Chapter 47

Chapter 47

"Chief, for this dungeon, all you need to do is pre-order this weapon. I guarantee you’ll breeze through—zero risk of wiping."

Raising his hand, a strapping female bug with gleaming eyes hugged the gun in her arms, confidently recommending it to the green-haired bug beside her.

However, snorting, the other insects in the squad clearly disagreed and mocked,

"Chief, don’t listen to this guy’s nonsense. For a B-tier dungeon like this, strategy is the most important thing. Otherwise, even if you have the most powerful weapon, while you might be fine, the insects you’re leading might not be so lucky."

"I agree, but strategy alone isn’t foolproof either. It’s best to deploy some targeted defensive devices first before anything else."

"All of you, scram! Are you even damage-dealers to be giving advice here? Chief, listen to me—mastering psychic ranged attacks is the way to go..."

In the game set in the Green Algae Galaxy, a fairly common B-tier dungeon instance was currently hosting an unusual gathering of Starstone-tier players—a sight rarely seen.

Surrounded by these players, the green-haired bug, though equipped no worse than the others, was noticeably less technically skilled.

After practicing for a while and seeing that the scheduled time was approaching, the group prepared to exit the dungeon and log out.

Though they all addressed the green-haired bug as "chief," given how long they’d known each other, they couldn’t resist a bit of gossip before logging out.

"Hey, rookie boss, I never heard you were interested in turning pro before. What’s with the sudden big production? Calling all of us to train you—are you really just doing this to boost someone else?"

"Hehehe, something’s off here too. What kind of insect needs the chief to personally boost them? Just say the word, and we’ll take care of them for you!"

"Nah, even if it’s about boosting someone, this level of dedication is unusual. Your skills aren’t that bad to begin with, yet you’re pushing yourself so hard. I bet the insect you’re boosting is—"

Turning around, the green-haired bug’s calm, inscrutable stare silenced the jokester mid-sentence.

Yikes… that glare. Seems like the insect the chief is boosting isn’t someone they can casually joke about.

Wisely shutting their mouths, the insects quickly changed the subject, pretending they hadn’t been gossiping at all. With forced grins, they scrambled to log off one after another.

In the blink of an eye, the once-bustling holographic game scene was left with only the green-haired bug standing alone.

After a moment of silence, she checked the time but didn’t rush to log out. Instead, she opened the map’s teleport function and swiftly transported herself to—the beginner’s village.

Standing in the quest hall of the beginner’s village, under the username "Six Dimensions," Li Wei glanced around before casually strolling through the area.

Truth be told, ever since he started boosting Philo—a relatively low-level player—his visits to the beginner’s village had become far more frequent.

In fact, as the game’s designer, different dungeons were assigned to various designers for collaborative development. However, this beginner’s village, frequented by both new and veteran players, was almost entirely Li Wei’s solo design.

His gaze drifted across the quest hall before settling on the rows of shops and streets.

Though Li Wei wasn’t particularly skilled at gaming nor overly fond of it, he took great pleasure in admiring the world he had built ground-up.

This world had order, rules, and…

His footsteps halted at a street corner as he stared at a familiar vintage diner ahead, choosing not to proceed further.

But… a gift for His Highness Philo?

As time passed, the House Tarus’ banquet drew nearer day by day.

Compared to the last banquet held when Philo had just returned, this one was more intimate, yet the reactions from the guests were noticeably far livelier.

While others might not have sensed it, Yi Jia Fa certainly did.

Originally, he forced Philo to attend the banquet, firstly to flaunt his outstanding Class-A male to the public, and secondly because of the previous military academy evaluation incident.

Yi Jia Fa believed Philo had suffered a loss during the assessment, so he feared other insects in the capital might secretly mock him. That’s why he was eager to present Philo again in front of everyone as a noble and elite figure.

But who would have thought? Initially, he had been a little regretful that such a small-scale banquet might go unnoticed by many until it was over. Yet, ever since he sent out the invitations, the number of guests requesting to attend had become overwhelming!

Because of this, Yi Jia Fa’s mood instantly soared. His disdainful gaze became even more pronounced, leaving many Class-A males who had come seeking favors for their own females grinding their teeth in frustration.

Though they resented Yi Jia Fa, they still held great admiration for his Class-A male.

So, suppressing their irritation, the insects began making subtle overtures to the arrogant male.

In the end, by the time the banquet preparations were underway, the old butler of the Tulas family discovered that the originally agreed guest list had quietly more than doubled.

While this scale still couldn’t be considered large, it was certainly no longer small.

Shaking his head, the old butler could only smile helplessly and urge the attendants to speed up their preparations. Meanwhile, while others were busy with the banquet, Yi Jia Fa sat in the dressing room, his eyes widening in delight.

"This… this was really designed just for me?!"

His voice rose in excitement, his breathing unconsciously quickening. As a Class-A male, it was rare for Yi Jia Fa to get this excited over a single outfit.

But—

This was a garment bearing the insect-character insignia of 'Nimir'!

This was a Nimir-designed outfit that no other insect had yet seen!

