The target was a Replica, exceptionally capable and intent on taking revenge on the world. Killing him now was indeed the safest course of action.
Although Siegel was moved by the Replica's tragic background, he had not reached the point of deciding to spare him. After all, eliminating a Replica bent on destroying the world was the logical choice.
Moreover, the situation was completely under their control. This was the best opportunity to act.
Now, Siegel also understood why Fred had kept Patrick in the dark. If Patrick were to learn of Creuset's existence, it was hard to say whether his friend might be tempted to exploit him. But using someone like Creuset came with far too many uncertainties.
"Understood."
After a brief pause, Fred replied, his emotions complex. Killing Creuset had been his goal for some time, yet he couldn't help but feel a mix of thoughts toward this tragic figure.
Despite his inner turmoil, Fred's hand did not hesitate. He placed his finger on the button.
The net he had deployed not only restrained its target but could also release a powerful electric current, ensuring a painless and instantaneous death.
"I'm sorry. I won't let others experience your despair."
Fred spoke these words without using a voice modulator, then pressed the switch for the Electric Net.
Hearing the solemn tone in the other's voice, Creuset's fury was replaced by shock. Realizing something, his anger suddenly transformed into a smile—not one of relief, but one filled with complexity.
He didn't know if the other person was from The Clan, but it was clear that this opponent had no real intention of reshaping the world. In the end, he had been deceived by this seemingly prescient trap.
He wanted to laugh. What was this? Had fate been too cruel to him? But before he could dwell on it, a powerful numbness washed over him, and he lost consciousness completely.
"Is he… dead?"
Fred watched through the monitor as Creuset lay there, seemingly asleep, unsure of what to say.
Beside him, Alec remained silent, observing Fred's decisiveness. This was the first time he had seen Fred take a life—perhaps even the first person Fred had ever killed.
But he had heard every word Creuset said and witnessed his formidable capabilities. Only by eliminating him could the danger be eradicated.
"It's not your fault."
Alec sighed, placing a broad, warm hand on Fred's shoulder in an attempt to comfort him.
"I know."
Fred composed himself, his expression turning calm as he responded and raised a hand to his mask. As his fingers brushed against the cold surface, a sense of relief washed over him.
He had taken this step forward, and he never believed it was his fault to begin with. Creuset had killed his own family here without hesitation. Fred was merely delivering retribution in advance.
However, although he had temporarily extinguished the dangerous flames, if the emergence of Replicas was not nipped in the bud, more Creusets would appear in the future. Destroying the Library and those facilities using Replicas was what needed to be done next.
Creuset was dead, but if Replicas still existed in the world, countless masked men would continue to appear.
Of course, he himself was now a masked man, and as one who had replaced Creuset, having taken this position, he should guide the world toward a better direction.
At the very least, he needed to lay a solid foundation here and now.
Thus, Creuset's death was only the first step of the plan, and a greater sense of responsibility began to brew in Fred's heart at this moment.
In the future, the best solution would still be to plan and blow up all research facilities, including those of the Atlantic Federation, that dealt with Enhanced Persons and Replicas.
Otherwise, who knew whether Creuset's genes had been leaked.
He remembered that even Mu had a Copy.
Comment User:
Copies are the technology of the Library and are not the same as the Atlantic Federation's Bio-CPUs (Enhanced Persons, Extended Humans).
"Let's blow up the research institute."
Fred quickly followed up.
Considering that the first Coordinator could revive as long as his brain remained intact, Fred did not end the operation immediately but instead gave cautious orders.
Upon hearing this, Haken and the others, who were lying in ambush in the distance, responded one after another, while also feeling somewhat surprised by Fred's composure.
For professionals like them, killing the mad Creuset didn't evoke much emotion.
But Fred, who had just killed someone and was now being so cautious as to leave no body or traces behind, was completely unexpected for Haken and the others.
In fact, Haken had wanted to remind him earlier.
Who would have thought...
On the other hand, after confirming that Fred had killed the target without much hesitation, Siegel felt a mix of emotions—whether it was wariness or relief, he couldn't quite say.
But regardless, this step had already been taken.
"Father..."
Not long after, Lacus walked back in, her expression unchanged from before.
"Fred, I never expected this."
Siegel sighed to Lacus, giving her a brief explanation of what had just happened.
If Fred's goal truly was to maintain world peace through balance, then they would remain allies.
"Hmm..."
Upon hearing this, Lacus lowered her eyes, concealing the thoughts swirling within them.
She had witnessed Creuset's twisted nature.
There was no pulling him back.
In the face of peace, such actions were indeed necessary, and they were nothing extraordinary. But for the sake of peace, how many people would have to be killed?
How many lives could be saved by killing this person in the future? Was such calculation too cold and detached? Lacus couldn't sort through these thoughts at the moment.
As for Fred on the other side, he was not troubled by such questions.
For him, he had simply eliminated someone ahead of time—someone who had caused the deaths of tens of thousands of soldiers, sought to destroy the world, and would have taken countless women, children, and even his own family with him.
He had done what he had to do. Although it wasn't a fair victory, if the other had simply challenged him to a duel, he wouldn't have chosen this path.
As Fred pondered, a burst of flames followed by an explosion erupted before the young man's lens.
"Breach complete."
Though surprised, Haken faithfully carried out the order.
Just as Fred was about to let out a sigh of relief, an alarm sounded—this time not from the screen, but from within the ship itself.
The alarm was urgent, stirring an inexplicable sense of unease in anyone who heard it.
However, both men were professionals and showed no panic. Alec quickly followed to the communicator.
"What's happening?"
"There are Battleships outside. It seems they're about to attack us."
The Captain remained relatively calm, though he spoke with urgency.
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