Chapter 86

Chapter 86

Outside the medical center's treatment room, the crowd of insects who had also witnessed the live broadcast now wore expressions far more grim than those unaware of the truth. Particularly the black-haired male insect who had just arrived—his expression was the most severe.

Faced with Siluan's furious questioning, Dr. Reese clenched his fists, his voice hoarse as he explained,

"This treatment room was designed with the highest-grade reinforced materials to prevent His Highness Philo from self-harm, window jumps, or wall destruction. Once the security system is triggered, all smart locks engage for half an hour, barring entry to others. Although we have spare keycards to open the room—"

"But what?"

"But all the spare keycards were just discovered to be damaged. Upon investigation, we found that... His Highness Philo had sabotaged them when he claimed to feel stifled and wanted to walk around. The female insects in the equipment department were unsuspecting, and only now realized something was wrong."

After speaking, Dr. Reese leaned against a nearby chair, his voice uncharacteristically rushed.

"His Highness Philo must have planned this deliberately, Your Highness Siluan. Please urge the Male Insect Management Committee or the military to send someone with medium-grade energy weapons immediately to break open the door. If we delay, I fear none of us will be able to take responsibility for what happens next."

"That's bullshit! Of course I know Philo did this on purpose—why the hell would he lock himself in now? The problem is, even if the Male Insect Management Committee or the military arrives, it’ll take at least ten minutes. But look at what he’s holding—does that look like it can wait ten minutes?"

Pointing at the silver instrument in Philo’s hand, its chilling glint making Siluan’s pupils nearly turn blood-red, he demanded,

"What the hell is that thing? A scalpel with its blade exposed? You built this room to be sturdy, yet you left something that dangerous lying around in his room? Reese, have you lost your fucking mind?"

"That wasn't placed there by—"

"Philo, stop!" Before Dr. Reese could finish explaining, the green-haired female insect, who had rushed over from a nearby company where she was handling business, yelled in warning even before fully stepping out of the medical center’s hover transport.

But unfortunately, the treatment room’s security system also blocked external sounds. The silver-haired male insect stood with his back to the wall, remaining unresponsive to the gazes or voices behind him.

The black-haired male insect, not receiving an answer, became more frantic. Ignoring the newly arrived green-haired female insect, he pressed Reese again.

"Speak! What is that thing? You said he had self-harm tendencies—is he planning to kill himself with that knife?!"

Even though Siluan didn’t truly believe Philo would do such a thing, the sight before him still drained the color from his face.

Glancing between the black-haired male insect and the green-haired female insect, and calculating the recent visitation patterns, Dr. Reese replied with a dry throat,

"His Highness Philo likely isn’t planning suicide. What he’s holding isn’t an ordinary scalpel—it’s a surgical-grade energy cautery blade."

"I don't give a fuck what kind of knife it is! The point is—do you know what he intends to do with it?"

"...Your Highness, he probably intends to excise the sex pheromone gland at the back of his neck."

As if to confirm Dr. Reese’s words, the moment the old physician finished speaking, the silver-haired male insect positioned the blade against the base of his own neck.

The metallic silver-gray glimmer still shone brightly in the room—a sight that, under normal circumstances, shouldn’t have been disturbing. Yet now, every insect watching was gripped by dread.

From birth, all insects were taught how to distinguish between female and male insects.

The simplest method was observing the markings—only male insects bore unique, inheritable patterns on the back of their necks.

Unlike man-made markings, these natural markings were innate, not only distinctive in design but, more importantly, representing their sex pheromone glands.

Indeed, the reason male insects had these markings was because of the underlying glands.

Both female and male insects possessed sex pheromone glands, but their locations and characteristics differed significantly between genders.

Compared to females, male insects’ glands could manifest externally as markings and, when under mortal peril or extreme duress, release pheromones as a distress signal.

This ensured greater safety for male insects. Thus, despite the evolution of insect genes over millennia following the rule of survival of the fittest, the sex pheromone glands remained an evolutionary constant.

Beyond this, the glands served many other crucial purposes, chief among them...

"We must stop His Highness Philo. If his sex pheromone gland is destroyed, while his psychic level won’t change, he will exhibit signs of male sexual regression. His physical condition would deteriorate sharply, and most critically, his reproductive capacity would be severely compromised. If that happens..."

