Chapter 112: A Safe Path

"Su Lei, what brings you here?"

Seeing the unexpected guest at the door, He Kui stepped aside to let her in.

"Are you alright?"

"I'm fine."

He Kui shook his head and led Su Lei into the living room.

At this moment, Shi He also noticed Su Lei.

"Director Su."

"Director Hanifs."

Su Lei responded, then awkwardly looked away, feeling she was being too timid before glancing back with a determined look.

He Kui cleared his throat, feeling a tingling sensation on his scalp, interrupting their staring contest.

"Why did Director Su come over?"

"I inquired about it, and it seems to be an indiscriminate attack, potentially targeting you."

Su Lei, recalling her main purpose, conveyed the information she had just learned from outside.

"Were there any casualties?"

Hearing Su Lei's words, He Kui's expression turned more serious.

"No, they just blew up an empty house, but the terrorists died in the explosion."

"How did they get in?"

"They probably used fake credentials and took advantage of the recent guard shift when the new guards weren't familiar with the place."

"I see."

Hearing this, He Kui felt relieved. His home's defenses could handle such threats, and it seemed they hadn't located his exact address; otherwise, they would have targeted him directly, not just issued a threat.

As for why they switched to threats, it was likely to pressure him, making him feel as if his life was at risk, hoping he would panic and make mistakes.

If he truly panicked now, he'd be falling into their trap. Staying calm and rational was most important.

"Take a look at this."

He Kui said, showing a screenshot of the email.

"It arrived just before the explosion."

After reading the content, Su Lei's frown deepened.

Her initial hesitation now had a reason to be spoken.

She glanced at the girl sitting next to He Kui.

"It's fine, you can speak here," He Kui said softly.

"Alright."

Seeing He Kui's trusting demeanor and Shi He's happy smile, Su Lei decided not to hold back.

"I wanted to ask, given the danger here, have you thought about moving elsewhere?"

"Where to?"

Hearing Su Lei's suggestion, He Kui maintained his composure.

"It's a neutral third-party research facility. I can't disclose the location, but if you go, you could have a managerial position there."

If Lacus confirmed He Kui's reliability, she intended to give him full control over the secret factory's internal research. Resources and personnel could be provided.

"Would I have freedom of movement?"

It sounded like a secret research facility, and given Su Lei's faction, it was clear who was behind it.

Lacus's offer was indeed timely.

"You can't freely enter and leave there. Supplies are delivered every three months, and you'd have to stay there the rest of the time. However, the compensation is more than five times your current salary here, and you can take your parents with you, and..."

Su Lei glanced at Shi He.

Had this been when he first became a director, He Kui might have agreed. If he wasn't mistaken, this was Lacus's secret factory from his memory.

It would indeed be much safer there, but was it truly completely safe? Hiding wasn't a permanent solution.

Was he really going to spend his life in a secret factory? Would there be another war after this one ended?

Even when the war ended, would the remnants of Blue Cosmos be easily eradicated? Life and fate were best secured in one's own hands.

"Sorry, I don't plan on leaving for now."

"But!"

Su Lei was shocked, standing up abruptly when hearing He Kui's refusal.

"If necessary, I will reach out to you."

"Alright."

"Be careful."

Though the owner of the factory was not mentioned, both understood the implication.

"I will."

"Is she saying..."

After Su Lei left, Shi He asked worriedly.

"Yes."

"What are they planning?"

Building a factory outside without ZAFT's knowledge, while not treason, was certainly suspicious.

"I don't know."

The standard line was that having only faith without power was useless, and having only power without faith was also useless.

Regardless of its usefulness, the Clyne faction was indeed preparing for the future.

Thanks to this, if the deputy director path didn't work out, he had another option.

"Be cautious."

Shi He advised. Her views on the war leaned towards the Zala faction, but she wasn't entirely opposed to the Clyne faction's ideals.

She just felt a sense of rivalry when looking at Su Lei.

"I will."

He Kui smiled, advising Shi He not to spread the news before finally taking out his phone to contact the deputy director, Erin.

"Deputy Director, hello."

The noise in Erin's call suggested she was at the explosion site.

"Director He, just got back? Were you woken by the blast?"

Though busy, Erin, seeing He Kui as someone to recruit, didn't brush him off, instead joking with him.

"Not quite. Is it convenient to talk?"

Erin paused for a moment, then continued.

"Sure, come over. I'm in the A-Level district, right at the explosion site."

"Alright."

Using the smoke as a guide, He Kui quickly found Erin overseeing the scene.

Erin took He Kui to a vacant villa nearby. In contrast to the noisy investigation outside, the villa was exceptionally quiet.

"What's going on, Director He?"

Sitting on the sofa, Erin asked curiously.

"This."

He Kui showed Erin the email, though he figured ZAFT would discover it soon anyway.

"So, you were threatened, and then this explosion happened, right?"

"Yes."

"I'll investigate further on my end. Anything else?"

"I'd like to apply for a residence in the inner district."

The inner district, where the deputy directors resided, was the safest place in May City until He Kui's purification device could secure more resources.

"Normally, we wouldn't allow it, but given your current situation, I can discuss it with the higher-ups. Of course, if the small Light Shield System performs well, it would facilitate better communication."

"I understand."

He Kui felt relieved. As long as his Light Shield System performed well, things would go smoothly.

"However, with current energy technology, we might not sustain a small Light Shield for long periods."

"That's for other researchers to handle. Director He, focus on your work. Of course, if you can also solve the energy issue, that would be great."

Erin smiled.

"I can't promise that."

He Kui replied sheepishly, feeling much of his worry dissipate. Bringing his parents over would ensure temporary safety.

After all, attempting an assassination in the director's district was virtually impossible.

Even the previous deputy director was assassinated during a DSSD meeting.

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