With the Enhanced Person route blocked, the only option left was to continue making Coordinator Clones with genetic restrictions written in that prevented them from attacking Naturals.
While not as versatile as Enhanced Persons, they could still make up for a certain degree of high-end combat power.
Based on their unusual movements and the Moderate Faction's mole within the Atlantic Federation, they might be able to pinpoint the Library's location.
If they could find and destroy it, they would have a huge advantage, both in terms of public opinion and on the open battlefield.
But for now, as he had said, it was time to head back and rest for a while.
After all, staying constantly tense meant nothing would get done properly.
When it was time to relax, one should relax.
His gaze swept over the snow-covered base before him, and Fred headed toward the training area inside the base that had just been tidied up.
Of course, it went without saying that the people he had just sent off to rest were over there as well.
...
"Welcome back~!"
The moment Fred returned to April City and stepped off the ship, a familiar figure came floating toward him.
Only this time, unlike usual, the figure didn't pause at all, charging straight into his arms.
"Uh... Lacus?"
Feeling the softness in his arms, the boy raised his hands, hesitated for a moment, then decided he'd better hug her back.
"Mm!"
Feeling Fred's arms around her waist, Lacus's smile grew even brighter.
Much like the current situation, their relationship was also developing little by little.
And that gave her an incredible sense of peace.
"This operation went really smoothly!"
Lacus continued.
"Your plan was as flawless as ever~"
"It was all thanks to the New-type Mobile Suit."
Fred remarked.
The operation had seemed smooth, but in reality, it would have been impossible without the Blitz's inherent capabilities.
After all, infiltrating the interior of a base without anyone noticing was extremely difficult.
Especially with such a massive machine.
The power of Mirage Particles was evident—it made sense that they, like nuclear energy, would later be banned by treaty.
But there was no treaty here right now, so of course he was using them to his heart's content.
As for the battlefield, without the Freedom's powerful agility and the breakout capability provided by its firepower, it would have been equally hard for him to catch the enemy off guard.
His abilities were the foundation, but the Mobile Suit's capabilities were just as crucial.
"But those Mobile Suits were your research, weren't they?"
Lacus shot a glance at the man in front of her, who somehow seemed to be fishing for compliments no matter how you looked at it.
"I wasn't the only one piloting them."
"Okay, okay, I know. Let's head back!"
"Flay's been waiting so long she must be getting impatient."
Lacus released Fred, her face flushed, and looked off in the direction where Flay was standing.
"She's been busy lately. She wouldn't be impatient."
Fred shrugged. As the two of them chatted, the trio following behind Lacus wore expressions full of shock.
After all, they hadn't been present when Fred confessed his feelings.
Seeing their young lady suddenly hugging Fred so tightly, it was impossible not to be stunned.
Alec, however, wasn't surprised.
Although he hadn't known about the confession, the atmosphere between the two of them clearly suggested something was going on.
He wasn't stupid.
It was just that...
Alec looked warily at the guard behind Lacus—one of those who had already been displeased with Fred.
However, he unexpectedly discovered that the other party's face showed none of the displeasure he had anticipated.
Though she wasn't exactly happy, muttering something under her breath, she wasn't doing anything out of line either.
"Fred's achievements—did they manage to persuade him?"
Watching the three in the distance, Alec made his own guess.
It certainly looked that way.
Although Fred hadn't publicized anything in the media, as insiders, they naturally knew what he had done.
He could well be called an unsung hero.
Just as Alec breathed a sigh of relief, Athrun and the others, who had just left the battleship nearby, were blinking as they looked toward the two of them, their shock impossible to hide.
"Is that Miss Lacus? Since when did they get together?"
Hawk asked curiously, a bit of an auntie's knowing smile on his face.
"You're asking me? Who should I ask?"
Orphee shook his head, though the corners of his mouth quietly lifted a little.
"They look pretty well matched. That's nice."
Their own Captain was an impressive figure, and Miss Lacus was every bit his equal.
Together, they were surprisingly harmonious.
"Mm..."
Athrun and the others had no objections, aside from stealing a few extra glances.
Of course, the two of them paid no attention to their surroundings, and soon boarded the train.
"We're monitoring Blue Cosmos's movements. It shouldn't be long before we get results."
"We should be able to find some clues about that replica facility of theirs."
"Also, in the Atlantic Federation MS units you destroyed this time—although there were no intact humanoid forms, we did discover quite a few identical gene sequences. They were definitely Coordinator Clones."
As Lacus discussed business now, her face was completely serious, a stark contrast to her charming demeanor just moments ago.
"Mm."
Fred responded, then continued, "To prevent what happened with Creuset from happening again, it's best to completely destroy their strongholds."
Though he didn't know whether anyone would commit such acts again in the future, they at least had to deal with the current situation before discussing the future.
"Good."
"I'll let you know if there's any news." Lacus paused. "Get some good rest in the meantime."
"It's about time, isn't it?"
Fred shook his head.
He was nearly done achieving his goal.
But precisely because of that, he couldn't afford to let his guard down.
After all, there was only so much time left.
"Say, you~ Are you thinking of retiring early?"
Lacus pouted and teased him.
"Uh..."
Facing Fred's stunned expression, Lacus finally felt the satisfaction of a successful counterattack.
After all, she had always been the one left flustered by Fred, one-sidedly.
Now she had finally won a round back.
"You think Flay hasn't told me anything?"
Although the two of them were busy now and saw each other less often, they had held plenty of girls' gatherings and pajama parties before.
Fred's secrets had long since been thoroughly exposed.
"...That girl," Fred muttered inwardly.
"Retirement does sound nice," Lacus said, amused.
"You don't mind, Lacus?"
"I get tired too, you know. Who do you think I am?"
Lacus gave Fred a speechless look.
At first, she had indeed felt it was quite a pity, a regret, and had even thought about forcibly making him stay.
But later on, as she gradually watched Fred's busy figure and the two of them confirmed their relationship, her thoughts shifted a little.
People always grow tired eventually.
And this burden of protecting the world wasn't something she had chosen to shoulder of her own accord.
If the world truly returned to peace, then retiring into seclusion with him or traveling the world together didn't seem like bad options at all.
Besides, if anything really did happen, she refused to believe this man wouldn't come out of retirement once more.
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