On the other side, unaware of the content of the others' discussions but keenly sensing the undercurrents surging within PLANT, Fred continued to cultivate his own small domain.
Today, having obtained permission, he arrived at the previously visited Hidden Port and began piloting the Powered Armor.
Although it was only his second time piloting, he had become noticeably more proficient.
The set of Wing Chun punches executed by the youth in the Powered Armor still moved in a somewhat jerky manner, but it was visibly smoother than before.
This was largely thanks to Fred's recent breakthrough in combat skills.
Of course, reaction speed was just the foundation; the most important factor was the improvement in his own experience piloting the Powered Armor.
This time, he needed to test his limits.
Only then could he formulate a proper training plan.
As for how to maximize the use of his Golden Finger, after more than a decade, Fred already had his own set of methods.
While Fred trained earnestly, outside the glass, besides Alec, there was also Aisha, who wore an equally astonished expression.
"How did Miss Aisha come here?"
As a bodyguard, Alec asked with a hint of politeness, looking at the woman who had grown quite close to Andrew.
"I am the person in charge here. Didn't Mr. Alec know that?"
Upon hearing this, Aisha withdrew some of the surprise from her face and replied gracefully.
Unlike the demure demeanor she displayed in front of Andrew, Aisha now spoke with an air of intellectual beauty.
The charm she exuded was like a flower of understanding that most people would want to pluck.
Of course, this did not include Fred or the Alec standing before her.
It was unclear what backgrounds the two had, but neither seemed ordinary.
Though, upon reflection, it was obvious: if they were ordinary, how could they appear here and come with Andrew?
Moreover, it was clear that Andrew took considerable care of this junior.
Almost like a friend.
Thinking this, Aisha tilted her head slightly, adopting a curious expression.
"Uh..."
Upon hearing this, Alec's thick eyebrows and large eyes widened slightly.
He truly hadn't known, as during their last meeting, this Aisha had left with Andrew. Who could have guessed?
"But speaking of which, your boss is too exaggerated, isn't this only his second time piloting?"
Aisha's red lips parted slightly as she asked.
During his first piloting session, his performance had been average, typical of an ordinary Coordinator's first contact with Powered Armor, so she hadn't paid much attention.
But how had he improved so much during this second training session?
His growth trajectory had already surpassed that of an ordinary Coordinator.
It was unlikely he was pretending to be weak.
After all, if Andrew said he was his junior and that it was his first time piloting, he wouldn't lie.
Because that was Andrew.
"Hmm..."
Across from Aisha, Alec did not answer her question.
This was confidential; even Andrew hadn't spoken about it, so he certainly couldn't.
"Hmm~"
Aisha, not receiving an answer, wasn't annoyed. She simply withdrew her gaze and looked at the youth's boxing techniques inside the reinforced glass window.
Who knew where this genius had come from?
It was just a pity about the hereditary eye disease.
As Aisha sighed inwardly, time quietly slipped away, and two or three hours passed just like that.
As time passed, the astonishment on Aisha's face became increasingly evident.
Powered Armor placed a significant burden on Coordinators.
Such extended periods were unbearable even for ordinary Coordinators - it induced a sensation similar to seasickness, something she knew all too well from her initial training days where she had suffered considerably.
With this in mind, watching Fred still practicing some unknown martial arts form inside the training area, Aisha glanced at Alec beside her for what felt like the hundredth time. Finally unable to hold back, she spoke softly with deliberate tact.
"Shouldn't we call him out for dinner?"
Even for training, he didn't need to push himself this hard.
It seemed as if this was his only chance.
The higher-ups had already granted him permission to come on schedule.
She feared the young man might collapse inside that armor.
Andrew would be heartbroken.
To avoid hurting the seemingly young man's pride, she even offered him an easy way out.
"..."
Alec felt somewhat conflicted upon hearing this.
After all, the duration was indeed excessive.
Even ordinary Coordinators rarely wore Powered Armor continuously for three hours during combat operations.
The elite special forces were the exception.
While Fred undoubtedly possessed Ace-level combat skills, his foundation remained that of a Natural.
However, this line of thought didn't last long. Watching Fred's movements gradually slow down, Alec pondered briefly before shaking his head.
"No need."
Fred was someone who knew his own mind.
He wasn't the type to push himself beyond reasonable limits.
If he hadn't emerged yet, it meant he could still endure.
Though Alec didn't understand why Fred was driving the Powered Armor with such desperate intensity, this didn't prevent him from respecting Fred's choice.
Beside him, Aisha's perfectly shaped lips parted slightly.
Was this really a bodyguard?
Not even consulting the person involved before deciding?
Or did Alec actually hold some grudge against him?
Just as Aisha was mentally criticizing this and preparing to bypass Alec to contact Fred directly, the movements within the training area gradually ceased.
With slight bursts from the attitude adjustment nozzles at his feet, the young man finally piloted the Powered Armor back to its fixed position.
...
"Are you alright?"
Meeting Fred upon his return, Aisha immediately floated over.
The young man before her was breathing heavily, his face pale as if suffering from motion sickness.
But this was understandable - for an ordinary Coordinator to operate the equipment just twice, with the second session lasting three consecutive hours, it would be strange not to feel disoriented.
This was Zero-Gravity Space, where even a casual wave of the hand could disrupt one's posture adjustment through inertia.
Let alone while piloting Powered Armor.
Or rather, merely feeling dizzy was already fortunate.
Just as Aisha prepared to continue expressing concern for Andrew's junior, Fred raised his hand.
"I'm... fine."
"No need to worry."
Though he still felt the world spinning around him and somewhat drained of strength, Fred was genuinely alright.
The hardships he'd endured during physical training were far greater than this.
While Dynamic Mass Balance Control could be handled automatically by the computer, if he didn't first adapt to and master this entirely new form of movement, he would never become a top-tier pilot in the future.
To avoid dying in the future and protect his family.
Feeling a bit dizzy and physically drained now was nothing.
His current abilities were too poor, and he had started late to begin with.
With only a few years left, given his present capabilities, if he were to go directly to the battlefield, not even Creuset—even an ordinary Coordinator could kill him.
His MS control had started late as well, so he needed to replan and allocate more weight to MS control for his future Golden Finger.
As he thought this, numerous numerical values appeared before Fred's eyes.
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