Chapter 39

Chapter 39

"What did you just say?"

The words were ground out between clenched teeth, the fury behind them unmistakable.

In the holographic projection, the military female, dressed in impeccable uniform, wore a grim expression.

The medals on her chest and the grand office background behind her only emphasized her exalted status.

"That female insect was taken away?!"

Her sharp, eagle-like eyes pierced through the screen, landing on a group of cowering females standing outside.

On the floor lay several mangled female corpses, their positions twisted and grotesque.

Upon closer inspection, the wounds on them were horrific, each strike targeting the most painful spots. They had been reduced to unrecognizable forms, left in the snow for so long that they had frozen into a pile of putrid flesh, utterly revolting.

The insect responsible seemed to harbor intense hatred towards them, using them until their worth was drained before ultimately ending their lives. It wasn't until two days later when a worker insect from the Female Slave Exchange dug them out that the blame-shifting and cover-up finally failed, leading to the revelation of the truth.

"Admiral, I take full responsibility for this oversight!"

The one standing at the forefront to bear the brunt of the anger was also a military drone, his expression solemn yet concealing a hint of panic.

Facing such an existence that seemed untouchable to them, anyone would feel a creeping fear, especially since the Admiral was clearly enraged.

Anto Edkara, a profoundly legendary military drone.

He had shone brightly in that battle that captured the world's attention. When the commanding general's miscalculation was about to lead to defeat, he single-handedly turned the tide and led his troops to victory, ultimately being bestowed the rank of Admiral.

He was the second youngest Admiral in the Empire after that figure, though his brilliance still paled in comparison...

The momentarily distracted military drone pulled himself together in time to focus on answering the Admiral's questions.

"That drone was detained in the interrogation chamber and has undergone the highest level of torture for a year. Once his consciousness was completely destroyed, he would have been officially disposed of under the guise of a sale, eventually being processed in batches as defective goods."

"No one informed me of any particularities about that drone, so we didn't pay extra attention. It wasn't until the labor drones at the slave exchange discovered the body."

"The work drones' optical computers contain recent transaction records, with a note indicating the slave's number '36'. This proves that they secretly profited from selling that drone under the pretense of disposal. During this period, they sold numerous similar defective items. It's possible that someone was angered by their actions, leading to their murders."

The young military male, whose face still held a touch of innocence, paused in his speech and saluted stiffly, "I apologize! After retrieving that male insect, I am willing to accept punishment!"

"Recently?"

Anto's gaze was icy cold, as if he intended to strip the skin and bones from these fools, "What specific date?"

"Reporting! It was December 22nd!"

Today was the 28th.

He had only been out for a week, and yet it seemed nothing could be done now. From the videos they received, the male insect was already in such a pitiful state that he couldn't even crawl on the ground...

A week, just one week...

The expression on the military male's face softened slightly, only to turn stern again the next second. He suppressed his anger and asked, "Where is Lymand?"

"Reporting! The rear admiral is currently quelling unrest on Mik Star and might not be able to return anytime soon!"

"All of you are good-for-nothing waste!"

Fuming, Anto slashed his hand across the communication device, causing the screen to spin wildly and freeze momentarily.

Silence reigned among the military drones and worker insects; none dared to provoke trouble at this moment.

After a long while, the holographic brain was picked up again and slammed onto the desk, followed by a cold, stern command:

"Get Lymand to contact me! No matter where he is or what damn mission he's on, he'll return immediately, right now!"

The communication was abruptly cut off.

A fist pounded fiercely into the meteorite desk, creating a dent in its surface.

Anto panted heavily for a moment before sweeping all the piled documents on the table away with a sudden burst of anger, causing a loud clatter.

"Dammit! For it to go wrong at this very moment, if he catches his breath and manages to reach out to his troops..."

"I should have killed him outright back then!"

The military drone growled, catching sight of the framed medal of supreme honor hanging on the wall in his peripheral vision. In his rage, an inexplicable sense of unease and fear began to well up inside him.

"Total annihilation of consciousness confirmed? In a week? Ha, even a fleeting moment might have allowed him to sow chaos."

That fellow wasn't some empty-headed pretty face, nor was he a spineless creature softened by the decadent lifestyle of nobility.

He was a tenacious weed with deep roots, impossible to uproot completely. Given the slightest bit of sunlight, he'd flourish wildly, and if left unchecked, the consequences would be dire.

