Chapter 8

Chapter 8

Waking up, the room was unusually quiet.

Luo Ci rubbed his soft cheeks, then his eyes, to find his little tail still wrapped around Helunen’s finger; he had clung to it all night.

As he unwrapped his tail, he noticed several faint indentations on the finger.

At first, he wasn’t sure what they were, but upon closer inspection… they looked like tiny bite marks from his baby teeth.

He had no idea how long he’d been gnawing on Helunen’s finger.

Were his teeth really that sharp?

Luo Ci rubbed his cheeks and poked at the indented skin, only to suddenly meet Helunen’s open eyes.

Instinctively, he flicked his tail tip up, using his fin veil to awkwardly hide the tooth marks. “…”

Helunen gently touched the little mermaid’s plump, pink cheeks but didn’t comment.

After breakfast, Helunen had official duties to attend to, but the little mermaid clung to him again.

Remembering how well the little mermaid had adapted to the living room yesterday, Helunen decided to set up his workspace in the glass garden—it could serve as early exposure to people for him.

The morning sunlight on the capital planet was gentle, filling the pristine glass garden with soft light, making it a cheerful place.

The garden was vast, and the gardeners were hard at work, though they couldn’t resist occasionally peeking at the little mermaid perched on a flower.

They knew their master had brought home a little mermaid, but he usually stayed in the mermaid pool, so most of them were seeing him for the first time today. He wasn’t what they expected.

Not scary at all, he was tiny—smaller even than the flower buds they tended.

His plump, tender tail shimmered with a faint pink hue when he was happy, swaying gently like a feather tickling their hearts. They couldn’t help but want to poke it.

Luo Ci fell in love with the glass garden the moment he entered.

The garden was meticulously maintained, kept at a constant temperature and humidity. A light mist sprayed quietly from humidifiers in the corners, carrying the fresh scent of flowers.

Everything seemed new and exciting to him, even though he’d never seen these flowers before.

One in particular resembled a rose, but it was much larger—about the size of a basin—with deep, swirling blue-black petals like a mesmerizing nebula.

Luo Ci pointed at it. “Pupu.”

Helunen: “Want to touch it?”

This Rose Cloud was a rare species he’d brought back from another planet. It hadn’t bloomed for almost 100 years, yet today, its petals had unfurled on their own.

In fact, about eighty percent of the garden’s flowers had bloomed today—the remaining twenty simply hadn’t grown buds yet.

Though it was a coincidence, it made for a perfect way to make the little mermaid happy.

He set him down on the Rose Cloud.

Luo Ci was so light that even sitting on it barely made the flower move. He looked around, feeling as if he were lounging in a jungle hammock.

The Rose Cloud’s petals were soft and thick, like velvet. He couldn’t resist stroking them a few times.

So soft.

Poking them made them wobble like freshly made pudding, bouncy and elastic…

It reminded him of Miluba.

Just as he thought this, Miluba inched its way down, squeezing between him and the Rose Cloud. One side of its suction cups pushed the flower away while the other reached up to touch Luo Ci’s face, its lips puckered up.

“Mi…”

Luo Ci had given Miluba a nickname—since the little creature often made “Milu Milu” sounds, he simply called it Milo.

Milo was normally shy, so it was surprising to see it stand up to sharks to protect him.

Luo Ci picked up Milo, enjoying its soft, bouncy texture. A gentle squeeze made it let out a squeaky sound, its flower-like suction pads plump and faintly pink, like it was shy. Adorable.

Before long, Milo grew tired and dozed off in his arms.

The sky was a clear, endless blue, with occasional breezes brushing past. The little mermaid rolled off the petals into the fluffy bushes, stretching out on the soft grass, his tail swaying lazily left and right.

Luo Ci glanced around and noticed Helunen sitting in a chair with his arms crossed, eyes closed in rest.

Helunen’s sleeves were rolled up slightly, one hand propped against his forehead as if deep in thought.

Even like this, his face remained strikingly handsome. Luo Ci curled his tail and scooted toward the chair, carefully tugging at the pant leg to climb up, pausing to rest now and then. From afar, he looked like a soft, squishy rice cake.

Once he reached Helunen’s shoulder, Luo Ci peeked. Helunen hadn’t moved.

They were so close now. From this angle, he could see Helunen’s sharp jawline and high nose bridge. If he tilted his head just slightly, his nose would brush Helunen’s cheek. The familiar, warm scent enveloped him, filling his lungs like stepping into a vast forest, seeping into his heart.

Luo Ci loved being wrapped in this scent. He whispered, “Ah-ya~”

Making sure Helunen was still asleep, he continued climbing stealthily, hugging Helunen’s ear for balance while his tail flicked up, the fin veil brushing lightly Helunen’s sharp brow, sweeping a stray lock of hair to his forehead.

Hehe… Luo Ci blew a string of happy bubbles, burying his face in his tail to stifle giggles—completely missing the moment Helunen calmly opened his eyes and lowered the hand resting on his temple.

Helunen lifted the giggling little mermaid away. “What were you doing?”

Luo Ci clutched his tail tip, eyes wide with innocence. “Wuu-ya~”

Just then, the itinerary alert on Helunen’s neural interface chimed.

