Chapter 43

Chapter 43

"Disappeared?"

"Yes, disappeared."

Xu Feng kept his head down, gazing at the carrot ring on his ring finger.

"When the news came, I couldn't believe it. My brother never made enemies and was always cautious. How could he just disappear? No one knows why he went off-campus or where he went. His belongings were all in his dorm, and no valuables were taken. Even the day before he disappeared, he sent me a ring he made himself."

All signs pointed to a sudden, unforeseen accident, not a premeditated disappearance by Xu Hua. This conclusion was undoubtedly the worst outcome for Xu Feng.

Queqiu noticed Xu Feng's finger, "Is it the one you're wearing now?"

He nodded in response.

Queqiu understood. No wonder Xu Feng always wore such a crudely made carrot ring; it was a personal gift from his brother.

“Since that day, my brother has completely vanished. I've been searching for him, scouring the entire Dark Star, but after a whole year, I haven't found a single clue about him,” Xu Feng said, his voice breaking with emotion.

As he spoke, his emotions began to crumble, his face buried in his hands, his voice choked with sobs.

Queqiu gently patted his back, infusing a trace of spiritual energy, hoping to ease his pain.

It took a while for Xu Feng to calm down before he spoke again, his voice muffled, “Sometimes, I'm terrified, thinking… what if he encountered a black Alpha? If that's the case…”

Xu Feng stopped, not daring to continue. He lifted his head, biting his fist, desperately trying to control his breaking emotions.

“Becoming a soldier was always my brother's dream. Though he didn’t have exceptional physical qualities like you to join the combat unit, he worked hard and secured a spot in the command unit.”

“He really was a hardworking and outstanding Omega,” Xu Feng said with pride when talking about his brother, Xu Hua.

“As for me,” he chuckled self-deprecatingly, “I never had such ambitions. I've always been timid and hesitant to interact with others. My only wish was to run a small inn with my brother in our hometown, away from far-off places and too many people, just taking care of our own little world.”

But fate had other plans, and Xu Feng's dream remained unfulfilled.

Queqiu listened silently throughout, not expressing any opinions. Only after Xu Feng finished did he speak, “So, you’re determined to stay at Dark Star Military Academy because of your brother?”

Xu Feng nodded, trying to muster a smile for Queqiu, but failing.

“I've turned Dark Star upside down, but I still can't find my brother. He disappeared while studying here, and there were many of his classmates around. Having no other options, I came here hoping to find some clues about his disappearance.”

Xu Feng was ill-suited for the combat unit; with a low genetic grade and a species like the gentle, harmless droopy-eared rabbit, his nature was introverted and sensitive. Yet, he struggled to stay in the combat unit, driven by the need to find his brother. Despite considering himself useless, Queqiu saw someone with such a pure heart as truly admirable.

After venting, Xu Feng felt relieved of the emotional burden he had been carrying. Although there were still no clues about Xu Hua, he could breathe a little easier now.

“I don't know if I'll ever find him, but he's my only family in this world. Even if the hope is slim, I still want to keep searching.”

Xu Feng lifted his head, managing a weary smile for Queqiu, “Maybe he's still out there, alive and well, just waiting for me to find him.”

Queqiu patted his shoulder, offering comfort, “It's just a disappearance, don’t worry too much. Besides, I’ve heard that if a black Alpha harms an Omega, it becomes public knowledge. Since there's no news of your brother being harmed, he should be safe.”

"Thank you, Queqiu. You're the first person I've talked to this much about it," Xu Feng said, his eyes brimming with tears as he looked at Queqiu, filled with gratitude.

More than once, he felt that Queqiu was like the sun described in the archives, unaltered by cosmic radiation – distant but still gently warming the hearts of people.

Just like now, Xu Feng felt as if he had touched the fiery radiance of the sun.

Queqiu gently shook his head, indicating that Xu Feng need not dwell too much on this small gesture of help.

"It's getting late. You should rest. I'll head back to my room," he said as he stood up, ready to leave.

Xu Feng looked up, watching Queqiu intently, etching even his departing silhouette into his memory.

In that moment, he thought if Queqiu truly were a princess, he would be a knight, loyally guarding him.

Xu Feng realized that just as much as he cared for his brother, he cared for Queqiu too.

