Chapter 54

The silence seemed tangible in an instant, the starlight outside the porthole no longer twinkling, the cold gleam reflecting off the metal walls sharper than usual.

An invisible pressure filled the spaceship, as if time itself had frozen solid.

In this deathly stillness, every tiny unusual sound became abnormally clear, even the dust particles in the air only dared to float quietly. The Red Blood members trembled in fear, utterly baffled.

They had just won a great victory, thoroughly thrashing those idiots—why did the Boss’s expression look so grim and terrifying?

The female insects moved with extreme caution, each tending to their duties, terrified of accidentally shattering the oppressive quiet and unleashing a storm. The deputy closest to Ludwig faced the eye of the storm head-on, suffering in silence.

After turning the Military Department upside down, Red Blood had swiftly escaped the star system under the pursuit of dozens of warships, slipping unscathed into the vast cosmos and heading home.

Yet along this bizarre flight path, those few small warships stubbornly trailed behind. If not for the lack of trap encounters, Red Blood’s members would have suspected they were some kind of mobile surveillance signal.

But with tracking tech like this, there was definitely a big shot on board.

Ludwig wore a red-and-black combat suit, removed his goggles, and tossed them aside with a smack. He pulled an earpiece-style communicator from his combat pouch and slipped it into his ear.

Once the communicator was on, voices flooded his eardrum.

The red-haired female insect crossed his long legs, his face expressionless as he leaned back in the command chair. The control panel lights etched sharp contours along his profile, his keen eyes narrowed, his gaze coldly fixed on the rear surveillance monitor above the console—a look that deterred anyone from meeting his eyes.

The communicator buzzed with a chaotic mix of voices: male insects, sub-female insects, female insects. The one voice he craved was absent.

Suddenly, a click.

The sound of the door opening.

The entire room plunged into silence, the noisy chatter fading fast, as if ice and snow were spreading through the air.

Ludwig straightened his spine.

Footsteps.

He drew closer, the faint rustle of fabric from his long legs growing louder, like cotton fluff brushing lightly against his ear.

The sound of a chair being pulled out.

Clang—

The pulled-out chair was kicked back in without mercy.

Ludwig closed his eyes, instantly picturing the male insect’s expression—or lack thereof, if it could even be called one.

The male insect must have had a cold face, chin lazily raised. He liked looking down on others, so his eyelids were surely drooping low, a sliver of blue light seeping downward from beneath those pale silver lashes.

“Your Excellency, have I offended you?”

Phibet’s voice.

Ludwig opened his eyes, raking his fingers through his hair to slick back the wild dark red strands from his forehead, revealing his full, sharp brow and deep-set eyes.

As expected, no reply.

The chatter resumed behind, interspersed with an urgent news broadcast. Upon hearing the content, Ludwig grinned, finding it oddly novel to learn of his own exploits this way.

It was just like hearing an enemy praise him—unexpectedly entertaining.

Once the broadcast ended, the male insects began conversing.

Ludwig had never cared about others’ opinions before, but for some reason—perhaps because he knew Shen Yu was among them—his eyes lit up like a beast catching the scent of prey. He found himself anticipating it.

His powerful heart thumped heavily in his chest, beat after muffled beat.

Finally, in his earpiece, that long-absent voice rang out, its tone icy as a winter ice spring, devoid of any warmth.

“Ah, weren’t you just asking what female insects I hate?”

There was no coldness, no anger—just flat indifference, like discussing some trivial object. That utter apathy, that calm disregard, could extinguish anyone’s fiery heart in an instant.

“Ah, I don’t need to know your name.”

“Forgotten.”

The tone, the inflection—identical to months ago.

Frigid and unyielding, no one could stir this frozen pool. Fall in, and you’d be dragged into the deadly mire.

Ludwig narrowed his eyes, lips pressed tight, his heavy gaze fixed on the red dots on the console.

“I hate this kind of female insect the most.”

I hate you the most.

The voice rose sharply, then crashed down.

No longer icy, no longer indifferent.

Laced with intense loathing, it finally carried raw emotion—like a searing molten rock hurtling with blazing flames, smashing through the calm ice with a clang.

Then the ice shattered, the frozen waters surging to life, vibrant and vivid in an instant.

Ludwig’s lips curved upward. At those words, his raging fury suddenly extinguished, replaced by something far more terrifying: surging love, monstrous desire.

He wanted this male insect. He wanted to claim him.

Having grasped his true desire, the red-haired female insect sprawled boldly in the command chair suddenly grinned, then burst into hearty laughter.

The laugh exploded in the ship’s tomb-like silence, jarringly loud. Everyone exchanged bewildered glances—what had turned the stone-faced man into one laughing so gleefully? It was downright creepy.

