Chapter 87

Chapter 87

"Knock, knock."

Unit 015 cautiously placed the tray of food on the bedside table nearby, watching as Xi Ze buttoned up his military uniform to the very top.

Yale, who was in bed, had already been well taken care of. Bathed in the warm morning light, he slept soundly and comfortably.

The breakfast on the plate was exquisitely presented, but it was prepared for the male partner. Usually, Xi Ze would have his meals elsewhere or simply rely on high-concentration nutrient solutions for the day.

"Good morning, my male lord."

Having arranged everything, Xi Ze didn't rush to leave. Instead, he sat down beside Yale and gazed at him for a while before softly speaking.

"Today is the final trial, so I'll need to attend that and won't be able to accompany you. However, I'll come back on time after work."

He gently brushed aside the stray hairs on Yale's forehead, tucking them neatly behind his ear. Then, he briefly outlined his schedule for the day.

"In short, rest well and don't worry about those bothersome matters anymore. If you feel it's the right time, wake up and take a look at me."

While Yale was still alive, they either couldn't meet due to work commitments or were separated by war, barely having any chance to spend time together properly.

It seemed too late to make up for it now.

Xi Ze gradually fell silent, tracing Yale's outline with his gaze. In the soft morning light, Yale's face appeared tranquil and gentle, momentarily disorienting him.

It felt as if it were just an ordinary morning where he would wake up early, dress up, then kiss the drowsy Yale before receiving a loud reciprocal kiss before leaving.

… But there would be no response now.

Xi Ze bent down and gently kissed Yale's eyelids, whispering his farewell.

"I'm going. See you tonight."

He picked up his military cap and put it on, rapping 015's head. "Take care of the Male Sovereign for me."

015 had just retrieved the forgotten little turtle from under the bed. Upon hearing this, he blinked his button eyes and nodded vigorously.

"Sure thing!"

*

The trial of the high criminal, Anto Edka, began today. With overwhelming evidence, the proceedings smoothly advanced to the final stage with minimal resistance.

Few insects attended the trial, mostly those from the military who had been suppressed by Anto, alongside some curious noble insects. All were now attentively listening as the judge enumerated the charges.

"Anto Edka, for violations of Article 3, Article 12, and..."

The female insect on the stand looked drained, her face ashen. Though she was unwilling, she remained relatively composed as she listened to the listing of her crimes. Her shackled hands trembled slightly, nervously twisting together.

Creak—

A faint door opening sound echoed. Despite the prohibition on entry, the door was exceptionally opened at this moment, followed by rhythmic footsteps drawing near.

The verdict was not interrupted, but many insects noticed the disturbance, curiously scanning their surroundings.

Xi Ze appeared calm, striding out from behind the door.

Amidst the surprised gazes, he nodded and took a seat in the last row, maintaining impeccable behavior throughout.

Yet, merely by sitting upright, he exuded an overpowering presence that seemed to guard the entire courtroom. Beneath his hat brim, his molten-gold eyes were icy cold, like a dragon surveying ants with disdain.

No insect dared to spare another glance, quickly averting their eyes, even feeling a chill run down their spine, instinctively straightening their posture.

The trial continued.

"The court has determined the defendant guilty of high treason, armed insurrection, illegal disruption of public order, and intentional insecticide."

A lengthy list of charges was solemnly read out, gradually thickening the atmosphere within the courtroom, followed by repressed excitement and hushed whispers.

For everyone knew that the final verdict was imminent.

The judge's expression was grave as he loudly read the last line of the judgment, "Based on these charges, the court hereby sentences the defendant according to law..."

However, before he could announce the ultimate outcome, the miniature communication device at his ear flickered briefly.

A calm voice entered his ears, causing his recitation to pause.

"—According to the law, Anto Edkara is hereby sentenced to two thousand years of exile!"

An uproar immediately erupted in the courtroom.

Anto, who was initially awaiting his execution, was stunned. His eyes widened gradually, clearly perplexed as to how he had managed to escape death.

"How c...an this be?"

But soon, he realized something and spun around abruptly!

The shackles clanged loudly, drawing the attention of the guards escorting him, who promptly drew their weapons.

