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    Chapter 57: To B612

    “Director Bran, wait a moment!” General Lisi’s eyes lit up at the news that someone was willing to go to Planet B612.

    The Second Army stationed on B612 was currently suffering the heaviest casualties of any regiment—and also housed the largest number of military females awaiting mental stabilization. If a male volunteered to go there, it could drastically reduce casualties among military females caused by psychic outbreaks and significantly ease the regiment’s burden.

    If soldiers awaiting stabilization from neighboring regiments could also be transferred there, the defensive lines of B612 and its adjacent planets would be further reinforced—and damage to resource-rich planets minimized.

    No—under no circumstances could this male, who had volunteered for the frontier planet, be allowed to slip away.

    “Director Bran, since His Excellency is willing to go to the frontier planet, the MPA must not obstruct him!” General Lisi lowered his voice, attempting to persuade Bran.

    The moment Lisi opened his mouth, Bran knew exactly what he was planning: once the male arrived, Lisi would immediately dispatch *all* military females awaiting stabilization from surrounding regiments to B612.

    This heartless bastard valued only his own troops—and cared not one whit for the life or death of males.

    “Don’t even think about it!” Bran shot General Lisi a scathing glare and lifted his finger off the mute button.

    “Bran, can you hear me? I want to go to B612.”

    Even over the comms link, Bran could hear Samuel’s urgency—but he couldn’t relent. If he did, and Samuel were sent to the frontier planet, he’d be trapped there until the war ended, forced to perform mental stabilization around the clock without rest.

    Samuel had only just completed his secondary differentiation; his mental state remained profoundly unstable across all dimensions—and he’d already exhibited mild self-harming tendencies. Sending him there would be tantamount to signing his death warrant.

    Moreover, Samuel was currently the youngest S-Class male in existence. The Insect Race was counting on him to sire more eggs—and hatch higher-tier male offspring in the future!

    This irreplaceable asset absolutely *could not* be sent to the battlefield.

    “Your Excellency, the current situation on the frontier planet remains unclear. Star-beast tides could erupt again at any moment—you truly cannot go.” Bran felt his head splitting in two, wishing he could knock Samuel unconscious and lock him away until the star-beast tide passed.

    “Where are you? I’ll speak with you in person.” Samuel wasted no time—he was resolute: he *would* go to the frontier planet.

    “I’m busy right now—I don’t have time to meet you at the moment. You—” Before Bran could finish, General Lisi forcibly interrupted.

    “At the military headquarters!” General Lisi leaned closer to the Stellar Ring and added, “Your Excellency, come directly to the general’s office upon arrival!”

    Having secured the address, Samuel slammed the comm shut.

    Bran stared at the Stellar Ring, then glanced at the smug General Lisi—shot him a venomous glare—and dialed the President of the Male Protection Association.

    “President, do you have time? Please come to the military headquarters as soon as possible. General Lisi intends to send His Excellency Samuel to the frontier planet!”

    The instant Bran finished speaking, General Lisi’s triumphant expression froze.

    “What? *Samuel?*” His heart lurched. Was this the S-Class His Excellency who’d pulled the already insectified Luoken and Aosen back from the brink of death—and fought tooth and nail in the military court to save Ray?

    S-Class! How many military females could he stabilize if deployed there?

    After the initial surge of elation, General Lisi’s brow furrowed into a deep frown.

    Yes—His Excellency’s presence *would* resolve the current crisis.

    But he was also a walking time bomb. Even the slightest injury would trigger an all-out MPA firestorm.

    “No! His Excellency *cannot* go to the frontier planet!” After weighing the risks, General Lisi reluctantly aligned himself with Bran.

    “Too late.” Bran offered a hollow smile. “But since we’re now in agreement, the task of dissuading His Excellency from going to the battlefield falls to you, General.”

    General Lisi: …

    Males lived for comfort and pleasure. This sudden urge to go to the front lines was surely just a passing whim—persuading him to back down would be child’s play.

    General Lisi was supremely confident.

    Thirty minutes later, Samuel stormed into the office like a whirlwind. His first words were still about going to the frontier planet—his tone unyielding, his resolve ironclad—giving Bran a splitting headache.

    Judging by that stance, convincing him to withdraw would clearly be no easy feat.

    “Your Excellency, the battle on B612 is currently intense. You hold no official military rank. Per military regulations, you may not enter the combat zone in a private capacity at this time.” General Lisi stepped forward, emphasizing, “This is also for your safety.”

