Chapter 326: Mind Control and Mendel's Research

Following Lowe's New Holme, the group officially embarked on their journey to South America. As for the component that flew away, He Kui had already programmed it to head to Ptolemaios automatically. At least this way, he could return one of its legs. Hopefully, ZAFT wouldn't be too petty about him taking a few of their components.

"Aegis, what are you thinking about?" Elina, who had just finished admiring the fully assembled Strike, excitedly asked. Her bright, curious eyes locked onto He Kui, who seemed lost in thought.

"…Nothing."

He Kui wasn't sure if the SEED universe had Newtypes, but Elina's intuition certainly rivaled Rau Le Creuset's. Le Creuset once ignored radar and directly sensed He Kui tailing him. Similarly, Elina could detect He Kui's emotional fluctuations even through the robot. It was an ability no ordinary person could possess.

Moreover, it seemed this intuition had grown stronger since Elina arrived in space.

"Elina, do you feel like your intuition has become sharper?"

"Hmm?" Elina tilted her head in thought, looking up at the Strike. "I think my skills have gotten better, but I haven't had a chance to practice. Do you think we can go back to Brazil and fight again, Aegis?"

Her eyes sparkled with anticipation.

"…Maybe," He Kui said, realizing he had nearly forgotten that Elina was still a formidable warrior.

"That depends on what the president and the Ministry of Defense decide."

In any case, he planned to have Elina by his side during future battles—not just because he liked her, but also because he was intrigued by Newtypes. Through her, he might learn more about these extraordinary beings.

Back in South America, He Kui would likely be busy. After all, he owed them another Strike since this one had been forcibly turned into a hybrid.

"If only I could fight alongside you in this machine," Elina said wistfully.

He Kui didn't respond but silently considered his options. His reaction time was now fast enough to pilot manually without relying on the cockpit's connection cables. Although more complex, he could synchronize his hand movements with the machine's logic, a feat not too difficult for someone of his near-S-rank ability.

Now wasn't the time to explain all this to Elina.

As he pondered, a holographic figure appeared beside them—it was the familiar captain-like visage of George Glenn. His impossibly handsome features almost made it seem like he had artificially enhanced his appearance.

"George, don't you need to pilot the ship?" He Kui asked, glancing at him.

"It's fine! Auto-pilot is handling everything. Although, technically, I'm the auto-pilot," George said before breaking into a strange, hearty laugh.

Elina took a step back, looking at him with an expression that said, My mom told me not to talk to idiots.

Amused by Elina's reaction, He Kui shook his head. "George, may I ask you a few questions?"

"Go ahead," George replied, transforming his holographic appearance into that of a refined gentleman. He even gave a courteous bow.

"How can Coordinators and Naturals stop fighting?"

"Stop… stop…" George's holographic form glitched, turning into a pixelated mess, his voice stuttering like a broken record.

"Aegis! I think you broke George!" Elina exclaimed, looking around nervously. "No one saw it, right? Let's run away!"

"…He's joking," He Kui said with a sigh. George's form soon returned to normal, his mischievous grin broader than ever.

"How was my performance? Believable?" George asked playfully.

"Not bad. If I didn't know your brain couldn't crash like that, I might've believed it," He Kui replied, his voice tinged with exasperation.

"Thank you! But regarding your question, I don't have an answer. I'm just the first Coordinator ever created, not a god."

George's holographic form shifted into a garishly bright angel, the light so dazzling that He Kui squinted reflexively.

"Do you think Newtypes could be gods?" He Kui asked, steering the conversation back on track.

Hearing this, George's expression grew uncharacteristically serious as he returned to his captain form.

"Newtypes are like us, just better adapted to space environments. They can help humanity explore the vast universe," George said thoughtfully.

"What if someone could read minds or even influence others emotionally? Would that person be a Newtype?"

"If it's limited to a small range, anyone can do that," George replied. "Seeing someone cry makes you sad; seeing someone laugh makes you happy."

As he spoke, George's face morphed into a bizarre expression, one side smiling, the other crying.

"But what if being around someone makes people feel an uncontrollable urge to get closer to them?"

"Aegis, we usually call that love," George quipped, his teasing tone making He Kui's mouth twitch in irritation.

Communicating with this man was exhausting.

"Aegis, are you in love with someone?!" Elina interjected, her voice laced with curiosity and alarm.

"No… I'm just asking," He Kui replied, exasperated.

"Well, I've heard there were studies on the mind conducted in Mendel. Something about brain development," George said, his playful demeanor fading as he grew contemplative.

"Do you know anything specific?" He Kui pressed.

"Not much. It was over a decade ago, and back then, I was busy studying fossils on 'Ecliptic,'" George replied.

"I see. Thank you."

"Glad I could help," George said before his holographic form vanished, leaving He Kui and Elina alone in front of the Strike.

If Mendel had indeed conducted research on the mind, it might also tie into studies on Newtypes. However, during his previous visit, He Kui hadn't found any clues related to this. It seemed he would need to make another trip to Mendel.

"Do you plan to go there, Aegis?" Elina asked, sensing his thoughts.

"This world is too vast, and too many dangers lurk beneath the surface of this war," He Kui said.

"Don't worry," Elina said softly, placing her hand on his head. She didn't fully understand the conversation's implications but could feel He Kui's urgency.

"Elina, if South America achieves peace one day, would you like to go to space?" He Kui asked.

"Of course! I want to go with you!" Elina exclaimed, her excitement lighting up her face.

Seeing her joyful expression, He Kui felt a sense of relief.

"I have something to do. I'll head back to the cockpit for now," He Kui said.

"Okay."

"If anything comes up, let me know. And I'd like to go with you too," he added

with a smile.

"Mm!" Elina nodded enthusiastically, her lips curving into a radiant smile.

(End of Chapter)