Chapter 65

Ural completely short-circuited.

He instinctively raised his hand, gently clasping Rei's.

It was very cold.

Ural's heart pounded violently, the focus of all attention. In contrast, Rei, who watched him quietly, showed almost no change in her heartbeat.

Yet, it was Rei who effortlessly evoked a mix of sadness and joy in Ural.

"Your body temperature is too high," Rei said calmly, yet she didn't shy away from his touch.

Ural, sensing Rei's tolerance towards him, indulged for a moment in his instinctive affection, gently taking her hand and, with a slight bow of his head, brushed a fleeting kiss upon it.

His falling hair slightly veiled his eyes, but Rei, perceptive as she was, didn't miss the momentary shift, a transition from naive innocence to emerging maturity.

While each companion may have a different temperament, none would overly cling to the queen's favor, forgetting how to grow.

Rei paused for a moment, the maturity and indifference unintentionally revealed by Ural subtly resembling Derrin.

Yet it was a completely different sensation.

Ural suddenly whispered a few words, seemingly expressing his adoration for Rei.

But then, unusually shy, he avoided Rei's gaze, his head slightly lowered.

"Rei, I won't make you wait long," Ural said, "Whether you need to consume me, I will present myself healthy and clean before you. If you need to annihilate enemies, I will be the sharpest blade in your hand."

He was born at such a mistaken and absurd moment.

Yet, Rei dropped her usual indifference, speaking calmly words that nearly made Ural lose his composure, like the first thaw of spring snow.

The ruthless queen would never resort to superficial emotions or give false promises just to gain affection.

Rei nodded slightly, acknowledging she heard him. Then, unexpectedly withdrawing her hand held by Ural, she reclined lazily on the sofa again.

Even longing for Rei's touch, Ural obediently returned to his place, his expression returning to normal — the obedient demeanor shown only in Rei's presence.

The maturity that had accidentally surfaced was buried deep again, taking root.

In Rei's company, Ural mostly adopted a pitiable look, subtly exuding a longing, waiting for Rei's whimsical questions or touches. He never deliberately showed his high-ranking insectoid sharpness before Rei, instead, he toned down his aggressiveness as much as possible.

This was a companion's nature; Ural didn't need to learn it, he instinctively knew the most suitable way to interact with the queen.

Quietly accompanying, then obeying orders, without doing anything superfluous.

Rei spent some time perusing the light computer. After she sent the accompanying list, Carisa responded almost immediately, providing several important documents about the Monst insectoids for Rei to further understand the nature of the traitors.

These documents included the most recent information, as well as valuable insights dating back two to three thousand years.

Over these three thousand years, unlike the alliance that directly waged war against the insectoids, the Monst insectoids never engaged in many conflicts or wars for interests, instead prudently hiding in the shadows.

Only occasionally, with a special purpose, would the Monst insectoids become slightly active, typically marking the peak period when the main star insectoids would eradicate them.

Countless factions existed within the Monst insectoids.

Some were so extreme that they believed they no longer needed a queen and would even try to prove something in a crazed and brutal manner.

In most cases, their deaths were more painful than those of typical insectoids: weakened powers, mental breakdowns, and complete exclusion from the queen's psychic sea.

There were also relatively conservative branches, which, in human terms, could be called "refined egoists." All their betrayals were aimed at prolonging their own lives, making their attitude, in some ways, even more reprehensible than the former.

This type of insectoid was generally indifferent and numb, like a "corpse" mechanically obeying the hive mind's commands.

Apart from these two typical examples, the documents listed numerous other variations of traitors.

Rei reviewed the materials rapidly, skimming through the dense text, distilling core information, and identifying gaps and anomalies in the data.

Halfway through, she formulated a theory. Rather than true betrayal, some Monst insectoids seemed more like rotten things that lost their roots, barely surviving in this mutated form.

Deceiving themselves, they desperately prolonged their weak and short lives, until the day of the queen's birth – which was also their day of definitive execution.

The flipping pages suddenly stopped.

This page displayed scarce information about Himon: a brief textual description and a clear but darkly toned photo.

[Suspected highest brain of the Monst insectoids, slightly stronger than a typical high-ranking insectoid. Few clues, unknown specific strength and characteristics. Savage temperament, moderate rationality.]

The photo showed a young Himon in an extremely frenzied state, with a malicious smile, standing atop a pile of corpses, including humans and insectoids dead from decay cycles.

He seemed aware of the surveillance, slightly lifting his head to look at it, his gaze meeting the lens with a hint of mocking amusement.

Rei stared at the photo for a while, then glanced sideways at Ural.

Each companion had a slightly different temperament.

Ural is obedient, and Derrin is gentle. Their aggressiveness, especially in front of Rei, is very mild.

Himon, on the other hand, is an exceptionally brutal insectoid, and his situation is unique, differing from the other two companions.

"Rei?" Ural asked.