If not for the assistance of his sire, that thing wouldn't have even come close to the fellow.

Anto took a deep breath to compose himself, then dialed a secured communication line, his eyes icy cold.

The distance was too great, and the military affairs too numerous for him to rush there anytime soon. But it didn't matter... there were more secretive, more suitable insects to choose from.

At the same time, on Micron Star.

"Boom!"

A deafening explosion erupted, putting an end to the prolonged chaos. Only lingering smoke and dust remained.

The tall, stoic military female surveyed the battlefield from above, making a judgment before signaling for a halt.

Behind him, the dark weapon ports exuded heat, clearly the culprit behind the chaos.

Surrounded by an aura of war, no creature dared approach the military alpha at this moment. However, the urgency of the communication made the adjutant step forward, trembling slightly.

"Sir, you have a transmission!"

The alpha raised his chin slightly, and the shadow from his cap's brim slid across a sharp green gaze.

*

Yale placed the small bowl he held on the coffee table, now empty of its silver-blue powder.

He gently touched the naked back of the drone through a layer of gauze, whispering, "How do you feel now? Does it hurt?"

The drone was lying on the sofa, exposing his bare back.

The powder from the Sicilian mineral felt like scorching lava burning his wounds, making every muscle in his body tense and bulge. Veins snaked up his arms, presenting a somewhat terrifying sight.

He was subtly trembling, his upper body covered in a fine sheen of sweat that even dampened his half-lowered eyelashes. He managed to croak in response, "It's... not as painful as before. There's a bit of itchiness inside, as if something is growing."

The bone wings were an extension of the female's exoskeleton, normally folded and concealed along the sides of their spine. When needed, they would unfold, revealing the pulsating flesh within, causing excruciating pain that impaired the female's sensory perception.

Xi Ze struggled to prop himself up, draped a robe over his shoulders, and whispered comforting words to the male.

"Perhaps it has already grown inside... I'll try to expand them when the time comes."

This straightforward and crude treatment had been going on for several days, with unknown effectiveness. However, there were no other options. They could only wait and see if a visit to the hospital would yield any answers.

"Alright."

Just as Yale was about to call out to 015 to tidy up the coffee table, he heard the AI's startled cry from the kitchen.

"There's no food left at home... Ah! I forgot to stock up for the New Year!"

Yale blinked slowly, finally realizing what he had consistently overlooked.

Thankfully, 015 had noticed the issue while organizing the kitchen. If they had truly waited until New Year's Day to remember, everything would have been too late.

"You rest first. I'll head to the department store to get some supplies."

He greeted Xi Ze and hastily pulled on his down jacket and scarf. However, when he reached for the black umbrella leaning against the side, his movement paused.

"Should you need to go out, take your partner with you."

Yale hesitated at the memory of Alvin's words, but he still released the handle of the umbrella and stepped back towards the sofa.

"Would you like to rest for a bit and then come with me later?"

"What's up?"

Xi Ze looked a bit puzzled but didn't inquire further. He quickly finished getting ready and gave Yale a bright smile. "No need to wait. Let's go now."

"Are you okay to go now?"

Yale pressed his lips together, somewhat hesitant. "Maybe I should just go by myself, it's not… that far."

"It's alright."

Xi Ze placed a hand on his shoulder, gently guiding him towards the door, while his other hand picked up the large black umbrella.

015 stood with his hands folded, sending them both out the door, "Remember to get everything on the list... Be home early!"

**

"You have arrived at your destination. Please disembark."

The hovering vehicle glided smoothly along its spatial track and came to a gentle halt at the designated stop. Simultaneously, an electronic announcement sounded.

The doors closed, and a faint blue glow emanated from the tracks as the hovercar sped off towards its next location.

This was the bustling central district of Aital Star, where peculiarly-shaped skyscrapers interwove amidst a labyrinth of streets resembling a spider's web. Countless shimmering neon lights and illuminations flickered like a celestial display of stars.

"It's been a long time since I've seen this place so lively," Yale exhaled, a puff of white mist escaping his lips. The last time he witnessed such a scene was when he first arrived on this planet.

Suddenly, a cold gust of wind swept in. Although his woolen cap and scarf protected him from the chill, his face still stung, and his fingers felt a piercing cold.

