The person on the other end of the call was speaking so loudly that Durandal instinctively held the phone farther away from his ear.
So loud that Wang Hu, sitting across from Durandal, could clearly hear what the caller was saying.
"Wang Hu?"
A flicker of strange emotion passed through Durandal's eyes. He wasn't foolish enough to think that Wang Hu had come to his home and carelessly allowed ZAFT Forces to tail him.
Therefore...
This was intentionally exposed by the other party, meant to cause trouble for him?
Durandal couldn't think of any other reasonable explanation.
At this critical juncture, if rumors spread that he, Durandal, was privately colluding with the East Asian Alliance...
It would seriously hinder his political advancement!
Meanwhile, Wang Hu was also quite puzzled. He had been extremely careful on his secret journey to meet Durandal.
Although he was certainly on ZAFT Forces' watchlist, how could their secret agents have tracked him to Durandal's home so quickly?
If they had such sharp instincts, how could they have allowed that girl Lacus to first steal the Freedom Gundam, and now watch helplessly as the massive battleship Eternal was about to be stolen too?
"Mr. Durandal, Mr. Durandal, are you still there?"
Unaware that the phone call had instantly created tension between the two men on this end, the caller grew increasingly anxious when he suddenly received no response.
"I'm here, Nicol. What exactly has happened? Speak slowly and clearly."
Glancing at Wang Hu in front of him and seeing no unusual movements from him, Durandal continued questioning his currently most capable subordinate on the other end of the line.
"It's like this - the counter-espionage department just received a tip-off call stating that our ZAFT Forces' number one enemy,"
"Wang Hu of the East Asian Army has secretly infiltrated PLANT and is currently at your home conspiring with you."
Nicol relayed all the information he had obtained from his father in one breath, then asked anxiously again,
"Is this true, Mr. Durandal? That call wasn't just made to the counter-espionage department - apparently the police department received the same tip-off too."
"Although my father is doing his best to suppress it, this news is too shocking."
"So the relevant authorities have already urgently dispatched personnel heading toward your home."
Holding the phone, Durandal looked at Wang Hu again. Confirmed - this was definitely done by Wang Hu's people.
What's this about? Planning to directly engage with ZAFT's relevant authorities right here at my home?
To thoroughly frame me with this mess?
Even though I've prepared a Destiny Plan and have gained some reputation in PLANT's domestic political arena,
Do you East Asians think so highly of me?
If that's the case, I really thank you!
Facing Durandal's gaze, Wang Hu maintained a calm expression, but the veins at his temples bulged prominently.
A phone tip-off?
No need to ask - it must be that bastard Lelouch!
I really thank you - I've only been gone for a short while, and you're already playing such a big game!
What a simple and direct strategy!
"Hello? Hello?"
Due to Durandal's renewed silence on the other end, Nicol on the phone was genuinely getting worked up.
He shouted into the receiver, and truth be told, he was afraid.
He feared that Mr. Durandal, whom Captain Creuset had ultimately introduced to him, might actually be secretly colluding with the East Asian Alliance.
If that were true, he hardly dared imagine how he would react, or how Athrun would react.
Was there truly no connection to the East Asian Alliance?
He also feared that Mr. Durandal might have no ties to the East Asian Alliance, yet Wang Hu was indeed with him.
If the actions of the relevant authorities provoked that brutal Wang Hu into committing some unspeakable act,
the future and hope of Coordinators would truly be lost.
How should he answer Nicol's question?
Durandal gripped his phone, staring at Wang Hu, debating whether to say Wang Hu was there or not.
It was a matter worth pondering.
"Go ahead."
Noticing Durandal's expression, Wang Hu gestured for him to proceed as he pleased.
"I have no connection with the East Asian Alliance."
Seeing this, Durandal directly addressed Nicol on the phone.
Hearing this answer, Nicol on the other end let out a long, relieved sigh.
The sigh was so loud that Wang Hu and the others on this end heard it clearly.
However...
"But Wang Hu is indeed here with me—Kirin Wang Hu of the East Asian Alliance."
Durandal's follow-up statement made Nicol on the other end jump up in shock.
"What? That evil Wang Hu is really with you, Mr. Durandal!"
"Wang Hu, if you dare lay a finger on Mr. Durandal, I swear I will destroy the East Asian Alliance, I promise!"
In an instant, thoughts of Captain Creuset and countless comrades who had fallen at Wang Hu's hands flashed through Nicol's mind.
He directly threatened Wang Hu over the phone, hoping to deter him from harming Mr. Durandal.
Even though he knew that if Wang Hu truly intended to harm Durandal, his threats would be meaningless.
"Alright, I understand. I won't lay a hand on Durandal."
"You're Nicol, right? Then, for the sake of your Mr. Durandal, please share your internal communication channel with me."
Rising to his feet as Durandal smiled, Wang Hu took the phone and spoke to Nicol.
"What?"
Nicol had never encountered someone so shameless—an enemy openly asking for their internal communication channel!
"Not giving it? Well then, I'm sorry. How many pieces would you like to see Durandal in?"
"I think six is a very auspicious number."
Durandal was smiling, and Wang Hu was smiling too.
If one ignored Wang Hu's words over the phone, the scene would appear to outsiders as a harmonious gathering of old friends.
