Chapter 123

Chapter 123

Nair Inan said calmly, "Of course, he won't be going back alone. I'll accompany him."

"No!" Lu Cian refused without hesitation. "You said it yourself—it's dangerous. I don’t agree with this plan, and I won’t let you take such a risk!"

His rejection was firm, leaving no room for negotiation.

Nair Inan sighed and explained, "Although identity checks are strict, I’m just a slave. I don’t need any official background. My past can’t be traced, and Ximeno can simply claim he bought me from the black market..."

Lu Cian shook his head repeatedly. "That still won’t work. If Ximeno returns, he’ll have to bring his primary and secondary consorts back with him. Even if he doesn’t betray us, his consorts might not keep the secret. We can’t take that risk."

No matter what, Lu Cian refused to let Nair Inan go. The two were at an impasse.

Finally, Lu Cian, unable to bear the tension, relented first. "If you insist on going, then I’m going too."

Nair Inan opened his mouth to refuse, but Lu Cian cut in. "If you don’t agree, I won’t convince Ximeno either."

The first step was always the hardest, and without this first step, everything else would be even more difficult.

Nair Inan had to concede. "Alright."

Relieved at being included, Lu Cian finally relaxed enough to ask, "What are we going to the Empire’s central star system for? It’s so close to the Imperial homeworld—there must be a lot of soldiers patrolling, right?"

One slip-up, and they, as wanted fugitives, could be exposed, possibly even putting the whole Federation into trouble.

"To rescue someone," Nair Inan replied simply.

Lu Cian thought to himself that risking a rescue mission right under the Imperial nose meant this person must be vitally important.

"Is it someone from the Shelley Clan?" he asked tentatively.

Nair Inan compressed his lips and nodded, his expression clouding over.

Seeing his grim expression, Lu Cian went quiet for a long time.

If it were him—if he were transported back into an era of foreign occupation—he’d probably be just like those fiery, idealistic student patriots: joining protests, giving speeches, trading books for guns, or making bold declarations like "Even if I die, another will rise in my place."

In those times, many were ready to die for their country.

He genuinely understood Nair Inan’s feelings.

Privately, Lu Cian had quietly hoped to oppose the Empire without bloodshed, waiting for it to crumble from within.

But that would take far too long—beyond their lifespan.

He knew Brother Nan’s hatred for the Emperor ran deep, not something easily forgotten.

But as an outsider, Lu Cian had always maintained an observer's perspective, believing problems would resolve themselves somehow.

Yet when faced with the harsh reality staring him in the face, he was struck by his own hypocrisy.

It was easy to be cavalier about others' pain when it wasn’t his own people, his own suffering.

It wasn't his own hatred, so he could act with a clear conscience, without any guilt.

But now, because he loved Nair Inan, he had to see things from his perspective, empathize with him, and shoulder his rage and grief, his responsibilities and duties.

Emotions surged uncontrollably, and Lu Cian’s eyes reddened slightly. Overcome, he impulsively pulled Nair Inan into a hug.

Nair Inan stiffened in surprise, instinctively wanting to push him away. But sensing the comfort in sorrow radiating from Lu Cian—two conflicting emotions that shouldn’t coexist—he understood.

His hand paused mid-motion before slowly returning the embrace.

Lu Cian had indeed empathized deeply, feeling for Nair Inan and offering comfort through the hug.

But as time passed, the sadness faded as quickly as it had come. Once the last trace of sorrow left his heart, Lu Cian wasn’t sure what to do next.

Should he keep holding on? Or let go?

Should he act unaffected, pounding his chest and vowing to complete the mission? Or should he break down crying, cursing the Emperor before breaking down in Nair Inan’s arms?

He was torn. The first option suited his personality better, but the second would undoubtedly bring them closer.

Opportunity favored the prepared—shouldn’t he seize this chance to prove himself, to make Nair Inan see him as one of his own?

But he’d never seen Nair Inan cry before.

What if he ended up sobbing alone while Nair Inan remained stoic?

Would Nair Inan think he’d gone crazy?

Lost in thought, Lu Cian’s fingers moved absently over Nair Inan’s back.

When deep in contemplation, he often fidgeted—stroking his chin, scratching his head, fiddling with his clothes. Now, with the warm, firm muscles beneath his fingertips, he absentmindedly traced them a few times.

*Nice,* his mind wandered. *Solid but flexible.*

Feeling the movement, Nair Inan instinctively shoved him away.

He hadn’t used much force—just a reflexive push with barely any strength behind it.

But it was enough to send Lu Cian stumbling back, nearly falling before Nair Inan caught him.

"Are you alright?"

Lu Cian shook his head rapidly, eyes darting everywhere except at Nair Inan, too mortified to speak.

