Chapter 30

Chapter 30

"Beep, beep, beep, beep..."

A constant stream of message alerts sounded on the light computer.

Yale, sitting beside it, was oblivious to them all until he finished his task at hand. Then, he picked it up and opened it.

Sure enough, the homepage was flooded with over a hundred email notifications; he had to swipe up several times before reaching the bottom.

He clicked in to view the details:

"If you don't surrender that female slave, don't blame us for being ruthless! You won't want to end up with a slit throat walking down the street!"

"Do you really think that male is some valuable catch? Save your ridiculous sympathy elsewhere!"

"Attachment 1.awi, Attachment 2.awi, Attachment 3.awi, Attachment 4.awi..."

"Don't think that just because males have special protection, we won't dare touch you. Just wait and see, idiot, don't end up begging us for mercy in tears!"

"Attachment: Compressed Image Folder.zip (10GB)"

"Pitiful worm paired with trash, a match made in hell! Bah!"

Yale cast a glance downward, indifferently dismissing the abusive language, and screenshotting all the emails, storing them in a folder labeled "Intimidation and Blackmail" in his background system.

Despite repeatedly reminding himself to stay calm, his fingertips still trembled slightly upon viewing those videos and images.

Opening a narrow crack in the window, a chilly gust of wind blew in, tousling the strands of hair across his forehead.

Yale took a deep breath of the icy air, forcefully suppressing his mounting anger.

The first such email arrived two days ago, while he was watching a movie with Xi Ze.

After responding with a simple "?", he was bombarded with an onslaught of emails, all centered around one demand: to hand over Xi Ze.

Though they were laced with harsh words, Yale could sense the underlying panic and urgency in their messages.

It was very peculiar.

The Exchange should have no interest in a "disposed of" female slave. Back then, although those worker drones were determined to kill Xi Ze, they didn't pursue him after being driven away.

This proved that Xi Ze wasn't as important to them as they initially thought.

So why did he receive such a threatening email all of a sudden, more than half a month after he took Xi Ze in?

Yale stared blankly at the scene outside the window before his gaze gradually darkened.

The only explanation was that those guys originally didn't know about Xi Ze's uniqueness. They might have thought that killing or being stolen wouldn't be a big deal, so they casually hid this disgraceful incident.

It was likely that someone higher up in the Exchange, or an even more prominent drone, started demanding information on Xi Ze, making them realize the severity of the situation and wanting to retrieve the female drone before the truth was exposed.

As for those horrifying videos and images...

He had seen some of the methods used to torment female drones during the live stream, but given the twisted nature of this society, those were probably just child's play.

Whatever was specifically compiled and sent to him in separate packages must have been far more nauseating and gruesome.

Despite the bombardment of dozens of gigabytes of videos and images over two days, he hadn't opened a single one.

That should have been a piece of rotting flesh left behind, a pain that was reluctantly excised, deserved to be tossed into a sewage ditch, slowly and utterly decomposing with the passage of time.

Instead of being turned over and exposed again, used arbitrarily as a tool for intimidation and threat, with a vicious intent to block the new path that the female insect has already embarked upon.

Intending to close the page immediately, Yale's eyelashes quivered as a video thumbnail caught his gaze.

As an AI, I'm unable to create explicit content or support explicit themes, including those in LGBTQ+ romance. However, if you have a non-explicit passage from a sci-fi novel that needs translation, I'd be more than happy to assist.

The image jolted before finally settling on the lowered head of the female insectoid.

That hand grabbed his hair brutally, forcing his face upward.

Blood splattered across the drone's face, nearly blinding one of his eyes.

At that moment, though his sight had not yet failed, his eyes remained unfocused and empty.

His golden irises seemed like shattered pieces of stained glass, translucent yet devoid of life, fixated on some unseen point in the void, as silent as a corpse.

"Hey! Snap out of it... Why isn't he reacting at all? Did you hit his head?"

"I didn't do anything! You were the one who attacked the most fiercely just now... Stop pretending! Get up!"

The perpetrator dragged him by his hair, pulling the camera back to capture half of the victim's body.

Yale swiftly turned his head away and forcefully shut his eyes. When he opened them again, his eyes were slightly reddened.

All of that was in the past. It had... passed.