This was a private, custom-made outfit made exclusively for him by Nimir!

Appearance aside, and setting aside why Nimir, the notoriously proud female insect, had suddenly decided to design a suit for him, just the thought of wearing this outfit at the banquet and reveling in the envious, jealous glares of other Class-A males made Yi Jia Fa’s heart and arms tremble with excitement.

As if sensing his eagerness, the head attendant specially dispatched by Qiankesilan to escort the outfit smiled and gestured for the other attendants to accompany Yi Jia Fa to try it on—after all, only by wearing it could one judge its fit.

Yi Jia Fa, infamously particular, was surprisingly cooperative this time. He even flashed a rare smile at the lower-ranked females before him and personally took the outfit to change.

The Silver-Haired Male Insect’s impatient figure was soon hidden behind the dressing room door. Once Yi Jia Fa had left, the head attendant, dressed in Qiankesilan’s standard uniform, turned with a much more sincere smile toward the other high-ranking male of the Tulas family—His Highness Fei Luo—who was still examining the accessories.

"Your Highness, these accessories were also specially designed for you… and His Highness Yi Jia Fa by Designer Nimir. If any catch your eye, I can assist you in trying them on."

Unlike the previous batch of accessories, which were adorned with various gemstones and metals in vibrant colors, this set from Qiankesilan were predominantly silver and purple, clearly tailored for the two Tulas family royals.

However—

Picking up a lapel pin, His Highness Fei Luo noted that unlike the extravagant styles favored by most Class-A males—especially Yi Jia Fa—this one leaned toward the minimalist aesthetic he preferred, both in design and materials.

And it wasn’t just this lapel pin. After a quick glance, His Highness Fei Luo wasn’t entirely surprised to find that most of the accessories and fittings delivered this time aligned more closely with his tastes.

Admittedly, His Highness Fei Luo’s preferences weren’t hard to guess. Given his frequent appearances on the starnet, designers with sharp observational skills could easily discern his inclinations.

But the question was—

"Your family’s Designer Nimir…"

He left the sentence unfinished—or perhaps, even without asking, some things were already understood between them.

Still, it wasn’t unusual for a female insect to try to win his favor. But sending so many gifts without showing up in person… Placing the lapel pin back, His Highness Fei Luo turned to the attendant.

"This designer is very talented, and I truly appreciate his work. It’s a shame he didn’t accompany you this time. Please pass along my thanks to him on my behalf."

Regardless, even if this was merely a voluntary gesture from the other party to design for him, since he had received the benefit, Philo still politely requested the head attendant to convey his gratitude on his behalf.

Upon hearing his words, the female—who had clearly watched Philo’s videos recently—smiled. Though her expression was excited, it lacked the nervousness and caution she had shown when facing Yi Jia Fa. She merely bowed and replied,

"Your Highness, you are too kind. However, aside from designing accessories for you, Designer Nimir has also specially prepared evening attire for you this time. We hope you will like it."

Without addressing the prince’s regret that the designer had not come in person, the head attendant simply smiled and summoned another attendant who had been holding a preservation case. After opening the lid, she personally presented the suit to the prince.

And this suit…

His eyes swept over the female's hands. Compared to the last banquet, when the Qiankesilan family had provided a much wider selection of formal wear, this time, as he looked at the single suit being introduced with such solemnity, the appreciation in the prince’s eyes was noticeably stronger.

However—

Raising his eyes to meet those of His Highness Philo, whom he admired immensely, the head attendant expected to see satisfaction in the prince’s gaze regarding the suit. But… was His Highness displeased?

No, whether it was due to confidence in Nimir’s design or simply observing Philo’s expression as he took in the suit, it was clear that the prince was satisfied—even fond of it.

But…

His gaze subtly lingered on the prince’s exquisitely refined features. As a head attendant who had served countless insects, he could easily discern that despite the prince’s satisfaction with the suit… he wasn't as cheerful as he had been last time.

Yes, not dissatisfaction, but unhappiness.

During the previous banquet, the Qiankesilan family’s formal wear had also been delivered by this head attendant. Back then, the prince had just returned from a frontier planet, still adjusting to everything. Yet, whether looking at them or the accessories designed by ordinary designers, he had been visibly delighted, even engaging in conversation.

But this time…

Could it be that His Highness was still upset over the recent evaluation controversy?

But hadn’t that matter already been resolved? Moreover, since his return, both the Tulas Family and other families had clearly embraced him warmly. This time, so many insects had rushed to congratulate him—why would he be… unhappy?

Unaware of the female's subtle and puzzled scrutiny—or perhaps indifferent even if he had noticed—Philo paid no mind.

After all, ever since the first insect realized he wouldn’t punish them for such looks, many had begun sneaking looks at him like this.

The prince ignored the gazes of others, going through the motions, preparing for the banquet as usual.

With the experience of the previous banquet, Philo no longer needed extra instructions or lessons this time.

Thus, soon enough, the banquet celebrating Philo’s admission to the Kalms Military Academy was officially held at the Tulas mansion, one week after the uproar died down.

