Chapter 137: Disturbance at Heliopolis

Shortly after returning from Boaz, He Kui accompanied Erin to the director's office.

"Director Kladis."

Following Erin, He Kui bowed slightly.

"Hello."

The director, around thirty years old, had a stern demeanor, with his blond hair slicked back, presenting the image of a successful person.

Although they had met several times at previous meetings, this was their first private meeting. At this moment, the director looked at He Kui with a gentle gaze.

"You've worked hard this time, Director He."

"For PLANT, for ZAFT."

"Haha."

Hearing He Kui's reply, the director, a member of the Zala faction, smiled but didn't continue the conversation.

"As you know, I am preparing to hand over to the former district chief and will be leaving next week."

"Congratulations on your promotion, Director."

Erin said affectionately.

"Then I should congratulate you too."

After their exchange, they turned to He Kui.

"Currently, in the National Defense Committee, there is considerable support for making you the deputy director, and Mr. Amarfy's intentions have been confirmed."

Director Kladis's lips curled into a slight smile.

"Congratulations, Director He."

Unlike when Erin was selected as director, He Kui was already in a position to be aware of such developments.

After all, he was the person in question.

"Thank you."

Suppressing the excitement rising within him, He Kui nodded.

In fact, he owed part of his smooth ascent to Director Park.

Initially, many in the Zala faction were reluctant to promote He Kui, who was neutral.

However, Director Park's outrageous actions, whether to appease or distance themselves, had facilitated He Kui's advancement.

If Director Park hadn't been taken to the military court, He Kui might have sent him a fruit basket out of gratitude.

"Do your best."

The director nodded approvingly at He Kui's composed demeanor.

"When the district chief is free, let's have a meal to celebrate your promotion."

Unlike his usual seriousness, Erin seemed slightly sycophantic.

"That's not necessary. It's best not to go out unnecessarily; that's our consensus."

"Then we'll visit your home and bother your wife."

"Haha, she might be happy about that."

Though he said so, the director's smile didn't deepen. Like many couples, their relationship was one bound by the marriage law.

"If you don't mind, I can cook."

He Kui volunteered.

The decision was made, and neither of them rejected He Kui's goodwill.

No thread can make a line, no tree can make a forest.

As a member of the design bureau, He Kui, though not a Zala faction member, was implicitly considered one of them by the two.

Within the design bureau, they formed a faction of sorts.

The next day, He Kui, along with Shi He, visited Director Kladis's residence. Strictly speaking, the director didn't live in the same residential area as them. Even though the public area was larger than in District A, it took a few minutes and another checkpoint to reach the director's home.

The director's residence differed from their standard villas, with a larger area and more luxurious, intelligent decor.

"Ding dong~"

With a pleasant chime, the redwood double doors slowly opened.

"You're early."

Kladis welcomed them into the living room.

He then introduced a woman in a white shirt with brown crab-shaped hair.

"They are my wife and son, Talia and William."

"Hello."

He Kui discreetly observed the intricate hairstyle, gaining some insight into Talia's identity.

"Hello, big brother and sister~!"

William, about five or six years old, seemed to have inherited both parents' hair colors, resulting in a brownish-golden hue.

His chubby cheeks made him appear very cute.

He seemed typical, like a miniature standard Coordinator.

The Gene Marriage Law, huh?

After the surprise, He Kui marveled internally and presented his prepared gifts.

Three Haros were placed on the coffee table.

As expected, no system changes were triggered.

"Director He's craftsmanship has improved; you're almost at A-level."

The director accepted the Haros, examining them before expressing admiration.

"Impressive. I recall that Director He is a first-generation Coordinator."

Though being surpassed by the next generation was normal, this level of skill was rare for a first-generation.

While there were S-levels, they represented the pinnacle of craftsmanship in this world.

With some luck, leaving a mark in history wasn't a dream.

At that level, building an MS from scratch wasn't impossible, given time and resources.

"Just lucky."

As they chatted, Shi He and Talia played with William and the Haros, while Erin soon joined them in the living room.

With only the three of them left, the atmosphere turned serious.

"Recently, there's been some disturbance at L3."

Erin frowned.

"Have you heard anything, Director?"

"A bit. Our merchant ships reported seeing more freighters at L3 than usual."

"Could it be a disguise? Is the Alliance building a secret base there?"

"But there's nothing there, and it's two Earth-Moon distances away from us. Building a military base there offers no advantage."

The director shook his head, dismissing Erin's idea.

Normally, traveling to Earth was about one Earth-Moon distance, and the Moon and Earth were similarly distant from them.

It's like the Artemis Umbrella at L3; it floats there without posing a threat.

Unless they fitted it with thrusters to slowly push it over.

But propulsion energy requires manpower and resources. If it offered strategic value, maybe, but it doesn't.

"However, to be cautious, though unspoken, the National Defense Committee will likely send spies into Heliopolis to investigate whether they're collaborating with the Alliance to build military satellites and their purpose."

"Could it be for MS production?"

He Kui, who had remained silent, asked.

Naturals couldn't pilot MS due to system issues, but with more intelligent systems, they could.

While most PLANT residents might be blindly confident, believing Naturals inferior and unable to pilot MS...

Weapons, in anyone's hands, are tools for killing. The difference lies in the user.

For most senior design bureau officials, Naturals piloting MS wasn't a fantasy but a plausible scenario.

"The previously suspected enhanced humans were troublesome enough. Fortunately, the Alliance can't mass-produce them. But if MS can be mass-produced..."

Erin's frown deepened.

"That's possible. We should know once someone infiltrates Morgenroete. But there's definitely a disturbance at Heliopolis."

"If true, our design bureau might face more pressure."

The director sighed.

"Afterward, Hailan Design Bureau will depend on you two."

"Understood."

After discussing Heliopolis for a while, He Kui and Shi He returned home after dinner.

"What were you talking about? You all looked so serious during dinner."

Cuddling on the sofa, Shi He asked softly.

"There's a disturbance at L3."

He Kui recounted the situation, also recalling the previous plot.

Kruze should have acted on intelligence from spies. After Heliopolis's collapse, they immediately pursued the Archangel.

If that's the case, using Aegis to try and seize something might be feasible.

However, if Aegis sustained damage, he wouldn't be able to assist Lacus afterward.

"Still lacking funds, huh?"

He Kui thought of Hoss. The company there could earn a million from mining, with a net profit of about two hundred thousand after equipment and wages.

Barely enough to produce a remotely controlled Haro and two escort Haros.

After all, seizing something didn't necessarily require a humanoid form.

With Haro's small size, he could ask the Junk Guild owner to find someone passing by to leave it at Heliopolis's customs, with no paper trail.

He'd connect remotely after confirming the disassembly.

Whether he could hack or succeed in seizing, he'd have to take a chance. About two months, a two hundred thousand gamble!

Having decided, He Kui stood, stretched, and handed a Haro to Shi He.

Gifts must continue; he needed better processing technology to improve Haro and Aegis.

[Shi He Hanif's favorability: 156]

[Experience bonus: 7]

[Micro-component processing A-level: (80440/100000)]

[Academic: Ultra-compact nuclear fission reactor I (19568/20000)]

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