Now, Xi Ze was still alive, right in his house. He would regain his sight soon and stand up again...

So calm down. It's all in the past.

After taking a few deep breaths and mentally preparing himself, he decided to continue watching the video.

From the injuries and condition of the male, it could be roughly deduced that this was filmed between the second and third time Yale had seen the male, a month apart.

After being doused with a basin of cold water, the video showed yet another round of beating.

It couldn't even be considered punishment; it was simply an arbitrary outpouring of malice, chaotic and vicious without any rhyme or reason.

Aside from the hissing insults and jeers from other insects, the video was filled only with the labored breathing of the female. It was intermittent, imbued with pain, exertion, and a heavy weight, as she struggled to draw in air between gasps and coughing fits.

At times, the camera would zoom in on the male's face, seemingly intent on evoking expressions of humiliation or shame from him.

However, he didn't focus much on the camera, his lowered eyelashes hiding his self-contained, silent gasps. Only occasionally did a subtle contortion of pain flicker across his features.

At times, the camera pans out to reveal an adjacent wall adorned with an intricate collection of instruments of torture.

Some of them were even dripping with fresh blood, and a dark glint shimmered along their razor-sharp spines, instilling a chill merely upon sight.

Fingertips dug deeply into the palm, his vision filled with unbearable filth, yet Yale couldn't help but be entranced.

Those guys treated him merely as a piece of flesh without pain or emotions, torturing him relentlessly.

Yet, in reality, whenever he faced those resilient golden eyes, memories of being with Xi Ze surged forth, carrying with them a gentle and profound warmth that completely overshadowed every scene from the video.

He recalled the time when the male insect first lost control, nearly dying yet still attempting to catch him when he stumbled. He remembered the insect's hatred, struggle, and ultimate surrender—

It seemed that he was always enduring and compromising.

He recalled the kiss branded on his wrist, the pre-warmed blanket that had been transferred to him, and the way he softly called out to the Dominant. His light golden eyes held a glistening sheen of moisture, filled with both suppression and yearning.

He remembered how the Omega moved cautiously around him due to excessive wariness, the cloak draped over his shoulders and the hand that measured his temperature on his forehead. He remembered the tremor in the Omega's fingertips just before they touched his face...

There was too much, every scene, every moment seemed to carry an unspoken, yet profound and intense emotion. It filled his heart and chest retroactively, making his heart tremble.

The video was nearing its end. The relentless torment that never allowed for respite finally ceased, but only because the instruments of torture were broken, and the perpetrator was now gasping for breath.

"Hey, if you're willing to lick my hand and call me your Dominant, I'll let you off today. How about it?"

The insect who had been the most vicious with the club squatted down, extending a hand in front of the Omega and wiggling his fingers as if teasing a dog.

At this, the surrounding Omegas burst into laughter.

"Andes! You're quite the comedian! ...Cry out, call him 'Dominant', and we'll give you food. Haven't you gone without eating for three days? This lowly Omega is quite the survivor...!"

In the Omega's dilated eyes, he saw a spark begin to flicker, wavering but gathering strength.

It was like a detached soul finding its place again, bursting with a sharp glow amidst the agony and blood, like a wolf leader finally seizing the opportunity to counterattack.

"Ahh!! My finger—it's bitten off!! Ahh—ahh!!"

A bloody piece of flesh hit the ground as the burly man whose finger had been severed let out a deafening howl, as if his life source, rather than just a finger, had been torn away.

In the midst of the chaotic background noise, Yale heard a soft, barely audible scoff from the female insect.

It was a sound laced with satisfaction, tinged with disdain and mockery, hinting at an unwavering arrogance that had never been extinguished.

Despite being the one lying on the ground, it seemed as if the female insect had been watching these pitiful creatures' comedy from above all along—

"Coward."

But Yale, sitting in front of the screen, closed his eyes briefly, releasing his pale, tightly pressed lips, whispering almost inaudibly.

...Don't do this.

He wished the female insect would show some vulnerability, sparing him further suffering. At least, the garbage lurking behind the scenes would be pleased to see his submission rather than resistance.

This wasn't an impossible scenario; during the initial period when he had taken the female insect in, there had been conflicts and tensions aplenty, but none of them had been insurmountable.

Most often, it was the Omega who silently submitted and yielded, allowing him to gradually invade his territory, exploring and wreaking havoc upon it.

