Chapter 52 Part 2

The dog understood the command, its eyes lighting up.

Completing this person’s order would bring a reward.

The Black Dog immediately bounded over, tail wagging excitedly.

Watching it leave, the silver-haired Male Insect lowered his gaze, brushed off the pant leg the Black Dog had rubbed, then coldly furrowed his brows. He removed his glove, tossed it into a nearby trash bin, took out a new pair and put them on, then boarded the hovercar expressionlessly.

The Black Dog wagged its tail and lolled its tongue, obediently waiting under the Vinewood Tree.

But once the black hovercar departed, there was no sign of the Male Insect.

Ludwig withdrew his gaze. As usual, he walked to the courtyard, picked up the small watering can from the rack, and carefully rinsed the excess Nutrient Fluid from the white petals with clear water. He wrapped Mental Power around the nutrient blocks, nourishing the flowers on the verge of withering.

The butler robot glided over. Ever since Ludwig took over his duties, it had started supervising the Female Insect’s work on its own.

After finishing the courtyard, Ludwig returned indoors, picked up the rustic vacuum cleaner, and began cleaning.

During this, the small communicator in his pocket kept flashing red and vibrating nonstop. Ludwig frowned, strode to the kitchen, and with a swift motion, “crack”—he neatly killed a fish.

The Female Insect narrowed his cold eyes, staring at the fish. Annoyed by the incessant vibrations, he washed his hands, reached into his pocket, hesitated three seconds over the answer button, then irritably slammed it down.

Phibet’s voice came from the communicator.

“Boss, our ship will jump to near the Imperial Capital Star System in half an hour. Fuck, you don’t know how arrogant those Skull Gang idiots have been while you were gone. We’re just waiting for you to come back and crush their spirits! Oh yeah, Boss, what are you doing right now?”

Ludwig: “Cooking.”

“Ah?????” Phibet’s mouth gaped wide enough to swallow an egg whole. He dug in his ear, doubting his hearing.

The other Female Insects on the ship exchanged stunned looks, jaws nearly dropping.

Holy shit?? The Boss knows how to cook??

This was more terrifying than knives raining from the sky!

It was horror upon horror, horror arriving home. Had the world finally gone mad in ways they never imagined?

Ludwig lowered his eyes and rubbed his wrist. The mental shackles fell to the ground like a toy, clanging loudly. Lily No. 2 heard the noise and came to the kitchen. Seeing the fallen silver shackles on the floor, its mechanical eyes nearly froze in place.

The housekeeper robot held a spatula and stared in utter horror at the tall female zerg before it. “You you you—”

The female zerg walked over. His shadow blanketed the robot like a dark thundercloud.

Ludwig squatted down. A pair of dark red eyes locked coldly onto its mechanical gaze. “Does your core code have an error? Are you monitoring him?”

“Did the Sadro Family send you?”

The housekeeper robot froze instantly. Its hackles raised as if facing a deadly foe.

“Heh, don’t be nervous. I have no intention of destroying you. It looks like you really want to stay by his side?”

Ludwig remained crouched. Even though it was just a robot, the overwhelming pressure unique to an SSS-rank female zerg nearly suffocated Number Two. It now realized with horror just what kind of dangerous monster its little master had brought home.

“I’m just asking you to sync a copy of whatever information you report to the Sadro Family to me from now on.” The female zerg reached out, deftly removed its mechanical arm, pulled out a needle-shaped data implant, and fed the data into the hidden port. He curved his lips in a cruel smile.

“This shouldn’t be difficult for you, right?”

The robot’s voice trembled. “What… what are you going to do?”

Ludwig reinstalled the mechanical arm, stood up, and ignored the question.

Half an hour later, the spaceship docked beside a hidden forest lake, its cold silhouette gradually materializing in the air.

Gale-force winds howled. The red-haired female zerg strode forward on long legs, his expression grim, a biting chill radiating from his body. The moment he boarded the ship, his subordinates trembled in fear. They could not understand why the Boss looked so dour on what should have been a day for celebration.

Smank was an A-rank female zerg, active in the political arena and riding high lately. Among ordinary female zerg, he counted as outstanding.

When the appointed time for the date arrived, the female zerg did not appear.

This was within Shen Yu’s expectations. The organizer of the rural art exhibition was Andre, the overseer and tastemaker for male insect fashion. All the invitees were male insects. Only a few would pass their entry tickets to female zerg, making them one in a million. Those who received them were usually big names in the Empire.

Most of these female zerg had male insects they favored. Once they learned their schedules, they obtained tickets from other acquaintances among the male insects, trading favors and benefits.

The value of a single ticket could rival that of a small planet.

The female zerg’s absence counted as completing the date. Shen Yu stood before an oil painting of a vast wheat field. The canvas used broad strokes of warm colors, with two little black figures sitting in the field, leaning against each other.

He glanced at the painting, then looked away and opened his terminal.

