Chapter 68

Chapter 68

After that ball, the identity of the S-class male insect was finally fully exposed.

But no matter how much turmoil it caused in the outside world, it had nothing to do with Yale, who had activated his offline mode.

After serious contemplation, he finally decided to register as a student at Ackson College.

—Transferring from online communication to offline, he could choose any course he wished to study, free from the constraints of rigid school regulations, granting him a significant degree of freedom.

Exiting the principal's office at Ackson College,

"Nice doing business with you, Your Excellency."

Norman's expression was solemn as he shook hands with Yale. Then, recalling something, he added, "The military base is right next door. Would you like to take a look while you're here?"

Yale was taken aback for a moment before a deeper smile appeared in his eyes. "Sure, Principal. Have a good day. We'll see each other again on Monday."

After bidding farewell to Norman and the professors, he boarded the hovering vehicle that had been waiting for quite some time.

"ASD, head for the main entrance of the Military Headquarters."

Scenes outside the window blurred into a streak as they entered a dedicated lane. Yale's fingertips brushed against his light computer, but he decided against informing Xi Ze in advance.

Perhaps the hovercar had already registered its license plate or the system had identified the insectoid passenger, because their journey was unimpeded from the main gate to the various sectors.

Xi Ze's office was located in Sector A13 at the heart of the complex, but at this time, the male might be at the training grounds.

Yale paused at the intersection of the two locations, pondering which way to go when there was a tapping on his car window.

"?"

Lowering the window, Yale saw a fully armed military female leaning against the roof, peering down at him.

"Excuse me, I noticed you've been parked here for a few minutes. Is there anything I can assist you with?"

Upon recognizing the insectoid inside the vehicle, the soldier froze for a moment before stepping back hastily. Nonetheless, she still asked, "Are you here to see Marshal Monte?"

Yale nodded and simultaneously stopped her from reaching for her communicator to report, "I'll manage on my own. There's no need to inform anyone for a special reception. It would be too much trouble."

"Very well, but I still need to register you."

The military drone obligingly lowered its hand and advised the male, "The marshal's whereabouts are classified, but today happens to be a joint training day. You can observe at the training grounds."

"Thank you."

Yale expressed his gratitude and then rolled up the car window. He drove in the direction pointed out by the military drone until he arrived at the training grounds, where another military drone promptly opened the car door for him.

He was led into the training facility before them. After turning a corner, they arrived at a massive metal gate. Upon opening it, a cacophony of lively noises greeted them.

"Today is joint training day, when the four major legions compete for different training grounds for group specialized training. At this time, they should be engaging in arena battles."

"The scene might get a bit intense. If you feel uncomfortable at any point, you can call for a guard to escort you to a designated resting room."

After explaining, the military drone made sure Yale had no issues before closing the door behind them.

...

Yale emerged from the second-story spectator gallery. Below was an open platform, though it was too small to function as a proper training ground. As the military drone had mentioned, it seemed designed specifically for matches and competitions.

"There have always been only the First, Second, Third, and Fourth Legions. The Marshal commands all the Legions and their troops. There's no such thing as a Honorary Marshal, nor any troops subordinate to one!"

"The training grounds don't belong to you. Scram back to your garbage planet for specialized training!"

No sooner had he entered than Yale heard these biting remarks, followed by a chorus of laughter and jeers from the training ground below.

Frowning, Yale stepped forward to the railing.

Below, the military females were divided into several groups, with the two opposing factions clearly distinguishable. However, their numbers were disproportionately unbalanced, giving the impression of a collective bullying and oppression.

"Listen up, you're no longer welcome in the military. Don't cling on shamelessly. My patience is wearing thin. It's better to leave voluntarily than to be beaten down and dragged away!"

At the forefront was a military female adorned with the emblem of the First Legion, looking down disdainfully at the silent group opposite her. Surrounding her were elite teams from the Third and Fourth Legions.

Yale's gaze shifted slightly, catching sight of the military females across from him, some of whom were familiar faces, now bearing the emblem of the new Marshal.

"Enough chatter."

A resolute-looking military female vaulted onto the training platform, ignoring the taunts from the other side. She simply stated, "Let's fight."

The interrupted alpha-military's expression was riled up, his right fist clenched and pounded into his left palm as he glared fiercely at his opponent.

"Pretty arrogant, huh? You'll be crawling on the ground begging in a moment!"

No problem?

Yale maintained his calm facade, though a hint of concern flickered deep in his eyes.