Back in his room, Queqiu remained silent. Noticing his unusual mood, Morfa, transformed into a small caterpillar, nestled in his pocket and gently rubbed against him.

Queqiu snapped out of his thoughts, gently pinching Morfa's tiny antennae, "I'm thinking about Xu Feng's brother."

"Do you think there's something suspicious about his disappearance?"

"Hmm," Queqiu responded softly, "According to Xu Feng, his brother disappeared off-campus, possibly encountering a black Alpha. But Bai Tianxing mentioned that black Alphas publicly display their harm to Omegas, and Xu Hua doesn't fit this profile. Besides comforting Xu Feng, I also don't believe Xu Hua encountered a black Alpha."

"An Omega alone on Dark Star is indeed dangerous, even without black Alphas. Others might target him, which is why I worry about you going to the black market alone," Morfa said.

Queqiu toyed with the daisy necklace around his neck, pondering, "But Omegas can send distress signals through their alarms in case of danger, something every Omega at the Dark Star Military Academy should know. Yet according to Xu Feng, his brother didn't send any messages before or after he went missing."

"Are you suggesting that..."

After a moment's thought, Queqiu said, "There are generally only two possibilities in such a situation. One, Xu Hua was caught off guard and controlled so quickly that he couldn't react; he remained in a state of control or was killed afterwards. The other is..."

Queqiu's golden pupils darkened, his voice lowering, "The person who caused his disappearance must be someone he knew very well. He didn't guard against them because he recognized them."

At that time, Queqiu really wanted to ask Xu Feng, "Are you sure Xu Hua disappeared outside the school?"

"What if he disappeared inside the school?"

He hadn’t forgotten the Beta housekeeper in the Omega dormitory who gave him a sense of discomfort.

Mo'erfa fell silent for a while, agreeing, "Your speculation makes sense."

"So, danger exists not only outside the Dark Star Military Academy," Queqiu stated confidently.

Even rebels like Bai Tianxing insisted that the Dark Star Military Academy was the safest place on the planet. However, the signs Queqiu had observed suggested otherwise. The school might not necessarily be safer than outside, just that people might restrain themselves to a certain extent while on campus.

He was immensely grateful for having concealed his true nature, that he wasn't human at all, and for choosing the combat division.

Otherwise, the outcome might have been uncertain.

Mo'erfa reassured him, "Don't worry, it will be alright. Based on your performance in the simulated battlefield, I can confidently say that almost no one on Dark Star could be your match."

His Omega was not only beautiful but also remarkably strong.

Mo'erfa felt a tremendous sense of pride in this.

"I hope so."

Queqiu looked out the window; the night sky was sparsely lit with stars, and the world outside was silent.

The next day—

Queqiu first found some free time to consult Bai Tianxing on how to disguise as a Beta. After getting a clear answer, he and Mo'erfa, following the advice, disguised themselves as Betas and left the school grounds.

Queqiu had an excellent memory; he still remembered where the black market on Dark Star was located, having been shown just once by Yang Shu.

He led Mo'erfa to the black market without asking for directions, finding it effortlessly.

"Is this little thing really effective?" Queqiu asked, touching the pheromone blocker patch at the back of his neck. It felt cool, like a piece of mint that had been frozen.

Mo'erfa used his tall frame to shield this somewhat conspicuous action, affirming, "Even this close, I can’t smell your pheromones. Rest assured, that Full Star Omega is one of the top healing Omegas on Dark Star, and he only uses the highest quality products."

Hearing this, Queqiu felt somewhat relieved and stopped repeatedly touching the patch on his neck.

Besides the pheromone blocker patch, he and Mo'erfa also wore hoodies from the same series. The large hoods hid their facial features and also covered the glands on their necks, avoiding detection.

Queqiu was petite, and Mo'erfa was tall. Standing together in matching outfits, they were quite a sight. To the unaware, they looked like a well-matched, loving Beta couple.

Morfa carried a black backpack containing ten bottles of comfort agents made by Qiu Autumn – cautious for his first time in the black market, he didn't make too much to avoid waste.

Despite his disguise, his superior appearance still attracted many gazes.

From the moment Morfa entered the black market, he frowned deeply, disliking the various gazes, admiring or malicious, cast on Qiu Autumn. Possessively, he pulled Qiu Autumn into his arms, using his body to block most of the stares directed at the Omega.

