Chapter 28

Chapter 28

Unaware of his friend's current meltdown, Gore had swiftly arrived at the Male Management Committee. Naturally, he couldn’t hear Richie’s wails from here.

But in truth, the azure-haired female insect had no mind to spare for anything else at the moment.

"General, Ferre and Patton have been temporarily contained in the Psychic Containment Unit of the Male Management Committee as per your orders. The remaining soldiers are stationed in the calming chamber, and no other insects have shown signs of psychic instability so far."

"Have their psychic test results come out yet?"

"Not yet. Though we can’t determine whether Ferre and the others have exceeded the threshold for psychic turbulence, they have lost all consciousness, and their offensive capabilities and explosive strength have significantly increased. Because of this, Deputy Director Jensen of the Male Management Committee has demanded their immediate execution."

"Execution?"

Gore, who had been striding quickly into the Male Management Committee building since disembarking from the aircraft, paused at these words. His blue pupils contracted slightly, narrowing dangerously like a beast’s.

"Have they taken action?"

"The guards I brought are stationed at the entrance of the containment unit. They haven’t broken in yet. But Jensen has already commandeered the Male Management Committee’s proprietary plasma charges and is likely aiming them at the facility’s door now."

Frowning, Adjutant Bess, who had been on edge since the incident began, clenched his fists, his words almost dripping with bloodlust.

This year alone, their entire fleet had exterminated no fewer than thirty A-Class star beasts and even suppressed an S-Class star beast back beyond the borders of the frontier star systems—not to mention the countless other star beasts of varying levels they’d slain over the years.

If they hadn’t been assigned to defend the most dangerous Dihaino Star System, if most of their troops weren’t battle-hardened military females stationed at the border systems for years, how could their fleet’s soldiers be so prone to psychic instability?

Yet despite the military department having submitted an application to the Male Management Committee in advance, despite emphasizing repeatedly before their return from deployment just how dire their fleet’s mental states were this year…

"Step aside! I have no patience left to reason with you brutes. If you don’t move, don’t blame me for enforcing the Male Insect Protection Regulations!"

His thick brows furrowed, Deputy Director Jensen, newly appointed this year, glared at the military females blocking the containment unit, gritting his teeth angrily.

To climb to his current position, he had toiled for over a decade as a senior administrator. Finally, this year, he had been promoted—only for these rigid-minded soldiers fresh from the border systems to cause a psychic outbreak, even nearly harming a male insect today!

The thought made his expression darken even more. Even now, the two females locked inside the Psychic Containment Unit could erupt into a full-blown psychic outbreak at any moment and break free to wreak havoc.

"Those two must die today! Protecting them is useless! If you don’t step aside now, your actions alone are enough for me to—"

"Enough for what?"

Before the silver-haired officer could finish, a cold, deep voice cut in.

Footsteps echoed as an azure-haired female insect strode heavily into the tense standoff at the containment unit’s entrance.

The guards of the Augu Fleet, stripped of all weapons since returning to the capital star, now stood with their bodies as the only barrier before the facility’s door.

If Jensen ordered the plasma charges fired now, the soldiers, freshly rotated back for rest, would suffer greatly. But fortunately, they had acted just in time.

The extended bone spurs retracted into their arms, and the chitinous armor covering their bodies faded back into their skin. The Augu Fleet guards, now clad in their uniforms, saluted respectfully as the blue-haired female insect approached.

"Lieutenant General Gore… Your two subordinates have already experienced a psychic outbreak. At any moment, they could break free and threaten every male insect within the Male Management Committee. I am merely enforcing the Male Insect Protection Regulations. Your adjutant has already wrongfully blocked me. Surely, Lieutenant General, you don’t intend to violate the regulations as well and allow your subordinates to endanger the safety of the male insects?!"

His jaw tightened, Deputy Director Jensen’s expression shifted from fury to caution and irritation. Yet even so, he didn’t order the Male Management Committee guards behind him to lower their weapons, instead launching his accusations first.

But—

*Creak… creak…*

The loading assemblies for the Male Management Committee’s specially approved plasma charges were all made of titanium-grade alloys, the military’s most commonly used material. Yet no metal components below beryllium-grade hardness could withstand the force of S-Class psychic-power.

Standing in place, Gore didn’t rush to refute the deputy director’s accusations—he didn’t even move. But the moment his gaze swept over the opposing forces, all the metal energy round barrels instantly warped inward.

If fired now, the ammunition would detonate inside the barrels. The fate of the others present was uncertain, but Jensen, standing closest, would undoubtedly be the first to fall.

