"Then there's nothing more to say—we'll go to April City."
"We support you becoming a live-in son-in-law! Even changing your surname to Clyne wouldn't be a problem."
Although Heather didn't know what Fred was preparing either, upon hearing that he planned to go to April City, she shrugged rather nonchalantly.
Upon hearing this, George opened his mouth but ultimately said nothing.
His wife… was probably joking, right?
Their son wouldn't actually change his surname, would he?
As for Flay, she was also quite happy at the moment.
After all, she could live with her best friend.
Although Lacus had been busy lately, they could still chat in the evenings.
And she could continue attending classes with Lacus.
Just thinking about it made Flay feel overjoyed.
Meanwhile, Fred, the person at the center of it all, looked at his family supporting him and felt speechless, though he silently accepted their reasoning.
While Junius City was foolproof, it had already been targeted. Leaving now was indeed the best choice.
Moreover, with Lacus there to look after them, the safety factor would increase significantly.
Times were different now. In the past, when there was no foundation of trust between them, he had been displeased when Siegel invited his sister over.
But after several years of interaction, he and his family had grown much closer to Lacus, and he was confident she would take good care of them.
And this would also allow him to go to Copernicus and act freely.
Once the family had agreed, they began packing their belongings.
Of course, before that, there was still one last farewell dinner.
...
Shortly after smoothly explaining things to his family and arranging the agricultural matters in Junius City, Fred arrived in April City.
At this moment, April City was in a state of celebration.
The reason was obvious: they had successfully driven away the invaders not long ago.
Balloons were visible everywhere along the streets.
Passing vehicles honked their horns, and even celebratory airships floated in the sky.
In short, it was an extremely lively scene.
"It's all thanks to you."
Looking out through the glass window of the special train at the scene before him, Alec sighed and remarked to Fred.
Only a handful of people knew of Fred's contributions to this operation.
But his importance was undeniable.
From the Laurasia-class ships to the GINNs and the agricultural products in Junius City.
He had been involved in every step.
If not for Fred, who knew what might have happened to them now?
At this moment, Alec wished he could go back in time and slap himself twice for suspecting Fred of being a spy.
If Fred were a spy, then what did that make them?
He had never seen a spy take the lead in researching so many projects.
Facing Alec's increasingly reverent gaze, the young man remained perfectly calm, exuding an air of mastery as he said plainly,
"It was the result of your own efforts."
He wasn't being modest—he had merely provided knowledge, at most accelerating the progress of various research projects.
With that thought, Fred quickly withdrew his gaze from the celebrating crowd outside.
The key now was the subsequent strategic direction; otherwise, all the earlier preparations might be in vain.
"You're still the same as before."
Seeing Fred's earnest expression, Alec chuckled again.
As Fred himself had said, he was indeed working day and night for a peaceful world.
Having Fred among them was a blessing for the Coordinators.
"But what are you going to the Supreme Council for this time?"
Alec couldn't help but ask curiously.
"My work in Junius City is finished. I'm preparing to take up a position at the Defense Committee headquarters in April City."
Upon hearing this, Alec wasn't surprised—the two had discussed it before.
In his view, this was exciting news, marking Fred's gradual transition from behind the scenes to the forefront.
Although he wasn't sure about the specific tasks, it didn't dampen Alec's excitement.
Fred continued, "We discussed the specific responsibilities of this position and the personnel under my command."
Fred explained.
Previously, Patrick had been busy and only briefly outlined the arrangements. Now, it seemed he had finalized a specific plan with Siegel.
Thinking this, Fred felt a mix of anticipation and excitement.
After all, if this team could be successfully established, he could immediately begin his first mission.
The ultimate goal was Copernicus. Although there was still some time before reaching Copernicus, training, adjustment, and planning would take up most of that time.
He also had the research on the High Mobility GINN to consider.
"Is that so?"
Upon hearing this, Alec felt both concern and anticipation.
He worried that his subordinates might be unreliable, yet he looked forward to collaborating with true Aces.
His feelings were quite complex.
The journey proceeded without incident, and soon the two arrived at the Defense Committee headquarters amidst the lively atmosphere outside the window.
This building was adjacent to the Supreme Council.
Although the celebrating crowd wasn't as large as the one in the square outside the Supreme Council, there were still thousands of people gathered here, bustling with activity.
Balloon models of GINNs and Laurasia, along with various victory slogans, filled the air with enthusiasm.
Recalling that both Mobile Suits were under Fred's responsibility, Alec's gaze toward him grew even more complex.
However, no one here recognized him, and the two didn't use the main entrance. Instead, they quickly entered the imposing building through the rear door reserved for officers and other important personnel.
Although it was the back entrance, security was no less strict than at the front—perhaps even more so.
Layers of checks, including X-ray inspections, left nothing hidden.
"Hello, please present your identification!"
A sentry in ZAFT's green uniform saluted Fred and Alec.
Despite Fred wearing a mask, the sentry showed no trace of disdain or other emotions, behaving like a cold machine.
"Alright."
Fred handed over a document with no identifying information.
Immediately, the soldier, who had seemed robotic, finally showed a human expression—surprise.
Surprise was only natural.
After all, this document held a high priority, second only to those of Patrick and others.
In other words, this masked young man held a very high status.
At the very least, within this Defense Committee, he could directly enter even the General Operations Staff Office.
Though it was just a card, the weight it carried was undeniable.
In all his years guarding this entrance, this was the first time he had seen such a document.
Therefore, although he did not know who the other person was, the soldier now placed their identity above that of a high-ranking figure within ZAFT.
"Sir! My apologies!"
He respectfully performed a military salute, the hard soles of his combat boots striking the ground with a dull thud.
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