Is This Destiny?

Natarle knew that ZAFT had recently carried out a massive internal purge of spies.

He even knew ninety percent of the inside information and details regarding this operation, as he had been one of the people who helped draft the plan.

Therefore, he was very clear about exactly how many people had been cleared out during this espionage sweep.

It could be said that this spy purge had almost completely swept away or turned every single spy holding a high-ranking position.

And this was one of the reasons why ZAFT was able to achieve victory at the Nova Defense Battle in L5.

The above was not the point.

The point was the conclusion and credibility regarding Eno Kamal that could be inferred from this.

Previously, he could not understand why Eno would choose to become an MS pilot after graduating first in the command track, but now he understood.

Assume that Eno Kamal was an independent spy who had lost contact with his handlers.

Then, upon sensing a crisis, how could he protect himself?

Thinking from his perspective, there were only two possible answers.

Either flee PLANT or defect and join ZAFT.

The former was almost impossible; once a spy was targeted, it was fundamentally impossible to escape surveillance.

Therefore, he had only one method—defect to ensure his survival.

And as a cadet, the best way to do this was to completely sever the possibility of entering the military's upper echelons, because only then would the high command not feel compelled to take his life.

Thus, leaving the command track was a necessity.

But having reduced the necessity of his death, how could he increase his chances of survival?

Spies with value naturally sold intelligence; for instance, several spies had survived precisely because of this.

However, Eno Kamal was merely an independent spy; he possessed no source of intelligence.

In this situation, the only thing he could offer was his own life.

Therefore, his best choice was to join the MS pilot track and become ZAFT's "cannon fodder," preferably the kind of formidable cannon fodder—

Of course, even after achieving all of the above, his death was still not something he could determine himself, but this was all the individual could do.

Combining the analysis, although he was very unwilling to believe it, the facts were already certain—the probability that Eno Kamal was a spy was infinitely close to one hundred percent.

This was enough to sentence him to death.

"I know what I must do."

Chief of Staff Natarle smiled bitterly, suppressing the sorrow in his heart.

Eno Kamal, a successor in whom he had placed his future, was actually a spy... What an ironic and ridiculous thing this was.

"I accept his 'defection,' I am willing to give him a chance, and he has the value to continue living."

However, just at this moment, Patrick Zala suddenly offered an opposing opinion.

"A chance?"

Natarle's thoughts were somewhat chaotic, making him unable to be certain of Patrick's meaning.

Patrick Zala saw Natarle's confusion and continued to explain: "I actually do not mind the existence of things like spies within ZAFT."

Although it was frustrating, the reality was that spies within ZAFT could never be completely purged.

The population composition and founding method of PLANT destined that there would inevitably be spies hidden within ZAFT who could not be cleared out.

Or rather, ever since humans could communicate with words, the human collective had never been able to isolate the existence of so-called spies and traitors.

During the Third World War, even when there were absolute concepts of motherland, race, and religion, spies could not be eradicated.

Let alone in this current time period.

Therefore, the only thing they could do was ensure the cleanliness of the high command.

"What is the meaning of you telling me all of this?"

Chief of Staff Natarle had given up on thinking by this point.

"I know what Eno Kamal means to you; I do not wish for an irreparable rift to appear between us."

Patrick Zala valued Natarle very highly.

If it had been anyone else, he would not have chosen assassination, nor would he have engaged in deception; he would have simply killed them outright. After all, it was just a genius who graduated first in the command track.

But because of Natarle's existence, he was cautious.

Chief of Staff Natarle knew too much; he was a core member of the entire Zala Faction, and the Zala Faction needed his strength, just as PLANT needed his strength.

Therefore, after Eno Kamal made his choice, he abandoned the idea of continuing the pursuit.

Of course, until Eno Kamal earned absolute trust, he could only ever be an elite fighting on the front lines.

As for whether the other party would defect and return to the Earth Alliance during battle, subconsciously, Patrick looked at Le Creuset, who was standing to the side.

"Thank you, may I ask what I need to do?"

Chief of Staff Natarle's thoughts were temporarily in some disarray.

"You need do nothing; you remain Chief of Staff Natarle Badgiruel, you remain the head of the ZAFT General Staff, and Eno Kamal remains an MS cadet belonging to the ZAFT Military Academy."

Patrick Zala continued, "I hope you understand that I am being frank with you not because I want you to do anything, but because I want you to do nothing at all."

"I understand."

Chief of Staff Natarle caught the subtext in Patrick Zala's words.

"Thank you for your understanding."

Patrick Zala nodded and said.

"Then... what will be the fate of Eno Kamal, the one who knows his identity?"

Chief of Staff Natarle asked, suppressing the bitterness in her heart.

Hearing Natarle's inquiry, Patrick Zala raised his eyebrows and looked over, locking eyes with her for a moment before saying, "Currently, only the three of us know his identity."

He then looked toward Le Creuset, who stood to the side: "Therefore, Eno Kamal is now in your hands."

"Understood."

Le Creuset had suspected this when he stepped into the room today, so he was not overly surprised.

"The Le Creuset Team, then; that is indeed a good choice."

Natarle roughly guessed the significance of Patrick's arrangement, and she could not help but breathe a quiet sigh of relief.

Patrick valued Le Creuset highly; having Le Creuset oversee him was undoubtedly the best possible outcome.

Of course, if Eno Kamal still harbored treacherous intentions and sought to return to the Earth Alliance, then—

"I have reviewed Eno Kamal's file. Setting aside his status as a spy, he is truly an exceptionally talented individual."

Le Creuset was not lying.

Of course, there was no reason to lie; the facts were as they were. In less than two months, he had gone from zero to ranking thirteenth overall in the academy's MS piloting department.

Combined with his previous first-place ranking in the command department, if these files and grades could not be called excellent, then there were few excellent people in all of ZAFT.

About five minutes later.

Le Creuset and Chief of Staff Natarle left the Ministry of Defense office.

As they were about to board their vehicles downstairs, Natarle called out to Le Creuset: "I will leave the rest to you, Captain Le Creuset."

"All of my actions will have the victory of PLANT as their ultimate goal."

Le Creuset did not give a direct answer, but he addressed Natarle's unease from the side.

"Thank you."

Having received her reply, Chief of Staff Natarle boarded her official car and departed.

"...What a lucky guy."

Le Creuset reflected on the path of survival Eno Kamal had taken and could not help but feel a sense of wonder at the boy's luck.

If not for the fact that Chief of Staff Natarle's child and wife had all died at Junius.

If not for the fact that Chief of Staff Natarle had seen a future in Eno Kamal.

If not for the fact that Eno Kamal had chosen to change his major at the very first opportunity and possessed outstanding MS piloting talent...

Countless unimaginable "ifs" had conspired to allow a spy who should have died to be reborn.

"So this is what you call fate, Gilbert—"

Le Creuset suddenly thought of the word his close friend constantly kept on his lips.

But if all of this were truly what they called fate, then it was far too terrifying.