The silver-maned deputy’s face paled further, his gray-blue pupils shifting shapes uncontrollably. With a dark frown, Jensen roared,

"Lieutenant General Gore! You’re far too arrogant! This is the Male Management Committee, not your military department!"

"Arrogant?"

Instead of responding to the accusation, Gore lifted his gaze, his deep blue eyes like the crushing pressure of the ocean’s depths, weighing heavily on the insect before him.

"According to the Alliance’s highest laws, unless under emergency circumstances or unavoidable factors preventing psychic testing, no suspected psychic outbreak female insect may be executed on the spot. They must first be contained. Only if containment is impossible may lethal force be authorized."

"Tell me—which law have my soldiers broken?"

Arrogant? If anyone had the right to fling that word around, it certainly wasn’t the Male Management Committee.

Yet the silver-haired officer sneered coldly.

"Article One of the Male Insect Protection Regulations: Any existence posing a threat to a male insect’s life may be immediately executed by any citizen of the Alliance."

"Well, Lieutenant General Gore? After all these years, do you still value your soldiers over the honored male insects?"

Fists clenched, Adjutant Bess, who had relaxed slightly upon seeing the two sides hadn’t yet come to blows, now looked grim once more.

Unable to hold back, he growled,

"This mess is the Male Management Committee’s fault! If the A-Class male insect you assigned hadn’t suddenly claimed he was too busy to come, none of this would’ve happened!"

Ferre and Patton’s psychic cores were already severely damaged. Yet because A-Class male insects were dwindling in number, the Male Management Committee had only arranged a single C-Class male insect to provide psychic relief since their fleet’s return from deployment.

They had been relying on stabilizers to endure until today’s scheduled A-Class male insect’s soothing session—only for that male insect to cancel at the last minute…

Gritting his teeth, Bess nearly lost control, a wisp of his own unstable psychic-power leaking out.

If that A-Class male insect had canceled earlier, they could’ve at least requested a replacement. But no—he waited until the last possible moment.

Ferre and Patton were both B-Class soldiers who had served in their fleet for over three years. After this rotation, they were due for promotions and would’ve been eligible to apply for offspring from the Alliance GeneBank. But now…

"Who was the male insect assigned for today’s soothing session?"

Ignoring Jensen’s sarcastic remarks and the potential fallout of this conversation, Gore asked another question instead.

But this question…

The silver-haired officer’s lips pressed together, his earlier bravado fading slightly. Just as he prepared to redirect the conversation back to the two confined females, an enraged shout erupted behind him.

"That damned Qi Limei—has his brain been fried by lightning or rotted from playing with females? Last month, he fought me to swap shifts, and now he pulls this vanishing act? If I don’t whip him within an inch of his life this time, I’ll change my name to ‘Lunatic’!"

"Jensen! Where the hell are you? Too good to greet me now? If you don’t get out here, you can join Qi Limei in the grave!"

The containment unit’s door was kicked open. Ya Jin of Qiankesilan, who had been happily cuddling his latest sub-female at home, had been dragged away mid-drink by a frantic summons from Senior Du Dafei to "handle this mess."

Save the situation? Save his ass!

How many times had this happened? That bastard Qi Limei, flaunting his family’s wealth, kept pulling this last-minute bail-and-pay routine! Damn it, after today, he was going to burn down Qi Limei’s company HQ!

"Lord Ya Jin, what brings you here?"

Turning around, the previously imposing gray-haired Female immediately bent over the moment she recognized the incoming Male.

Hurrying forward, despite the Male's unfriendly tone, Jensen's face was still layered with smiles as he coaxed,

"Your Highness, this is the Psychic Containment Facility. How could you come here? I can handle this matter—there’s no need for you to trouble yourself."

"Get out of my way. I go where I want. Don’t annoy me."

Without courtesy, the visibly irritated Male unceremoniously shoved the chattering Female aside. Taking a few steps forward, Ya Jin surveyed the scene inside, his gaze finally settling on the blue-haired Female.

A smirk tugged at his lips as his anger faded, replaced by mischief.

"Well, well, if it isn’t the famous S-class Female, General Gore. It’s been a while since I last saw you. What, are the troubled insects today also your acquaintances? You’ve got the worst luck, huh? Always landing in trouble."

Ignoring the surrounding firearms and the tense standoff between the two groups—even though the damaged firearms belonged to the Male Management Committee’s guards—the Male taunted the blue-haired Female before him.

