"Brother, can I learn too?"
Flay quietly tugged on Fred's sleeve and asked with some unease.
"Does Flay want to learn?"
After analyzing everyone's reactions in his mind, Fred half-crouched in front of the girl and asked gently.
"...Yes!"
Without hesitating for long, the girl declared loudly.
She wanted to become stronger, to protect those she cared about, to be as strong as her brother, and to help her brother.
So she must continue growing stronger!
"Of course, I'll teach Flay."
Fred affectionately brushed through Flay's hair.
"Mhm!"
Watching the affectionate scene between the siblings, Nicol felt an inexplicable sense of envy.
"Speaking of which, the teacher's parents were really fertile."
Indeed, although they only had two children, by Coordinator standards, this definitely fell into the fertile category. Hadn't they all noticed that everyone here was an only child?
Even being able to have children at all was considered good.
Under these circumstances, they were indeed fertile.
"Well... yes."
Hearing Nicol's question, Athrun's lips twitched slightly as he thought of something.
Of course they were fertile - both of his parents were Naturals.
However, if Nicol hadn't mentioned it, he would have forgotten about this fact.
After all, Fred didn't seem like a Natural at all.
"When do we start?"
Ignoring the gossip from the two beside him with disdain, Yzak interrupted the siblings in front of him.
"Two months from now."
"Do any of you have experience?"
Fred stood up while holding his sister's hand.
With two months remaining, it should be about enough time to complete the upgrade work.
"I do."
Athrun said.
"I don't."
Nicol said.
"I do."
Yzak proudly lifted his pointed chin, his mouth slightly open, but his following words were cut off by Fred.
"You want to compete, right?"
"..."
The boy whose words were stolen stood with his mouth open, feeling somewhat awkward.
"Pfft."
Watching Yzak being thwarted, Athrun couldn't help but laugh.
"Damn you!"
Seeing his rival laughing at him, Yzak's face reddened slightly.
If there weren't adults present, the boys would likely have started fighting again.
"A competition, but no fighting allowed. How about we compete in repairs?"
Fred said with a light smile.
"Fine!"
Yzak quickly agreed.
He looked quite confident, while Athrun and Flay exchanged glances upon hearing this, then tacitly remained silent without intervening.
Still talking about competing in repairs? When Fred was doing repairs all over Copernicus, this guy was probably still taking private lessons at home.
Of course, they didn't stop him either.
Athrun simply enjoyed watching him make a fool of himself.
As for Flay, she purely wanted to set Yzak up.
It could be said that in this matter, the two shared an exceptional understanding.
"Everyone, dinner's ready."
Just as Yzak was about to say something more, Lenore's gentle voice interrupted them.
...
The days of daily work passed as quickly as a white colt fleeting past a crack. After two months of peace, Fred finally welcomed his important moment.
He stood in his Work Pod, looking at the completed Central Nexus that appeared no different from before, then glanced at the text before him. A rare, brilliantly bright smile spread across Fred's typically gentle face.
[Structural Engineering (Introductory) 96.31/100]
[MA Operation (Introductory) 70.15/100]
His MA Operation still had some way to go before reaching Elite level, but his Structural Engineering was already remarkably close.
The recent engineering projects had truly been immensely beneficial to him.
Even through self-study alone, his Structural Engineering would likely break through within a few months.
This was a crucial component in MS research.
If the unlocked skills could provide him with additional bonuses, future research would proceed even more smoothly, and he would be able to grasp the power of these technologies firmly in his own hands.
Thinking this, Fred couldn't help but feel his mind growing active.
As for MA Operation, according to their agreement, he would be able to consistently come here afterward to maintain the space colony.
If the current progress continued, he believed he would soon break through the barrier in MA Operation as well.
When that time came, whether taking the initiative in attacks or executing defensive maneuvers, he would handle them with greater ease and safety.
"Fred, let's head back. They're all waiting for you."
Alec, who had also witnessed the scene, wore a wistful smile.
He never imagined Fred would complete such a seemingly daunting task so quickly.
Moreover, over these past two months, he had clearly observed the attitudes of Fred's subordinates—the research Coordinators—toward Fred.
They had grown increasingly respectful, even reverent.
All of this was the inevitable result of Fred's capabilities.
However, if those people were to learn that Fred was actually a Natural, they would probably be thrown into disbelief.
Yet, all of this only proved how sharp his own judgment had been.
By following Fred, he might truly witness the rise of PLANT.
Even if the other was merely a Natural, that would still hold true.
Meanwhile, on the other end, unseen by the two, Andrew, the Desert Tiger, was reviewing a summary of Fred's activities over the past few months.
"Impressive."
"You can understand this?"
Hearing Andrew's remark, Yuri asked curiously.
Although the other was also a genius, his talents lay in command, combat, and similar areas.
He hadn't heard that Andrew was skilled in this field.
But... considering the miracles Fred had sparked, Yuri couldn't be entirely sure.
"Not at all."
Andrew shrugged candidly, then returned the documents to Yuri.
"I was referring to his MA Operation skills. They've improved compared to before."
Back in Copernicus, he had watched Fred perform repairs.
Though impressive then, it hadn't reached this level.
This person, just as he had thought, was progressing constantly.
And this progress seemed entirely unconstrained.
Not to mention, Fred himself was exceptionally cautious and diligent.
With so many qualities combined, it was inevitable that the young man would be extraordinary and incredibly difficult to kill.
Such a person was fearsome as an opponent.
But as an ally, he was reassuring.
"So, you also think he could pilot Powered Armor?"
Powered Armor was supposed to be operable only by Coordinators.
This had long been a point of pride for them.
Now, thinking that this situation might change, Yuri felt an inexplicable fear.
They had always held themselves in high regard, partly for this very reason.
"Being able to pilot Powered Armor isn't exclusive to Coordinators. Anyone with adequate reaction speed can operate it—it's just that most physically enhanced Coordinators can do so, that's all," Andrew said frankly to the other party.
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