"I..."
Faced with Wang Hu's threat, Nicol fell into a dilemma.
Giving the channel would be a betrayal of ZAFT and his father.
Not giving it would mean abandoning Mr. Durandal to danger.
After all, that Wang Hu was truly capable of cutting Mr. Durandal into six pieces!
Just as Nicol was trapped in this impossible choice, his phone was suddenly taken from him.
"Who is it?"
Wang Hu had been sneaking around to make the call, and this sudden disturbance made the already flustered Nicol jerk his head around fiercely.
His hand also reached for the gun at his waist—if things went south, he'd have no choice but to take out this unlucky fellow!
He was prepared to pull the trigger and kill.
"Athrun?"
But as he turned and got a clear look at the newcomer, his hand, halfway to drawing the gun, froze.
Nicol never expected that the person who had approached was his good friend Athrun!
"How long have you been here?"
Nicol muttered, dazed and bewildered.
"A little while."
Athrun first addressed his friend, having overheard the entire conversation clearly, then spoke into the phone.
"Mr. Wang Hu, you've come to PLANT to extract Lacus, haven't you?"
Usually indecisive, Athrun was unusually calm at this moment, cutting straight to the heart of Wang Hu's true purpose for coming to the Satellite Colonies.
"Athrun Zala?"
Wang Hu was slightly taken aback. This young master of the Sara Faction was quite sharp.
"No need to hide it. For the renowned East Asian Qilin to take action personally, Mr. Durandal alone isn't significant enough to warrant it."
"The only one who could possibly mobilize you is Lacus. That means Lacus has truly allied with your East Asian Alliance, hasn't she?"
Athrun's tone was remarkably calm, but Nicol, standing right beside him, noticed something else.
Nicol saw with his own eyes that the casing of his brand-new phone had begun to crack.
"Athrun?"
It wasn't that he was worried about his phone; Nicol wanted to tell him to ease up, or else the phone would break and they'd have no way to confirm Mr. Durandal's safety on the other end.
"Yes, I am indeed here to extract Lacus."
This time, it was Wang Hu's turn to glance at the smiling Durandal across from him before honestly stating his purpose.
"Understood, Mr. Wang Hu. Run. Run as far as you can."
"Our internal communication channel is 00790083."
"I hope you manage to evade the ZAFT Forces' pursuit."
Having gotten the answer he wanted, Athrun readily disclosed the internal communication channel used by the pursuing forces in this operation.
After saying this, he hung up the phone directly.
"Athrun? Why did you give out the channel?"
"Even if you revealed it, why didn't you make Wang Hu promise not to harm Mr. Durandal?"
Nicol couldn't understand his friend Athrun's actions at all.
"If Wang Hu truly intended to harm Mr. Durandal, even if he made a promise over the phone,"
"do you really think he'd keep his word?"
Athrun completely crushed the brand-new phone with the strength of his wrist, watching the shattered pieces fall to the ground as he coldly asked.
"Well…"
Seeing the icy expression on his friend's face, Nicol had to admit that he had a point.
"Then what should we do? We can't just abandon Mr. Durandal!"
Lately, Nicol had been the one taking the lead between the two of them, but with Mr. Durandal in Wang Hu's hands, he was starting to panic.
He paced back and forth on the spot, frantic and disoriented like a headless fly.
"No, I have to get over there right away!"
Even if Durandal ended up harmed, Nicol felt he needed to see it with his own eyes to settle his mind.
"Yzak, Dearka, and Heine have already headed over. There's little point in you rushing there now."
Grabbing Nicol's arm, Athrun stopped him.
"On the contrary, whether Mr. Durandal survives or not isn't our primary mission right now."
"Let's head to the hangar!"
Having offered his suggestion to his friend, Athrun pulled him along, intending to pilot their respective mobile suits.
"Right."
Nicol had an epiphany thanks to Athrun's proposal.
"They're here to extract Lacus - either there's a battleship waiting outside, or they'll escape via shuttle."
"As long as we block the passageways, we can at least avenge Mr. Durandal!"
"Mr. Durandal might not necessarily die."
Athrun, leading the way, added this remark.
"Wang Hu is a man with clear objectives. Why would he suddenly expose himself during this covert infiltration?"
He didn't elaborate further, having vague thoughts in his mind but unable to confirm them yet.
Since that was the case, he decided not to mention it for now.
"Objectives?"
Upon hearing this, Nicol fell into deep thought. Indeed.
Why would someone like Wang Hu expose himself in such a strange manner?
"Mr. Durandal, what assistance can you offer me now?"
"You wouldn't want your political career to end here, followed by guarding reservoirs, would you?"
Meanwhile, having obtained the communication channel of relevant ZAFT Forces departments, Wang Hu turned his attention to Durandal again.
Revealing eight gleaming teeth in a smile, he watched with amusement the future third chairman of PLANT who showed no trace of panic.
Oh, right, there was actually another person present.
But she was too insignificant, so Wang Hu simply ignored her.
"I never thought I'd have to help you."
Shaking his head with a laugh, Durandal stood up and walked toward the door.
"Mr. Wang Hu, you really are someone who doesn't know how to be polite."
"Never mind, let's save this conversation for next time. I hope we can become comrades by then."
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