In South America, He Kui was still helping Elena upgrade her system. Meanwhile, in Orb, his other self was busy hacking into the municipal system to create a fake birth certificate for himself—and figuring out how to make some money.
He had no capital, but he had skills. After all, he was already at S-rank; he certainly wasn't about to starve in Orb.
However, he soon realized he had underestimated Orb as a nation.
"You mean you don't need custom work here?"
He Kui frowned as he looked at the employee at a robotic pet store.
"I told you, we don't need it! Now, get lost."
The clerk gave him a disgusted look, shooing him away the moment he mentioned he was a Coordinator specializing in custom work.
"Unbelievable, another Coordinator showing up."
"If you don't mind me asking… isn't Orb supposed to be a country where Naturals and Coordinators coexist?"
He Kui wasn't actually upset; he'd long since developed a calm disposition. After all, he had dealt with protesters on PLANT who opposed his weapons research.
"Who wants to coexist with your kind? Just get lost!"
He Kui smiled, turning to leave. But before he walked out, he pressed a button on his interference device.
Instantly, all the robotic pets in the store went haywire.
Amused, He Kui watched the chaos unfold inside as pets ran amok and the clerk was buried under the frenzied machines. But the situation soon had him back in thought.
Orb's propaganda was certainly strong—so much for coexistence. No wonder Erica, as director of Morgenroete, kept her Coordinator status hidden.
This small town only had one chain store like this. Did that mean he'd have to swim to the main island of Orb? It was crowded there, making it harder to operate discreetly. But he couldn't gather more intel without going.
Just as he was deep in thought, a girl's cheerful voice chimed beside him.
"Did you do that, Sis?"
The girl looked at him, her bright eyes shining with admiration.
"Do what?"
"Hehe, I get it! Sis, you're amazing!"
"Our company's interference devices can't do anything like that!"
Hearing the word "company," He Kui's curiosity was piqued, and he stopped in his tracks, turning to look at the girl with orange hair. Her natural hair color suggested she was also a Coordinator.
Quickly, He Kui recalled a name associated with her description.
"That store belongs to the Sahalin family. They can't stand Coordinators."
"Who just walks in saying they're a Coordinator?" the girl laughed.
"I see. Thank you for the tip."
Sahalin… If he remembered correctly, that family was connected to Athrun's later rival, the one who'd eventually be killed by Andrew Waltfeld. So, family-run businesses were a hallmark of Orb?
Then again, PLANT had plenty of family businesses, especially given the influence of certain princesses.
"And you are?"
Though he had a guess, He Kui asked anyway, studying the girl in front of him.
"My name is Lasse Winslet. Nice to meet you~" The girl curtsied with a European grace.
"So, a Miss Winslet," He Kui replied with a polite smile.
The Winslet family was one of their suppliers, contracted to produce the tank treads for BuCUE units, similar to the Earth-based Actaeon Company.
But considering Lasse was a Coordinator, the Winslets weren't exactly popular in the Atlantic Federation either. As a military supplier, He Kui was aware of their background and their ties to Princess Lacus, given that Lasse's father was part of the Scandinavian Kingdom and connected to the royal family.
Otherwise, a Natural-led company wouldn't have secured the BuCUE contract.
He hadn't expected her to show up here in Orb.
"You know about us?!"
Lasse's eyes sparkled with excitement, her innocent personality shining through.
"Well, as contractors, your business is fairly well-known."
"Hehe, where are you staying, Sis?"
"Me? I just arrived."
"Our company is hiring! Do you want to join us, Sis?"
Lasse stood with her hands on her hips, looking every bit like a tiny CEO.
"…You have a company in Orb?"
He Kui asked curiously.
"Of course! We're staying here for now, planning to open a small research facility. My dad says it's safe here~"
"Safe…"
Moving to Orb for safety was a bit like walking into the lion's den. It was as if they were inviting trouble.
"Our company is on the main island of Orb! It's way better than this backwater place."
Oblivious to He Kui's thoughts, Lasse chattered on enthusiastically.
"You don't even know my skill set, though."
"Oh, I do! Sis, what you did back there was way beyond our current tech."
"It doesn't matter if you had a previous job, either. Our pay is sure to satisfy you!"
In Lasse's eyes, this sister in front of her obviously wasn't with ZAFT—she was here on Earth, after all, not out in space. That ruled out ZAFT scientists roaming freely like this. If she wasn't from ZAFT, she was probably from a big Earth company like Actaeon or one of the others.
Though the Winslets couldn't compete with Actaeon, they could still afford to poach a skilled technician or two. Imagining her father's approving reaction, Lasse clung even tighter to the hem of He Kui's cloak.
"Alright."
It was like a gift from the heavens; his problem with getting to Orb's main island was solved. Now he had a destination.
And the Winslet company
, as an international contractor, likely had access to a wealth of information. Perfect for playing things by ear.
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