Yale furrowed his brow, realizing that he had forgotten his gloves. His fingertips and knuckles had turned a frosty pink and were so stiff that they barely could bend.

"Ahh..."

The down jacket didn't have pockets, so he fumbled for a while before finally deciding to slip his fingers under the scarf. However, his neck shivered from the cold.

A sigh seemed to come from beside him, but it was indistinct amidst the icy wind.

Very soon, a hand reached out from the side, pulling his hand out from under the scarf and holding it in its grasp.

The female insect before him had lowered his eyelashes slightly. With a pair of black half-finger gloves, he gently slid Yale's fingers one by one into the gloves.

Finally, he neatly tucked the glove cuffs into the sleeves of the down jacket and patted them lightly, as if soothing a child.

The black gloves were clearly a size too big; they should have revealed a knuckle, but now only a tiny tip of the finger could be seen, and they didn't fit snugly. But...

He felt his ears gradually turning warm. After a moment, he came back to his senses, burying himself in the scarf and coughing softly to hide his embarrassment. "Thank you."

"Let's go." Yale's eyes dropped nervously as he took the lead to walk forward.

"I'm a bit hungry, let's see if there's anything to eat."

Unlike the last remote village market he visited, this one was situated much closer to where he worked.

But that also meant that many bugs recognized him, even when he was wearing a hat and scarf to disguise himself.

"Milord, Happy New Year!"

Yale was still in a daze when he was stopped, his vision filled with the face of a unfamiliar yet oddly familiar female insectoid. However, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't recall her name.

"Hello...?"

"Milord, do you recall me? I'm Had, the one who extended an invitation for dinner earlier, though you kindly declined (whispering)… But it's alright, would you permit me to invite you once more, to share a meal together…?"

However, before he could finish, he was gently pushed aside by a hand, and another face took his place.

The male insect cleared its throat, its voice deep and resonant with distinct bubbly undertones. "Milord, good evening. May I have the honor of asking you to spend the night with me?"

"Fie! You shameless creature! Daring to invite Milord… for such an intimate act!"

Perhaps influenced by the atmosphere, the male insects displayed extraordinary enthusiasm. Yale found himself almost overwhelmed by their faces, even questioning if he was hallucinating, as he couldn't believe the chorus of "Milords" that echoed in his ears.

Surrounded by towering female insects, the male insect in the center appeared particularly unremarkable, yet he was undeniably the focal point, like a delicate shrimp dumpling encircled by massive pastries, pure white and exuding an irresistible sweetness.

"Oh, pardon me..."

Xi Ze was pushed to the outskirts, but instead of pulling Yale out of the crowd, he watched him handle various greetings with a hint of helplessness, a subtle smile playing on his lips.

He had long known that even if a star fell into a muddy swamp, its brilliance and warmth would naturally draw countless admirers and covetous gazes.

No creature could resist the desire to embrace a star, yet, due to an inexplicable sense of holiness and distance, they dared not truly reach out to defile it. At most, they would strive to display their finest feathers like a peacock, hoping for a favorable glance.

"..."

Loosening his scarf slightly, Xi Ze's lips released a faint mist of white vapor.

Perhaps the biting cold wind had slipped through the collar of his clothes, for he suddenly felt a chill. A subtle bitterness tinged his tongue, as if mixed with a hint of astringency.

However, when Xi Ze lowered his gaze to carefully assess the situation, he realized that no pheromones were being emitted.

Strange.

"Hey!"

A slightly annoyed whisper reached his ears. Xi Ze's sensitive ears twitched, and he lifted his gaze abruptly.

Only then did he realize that he had become the center of attention. Not far away, the male insect looked somewhat embarrassed, his eyes wide as he glared at Xi Ze. After gritting his teeth, he mouthed silently but audibly,

Come save me!

Xi Ze was taken aback for a moment, but the corners of his lips, hidden beneath the scarf, curled up subtly.

That hint of bitterness transformed into a sweet aftertaste, like a candy melting on his tongue, even making him ignore the chill of the biting wind against his face.

"Who are you?? No, don't push me…!"

"Who exactly are you?!!"

It was unclear how the female insect managed it, but a gap quickly opened in the three-layered ring of insects surrounding the wall. When Xi Ze pushed through the crowd to stand before him, not even the collar of his coat was mussed.