This didn't seem like a civilized match; if the alpha-military took the opportunity to deal a fatal blow, his opponent might end up severely injured.

His fingers twitched slightly, and his razor-sharp mental energy gathered in his palm, ready to intervene at a crucial moment.

But then, a series of crisp exchange sounds echoed from below the stage, followed swiftly by the thud of a body hitting the surface.

Thump!

Yale looked down, then let out a surprised chuckle.

He had won, and with no doubt, in a swift victory.

Renowned as elites, they were upended by an unknown foot soldier... The First Legion's reputation has taken quite a blow this time.

The arena fell silent. The military alpha lifted his defeated opponent from the ground and threw him off the platform before dusting his hands off and continuing, "Anyone else? Step forward."

"Damn! Five years have passed, and Marshal Monte's soldiers are still this impressive. Weren't they supposed to have been exiled or assigned elsewhere during this time?!"

"In five years of proper training, they can't even match up to someone who spent that time chopping wood in an outer galaxy? That's hilarious. I bet the troops under Anto's command don't even compare to a guard company."

Seemingly engaged in low whispers but actually amplifying their remarks, it was the Second Legion, who had remained uninvolved in the competition, seizing the opportunity to unleash their venomous words.

On the platform, a male member of the Third Army, his face alternating between red and white with indignation, could no longer bear it. Pushing off the edge with his palm, he leaped onto the stage. "I'll do it!"

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Thud!

A second bloom.

Yale felt a moment of awkwardness on behalf of the boasting soldier from before, but then he completely relaxed, dissipating the spiritual energy he had gathered in his palm.

It seemed there was no need to worry after all. The soldiers Xi Ze trained were indeed formidable.

Below, the intense battle was in full swing, with the situation highly tense. Yale was engrossed in watching when he suddenly heard a hesitant voice from below, "Your Excellency?"

He instinctively responded, only to realize that he had been noticed.

On the viewing platform, all the military females halted their actions, uniformly looking up at him.

After a brief exchange of glances, one of Xi Ze's soldiers mustered his courage and stepped forward, rushing up the stands and stopping a few meters away. He spoke rather awkwardly.

"Why has Your Excellency suddenly arrived? Um... The guards didn't inform us of your visit, so our reception may be lacking. Please forgive us."

The usually taciturn and training-focused military female was momentarily at a loss for words. It was his first time facing such a high-ranking and striking male insectoid, let alone the male dominant of their own marshal. He didn't know what to say.

"The Marshal is still in a meeting and might take some time to arrive. You can sit here and wait for a while, or would you like me to send someone to notify the Marshal in advance?"

"No need, carry on with your match. I'll just watch for a bit."

In front of an S-Class male insectoid, engaging in physical altercations was highly disrespectful. The military females below hesitated for a moment but ultimately didn't dare to continue their fight.

Yale nodded, signaling the soldier not to be anxious, "Just continue with your competition."

Amidst the tense atmosphere, a side door of the training grounds suddenly opened, and a group of officers who had just concluded their meeting emerged. At the forefront was Xi Ze, dressed in military attire.

"Marshal!"

A soldier jogged forward to brief the marshal on the situation.

When the soldier mentioned His S-Class Majesty, the expressions of the surrounding officers subtly shifted. Only Xi Ze chuckled softly. "I see."

"Greetings, Your Majesty."

"Your Majesty."

Aside from Anton, who had been ejected after flipping the table, most of the high-ranking military officials were gathered here.

Yale's expression was gentle and faint, as he politely returned each salute without saying a word more than necessary.

After the entire ritual was completed, Xi Ze stepped closer to the male lead, his voice low and soothing. "Male Sovereign."

"Why are you here all of a sudden? You didn't even send me a message beforehand."

"Today was supposed to be a meeting with the principal at Exson, so I decided to drop by here on the way. You mentioned having a meeting last night, so I thought I'd just take a quick look without sending a message," Yale said, his voice softening as he chuckled lightly.

"I heard it's a training day today?" he inquired further.

"Yes, but we should be able to finish on time if Supreme Ruler doesn't have other plans. We can have dinner together tonight," Xi Ze replied.

Yale's eyes sparkled slightly, and he couldn't help but curve his lips. "Sounds good."

When there weren't many tasks, military females followed a regular work schedule, aside from occasional field assignments. They spent most of their time training. However, Xi Ze had numerous responsibilities that often required him to work late into the night.

Their low, intimate conversation, seemingly oblivious to others, was a stark contrast to the typical interactions between male and female insects. There seemed to be no room for any third party to intervene.