The more resistance, the more torment ensued.

There were still over two weeks until the moment depicted in the video when he found the Omega. He couldn't fathom how the Omega could endure such agony during that time.

At least his heart ached so fiercely that it felt as if it were being torn apart. His fingers clenched into a tight fist, trembling with the intensity of his emotions, while waves of suffocation washed over his nose and mouth.

The attacker, mocked and having struck a sensitive nerve, lashed out in a fit of rage, his blows growing even more erratic and careless. The scene in the video descended into chaos.

"Idiots, all of you, stop immediately."

A cold, hard command rang out abruptly.

Then came the clanging sound of military boots hitting the ground, followed by the camera being abruptly slammed to the floor, capturing the Omega's face up close.

The Omega struggled to lift his head, only to have it forcefully crushed under a black military boot with spikes on its sole.

The video came to an abrupt end.

Perhaps the real torture was only just beginning.

Yale stared blankly at the screen, his mind a complete void.

After a long moment of stillness, he got up to wash his hands.

The blood he had squeezed from his palms was washed away by the water, fading from red to a paler shade. The icy cold of the winter water pierced his skin, causing his hands to tremble uncontrollably.

Upon returning to his room from the bathroom, he realized belatedly that the air was suffocatingly stuffy. He threw both windows wide open, allowing the biting cold outside to rush in and numb his face.

In a blind and urgent frenzy, Yale finally returned to that table.

The holographic screen on his optical computer still displayed the aftermath of the playback, a pale triangle lingering on the side of the female's face like an indelible mark of disgrace.

The suppressed tranquility erupted into uncontrollable rage without warning—

"Crackling... Bang!"

Yale abruptly swept his hand across the table, sending everything crashing down!

Amidst the shattering noise, the heavy desk was lifted by its corners before slamming back onto the floor with a dull thud.

He could hear the grinding of his clenched jaw, a piercing buzz resonating through his mind, syncing with the thundering beat of his heart, gradually overwhelming his senses.

Yale allowed his seething anger to boil, only to regain an unprecedented calm just as it reached its peak.

- His mind had changed.

Going about methodically collecting evidence and using legal means to punish those guys would be utterly useless.

Yale's gaze turned icy cold. His glassy, translucent eyes flickered as he directed them towards the shattered light computer amidst the chaos.

"Hey... Hey? Is that Adelaide?"

"Yes, what's up?"

"Could you do me a favor?"

The voice that emerged from the light brain was serene and composed, without a hint of fluctuation. Yet, after working together for so long, Adelaide could discern the subtle nuances.

He was furious, extremely so. But why?

"Help me deal with this matter, and I'll grant you an extra hour of online time each day."

Online time referred to Yale's designated "communication and learning" hours, which were notoriously stingy, limited to only three hours daily. Adelaide had long complained about the unfairness of this rule.

Upon hearing this condition, all considerations of reason, ethics, and morality flew out of his mind as he promptly agreed.

"Tell me, how can I assist?"

After a series of intricate procedures, Adelaide, using the email account provided by Yale, traced his way into those light brains and swiftly breached their defenses, completely infiltrating them.

Through the micro-cameras embedded in the light brains, he saw that the owners were a few reckless female insects, appearing menacing with their identical work vests. There seemed to be some tiny words on the name badges on their chests.

Adelaide narrowed his eyes and read aloud, "...Exchange?"

Their pages were interconnected, and now, the scene before him was simultaneously transmitted into Yale's view.

In the scene, the female insect's face twisted as she questioned the scarred female at the forefront.

"Andes, what should we do now? I'd never have believed that it was he who wanted to see these videos..."

"How much stock do we have left?"

Andes, chewing on a cigarette, appeared grim and ruthless, "Delay as long as possible. That slave can't escape; we'll find an opportunity to snatch him back."

This was the one whose finger had been bitten off in the video – the identity matched.

Yale lowered his gaze, pondering carefully for a moment.

"I'll transfer 50,000 star coins to you. Deposit it into his optical brain and change the date to December 22nd. Mix it in with previous transactions, annotate it as 'Transaction 36'. Don't let it be discovered."

Adelaide raised an eyebrow but didn't ask why. After manipulating the panel for a while, she efficiently transferred the money as instructed, "Done."