The broad-shouldered, long-legged military female was a natural clothes hanger. His long, tailored black wool coat accentuated his tall, straight figure. With his eyes slightly lowered and a hint of laziness in his expression, the corner of his lips curled in a small smile as he held out a hand, "Come here."

Yale still felt somewhat gloomy, but upon seeing the broad and slender hand of the female insect in front of him, he reached out and held it.

Unconsciously rubbing his calloused fingertips over it, he then flipped his hand to grasp the male's wrist, effortlessly lifting him up and partially pulling him into his embrace, shielding him from the startled females.

Xi Ze's expression softened slightly as he nodded briefly at the astonished females, politely saying, "He has a date tonight. Sorry about that."

So, they managed to escape just like that?

Even after walking far away, Yale was still a bit dazed. He subconsciously wanted to turn back for a glance but was drawn by the voice in his ear.

"Do you want some candied chestnuts?"

"Where?"

Yale instantly forgot about what had just happened and followed the direction the female insect indicated. Sure enough, he saw a vendor selling candied chestnuts. "Come on, come on."

After receiving a bag of warm, soft, and sweet chestnuts, he began to peel and eat them with undivided attention, completely forgetting the little incident that had just occurred.

The chestnuts here were abnormally large, but their meat was abundant and delicious.

Due to the small opening on the surface, it required great force to crack them open. Some were so hard that even after turning Yale's hand red, they remained unyielding.

"?"

Yale considered himself quite strong, certainly not the type who couldn't twist off a bottle cap. But the chestnut in his palm was as hard and scorching as a volcanic rock, resembling a tiny green date.

Determined to prove himself, he passed the bag to the female insect and used both hands to pry open the chestnut. The searing heat penetrated his gloves, forcing him to blow on it while holding it, leaving his fingertips reddened.

At that moment, Xi Ze exchanged the bag for the chestnut in the male's hand. "Eat this."

Only then did Yale realize, looking into the bag, that the peeled chestnuts were nestled at the bottom, plump and fragrant.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Xi Ze deftly spin the chestnut between his thumb and index finger, gently rubbing it until the stubborn shell split effortlessly into two. Then, the nut itself was returned to the bag.

Fixing his gaze alternately between the chestnut and Xi Ze, Yale's expression grew intricate.

Xi Ze brushed off the debris on his hand, sensing the male's watchful gaze. His eyes crinkled as he smiled. "What's wrong? Eat while it's hot."

"…You should eat too."

Yale selected a few exceptionally round ones and placed them in the female's palm.

The streets were bustling with shops and mobile stalls, illuminating the entire urban area with a lively glow. Vapors of warmth rose from the cold air, dissipating into the sky amidst the icy breeze.

"It looks so delicious!"

The male pointed at a thick squid leg, his eyes gleaming as if "I want to eat it" was written all over his face.

Next to the stall, the vendor was frying it with a sizzling sound. The tender and springy squid leg curled up, sprinkled with cumin and chili powder, releasing an irresistible aroma.

Xi Ze took a glance. "That's a tentacle from a Youyou Sea Beast. Its flesh is quite tough; you might find it difficult to chew."

"Here! Hold it well!"

The nearby female took the enormous tentacle, selectively transforming her teeth into sharp fangs. She bit into the "squid leg" with a crunching sound, as if slicing through a stubborn piece of meat chaotically.

"..."

Yale instinctively stepped back and hurriedly nudged the female away. "Let's check out the next stall."

Passing by a stall that appeared to sell gelatinous snacks, he paused, eyeing the rows of transparent and tender jellies in small bowls, each seemingly filled with various fruit sauces.

"It looks like puddings, what are they?" Yale inquired cautiously.

Xi Ze took a glance. "They're unfertilized eggs of deep-sea star beasts. After injecting them with fillings and freezing them overnight, they turn out like this."

"Uh...?"

Yale's expression turned blank. He stared at Xi Ze, then back at the eggs, his face gradually revealing disbelief.

"Let's go, let's go."

He glared hatefully at the items that resembled puddings but were actually beast eggs before dragging the female insect away, suppressing his breath.

"How many bizarre foods do the insectoids have...?"

He grumbled softly, feeling fortunate to have survived thus far, "I'm incredibly lucky not to have been poisoned."

No ordinary insect would refer to their own species as the Insectoid race.

