Seeing her somewhat embarrassed expression, Felix smiled slightly.
"Not at all, this is what we should do."
With that, Felix extended another invitation.
"Please, Miss Lacus."
"Then I'll accept your kindness."
Having been invited again, Lacus no longer hesitated. A gentle smile appeared on her face as she readily accepted the invitation.
She began walking forward.
Seeing this, Felix walked alongside Lacus, guiding her to the cafeteria where the welcome banquet was being held. The other performers were accompanied by other base personnel to the same location.
While Felix and his group were escorting the performers to the welcome banquet, a meeting was being held inside the Joshua Base.
In an ordinary conference room, Earth Alliance Forces Commander Williams, Chief of Staff Ivanovich, Deputy Commander Xue Ji, and others had gathered.
On the screen at the center of the round table played footage of Felix piloting an MS in combat, with particular emphasis on the White GINN and Dawn units he piloted.
"The purpose of today's meeting is to discuss one thing only: how to eliminate this ace pilot of the ZAFT Forces!"
Williams looked at Ivanovich, Xue Ji, and the other staff officers, cleared his throat, and stated the main agenda of the meeting.
After Williams finished speaking, Ivanovich spoke up.
"Eliminating this guy sounds easy, but it's extremely difficult in practice. Never mind his combat capabilities, we can't even find an opportunity when he's alone.
Under these circumstances, any tactics we devise won't be effective in hunting him down."
"Don't be so pessimistic!"
Xue Ji listened to Ivanovich's somewhat discouraged words and revealed a gentle smile, speaking with a touch of optimism. After hearing this, Ivanovich glanced at Xue Ji without saying a word, then quickly averted his gaze.
He turned his attention to Williams, wanting to hear what good ideas Williams might have.
Williams ignored Ivanovich's gaze and pressed a button on the table, changing the content on the screen.
A training video appeared on the display.
Ivanovich, Xue Ji, and the others focused their attention on the screen, watching the content. After one minute, Xue Ji looked at Williams and asked.
"A Coordinator?"
"No!"
Williams denied it, a slight smile curling at the corner of his mouth as he continued.
"He's a soldier who is more obedient and more powerful than a Coordinator."
These brief words reached Xue Ji's ears, and the optimistic expression on his face instantly vanished. A serious demeanor emerged as he spoke with a grave tone.
"Is your Atlantic Federation conducting human biological experiments?"
"Xue, watch your wording. We would never do anything that violates ethics and disregards humanity!"
The soldiers in the video were able to perform so remarkably thanks to our newly developed training methods. When combined with corresponding medical technology, these methods can unlock human potential, enabling them to achieve feats previously thought impossible.
Moreover, these training methods and medical technologies have undergone rigorous testing and inspection, fully compliant for use. They have no adverse effects on the soldiers."
Williams shook his head with a smile and offered his rebuttal. After hearing this, Xue Ji fixed his deep eyes on him for several seconds before withdrawing his gaze, choosing not to press the matter further.
He understood the situation clearly even without asking, knowing that no amount of questioning would yield the truth at this point.
As for evidence?
That would be even more impossible to find!
After all, the fact that they were shown such a video meant they had made thorough preparations—no evidence or traces would be left behind. Even this video would vanish without a trace.
"In that case, why not leave this matter to the Atlantic Federation's forces to handle?"
Xue Ji leaned back in his chair, a mocking smile playing on his lips as he taunted. Ivanovich glanced at Xue Ji and similarly reclined, watching Williams with a sardonic expression.
The other staff officers present dared not speak, merely observing the subtle power struggle among the three leaders.
Faced with their responses, Williams also leaned back, wearing a mocking smile.
"Handing it over to us is no problem, but if we take on the task while you contribute nothing, wouldn't that be freeloading? There's no such free ride in this world."
"We're allies now—isn't it inappropriate to draw such clear lines? Your words seem to risk damaging our friendship."
Xue Ji smiled, refusing to yield, and immediately took the moral high ground in his retort. Williams, aware he couldn't gain the upper hand verbally, decided to cut to the chase.
"Shouldn't you share the R&D costs?"
"Sharing is possible!" Ivanovich agreed with a laugh after Williams finished, then pivoted, "But shouldn't you also provide us with a copy of the relevant technical data?"
"Of course, but since our personnel will be executing the plan, we're contributing more effort. So, we should pay less. If you're not providing manpower or effort, naturally, you'll need to contribute more funds."
Williams nodded with a smile, continuing to negotiate for advantages. Ivanovich listened and nodded slightly but offered a different stance.
"I agree in principle, but final approval depends on our head of state. I can't give you a definitive answer here."
"Same for me."
Xue Ji echoed Ivanovich's words.
Williams nodded in acknowledgment.
"No problem!"
After speaking, Williams turned his gaze to the other staff officers. Those from allied nations, meeting his eyes, preemptively replied before he could even speak.
"Commander, this matter is beyond our authority to decide. We need to discuss it with the leader to reach a final resolution."
"Hmm."
Looking at them, Williams nodded slightly and let out a hum of acknowledgment.
Then Williams continued, addressing everyone present.
"Through scientific training and pharmaceutical technological assistance, the soldiers we've trained can only increase the probability of success. The entire operation still requires more specific tactical arrangements."
"Regarding this tactic, do any of you have other ideas?"
"My idea is to lure that guy to Earth. In the Earth environment, the execution of all tactics would increase the probability of success."
Ivanovich looked at Williams and voiced his thoughts. After listening, Xue Ji expressed agreement.
"I support the idea of luring him to Earth before carrying out the operation!"
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