Considering the Alliance’s current emphasis on Philo’s lineage, Reese could hardly imagine the consequences if Philo succeeded in damaging his gland today.

It was his own oversight—despite knowing Philo’s precarious psychological state, he had concentrated only on therapy while neglecting to prevent extreme actions.

Philo’s current state was precisely the kind most liable to act impulsively—like now.

The moment Reese had arrived and seen what Philo was holding, he understood just how long Philo had been preparing for this.

First, the timing: Philo had clearly studied the visitation routines of those around him and carefully selected a moment when most female insects were otherwise engaged. Even Yi Jia Fa, currently delayed by Male Insect Management Committee affairs, wasn’t present—only Siluan had come.

Beyond timing, Philo’s insistence on remaining at the medical center for treatment had also been a calculated move.

Had he stayed at the Torras estate, he couldn't have obtained an energy ablation knife capable of removing the gland. Such tools were heavily controlled and only available in large medical centers’ equipment departments.

Moreover, private residences didn't have security systems, and homes of general-rank officers were permitted to store certain energy weapons.

Had Philo been discovered in a self-harm attempt, he would’ve been stopped instantly—unlike now, where he had barred them all outside.

At this thought, the old female insect glanced at the security lock's core and said hoarsely,

"An energy ablation knife can fully eradicate the gland in three minutes. General Zhousha and the head of the Inspectorate said they’d need at least five more minutes to arrive. The Male Insect Management Committee is even farther. If—"

"There is no ‘what if.’"

Rapping on the transparent wall behind Philo—confirming the male insect inside was soundproofed—the green-haired female insect marched to the security lock.

"Bring the damaged spare keycards immediately and hand them to the Geshaluolin Family’s systems specialists."

"Corro, contact the nearest black-market weapon dealer and have them deliver a high-grade energy weapon as fast as possible."

"Wynt, give me the hyperdimensional decryption array. Also, Dr. Reese—I need the full technical blueprints for this security system. Now."

No trace of panic or hesitation.

Though Li Wei’s eyes were darker than ever, though her voice was taut as a bowstring, the green-haired female insect handled the crisis with military precision, steadying the hearts of all those watching the male insect press a blade to his own neck.

Taking the decryption system, Li Wei connected it to the locked smart mechanism. Her slender fingers moved swiftly, and within seconds, the previously dark lock screen reactivated.

Watching this, Siluan—his palms sweating—spoke to the female insect in an unusually measured tone.

"Will we make it?"

"If nothing goes wrong, yes."

Though this security lock wasn’t a Geshaluolin product, all smart systems in the Alliance were based on the family’s original designs.

Thus, aside from Li Wei, no other insect could bypass the lock faster.

But that was barring complications.

And Philo, who knew Li Wei all too well, seemed to have prepared for this very scenario.

*Beep beep.*

"Warning! Warning!" "This is a privacy system exclusive to His Highness the Male Insect. Unauthorized access is prohibited. All relevant insects must cease intrusion immediately. This system is recording—continued attempts will result in evidence submission to the Alliance Court for disciplinary action."

The exclusive privacy system for Male Zerg, a device provided solely by the Male Zerg Management Committee for Male Zerg, follows the design of the greatest security systems architect, Jimmy Kahn, from the early last century.

While Li Wei might be capable of cracking standard sec-systems currently available on the market, it's clearly impossible for him to breach the Male Zerg's high-caste containment field within a short time.

"Privacy system? That's restricted to the private quarters for Male Zerg within the Male Zerg Management Committee, isn't it? How could it be installed in this med-bay's sec-system?"

"It must have been ordered by His Grace Fei Luo through his assistant from the Male Zerg Management Committee."

"What? Then what do we do now? Can you still open this thing?"

"Yes."

"Then—"

"But it's impossible within three minutes."

The tech-specialist's fingers moved even more swiftly, yet despite this, his answer remained disappointing.

The Zerg who had initially seen a glimmer of hope couldn't help but clench their fists tightly at this moment. Indeed, opening His Grace Fei Luo's med-bay isn't difficult—it just requires some time.

But right now, time is precisely what they lack the most!

Almost instantly changing his expression, Siluan impatiently overturned a nearby med-cart and cursed irritably.

"If it's already too late, why are you still wasting time on it? If we don't think of another solution quickly, that damn Fei Luo will really plunge the knife into his neck! What's the point of hacking this godsdamned system now?"

