APUTFFZG Chapter 21

Translator: Deyonna

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Axon First Research Institute, Dean's Office.

"Knock, knock."

The gray-haired dean didn't even lift his head at the rhythmic knocking. He simply said, "Come in."

"Dean."

The one who came in was a young female zerg, still in his research robes, with an unusually shaped stud earring sparkling on his right earlobe.

"What's the matter?"

Norman finally lifted his head from the documents, pushed up his reading glasses, and looked at the institute's top fourth-year student. "Adelaide."

"I heard that problem has been solved?"

Adelaide cut to the chase. "He's not from our institute, isn't enrolled at any other institute, and reportedly hasn't even had three years of education."

Norman remained noncommittal. "What are you trying to say?"

"The algorithm involved in that problem is quite unique, and it's related to the topic our team is currently researching. Since he's not a student of this institution, I'd like to ask the dean to help us contact him for further communication."

Adelaide softened his cold tone. "The terminal's authentication never goes wrong. I believe the dean also doesn't want a promising talent left out in the cold, slowly going to waste, right?"

"It's possible…"

Norman pondered for a moment before finally nodding. "Alright, I'll contact him and try to win him over for you."

"Good." The usually indifferent young female zerg finally curled the corners of his mouth slightly.

"Sorry for the trouble, Dean."

Not far from the research institute was the First Legion military base. As Norman came out of the office, a riot had just been quelled at the base entrance.

Lately, incidents in the First Legion had been growing more frequent. Despite the new general's years of effort to suppress them, he still couldn't control those iron-headed soldiers who had pledged their lives to follow the former general.

A message passed on by an old friend had also hinted at impending turmoil within the royal family. It's best to stay cautious lately and avoid taking sides carelessly, to prevent accidental harm.

Norman cautiously slipped past the escorting guards and sighed, his voice wavering. "I wonder if I can still have a peaceful year…"

The hovercar stopped at the base gate, which was under tight security. A few zergs came and went, making the place seem rather desolate.

But as the car drove into the star trail of the central urban area, an incomparably vast and resplendent world unfolded.

Norman, however, had seen too much and long since grown used to it. At that moment, he simply closed his eyes to rest.

"Di, di, congestion ahead. Estimated waiting time: 10 minutes. Please be patient…"

He opened his eyes to check the situation outside and saw a few familiar zergs standing at the entrance of a banquet venue not far away. His expression gradually turned serious. "That is…"

Then a streak of silver light, flaunting its arrogance, swept across half the traffic network before drifting to a stop at the entrance. Shortly afterward, two other vehicles parked beside it.

Antoine, dressed in a neat military uniform, was the first to hop out of the car. A hint of excitement flashed in his eyes when he saw the hovercar belonging to that person.

"Good evening, Your Highness* Gano."

*This title isn't exclusive to royalty. Nobles can hold it too.

He hurried forward to open the door for the zerg inside the hovercar. He tried to offer his hand but was brushed aside contemptuously.

A pair of immaculate shoes emerged from the car door and stepped directly onto Antoine's military boots, using him as a "stepping stone" to get out.

"Get lost."

The moment the young male zerg appeared, it was as if the surroundings had brightened a few shades, and all eyes were drawn to him, unable to look away.

With delicate, noble features, wavy hair red as fire, and an exquisite, expensive-looking custom suit, he glanced at Antoine with his green eyes. "What makes you think you can touch me?"

Gano Monte squinted as he surveyed the magnificent building before him, his face full of disbelief. "What is this terrible place? A grand general can only afford to book this garbage dump?"

A flash of embarrassment crossed Antoine's face, but he quickly put on a smile. "My abilities are limited. Your Highness has been wronged. It's an honor to have you here tonight, and truly a pleasant surprise…"

"You're not even one percent as good as my good-for-nothing elder brother."

Gano sneered. "I originally thought of backing you. What a drunken, thoughtless decision. It was a big loss."

"Nono."

A gentle, slightly hoarse voice sounded, and a female zerg came over from the other side and walked up behind Gano.

Dressed in an intricately tailored suit, with soft white hair tied back, he exuded a gentle, elegant aura. When he smiled, his light golden eyes squinted slightly, putting people at ease, as if they were basking in a spring breeze.

"Don't get angry. The eldest prince is also attending the banquet this time. We can't let him slip away."

"Duke Lance."

Antoine saluted the female zerg, receiving only a meaningful smile in return. "Work hard. Your future is bright... General."

They didn't linger at the door for long before attendants escorted them into the banquet.

At the end of the noble-exclusive, red-carpeted pathway, one could look down over the incredibly spacious banquet venue like a supreme ruler, gazing down upon all the decadence and extravagance with detached eyes.

Gano couldn't be bothered to look outside and went straight into the inner banquet hall.

The noble guests coming and going were all high-ranking officials, some even related to the royal family. They kept up a harmonious appearance on the surface, but to those in the know, they were as sharply divided as the Jing and Wei rivers, split into two factions.

Standing in the center of the banquet hall, surrounded by numerous supporters, was a female zerg named Felix Lott.

The second prince of the current royal family, doted on by the emperor, was clearly an idiot, yet he still had the standing to compete for the throne.

On the slightly quieter side of the banquet hall stood the eldest prince, who appeared more reserved and steady compared to his proud, arrogant younger brother. He had once been the undisputed heir to the throne.

As for why it was said "once," and how he had fallen to this point in just a few short years…

Gano narrowed his eyes and let out a sneer.

—It was naturally related to his "sacrificed" elder brother, who had been the eldest prince's biggest supporter.

