Muttering to himself and afraid that his mother might actually resort to violence, Fred took the initiative to open the kitchen door and step out.
"Kira, what brings you here?"
"Brother...!"
This being his first time visiting a girl's home, Kira was clearly embarrassed, his gaze darting away nervously.
"Kira said he'd help me review my homework."
Seeing her brother, Flay's tone became even sweeter.
"Oh, shall we go to your room?"
"Um... the living room should be fine, right?"
Hearing Fred's suggestion, Kira grew even more flustered.
The blush that had been confined to his cheeks now spread to the tips of his ears.
"Yeah, that works too."
Watching Kira's reaction, Fred found it hard not to laugh.
Seeing how cautious Kira was actually put him at ease.
The boy seemed about as threatening as a harmless herbivore.
"Brother! If you keep teasing him, I'll hit you!"
Flay, who had also heard Fred's joking remarks, stamped her foot in protest.
"Alright, alright, you two chat. Help yourselves to whatever drinks you want."
"I'm heading upstairs now."
"Brother, aren't you going to cook?"
Flay looked somewhat conflicted at this.
Thanks to two years of living alone, his cooking skills had improved significantly because of his Golden Finger.
He had clearly won over Flay's stomach, among others.
"It's fine, Mom has genuinely learned how to cook."
"I just cooked yesterday, I'll do it again tomorrow."
Fred shrugged.
Life skills like these weren't essential—they were just for variety.
The real valuable assets were knowledge and strength, meaning studying and training.
"Oh~"
Flay sounded disappointed but didn't want to upset their mother.
As for Kira, he was disappointed too, since Fred's cooking was delicious—
whether compared to his own mother's or Aunt Heather's.
But Kira didn't dare express it.
For some reason, whenever he saw the always-smiling Aunt Heather, he felt a bit uneasy, as if she might suddenly scold him.
While the family of four was enjoying their harmonious time together, Lenore, still working overtime in the lab, received a frontline report from Miha.
"Waiting for the right moment...?"
Miha's tone in the report was quite surprised, and Lenore felt the same.
For the past few years, everything had been calm.
She never expected that a twelve-year-old child could possess such composure.
If Fred were a Coordinator, it would be normal.
But he was a Natural.
However... since the boy's abilities already didn't resemble those of a Natural, it wasn't surprising that his temperament was the same.
So, the comments he made during the meal couldn't have been a slip of the tongue—they were intentional.
Was it a test, or an offer of allegiance?
Lenore couldn't decipher it, but she recognized Fred's value.
"I should inform Pat."
As she spoke, Lenore's gaze shifted to the rotating gene chain of Wheat Strain No. 17 displayed on the 3D screen before her.
If Fred joined them, they might be able to achieve mass production of food more quickly. She wasn't referring to the present, of course, but to the boy's future.
The survival of PLANT's future might, at least in part, rest on his shoulders.
...
Time seemed to leave no trace on the moon, where darkness prevailed for thirty days at a stretch, and three days passed in the blink of an eye.
That night, a young man still wandering the streets in search of a target was apprehended on the pedestrian walkway.
"What are you doing!?"
The restrained young man glared fiercely at the burly men who had suddenly rushed out, showing no sign of backing down.
"Do you even know who my father is! Who sent you to mess with me!"
However, the surrounding men showed no reaction to his words, except for a faint trace of mockery in their eyes.
"Cody Peak, we are now formally arresting you in the name of the Copernicus Municipal Management Committee for 'endangering the city's neutral status' and 'disrupting public safety.'"
"You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say may be used as evidence in court."
"You have the right to appoint a lawyer. If you cannot afford one, the court will appoint one for you."
"Please cooperate with our work. We will now apply the restraint device. Thank you for your cooperation."
Though the words were polite, the tone was rigid. Despite mentioning cooperation, they didn't wait for the young man's response before putting the strong magnetic handcuffs on him.
"Do you know what you're doing!? My father won't let you get away with this!"
"Your father has already been detained. You can talk inside."
"Though he's in for corruption, so probably not in the same area as you."
The plainclothes leader sneered at the young man's threats.
What a fool, not even knowing who he had offended.
This was direct pressure from the Actaeon Company.
And with ironclad evidence at that.
Attempted assault on immediate family members of diplomatic personnel, plus attempted destruction of maintenance port facilities.
While both were attempted crimes and not the most severe offenses, thanks to Actaeon's involvement, both father and son were receiving premium treatment - truly VIP class.
Detention was certain, but when they might get out? Only heaven knew.
"How... how is this possible?"
Hearing that his father had also been detained, the young man's fierce expression vanished. He went limp as if his soul had been drained away.
Even he, foolish as he was, understood the severity of those two charges.
If his father was also detained...
Then there was no one left to protect him.
It was practically a death sentence.
"Why?"
The young man muttered as two officers supported him.
Of course, no one answered his question, but in his heart, he vaguely knew the answer.
Fred...
The person his father had warned him not to provoke...
If only he had known earlier...
But the world rarely offers second chances.
Like this young man now.
Arrogant for too long, domineering and overbearing.
He had forgotten his place and overestimated the power of local influence.
When you mess with the wrong person...
Naturally, all that awaits is a future stepping straight into the grave.
...
Meanwhile, in an office not too far away at L5, Patrick - the only one working - took a moment to read the report before him, his eyes shining with curiosity.
"Quite interesting."
The follow-up handling was standard procedure, but the key was Fred's initial response.
To detect that virus's presence required deep computer expertise first.
Many Coordinators Fred's age didn't possess that capability.
Not to mention Fred's increasingly skilled control of Mobile Armors, plus his agricultural research abilities.
More like a Coordinator than the Coordinators themselves.
Of course, Coordinators are merely the result of genetic modification, and it's not impossible for Naturals to possess such talents.
But without exception, they are all once-in-a-generation geniuses.
In his view, unless the Leader of Blue Cosmos was a fool, he wouldn't allow such talent to roam freely and even work as a spy.
It would be disastrous if someone were to poach them.
"Are you really not a spy?"
Patrick murmured to himself. Despite his decisive nature, he couldn't help but feel troubled.
"Still, I can't let my guard down. I'll test the waters slowly..."
As he spoke, the office once again fell into a deathly silence, with only the occasional sound of Patrick tapping on the keyboard echoing through the dim, enclosed room.