A flicker of doubt crossed Xi Ze's eyes, but he didn't dwell on it. Instead, he lowered his voice to reassure the male insectoid.

"Not everything here is bizarre. This is the Frontier Star, so it's natural to find many local delicacies with unique flavors. It'll be much better on the Central Star."

Yale suddenly turned his head to look at him, his brows slightly furrowed. "But how do you seem more familiar with this place than I am? I thought..."

Hadn't the female insectoid been confined in the Slave Exchange all along?

Moreover, if he had once held a high position, wouldn't he be less knowledgeable about the distinctive snacks of the Frontier System? To the point that he could identify them just by glancing at them?

"I lived on a Scrap Heap Star and the Frontier Star for several years before reaching adulthood and moving to the Central Star. That's why I know a bit more," Xi Ze said casually, seemingly uninterested in dwelling on the topic. He lifted his chin slightly, gesturing ahead. "That scent over there is quite appealing. Would you like to try it?"

Yale appeared thoughtful but still nodded at the female's suggestion. "Sure, let's go take a look."

As it turned out, there were indeed many normal dishes. With a reliable guide, this food street, which initially seemed fraught with hidden dangers, became much clearer. They began to enjoy themselves, sampling dishes from one stall to another without worry.

Truly a blissful oblivion to home.

After dinner, Yale finally recalled his mission to purchase New Year's supplies.

Flipping through the list on his optical brain, his fingertip paused on the entry that read "Purchase complete new outfits *3." Conveniently, there was a clothing store right across the street.

"Shall we take a look?"

He tugged on the male's sleeve again, lips curving into a smile as he gestured.

To cross the road, Xi Ze shifted all the groceries he was carrying to his other hand. Gently freeing his sleeve from Yale's grasp, he wrapped his arm around the male's wrist, his broad palm settling securely at the crook of Yale's elbow.

It was a firm and practiced guiding gesture.

"Alright, be careful."

Yale didn't resist, but a hint of exasperation flickered in his eyes. "I'm not a child who needs to hold hands to cross the street."

Xi Ze kept a watchful eye on the passing vehicles, replying with divided attention, "It's always better to be cautious."

"The transportation system on the Edge Star isn't well-developed, resulting in frequent accidents. Etar's management is decent, but you still need to be cautious."

It wasn't until they crossed the road that he let go, leaving the sleeves crumpled from his grip. The male insect gently smoothed them out... It felt like he was genuinely being treated as a youngling in need of care.

Thirty minutes later, they emerged from the clothing store.

Neither of them were skilled at picking outfits. Usually, as long as what they had on looked acceptable, they wouldn't bother. Even when buying new clothes, they would stick to familiar styles, at most trying out different colors.

"Let me see what else needs to be bought outside. We'll finish up at the department store and have everything delivered together."

Yale flipped through the lengthy list.

He had simply glossed over the previous New Year, never bothering to prepare anything. He hadn't even ventured out during that period.

But 015 took it seriously, conducting a thorough cleaning of their home and updating its decorations. It had even carefully compiled this list.

He couldn't disregard its efforts.

A few snowflakes drifted down from the sky, lightly dusting the streets and shops, landing on the shoulders of the moving insect crowds. They draped a soft veil over the glittering trees and silver lights, imbuing the lively atmosphere with a warm glow.

Occasionally, Yale would glance sideways at Xi Ze who was beside him.

The female insect would sometimes be lost in admiration, only averting her gaze when she noticed him turning his head.

At times, she would vigilantly watch out for the surrounding shops, her focused expression endearingly adorable.

"Mm..."

Yale pressed his lips together, a smile involuntarily tugging at the corners of his mouth, hidden beneath the scarf.

...

After they finally emerged from the department store, having deposited their numerous bags at the delivery counter, Yale breathed a sigh of relief.

"Let's go. We'll stroll a bit more before heading back."

The night deepened.

The city remained bustling and lively, filled with the chirping of insects that seemed determined to illuminate this dull planet throughout the night.

Yet, it seemed like his ears caught a faint rumble amidst the chilly wind, barely discernible.

A subtle red glow flickered in the dark sky but was swiftly concealed by the clouds.

Xi Ze's expression abruptly changed. He grasped his arm and spoke in an unusually grim tone.

"We leave this place immediately."