"Hey, Gore, let’s get one thing straight. Today, I’m doing this as a favor—not because I owe you."

"If the insects inside have already experienced a Psychic Outbreak, even I can’t do anything. But if it hasn’t reached that point yet, I can stabilize them for you. However..."

He stepped closer to the blue-haired Female, his gaze lingering on her striking, foreign features as he chuckled lowly.

"You know, I only help friends. So, I wonder—are you willing to be my friend?"

Friend?

To become a Male’s friend—even without any formal status—was something some insects could only dream of. But clearly, the one in front of Ya Jin wasn’t buying it.

Standing his ground, even though he knew two Females inside the facility were on the verge of a rampage, the Male didn’t seem rushed. Instead, he slowly smirked, waiting for the other’s response.

Not that it was surprising. If Ya Jin were a lower-class Male, he might have worried about being accidentally harmed by the two ticking time bombs—just like that C-class Male from the Committee who got caught up in today’s collateral damage.

But as an A-class Male, aside from being unable to subdue the infamous blue-haired Female before him, Ya Jin had no trouble handling any other Female.

Females conquer the universe; Males conquer Females. Such was the law of their kind.

Clenching his fists, Bess’s eyes burned red.

A Psychic Outbreak escalates over time. If a Female’s psychic turbulence truly exceeded the threshold, the only end is execution.

But with a bit of luck—if it hadn’t reached that point yet—especially since Fred and Patton were only B-class Females, at least one of them might still have a fighting chance if this Highness intervened in time. But just then—

Silence. A deafening silence.

The guards, momentarily heartened after Gore’s arrival, now wore grim expressions again.

In contrast, Jensen, who had been tense earlier, now shot Gore a shit-eating grin.

He wanted to see how this notoriously stubborn and ill-tempered Female would choose today.

Thought you were too good for Males’ games? Didn’t you claim your soldiers mattered more than anything else? Well, let’s see you stand your ground against this Highness today!

Silence. Oppressive silence.

Every insect’s gaze was fixed on the blue-haired Female. Though it hadn’t been long, each passing second felt unbearable.

Smirking, Ya Jin remained composed, watching the Female who was also somewhat famous in their A-class Male circle. Just as he was about to urge her for an answer—

"Tch. Are you that desperate, Ya Jin? As a Male, you’re actively courting these lowly Females? How far you’ve fallen."

Unexpectedly, the one who broke the silence wasn’t any Female inside the facility. Instead, a voice just as arrogant as Ya Jin’s rang out from the entrance.

Sauntering in, the black-haired Male who had overheard the entire conversation crossed his arms, taking his sweet time, face full of scorn.

Straightening up, Ya Jin’s expression darkened instantly. His gaze flicked first to the older Male walking ahead of Siluan before—

"Siluan, your tongue’s still filthy. What, didn’t His Highness Fei Luo from the Torras Family teach you any manners last time?"

Truly, Males were neither easy to deal with nor lacking in sharp tongues.

A small Psychic Containment Facility, where even a low-class Male’s presence was rare, now hosted three A-class Males at once.

Such a rare lineup… wasn’t Gore’s doing.

After all, his sire was long dead, and he had little connection with most Males nowadays—otherwise, his own psychic domain wouldn’t be in such a terrible state.

So, what was today’s situation about?

Jensen, who had immediately lowered his gaze when Du Dafei entered with Siluan, felt his stomach drop.

But there was no time to dwell on it. Taking a steadying breath, the gray-haired Female quickly stepped forward to greet Du Dafei, the head honcho in the Male Management Committee and an A-class Male.

"Director, greetings. Today isn’t a routine inspection day. My apologies for bothering you with this nonsense."

Nonsense…

Du Dafei’s mouth quirked as he regarded the newly promoted deputy director under the Sakhov Family’s recommendation. His brows furrowed slightly as he said softly,

"Jensen, if I recall correctly, I’ve stated that no A-class Male may skip a Psychic Soothing assignment without penalty. Were you going to sweep this under the rug?"

"...Director, I—no, it’s just that one of the Highnesses was also accidentally harmed by the two Females. In the urgency, I feared further—Ah!"

The grim-faced gray-haired Female had been bowing his head in explanation when, mid-sentence, he suddenly clutched his head and collapsed to the ground, screaming like a wounded animal.

With an impatient frown, sharp psychic energy shredded Jensen’s mind like a knife through butter. The black-haired Female’s glare was icy, his eyes filled with irritation.

"How much did Qi Limei bribe you? Did you think his backing would let you walk all over this place? Lying to our faces—do you really think I’m patient, Jensen?"