Qiu Autumn, unaware of the Alpha’s jealousy, lifted his head from the embrace, only able to see the underside of Morfa’s chin.

“Why are you suddenly hugging me?” asked the Little Rose, confused.

Morfa wouldn’t reveal his true thoughts; he squinted his eyes and smiled, having prepared an excuse just before acting.

“Aren’t we pretending to be a Beta couple today? You're my little boyfriend, so I think it’s only natural for me to do this, right?”

As he spoke, Morfa leaned closer to Qiu Autumn's ear, the warm breath from his near-whisper causing Qiu Autumn's fair earlobe to redden.

He whispered softly, “Right? My little boyfriend.”

Qiu Autumn, who hadn’t suspected Morfa of harboring ulterior motives, now found this explanation completely reasonable. He was convinced and stopped fretting about being held by the waist and led forward.

Seeing this, Morfa became even bolder in his actions.

Qiu Autumn's attention, however, was entirely captivated by the vendors on both sides.

The black market's entrance appeared to be a plain, even desolate, alleyway. But once inside, the vibrancy and bustle of the market became apparent.

A kilometer-long straight alley without any turns or side streets ran directly to its end. The widest part at the center was about twenty meters across, while the narrowest was barely two meters, feeling crowded even for two people walking side by side. Vendors lined the walls with a dazzling array of goods. Some had elaborate setups, while others simply spread a cloth on the ground as their storefront.

Among the items sold, Qiu Autumn spotted at least three stalls dealing in contraband within ten steps, including comfort agents leaked from Dark Star Military Academy.

There were even stalls selling living people.

Qiu Autumn's pupils constricted at the sight of a thin Beta slave.

The crowd bustled, and the sound of vendors hawking their wares was ceaseless, lively like a marketplace on Earth.

But the black market of Dark Star was far more than what it seemed on the surface.

Nestled in Morfa's embrace, Qiu Autumn appeared to be led along, but in reality, he was using Morfa’s body as a shield to discreetly observe his surroundings.

Hidden beneath that seemingly friendly atmosphere was the scrutinizing gaze that had been following them since their arrival, evaluating them like merchandise. The discomfort of those eyes was palpable, with each look harboring ulterior motives that were unsettling.

Of course, there was also the coveting of Autumn Sparrow.

There was no help for it. Even though he had made an appropriate disguise, compared to most people in this world, especially the Alphas in terms of height and physique, he seemed too delicate. Held in the arms of that “Beta,” his slender waist, contrasted with the strong arms, seemed almost fragile.

"He's like a glass doll that can be cradled in the palm of your hand," some Alphas with ill intentions thought.

No one could resist the urge to snatch Autumn Sparrow for themselves; he was far too enticing, igniting the Alphas’ possessiveness and competitive nature—a nature as innate as their blood's inherent aggression.

However, any Alpha who dared show even a hint of covetousness would be fiercely glared back by Morfa.

"If you know what's good for you, stay away from me," the young Alpha bared his fangs, unafraid of any enemy attempting to take his Omega.

Morfa was like a freshly matured lone wolf, brimming with youthful vigor and formidable skills, ready to ruthlessly drive away anyone who dared to covet his claimed mate.

Unaware of all this, Autumn Sparrow was busy searching for a suitable stall, but perhaps due to the late hour, every spot was already taken. It wasn't until they were almost out of the black market that they finally found a vacant space at the end of an alley.

He tugged at Morfa's sleeve, "Let's set up here."

The Alpha nodded, and the fierce air about him vanished in the presence of Autumn Sparrow, transforming from a bloodthirsty lone wolf into an obedient little dog wagging its tail.

He set down the bag he'd been carrying, spread a blue tablecloth on the ground, and took out ten bottles of soothing agent.

Many had been eyeing them since they entered the black market, and now, seeing them setting up to sell, speculated about the contents of the bottles resembling nutrient solutions.

A lot of people were curious, watching from a distance, yet no one wanted to be the first to approach.

Even after more than half an hour, there were hardly any visitors at Autumn Sparrow and Morfa’s stall, with very few even coming up to inquire.

Clearly, people were more interested in Queqiu himself than in the goods he and Mo'erfa were selling at their stall.