The dark-haired aristocrat's gentleness seemed fleeting, as his mask of civility slipped.

Faced with the Male Zerg's reproach, the tech-specialist, still focused on his task, couldn't be bothered to reply, his expression growing colder and more concentrated. Soon, Li Wei didn't need to answer, because—

"Fei Luo!"

"Fei Luo, I know you can hear me. Even though we can't get in, I've restored the audio comms—you can't possibly not hear me!"

"Fei Luo, put the knife down. I promise you, I will handle everything. I swear no Zerg will ever take extreme measures because of you again. Fei Luo, whatever you want, I can make it happen. Just put the knife down."

Unexpectedly, another voice suddenly emerged in the med-bay, which had previously only contained the silver-haired noble's own voice. Along with it came the faint sounds of other Zerg practically wearing holes in the floor and making calls.

Facing the holo-feed, the silver-haired noble, who had been about to set the blade against the back of his neck—despite the barrage of "Don't!" blinding the feed and his comm-unit blinking like crazy—froze mid-motion for a rare moment.

This voice... was Li Wei's?

As expected, stopping them wouldn't be easy. Good call having Roy fetch the Male Zerg Management Committee's device.

Without turning his head or body, even though he knew that voice anywhere and heard the plea to stop, even though his hand had momentarily stilled, the Male Zerg's gaze remained fixed on the holo-feed, as if he had no intention of responding.

Though Fei Luo didn't answer, though he didn't lower the knife, the Zerg across the alliance's star systems watching the holo-feed clearly heard the sudden voice and its message.

As if finally realizing, as if finally understanding why the silver-haired noble was doing this, countless Zerg began frantically flooding the screen with messages, begging for Fei Luo's forgiveness and making promises.

"Your Grace, I was wrong, Your Grace. I’ll never do it again, Your Grace. Whatever you say, I’ll obey. I swear I’ll never threaten anyone with suicide or self-harm again. I’ll straighten out, Your Grace. Please, don’t hurt yourself, Your Grace. I'm begging you."

"Your Grace, Your Grace, I’ve already released all the Zerg I kidnapped who resembled you. Please don’t do this. As long as you stop, I’ll turn myself in immediately—whether it’s execution or permanent stasis, I’ll accept it, Your Grace. Please don’t do this, please don’t, Your Grace..."

"We’ll listen, Your Grace. Just tell us what you want us to do, and we’ll do it, Your Grace. Those holos, vids, whatever—we won’t look at them anymore, truly. You could vanish completely, Your Grace. Just live, just don’t hurt yourself, Your Grace."

"We were wrong, Your Grace. We admit it."

"No! No! Your Grace, no!"

Regret? Pain? Terror?

At this moment, watching the Male Zerg hold the blade to his throat, whether they guessed he was going for the pheromone sac or wrongly assumed he was attempting suicide, all the Zerg panicked.

They were wrong.

Whether they truly recognized their mistakes or not, whether they understood what they’d done wrong, at this moment, every Zerg chose to admit fault immediately.

They admitted their wrongs. They were willing to accept any punishment. Even if they never saw His Grace Fei Luo again, it didn’t matter—as long as he lived safely.

Yes, as long as His Grace lived, as long as he was happy, nothing else mattered. Truly, nothing.

They had been greedy.

They had abused His Grace's mercy and pushed too far.

They admitted their faults. They would change. Your Grace, just don’t do this to yourself. We’ll change. We’ll change anything.

The wall of text, nearly illegible in their density, was now nothing but words like "We were wrong," "Sorry," and "Don’t."

Simultaneously, the voices of other Zerg outside the med-bay, finally reacting, rose in urgency.

"Fei Luo! You bastard! Didn’t I teach you not to meddle with those worker-caste Zerg? Are you stupid or what? Whether they live or die is none of your damn business! Put the knife down, you hear me? If you dare go through with this, I swear I’ll do the same—I’ll stab your male parent and all the Female Zerg you’re close to! Don’t test me!"

"Your Grace Fei Luo! Please remain calm! While I understand your reasons, Your Grace, a Male Zerg’s life is precious. This choice is unwise. Please calm down. With the alliance’s help, we can find a better solution."

"That’s right, Your Grace. Please put the knife down. Whatever the issue, just tell us, and we’ll help resolve it."

"Stay calm, Your Grace. You must stay calm. Your emotions are at a critical point. Please believe that there’s nothing we can’t resolve peacefully."

