Chapter 104: The Grand Performance

Chapter 104: The Grand Performance

Was Lu Suti's brain flooded?

Instructor Ober glanced at him sidelong. "Have you won the lottery recently?"

Lu Suti was puzzled. "No, why do you ask?"

Another military female who had been lying on the sofa playing games sat up upon hearing this and signed her name in the betting book without hesitation, saying with interest, "If you haven't won the lottery, why are you so eager to give us money? We've agreed; you bet on that male bug winning, and we bet on Ludwig. Come on, hurry up and place your bets!"

They all thought Lu Suti had lost his mind, and there was no reason not to take advantage of the situation. They called their friends over to place bets, completely ignoring the other party's smirking expression and Ludwig's slightly serious gaze. If that male bug were really that easy to deal with, why would Ludwig treat him as if he were facing a great enemy?

Facing Amber in battle, Ludwig was fully alert. He took off his military jacket and threw it over the ring ropes, wearing only a white short-sleeved T-shirt on top. The tight fabric outlined his smooth muscle lines, revealing them in full view, like a leopard ready to pounce, a blend of elegance and explosive power.

Ludwig moved his neck around and asked in a deep voice audible only to the two of them, "Sir, I've said before that the army isn't suitable for you. Why do you insist on coming here?"

Compared to the female bugs' sense of impending danger, Amber appeared calm and collected. He took off his well-tailored suit, rolled up his shirt sleeves to his elbows, his face cold and shrewd, as if he should be sitting in an office doing business rather than appearing on the violent boxing stage.

Amber smiled, his tone low and gentle, as if soothing a ruffled female bug. "Ludwig, don't be so tense. Since I'm already here, let's have a match, shall we?"

Ludwig had never fought Amber before, and standing on the boxing platform now, his breath froze for a moment, unsure whether it was excitement or something else. His blood stirred faintly. "Sir, I won't go easy on you."

Amber made a gesture of invitation, a faint interest flashing in his eyes. "Ludwig, I'm also curious about your strength."

The battle was about to break out!

Ludwig was clearly stronger than any opponent Amber had ever faced, combining explosive power and speed. At first, Amber held back somewhat, but by the end, his gaze sharpened, and he had no choice but to use his true skills.

Attack! Counterattack! Punch! Kick!

Within a few seconds, their figures changed rapidly, so fast that only afterimages could be seen. The wind from their punches was fierce, even knocking off half of a pillar in one corner of the ring. The military females who had originally been sitting on the sofa watching with interest, their expressions changed in the end, and they all got up and surrounded the ring, unable to hide their shock.

Ober opened his mouth in surprise, pointing at Amber and stammering, "Th... That's really a male bug? Is there something wrong with my eyes?!"

Ludwig was known for his fighting prowess in their regiment, yet that male bug was evenly matched with him and even seemed to have the upper hand. When did the world become so fantastical?!

Lu Suti crossed his arms, looking like he was getting away with something. "Of course, it's a male bug, a genuine male bug. You'd better get your star coins ready; no welshing. I'll treat you to dinner tonight."

Ober gritted his teeth in anger. The little bastard was waiting for them here. "Lu Suti, the match isn't over yet. You're celebrating too early!"

Lu Suti waved his hand. "You don't know how fierce that male bug is in a fight."

Besides, they were going to get married in the future. Would Ludwig dare to win against his future male master?

Lu Suti didn't say this out loud, only muttered it a few times in his heart. Little did he know that Ludwig really dared, but now it wasn't a question of whether he dared or not, but whether he could win.

As time passed, Amber's attacks did not slow down in the slightest, but instead became more and more fierce. Ludwig was clearly struggling to defend himself, beads of cold sweat forming on his forehead.

The Bug race's physique was somewhat cheating in combat. Ludwig gritted his teeth, his eyes sharpening, and suddenly kicked towards Amber with his right leg, forcing the other into the corner of the ring. He grabbed Amber's shoulders, intending to throw the male bug down, but unexpectedly, the other suddenly countered, grabbing his wrist. Then, his vision spun, and he was heavily thrown out of the boxing ring—

"Bang!"

