Chapter 312: The Plot Begins Again 3
Just as Nicol sensed something was wrong and was about to flee, Liza appeared behind him with a submachine gun raised and said, "Please cooperate and don't move. Otherwise, if Miss Lacus were accidentally hurt, that would be very bad."
Nicol was instantly thrown into panic by this move. He turned around and looked at his former classmate Liza, completely unsure how to deal with the situation.
In his fluster, he instinctively blurted out her name. "Miss Liza, I'm not a bad person. I don't have any malicious intent toward Miss Lacus. I'm really just an ordinary fan."
Liza kept the submachine gun trained on him and pressed on relentlessly. "An ordinary fan? I don't even know you—so how do you know my name?
Speak! Are you some kind of perverted peeping tom? Do you have improper intentions toward Miss Lacus?!"
Nicol grew more and more confused and said incoherently, "I really didn't come to spy on anyone. I'm not a bad person. I don't have any malicious intent. I'm not lying to you—please believe me."
Liza still held the submachine gun, her expression stern. "Since you're not a bad person, then don't move around recklessly. Please come with us and cooperate with the investigation."
At this moment, Lacus looked at the handwriting and name on the photo and called out to Nicol, "Nicol Amalfi!"
"Yes—!" Nicol responded instinctively, then hurriedly denied it. "N-no, that's not right. I'm not Nicol Amalfi. Miss Lacus, you got it wrong. My name is Nifimar Alt."
Lacus gently waved the pen in her hand and said with a smile, "Whether that's true or not, we'll know once we check your fingerprints. And I already had Liza secretly follow and investigate you—you often go to visit your parents, don't you?"
It was only then that Tolle, watching secretly, realized he had overlooked this issue as well. When he gave Nicol the nanotech armor, he had forgotten to add a function to disguise fingerprints.
It was over. Completely busted.
Although it was only a matter of time, he hadn't expected Nicol to be exposed this quickly. Lacus really was exceptionally sharp.
"Of course, you don't have to admit it," Lacus continued calmly. "I'll just have my father thoroughly investigate your fingerprints. If something turns up and implicates certain people, there won't be anything I can do about that."
Hearing that his parents might be implicated, Nicol said in panic, "Miss Lacus, please don't do that. I really don't have any malicious intent."
Lacus then said with a serious expression, "Nicol… should have died on Earth.
But you happen to have the same name as him. Even though your appearance is different, your voice is very similar.
As for the fingerprints, we'll know your identity once they're scanned.
So… if you truly have no malicious intent, can you prove your identity?"
"Miss Lacus, I am Nicol." With no other options left, Nicol could only reveal the truth. He deactivated the nanotech armor on his face, revealing his original appearance.
Seeing Nicol's facial features change, Lacus said in shock, "You really are Nicol? I never thought you were actually still alive."
Nicol lowered his head in dejection and replied, "Yes, Miss Lacus. I didn't die."
"But that sword clearly struck the cockpit of the Blitz Gundam. How could you be completely unharmed?"
"Miss Lacus, that… actually… I was rescued ahead of time."
Nicol had no idea how to explain this to Lacus. He couldn't expose his knowledge of future events, so he could only stammer his way through. "The person who saved me said that you would encounter danger, so he sent me to protect you."
Lacus asked in confusion, "I'll encounter danger? And he sent you to protect me? Then who exactly is the person who saved you? Can you tell me?"
Nicol thought for a moment. Tolle hadn't warned him not to tell Lacus any important information.
Besides, Tolle had already told Mina and Yulia in Orb about these matters, so revealing a bit to Lacus shouldn't be a problem. Otherwise, if his parents were implicated, that would be far worse.
And some things were going to have to be told to Lacus sooner or later anyway. Since he was already exposed, saying it earlier probably wouldn't be an issue.
"Miss Lacus, because you are the future hope of this world, that person asked me to protect you and ensure your safety at all costs."
Lacus looked at Nicol in bewilderment. From what Malchio had told her, the future hope wasn't supposed to be her—it was supposed to be Kira. How had it suddenly become her instead?
She asked in confusion, "Isn't the future hope and savior of this world supposed to be Kira? How did it become me?"
Nicol pondered for a moment, then explained, "Kira may indeed be able to bring an end to the war.
But… the one who can truly bring peace and hope to this world is still only Miss Lacus."
"Why me, and not someone else?"
"I've already witnessed Miss Lacus's wisdom firsthand, so there's no doubt about it."
"But everyone says that Kira is that person. Why are you so certain it's me?"
"Kira may be the strongest warrior, capable of resolving localized conflicts.
But to truly lead the entire world into peace requires humanitarian wisdom, long-term vision, and the courage to push forward. That person is Miss Lacus—you."
Hearing this praise, Lacus reverted to her airheaded smile and said, "I didn't expect my evaluation in your heart to be so high. Thank you very much."
Looking at Lacus's captivating smile, Nicol said shyly, "Not at all. This is all what Tolle told—?!"
Watching from the sidelines, Tolle covered his face helplessly. Nicol, you pig teammate. I can't believe you sold me out this fast.
Nicol instantly panicked as well, realizing he had exposed Tolle so quickly.
Just as he was about to explain, Lacus dropped another bombshell.
"Tolle? Tolle Kne? Shouldn't he have died as well? And Kira saw him die by Athrun's hand with his own eyes."
Seeing that everything was already exposed, Nicol decided to give up entirely. "Sigh, yes, it was him. He saved me too. But Miss Lacus, could you please help us keep this secret?
Especially don't tell Kira. After all, all of this was done to help him grow into the strongest Coordinator, so we had no choice but to do it this way."