Mo'erfa was somewhat anxious, knowing how much effort Queqiu had put into making these soothing agents to trade for nutrient fluids. He was worried Queqiu might feel disappointed by the lack of interest.

However, he needn't have worried.

Queqiu showed no sign of disappointment. It wasn't that he was good at hiding his feelings; he simply wouldn’t get upset over such matters.

He even reassured Mo'erfa, "We have plenty of time before the school gates close. Let’s wait a bit longer, no rush."

Just as he finished speaking, a burly, muscular hawk Alpha approached their stall. With his large pectorals quivering, he asked in a hostile tone, "What are you selling? This greenish liquid looks pretty. It might make a nice decorative piece."

"A decorative piece?" Mo'erfa scoffed.

Since the stranger was impolite from the start, Mo'erfa didn’t bother being courteous. Crossing his arms, he retorted sarcastically with a cocky air, "You’ve worked out your muscles well, why not exercise your eyes too?"

"Open your eyes and see clearly, it’s a soothing agent."

The hawk Alpha was initially taken aback by Mo'erfa's ridicule, his anger rising rapidly, but it turned to surprise and then mockery upon hearing "soothing agent."

He burst into laughter, holding his stomach, "Oh my, by the Goddess of Life, we have two delusional lunatics here!"

"Soothing agents? Soothing agents! Hahaha, you dare claim you’re selling soothing agents!"

His laughter, not content to stay solo, became infectious as he roped in passersby to join in. His exaggerated gestures attracted more onlookers.

"They're actually claiming these junk items are soothing agents, hahaha!"

After understanding the hawk Alpha's words, those around him joined the laughter, thinking these two 'Betas' had lost their minds to fake soothing agents as a scam.

"Pff, so desperate for money they’ve concocted such a far-fetched lie, taking us all for fools?"

"Not even children would believe such a thing, let alone adults."

"Such low-quality stuff might fool the uneducated in the slums, but to brazenly scam people in the black market – these vendors are getting bolder by the day."

"Soothing agents? More like nutrient fluid with some color added, right?"

"Anyone can cause trouble in the black market now? Where are the managers? Why haven't they come to kick them out?"

Mo'erfa didn't care much about being insulted himself, but he couldn't tolerate Queqiu being questioned. Furious, he rolled up his sleeves, ready to fight, but Queqiu held him back, saying coolly, "Believe it or not, it's your choice. I'm not forcing anyone to believe or buy. Say whatever you want."

Queqiu's forthright attitude and confident words caught many off-guard. For a moment, the onlookers exchanged glances, unsure of what to say next.

Seeing the situation calming down, the hawk Alpha tried to stir up trouble again, "Just because he says a few words, you believe him? Are soothing agents that easy to come by? Even the Dark Star Military Academy can't produce much. Are they better than the Academy?"

The crowd, hearing this, felt there was some truth to his words.

Seeing the crowd wavering, the hawk Alpha pressed on, looking at Queqiu arrogantly, "If you claim you're selling soothing agents, do they have batch numbers? Are they from outside or from the Dark Star Military Academy? Can you guarantee your soothing agents are effective for Alphas and Betas?"

Seeing Queqiu at a loss for words, he gloated, "See, I told you these two Betas are frauds!"

Before the hawk Alpha could finish, a disheveled, down-and-out middle-aged Alpha suddenly appeared from the crowd.

People disdainfully made way for him, afraid of getting their clothes dirty, with many covering their noses, clearly struggling with the stench.

However, the next moment, the words of this scruffy Alpha shocked everyone present.

He looked at Queqiu and Mo'erfa, his voice hoarse but clear, reaching everyone's ears.

"Are you selling soothing agents?"

Thinking this was yet another Alpha looking for trouble, Mo'erfa ignored him. Queqiu answered, "Yes."

"How effective is it?"

"Better than the soothing agents from the Dark Star Military Academy."

This statement immediately caused a stir among the onlookers, who began whispering to each other and looking at the boastful, petite "Beta" with skeptical eyes.

They thought any sane person would walk away after hearing such a claim, but surprisingly, the unkempt Alpha, not just odd in appearance but seemingly in mind as well, did the unexpected.

He actually smiled and then asked, "How much for a bottle?"

Author's note:

Mo'erfa: "My wife is beautiful and strong, and she can even run a stall to support our home."