Haros.

Watching the numbers in his account grow, He Kui couldn't help but smile in satisfaction.

After his rating, he received a 3,000 credit bonus, allowing him to buy even more materials.

Thinking about this, He Kui spent 500 credits on meat and vegetables before returning to their dormitory.

"He Kui."

Seeing He Kui enter, Shi He and the five Haros that could fit in their room bounced out to greet him. The limited space allowed only five of them to be activated at a time.

"I sold everything!"

"Great!"

Shi He smiled warmly as she took the groceries and headed to the kitchen.

The days passed like this, with He Kui working and then crafting Haros. As his skills improved, he could build a bomb-proof Haro in half a day and a regular Haro in just two hours—he became a relentless Haro manufacturing machine.

Three days later, after returning home from work and barely sitting down, there was a knock at the door.

He Kui opened it to find a stranger, an Asian young man, standing outside.

"I am Kazama Naruki, a recent hire in the MS Operating Systems Development Department, living next door. I haven't met you two before, so I came to visit and bring a small gift."

"Thank you."

He Kui was momentarily stunned when he saw the 1:60 model of a GINN.

"This is no ordinary model."

Kazama pulled out a controller for the model, resembling a simulation pod. As he manipulated it, the GINN began to move fluidly, capable of jumping, though it couldn't fly.

"An easy-use simulator! What do you think?"

"Did you make this yourself, Mr. Kazama?" Shi He exclaimed, emerging from the kitchen.

"Yes," Kazama replied, pride evident in his voice.

Being part of the MS Operating Systems Development Department, creating such a system was a point of pride. A good operating system could allow a mobile suit to perform at a much higher level, and those who understood the system were naturally elite pilots. No one understood the operations under the system better than they did, and with the natural abilities of Coordinators, they were indeed exceptional pilots—just like Kira and Athrun, who were both brilliant at programming.

"Please, come in and sit down."

He Kui politely invited Kazama into the living room.

Kazama didn't seem to mind Shi He's background; everyone in this building lived with their fiancées or wives, some even having children.

After preparing tea, the three began chatting.

"Since the terrorist attack on New Year's Day that involved our committee members going to the council, the situation has become increasingly tense."

"Yes."

He Kui was aware of this, as it was the reason ZAFT allowed their batch of students to graduate early. The war was on the verge of breaking out.

"Although Chairman Clyne is still making negotiation efforts, it seems unlikely that there will be results in the short term. The food research in June City is reportedly back on track, but with the production capacity of a few colony satellites and the support from Earth's pro-PLANT nations, it likely won't meet the overall demand."

"Do you think we should start stockpiling food, Mr. Kazama?"

"Better safe than sorry. The prices of food are about to go out of control again. Although it's already quite expensive, buying some emergency supplies is definitely a good idea."

"Thank you for the reminder."

Despite often eating the unappetizing synthetic meat that tasted like flour, He Kui found it hard to believe that such a high-tech nation could face famine.

After a cordial exchange, He Kui gifted Kazama a Haro before he left. As a systems architect who played an indispensable role in producing MSs and other machines, He Kui thought it wise to maintain a good relationship with him, as he might need Kazama's help in the future.

After Kazama's suggestion, the two began to consciously stockpile supplies, albeit in small quantities. With no salary yet, He Kui used his earnings from selling Haros to buy enough emergency food for half a month, after which he didn't want to waste any more.

At the end of January:

[Shi He Hanivis Current Favorability 92]

[Experience Bonus 5]

[Micro Component Processing C-level: (561/1000)]

He Kui looked at the data before him with excitement.

Although gifting a bomb-proof Haro no longer increased favorability, it still granted him ten experience points, which, with the five-fold bonus, totaled fifty. Now that he had to work during weekdays, he could only make two Haros in his spare time—one for gifting and one for selling. This routine brought him to halfway through C-level. 

Money kept flowing in and out, and if it weren't for the fact that he and Shi He were each responsible for their living expenses, He Kui would have been in dire financial straits by now. However, the silver lining was that his progress was rapid; once he reached B-level, he should be able to save money comfortably.

His golden finger was truly incredible!