As long as he had been alive, the entire legion had been as unbreakable as an iron bucket, and the eldest prince's status as heir had been unquestionable. Even if some nobles had other ideas, they couldn't shake that fact.

But in the end, he still died.

Gano curled his lips slightly, idly adjusted his bow tie, and walked toward the second prince.

Tonight he would capture this female zerg and become his male lord. Only then could he smoothly step into royal affairs and vie for more power.

After all, idiot puppets were easier to control.

"The road ahead is clear. We're about to set off, so please fasten your seat belt, passenger…"

The traffic jam caused by the arrogant noble male finally cleared.

Countless hovercars that had been forced to stop resumed their course along the track, gradually leaving the dazzling splendor of the gilded, jade-adorned palace behind.

Norman wearily closed his eyes, but in his mind, an extremely upright figure appeared.

He had always fought on the front lines, stood up in parliament to block outrageous proposals, and worked tirelessly on the most barren, wretched borders.

He had been the most indestructible line of defense in this crumbling empire.

What a pity.

What a pity…

This old man, who had weathered life's vicissitudes for most of his years, couldn't help feeling his eyes redden, his heart filled with an almost unspeakable bitterness and sorrow.

"No wonder the soldiers of the First Legion can't forget. They've been clamoring for a thorough investigation of that incident from the start. It's truly a shame, sigh…"

The sigh drifted out of the car window on the wind and dissipated into the boundless snowstorm.

· 

Afterward, they never mentioned that kiss again, as if nothing had ever happened.

But because pheromones permeate everything, even after the waterproof sheet was removed that night, Ye Er was still enveloped in an inescapable bitter tea fragrance, tossing and turning all night without falling asleep.

The scene then shifted to the location of the sofa.

Xi Ze didn't lose control as he had the first time, but he still flushed deeply almost every time during the process. His limp, feverish body sank into the rumpled sheets, like a warm, steaming jujube cake.

...He looks very bite-able.

Ye Er's Adam's apple bobbed. After pondering for a while, he decided to have a late-night snack, feeling so hungry he was starting to hallucinate.

That night, 015 was forced to work overtime, steaming a few soft sponge cakes under the male zerg's guidance.

Although they tasted the same as he remembered, something seemed to be missing. Ye Er took a bite, then picked up a piece to feed the female zerg.

"Thank you... I'll do it myself." Xi Ze hastily took a bite of the cake from the male zerg's hand and said in a slightly embarrassed voice.

Ye Er held back and held back, but still couldn't help reaching out to touch the female zerg. He was indeed soft and hot, just as he had imagined.

The cake in his mouth suddenly didn't seem so appetizing anymore.

As the female zerg's condition improved a bit, Ye Er became less busy and no longer had to work overtime until six or seven o'clock.

Whenever he got home early, before 015 had finished preparing dinner, he would sit on the sofa and keep the female zerg company while they listened to the news.

"In recent days, His Majesty Agnelia has caught a cold, and despite several days of treatment, there has been no improvement. Many imperial physicians have been punished for neglecting their duties... It is unknown whether His Majesty will attend this year's prayer ceremony…"

Ye Er was adjusting the heating to a higher temperature.

Recently, for some reason, there seemed to be a problem with the heating system. Upon hearing the news, he looked at the screen with some surprise.

"One week from now, His Royal Highness the Second Prince will hold a press conference to publicly announce his engagement."

"Rumors suggest that the mysterious engagement partner is the Duke's son, the esteemed A+ level male zerg, His Highness Gano!"

This wasn't an official news broadcast; the channel often gossiped about insider information. The host on the screen looked eager to gossip and didn't forget to add, "Let's congratulate them!"

Having finally fixed it, Ye Er nestled back into the sofa and noticed out of the corner of his eye that the female zerg's expression seemed off.

"What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"

Xi Ze came back to his senses from the news he had just heard, lowered his eyes to hide his emotions, and said softly, "...It's nothing."

After a few jokes from the host on the news, the broadcast had already moved on to the next topic. Everything was in disarray, yet it all subtly conveyed a certain feeling—

Soon, things would change.

However, Aitar was too far from the main star, and all the blood and fire had nothing to do with this little planet where snow gently fell.

The cold wind outside the window beat insistently against the glass, seeping through the cracks with its pervasive chill, yet it could never penetrate this warm line of defense.

"Quilt."

Ye Er was absentmindedly playing with his terminal, and before he could come to his senses, a soft quilt had already been draped over him.

The female zerg beside him, his eyes unfocused, fumbled to pull the quilt up and wrap it around him. His slender fingertips brushed across the thin shirt on the male zerg's body, caressing it unconsciously.

The heating seemed to be a bit faulty these days, and the house wasn't very warm. It would be bad if they caught a cold.

Ye Er let out a delayed "oh" as one corner of the quilt slipped to the floor. He quickly reached out with his foot to hook it back up, but was suddenly scalded on the inside of his ankle.

The female zerg's broad palm was scorching hot as it covered the delicate skin. The light honey color of his hand contrasted with the paleness of the skin beneath, lending the moment an inexplicably ambiguous feel.

Xi Ze seemed to pause for a moment, but quickly picked up the corner of the quilt and tucked it into the sofa along with Ye Er's slender ankle, wrapping him up in an airtight roll.

"Don't catch a cold."

After completing all of this, he said softly.

The news on the screen was still playing, mingling with the clatter of pots and pans from the kitchen.

Ye Er breathed in the faint bitter tea fragrance at the tip of his nose, and the lingering fatigue in his body melted away, leaving only a lazy warmth.

Ah, he doesn't feel like moving at all.

☰