    Bran silently facepalmed beside him. *It’s over. Now he’ll want to go even more.*

    “Precisely *because* the battle is intense, I must go even more.” Samuel steadied his mind.

    On the way over, he’d already gathered intelligence from Li’an and Sais. For instance, during annual star-beast tides, countless military females died—not just from physical wounds, but from the compounding effects of psychic outbreaks.

    Thus, in previous years, the military department had formally requested MPA assistance *after* hostilities ceased—to deploy a limited number of males for battlefield mental stabilization.

    This year, however, the star-beast tide had struck early—and with unprecedented ferocity. Even before the tide reached its midpoint, the number of wounded military females had already nearly matched last year’s total.

    If fighting continued, casualties would inevitably escalate catastrophically.

    To safeguard the defensive line, the military department would inevitably pursue two parallel preparations: first, deploying reinforcements; second, urgently petitioning the MPA for male stabilization support *on the battlefield*.

    And the second option was almost impossible to approve.

    So, a single male voluntarily stepping forward would carry immense strategic weight.

    “General Lisi, as the senior officer overseeing military operations, you’re well aware of the frontline situation.” Samuel locked eyes with the general. “If you reject me, no other male will volunteer for the frontier planet. Think of those military females waiting for stabilization—can you truly bear to let them die on the battlefield?”

    A flicker of hesitation crossed General Lisi’s eyes—but he held firm: “Of course I cannot bear it. But *your* safety takes precedence. Otherwise, the military department will be unable to answer to the Empire—or its citizens.”

    “Your Excellency, General Lisi raises a valid point.” Bran interjected smoothly. “The situation on the frontier planet is exceptionally complex—it’s simply not the right time to go.”

    “What if I insist?” Samuel’s gaze remained unflinching—unyielding.

    “Your Excellency, I’m curious—why *must* you go to the frontier planet *now*?” General Lisi deftly shifted tactics.

    “Because I am also a citizen of the Empire.” Samuel stated his prepared reasoning with calm conviction. “Though I’ve only resided in the Imperial Capital Star briefly, I understand full well that the peace enjoyed there—and across the Empire—is purchased with the blood of military females. Since I benefit from that peace, I bear a duty to contribute. Moreover, as an S-Class male, I possess the ability to stabilize the Mind Seas of military females. To prioritize only my own safety would be unworthy of a gentleman.”

    “Of course, I also have personal motives.” Samuel added honestly. “Someone deeply important to me is on B612—I need to find him.”

    “So, I *must* go there.”

    Samuel wasn’t tall for a male—nor was his frame broad. Standing before the burly military officers, he appeared even slighter, like an oversized doll.

    Yet he lifted his chin to meet General Lisi’s gaze—upright, slender, unbroken—his eyes steady and sharp as bamboo: resilient, verdant, radiating a quiet, unshakable stubbornness unlike any other.

    General Lisi had never encountered such a male before. Weren’t males supposed to care only for pleasure? When had they grown so rational—and so righteous?

    Feeling compelled to clarify matters once more, General Lisi stressed, “Your Excellency—if you go to the frontier planet, we cannot guarantee your safety.”

    “I’m not going to the front lines. As long as the defensive line holds, I trust the army won’t allow me to be injured.” Samuel replied.

    “The battlefield is brutal—far more terrifying than Your Excellency imagines.” General Lisi hinted.

    Brutal? Could it possibly surpass the horror that followed Jinling’s fall?

    “Perhaps, General, you won’t believe me.” Samuel’s eyes softened with sorrow and compassion as he spoke slowly, deliberately: “But I *have* been to a battlefield. I know what war is. And I am not afraid.” General Lisi fell silent. He turned to Bran—signaling wordlessly: *Say something.*

    "Your Excellency,..." Bulan had just begun to speak when Samuel interrupted him.

    "Bulan, I know you mean well. And I'm truly grateful for all your help during this time," Samuel implored. "But staying on the Imperial Star, I'll lose my mind sooner or later."

    "Please, just let me go."

    "Director Bran, since His Excellency is so determined, what do you think..." General Lisi put on a helpless expression, thinking that sending even one was better than sending none.

    As Bran wrestled with the decision, on the verge of insisting on refusal once more, a voice ordered him to stop.

    Standing at the doorway was an elderly gray-haired insect, her face composed, her eyes carrying an unquestionable authority.