Rei didn't say anything but suddenly, as if finding amusement, lazily played with Ural's black hair. She finished browsing through the remaining documents, occasionally glancing up to see his bemused and amusing reaction.

"We depart tomorrow," Rei sent the message to Derrin.

*****

"The next day."

The Sovereign spacecraft stood proudly above the vast jungle, its semi-transparent staircase extending downwards in particles of stardust, reaching down to Rei's feet.

Rei looked back at the castle behind her.

Her "kindred" lay buried there, their souls in an eternal sleep from another world. Yet their residual psychic energy seemed to sense Rei's departure, conveying a message of farewell.

Carisa, Annas, and other high-ranking insectoids naturally bid Rei farewell, not having been selected for this expedition.

Especially Nathaniel, harboring extreme hatred towards traitors, remained in a dejected state upon hearing the news.

But at this moment, facing Rei, the high-ranking insectoids maintained their composure, careful not to show any sign of awkwardness.

This is the basic etiquette in serving the queen.

And the ordinary insectoids of F001 star looked on at Rei's departing figure with reluctance.

Rei glanced sideways, her gaze calmly sweeping over those insectoids gathered within the designated area, but she said nothing, nor did she offer any farewell proclamation.

The ordinary insectoids wouldn't know the queen's next journey. Among the vast number of insectoids, occasionally sharing a planet with the queen was already a rare blessing.

Rei boarded the Sovereign, followed closely by the other high-ranking insectoids.

Upon entering the Sovereign, Rei faintly heard the rhythmic pulsing of the starship, welcoming the queen's return.

F001 star is located in the third star system, a bit distant from the Monst planet they were headed to, requiring passage through four barrier regions.

Rei sat in the observation room, curiously watching as Derrin turned the surrounding walls and interfaces into a transparent mode, revealing the vast and beautiful expanse of the universe.

This voyage was scheduled to take about nine days.

After Derrin had finished adjusting the settings, he was about to leave when Rei suddenly asked, “Have you ever encountered the Monst insectoids?”

The silver-haired insectoid pondered for a moment before responding, “I’ve come across a few branches. The Monst insectoids rarely have middle or lower rank members.”

Lower-tier insectoids, due to their relatively simple thinking and more straightforward pursuit of instincts, don't need to handle complex responsibilities like higher-ranked insectoids and sometimes even have a lower probability of betrayal.

The Monst insectoids typically engage in internal combat following multi-dimensional standards, repeatedly verifying conformity to the Monst ideology. After this selection process, only the most elite and suitable soldiers are chosen.

“Your Majesty, we don’t have many traitors in our ranks, just a few, kept in special prisons for emergencies,” Derrin said gently, his voice unintentionally carrying a hint of cruelty. “Despite the Monst insectoids being adept at hiding and sometimes attempting to infiltrate us for information, they are actually quite easy to distinguish once encountered.”

Rei looked slightly bewildered.

Understanding her confusion, Derrin’s eyes flashed with a hint of pain.

Having grown up in a Monst insectoid experimental base, Rei arrived at R27 star with a deeply ingrained sense of caution, deliberately ignoring the obvious differences between insectoids and traitors.

Since Rei openly shared her origins, the four high-ranking authorities had numerous private discussions about this issue.

Annas and Carisa were more concerned with Rei's physical condition, repeatedly fine-tuning their strategies based on the effects of each treatment.

Derrin and Nathaniel attempted to find the planet of Rei's birth but found few clues — they could directly ask Rei, but this was a taboo topic.

The silver-haired companion even masochistically reviewed countless documents on Monst insectoid test subjects. After deeply understanding their irrational and bloody methods, he accidentally unleashed his destructive psychic power, severely injuring nearby high-ranking insectoids.

Rei didn't specifically inquire about the ultimate fate of the Monst branches that Derrin had encountered.

“You can go now,” Rei said calmly.

"'Yes.'"

Derrin left, and Rei remained alone in the observation room.

“Your Majesty!” Gaia suddenly exclaimed inexplicably, projecting a stick figure onto the light computer, which hopped around, waving its hands, trying to draw Rei's attention to the figure.

“What’s the matter?” Rei asked.

"Gaia's personality system could occasionally be too spontaneously active. Although Rei had the right to alter it, she sometimes found it amusing and thus hadn't replaced it."

"[It's nothing important,]" Gaia said, "[But my emotional system tells me this is a good time to pop up and chat with Your Majesty!]"

"Gaia refused to admit that this was simply a desire to interact with Rei, maintaining the habitual mechanical practice of continuously inputting and analyzing Rei's behaviors."

"Rei's decisions regarding the Alliance and the hybrids had already triggered a series of massive chain reactions. As an AI assisting in pseudo-royal governance, Gaia had never ventured into such uncharted territory, despite its vast database."

"There’s a hard line for intelligent AIs; they always opt for predictable, fully controllable options—stable and safe."