In high spirits, Ludwig stood. He waved a hand at his deputy. “Stop the ship. Send a boarding signal to the trailing warships. Time to meet them.”

The deputy was surprised but had served at Ludwig’s side for years. Unlike Phibet’s brashness or the others’ fawning deference, his creed was simple: don’t ask about extras, don’t do extras.

The stoic deputy lowered his eyes. “Yes.”

Ludwig finally understood why he’d always lost control and provoked that silver-haired male insect.

By his nature, once aware of his situation, Ludwig’s first instinct would be to bide his time and strike opportunistically—not charge headlong, recklessly challenging the male insect, testing his limits.

So why had he defied the male insect’s will time and again?

Because he wanted to see it—

He wanted to see vivid emotion break across that doll-like face.

Be it fondness or hatred.

Love or loathing.

But never indifference, apathy, disregard, or being ignored.

Clearly, compliance and submission yielded nothing he craved. The best outcome was ending up like that black dog the male insect had tamed and then discarded—left to wait wide-eyed for a master’s rare favor.

And he wasn’t even its true master.

Just beckoned when wanted, dismissed at will.

Ludwig’s nature was wicked; he’d chased freedom his whole life. Shackled by warped duty in the Military Department, he’d rebelled at the first excuse, carving out his own territory. Now, grasping it all, he seized the thread of his thoughts in an instant.

After sending the boarding signal, the trailing warships quickly acknowledged. The lead ship promptly sent a comm request.

Madness flickered in Ludwig’s eyes, plunging him into unprecedented fervor. The female insect licked his dry lips and accepted the console comm.

No video link—just the lead voice from the other side, crisp and pleasant, authoritative yet unmistakably not a female insect’s.

“Your Excellency, I speak only for the Andre Family.”

A male insect?

Ludwig frowned.

The crew inside the ship exchanged shocked looks at the male insect’s voice.

Even facing the Star Pirate Group that terrified the entire interstellar, despite rumors that Red Blood’s hull was dyed with male insect blood, the lead male insect remained composed and unyielding—admirable.

Andre clenched his fist, his neatly manicured nails digging into his palm.

The golden-haired male insect stood on the command platform, eyes locked on the pitch-black ship ahead, hovering like a man-eating black ghost in the devouring cosmic dark.

Andre gritted his teeth, maintaining his measured tone. “Since Your Excellency has stopped, you must have designs. If you’re willing, could both sides board a neutral ship for detailed talks?”

Ludwig replied, “We can talk, but Red Blood doesn’t act without bloodshed. No ship we’ve hit has survivors.”

Silence from the other side, the naked threat hanging clear.

The red-haired female insect crossed his arms, lounging in the command chair, tossing out the lethal bait lazily. “Want to talk? Board Red Blood’s ship. Show sincerity.”

“No.” Ludwig’s lips hooked, voice icy. “Then no need to talk.”

Long silence followed. Ludwig wasn’t rushed; he counted silently. At twenty, his finger hovering over the console pressed the hatch switch.

At the same moment, the reply came.

“Your Excellency, of course. The Andre Family never makes enemies.”

Implying many allies, instead.

Classic Parliament style, Ludwig noted inwardly.

With confirmation, the four small warships adjusted speed, circling to the giant ship’s right flank.

The protected central warship slowly opened its hatch.

The bridges linked. The golden-haired male insect boarded Red Blood’s territory alone.

He wore a pleated organza shirt with a red silk bow at the collar, draped in a dark gold coat. Blood red gems gleamed at his fitted cuffs—peak noble male insect attire, only more ornate, more elaborate.

From the outfit alone, his extraordinary origins shone: three blood red gems at the cuffs, ambition on display. One of the Imperial Capital’s great nobles, mark of the Andre Family.

—One of the few families on good terms with the Sadro Family.

Andre held his breath, golden eyes lifting slightly.

At the far end of the long negotiation table sat a red-haired female insect. The man propped his chin, ignoring the entry noise.

The bridge led straight to the negotiation room. Aside from the two, no other insects present—this was one of Andre’s best-case scenarios. Expected, yet a pleasant surprise.

Still, facing this former imperial marshal—now Star Pirate Leader—at such close range, Andre’s heart couldn’t help but quiver.

Andre quickly steadied himself, weighing titles before settling precisely. “Marshal, it’s truly hard to meet you.”

Ludwig ignored the address, cutting straight in. “No hospitality for your late arrival. What does the Andre Family want from me?”

The question yanked Andre into negotiation mode. He sat at the table’s other end, eyes sharp, face impassive as he stated facts. “07747 Star’s mining rights: half with Faen, half in your hands. But since you left, without military backing for mining, Faen hasn’t dared touch 07747 Star.”

Ludwig raised a brow. “So what do you want?”