When Ludwig hit the ground, he felt a momentary silence in his ears. His breathing was rapid, his body drenched in sweat. Staring at the ceiling lights for too long made him dizzy. His gaze was astonished, never expecting to lose to a male bug.

He felt incredulous, feeling that all those years of hard training had been wasted, yet there was also a faint sense of excitement.

Yes, only such a male bug could make him bow his head, bend his waist, and kneel, willingly...

The second-floor lounge was silent. Everyone was stunned. Since the day Ludwig joined the army, his name had been like a bandit, occupying the top spot on the combat rankings, never leaving. Yet, such a formidable female bug had actually lost to an unknown male bug?!

Amber's back was also covered in a thin layer of sweat. He regulated his breathing, nimbly climbed down from the boxing ring, then extended his right hand to Ludwig on the ground. The overhead light fell on him, covering each hair with a thin layer of gold, making his face unclear. His right hand paused in mid-air, each fingertip long and distinct, exuding patience everywhere.

The chaotic heartbeat finally returned to its original position, completely quieting down.

Ludwig's lips were pressed into a straight line. Just when his comrades thought he would reject the male bug's kindness, they saw Ludwig directly grasp the other's hand and use the force to stand up. He patted the dust off the back of his pants and muttered in low frustration, as if sulking. "I won't meddle in your affairs anymore."

He meant Amber joining the Black Eagle Regiment.

Amber did not release Ludwig's hand, but instead lowered his gaze to check if the other had any wounds. Only then did he ask with interest, "Isn't it good that we can work together in the future?"

He found it quite good, a hint of laughter appearing in his eyes.

Ludwig didn't think it was good at all. "Sir, the battlefield isn't a place for fun."

Amber, who had fought in many battles in his previous life, of course knew that the battlefield wasn't a place for fun, but rather... a place for killing. He lowered his eyes, hiding a meaning known only to himself. "Let's talk about things on the battlefield when we're on the battlefield. It's too early to worry now, Instructor Ludwig. Regardless, I've passed the selection, and you won't renege on it, will you?"

The last sentence clearly carried a touch of teasing.

Ludwig lightly nudged his teeth with his tongue, raising his eyebrows faintly. "With so many pairs of eyes watching, I certainly can't renege."

Thus, Instructor Ober, standing far away, saw Ludwig get up from the ground and didn't know what he said to that male bug. Suddenly, he took the initiative to approach the other and, under everyone's watchful eyes, landed a kiss that carried the meaning of claiming ownership.

"What?!!!"

Ober exclaimed in shock. "What is Ludwig doing?!"

Kissing a strange male bug for no reason, was the other possessed by a ghost?!

Lu Suti was also startled for a moment, but remembering the subtle relationship between these two bugs, he quickly reacted, looking as if Ober was making a fuss over nothing. "Kissing, haven't you seen a male bug and a female bug kiss before?"

As they spoke, Ludwig had already pulled Amber over and walked towards them. He stood in front of everyone and said straightforwardly, "Let me introduce you to Sir Amber Klinz, the new member of the Black Eagle Regiment, and also my fiancé."

Ludwig was not at all embarrassed, poised and open, his attitude candid. Looking closely, his amber eyes even revealed a hint of hidden pride and showiness, but it wasn't annoying to the bugs. At most, they just felt like they were seeing a peacock spreading its feathers.

Showy.

This was probably the unanimous thought of all the bugs present. Coming back to their senses, they were still amazed. They had been on missions on alien planets and didn't know the news that had happened in the capital. They had only vaguely heard that Ludwig's fiancé was a nobody from a third-class star. Today, however, they saw that he was handsome and dignified, and not only that, he was also incredibly skilled in combat, which was a world apart from the rumors!

