Chapter 27

Chapter 27

"Hmph." Nair Inan retorted with a single, mocking exhale.

Lu Cian was utterly defeated.

Nair Inan released his grip, seized Lu Cian by the collar, and flung him onto the bed. Though the action was rough, the force was surprisingly gentle. After all, Lu Cian looked so delicate that his fragile bones couldn’t withstand even a casual throw from Nair Inan.

Lu Cian bounced slightly from the bed’s recoil, feeling as though his internal organs had been jostled out of place. Clutching his chest, he struggled to recover.

Nair Inan clicked his tongue. "Weakling."

Lu Cian rubbed his sore backside and, upon hearing this remark, felt that Brother Nan had recently opened Pandora’s box, unleashing his mean streak.

"Brother Nan, you already know I’m weak. Can we not resort to throwing me onto the bed at the slightest disagreement? I’ll break!"

Nair Inan crossed his arms and looked down at him, replying indifferently, "Oh."

Lu Cian: "..." He wanted to spit blood.

"Let’s continue yesterday’s lesson. I’m starting now."

With a pout, Lu Cian straightened his posture.

"Today, we’ll discuss the current state of the Insect Empire."

"On the first day of Insect People history, we mentioned the sharp decline in the male population, which still shows no sign of improvement. This has led to an extreme societal phenomenon."

"The entire male-centric society exists solely for the males. Everything revolves around them. The throne no longer goes to the most competent but must be occupied by a male. The ruler of the Insect People must be male."

"The Male Protection Guild holds more power than any judicial institution. In any legal case involving a male, regardless of the circumstances, the male’s wishes take precedence. Even if the other party consists of thousands upon thousands of Insect People facing life-or-death situations, rescuing the male comes first."

"When a female clashes with a male, no matter how justified or victimized the female is, the male will always win the case."

"A male can get away with murder—unless the deceased is also a male."

"If two males confront each other and one is injured, the offending party’s primary wife or secondary wives take the fall, while the male is acquitted."

"..."

The privileges of males were numerous, some terrifyingly vast, others so subtle they were barely noticeable.

Having grown up on a barren planet, Lu Cian’s perspectives were self-taught, uninfluenced by societal norms. Nair Inan wanted to know his thoughts.

In his mind, Lu Cian compared males to human women—they should naturally be treated with gentlemanly courtesy. Even if women were spoiled, domineering, or unreasonable, what did it matter if they lashed out? They were precious women, after all. A few slaps were nothing.

With this reasoning, Lu Cian felt that the Insect People’s male-supremacist norms might not be entirely wrong.

Noticing his conflicted expression, Nair Inan sneered, "Do you think we should just indulge those males?"

To his surprise, Lu Cian shook his head. "An ancient saying goes, *'To spoil a child is to ruin them.'* The same applies here."

This was a truth passed down through millennia of wisdom—it had to hold some weight.

Nair Inan paused, then let out a cold laugh. "Pity even *you*, a fool, can understand this, yet they refuse to."

Lu Cian: "..."

Brother Nan, if you want to mock them, fine—but did you have to insult me in the process?

Lu Cian sighed. "If we really get into the weeds, it’s hard to say whose fault this is."

"'*A child’s misdeeds reflect the father’s failure; lax teaching reveals the teacher’s negligence.*' No male is born inherently wrong or guilty. The way males have become is the result of hidden societal corruption, backroom deals, and the ignorant education controlled by those behind the scenes."

"If these males had been raised with the same expectations as females—though this is hypothetical—we can’t say for certain whether they’d still turn out the same way."

Nair Inan’s anger subsided somewhat under Lu Cian’s reasoning. After a moment of contemplation, he admitted there was truth in his words.

A sense of confusion crept over Nair Inan. He realized that the males he had always despised might not have been the true targets of his hatred. What he should truly resent was the Insect Emperor.

Though the Emperor was also a product of this dysfunctional system, he was old and experienced—meaning he possessed a calculated mind and harbored bigger schemes. His goal, much like the distorted society itself, was to elevate males above the entire empire, allowing them to rule the Insect People by controlling the females.

And he had already succeeded for the most part. The empire was now developing exactly as the Insect Emperor desired.

"Lights out." Nair Inan ended today’s lesson.

Lu Cian blinked in surprise. "We’re done already?"

"You want to continue?" Nair Inan arched an eyebrow, not opposed to extending the session.

Lu Cian shook his head hard. "No, no, this is perfect! If Brother Nan is tired, skipping tomorrow’s lesson would be even better."

Nair Inan didn’t confirm whether they’d continue the next day. Instead, he said, "That’s up to you."

Lu Cian: "???"

His performance? But Brother Nan hadn’t told him what to do!

