APUTFFZG Chapter 36.1

Translator: Deyonna

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The result was that Ye Er sat in the middle of the lounge sofa with military females standing on his left, right, front, and back like iron towers, almost filling the small space.

It didn't feel like a friendly meeting with a benefactor. It felt more like a gang boss in prison summoning new recruits to establish dominance.

What's more, with all the military females secretly watching him, the feeling grew stronger.

Ye Er shifted his gaze from the restless backs of the military females to Alvin's face in front of him. After a moment of silence, he felt a strong sense of déjà vu.

Noah let out a merciless sneer and glanced sideways at Alvin. Then he awkwardly touched his nose and waved a hand to disperse the rash, fun-loving types.*

*A Chinese idiom for people who are reckless and rash in word and deed

"Go on, go outside. Don't linger here."

Once all the unrelated military females had left, only Ye Er, Alvin, and two other military females remained.

"Nice to meet you for the first time... no, I should say it's the third time we've met."

Ye Er raised his eyes to the military female before him, familiar yet unfamiliar.

They had indeed met three times by now, and each time, those sea-blue eyes had stayed calm, as if nothing could change their color.

"My main purpose today is to formally thank you, Your Excellency."

Alvin struggled a little to stand and, together with Noah beside him, saluted Ye Er with great solemnity.

"Most of the ones currently staying in this hospital are my soldiers. On their behalf and my own, I offer my heartfelt thanks."

"If it weren't for your help back then, Your Excellency, there might be thousands of military females in this hospital who would have died for lack of pheromones."

Ye Er stood to greet him in return, his tone still calm, with none of the self-importance or arrogance.

"It was only a small effort that ended up as a business agreement beneficial to both sides. There's no need to be so formal, Colonel."

Alvin smiled but didn't take him up on it.

Although he called it a business agreement, the male zerg's willingness to trade pheromones at legal prices meant the military females were getting quite a bargain.

Market prices for pheromones had been marked up many times over, reaching a morbid level that hospitals couldn't afford.

From what Elaine had described of the negotiations, the male zerg clearly knew how high the market prices were. Even so, he had chosen to be generous and provide pheromones to save more military females.

So no matter what, he had to thank this male zerg in person.

"I didn't come only to thank you. Most important of all, I have a gift for you."

Alvin waved a hand at Noah behind him, and the military female took a box from his military jacket and set it in the middle of the table.

The delicately patterned, slightly luxurious box was opened carefully, releasing a warm, translucent light—

On a black sponge lining lay a rare mineral, only as big as a thumb, yet like a condensed vast and splendid silver-blue starry sky. Its faint glow was breathtakingly beautiful.

Xixili ore.

Ye Er had seen this rare material in textbooks. Its veins were scarce, its value exorbitant, and it grew on planets with extremely harsh conditions.

Apart from specialized collection teams, only military females would take risks to seek it out on missions.

A small piece of Xixili ore could secure a military female's quality of life for decades, or even over a hundred years after retirement.

"...I hope you like it."

Alvin smiled and pushed the box toward the male zerg, gesturing for him to take it.

Remembering something, he added softly, "You also know the situation was very urgent at the time, and Noah may have offended you in some ways. I've already given him a lesson about it, so please don't be angry with him."

Ye Er stared at the ore for a long time but didn't reach for it. He only raised his eyes to Alvin. "Sorry, I'll have to refuse."

The business arrangement with Elaine was his bottom line, and if he accepted such an expensive thank-you gift, the nature of the matter would change completely.

Besides, with his medical fees waived at the hospital and support from the institute, he no longer had to worry about money. The hospital and these military females clearly needed funding more than he did.

"Pheromones aren't valuable in the first place, and I donated them voluntarily. There's no reason to trade my small effort for something precious from another zerg."

Hearing such a statement for the first time, and from a male zerg's mouth, was as explosive as a planet blowing up.

But from what he had already done, one could tell how unusual this male zerg was. Alvin's expression didn't change, but when he spoke again, his tone was much more earnest.

"Your Excellency, you may call it a small effort, but the fact is that it saved my life and the lives of countless soldiers."

"A life-saving debt shouldn't be measured by expensive gifts, but this is the greatest sincerity I can offer."

He pushed the box toward the male zerg again. "My words may be crude, but it's my principle to repay a grudge with a grudge and kindness with kindness."

"That's your principle."

Ye Er leaned back in his chair, stressing the word "your."

The implication was clear: you stick to your principle of giving gifts and I'll stick to my principle of refusing them, and neither of us can force the other.

But he didn't shut the conversation down completely. After thinking for a moment, he said, "I've signed a contract with the hospital for long-term pheromone trade. You can pay in star coins at the set price."