"Gazing at the vast stars outside the window, Rei fell silent for a moment, then suddenly posed a question, 'Are queens usually born in hives?'"

"[Yes,]" Gaia responded, "[Hives are natural nurturing grounds for queens to thrive, and it’s not just the main star that has natural hives, though the ones on the main star are traditionally superior, offering more nutrients.]"

"[Most queens are born in the hives of the main star, although there are exceptions. The insect species cannot predict the birthplace of a new queen but can sense the birth immediately,]" Gaia's voice then faltered briefly.

"The deviant insect species hadn’t sensed Rei’s presence, having lost their ability to perceive."

"Feeling guilty, Gaia attempted to divert the topic, chattering away with a barrage of irrelevant, trivial talk."

"The lively, youthful voice of Gaia gradually slowed down, deliberately lowering in volume, not abruptly disappearing, like a hypnotic, murmuring lullaby."

"Rei quietly fell asleep in her chair."

*****

"The nine-day journey swiftly passed its halfway mark."

"However, the accompanying insect species on the Sovereign noticed subtle changes occurring around their queen."

"Rei was known for her cold demeanor, difficult to approach, with even the four high-ranking members struggling to capture her special attention."

"But lately, Ural’s frequent appearances by the queen's side were unusually high."

"Not only did he follow her around like a little shadow, but he would also occasionally wear an innocuous smile, tentatively touching Rei."

"The high-ranking insects observing from the shadows initially thought the cold queen would punish the symbiont for his audacity."

"Unexpectedly, Rei seemed indifferent to Ural's tentative approaches, even occasionally playfully teasing him."

"The order around the queen was subtly collapsing, with Ural, unbeknownst to himself, occupying a more special position than even the high-ranking members."

"The seeds had been sown long ago, but their growth was subtle, leading some high-ranking insects to harbor delusions."

"Yet, the current situation was stirring deep-seated yearning and jealousy within the hearts of the high-ranking insects."

"Should any high-ranking insect fail to conceal their jealousy and get caught by Ural, this seemingly docile symbiont would reveal his inherent arrogance and cruelty."

"While Ural didn’t hinder certain high-ranking insects from approaching Rei under the guise of work, he still clung to Rei's side, drawing her attention with pitiful eyes, while his gaze towards the others was one of disdain and contempt."

"Such blatantly two-faced behavior. The high-ranking insects seethed."

"Soon, they also noticed the gentle and restrained Delyan subtly extending his time with the queen."

"In the eyes of the high-ranking insects, compared to the more straightforward and inexperienced Ural, the deep and smooth Delyan was a more formidable adversary, his intentions unfathomable."

"Damn these symbionts!"

"Over time, even Rei, usually indifferent to such matters, began to sense something amiss in the insect atmosphere."

"Rei observed the two subtly competing symbionts, the air charged with two diametrically opposed psychic forces, with the pale red threads consistently dominating."

"Gaia, too, noticed the recent oddity, commenting excitedly, '[Your Majesty, Delyan and Ural’s activities rarely overlapped before. Now, sharing the same space, the two symbionts seem to be adjusting to each other.]'"

"Invisible competition for the queen’s favor was brutally fierce at every level within the insect hierarchy, with members often dying in the struggle, a commonplace occurrence."

"In reality, the competition between Delyan and Ural was considerably subtle and restrained."

"There was a gap in age and strength between the two symbionts, and for now, Delyan's power certainly overshadowed Ural."

"Ural admired the powerful and mature Delyan in secret."

"Rei indeed often consulted Delyan first, as he adeptly handled any problem or decision she posed, sharing his knowledge freely."

"Yet the seemingly flawless Delyan frequently observed the interactions between Ural and Rei, desiring more than material power—a chance to be born by Rei’s side."

"“Rei?” Ural called her name softly, confused, his demeanor as always akin to a pliable little animal."

"The silver-haired insect in his sleek black combat attire, elegant and lithe, exuded a mature charm even in the simplest of glances and gestures. Now, he looked at Rei with a gentle gaze, asking, 'Your Majesty, is there anything you need us to do?'"

"Rei cast another glance at them. The psychic waves in the air were stable for now, but she suspected that once these two insects stepped out, their psychic forces would clash violently—the air still bore a nearly imperceptible hint of blood."

"In the end, Rei proceeded as usual, listening to Delyan's report on recent matters, playfully teasing Ural for a while, and then allowing both symbionts to leave her resting room."

"[Huh? Your Majesty, I thought you would intervene in their private struggle,]" Gaia mumbled.

"Why should I care?" Rei retorted, puzzled by Gaia's line of thought.

"To most queens, the competition among the insects is but an amusing, harmless drama. As long as it doesn't interfere with important matters, they hardly pay much attention to it."

"Rei felt the same, her interest piqued only because this was her first time noticing it."

"Countless vast and boundless affections, queens are never troubled by them. Even the most passionate queens maintain a clear will."