The Third and Fourth Fleet Admirals, who had entertained some thoughts earlier, promptly dismissed their schemes and put their attempts at sowing discord on hold.

After a moment of hesitation, Yale recalled the competition he had just witnessed and felt an inexplicable sense of foreboding.

"However, things seem a bit complicated now. Should we keep fighting? Wouldn't it be too late to use the training grounds then?"

If they continued the cycle of "trash talk-fight-more trash talk-another fight," they might not even settle the allocation of training grounds until the next day.

"It's a competitive system, and it'll be settled soon."

Xi Ze was completely unconcerned. He smiled reassuringly at the male insect, "It won't take more than twenty minutes for our team to head to the training ground."

During their conversation, representatives from different legions had already come forward to report on the battle progress.

"We should be able to secure an A-class training ground. Well done."

Rachel was in high spirits upon learning that his soldiers had performed admirably against Xi Ze's exceptionally strong squad. He patted the soldier on the shoulder with a smile.

In contrast, the other two legions, having provoked with overconfidence, were targeted relentlessly and suffered a miserable defeat throughout the match.

The Third Army's general had an uneasy expression to begin with, and after hearing the report, he looked as if he was holding back his anger. After much restraint, he still couldn't help but speak in a sarcastic tone.

"Marshal, everyone desires access to the best training grounds, but it's not appropriate to rely on... your reputation to force other legions to step aside, is it? Such an approach wouldn't win the hearts and minds of others in the long run, would it?"

"What pressure are you talking about? Didn't my soldiers just win the match?"

Xi Ze replied calmly, deflecting the veiled jab with ease, proving impervious to such attempts.

"Disagree? Then keep competing until one of you submits. The AA-rated training facility belongs to whoever earns it. Is there an issue with that?"

Rachel, enjoying the spectacle, fueled the fire from the sidelines.

"Exactly! The strongest gets to use the superior training grounds. Talking about pressure... Are you that doubtful of your own soldiers' capabilities?"

"Compete, compete, you all must compete! Don't let your superiors think you're a bunch of cowards who shrink back at the mere sight of challenge. The more you lose, the more you should fight!"

He glanced around and bellowed at the hesitant military females, ignoring the increasingly ashen faces of the two admirals. With great expertise, he rallied their flagging spirits.

Xi Ze bypassed them, tapping the railing with his finger and gave a light command, "Carry on."

He pulled the male insect closer to him, watching the battle below side by side. But the more he watched, the darker his expression became.

The current military drones' qualities were far from what they were five years ago. To be frank, some were not even as capable as the more active guards.

Five years had brought about too many changes, almost completely undermining the foundation of the entire military.

The original Third Army general had retired three years ago due to severe injuries. The newly appointed female general, like the Fourth Army's, had noble backing. In just a few years, their legions had become a platform for noble offspring to polish their resumes.

...This was troublesome.

Yale hadn't been particularly interested in watching the combat match. At this moment, he leaned against the railing, accompanying the male insect. His gaze occasionally swept across the few admirals nearby.

Perhaps out of courtesy, or perhaps because they were afraid of angering him and getting a piece of their flesh torn off, those military males all turned away, none daring to meet his eyes directly.

Seems like my fearsome reputation truly precedes me, Yale thought silently. When he turned to look at the male insect, he suddenly furrowed his brow again.

Feeling a gentle tug on his pinky finger, Xi Ze snapped out of his thoughts and realized that the alpha was gazing intently at him.

"What's wrong? Why are you frowning all the time?"

Taking advantage of the cover of his military uniform's hem, Yale interlaced their fingers, giving his a light squeeze as a subtle reassurance.

It was like a soft touch to his heart, stirring up a wave of tenderness. Xi Ze relaxed his brows and curved the corners of his lips.

"It's nothing serious, Alpha. Don't worry."

As the Third Army continued to be suppressed, its General grew increasingly restless, but the more he endured, the more his frustration boiled over.

Seeing that they were about to be assigned the worst training ground, he blurted out, "Field Marshal, how about we have a match? If I win, our armies can switch training grounds. Is that acceptable?"

Rachel wore an expression of admiration for a brave warrior, while the Fourth Army's General beside him was utterly astonished.

Both insects' expressions conveyed a single message: Have you lost your mind?

Yale was startled as well, his gaze turning slightly cold as he gave the military male a serious once-over.

Beside him, Xi Ze calmly lifted his gaze to meet the opposing military male's. "Are you sure, Harris?"