However, in that fleeting moment, he recognized the figure seated at the back, causing his face to turn ashen.

Xi Ze retracted his hand that was about to change the channel. His eyelashes fluttered slightly as his gaze met the other's glaring eyes, causing him to smile softly.

But the smile didn't reach his eyes, transforming the male insectoid's disbelief into realization and horror. Terrified, he began howling uncontrollably, disregarding the setting.

"No! No, no, no, no, no, no, no, NOOOO!!"

"Execute me! Sentence me to death right now!!!"

Desperate, Anto struggled to his feet, even attempting to charge at the guards' guns. However, his severely injured body was too weak, and he was easily pinned down onto the platform, unable to move.

"You're abusing your power and condoning crime... I demand immediate execution!"

"I can't fall into his hands! Let me go—let me go, ahhhhhh!!"

Some of the insects in the audience were still confused, but the more perceptive ones immediately cast their gazes towards the military female behind them.

When they heard the judge declare the verdict, they realized that everything was settled.

"Take him away."

The drained female insect was escorted out, his body limp as a ragdoll. Xi Ze maintained his composed expression throughout, as if he hadn't just committed an astonishing act.

He nodded at the insects in the room, who had mixed expressions, then rose from his seat and strode out the door, vanishing into the sunlight.

...

In the largest interrogation room of the prison.

A transparent barrier divided the space into two sections, one larger and one smaller. In the smaller area, there was a chair positioned perfectly for observing the torture taking place on the other side.

Anto, who had been escorted down in the morning, didn't return to his own ward but was secretly brought to this interrogation room instead.

Blood and shredded flesh splattered everywhere, staining the walls of the interrogation chamber in a gruesome sight. The old dried blood had yet to be cleaned when fresh colors were added layer upon layer.

It was a horrifying spectacle.

"Aaaahhhhhhhhhhhh!!"

"It hurts... It hurts so much, aaaaah! H-haah—!"

Screams akin to those of a slaughtered pig echoed from within, their shrillness piercing even to the ears of the seasoned warden, who couldn't help but avert his gaze, feeling physically uneasy.

In contrast, the military female, sitting confidently with one hand propping up her chin, seemed deep in thought as she watched the torture unfold without blinking.

"That's not how it's done," Xi Ze suddenly spoke, gesturing with a wave of his hand. Immediately, a bug presented him a pair of white gloves.

He put on the gloves methodically, stood up from his seat, and walked into the room amidst a mix of respect and fear from the others, stopping in front of the mangled insect body.

The polished black military boots stood out starkly in this sordid place, mercilessly crushing the female insect's head and trampling on the overflowing brain matter with utmost disdain.

"Watch closely, I'll only demonstrate once."

Perhaps due to a lack of torture practices here, these insects had grown rusty in their techniques.

But Xi Ze would never forget the excruciating pain when those instruments were inflicted upon him, nor the voices whispering in his ear about how to inflict the maximum amount of torment upon an insect.

Now, everything he once endured was being inflicted on Anto, without deviation, without excess.

—And this was just the beginning; the tip of the iceberg.

He rotated his wrist, gesturing for the insects standing by to observe closely.

"S-Save me! Please spare me! Ahhh, it hurts so much, please mercy!"

The horrifying cracking sounds echoed, accompanied by the crisp noises of flesh tearing, bone shattering. The warden shut his eyes, his face contorted as if he was on the verge of vomiting.

"The true agony is such that one cannot even cry out. You didn't apply the right force earlier; you didn't hit the mark."

Xi Ze spoke calmly, his face and eyes splattered with fresh blood, some even dangling from his eyelashes, dripping into his eye sockets, tinting his vision a pale red.

After finishing, he finally stood up and wiped his face with the towel that was offered to him. He then looked at the stunned insect holding the torture tools.

"Did you see clearly?"

The insect instantly straightened up, stammering, "I-I saw it! I saw it clearly!"

"Then continue."

Xi Ze slowly peeled off his gloves, casting a cold glance at the gruesome scene, a hint of disgust flickering across his features.