What could he even say?

*Sorry, didn’t mean to take liberties—want to get even?*

He’d be dead before he finished the sentence.

His gaze flitted nervously. Just imagining Brother Nan’s disapproving look made him want to crawl into a hole and disappear.

Coming on strong before even winning his crush over? If Nair Inan found out what a creep he was, he’d never be forgiven!

Lu Cian reassured himself—it wasn’t intentional! His hands had a mind of their own, acting up around someone he liked!

His wandering eyes accidentally met Nair Inan’s concerned gaze. Flustered, Lu Cian waved his hands. "N-nothing! J-just a hand spasm..."

Finding an excuse, Lu Cian began rambling nonsense, dramatically staring at his hands with exaggerated distress. "I don’t know what happened—my fingers suddenly stopped obeying me. Maybe... maybe I’m lacking calcium?"

"Lacking calcium?" Nair Inan’s expression turned odd.

Lu Cian nodded hastily. "Yeah, yeah! A few nights ago, my legs cramped while sleeping. Some bugs said it means I’m about to grow taller and need calcium supplements."

Nair Inan’s lips parted slightly, his mind seemingly hit by a mental riot.

Afraid of digging himself deeper if he continued, Lu Cian quickly changed the subject. "Anyway, it’s nothing serious. I should go find Ximeno now. Convincing him won’t be easy—I need to prepare in advance!"

Without waiting for Nair Inan’s response, he bolted off as if something were chasing him.

Watching Lu Cian’s retreating figure, Nair Inan shook his head helplessly. *Like a little hatchling—even his excuses are so poorly thought out.*

Among insectoids, growth only occurs during the larval stage. From adolescence to adulthood, they don’t grow taller but undergo evolution, reaching maturity overnight.

This was basic biology for every insectoid.

Lu Cian knew that insectoids underwent evolution, but knowledge was like with a slacker and a top student—the former memorizes by rote, while the latter applies knowledge flexibly.

Lu Cian was clearly the former.

---

Lu Cian went to the Male Bug Academy to find Ximeno.

He needed to persuade Ximeno to help him rescue insects from the empire, including the Shelley Clan’s males.

The Shelley Clan were fugitives. Saving them would be equivalent to betraying their own kind, not to mention "snatching male bugs."

Lu Cian could already imagine Ximeno rejecting him on the spot the moment he brought it up.

So he couldn’t come right out with it—he had to approach it gradually.

To avoid wasting the few storefronts he'd set up for male insects’ entertainment, Lu Cian planned to expand the area into a shopping district.

With this shopping district, he could then negotiate with Ximeno, asking him to help set up trade connections with the empire. Ximeno wouldn’t suspect anything.

As for the bad blood with the Federation and the empire—doing business with the enemy wasn’t mutually exclusive.

Just because they were enemies didn’t mean they couldn’t profit from each other, right?

Money talks.

To engage in trade, the Federation needed standout merchandise.

This brought them to their researcher, Joseph, who had finally developed the first batch of calming serums to ease female slaves’ Mental Riot episodes.

The formula was still in its early stages—a bit crude—but its effects were slightly stronger than the empire’s inhibitors. It would definitely make good trade goods.

Lu Cian planned to use these calming serums to open a door into the empire.

When Lu Cian found Ximeno, the latter was working the heavy bag, his movements surprisingly crisp.

"Ximeno, you’ve adapted really well here!" Lu Cian remarked, surprised at how much Ximeno had changed in just a few days.

Ximeno pumped his arm eagerly. "Right? You can tell, huh? I’ve even got muscles now!"

He proudly showed off his progress, clearly pleased with his current physique.

Lu Cian played along. "Yeah, yeah! You look much more imposing now. You could take two of me. Keep it up, and you might even get an eight-pack."

"An eight-pack?" Ximeno seemed to recall something and shook his head repeatedly. "A six-pack's fine, but eight is too much."

Lu Cian was puzzled. "What? You think eight is too few?"

*Could he possibly aim for ten?*

Ximeno scoffed. "No, I mean eight is excessive. Going that hard is exhausting, and it doesn’t even look good. I’m not stupid—why torture myself?"

Lu Cian disagreed. "How is an eight-pack ugly? It’s the epitome of fitness!"

Ximeno argued back. "Of course it’s ugly! Overdeveloped muscles, hard as rocks—unattractive and no fun to cuddle. Who’d even like that?"

Lu Cian was speechless. *This guy has no taste for physique.*

*Coming in too strong—no wonder he strikes out immediately.*

But... wait a minute?

Ximeno had an empress consort, concubines, and several female slaves—all of whom had abs and muscles. If he hated muscular builds so much, how did he manage his bedroom game?