The military male gritted his back teeth and, under the two stunned gazes, stared fiercely at Xi Ze. "Yes! Are you… not… dare… to?"

He had only recently been promoted and hadn't graduated in the same batch as Xi Ze. Moreover, his meteoric rise through the ranks had occurred during the five-year vacuum in the military.

It wasn't that he hadn't heard of the renowned name Xierz Mont, or rather, he had grown up amidst the praise and adoration that surrounded this very name.

This name was like an inescapable nightmare, haunting him throughout his time at the military academy and into his military service.

And just as he had finally made a name for himself, Xi Ze made a powerful comeback and was appointed as a Marshal, firmly suppressing all the insectoids.

Today, he would either shatter this nightmare himself or be utterly defeated by it.

"Come on."

With a reassuring squeeze to Yale's fingertips, Xi Ze turned and said succinctly, "It will be decided in one match."

It was not often that the commanding officers of two armies would personally engage in a contest. The audience of soldiers buzzed with excitement, promptly clearing the arena.

Rachel murmured, "I haven't seen this scene in so many years... It does bring back some nostalgia..."

Down on the field, Xi Ze promptly removed his military overcoat, revealing a light green shirt underneath. The hem of the shirt was tucked into his belt, outlining his lean waist clearly.

With a calm expression, he rolled up the sleeves of his shirt to his elbows and unbuttoned the top of his collar.

Even before the match began, Harris from the opposite side had already dashed forward, attempting to gain the upper hand like a predator aiming for its prey.

But his first powerful punch was effortlessly caught by a strong hand—

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!!

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!!

In the clashes between the military alpha males, their blows were direct and unforgiving, vividly showcasing unparalleled strength, almost personifying the raw beauty of violence.

Yale, seated in the stands, suddenly knitted his brows. He closely observed Xi Ze's actions, only relaxing slightly when he didn't detect any signs of hesitation or awkwardness.

The female's knee had been pierced in the past, and while it had healed, there was always a risk of lingering complications. It wouldn't be ideal if the injury resurfaced due to intense combat.

Beside him, Rachel, thinking he was worried about Hillzer, spoke to comfort him, "Your Majesty, don't worry. The Marshal's close combat skills are very formidable. Back in the day, he easily won against three division commanders all by himself."

Recalling the bruised and swollen mess he had been back then, he shuddered with residual fear, almost unable to bear witnessing the fate of the Third Army's General.

Yale, however, remained unsoothed, his expression tense as he suddenly whispered, "But it's already been five years."

Rachel froze for a moment before abruptly understanding what the male insect was implying.

Five years – the female had endured a long and brutal torment, his flesh and bones worn down to the point where his muscles withered, and almost every bone had been fractured at one time or another.

Those five years had been horrifyingly gruesome; even the strongest would inevitably be affected. Having missed the golden period of treatment, it would be challenging to make a full recovery, no matter how advanced the medical technology was.

As they conversed, several rounds of combat had transpired on stage. Though a definitive victor had yet to be determined, any insect with eyes could discern the disparity in their abilities.

Amidst the heart of the battle, beads of sweat trickled down Harris's forehead.

He persistently attempted to accelerate his attacks, but almost every move was promptly interrupted. The more they fought, the more frustrated and irritated he became.

The unsettling uncertainty of not being able to gauge his opponent's strength, coupled with the constant feeling of being suppressed, quickly sapped his enthusiasm. His mistakes became increasingly evident to onlookers.

"Focus," Xi Ze deftly sidestepped a reckless assault, reaching out to support the male insect's upper arm and pivoting him back around, his tone carrying a hint of reprimand.

"War may have diminished in recent years, but physical training must never be neglected, especially for a leader," Yale declared sternly.

Harris, panting heavily, glared at the calm expression on the face of the military male before him, his frustration mounting. He roared and charged again.

"Do you think you can teach me? What a joke!"

Xi Ze's eyes flickered slightly as he diverted a fraction of his attention to the spectator stands. Spotting Yale's concerned look, his patience waned.

"Well, that's up to you then."

He said with a tone devoid of emotion.

Contrary to his words, his actions were swift and fierce—

The military male's gaze turned fierce as he launched a sudden, powerful kick aimed at Harris's head. His muscular thighs tensed, stretching the black military trousers to their limits!

A sharp whistle pierced the air as a few afterimages streaked across the sky. The hard military boots collided fiercely with the panicked defensive arms of the male insect.

Crack.