    "He may go." The President of the MPA walked slowly into the room, his gaze lingering on Samuel for a moment before addressing General Lisi. "But an MPA worker must accompany him, and the military must dispatch its most elite soldier insects to protect His Excellency Samuel throughout the journey, ensuring he arrives at the frontier star unscathed."

    "Upon reaching the frontier star, the mental soothing work will be arranged by the MPA, and the military is not to interfere. Furthermore, after his return, the military must publicly acknowledge His Excellency's contribution to resolving the issue of the military insects."

    The MPA President smiled as he looked at General Lisi, seemingly seeking his opinion but with a hint of threat. "What does the General think?"

    "Naturally," General Lisi nodded slightly, agreeing readily. "However..."

    "General Lisi, rest assured. His Excellency Samuel will first soothe the insects with severe mental disturbances on the border star. Once the legion returns, the MPA will organize His Excellency to assist in completing the soothing work for the other soldiers." The MPA President, as if anticipating what General Lisi wanted to say, immediately shut down the conversation.

    "Then I'll trouble the President to make the preparations in advance, awaiting the legion's return." General Lisi inwardly cursed the old fox, then smiled at Samuel. "Your Excellency Samuel, please prepare as soon as possible. I will immediately send insects to escort you to the frontier star."

    Samuel breathed a sigh of relief and nodded.

    Seeing the two insects reach an agreement, Bran frowned slightly and finally sighed.

    With the matter of going to the frontier star settled, the MPA President took Samuel and Bulan and left the military headquarters. After escorting Samuel back to the villa, only Bulan and the MPA President remained in the hovercar. Bulan couldn't help but ask, "President, why did you agree to let His Excellency go to the frontier star this time?"

    "Could you have stopped him?" the MPA President retorted, then continued, "Bulan, it's not wrong for you to care for the Excellencies. But being overly protective isn't necessarily good for them. Moreover, we must also give some face to the military and the Insect Emperor."

    "But you needn't worry," the MPA President said with a knowing smile. "The insects of the Offley lineage are notoriously obsessive towards the male insects they've chosen. Idris won't let anything happen to His Excellency Samuel."

    "Let's go back."

    The hovercar took off, heading towards the MPA.

    That very afternoon, Samuel, along with three MPA members, boarded a starship bound for the frontier star.

    Seeing Bulan on the starship, Samuel was startled.

    "Director Bran, why are you here?"

    "By the President's order, to keep an eye on you, lest you lose your senses and act recklessly for the sake of your love," Bulan teased.

    Samuel touched his face sheepishly. He just got anxious when it came to his brother's matters; it wasn't that serious, was it?

    After the starship left the Imperial Star, it headed straight for the B612 star.

    Standing at the starship's window, Samuel stared in amazement at the vast universe outside. The immense black curtain measured in light-years was like a fireworks display.

    The stars were unopened fireworks, the nebulae were the lingering smoke after the explosions. The entire curtain was dazzling, dreamlike, but also dangerous enough.

    Gazing at the starry sky, Samuel was filled with worry, wondering how Idris was doing.

    After the starship detoured once more, avoiding an area with a star beast tide, they finally arrived at the B612 star two days later.

    Ray had just returned from patrol when he received the news. Thanks to Idris, the star beast tide had been temporarily suppressed. The star beasts hadn't attacked for several days, and the surrounding energy fluctuations weren't as intense as before. The Second Legion had a rare chance to catch its breath.

    Heading straight to the starship's rest area, Samuel was sitting there waiting for him.

    "Ray, how is Idris now?" Seeing Ray appear, Samuel quickly stood up to inquire about Idris's condition.

    "The Major General hasn't regained consciousness yet." Ray wanted to stop Samuel from visiting, but he didn't expect Samuel to become even more anxious upon hearing this, pulling him along as he walked out.

    "Where is he? I need to see him!"

    Thus, Ray was forced to lead Samuel towards Idris's room. Just as Samuel was about to open the door and enter, he was stopped.

    "Your Excellency, the Major General's injuries are quite severe, and he's somewhat different from before. It's best if you prepare yourself mentally."

    Samuel froze, not quite understanding Ray's meaning. He stepped around Ray, pushed open the door, and saw the once powerful and handsome soldier insect lying quietly on the sickbed, his face pale.

    And the right side of his face was covered with several deep, bone-exposing scars.

    Samuel hurried over, his hand trembling as he reached out, not daring to touch those hideous wounds.

    "What happened!"

    "How could my brother be injured like this!"

    -----------------------

    Author's note: Tomorrow's synopsis plot [throws confetti]

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