Before Bedell could speak, Fred had already taken over the conversation.
"Why?"
Fred asked curiously.
He hadn't expected to be invited by Yzak just by standing there.
"Because you look pretty strong."
Yzak said truthfully.
His intuition told him this person was more powerful than anyone he'd encountered before.
"Do I?"
Was this some kind of weird cockroach intuition?
He couldn't feel how strong he was supposed to be.
Bedell finally found an opportunity to refuse, but Fred interrupted him again.
"Sure."
Although he hadn't expected to encounter Yzak, if he didn't make Yzak submit and behave, this guy would keep being so punchable.
He might as well thoroughly beat him into submission in one go.
Otherwise, what if he bullied his sister later? They were about the same age.
As for whether he might lose - even if the other was talented, he probably wasn't at Elite level yet.
After training Athrun for a few days before coming here, he roughly knew the learning speed of Ace Second-Generation Coordinators.
If Yzak were truly that powerful, with Ace-level strength at such a young age, Naturals would have been completely crushed long ago.
Anyway, when it came to beating up a friend, Fred was confident he could win.
"This..."
Bedell broke out in a cold sweat upon hearing this.
Setting aside pride, he cast a pleading look toward Heather.
"Alright."
Heather nodded.
Having seen many people in her life and being a mother of two, she immediately recognized Yzak's fearless nature.
With that arrogant attitude, what if he bullied Flay? It would be good for Fred to teach him a lesson first.
On the other side, Bedell was speechless.
So he was the only one trying to stop this?
Feeling underestimated by the others, Bedell didn't continue to object.
He had his pride too.
But they were Elites among Coordinators. He just hoped this seemingly confident person wouldn't embarrass himself too badly, or at least not get completely humiliated by his son.
While Bedell worried, Fred and Yzak quickly moved to the villa's small courtyard.
In the neatly trimmed courtyard maintained by automated robots, the two stood facing each other.
"Brother, who is he...?"
Looking at the arrogant boy about her age, Flay tugged at Fred's hand while pouting with displeasure.
"Yzak Joule."
Fred introduced simply.
It had to be said that this Yzak would have numerous connections with Flay in the future.
It wasn't exactly deep hatred, and as for right and wrong on the battlefield, Fred didn't plan to dwell on it since those events hadn't happened yet.
His appearance had already changed many things.
However, if he had the chance to thoroughly correct the other's bad traits, Fred was quite interested.
Not to mention that fighting would help him grow stronger too.
So there was no reason to hesitate.
"Oh... Then do your best, brother! Beat him up good!"
Flay's reaction to disliking someone was quite cute, as she raised her little pink fist and waved it in front of Fred.
Of course, Flay thought she was speaking quietly, but Yzak's sharp ears caught every word.
The boy just glanced at the girl briefly before looking away.
He wouldn't bother arguing with a girl.
Let's go big or go home.
"Hmph, don't worry brother, beat him up good."
"..."
Facing Fred's gaze that clearly knew he'd been overheard, Yzak could only laugh in exasperation this time.
"Let's fight then!"
"Coming, no need to rush," Fred said irritably.
"Ahem..."
Seeing the two already brimming with tension before even starting, Bedell, acting as temporary referee, felt like backing out again.
Damn, is this going to end badly?
Ezalia, where are you? Save me!
Though screaming internally, Bedell maintained perfect composure and cleared his throat lightly.
"Then let's begin. Remember beforehand - stop at the appropriate point, no injuries, understood?"
If Fred got hurt, he'd have trouble explaining. If his own son got injured, though unlikely, he'd still be heartbroken. Of course, it'd be best if neither got hurt.
He planned to call it off once his son had Fred pinned down.
As both nodded and took their positions, Bedell announced, "Then... match... begin!"
With Bedell's declaration as referee, before Fred could even move, Yzak had already charged forward.
There was no technique to speak of - it was practically street brawling. He was fighting purely on his Coordinator bodily instincts.
The boy looked at the motionless masked man and curled his lips slightly, as if already visualizing himself sending his opponent flying with one punch like before.
Fred, seeing this, didn't take it lightly. He retreated half a step to evade the chaotic attack while simultaneously executing an Iron Shoulder that sent the boy flying backward.
"Wha...?"
Mid-air, Yzak's eyes widened in realization that he'd actually been knocked flying. But his superior Coordinator physique allowed him to forcibly adjust his falling posture, barely landing on both feet back on the soft grass.
"Not bad," Fred praised sincerely, observing Yzak's performance.
This Coordinator was the same age as Athrun. At least at this stage, Athrun definitely wasn't as strong as him.
Clearly, neither Athrun nor Yzak had received systematic training. Under these circumstances, not being directly sent flying was genuinely impressive.
Though Fred suspected Athrun, as the world's Ultimate Warrior, would eventually surpass Yzak later on.
However, while Fred meant it as praise, Yzak instinctively interpreted his words as provocation, becoming visibly agitated.
His fine, sword-like white eyebrows shot up, and his originally pale, aristocratic face flushed red - not from embarrassment, but pure anger.
"Damn it!"
As Yzak roared, Bedell stood with his mouth still hanging open, having forgotten to close it.
What had he just witnessed? That researcher Fred had sent his son flying with one move?!
It wasn't that he blindly adored his son to the point of thinking him invincible, but he'd assumed Fred was just another researcher like himself. Who knew this researcher could fight like that?
Judging by what he just saw, his son truly wasn't a match.
"..."
What should he do now?
But even if he were to call out to Yzak now, if he hadn't fought enough, he would still come after Fred.
In the midst of Bedell's hesitation, he saw Yzak roar and then immediately launch an attack.
He was even more reckless than before, yet his movements had also become noticeably faster.