Harris could almost hear the sickening crack of his arm breaking as the force sent it dislocating, then ruthlessly aimed for his temple.

The shadow of death clutched at his nose and mouth, choking him for a moment. His subconscious warning alarms blared wildly, but in despair, he realized that his muscles were stiff, leaving no chance of escape.

Just before the military boot connected with his skull, Xi Ze managed to rein in some of his strength, sending the military female flying parallel to the ground.

"Ugh!"

Undoubtedly, if he had used his full strength, his head would have burst like a rotten watermelon, and he would have died instantly from the splatter of brain matter.

"Cough, cough... Hrrr... Ugh!"

The surviving male insect's head throbbed painfully. The dizziness and nausea made him convulse, vomiting a mouthful of blood.

What a kick! So damn cool!!!

Rachel was incredibly excited on the side. Just as he was about to clap and cheer, he noticed Yale's focused expression and reluctantly suppressed the noise in his throat.

Wait... He almost forgot there was another male insect present.

Though unconventional, aesthetics and mainstream preferences shouldn't differ too much... right?

Male drones typically disliked strong military females, finding them crude and aggressive, and preferred delicate, submissive subfemales instead. Would the Admiral's display of power in front of the male ruler be seen as undesirable?

Contemplating this possibility, Rachel glanced at Yale discreetly, praying not to see any signs of disapproval on the male's face.

Yet, Yale was leaning against the platform's railing with an air of ease, his hand propping up his chin as he casually gazed downward at the platform below.

Unchanged in expression, his eyes, however, were fixed intently on the female below. Upon witnessing the flying kick, his pupils constricted slightly, only for a brilliant starlight to ignite in his irises moments later.

Then, tiny pink blossoms seemed to bloom around him.

...He had overthought it.

Rachel dared not look again after just one glance, shifting uneasily to the side.

Xi Ze stood tall in the center of the arena. The intense movements had caused a light sheen of sweat to form on his forehead, dampening the light green shirt that now clung slightly to his body.

Suddenly, he lifted his gaze towards Yale, the rigid lines of his face softening slightly. He didn't speak nor did he flash an obvious smile, but a hint of amusement shimmered in his eyes.

It was as if he had effortlessly resolved a problem, taming a restless pack of beasts. Despite his bashfulness, the majestic snow leopard with its glistening eyes and proudly displayed chest fur approached with an undeniable allure.

The urge to stroke it was overwhelming.

But it wasn't the right time.

For a fleeting moment, Yale's heart softened, but he reluctantly suppressed the urge to caress, offering a gentle smile to the female insect instead.

This brief exchange lasted only a few seconds, before Xi Ze composed himself, turning his head to regard the soldiers below who were as quiet as cicadas in winter.

"Alright, allocate the training grounds based on their battle records as quickly as possible. Assemble the soldiers for intensive training; there's no time to lose."

The intelligent system automatically calculated the victory and defeat scores, projecting them into mid-air.

Aside from Xi Ze's soldiers and the females of the Second Legion, the remaining insects turned pale when they saw the rankings. However, defeat was defeat; there was no room for argument or denial.

"Bai Lang, take charge and move out."

Xi Ze glanced at the top name, gesturing for Bai Lang to lead the team. Then, he walked against the tide of insects toward the spectator stands.

With a few strides, he climbed the stairs, his left arm casually draped with his military jacket, while his right hand gently nudged Yale's shoulder in a restrained manner.

"Ruler, would you like to witness the actual training?"

"I can? I thought it was classified."

Yale appeared surprised, but as he processed the information, excitement flickered across his face. "I'd love to!"

"For you, it's no issue."

Xi Ze paused for a moment, seemingly a bit bashful as he softly spoke, "I could even give you a try at piloting a mecha."

The thought of squeezing together in the dim cockpit, teaching hand-in-hand... It seemed rather inappropriate. He wondered if the male insectoid might misunderstand, but if that happened, it wouldn't be a big deal.

"Sure, let's give it a shot!"

Since arriving in the insectoid tribe, he had only seen the cool mechas, previously known only from cartoons, on the news. These mechas were strictly controlled, making them almost inaccessible.

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

Yale took the male's hand and started walking out, completely oblivious to the hidden implications in those words.

"I've never seen you pilot a mecha before."

Author's Note:

Rachel: So cool!!! (Slurps) But will the male find it unappealing? (Sudden concern) (Turns away)

Yeye: OvO (Pretending to be calm with cheek on hand) (Internally blossoming with excitement)