Instructor Ober's heart ached as if it would bleed. When placing bets earlier, he had put his entire month's salary on the line. "Ludwig, why didn't you tell me sooner?!"

The other female soldiers also felt somewhat awkward. Had they known that this gentleman was General Ludwig's fiancé, they wouldn't have been so disrespectful earlier. They all lowered their heads and gave a shoulder-touch salute one after another: "Sir, it's an honor to meet you."

"…"

In reality, Amber hadn't fully recovered from the shock. He hadn't expected Ludwig to be so bold, daring to kiss him in front of everyone. The slight tingling on his cheek remained, leaving him with an inexplicable feeling. He glanced at the instigator and nodded half a beat later, saying, "It's also an honor for me to meet all of you."

It couldn't be denied that with the layer of "relationship" with Ludwig, Amber found it much easier than expected to join the core of this legion. Instructor Ober was the oldest veteran among them. Although his rank was only Colonel, he had significant influence. Even General Giles was trained by him: "Sir, congratulations on successfully joining the Black Hawk Legion. Please gather at the training ground promptly at six o'clock tomorrow morning. A new wave of alien beasts has appeared on Quarga Star. I'm not sure if the higher-ups will send us there, so we can only make you familiar with the weapons and equipment as quickly as possible within the limited time. Please don't be late. You know, if both male insects aren't present, it would be very embarrassing for us."

He shrugged his shoulders after speaking, and any observant insect could tell that he was expressing dissatisfaction with Fang Yun.

Amber said only one sentence: "Don't worry, I'll definitely be there on time."

The next morning, before six o'clock, a large number of female soldiers had already gathered on the training field, and Amber was among them. Dressed in a pure black combat suit, his waist and back looked straight and slender, attracting many gazes. His dark eyes were hidden under the shadow of his cap, making it impossible for others to determine where his gaze was fixed. However, there were undoubtedly two insects he looked at the most—

One was Instructor Ludwig in front, and the other was the new member, Xiflai.

Ludwig stood in front of the formation in his neatly pressed military uniform, holding a roster and began calling out names. When he read a certain name, he accurately looked towards a corner of the formation, his gaze appearing somewhat stern: "Sir Fang Yun, can you explain why you didn't participate in yesterday's training? Military discipline is strict. If you're unwell, you should apply for leave in advance, rather than skipping training without reason."

Fang Yun hadn't expected to be singled out as an example. He could only step forward under everyone's gaze. His expression changed slightly, and he said somewhat awkwardly, "Sorry, I wasn't feeling well that day and didn't have time to apply for leave."

Ludwig raised his eyebrows faintly: "Was it serious?"

To be honest, insects like Fang Yun, who disregarded discipline, were constantly challenging Ludwig's professionalism as an instructor. In the past, if such a situation occurred, he would have been kicked out of the team long ago. Other officers refrained from taking action due to the face of the Third Prince, while Ludwig tolerated it for Amber's sake. After all, if Fang Yun didn't go to the battlefield, it would be quite difficult to silence him.

Fang Yun felt that Ludwig was targeting him and said through gritted teeth, "Not serious."

Ludwig's lips curled slightly, his words carrying a hidden meaning: "Good, if it's not serious. If there's a next time, I hope you can take leave in advance. Otherwise, it will be very difficult for us. Everyone can start training now."

The greatest weapon female soldiers relied on in battle was guns and the burst state when they transformed. Therefore, their most important training items were shooting and fighting. Instructor Ober, considering that there were two male insects in the team who might have never touched a gun before, still took a light energy gun and explained the action principles in detail in front of the shooting range. His experience was evident, truly worthy of being a veteran for many years.

Amber had never used a gun before. When shooting, he held the gun and aimed carefully. Suddenly, someone lifted his arm up a bit, and a deep voice sounded by his ear: "A little higher."

It was none other than Ludwig.