Hammering on the transparisteel panel, the Zerg outside the med-bay, who had been anxiously waiting for Li Wei to unlock the sec-system, despaired upon hearing that it couldn’t be done within three minutes.

Yet no one expected that, though the tech-specialist couldn’t unlock the system, he had cracked the audio feed protected by both the security and privacy systems.

Seeing that Fei Luo could indeed hear them, every Zerg present hurriedly pleaded for him to stop. In the brief delay, Shang Ling, Ya Jin, Nimir, and others arrived.

However, though many Zerg Fei Luo knew had reached the medical center during his pause—even accompanied by Inspectorate junior officers carrying standard-issue blasters—those like Yi Jia Fa, who had been at the Male Zerg Management Committee, and Zhousha from the military, were still en route.

Unless Zerg from the Male Zerg Management Committee, the military, the Inspectorate, or the Ordnance Corps—those with military-grade plasma—arrived, Fei Luo’s door would remain locked.

Likewise, no one could stop the motion of Fei Luo’s hand.

Lowering his gaze slightly, the silver-haired noble, who had hovered in stillness for a moment, moved again. It seemed like a dangerous yet hopeful signal. Countless Zerg, whether near or far, redoubled their pleas for him to lower the knife.

But—

"Thwick."

Still without turning or hesitation, the silver-haired noble, who had rarely even spoken harshly to others, decisively sliced the razor edge across his neck.

His motion was clean, his force not light. Naturally, the wound it left was far from small.

Scarlet ribbons unfurled down the silver-haired noble’s pale neck.

Blood dripped, one drop after another, onto the formerly spotless deck, spattering like alien blossoms in full splendor—beautiful enough to break hearts.

Fei Luo never turned back.

Raw pleas, mea culpas, desperate begging—all voices, in this moment, fell into rare silence.

Countless gazes, countless stares, at this moment, had never been so clear and focused on the SilverHaired Male Insect who had only recently appeared in the alliance, on the blood soaking all his fingers, and on the disintegration button on his hilt.

At this moment, regardless of whether they had acted impulsively before, at least now, all the insects realized that perhaps they were truly wrong.

What was His Highness Fei Luo like when he first returned?

Back then, he was beautiful, radiant, his smile brighter than any gem. He would wave at them warmly and cheerfully, he would let them take photos, he would personally comfort them when they saw him injured during assessments.

That version of His Highness, that joyful and wonderful version… should not be like this. How could they have let him become like this?

A cold wind swept across the alliance's entire star system. The post-Silk Flower Festival rains had long passed silently, and now it seemed the temperature was about to drop.

Yet, trembling, the insects reached their fingers into the virtual screen to touch the SilverHaired Male Insect; though they should have felt the chill, their faces were wet instead.

Were they bleeding too?

Wiping their knuckles, some insects looked down, only to see traces of moisture.

So it was tears.

So, they were crying.

Your Highness, what about you? Do you want to cry now? Are you in pain now? Are you… suffering too?

Questions left unspoken, like answers they could never obtain.

His gaze lowered, Fei Luo’s expression was indifferent, as if he no longer wanted any other insect to know whether he was in pain.

Clenching his fists, slumping to the ground, Siluan, seeing Fei Luo like this, seeing the SilverHaired Male Insect like this, was at a complete loss for the first time.

But before the black-haired Male Insect could turn to the others to ask what to do, Dr. Reese had already clutched the arms of Li Wei and the senior officer present, Shang Ling, his voice trembling.

"Quick."

"There’s still a chance."

"His Highness hasn’t pressed the disintegration button yet. Quick, stop him—now! Once the disintegration function is activated, then—"

Before Dr. Reese could finish, the Male Insect who had wounded himself seemed ready to act. His slender fingers gradually approached the raised button above the hilt, his index finger lifting, about to press down—

"Crash."

Turning his head—though psychologically unwilling—the Male Insect reflexively turned back at the sudden loud commotion behind him, and then—

"Snap."

The silver-white energy disintegration knife was abruptly snatched away. Before the Male Insect could react, a portable med-unit was pressed against the back of his neck, where the pain flared worst.

With a soft click, the device began working to stop the bleeding. As for the Male Insect himself, raising his eyes, Fei Luo’s long-dulled eyes, now, flashed with rare shock.

"Gore… how are you here?"