"Keep a close watch on his condition. If he's dying, drag him for treatment. Once he's healed, resume the interrogation. Don't let him find an opportunity to commit suicide."

The military omega's voice was calm and authoritative, like Satan in hell, effortlessly pronouncing a living death sentence.

"No! No, no, no, no, NO!!"

"P-Please spare me! Spare me, ahhhh!!"

A blood-curdling scream, akin to that of a slaughtered pig, echoed behind him, laced with vengeful fury and hatred.

It was as if a malevolent spirit was desperately trying to climb out but was relentlessly dragged back into the depths of hell, tortured until it was unrecognizable.

"We'll take good care of him, Marshal. Have a safe journey."

The warden stepped forward, opening the door for him with the utmost respect, bowing deeply.

Xi Ze discarded his gloves, saturated entirely with blood, and turned away mercilessly. He adjusted his collar, which had been disheveled during his previous actions.

Bang.

The door shut behind him, sealing off the overpowering stench of blood, yet fresh blood still seeped through the crack at the bottom, trailing all the way to the heels of his military boots.

"Bai Lang, are you returning to the military headquarters now? There's an important meeting in half an hour..."

Bai Lang hurried to catch up, softly outlining the day's schedule so arrangements could be made in advance.

However, before he finished speaking, he noticed the Marshal pause for a moment, then lift the brim of his cap slightly to gaze at the pale-faced Huoer across from them.

Xi Ze's expression was unperturbed. After waiting three seconds without hearing the drone speak, he walked past him without hesitation.

"Hold on!"

Huoer had never been ignored like this before, and his face darkened slightly. However, he understood that times had changed, and he did have a purpose for seeking out Xi Ze today.

Xi Ze stopped, but still didn't turn around.

"Did you really openly interfere with the judicial process, commuting Lance and Anto's death sentences to exile, only to secretly torture them?"

Huoer questioned with an incredulous shake of his head, a pained expression etched on his aged face.

"Striving for power and seeking gains is understandable, ambition is indeed a good quality, and you do possess the capability to be a marshal."

"—But how could you have lost all sense of propriety!"

Bai Lang stood by, as silent as a cicada in winter.

Indeed, this incident had startled many insects. They could comprehend it if the subject were different.

But Hillze, who remained unyieldingly proud and unsullied amidst the mire, could never stoop so low.

"Degradation! To lead in executing such brutal and cruel tactics, using the guise of interrogation to satiate one's lust for violence, taking pleasure in tormenting enemy insects..."

Huoer took a deep breath, recalling the horrifying tales of cruelty that had been swirling in rumors, and concluded with a tone of disdain.

"You'll soon become the next Lance!"

Xi Ze gazed at the expansive corridor before him, momentarily lost in thought, as if he were not in a prison but rather on the military training grounds from twenty years ago.

But that illusion lasted only for an instant before dissipating entirely, likely never to return.

He fell silent for a moment before suddenly speaking, "Do you know what I went through during those five years I was gone?"

The heavy breathing behind him paused briefly, followed by muffled words.

"...That had nothing to do with your actions... As a Marshal who sets an example in the military, you should have..."

Xi Ze seemed to grow weary and finally turned to look at Huoer's changing expression, asking each word deliberately and forcefully.

"I'm merely returning in kind what he did to me. Why am I suddenly an unforgivable demon?"

He softened his tone, a hint of mockery seeping through his detached expression.

"When I was being tormented and humiliated, barely clinging to life, did you also reprimand him with such vehemence?"

"Where were you back then? What right do you have to interfere in my affairs now, Teacher?"

Huoer fell silent, his hand hanging by his side trembled slightly, as he dared not meet those golden eyes, fearing he might see something that would fill him with immense shame.

Military omegas rarely questioned anything. Even when betrayed or neglected, they remained silent.

He adhered to the principles of law and morality, constraining his actions to keep both his heart and hands clean.

Yet, all this compliance only resulted in more misunderstandings, bullying, and harm, sullying the purest hue in his heart.

The protective moon had already been dragged into the mire. How could he remain untouched, persisting in those meaningless principles while watching the scum tarnish the lunar glow?

