Chapter 113: Revival

Chapter 113: Revival

Fang Yun had just survived the most perilous and protracted "winter" of his life. During his disappearance, Sifray had implanted over forty miniature bombs, each the size of a soybean, into his abdomen. Although not all were detonated, the three that did explode caused severe damage to his organs. The Empire's most elite physicians worked tirelessly around the clock, conducting consultations, barely managing to save his life.

When he finally awoke again, it was already half a month later.

Fang Yun opened his eyes groggily, only to be met with an array of unfamiliar medical equipment. The stark white walls and ceiling of the hospital room carried a distinct aura of death and oppression, every breath causing a sharp pain in his innards.

For a fleeting moment, he thought he had returned to the human world. However, the dark-haired man sitting by his bedside served as a stark reminder that he was still in the perilous world of the insectoids.

"A...n...Per?"

Fang Yun hadn't spoken for so long that his voice sounded like an old, wheezing bellows, struggling to catch his breath. If not for reading his lips, one wouldn't have known what he was trying to say.

An Per sat at the edge of the bed with his legs crossed, holding a magazine to pass the time. Upon seeing Fang Yun awake, he closed the book and asked, "Awake?"

Fang Yun managed to speak, albeit with difficulty, "How did you end up here..."

An Per wasn't there to keep him company. While he wasn't exactly a villain, he wasn't a saint either, and he certainly didn't have any close ties with Fang Yun. Why would he come to sit by his bedside? "I accompanied Ludwig to the hospital to visit his comrades. I just happened to drop by to see you, and it turns out you woke up right then."

Upon hearing this, Fang Yun coughed violently twice, suddenly remembering something, and asked with heightened emotion, "What about Sifray? Where is he?"

An Per raised his eyebrows indifferently, "You're still thinking of him?"

In theory, Sifray should have died on Quarga Star, after all, An Per had severed his head with a single strike. Yet, the system remained eerily silent, not even giving a hint, leading An Per to suspect that Sifray might still be alive.

Hearing this, Fang Yun coughed until his chest ached, momentarily suspecting that An Per was intentionally provoking him. He hated Sifray so much, how could he possibly be thinking fondly of him? With bloodshot eyes, he spat out, "I...I want to kill him..."

An Per lifted his eyelids upon hearing this, as if he had been waiting for these very words from Fang Yun. He spoke meaningfully, "There will be an opportunity. Rest well now, I'll be on my way."

He tossed the magazine aside, preparing to leave, but a hoarse voice suddenly called out from behind him, "You're also human...aren't you?"

An Per didn't answer, nor did he turn around, because he felt that this question wasn't important.

Lying in bed, Fang Yun closed his eyes in anguish, "Back then...I didn't...didn't mean to harm you...Sifray said...said you were a male insectoid with a bad reputation, often making advances on General Ludwig under the guise of being his fiancé...I was swayed by his persuasion...that's why I deliberately drugged your drink..."

"It's fine."

An Per still didn't turn around. The light from outside filtered through the window, casting a faint shadow over his tall figure. His eyes lowered slightly as he spoke calmly, "As long as the consequences are borne."

Sifray needed to face the consequences of his actions, and so did Fang Yun.

Ever since the Black Hawk Corps completed their extermination mission and returned, they had caused quite a stir in the Empire. Among them, the one who received the most attention was undoubtedly An Per, the great contributor. Terms like "prodigal son's return," "comeback from the brink," and "beacon of male insectoids" were thrown at him one after another, making him the center of conversation among the nobility. Even the military was in the process of arranging his promotion.

However, An Per himself hadn't made many public appearances. He stayed indoors, using illness as an excuse to decline the avalanche of invitations to banquets. He had been secretly calculating the time, and sure enough, he received news from the reconnaissance team around the same period as in his previous life.

"Since the corps returned from exterminating the beasts, Quarga Star has suffered significant geological damage. The Insect Emperor originally wanted to send a reconnaissance team to assess the situation and discuss remedial measures, but unexpectedly, they found Sifray, severely injured, in a valley below."

Duke Bach sat on the sofa, recounting the news he had heard yesterday, completely unaware of the storm his words would unleash. He sighed softly,

"When you all returned from the battlefield, there was no word of Sifray. I assumed he had perished in battle long ago. Director Aim said he was transferred to the interstellar hospital last night. His injuries are minor; he won't need to stay for long before being discharged."

Sitting on the adjacent sofa, Ludwig paused upon hearing this. He raised his eyes slightly, his expression showing uncertainty and surprise. He hadn't expected Sifray to still be alive, considering that shot had struck him directly between the eyes.

Ludwig's emotions surged within him, but he maintained a composed exterior. "Is that so? The battlefield was chaotic back then, I thought Sifray had gotten lost. It's good that he's been found. How about we go visit him together in a couple of days? What do you think?"