Helunen prepared to put the little mermaid down and change clothes before heading out.

He hadn’t planned to take him along, but the moment he moved, the previously curled-up little mermaid immediately wriggled closer, resting his chin on his palm and staring at him pleadingly.

Before, Helunen might have remained unmoved. But after the little mermaid had shed tears yesterday, refusing to take him today would likely make him puff up like an angry little pufferfish.

(Though even then, he’d be adorable.)

Helunen smirked at the thought. He looked down at him. “Can you promise to behave?”

Luo Ci: “Puba—!” (Let’s go!)

Helunen changed into casual attire—a dark hoodie hugging his toned torso, the neckline looser than his usual coat, with just enough room to accommodate the little mermaid.

Luo Ci had never seen Helunen dressed so casually. It made him look younger than in his uniform, his handsome features stood out even more.

Helunen lifted him into the hoodie’s neckline. “Sit tight.”

Luo Ci obediently crouched. “Wu-ya.”

·

They were still taking the hovercar, but unlike the last trip to the research institute where the route ascended upward, this time it descended continuously, passing through a countless forest of steel skyscrapers.

Luo Ci pressed her face against the window, her soft white cheeks pressed against the glass, her short, rounded tail swaying gently.

From the sky earlier, she had only noticed that the buildings on the ground were much denser than those on the floating islands, but she hadn’t realized just how tall they were. Only when the car drove through them did she see that each of these steel towers was at least a kilometer high, standing in orderly rows, every one illuminated—clearly fully inhabited.

After passing through the large central forest park of the city, the gaps between the buildings widened, as if they had entered an upscale district. Rows of beautifully decorated villas lined the streets, each with its own unique architectural style.

Then, an ovoid building came into view, its plaque engraved with the ornate ancient script: *Pulitzer*.

This was the Federation's premier medical center—

Pulitzer Medical Center.

Luo Ci gazed around with excitement, fascinated by everything. The place resembled a hospital, yet its interior was landscaped like a forest, filled with towering tropical plants.

What she didn’t know was that during the century-long interstellar invasion war, no one had expected that after Bahai's death, their troubles had only just begun—even in death, Bahai continued to spread toxic haze carrying pollutants. If it corrupted a single life and wasn’t stopped in time, nearly the entire planet would be contaminated.

Countless planets were ravaged by pollution, with vegetation, soil, and water sources being the first casualties. Uncorrupted plants became especially precious, worth their weight in gold. The hospital’s extensive cultivation of living plants was, in fact, a demonstration of considerable resources.

The hovercar drove straight into the spired tower at the innermost ring of the hospital, far removed from the public areas.

Helunen entered the building after an iris scan.

Luo Ci noticed that this building was also filled with wards—rows of spotless, glass-walled private rooms.

A robotic nurse pushed a patient past them.

Was this the inpatient facility?

And a luxury-grade facility at that.

Luo Ci turned her fluffy little head and widened her eyes—Helunen’s expression was grave, neither calm nor sorrowful, perhaps lost in some serious thought. The edges of his psychic energy seemed distorted and unstable.

Startled, her ear fins nearly flattened in alarm, and she let out a soft, worried sound, "Punā?"

*What’s wrong with you?*

The little mermaid’s soft voice was like a hand pulling him back from the darkness. Helunen closed his eyes for a moment, rubbing his temple as he forcibly suppressed the fluctuations in his psychic energy. He reached out and lightly touched her hair. "Did I scare you just now?"

"Unnā."

Helunen: "Just thinking about something."

He resumed walking, stepping into the Light Elevator and inputting a familiar floor number. The elevator swiftly ascended and stopped at the designated level.

The corridor outside was just as pristine white as before, but even quieter.

Without knowing the layout, most people would likely get lost.

Helunen walked down the hallway and stopped in front of a ward. Luo Ci followed his gaze.

Before she could get a clear look inside, a hand covered her eyes.

"Unnā—" Luo Ci froze, then puffed out her cheeks in protest, her face round like a steamed bun.

Helunen said flatly, "Not for young eyes."

"Punā."

The little mermaid whined and clung to him, but this time, Helunen ignored her.

Anyone who saw the patient inside would find it horrifying and pitiful.

An emaciated man slumped in a motorized wheelchair, his face sunken like dried kindling, black veins bulging grotesquely under his skin. His body was wrapped in a white confinement garment, but Helunen knew the man’s skeletal structure had already corroded—his flesh was little more than pulp barely contained in the chair.

This was the result of severe Bahai contamination.

Thanks to the man’s extraordinary psychic resilience, a sliver of life still remained.

Psychic energy acted like life-supporting oxygen, barely keeping him alive, though even that was thoroughly corroded… The pain was unbearable for most.

Fortunately, Pulitzer had developed treatment pods capable of treating severe cases. Though the process was slow, progress was being made.

The man seemed to possess remarkable vitality. Hearing movement in the hallway, he opened his eyes and met Helunen’s gaze—vacant and hollow.

Helunen nodded calmly in acknowledgment.

