After securing both the Aegis 2.0 and other units, He Kui noticed the familiar, boisterous figure of Ro approaching.
"Ro, where've you been lately?" he asked, stepping forward with a friendly smile.
"Oh, we've been all over, and let me tell you, it's been a wild ride!" Ro replied, brimming with excitement. "We even brought back… mmmph!"
Halfway through his story, Ro's mouth was quickly covered by Shuli, leaving He Kui with a guess about what they'd been up to. Could it be that they revived George Glenn's brain? The thought intrigued He Kui. Meeting the first-ever Coordinator, resurrected under such extraordinary circumstances, would be fascinating.
Even though Glenn's form of "resurrection" was far from immortality—his brain would still age, and he'd be deprived of touch and other senses, essentially "imprisoned" in his mind—it was still a medical marvel.
Shaking off his thoughts, He Kui turned to the towering crate Ro's team had just unloaded.
"That's the cargo I need you to handle," he said.
"No problem, leave it to us!" Ro waved with a grin, signaling the team to load the crate.
"Thanks. Staying for a meal?" He Kui offered.
"Not today; we have more work to do. Next time!" Ro said, waving energetically as they headed back to their ship.
He Kui's gaze shifted back to the crate, which stood half the height of a mobile suit. Next to him, Setona peered at it with wide, curious eyes.
"What's in there?"
"It's a crucial part for an upgrade," he replied. The truth was, it was an upgrade for his asteroid's radar. He'd poured the profits from his dealings with Mathias into it, though he wasn't worried about arousing any suspicion. These were minor upgrades, and without his touch, many of the parts wouldn't even function properly.
With the business settled, he turned to Setona, who clung to his hand with a sweet smile.
"Shall we head back for dinner?" He Kui asked.
"I helped Sis Shi He and Sister Su Lei cook today!" she chimed proudly.
"Such a good helper," he praised.
Setona beamed at the compliment, her small hand warm in his grasp. Meanwhile, He Kui's thoughts drifted. He planned to transport the Aegis 1.0 covertly, hidden inside the pilot's cockpit, where his men wouldn't question an extra cargo. Once in South America, he could reconnect with the crew and work on securing an official identity through the President, perhaps even obtaining an MS.
With his plan clear, he returned to the apartment with Setona.
"Look who brought He Kui back!" Setona announced cheerfully as they entered.
"Thank you, Setona," Shi He responded with a warm smile, placing the final dish, steamed fish, on the table.
"Can't believe you still need to be called for dinner," Su Lei quipped, wielding her chopsticks playfully as she eyed him.
"Hey, I'm here now," he replied with a grin.
The gentle banter and the warmth of their company felt like a balm, reminding him of why he was committed to this path. He Kui's focus, his drive—all of it was for these moments of peace with those he cared about.
After dinner, He Kui returned to the Sea Blue Design Bureau, where a newly designated lab awaited him. This underground facility would serve as the primary research site for the nanobot project. Though it wasn't spacious, at around 500 square meters, it was more than enough for nanobot research.
"He Kui, the high-precision microscopes and nanomanipulation systems are ready," reported Hoss, who'd temporarily assumed leadership of the research group here. "We've also got the chemical synthesis equipment and the high-energy computing group in place. However, the etching machine… our current technology isn't advanced enough to achieve the precision required for the nanobots."
Etching machines, crucial for creating tiny structural components, demanded extreme accuracy. Even with the best machines, they required meticulous operator control, something that current automated systems couldn't provide.
"I'll handle modifying the etching machine myself," He Kui assured. "Just get me the highest-grade machine available—budget isn't an issue."
Each etching machine cost billions, but the nanobot project was one of PLANT's most classified initiatives. Given the level of secrecy, He Kui was confident he could secure the funds.
"Understood," Hoss nodded.
"Reach out if anything comes up."
"Off to play the hands-off boss again?" Hoss joked, a bit of exasperation in his tone.
"I just trust you, Hoss." He Kui clapped a hand on his shoulder before striding away. He still needed to prepare the Aegis 1.0 for covert transport and upgrade the radar. The next day, the two Aegis units would reach Earth.
In his mind, He Kui felt reassured by the nanobot project's steady progress. It would keep Amafi and Ailsmann satisfied, while he could focus on operational work, overseeing radar maintenance, and managing the Aegis remotely.
It felt oddly like he was in jail.
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