After saying this, he turned his head to look at the dark-haired male insectoid beside him, his military boots lightly touching the edge of the other's shoes, a current of unspoken understanding flowing between them.

An Per thought to himself that indeed, Sifray hadn't died. It seemed the other party still had a revival card in hand, although it had been used when he was knocked down the cliff by Ludwig in his previous life. "That's fine, I can prepare a discharge gift for him."

His tone carried a subtle depth when he said this, unfortunately, Duke Bach didn't pick up on it.

"There's no rush with Sifray's matter. I'll have the driver pick him up from the hospital later. As for the two of you, since you've returned, shouldn't you find some time to hold the wedding? If you delay any further, it'll have to wait until next year."

After returning from the battlefield, An Per had become a new darling of the Imperial Capital. Many female insectoids had been eyeing him. Although An Per was already engaged to Ludwig, as long as the wedding hadn't taken place, they still held onto a sliver of hope. At worst, they could aspire to be a concubine.

Although Duke Bach rarely left his residence, he wasn't oblivious to the winds of change outside. Today, he had specifically summoned the two of them to expedite the wedding arrangements.

An Per smiled faintly. "Certainly, but we should also wait until Sifray is released from the hospital. After all, he is Ludwig's younger brother. He can't be absent from our wedding."

No one knew what Sifray had experienced during his time on Quarga Star. When he returned, he was almost unrecognizable. His once beautiful golden hair had lost its luster, turning into a sickly shade of yellow due to malnutrition. His azure eyes were now murky and dark, looking at everyone as if they were needles dipped in poison. During his stay in the hospital, he would throw tantrums at the slightest provocation, smashing things and yelling, causing the medical staff considerable distress.

When the Third Prince arrived with his attendants to visit, he heard a series of crashes and bangs before even entering the room. Immediately following was Sifray's hysterical roar, "I said I want to be discharged! Can't you understand that?! Time is running out for me, I don't have the luxury to waste it here!"

"I'm sorry, but the director said that since you spent too long on Quarga Star without protective gear, your body may have been affected by mine radiation. You must remain in the hospital for observation for a while longer, otherwise, your life will be in danger..."

"Get out! All of you get out! What do you know? I'll be in real danger if I don't get discharged soon!"

The medical staff dismissed Sifray's outburst as madness, shaking their heads as they left, leaving him to continue his rant and destruction inside.

Prince Nurman frowned imperceptibly upon witnessing this scene. He stepped into the chaotic ward, ordering his attendants behind him to close the door. He pulled a chair over and sat down, his tone ominous. "Sifray, did you call me all the way here just to watch you lose your mind?"

Seeing the Third Prince, Sifray's near-mad state regained a semblance of rationality. His sunken eyes, filled with exhaustion, he scrambled off the bed. "Third Prince! You have to find a way to get me out of here! Think of something! I really can't stay in the hospital anymore, I have important matters to attend to!"

The Third Prince scolded him in a low voice, "If you want to get out, act normal. Who would let you out if you keep acting crazy?!"

The Lan Yi family held a pivotal position in the Empire. Ludwig had already aligned himself with the Fourth Prince, leaving the Third Prince with no choice but to seek alliance with Sifray. However, he hadn't anticipated that Sifray would be so thoroughly suppressed by Ludwig, accomplishing nothing noteworthy in the military for such a long time.

With this in mind, the Third Prince no longer displayed his usual gentle demeanor, his tone icy cold. "The Insect Emperor is already deliberating on the matter of succession. Duke Bach was once the Insect Emperor's mentor and is highly trusted. If he supports the Fourth Prince, we will lose everything!"

Sifray clutched his head in frustration. There were only a few days left for his assassination mission, a matter of life and death. He had no patience for the Third Prince's complaints. "What do you want me to do?!"

The Third Prince enunciated each word with gravity. "You, become the head of the Lan Yi family."

Upon hearing this, Sifray paused, lifting his head in disbelief. "What did you say?"

The Third Prince scoffed. "Are you afraid? As long as you take care of that old man, Duke Bach, I'll support you to become the head of the family. How does that sound?"

Sifray's eyes widened. "But..."

Prince Third interrupted coldly, "No buts, just tell me if you want to be discharged?!"

"…"

Outside the window, lush greenery thrived, but without the cicadas of the insectoid race, the stifling summer was devoid of sound, a terrifying silence.

The day Sivry left the hospital, it was the driver who came to pick him up. Alone in the backseat of the flyer, his blue eyes, bloodshot and somewhat terrifying, were shrouded in shadow, his expression unreadable, like a mass of black mist.

In Sivry's hand was a vial of medicine, about the size of a thumb. His voice hoarse, he asked, "Is Grandfather home?"

The driver felt that Sivry's current appearance was somewhat frightening, especially those blue eyes, bloodshot and not far off from a demon's. Nervously, he replied, "Yes… at home."