The schedule on the terminal confirmed the appointment as done. A shadow suddenly fell over him. Shen Yu lifted his eyelids. It was Fred. Your Excellency the Major General seemed to have picked up a new hobby lately—he no longer favored the military uniform that clung to him like a second skin.

Fred’s gaze landed first on the pale pink flower atop the hat, then his cold pale-gray prosthetic eye swiveled.

Under Shen Yu’s stare, the stern-faced major general pursed his lips. Remembering his adjutant’s advice to take the initiative, he spoke. “Lord Sadro, my deepest apologies for what happened at the last gathering—”

Shen Yu looked away and cut him off. “Major General, I appreciate you helping me fend off some unwanted attention lately. But whether you’re apologizing for another male insect or interrupting someone admiring art, neither is gentlemanly conduct for a female zerg. Did you feed your etiquette lessons to the dogs?”

The male insect’s attitude was colder and more resolute than ever. His words pierced Fred’s heart like needles. The zerg felt plunged into an ice cellar, at a loss for how to respond. He opened his mouth again. “I—”

Shen Yu took a step back. “Carry on.”

Fred pursed his lips, grasping the meaning. His brows knitted tight. In the end, all he could manage was, “My deepest apologies.”

With that, the female zerg turned and left. Moments later, a voice called out.

“Sadro!”

Andre’s voice rose at the end.

Someone patted his shoulder lightly.

Shen Yu closed his terminal and glanced back.

Andre had just scored a lucrative deal from the Imperial Finance Minister. His golden eyes gleamed. His gaze flicked past the departing Fred and settled on the familiar silhouette before the massive painting.

He instinctively softened his steps and approached Shen Yu. Then, just like when they were young, he reached out and patted his shoulder gently.

Shen Yu turned.

Andre studied him.

The silver-haired male insect wore a low ponytail that draped over his right shoulder. His shirt collar formed two narrow triangles. The line of his neck flowed downward to straight collarbones that stretched the fabric into a smooth, elegant curve. His bound long hair was so soft that shorter silver strands drifted into his collar, teasing the skin.

Shen Yu topped it off with a wide straw hat, the pink daisies on it standing out. Beneath the brim showed half an expressionless, icy face.

The casual, natural look did nothing to soften his aloof air.

It was like a doll playing dress-up.

Andre rubbed his forehead. He should have foreseen this effect when he sent the straw hat.

Andre traveled constantly for work and had seen cultures the galaxy over. Business done, he eagerly gave Shen Yu a tour of the entire exhibition.

The two male insects strolled side by side down the long corridor lined with paintings in every style and custom imaginable. Strands of their differently colored hair tangled lightly together.

East Zhao District’s weather was always rotten. They finished the exhibition, and rain began to fall. As organizer, Andre could not leave early. He called a hovercar for Shen Yu, and they waited together in the downpour.

The rain drummed steadily.

The hovercar arrived quickly.

On the way out, Shen Yu halted and turned back to Andre. “Andre, am I one of your bargaining chips too?”

Andre’s brilliant golden eyes flew wide. “Sadro, what are you talking about?!—”

Shen Yu leaned in. A slender hand rose to Andre’s lips. The glove brushed his soft mouth, silencing the male insect.

“Shh.”

Andre blinked, dazed by the sudden closeness of the silver-haired male insect. His lips felt the chill.

Those ice-blue eyes were identical to his childhood ones. They were both Sidorey’s creations, born to topple this rotting empire and forge an age for male insects alone.

They sought no privileges—only power.

So no pain mattered. Their path led nowhere back. Justice was vital, but sacrificing some of self and righteousness for loftier aims—that took courage.

Andre, did you ever waver?

“Shh, Andre. Don’t speak.”

The beautiful silver-haired male insect gazed at him. Blue light spilled from his silver lashes like countless bright blue flash butterflies bursting from his pupils, wrapping Andre up.

“Andre, do everything you want.”

“Don’t hesitate. Don’t look back.”

“Okay?”

Rain cloaked East Zhao District in biting damp cold. Shen Yu stepped from the car under an umbrella, removed his straw hat, and dangled it from slender fingers. He walked the gravel path through the courtyard, closed the umbrella, and entered.

Warmth enveloped him at once. The atmosphere hung eerie and still. Steaming dinner sat on the living room table, held warm by a thermostat device. The housekeeper robot stood nearby, afraid to meet his eyes.

Shen Yu sensed something amiss. He hung the hat on the rack, unbound his hair, slipped off his shoes, and padded toward the kitchen in soft white socks.

His foot struck something with a sharp clink. Silver strands fell over his shoulder as he looked down. Cracked mental handcuffs lay there, the silver shackles gleaming coldly in the light.

He had escaped.

Heh.

Shen Yu eyed the dinner on the table. Beneath pale lashes, ice-blue eyes gleamed cold and empty.

The male insect parted his lips and ordered the housekeeper robot coldly.

“Throw it all out.”