Chapter 205

Chapter 205

Bai Xiaoyu took a deep breath and carefully examined the cubs described in the intelligence report. According to the report, these cubs were similar to the ones previously sent to the Dragon Den, though with some differences. While they had half an insect body, they lacked the initially soft, tiny barbs and small scales.

Recalling the data previously provided by the two legions, he took it out for comparison. It featured insect cubs that belonged to the mid-to-high level within the insect race. However, those cubs were fully formed. When placed side by side for comparison, the lower half of some cubs looked almost identical.

This was a serious matter, but he couldn’t jump to conclusions just yet. Moreover, people across the star system hated the insect race to the core. Even the dragon clans, who were the most protective of their cubs, had once harbored murderous intent toward the insect cubs. When Qi Yanhuan and Qin Lie were expecting Little Bai, they were willing to do anything for their child. When they found out about Little Bai’s true identity, they had to consider what to do.

If what he suspected was true, these cubs would be in grave danger.

No, not just these.

At that moment, he suddenly remembered the active dark substances. If this was related, almost every breeding facility in any region on nearby planets would have a few cases. If this pattern held true across all planets in the star system...

Unconsciously, Bai Xiaoyu’s mind drifted to the information he had seen recently because of the little Blood Fury Tyrant Dragons. Thinking about the handling methods for the cubs with mixed insect genes, his brows furrowed tightly.

He hoped it wasn’t what he thought, or the consequences would be unimaginable.

Meanwhile, President Luo continued to receive reports from third, fourth, fifth, and even more planetary breeding facilities about the emergence of human-insect hybrid cubs.

This was different from the occasional one or two hybrid gene and characteristic human-insect cubs in the past. Within just half a day, there were dozens, if not hundreds, of such cubs.

When the first breeding facility reported the cubs, local members were dispatched to retrieve them, but it hadn’t been made public yet.

At that time, the caretaker was an ordinary one without much fame. The viewers in the live stream were merely curious and slightly stirred. Some viewers posted about the strange cubs on their social media, but the impact was minimal.

However, within the next half-day, breeding facilities across the star system continued to report cubs hatching with this condition, even involving some well-known veteran caretakers. Later, there were even cubs with an upper human body and a lower insect body, which was shockingly conspicuous and impossible to ignore.

Although many ordinary viewers on the star network didn’t understand, as more and more breeding facilities reported mixed human-insect cubs, some knowledgeable and even quite professional viewers emerged. Thus, on the star network, some people initially posted Starblogs about strange butterfly clan half-human cubs. When numerous professionals came forward with reasoned analyses and comparisons, they reached a terrifying conclusion—these cubs with half an insect body were not butterfly clan cubs, but insect race!

This was a thunderclap on a clear day.

Soon, the entire star network exploded.

"These cubs are half-Bug! They must be dealt with quickly, or the consequences will be dire."

"Didn’t you see that these cubs also have a human upper body? I’ve seen several cases of such cubs being born. They can cry and laugh, seemingly no different from other cubs. It would be too cruel to deal with them directly."

"Seeing that wriggling insect head brings back memories of my relatives who died in battle. I hate this so much. Since they are of the insect race, they should die. What are you defending, previous commenter? Are you also an insect race?"

The debate on the star network escalated quickly. Millennia of hatred for the Bug led many to focus solely on the insect characteristics of the cubs, filling them with aggression.

At the same time, Bai Qing also learned about this immediately. His face turned ashen as he looked at the cubs with mixed insect characteristics.

Damn the Bug! They’ve managed to mix their genes into the human population.

The initial such cubs had already been taken away, and more and more were appearing, making it impossible to suppress.

The empire quickly convened a meeting. Given the current situation, almost all breeding facilities on the peripheral stars had reported this situation. It was decided to temporarily shut down live broadcasts of cub hatching in breeding facilities across the star system.

For each upcoming hatching, local legions would be dispatched to guard the facilities. If any abnormal cubs were found, they would be taken away immediately. Only after all problematic cubs were removed would the breeding facilities resume broadcasts to introduce the normal cubs.

Of course, along with these cubs, their parents would also be taken.

Each time a breeding facility went offline and then resumed, viewers noticed fewer cubs after the eggs hatched. Even so, the official side had not provided a reasonable explanation, and various rumors from surrounding planets circulated. Other parents from the same period had witnessed the birth of such cubs, even seeing uniformed personnel roughly grabbing the half-human, half-insect cubs, along with the resisting parents.

Instantly, the entire star system was engulfed in fear. Even during previous Bug invasions, there had never been such a widespread genetic infiltration. The royal family's official website was overwhelmed with traffic, as everyone waited for an official explanation.

The relevant government departments quickly responded, working to calm the public. They stated that they would thoroughly investigate the situation and handle it properly, promising to give everyone a resolution.