In the adjacent observation room, mechanical devices operated steadily, emitting a faint blue glow and subsonic frequencies. The instruments monitored the man’s condition, capturing and recording every breath with microscopic precision.

The observation room door had a small window. Noticing Helunen’s arrival, the attending physician stepped out, holding a diagnostic pad. He pressed a hand to his chest and bowed. "Sir, it’s been a while."

Helunen withdrew his gaze. "Any progress?"

The man replied, "How would you assess the patient’s condition compared to your last visit?"

"His mental state seems improved."

"You’re right," the man said, turning toward the glass wall. "Our current treatment pods can essentially guarantee recovery for severe cases. Given your own progressive condition, we strongly recommend you to begin treatment as soon as possible."

Helunen didn’t respond. The aftermath of Bahai’s destruction still required cleanup, and defense systems had yet to be rebuilt. The weight of his responsibilities made it impossible for him to simply undergo extended treatment for a year or more.

The man seemed to understand his dilemma and added, "We’ve made a new discovery. After breaking down the pollutants thousands of times, we identified a unique property. Repeated tests confirmed that the corruption tends to prioritize the most active parts of a living organism—what we call ‘bio-attraction.’ Based on this, we’ve developed a new experimental serum that can slow the corrosion rate."

"How long does it last?"

"One injection can provide protection for about one to two weeks," the man said, his tone earnest but not overly insistent.

"You really should try it."

Helunen remained noncommittal. "Anything else?"

"No, we’ll inform you of any further developments."

Only after the man left did Luo Ci emerge from Helunen’s collar, resting her small chin on his shoulder, peering curiously.

"Punā?" Who was that just now?

Lost in thought, Helunen didn’t answer, merely absentmindedly petting the little mermaid’s tail.

Receiving no response, Luo Ci pouted, wrapped her arms around his neck, and rubbed her cheek against him. When Helunen finally looked at her, she beamed, eyes sparkling, and let out a pleased little murmur.

Helunen pinched the pink tip of her tail. "You little scamp. You promised to behave—so much for that."

Luo Ci blinked at him, then blew a small bubble.

Helunen's lips quirked in a smile. This clingy little fish had a way of making even the heaviest thoughts fade away.

Just as he was about to board the hover vehicle with the little mermaid, someone walked up from the opposite direction.

The man appeared somewhat advanced in years, looking scholarly and mild-mannered, dressed in ordinary clothes. Yet, his sharp, intelligent eyes gave him a striking presence.

Luo Ci studied him curiously, feeling an odd sense of familiarity.

Where had she seen him before?

She scrubbed her cheeks like an otter, racking her brain until it finally hit her—this man seemed to be the bald Federal Head of State she’d seen on television the other day, though now he was in disguise.

Something small squirmed in Helunen’s collar. The man cast a discreet glance at it and chuckled. "I didn’t expect to run into the Marshal here. What luck."

"Your Excellency," Helunen nodded in greeting, raising a hand to block the probing gaze. His tone was cool. "Running into you anywhere else would’ve been better, don’t you think?"

What was so lucky about bumping into each other in a hospital?

"Fair point," the Federal Head of State conceded with a smile.

Helunen asked, "Are you unwell, Your Excellency?"

"Just a small issue. I didn’t want to trouble the medical team, so I came to the hospital when I had time." The Federal Head of State clasped his hands behind his back, walking leisurely. "Even as the Federal Head of State, I’m still just a regular person."

His expression was calm and humble, making him seem like any other easygoing old man.

It was hard to imagine that this man, strolling casually through a city hospital, was actually the Federal Head of State.

But this wasn’t surprising. Those familiar with the Federal Head of State knew he had risen from humble origins and never put on airs even after assuming office, renowned for his approachability and care for the people. He toiled day and night for the citizens of the Federation; he worked himself bald—never bothering to conceal it with implants or a wig. His simple, candid demeanor earned him the affectionate nickname "the Bald Federal Head of State." Some of his die-hard fans even shaved their heads in solidarity.

The Federal Head of State continued, "At the meeting the other day, you left early and missed the urgent discussions we held afterward."

Helunen recalled his steward’s call that had prompted his abrupt departure near the end of the session.

Luo Ci, nestled in his collar, was fighting sleep, covering her mouth as she yawned softly. Listening to their exchange, her eyelids grew heavy, and she had to press her little head against Helunen’s neck, clinging tightly to avoid slipping down.

The little mermaid seemed restless. Helunen felt her warm, soft tail nudging against the crook of his neck, her warm puffs of breath tickling his skin like a feather’s touch—here one moment, there the next.

Distracted, he had to steady the squirming little mermaid before calmly asking, "What was discussed?"

The Federal Head of State halted. "The Sea Clan. Their recent activities have grown alarmingly frequent, forcing us to heighten our vigilance. As a faction in the star sector that has long rivaled us, the Sea Clan had remained secluded for nearly a century, untouched even during the sector-wide invasions. Now, while the rest of the sector rebuilds, they’ve suddenly gone berserk..."

His expression darkened. "The Star Alliance has received thousands of distress calls. The Sea Clan’s gone wild, tearing through every corner."

Helunen crossed his arms, leaning back. "What’s the cause?"

"They’ve lost their emperor."