Who is Playing the Love Development Game in Gundam

"Director He, long time no see~"

As soon as He Kui stepped out of the familiar hangar, the first thing he saw was Selene's ever-radiant face.

"Selene." He Kui greeted, calling out to her from a distance. As he walked closer, he leaned in and whispered softly, so only the two of them could hear. "How have you been, sis?"

She blushed slightly, rolling her eyes at him with a mixture of irritation and amusement. "You've seen the research updates; nothing new, just the usual lack of progress."

He Kui chuckled. "That's not what I meant."

"Alright, cut it out." Though her tone was curt, he noticed her reddening ears and knew he had struck a chord.

From the side, Tiebi, observing their exchange, smirked. Only He Kui could casually pull off what most couldn't even dream of.

"Uh, Director He, I'll just wait here," Tiebi said, clearly wanting to give them space — and avoid more awkward moments.

"Got it." With that, He Kui followed Selene further into the station.

"No more incidents with intruders recently, I hope?"

"Are you?" Selene replied, raising an eyebrow.

"..."

Seeing his attempt at concern turned back on him, He Kui rubbed his nose in mild embarrassment.

"I'm kidding," she said with a smirk, satisfied with her small victory. "We did have a pirate raid recently, but they were easily repelled."

"Need a weapon upgrade?"

"No, thanks. It's enough for our needs. Besides, we're not military, remember?"

"True, but with recent tensions escalating, you might still want to stay cautious."

"Pirates don't pose much of a threat to us."

"I wasn't talking about pirates." He Kui shook his head.

"You think actual military forces might target us?" If professional special forces were involved, the odds would shift significantly.

"You offer valuable tech to both sides, so they wouldn't risk attacking… for now."

After a brief moment of realization, Selene replied, "The tech transfers do help maintain a balance, keeping both sides from wanting to disrupt our operations."

"Still, this technology isn't something you've shared with them."

"It's only a possibility I'm considering," He Kui added, not going into detail. In his memories, the Astray series included only non-military variants for space use, which later faced attacks from powerful mobile suits. But it was too early to dwell on this.

As they continued walking, He Kui noticed the unfamiliar hallways. "I thought we were going to the database?"

"The director wants to see you."

"The director? Isn't that…?"

The head of DSSD was indeed the director, and under them was the research director who managed the station in their absence.

"Yes, my father, Sullivan McGriff."

"Oh, I know that much, but why does he want to see me?"

"He's probably just curious," Selene replied.

Soon, they arrived at an office door. Selene knocked, and a deep, warm voice called from inside, "Come in."

As the door opened, He Kui was greeted by a man with features that strongly resembled Selene's. He smiled warmly and motioned for He Kui to sit down.

"Director He, it's a pleasure to meet you."

"The pleasure is mine, Dr. Sullivan McGriff, first in deep-space exploration. I've heard a lot about you."

McGriff laughed heartily. "Oh, Director He, it's you who are the famous one around here. PLANT's renowned weapons developer."

"Not sure if that's fame worth boasting about."

McGriff's expression softened, then grew more serious. "I'll get right to the point. I hear you've been dealing with LAMBDA's persistent targeting?"

"Yes?" He Kui answered cautiously.

"Forgive my bluntness," McGriff continued. "If you would consider joining us here at DSSD, I can offer you a role as head of research, overseeing our operations. And as a gesture of goodwill, I can ensure LAMBDA will no longer target you."

He Kui's eyes widened at the offer. For McGriff to make such a claim meant he must have some connection within LAMBDA's ranks. Yet, McGriff was an adjuster — perhaps he had made these connections through his DSSD work?

"If I were to accept the role of research director, then you, Dr. McGriff…"

"Me? I've long wanted to step down. My true calling has always been the frontier of space, not overseeing day-to-day research operations." McGriff chuckled heartily.

"But why offer this to me? I'm just an ordinary researcher."

"An ordinary researcher doesn't rise to a director's position in just a year. Selene showed me the AI in your robots — clever, innovative, and full of surprises."

"Thank you, but I don't think I'm ready to consider this option just yet." He Kui lowered his gaze.

"Is it because you're not interested in space exploration?"

"No, it's because there are still things I need to accomplish."

McGriff met his determined gaze and chuckled softly. "I understand. But my offer stands anytime. I'm confident that someone like you could make extraordinary contributions to humanity's journey into space. That mission is far greater than the current war."

With a solemn expression, McGriff's words took on a noble tone, reflecting his unwavering commitment to his ideals.

"I understand," He Kui replied, realizing why Selene had once remarked about celestial bodies as her "lovers." Clearly, she had inherited her father's passion.

"Of course, Director He, you're welcome to keep in touch with us through Haro and continue collaborating on our projects."

"Thank you, Dr. McGriff." He Kui sensed that McGriff was far from ordinary; being a high-ranking

figure at DSSD required more than just technical knowledge — it demanded a deft political touch as well.

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