Eno Kamal Was a Spy

Time passed quickly.

Thanks to Athrun and the others feeding him, Eno's skills improved at an astonishing rate.

In the instructor's office.

Instructor Natarle silently flipped through Eno's file.

Eno was growing at a far faster rate than expected—

That was the conclusion drawn from the entire report.

"Thirteenth overall..."

Looking at Eno Kamal's latest results, Instructor Natarle closed the file with a complicated expression and set it on the desk.

Eno's talent made her genuinely happy for him.

In fact, among the Mobile Suit pilots ranked in the top twenty overall at the military academy, the chance of being killed on the front lines was very low.

According to a comprehensive analysis of various statistics from the National Defense Staff,

the battlefield survival rate for pilots ranked in the top twenty was over sixty percent.

For the top ten, it was eighty percent.

For the top three, it was over ninety percent.

Of course, these weren't absolute figures; they were based on an overall analysis of the battlefield.

So Eno now had what it took to survive on the front lines.

Knock, knock—

A knock at the door interrupted Instructor Natarle's thoughts.

"Come in."

Instructor Natarle gathered her thoughts.

"Excuse me!"

As the words fell, an adjutant in a military uniform opened the door, walked in, and saluted Instructor Natarle. "Chief of Staff Natarle, the vehicle is ready."

"Understood."

After speaking, Instructor Natarle rose from her seat, straightened her purple officer's uniform, and walked away from the desk.

As one of the main figures in the staff department, Instructor Natarle was entitled to wear a purple officer's uniform, commonly known as the Purple Uniform.

The adjutant in a black uniform stepped aside to clear the way, then followed Instructor Natarle out.

Halfway there, Instructor Natarle suddenly stopped and turned her head toward the distant Mobile Suit training grounds.

Countless Mobile Suits were training there.

"The ace pilot who decides the course of the battlefield..."

For no particular reason, Chief of Staff Natarle recalled Eno's grandiose claim from back then.

But now, for some reason, she had the feeling that those exaggerated words were gradually becoming reality somewhere beyond her own awareness.

By the time Chief of Staff Natarle arrived at the Ministry of Defense building, Patrick Zala and the others had already gathered in the conference room.

Although no large-scale fighting had broken out between the Earth Alliance and PLANT yet, everyone knew this was only temporary. Both sides were striving to build up their strength, intending to crush the other once and for all at some point in the future.

With the help of the sentries on guard, Natarle entered the Ministry of Defense building's war room in her capacity as chief of staff.

"Hm?"

However, she encountered someone rather unusual there: Rau Le Creuset, dressed in a white uniform.

For some reason she couldn't explain, Natarle had always felt uneasy around him.

"Chief of Staff Natarle, it's been a long time."

As one of Patrick Zala's trusted aides, Rau Le Creuset naturally knew Natarle.

"It certainly has."

Looking at his rational, refined smile, Natarle seemed to understand why she felt uneasy around him.

Rational and composed.

He was an exceptionally calm and rational man.

That was perfectly normal. There were plenty of calm, rational people.

Most people in the staff department had that trait.

But it didn't belong in someone who had spent so long fighting on the front lines.

The cries of lives fading away, the suffocating presence of the Grim Reaper's scythe, the air constantly shrouded in death—

These emotions, rooted in the instincts of human life, could destroy and change anyone. Yet Le Creuset had never changed at all—or at least, Natarle couldn't recall him ever changing.

"Is something the matter?"

Le Creuset had noticed the scrutiny in Natarle's gaze.

"Not at all. I was just reflecting on something."

Natarle didn't voice her suspicions. Instead, she walked straight over to Patrick Zala.

Le Creuset watched her leave, frowning to himself.

The war council went on for a long time.

It wasn't until dawn the next day that the group finally emerged from the conference room, looking exhausted.

"Chief of Staff Natarle."

Just as Natarle was about to leave, someone behind her suddenly called out.

"What is it?"

Natarle turned around. The person approaching her was Patrick's adjutant.

"Minister Zala would like to see you."

The adjutant gestured for her to follow.

"Understood."

Natarle wasn't particularly surprised. As chief of staff, she was often called in for private discussions. There was nothing unusual about it.

But when she entered the office, she found someone else there as well.

Minister Zala must think highly of Captain Le Creuset, Natarle concluded as she stepped into the office.

"There's something I'd like to tell you."

Patrick Zala spoke to Chief of Staff Natarle.

"What is it?"

Chief of Staff Natarle looked puzzled.

"Eno Kamal."

Patrick Zala spoke plainly. "He may be a spy planted by the Earth Alliance."

"What!?"

Natarle's pupils contracted, and a huge wave of shock surged through her.

But her experience and insight quickly steadied her, and she raised her question. "When you say 'may be,' does that mean you can't be certain?"

"That's right. I don't have direct evidence proving he's a spy."

Patrick Zala nodded.

"Then—"

"So I've already sent people to assassinate him."

Natarle's pupils contracted sharply. She stared at Patrick Zala in disbelief.

"I know you're shocked, but extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures. Even if there's only a one-in-ten-thousand chance, I'll choose to nip it in the bud."

Patrick Zala's candor was entirely sincere.

Chief of Staff Natarle looked at the resolute expression in Patrick Zala's eyes. She opened her mouth, but couldn't say a word.

Her feelings told her she should protest, that she should fight for justice for Eno. But her responsibility and reason as chief of staff told her that Patrick Zala was right.

Yes, it was heartless.

But that was reality. This was war, a war in which countless lives were crying out and dying horribly every moment.

Even the smallest mistake by those at the top would bring endless disaster upon their subordinates.

One who would be a good official must not be softhearted; one who would lead an army must not be sentimental.

If everything were decided by emotion, the sacrifices of soldiers would become meaningless.

And yet...

Natarle couldn't calm her heart.

"However, he survived."

Just then, Patrick Zala continued.

"What?"

Natarle felt as if her emotions were on a roller coaster.

So he wasn't ordering an assassination now. They'd already tried to kill Eno?

"That's right. I already sent my men to assassinate him once, but he did survive."

Patrick Zala's words answered Natarle's question.

"Why? Why are you telling me this?"

Natarle was confused.

"Because I want to know what you think."

Patrick Zala explained. "The first assassination was disguised as a sudden illness that proved fatal. But he survived, and then transferred from the command department to the Mobile Suit piloting department. Did you have anything to do with that?"

"No. The change of department was his own decision..."

Chief of Staff Natarle trailed off and fell silent, a trace of sorrow flashing in her eyes.

The possibility that Eno Kamal was a spy was now close to one hundred percent—