He bothered not to deal with Fang Yun, who couldn't even assemble a light energy gun properly, and directly came over to teach Amber how to aim and shoot. Ludwig stood behind the male insect and taught him hand-in-hand, both seriously and flirtatiously: "Your aim isn't bad. With more practice, you'll improve. Although it's unlikely you'll really be sent to kill enemies on the battlefield, learning is always beneficial."

Following his instructions, Amber adjusted his position, narrowed his eyes, and fired a shot right into the bullseye. He smiled ambiguously, "You ran over to teach me. Aren't you afraid other soldiers will say you're showing favoritism?"

Ludwig glanced at him and muttered, "Shouldn't I show favoritism to my own male partner? Should I show favoritism to unrelated male insects instead?"

Amber teased him deliberately, "Your future male partner."

Ludwig snorted coldly through his nose, "It seems you don't like me teaching you. I'd better not embarrass myself then."

As he spoke, he pretended to leave, but his wrist suddenly tightened. Unexpectedly, he was pulled back by Amber. Due to the force, Ludwig nearly stumbled into the male insect's arms, his face instantly burning red. "What are you doing?"

Amber: "…"

Actually, he hadn't intended to do anything; it was just that he hadn't controlled his strength.

But this action seemed to accidentally reveal his secret thoughts.

Amber acted as if nothing had happened and gestured to the target opposite: "Continue teaching. Class isn't over yet."

Ludwig barely managed to suppress the smile that threatened to break out. At this moment, he couldn't help but admire his foresight. Yesterday, he publicly declared his ownership, and those comrades were quite tactful and didn't crowd around. Otherwise, under normal circumstances, Amber would have been surrounded by now.

Ludwig retook hold of Amber's hand and helped him adjust his posture: "A light energy gun can fire a maximum of fifty rounds at a time. After fifty rounds, it needs to be replenished with energy bullets. Those alien beasts have thick skin. Only by shooting through the eyes can you kill them with one shot. Shooting elsewhere can only cause flesh wounds at most. Therefore, on the battlefield, every bullet you have is precious…"

"Bang—!"

Before Ludwig could finish speaking, a gunshot suddenly rang out beside his ear. His expression changed, and he instinctively grabbed Amber and rolled on the spot. In the blink of an eye, a bullet hole appeared on the ground where Amber had been standing, still smoking.

Fang Yun stood not far away, holding a gun that had misfired. Whether pretending or not, his expression appeared somewhat dazed and shocked.

No one had anticipated this. It took one or two seconds for everyone to recover from the shock. Instructor Ober saw the bullet hole on the ground and instantly understood what had happened. He shouted angrily, "What's going on!! Who's gun misfired?! Step forward!!"

On the battlefield, a gun misfiring was absolutely unacceptable. Moreover, after multiple improvements, the recoil of light energy guns was so weak that it could almost be ignored. Losing control of the force and shooting off-target was an impossible occurrence.

Female soldiers naturally had rough voices, and his roar scared everyone into a collective shudder. Fang Yun was also startled for a moment and subconsciously threw away the gun in his hand, saying, "I… I didn't mean to. I didn't hold it firmly just now…"

This sentence didn't convince even Instructor Ober, let alone Amber and Ludwig. The two of them got up from the ground, their expressions somewhat unpleasant. Especially Ludwig, who stared coldly at Fang Yun, his gaze so gloomy it seemed to drip with water:

"Not holding it firmly? If Sir Amber hadn't dodged quickly, do you know what would have happened?"

Fang Yun, facing the ambiguous gazes from all around, had a flush of embarrassment on his face. Since coming to the insectoid race, every female insect treated him with respect. Faced with Ludwig's questioning, he felt somewhat indignant: "Didn't he dodge it? Misfiring wasn't something I wanted. Even if he was hit accidentally, it would have only hit his leg…"

"Bang—!"

Before he could finish speaking, Ludwig suddenly strode forward with a cold expression and kicked Fang Yun to the ground amidst exclamations. The edge of his black military boots was hard and cold, kicking precisely into his stomach. Fang Yun flew three meters away.