Chapter 222: Chapter 222: Cagalli Returns
Satisfied, He Kui stepped out of the hidden warehouse, only to see Cagalli, dressed in a gardener's apron, walking out from the greenhouse's entryway.
"Why did you just get here?" she asked, grabbing him by the arm and dragging him inside.
"Uh, I got caught up in something."
"What's so important?"
"Forget it. Just look!" She led him to a section of the greenhouse covered by transparent domes, filled with rows of drooping plants that looked on the verge of withering.
"What happened here?" he asked.
"I don't know. Fertilizing and replanting didn't do anything." Cagalli frowned.
"What about the soil composition?"
"It's fine!"
"Could it be the gravity environment?"
"I checked that too."
"Hm…"
He Kui was surprised by how deftly she answered each of his questions.
"Give me the detailed data, and I'll look into it."
"My parents are pretty worried too. Hurry up!"
"I will. And maybe you should clean up a bit."
"Clean up?"
"Your face—it's covered in dirt."
He Kui chuckled, brushing a finger gently over her cheek. Despite her time braving the outdoors, Cagalli's skin was still soft and smooth, with a warm, sun-kissed glow that made touching her almost addictive.
"I know!" Cagalli said with an annoyed huff, rubbing her sleeve across her face. Now her sleeve transferred even more dirt to her cheek, making her look like a messy little kitten.
"Use this instead," he offered, handing her a handkerchief.
"Thanks," she mumbled, a bit embarrassed.
Inside the greenhouse, the air was serene. Surrounded by plants, the two of them sat together at the control console. He Kui checked the monitoring system data while Cagalli watched him, lost in thought.
"Come with me to May City," he said suddenly. "I'll show you around."
"Huh?"
"What? Don't want to?"
"It's not that… You know who I am, right?"
"I do."
"And you're still asking me to go to May City?"
"Because I like you?"
"What are you talking about!" Cagalli shot up in a fluster, her expression a mix of shyness and defiance.
"If you like it here, of course you're welcome to stay, but Orb has a lot waiting for you," he said, reaching out to place a gentle hand on her golden hair. "Your father doesn't know about Project G. You should go back."
"How do you know about that?"
"A guess."
"Oh."
Cagalli looked down, her flushed cheeks slowly fading as a more resolute expression emerged, a hint of her royal poise shining through her clear eyes.
"Will ZAFT attack Orb?" she asked.
"Orb isn't PLANT's enemy. If we do take control of the Alliance's mass accelerators, the Atlantic Federation is the one you'll have to worry about."
Cagalli had no counter-argument; it was a straightforward reality.
"I'll also try my best to reduce any hostility from ZAFT toward Orb. You should return."
When he had brought her back, He Kui had already decided that he would work to gain alliances with countries outside of the Atlantic Federation. As someone no longer in the shadows, his reputation and skills were valuable assets.
"Can I still come back here if I don't go to May City?" she asked softly. Here, she could forget her royal identity and the troubles outside.
"Of course."
"Liar. There aren't even any flights here!" She glared at him with a hint of resentment.
"Then I'll fly this asteroid over to you?"
"You'd crash it into Earth!"
"It won't come to that." He Kui chuckled and took out two round, plush owls from his pocket. "Let these two keep you company when I'm not around."
"Mm... You did say you liked me, didn't you?" Holding the two cute owls, Cagalli's expression softened, recalling her days of sharing her thoughts with a little companion.
"I do."
"Then I'll wait for you in Orb," she murmured, leaning over to kiss him gently on the cheek.
"That's a blessing, right? I'll think about it more. But if you can't stay in PLANT, you can come to Orb."
In PLANT, He Kui was the only person Cagalli could rely on. Her dependence on him had, over time and under his warmth and understanding, shifted into something like affection. Even his parents and the little owl had played their part.
"I will."
A future in Orb wasn't a bad option. If he ever lost in the political or military struggles to come, it would be good to have a backup plan. Cagalli's sentiment was rare, and without the visible affection meter, He Kui wouldn't have known she had gradually fallen for him in her own way.
He Kui leaned in closer, pressing his lips against hers, savoring the sweet warmth that surrounded him.
[Cagalli Yula Athha's affection: 80]
[Bonus: 4]
[Physical Ability A Grade (15432/100,000)]
"Now, that's a blessing," he murmured.
"Pervert!"
With a playful scowl, she turned and hurried out of the field she had tended for so long.
There was no need to rush things further—after all, she was a princess. He'd wait for the right opportunity to see her in Orb.
Once Cagalli was out of sight, He Kui returned to focusing on his work, extracting and refining Mirage Colloid particles in his company's lab. As for his director duties, he fully relied on remote work.
Three days later, he finally completed the process of coating the armor in Mirage Colloid and returned to his office in May City, satisfied.
Without delay, he submitted his proposal for the development of medical nanobots to the district governor's desk.
"He Kui, how confident are you about the development of these nanobots?"
For the first time, He Kui saw an unusual seriousness on the governor's face.
"With the fundamentals, I should be able to make progress, but as with any research, I can't guarantee it one hundred percent."
"You understand the potential of this technology, don't you?"
"Yes."
"I'll report this directly to Representative Amalfi. In the meantime, wait for further instructions."
"And your Gundam project—how's that progressing?"
"I'm still refining the frame design."
"That's an area where your expertise is lacking."
"If you have any questions, consult with Elin. She'll help you."
"Yes."
"With the Strengthening Operation starting soon, be careful and avoid unnecessary risks," the governor advised. "If the Alliance learns we're preparing for the final battle, they'll throw every spy they have at us."
Since tightening entry regulations, they had caught more spies, making it harder for infiltrators to enter. But nobody could guarantee they were all gone; they might still be lying in wait, planning to sow chaos when the decisive battle began.
"During the Strengthening Operation, I'd like to work remotely from the asteroid," he added.
"That's fine. It's very secure there," the governor replied, a hint of envy in his expression. An asteroid, after all, was quite a fortress. Even standard MS couldn't easily conquer it. With the asteroid sealed off, no spy could infiltrate it.
However, asteroids were now in high demand, as everyone wanted their own secret base amid the uncertain times. Their unique nature made permits difficult to obtain, but He Kui had managed to secure one ahead of time, always seeming to be one step ahead.
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