"Your Highness! Your Highness—Siluan, I beg you! Du Dafei, please, mercy—!"

A B-class Female, though no match for military Females, was still stronger than most in the capital. Yet before an A-class Male, Jensen could only writhe and plead.

Unfortunately, the black-haired Female’s patience was far less forgiving than the elder beside him. Just as Siluan was about to continue punishing the pathetic worm, Du Dafei spoke up.

"Enough, Siluan. We’ll deal with Jensen later. Right now, the two Females inside come first."

Then, turning to Ya Jin, whom he had summoned, Du Dafei said gently,

"Ya Jin, we’re counting on you today."

Males lived without restraint. Though most high-level Males resided in the capital, they rarely stayed put, often traveling to nearby planets for leisure.

Thus, when news arrived of two B-class military Females possibly undergoing a Psychic Outbreak, Du Dafei—whose power was fading—could only summon his A-class heir, Siluan, and the young Qiankesilan lord, who happened to be in the capital.

Grumbling, whether out of respect for his sire’s friendship with Du Dafei or the latter’s position as the Committee’s director, Ya Jin couldn’t refuse the request to assist.

But now, ignoring the trembling Jensen on the floor, Ya Jin only glanced at Gore before grumbling,

"If I’d known this was about *him*, I wouldn’t have come. Look at that sour face—it kills my vibe!" Hmph. Others begging for his help would at least be reverent, if not bribing him with gifts. But this Female? Acting like he’d rather chew glass than play nice.

"Tch, if it weren't for his higher psychic rank, he'd definitely teach this guy how a female insect should properly treat a male insect—period!"

"Haha, today I wasn’t asked to come by young General Gore. What a coincidence, Ya Jin—didn’t you previously want to meet Philo from House Tulas?"

Ignoring the young male insect’s complaints, Du Dafei’s expression remained unchanged as he smiled and explained why he was here today.

At his words, especially upon hearing a certain very familiar name, all eyes snapped toward him—including Ya Jin and Gore.

No longer paying attention to the blue-haired female insect beside him, the previously annoyed and uncooperative male insect now lit up as he stared at Du Dafei, grinning as he asked,

"Philo? He was the one who asked you, Uncle Du Dafei? Why would he suddenly rope you into this? How did he even find out about today’s incident?"

Even Ya Jin had only rushed over after receiving a call from Du Dafei. Logically, Philo from House Tulas hadn’t even officially started his duties at the Male Insect Management Committee yet, so he shouldn’t have heard about the situation so quickly. Unless…

"I’ll answer those questions later. For now, you and Siluan should hurry inside and check on those two female insects. If this matter is resolved smoothly, I’m sure Philo will properly thank you both."

"...Who needs his gratitude? If it weren’t for Father, who’d bother getting involved in this mess? Get outta my way—quit dawdling and get out of the way!"

His face twisting in irritation, Siluan, who had stiffened upon hearing Philo’s name, now seemed to have lost all patience. Without waiting for the still-hesitant Ya Jin, the black-haired male insect strode straight toward the room where the two female insects were being held.

Carefully stepping aside, the guards from the Ogu Fleet, who had been blocking the doorway, were now stunned by the sudden appearance of multiple high-level male insects. As the black-haired male insect approached, they instinctively cleared the entrance.

Rubbing his chin, Ya Jin’s attention was now entirely elsewhere. Thinking of the male insect he’d been trying to contact for so long—even asking Yi Jia Fa for help, yet still failing—and then recalling Nimir acting weirder by the day at home, the male insect grinned and turned around cheerfully.

"Well this just got interesting. Siluan, wait for me—you can’t handle two alone. What’s the rush, you idiot?"

"Fuck off. Don’t get so close—it’s disgusting."

"I’ll get as close as I want. What, you hate it? Then hit me, why don’t you..."

The two male insects traded insults as they entered the Psychic Containment Zone together. While the space had a forcibly calming effect on female insects’ mental fields, for the two male insects, it seemed no different from the outside.

The door to the inner chamber opened, then swiftly slammed shut again.

Watching the two male insects disappear inside, even though he knew he shouldn’t let his guard down yet, Bess couldn’t help but feel a spark of hope rise in his chest.

As for Gore...

"Lord Du Dafei."

Raising his gaze, his blue eyes fixed on the male insect who had once given him Psychic Soothing, Gore’s voice was low.

"Was it really... Philo who asked you?"

Author’s Note:

Siluan/Ya Jin: Next, we’ll cash in on this favor!