On the day of the banquet, the high society of the capital planet gathered in full force.

Compared to the probing curiosity and challenging attitudes of the previous banquet, this time, the congratulatory guests were far more amiable and genuinely warm.

"General Zhousha, greetings to you."

"Uncle Zhousha, my mother and father were unable to attend in person, so please allow me to extend their regards."

"General Zhousha, the Kaifeifeng Family sends their greetings."

Following the customs of capital planet banquets, the host family’s members were to personally greet guests at the entrance.

Last time, Xing Hua and Qian Hua had been on greeting duty, while Zhousha and Yi Jia Fa had made their entrance as the main hosts.

But this time, with Xing Hua and Qian Hua yet to return home, Zhousha took charge of welcoming the guests alone, while Yi Jia Fa—unwilling to stand for long—had already seated himself in the main hall to receive visitors.

Zhousha, the high-ranking military officer, didn't mind this arrangement. Graciously accepting gifts with a smile and offering warm welcomes, he appeared unusually gentle—though this was hardly surprising, given the number of male insects in attendance. Even the typically stern military female softened in their presence.

That said, in the past, when the Tulas Family had no sons, young male insects had neither been overly rude nor excessively polite toward Zhousha, a high-ranking military matriarch. But this time—

"General Zhousha, this is a gift I specially prepared for Philo—there are also presents for you and Uncle Yi Jia Fa. I hope you like them."

"Uncle Zhousha, I personally selected this congratulatory gift. Please remind His Highness Philo to take a closer look—there’s a little surprise hidden inside."

"Uncle Zhousha, why are you personally receiving guests? Why not just summon your two female heirs back? Your family is too rigid with traditions. Speaking of which, I quite like those two—perhaps I could meet them sometime."

Extravagant presents, beaming smiles, not-so-subtle hints… Male insects had always been direct in expressing their desire to curry favor or gain access.

But aside from those who weren’t particularly familiar with Philo, many who already knew him well arrived early.

"Your Highness Du Dafei, Young Master Siluan, greetings to you both."

Unlike the flashy outfit he had worn last time out of competitiveness, Siluan now wore understated formalwear, following behind Du Dafei—who had also dressed formally, though avoiding the loud colors Yi Jia Fa favored. Both offered polite greetings to Zhousha, while Shang Ling, bringing up the rear, promptly presented their gifts.

Nodding, Zhousha made small talk with the trio before having other Tulas Family members usher them into the main hall.

Soon after, others acquainted with Philo arrived in succession.

Gore, the blue-haired military female, had opted out of his uniform in favor of a traditional evening wear, quietly paying respects to the elder female.

Li Qi, who had just changed out of his Inspectorate attire, arrived with his hair meticulously styled to gleaming perfection, solemnly presenting his gift.

Ya Jin, the A-Class Male Insect from Qiankesilan who loved to have fun but had missed the last banquet, strode confidently into the hall, mischievously introducing the gold-haired female insect accompanying him to Zhousha.

Finally, the Geshaluolin Family, who had also missed the previous banquet, made sure to attend this time, turning out in full force for the Tulas Family’s formal invitation.

Within the glittering banquet hall—even if it was the largest in the Tulas mansion, and even if the scale of this event was slightly smaller than last time—the buzz of conversation from every corner was no less lively.

Preening as he adjusted his collar, Yi Jia Fa, currently surrounded by male insects gushing over his stunning attire, felt all his earlier resentments evaporate in an instant.

And when he made sure to display the Nimir insignia on his attire, reveling in the gasps of admiration, he was too pleased to notice the knowing looks exchanged by the two Qiankesilan attendees.

But unlike Yi Jia Fa’s current joy—having finally showed off without anyone raining on his parade—Philo, dressed in equally exquisite formal wear, sat by the window in the waiting room, gazing absently outside.

This waiting room connected to the banquet hall, with a view of the rear garden.

Thus, from his seat, Philo could easily see the figures of a few insect guests socializing in the gardens, chatting and laughing with evident familiarity.

Watching them, the prince grew increasingly lost in contemplation, though none could fathom what occupied his mind.

Before long, however, the chime announcing the banquet’s start rang out. An attendant entered to announce that it was time to proceed.

Rising to his feet, the young prince composed himself and made his entrance with practiced grace under the eager gazes of the assembled guests.

Though by now, all present had seen Philo’s appearance—whether in person or through recordings on the Star Network—some had only ever encountered him virtually, never in the flesh.

Thus, many couldn’t resist straining for a better look, and then—

The carved side doors of the banquet hall swung open. Upon the Tulas Family’s crest-emblazoned runner, a pair of slender legs stepped forward.

Countless eyes, accompanied by the soft sound of footsteps, instantly locked onto the approaching prince.

And the moment they beheld him—never mind those who had seen Philo at the last banquet—those who had only known of his legendary looks through the Star Network suddenly recalled a viral saying that had been circulating lately.

*Some insects, merely by meeting them, may have already used up all their luck.*

The Tulas Family truly had hit the jackpot.