Chapter 14 Compromise

Chapter 14: Compromise

Brother?

Upon hearing these two words, Idris's first reaction was one of absurdity. He even wondered if the male's medical episode the previous night had caused some mental disorientation.

He couldn't understand why the male would have such an idea.

How could a male possibly be the one to call a female with no blood relation 'brother'? It was as laughable as someone claiming that females and males could have a purely platonic friendship.

Yet, when his instinctive refusal met the male's dark eyes, Idris found himself hesitating for the first time ever. Those eyes were gazing at him earnestly, the pupils holding a trace of nervousness. Beneath that nervousness, hidden deeper within the black, was a palpable plea and sorrow.

The male's soul was weeping, yet the Zerg himself remained completely unaware.

In a daze, Idris saw through those eyes his younger self, who had nearly been strangled, clutching his mother's wrist, sorrowful and helpless. It was as if he saw his mother throwing herself at his father's feet, frantically and pleading desperately.

They all had something they desired, yet none could obtain it.

Idris lowered his gaze halfway, neither agreeing nor refusing, simply eating his meal in silence.

Receiving no response, a flicker of disappointment passed through Samuel's eyes, and he tactfully pretended the question had never been asked.

The human and the Zerg finished breakfast quietly, and Idris then got up to prepare for the Ministry of Defense. The Male Zerg Protection Association still had some sense left, not having gone so far as to petition the Zerg Emperor to suspend his duties.

"Your Excellency, if anything happens, please call me immediately," Idris said before leaving, having thought it over carefully and giving detailed instructions. "If you need to use any appliances in the room, ask 99 for help. If you're unsure, please don't operate them yourself."

"Mhm, okay," Samuel nodded from beside the door, his spirits not particularly high.

"If you feel bored, have 99 play movies for you," Idris added after a moment's thought. "You've just been discharged from the hospital, so try not to go out alone. If you want to go somewhere, send me a message, and I'll accompany you."

Samuel nodded again.

"Your Excellency," Idris called from the doorway, snapping the male out of his thoughts.

"Hmm?" Samuel lifted his head, his gaze calm as he looked at the female.

For no apparent reason, Idris detected a few strands of well-concealed sadness in those calm, liquid eyes. He let out a long, soft sigh, bent down to meet the male's gaze at eye level, his purple eyes gentle, his tone carrying a hint of compromise. "If Your Excellency wishes to address me that way, then go ahead. It's just a title, not worth troubling yourself over so much."

Samuel: !

Without waiting for the male's reaction, Idris quickly turned and boarded the hovercar—his adjutant had been waiting at the door for several minutes already.

"Major General, the item you mentioned last time isn't available at the exchange. However, undercover operatives have learned that the drug appeared briefly hundreds of years ago before being banned. They couldn't find out anything more."

As soon as Idris settled in, Ray, while piloting the hovercar, gave his report.

Not finding anything was within expectations. Idris hummed in acknowledgment and didn't press further. It seemed he still had to make a trip home. Thinking of this, Idris felt somewhat irritated. Temporarily setting aside the matter of the drug, he opened his Stellar Ring.

Idris: ...

He had just left, and a message from the male had already arrived.

"Mu: Brother brother! Quick! Accept! The money!"

How eager was he to give the money away?

Idris lowered his gaze, which naturally fell on the line of text below the transfer. His long, slender eyelashes concealed the complexity in his purple eyes.

Raising his hand, he lightly tapped the screen, deposited the transfer into a separate account, and replied to the message. Only then did Idris lean back in his seat, turning his gaze out the window.

That line was definitely left intentionally by the male. Was he afraid the MPA would cause trouble for him if they found out about this?

If that was the case, he could just enjoy it peacefully. Why go to the extra trouble? The more he interacted with this Zerg, the more inscrutable he became.

Samuel had no idea that a single action of his had led Idris to think so much. At the moment, he was sitting with a wooden expression, forcing a polite smile at the three Zerg who had shown up uninvited.