Seeing that Nair Inan had already lain down to rest, Lu Cian didn’t dare disturb him further.

***

Since Lu Cian’s arrival, their meals had improved drastically. The four no longer worried about what to eat the next day or couldn’t stomach another bite of those awful biscuits. This made them all the more eager for the future. If Lu Cian could make even gamey meat and hardtack taste delicious, imagine what he could do with premium beast meat—it would surely be a mouthwatering masterpiece!

Seeing his chance, Wawen couldn’t help but mention to Nair Inan, "Heir Apparent, your friend is amazing. His cooking is incredible—though it’d be even better if he switched things up once in a while."

He hadn’t grown tired of the steaks and burgers after just two days, but they’d be stuck in space for a while. Eating the same thing daily would eventually become monotonous. Besides, he’d just noticed—the Heir Apparent’s meals were different from theirs, and smelled way better!

Wawen couldn’t help but feel a twang of jealousy. Having a chef for a friend must be nice—getting special treatment and all.

Damon, seeing Wawen bugging the Heir Apparent over something as trivial as food, promptly dragged him away.

"Wawen, how could you trouble the Heir Apparent over something like food? He’s already swamped with duties for the entire clan!" Damon’s dirty look made it seem as though Wawen had committed some cardinal sin.

Caught red-handed, Wawen initially felt a pang of guilt—but Damon’s lecturing tone quickly put his back up.

"How could I be bothering the Heir Apparent? Is discussing food really trivial? Don't all great things start with small steps? Besides, if our meals improve, we'll have more motivation to keep working!"

"Damon, don't lecture others if you don't understand!" Wawen had his pride too.

It wasn't that Wawen disrespected the Heir Apparent or had any prejudice against Damon, but his status in the Shelley Clan was much higher than Damon's, so he spoke more casually. To put it in historical terms, Nair Inan would be the crown prince, Damon the captain of the crown prince's guard, and Wawen the scion of an old noble family, accompanying the prince in his studies.

Damon knew he'd gone too far. Seeing Wawen upset, he softened his expression and apologized, "Sorry, I was just wound up, so my tone was too strong."

Wawen wasn't the petty type. Since Damon apologized, he let it go.

But Wawen didn't get it, "What are you so anxious about? Haven't we already rescued the Heir Apparent?"

Damon nodded, "We did rescue the Heir Apparent, but the Emperor's surely figured it out by now and will likely send more female soldiers to capture us. The temporary base isn't safe anymore. When we all make a run for it, I'm afraid the target will be too big. If we're exposed, we could lose more of our people."

Wawen patted him on the shoulder, comforting him, "You're spiraling. You're usually the calm one, but turns out you're carrying so much in your heart. Leave these matters to the Heir Apparent. Overthinking won't help."

"You're just too idle, practically bored out of your mind. You should think about other things—food, sleep, clothes. If you focus on these, you won't have time for all that heavy stuff."

Damon just stared.

Wawen took three steps back under Damon's gaze, "Why are you looking at me like that? Don't lecture me again. I'm just trying to help, giving you advice, okay?"

Damon didn't take Wawen's advice, finding it utterly terrible.

As Damon walked away without looking back, Wawen scoffed, "Some thanks I get."

***

That night, Nair Inan didn't continue his lessons with Lu Cian. Instead, out of the blue, he decided to give him a physical checkup.

"Brother Nan, what's that instrument you're holding?"

"For a checkup."

Nair Inan moved to scan Lu Cian, who jumped back like he'd been burned.

Lu Cian thought to himself: *Hell no! He was an alien species—his body couldn't just be casually examined!*

Seeing Nair Inan's odd expression, Lu Cian quickly explained, "I'm fine, really. No need for a checkup."

Nair Inan frowned, not understanding why Lu Cian was so averse to the idea.

"You're too weak."

Lu Cian nodded, grabbing at straws, "Exactly! I'm too weak, can't even handle a little radiation. Brother Nan, better not check me. What if you find something wrong? That'd just make things worse."

Nair Inan glanced at the instrument, "The radiation from this is negligible, less than what the ship emits."

Seeing that Nair Inan was determined to proceed, Lu Cian's shoulders sagged in surrender, "Brother Nan, it's not that I don't want you to check me. It's just... my body is deformed. I'm ashamed. I don't want other insects to know."

Nair Inan paused, and Lu Cian, sensing an opening, pressed on, "Brother Nan, you don't understand—my deformity is extreme! Not only am I short, but I don't even have wing sacs, can't fly, and probably can't lay eggs either."

The very idea—he was a man, not a female of this species. How could he possibly get pregnant and lay eggs? Thankfully, Nair Inan had taught him that the insectoid race reproduced via eggs. Otherwise, his bluff would've fallen apart right there.