So stubborn.*

**Literally "won't take oil or salt," describing someone extremely stubborn who won't listen to suggestions

Alvin showed a hint of helplessness, but the smile in his eyes was very gentle.

Staying in this stalemate wasn't going to solve anything. He sighed. "Let me be straight with you. This ore has a certain chance of promoting the regrowth of bone wings."

Ye Er suddenly looked up at him, visibly stunned.

"I can't guarantee it'll definitely work, but it should be fairly reliable."

Having served in the military for over twenty years, he had dug this material up several times after the war. There hadn't been any significant gains, but he once had a very unusual experience.

At the time, there had been a military female in the army whose bone wings had also been badly damaged, one side so badly that it had to be removed.

But shortly after coming into contact with a vein of this ore, the damaged wing sheath on his back began to recover gradually, and a new wing bud started growing from it.

Soon afterward, though, that military female died because he couldn't withstand the planet's harsh environment. Exactly what had caused the wings to regenerate couldn't be determined, but it must have had something to do with the ore.

"So, Your Excellency, you might as well give it a try. It may be effective. If it doesn't work, that's fine too. The ore itself has very high medicinal value and is one of the best materials for treating injuries. Either way, I hope it can help you."

"It can promote bone wing regrowth...?"

Ye Er stared at the piece of Xixili ore for a long time before finally feeling moved.

His obsidian-like eyes gradually lit up, and the smile at the corner of his lips tightened with restraint.

He raised his gaze and smiled. "Thank you."

His calm expression suddenly came alive, like a brilliant peach blossom unexpectedly blooming amid endless ice and snow, so dazzling that the zerg couldn't look away.

Alvin didn't snap back to reality until his thigh was pinched hard.

Noah's gritted voice rang in his ear. "Fuck, you spaced out!"

Alvin slapped his hand away, looking uncharacteristically flustered, and muttered a reprimand.

"...Don't talk nonsense!"

Afterward, they adjusted the terms of the business arrangement a little more, and the meeting ended once both sides were satisfied.

Elaine had already stepped out earlier. Just as Ye Er was about to leave the lounge to pick up his female zerg, Alvin called him back. "Your Excellency, please wait."

"Things have been a bit unstable on Aitar lately. It's best to go out as little as possible. If you must go out, take your female zerg with you."

The military female behind him wore a gentle expression, as if this were just a casual reminder.

Ye Er was a little puzzled but didn't press for more. He nodded and left.

"Why did you specifically remind the male zerg about that?"

Noah glanced at Alvin, sounding a little confused.

"Star pirate groups have been roaming around in recent years. Not long ago, I got word that the Feishan star pirate group had been driven off by the military and had come into this star system. We don't know which planet they'll target next."

Alvin walked to the window and watched the military females coming and going outside, his brow furrowed with worry.

"There are more and more of these star pirate groups every year. The peace the Empire wants... is still a long way off."

Noah frowned. "I remember it was after that general sacrificed himself five years ago that the various star pirate groups gradually flourished. And they've evaded military capture over and over. It's rather strange how coincidental that is."

"Some things are better left unsaid. The walls have ears."

Alvin raised a hand to stop him, lost in thought for a moment, then lowered his gaze and spoke softly.

"I really miss the Empire of five years ago. If that general hadn't died..."

"The Empire always says miracles happen in desperate situations. I pray sometimes, too..."

Pray that all suffering will come to an end.

Pray that hope for survival in dire straits may descend on places without sunlight.

---

"Is it over?"

Ye Er sat in a chair across from Xie Zhao's office. At the sound of the door opening, he looked up.

The female zerg showed no unusual expression, but Xie Zhao, following behind him, looked more and more haggard, the resentment around him almost palpable.

Ye Er was momentarily puzzled.

Could the soul-shifting technique... be real?

Perhaps it was a bit too warm in the treatment room. Xi Ze loosened the black scarf around his neck and casually wrapped it around his wrist. When he saw the male zerg, his lips curled up slightly. "Male Lord, have you been waiting long?"

"No, I just got here."

Ye Er answered as usual, raising a hand to smooth down a strand of hair that had come loose on Xi Ze's head. "How was today's treatment?"

"Not bad."

Xi Ze answered softly, lowering his head slightly to follow the male zerg's movements, letting that hand tousle his hair while he held his breath to feel the subtle brush of fingertips against his ear.

The sight left Xie Zhao feeling a surge of sourness. He nearly gasped in awe at how flawless the military female's act was.

Truly worthy of sitting on top of the head of the Xie family. Although he hides his identity, he's obviously in an absolute position of power, calculating and scheming with ease, his acting seamless.

Even if his character is cold and hard as stone, he can still put on a face like that to win a male zerg's favor.

☰