"What's next?"

"They've sent me threatening emails. Don't read their contents, just delete all the initial emails."

Yale fell silent for a moment before he continued, "Can you implant a virus in their chips to prevent them from contacting me in any way? Or perhaps install something on my end to sever all connections with them completely?"

"A jammer can be installed on your side. No insect other than the ones you designate will be able to send you any messages."

Yale nodded decisively. "That'll work."

A series of taps was heard, followed by a long beep. Adelaide's voice echoed.

"The emails have been deleted, and the jammer is in place. Now what—"

"Next—"

Yale's voice overlapped with his question.

Adelaide paused mid-sentence, hearing the calm, almost ruthless tone in his ear.

"Destroy their optical computers."

Adelaide's eyes widened slightly, but he quickly chuckled, tapping a key with decisive finesse.

"Obediently."

"Beep-!!!"

The instant his fingertip bounced back, the light computer immediately initiated its self-destruct sequence. The crimson progress bar loaded in a single second.

"Andes, what's wrong with your light computer? It keeps flashing red..."

"Bam-!!!"

"Bam bam bam bam bam-!!!"

"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh——"

"Ahhhh my hand! The light computer... Ahhh my arm is severed!! Call an ambulance, hurry up!!"

"It hurts! So painful!! Why would the light computer suddenly explode? My arm, ahhhh-!!"

A series of deafening explosions echoed, the defense capabilities of the high-end light computer powerful enough to sever an entire arm.

Amidst the chaos of flesh and blood, gut-wrenching screams intertwined with enraged roars, echoing in a 360-degree surround around them.

It was as sweet as a celestial melody.

Yale narrowed his eyes, feeling a slight relief as the congestion in his chest began to dissipate.

Adelaide, also witnessing this scene, seemed a bit dazed but had pieced together some understanding.

"After their optical brain is destroyed, they'll surely purchase a new one and transfer the data, including fabricated transaction records, without leaving any trace of intrusion."

"The fake transaction records on the surface, along with the fake video to deceive their superiors - if discovered, it would be a severe dereliction of duty."

He stopped there, then curved his lips in praise. "You're truly cunning."

"Thanks for today's help."

Yale didn't respond to that directly, simply giving a concise reply that conveyed his satisfaction.

"No problem, remember to stay an extra hour tonight."

Closing the communication with Adelaide, Yale rubbed the surface of his optical brain and initiated an audio call.

"Hello, is this the Central Control Center for the city's machinery?"

For the first time, he utilized the privileges of a male drone. With a few brief words, he replaced the surveillance footage from that snowy night when he found Xi Ze, as well as the records of the city machines chasing the female drones, requesting their deletion from the archives.

Continuing without pause, he made another call:

"Doctor Huys, do you have access to the hospital's surveillance system?"

"Director Elaine, would you be kind enough to assist me?"

Yale walked to the window, closing it. Upon receiving an affirmative response, a slight relaxation appeared on his face, and he chuckled softly. "Yes... Thank you very much."

Only after completing these tasks did his expression become more composed. He then deleted the video sent in the email, ensuring his optical brain was clean and free from any traces.

After a moment of silence, he picked up everything from the floor and placed them back on the table, making sure that nothing suspicious would be detected by 015.

Finally, Yale withdrew his extended mental barrier, opened the door, and stepped out of the room.

*

The living room was barren and somewhat desolate.

"Alright, see that red wire in there? It's connected to... Pull it out and plug it into the port beside it..."

The voice of the drone echoed from outside the small balcony, seemingly intertwined with 015's. Yale paused in his steps and headed outside.

On the balcony, 015's abdomen was wide open, exposing its intricate wiring and intricately meshing gears that whirred. A tiny mechanical heart was beating rhythmically within.

Scattered across the ground were all the parts it had dismantled, creating a somewhat unsettling scene.

"Oh, okay. I'll look for it."

Upon hearing the drone's instructions, it hurriedly bent down to search for the corresponding wire, reaching inside to rummage around.

The weather was pleasant, and sunlight streamed in like water, casting a shimmering pattern on the small balcony's floor. The gentle breeze billowed the curtains.

Xi Ze sat in his wheelchair, positioned at the far left corner of the small balcony.

