First Meeting with Patrick Zala (Working on That Thing with Someone, So It's Temporarily a Bit Slower)

Patrick Zala's First Meeting (Working on That Thing with Someone, So It's Temporarily a Bit Slower)

As one of PLANT's twelve councilors and a member of the PLANT Defense Committee, Patrick Zala held considerable authority.

No matter how low-key he tried to make his birthday banquet, there were still plenty of guests.

Figures Noer had only ever seen on television streamed through the banquet hall, mingling and conversing.

"So... I've made it into high society too, huh?"

Noer, wearing a borrowed suit, stood in the banquet hall and stared blankly at the powerful and wealthy figures before him.

In his previous life, he had remained an ordinary nobody until his death. Yet less than half a year after coming to this life, he was already attending such an upscale banquet.

"High society?"

Diakka, also wearing a borrowed black suit, walked over. Hearing Noer, he could not help but laugh. "You're actually interested in this kind of thing?"

Caught red-handed, Noer was only embarrassed for a second before his expression turned solemn. "Diakka, it seems you still don't understand me. Wealth and rank are but passing clouds to me. Would I, Noer Cassia, ever be the kind of trash whose eyes were blinded by money and power?"

Diakka was thoroughly rattled by Noer's words. He silently turned away and stopped looking at him. After spending the past few days together, he had roughly figured out Noer's personality.

This guy seemed to have no idea what shame was.

"Very well said. I knew I hadn't misjudged you."

Diakka knowing Noer's personality did not mean everyone else did. Sure enough, someone foolish enough to be fooled by Noer appeared.

"You flatter me, I... hm!?"

Noer adjusted his clothes and turned with a smile toward the source of the voice. But the moment he saw who it was, he froze in awkward embarrassment.

Patrick Zala approached under Athrun's lead.

"MS Training Class member Noer Cassia, reporting to Chairman Patrick Zala and Captain Cruze!"

Noer coughed and hurriedly straightened up, saluting.

Diakka looked around before quickly copying Noer, raising his wineglass in salute. "Also of the MS Training Class, Diakka Elsman, reporting to Chairman Patrick Zala and Captain Cruze!"

"No need to be so formal. Make good use of this rare opportunity to rest."

As Patrick Zala spoke, he reached out and patted Noer on the shoulder, then turned and led Cruze toward the stairs.

Perhaps because of Junius 7, or perhaps because there was a shared understanding among pitiful people, he had a favorable impression of Noer.

Athrun Sarra, following behind Patrick Zala, nodded at the two of them before silently turning to follow Patrick Zala away.

"I thought you wouldn't come," Cruze said with a smile.

"When I first heard you were coming, I really didn't want to."

Noer was genuinely a little afraid of Cruze.

There was no such thing as hatred without reason, but neither was there love without reason.

Cruze was treating him so well that it was hard not to imagine the worst.

Cruze's expression stiffened slightly. He could not understand Noer's attitude.

"Cruze?"

Seeing Cruze still standing there, Patrick Zala, who had walked ahead, turned back to look at him.

Cruze came back to himself at Patrick Zala's call. Recalling the intelligence he had received some time ago, he broke into a smile. "Although I don't know why you're so hostile toward me, I believe you'll change your opinion of me in the future."

With that, he turned and caught up with Patrick Zala.

"The future..."

Noer watched Cruze's departing back and shook his head helplessly.

Cruze really was good to him, but he was simply too good to him.

If Noer had not known Cruze's plans and intentions, he might really have become one of Cruze's little fans, just like Athrun and the others.

It could not be helped. Cruze's aura was simply too dazzling, and his personal charisma was immense.

Looking across the entire SEED world, fewer than five people could match Cruze in personal charisma.

Even Kira and Athrun had to step aside. It had nothing to do with individual strength; it was purely personal charisma.

Cruze could make people unconsciously feel close to him.

Whether in speech or action, he gave off an elegance that was perfectly measured.

One only had to look at the girls below, utterly infatuated with Cruze, to understand.

Coupled with the aura of Cruze's Nebula Medal, he truly charmed both men and women alike.

Unfortunately, he was a man who constantly wanted to wipe out all humanity. Noer respectfully declined.

A moment later, just as Noer was wondering where to find something to eat,

the brightly lit hall suddenly darkened.

Beautiful music slowly began to play, gradually quieting the once-noisy banquet.

(In this quiet night, I wait for you)

(To reclaim the smile we once forgot)

(Though only a few short days have passed since then)

(Thinking of it makes me feel gentle)

A beautiful, tranquil singing voice drifted through the hall, drawing everyone's attention.

Under the lights, a girl in a white gown slowly emerged. Her soft, flowing pink hair shimmered with a faint radiance.

Her skin was snowy and crystalline, her features beautiful and pure, and her blue-violet eyes seemed to reflect a starry sky.

She was quiet and elegant, with a noble bearing. The hem of her gown rippled like waves, making her seem both gorgeous and dreamlike as she stood there.

She was PLANT's songstress—Lacus Clyne.

A woman who possessed both beauty and wisdom, later affectionately known as Rao.

It was Noer's first time realizing that a person could be beautiful to such an extent. Her nearly perfect appearance paired with her lovely singing voice was enough to intoxicate anyone with normal standards of beauty.

Yet beautiful things were always fleeting.

Five minutes later—

Clap clap clap—

"Thank you."

Amid enthusiastic applause, Lacus placed a hand over her chest and slowly bowed to the audience. Her smile was dreamlike and magnificent.

"Sure enough, there are only mistaken names, never mistaken nicknames."

Noer smiled faintly as he looked at the innocent and lively Lacus.

Rao did not merely refer to Lacus's political talent; it was even more an apt description of her appearance.

"What's wrong with you?"

Diakka, beside him, also came back to his senses. Seeing the strange look on Noer's face, he could not help feeling puzzled.

"Nothing. I was just feeling a little emotional."

Noer shook his head without explaining. If one had not seen it with their own eyes, who would believe that this innocent, romantic girl would become the hidden manipulator who ended the war in the future?

"Come on. Let's find something to eat. I'm hungry."

As Noer spoke, he turned and walked toward the area where the food was laid out.

As for Lacus Clyne's intelligence, Noer could not be certain. But her political talent and political sensitivity were absolutely, unquestionably among the top three in the SEED world.

As for why she was not ranked first, everyone had different views on that, so it could not be decided so easily.

After all, in the SEED world, not a single person with a name was normal. Whether it was her father, Seigell Clyne, Uzummi Ula Asaha, who could control the Orb Union, or the second-generation PLANT chairman who appeared later,

all of them possessed formidable political abilities, and that did not even include the people of the Atlantic Federation.

But no matter what, Lacus being among the top three was beyond question.