"When Lance was captured, didn't the court immediately sentence him to death? Didn't I intervene back then? Why do I intervene in the interrogation now? Don't you truly understand the reason?"

Xi Ze strode forward in a few steps and scoffed sharply.

"You know, but you've always only seen what you want to see."

"Huoer, I'm no longer that inexperienced recruit. It's always been you, arrogant, conceited, narrow-minded, and selfish – never changing."

The military omega lowered his gaze, meeting those startled eyes. He reached out to seize the collar of Huoer's shirt, pushing him back with a profoundly disdainful gesture.

"Scram."

Beneath that silver hair were golden eyes like those of a beast, still shimmering fiercely even in the shadow cast by the brim of his hat, emitting an extremely sharp glint.

"Next time you show up before me, I'll kill you too."

*

Xi Ze returned home under the evening sun, but instead of immediately visiting the alpha, he headed for a guest bedroom.

Only after every trace of blood had been washed away, and the strong scent of blood was masked by the fresh fragrance of shower gel, did he change into clean casual clothes and head for Yale's room.

The room was bathed in a crimson glow, and the alpha lay in bed just as he had in the morning, his position slightly altered, suggesting he might have woken up briefly.

Xi Ze's heart skipped a beat, but he quickly realized it must have been 015 moving, otherwise he would have received a notification. His lips pressed together in disappointment.

"I'm back, my Lord," he whispered, reaching out to touch Yale's face, reassured by the warmth he felt.

"How was your day? Did you experience any discomfort?"

The lack of response tugged at Xi Ze's heartstrings.

A wave of intense bitterness surged up his nostrils, shattering the cold facade he had maintained during the day, revealing the hurt that lay beneath.

Yale lay curled up in his embrace, his features serene. Despite the pause, Xi Ze continued in a low voice.

"The trial went smoothly today. I shouldn't have interfered, but I couldn't help but feel angered. When you wake up, I'll put an end to them with a single shot."

"After the meal, they prepared strawberry cupcakes for dessert. It's a shame you haven't woken up, so I helped you taste them... They were delightful, just like you."

"Have you settled in comfortably over there?"

"Previously, His Majesty mentioned that he was still in school. Given that he's been in a coma for three years, it's inevitable that he would lag behind. There must be a lot of dust gathering at home."

The military omega was usually reticent and at this moment, he didn't know what to say either. Sometimes, even repeating the same words would slip his mind.

He tried desperately to recall trivial matters, unwilling to fall into an oppressive silence.

Still, the atmosphere gradually grew quiet.

Daytime work had drained too much of Xi Ze's energy. Now, finally embracing the familiar scent, he could relax.

Knock, knock.

There was a soft tapping on the door, followed by 015 poking its head in.

"A visitor has arrived, a bug to be precise. Would you like to meet them?"

The villa's surveillance system was connected to 015's system. After receiving the results of the identity scan, it hesitantly read out the bug's name.

"Are you aware of who this is?"

An unfamiliar name.

Xi Ze gazed intently at the male insect in his arms, his eyes slightly lowered, and outright refused, "I won't meet him."

"Ah, he said he has something to give you. He's left it at the deposit counter. I'll go get it for you…!"

Without waiting for the female insect's reply, 015 rushed out quickly.

It soon returned with a black velvet box, which it held in its hands, scanning it repeatedly.

"There are two rings inside, danger level is 0!"

Xi Ze was originally too exhausted to respond, but when he heard 'two rings,' a strong premonition suddenly struck him, making his body tremble.

"…Bring it here, let me see."

He took the small black velvet box, his hands inexplicably trembling. After a moment of hesitation, he still pressed down on the lid and slowly opened it—

Two silver-blue rings lay quietly on the central sponge.

Xi Ze immediately recognized that the raw materials for these two rings were from that Mech Core.

The outer silver parts were carved into classic plain bands, tailored to fit Yale and his size respectively.

In the center of the rings were fragments of ice crystals that shimmered with a profound blue hue under the glow, resembling a piece of a fallen meteorite. Through this glimpse, it was as if one could catch a peek at the entire universe.

"..."