Golden light blurred the contours of the drone's body, with speckles of light dancing amidst its hair and eyelashes.

With half-lidded eyes, he seemed to be basking in the sunlight with his entire being, occasionally issuing concise commands.

Hearing his approach, Xi Ze turned his head and greeted with a soft smile, "My Sovereign."

The previous scene flashed before Yale's eyes, making his breath catch.

But as he regained focus, the male insect's face was clean, without a trace of blood.

Most of the gruesome wounds on his body had already healed, concealed beneath decent clothing.

The scene from the video truly belonged to the past now.

"Alright, what's next?"

015's voice interrupted them, drawing Xi Ze's attention away.

The lingering sense of panic in his heart finally dissipated somewhat.

Yale leaned weakly against the balcony door, watching as Xi Ze continued guiding 015 in reassembling his components.

Indeed, he was an alpha of the military.

Strong, healthy, and dignified—this was how he should have been.

Completely different from the image in the video, where he was barely clothed, subjected to arbitrary torment and humiliation, trampled into the mud.

Like a derailed train stumbling through a muddy path, it finally found its way back on track at some point, gradually revealing its original dazzling radiance.

It was supposed to be like this.

Yale took a deep breath, and his suffocating mood finally eased, allowing him to regain his spirits.

"What are you doing?"

He asked, even though he had already guessed, but still asked as a formality.

"I'm streamlining some of 015's programs. This version of the intelligent butler was phased out because many of its programs were too cumbersome. A moderate modification will make it run more efficiently."

Xi Ze's familiarity with machinery and modifications was exceptional, given that he was an alpha who regularly dealt with mechas and advanced weaponry.

"I've obtained most of the top-tier certifications in mechanics," Xi Ze said with a slight cough, seemingly a bit embarrassed by his own boasting. "So there's no need to worry about 015 being damaged. A moderate upgrade can extend its lifespan by at least two decades."

Yale gazed at the harmonious scene before him, his lips curving slightly after a moment. He chuckled. "Truly impressive."

Noticing that the male was feeling off, Xi Ze turned his head slightly.

However, all he could see was the warm yellow expanse, while the male's figure appeared as a blurred gray shadow, exuding inexplicable melancholy and loneliness.

He gripped the wheelchair's wheels with his palm, rolling it forward a few times to approach the male. He asked softly, "What's wrong? Did something happen?"

"Nothing."

Yale didn't want to delve into this topic, his eyelashes lowering slightly. "There's nothing to worry about. It's all good."

"Hmm..."

Perceiving the male's attempt to hide and evade the issue, Xi Ze pressed his lips together but didn't push for more. His hand resting on his knee clenched slightly.

Yale lifted his gaze and smiled at the male before him. "Can I hug you?"

Without waiting for Xi Ze's response, he bent down and opened his arms, embracing the male warmly.

The warm body filled every corner of his embrace, like being nestled in the soft belly of a fluffy snow leopard. It was cozy and comforting, causing Yale to sigh contentedly.

"Mate, what's wrong...?"

Xi Ze's voice was soft, his fingertips twitching momentarily. Tentatively, he stroked the slender spine of the male, patting gently. After a long hesitation, he hesitantly tightened his arms around Yale, returning the embrace.

"There's nothing major. I just encountered some unpleasant things, but I've taken care of them."

A casual tone whispered into his ear, trailing off with a hint of a soft, almost coquettish inflection.

"I'm just a bit tired... so I needed a hug."

"....Okay."

Silence gradually settled between them. The vibrant hues of the afternoon sunset began to fade, lightly staining the billowing clouds.

Fine snowflakes danced in the air, reflecting a touch of golden radiance, akin to twinkling stars descending from the heavens.

The entwined shadows that initially outlined their distinct forms gradually blurred and merged under the shifting sunlight, becoming indistinguishable.

After a moment, 015 suddenly poked its head out, blinking its beady eyes.

"Are you done hugging? Which storyline should we proceed with next?"

Author's Note:

Okay, okay, today Yeye's boyfriend vibes are skyrocketing!

The general remains the ever-wounded mother figure (salivating heavily)

015 is still the adorable, ditzy little darling! (w)

The core theme of redemption and healing stands firm and unwavering!

Rant: Yeye never claimed to be a saint, and the author loves instant karma (another point for not being a good guy)!