The visiting Zerg chattered on and on, but it all boiled down to one sentence: the drowning incident was Li'an's fault. They had come today to apologize and hoped Samuel would forgive him.

Samuel sat to the side, appearing to listen attentively on the surface, but his mind had long since wandered off. Seeing the awkward silence becoming uncomfortable, Bulan quickly chimed in, asking for Samuel's opinion.

"Mr. Kaelan seems to have forgotten one thing," Samuel snapped back to attention, took a light sip of tea, ignored Li'an's displeasure, and slowly set down the teacup. "The victim of the incident wasn't just me."

Kaelan: "Then what does Your Excellency think should be done?"

"Mother..." Li'an tugged at Kaelan's sleeve.

Kaelan didn't respond, secretly patting Li'an's hand to remind him not to be impatient.

Samuel watched the exchange between the two Zerg. He looked up, feigning confusion. "What should be done... Your Excellency Kaelan should ask the Zerg involved. Why ask me?"

With that, Samuel straightened up slightly. Despite appearing harmless, his cold expression inexplicably made the Zerg present feel an intangible pressure.

"Naturally," Kaelan agreed with a nod, showing not a hint of dissatisfaction.

"Mhm," Samuel stood up, saying no more. Bulan, very tactfully, took over the conversation and led Kaelan and Li'an out.

As soon as they stepped outside, Li'an voiced his discontent. "Mother, what did His Excellency Samuel mean just now? Have me apologize to that female Idris? Is he insane?"

"Li'an, you can certainly hold onto your pride," Kaelan said calmly. "But the Vester family doesn't support idle Zerg."

Li'an stiffened slightly, his face turning deathly pale.

The mental damage caused by extreme fright could only potentially be repaired by seeking mental soothing from a high-ranking male. He had tried many Zerg to no avail. Samuel was close to S-rank. If he was unwilling to help too, then Li'an was most likely done for.

And a male who couldn't help soothe females was utterly worthless.

A moment later, Li'an bit his lip, swallowed his resentment, and obediently whispered, "Mother, I... understand."

Kaelan patted Li'an with satisfaction, called him a good child, thanked Bulan, and left with his Zerg.

Watching the two Zerg walk away, Bulan sighed, turned back, and knocked on the door behind him again. He rambled on, advising the male not to agree to Kaelan's request until he was fully recovered.

Samuel asked, then why did you bring them here today? Successfully rendering Bulan speechless and prompting him to leave on his own.

With all the Zerg gone and finally having some free time, Samuel immediately and eagerly opened the StarNet.

Brother accepted the money! Does that mean... he might, just a little bit, not hate me anymore?

Yes!

99 set down the drink cup, glanced at the male, scratched his round head, and went back to mopping.

Extracting a sliver of rationality from his excitement, Samuel stared at his treasury, now diminished by a significant portion, and fell into deep thought.

Half a year's worth of food expenses had already used up this much. Adding other costs would surely be even greater. He had originally thought that sitting on wealth would free him from the burdens of daily necessities, but now it seemed he had been too naive.

No, he had to try to find a job.

After stumbling and searching online for a long time, Samuel slumped despairingly on the sofa, sighing repeatedly.

The Insectoids guard their males like a fortress! Even jobs are only open to females or androgynes—he doesn't even have anywhere to ask!

Seriously? Besides making babies... insect larvae, are males really not needed for *anything* else?

This is even scarier than back home!

Thinking of the women confined in deep courtyards back home and comparing them to the lives of male insects, Samuel gave a full-body shudder.

No, no, can't give up!

Reject being a parasite, starting with ourselves!!!

Author's Note:

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Well, my request for a day off was denied! Consider today's update a little bonus cake! My darlings, quick, give me some compliments! (sparkling eyes) [head pat]

August x, 4056 Sunny Cloudy

Ah, whatever. It's just a title.