The male insect was completely stunned, even subconsciously questioning if he had finally lost his mind, imagining such a hallucination to console himself.

Yet, after staying still for a long while, the rings in his hands did not vanish.

The velvet was soft, and the metal was cold, assuring him that everything was real.

"What's this?"

015 stared at the rings, momentarily unable to comprehend. It blinked its big, round eyes at the male insect.

Just then, it witnessed Xi Ze abruptly cover his face, his breathing quickening, and his entire body trembling.

Clutching the ring box tightly, he leaned down to embrace Yale warmly in his arms.

"Alpha Ruler..."

"Alpha Ruler... Yale..."

He murmured repeatedly, unable to suppress the instinctive reaction of his body, causing the warm figure in his embrace to tremble as well, dampening the side of his neck once more.

How wonderful, how magical.

He had never imagined that one day, he would actually possess one of the matching rings...

Despite the fact that Yale hadn't given him an official title or mentioned making him his Omega partner.

Yet, it seemed that all his love had transformed into a tangible entity, overwhelming his soul at this moment, materializing into Yale's smiling eyes and the image of these two rings.

Those unanswered words, those hopeless waits, seemed to reverberate in this instant, echoing loudly and piercingly through his heart.

"This is a ring."

Xi Ze's eyes were reddened, his voice hoarse as he spoke.

He picked one up and noticed the "Y" engraved on the inner band, recognizing it as Yale's ring. The other was marked with an "X". Carefully, he slipped both onto his fingers, noticing how they fit perfectly together, clearly crafted with intention.

Chapter 015 gasped in awe, peering closely, exclaiming repeatedly.

Xi Ze interlaced his fingers with the male's, causing the two rings to touch once more, shimmering beautifully as if capturing a shooting star within their embrace.

Lowering his gaze, he studied them for a while before a smile tugged at his lips. He murmured, "They're really beautiful and fit so well, don't they?"

Yale didn't reply; he simply placed his hand gently in Xi Ze's.

Like a puppet in a drama, he played his role silently, unable to react or respond to the antics of the other performer.

Unable to contain himself, Xi Ze chuckled softly. But as he inhaled again, he heard a choke in his throat. Touching his face, he realized it was wet with tears.

Really now, laughing and crying—what a madman he was.

"Didn't you specially order a ring? Why are you still asleep when it's ready and delivered... It's not good for the surprise to be discovered so soon."

He couldn't resist placing his hands on Yale's shoulders, shaking him gently but with trembling movements. "My Lord, wake up..."

"I lied when I said I could wait. I can't bear even a second without you. Please wake up, won't you? Don't stay in that world. There's nothing good there. Come back, please..."

His expression twisted in pain for an instant, his pupils contracting as he gazed unblinkingly at Yale's face, his voice barely audible.

"You promised to stay by my side, that you wouldn't leave. You won't break your promise, right?"

Due to the change in position, Yale's head tilted to one side, recreating the scene that had greeted him when he'd rushed to the top floor.

The image of the Alpha covered in blood resurfaced before his eyes, piercing his heart. Xi Ze gasped for breath, clenching his eyes shut tightly.

"...Forget it. As long as you're still alive and well, that's the best outcome already."

He tugged at the corners of his parched lips, a semblance of relief after a disaster, but the profound despair within was impossible to conceal.

Xi Ze carefully placed Yale back onto the bed.

In the instant that the last ray of light outside the window was devoured, he leaned down to kiss the male partner.

"Male Lord, goodnight."

Whether during his solitary struggle as a youngling or through those torturous five years, he had never felt such unbearable pain as he did now.

Hate was a longer-lasting and easier emotion than love.

Intense affection, worn down by the passage of time and endless waiting, could all too easily transform into boundless hatred.

But if possible, he would choose to continue loving Yale.

Even if it caused him unbearable suffering.

Author's Note:

General: Seems sober, but actually been crazy for a long time (not true)

Yeye will remember in the next chapter!

"Recovering the subplot 'Heart of the Mech'! Current accomplishments: Communication Beep 1/1, Heart of the Mech (Ring) 1/1, ??? 0/1. Stay tuned for more!"