After the reassurance, they also announced the upcoming delivery of a large number of caretaker training equipment to various universities, along with the recently developed and mass-produced cultivation fluids and repair agents by the official research team.

These production instruments were developed based on the new formula provided by Bai Xiaoyu and secretly researched through communication with Tao Limeng. Production of these agents has already begun at the royal pharmaceutical base, and from now on, all eggs will be cultivated with A-grade cultivation fluids.

It’s worth noting that previously, most newborn eggs were only provided with C-grade agents.

These two pieces of good news shifted the attention of most people, and the situation was temporarily controlled.

Meanwhile, at the Bug Palace, the crowd watched the situation on the star network with indifference. They weren't concerned about the panic among the people of the star system or the royal family's temporary control facilitated by Bai Xiaoyu.

Not long ago, the humans were hopeful due to the influence of the dark substances from the Bug race. Now, they can't be happy, can they?

For thousands of years, the dark substances weren't just affecting the morphology and aptitude of the offspring of the beastmen; they were also subtly making them suitable for integrating with the Bug race's genetic transformation.

The dark substances released later carried high-level genes of the Bug race. Once these entered the eggs, the genes would integrate into them. The remaining dark substances would then consume part of the genes inside the eggs and catalyze the mixing and growth of the Bug race's genes.

It's not much for now, but when more and more human offspring start showing these conditions daily, and some people are pitying these half-bug cubs, what will happen when there are more and more of such cubs in the future?

Although these cubs were half-bug, they still possessed human characteristics. This meant they had a variety of human emotions. Unlike other unrelated strangers among humans, how would their parents react to such children?

The Bug race looked at these half-human, half-bug children without any recognition in their eyes. To them, these children, who were a mix of other races' genes, couldn't be considered their kin.

The Bug race didn't acknowledge them, and humans probably wouldn't accept them either.

At that moment, Bai Xiaoyu, seeing more and more mixed-gene children in the intelligence reports, contacted the overwhelmed President Luo.

After connecting through the holo-brain, both saw the heaviness in each other's eyes.

After a long pause, President Luo finally spoke, "Bai Xiaoyu, did you contact me because of the half-bug cubs?"

Bai Xiaoyu nodded, "How are those children?"

President Luo hesitated for a moment, then sighed, "Do you really want to know? I'll take you to see them."

After passing through layers of checkpoints, each guarded by soldiers, they entered the final checkpoint. President Luo whispered, "This place is no longer under my control; it's basically been taken over by the royal family."

As soon as they entered, various cries and screams could be heard faintly. Hundreds of half-bug human children looked over as they entered. These cubs were a mix of beastmen, humans, and Bug variants, all locked inside semi-transparent instruments.

The half-bug children were crying out. They were supposed to be bonding with their parents right after birth, but now they were isolated and locked up, crying and screaming, some barely alive, clearly having suffered rough treatment and looking extremely pitiful.

Bai Xiaoyu took a deep breath, and President Luo felt similarly. Seeing Bai Xiaoyu's reaction, President Luo explained, "To prevent the parents from forming emotional bonds with their cubs, they are not allowed to see them."

Bai Xiaoyu asked, "Do they know the specific situation of their children?"

President Luo nodded, "Otherwise, there would have already been a collective fight against the caretaker association and the royal family's people. But even now, they haven't fully recovered, and some still hope to come and see their children. That will definitely be denied."

President Luo paused, "As you probably know, the fate of the children who were mixed with Bug race genes before. I've seen it with my own eyes. Even back then, when those children showed no humanity, it was still heart-wrenching. Now, these children... would you like to see them to determine if there's anything we can do?"

Bai Xiaoyu didn't refuse, "I can go, but I'm afraid there's nothing I can do."

Because he had already studied the Blood Fury Dragon cubs. Even when they were still in their eggs, he couldn't solve the issue, let alone now when these cubs have already shown their forms. Just like Bai Kan, whose body was still half Golden Tiger and half White Tiger.

If the Blood Fury Dragon cubs had been discovered back then, they likely would have faced similar treatment.

At that moment, a cub pounded on the holding cell. It was a half-beast half-insect cub, letting out a soft, mournful roar.

Bai Xiaoyu and President Luo could hear the fear in the cub's voice. It was calling for its caretakers and begging for food.

President Luo said, "The cubs are now under full control of the royal family's people. It looks like they haven't been fed. I'll handle it immediately and contact you later."

After the call ended, Bai Xiaoyu immediately headed to the supply room and gathered a large batch of nutrients. He arranged everything at the breeding facility before setting off with Big Black.

Though he knew the odds were against him, he still wanted to see the condition of the cubs.

More of these cubs kept arriving from all across the star system after he left.