A dark hatred almost tangible in Sivry's eyes: "And what about Ludwig and Amber?"

He had never addressed Ludwig by his full name before, always calling him brother.

Despite the height of summer, the driver felt a chill down his spine. He wiped the sweat from his forehead: "Lieutenant General Ludwig and Lord Amber will soon be holding their wedding. They're busy selecting wedding attire and arranging the venue, so they haven't been at the old residence recently."

"…"

Sivry said nothing more, only saying sinisterly, "Speed up, I want to get back early."

An assassin could only end this endless cycle after completing one hundred missions. When the last task was done, the current world would be where they lived. Although Sivry disliked this insectoid place and was quite dissatisfied with the gender the system assigned him, if he could seize Ludwig's fortune, his life would stand at the peak, living in unparalleled splendor.

As long as he killed Duke Bach, he could become the head of the Laiyi family. Then, Ludwig and Amber would be at his mercy. Even if he couldn't complete the mission, he had to make sure these two people died with him!

Sivry looked into the rearview mirror. His once pure blue eyes were gradually disappearing, the iris color growing darker. This was the backlash of seizing fortune; he couldn't wait any longer.

The flyer slowly landed at the old residence. The driver, having completed his task, left. Sivry pushed open the door and walked into the hall, only to find the room eerily quiet. Climbing upstairs, he discovered Duke Bach napping in his room. Beside the bed was a pile of invitation samples, clearly preparing for Amber and Ludwig's wedding.

Sivry trembled with rage. While he had been enduring the torment of life and death, Ludwig and the others were peacefully preparing for their marriage. How could he not hate them?

He glared at Duke Bach's slightly aged face, gritted his teeth silently, and shakily pulled out a syringe from his pocket. Prince Third had said this drug would create the illusion of sudden heart failure. Considering Duke Bach's age, no insectoid would suspect anything.

Sivry had killed countless people and was adept at administering drugs. Quietly lifting the covers, he exposed Duke Bach's hand with clear veins. He pushed some air out of the needle, then slowly approached the inner arm—

"Bang!"

Just as the needle tip was about to pierce the skin, a stone flew out of nowhere, striking the syringe to the ground. Sivry was startled. Before he could react, Duke Bach, who had been sleeping in bed, suddenly opened his eyes, grabbed his wrist, and roared in fury, "You beast! You actually wanted to harm me!!"

"Grandfather?!"

Sivry panicked instantly. Just as his eyes hardened, ready to strangle Duke Bach, there was a muffled sound from the floor. Amber suddenly flipped through the outside window. Dressed in a well-tailored suit, he was still that calm and collected, detestable figure, saying slowly,

"Sivry, long time no see. Haven't had a chance to congratulate you on your discharge yet."

Sivry widened his eyes, looking between Duke Bach and Amber: "You colluded against me?!"

Duke Bach threw him heavily to the ground, his chest heaving with anger, but more with disappointment: "When Lord Amber said you harbored ill intent, I didn't believe it. I didn't expect it to be true! Sivry, who gave you the nerve to harm Lord Fangyun?! Who gave you the nerve to harm me?! You already have so much, what are you not satisfied with?!"

While his love for Sivry wasn't as deep as for Ludwig, he had paved all the roads for the other. Now, Sivry was plotting to harm him for the position of family head. How could this not disappoint an insectoid?!

"Do I have much?"

At these words, Sivry slowly rose from the ground, laughing coldly: "If I had so much, why didn't you give me the position of family head?! Don't think I don't know, you've always loved Ludwig the most. To let him take over the family, you've always been strict with him, while letting me run wild. Stop telling me these grandiose lies!"

As he spoke, he subtly hid the syringe in his pocket, quickly squeezed out the liquid, bent the needle, then turned and fled—

Sivry had shut off all surveillance when he acted. And since he hadn't successfully injected the drug, even if caught, there would be no evidence. As long as he hurried to find Prince Third and figure something out, there might still be a chance!

Sivry's plan was perfect, but just as he escaped the room, a gunshot suddenly rang in his ear. His right knee went numb, and he fell to the ground with a thud, his face pale with pain.

Ludwig had somehow been waiting outside the door. Lazily leaning against the wall, he toyed with the energy gun in his hand, his eyes indifferent. The scene seemed oddly familiar:

"Sivry, long time no see, why did you run when you saw me, hmm?"

After speaking, Ludwig smiled and waved the gun in his hand. His icy gaze fell on Sivry's bleeding right leg, crawling over it like a snake, dangerous in every way: "I'm sorry, my gun misfired again and accidentally injured you."

Sivry's face was pale, for he had clearly seen the flash of murderous intent in Ludwig's eyes. Perhaps because he had seized the other's fortune, whenever he faced Ludwig, he always felt an indescribable shudder and terror.