“I’ve secured ten percent extraction rights. I hope your Mechanical Legion stationed on 07747 Star—” Andre exhaled heavily. “—will detour when seeing the Andre Family crest.”

Ludwig remarked, “Big talk.”

Andre pressed his lips, the air turning tense.

The female insect gave no reply for a long while. As Andre’s heart sank deeper, expecting no answer, a soft chuckle rose from the dark.

“Fine.”

The stone in Andre’s chest dropped, but he knew this was just the start—a tough battle ahead.

Ten percent of 07747 Star sounded modest, but insiders knew the endless wealth and resources those mines could generate—enough to topple a nation.

As for the female insect before him, he might feign disinterest in power, but who knew his true thoughts.

Once he grew too strong, elimination was the play.

Having dared board, Andre was prepared to bleed. He met the female insect’s gaze squarely. “Then what do I offer in exchange?”

Ludwig parted his lips. “Pochidu. One entry ticket.”

Utterly unexpected.

Andre was stunned. Just as he felt fortunate for reaching such a simple cooperation, the red-haired Female Insect finally lifted his eyelids and looked up at him.

Only then did Andre understand why Ludwig had never looked at him squarely before. Those dark red eyes were as enigmatic and unfathomable as the rumors described, but only when facing them directly could one realize the shortcomings of those rumors.

A dark swamp?

Describing them as two terrifying abysses was far more appropriate—abysses that could swallow soul spirits at any moment and engulf a person whole.

Andre’s heart pounded violently. The instant he met Ludwig’s gaze, he regretted his decision to bypass the Faen Family and negotiate directly with the Female Insect for the first time. He furrowed his brows tightly and began to question whether his choice had been correct.

Everything came with a price. There were never unequal chips; behind every seemingly unequal exchange lurked even more brutal trades and losses.

In an instant, Andre was enveloped by an unprecedented sense of intense foreboding. He wrinkled his brow, his heart racing. He wasn’t sure if he could bear the hidden cost.

But at the same time, something else inside him screamed that he could bear it—that of course he could bear it all.

Andre lowered his gaze. Few could resist such immense temptation. He was overwhelmed by massive joy and excitement.

The path ahead had reached its end. The young future monarch had yet to experience enough setbacks, leading him to say words that bordered on rudeness: “Your Excellency, have you ever thought about making a change?”

It was an invitation, almost explicitly revealing his ambitions.

Perhaps it hadn’t been rudeness from the start—just a probe.

“At that time, supreme glory will crown you. If you are willing—”

“Supreme glory crowning me?” Ludwig rolled those words, which others coveted, around on his tongue and chewed them over.

He was the only SSS-rank Female Zerg born from the Faen Family’s latest generation of insect eggs. He had inherited powerful genes and unparalleled talent.

From the moment he broke out of his shell, Ludwig had possessed everything—and the price of that everything was the responsibility of the entire family, the entire empire, and even the entire Zerg race.

He had already devoted half his life to the empire, fulfilling every duty to the utmost.

He had tasted supreme glory before. It was dull. Everywhere his tentacles reached was barren and dry.

He would not give up his freedom for such illusory honors.

Ludwig leaned his broad back against the chairback, his posture relaxed. A smile appeared on his sharply angled face: “What Andre wants to do, what the Andre Family wants to do, what you want to get, what the Andre Family wants to get—those are all your own affairs. They have nothing to do with me.”

“As long as you don’t provoke me, I won’t even glance your way. Understand?”

The temperature in Pochidu was low. Breath turned into white mist at the mouth, rising like fog.

Shen Yu stepped off the shuttle, looked up at the night sky. Stars flowed through the galaxy, much like the vast starscape he had seen as a child in the abandoned district—endless and unobstructed.

There were no skyscrapers in the abandoned district. Looking out, the entire galaxy stretched open, beautiful stars reflected in his eyes like a plunge into the ocean.

It looked like tonight would be another night of brilliant starlight.

Shen Yu’s fingers touched the bottom of the terminal, where a thin needle pressed against a grain-sized light yellow heat inducer hidden in the port. He asked 007: 【System, is my Heat Period coming up?】

Such a blunt topic. 007 sighed, recalling the terror of being dominated by the Little Black Room: 【In the end, Host still went along with it.】

Shen Yu blinked: 【Isn’t this part of the plan too?】

If he was going to bet, he’d bet big.

Ludwig, don’t disappoint me.

The poetry recital was held at the Earl’s Manor, nestled among relief sculptures and trees, with fountains and round tables dotted around.

When Shen Yu arrived by shuttle, Male Insects from all over had gathered. They were dressed splendidly, with various identities—poets, writers, critics, poetry enthusiasts—clustering in twos and threes around the round tables, chatting idly.

The Female Insects who had obtained entry tickets behaved impeccably, acting as escorts, and everyone enjoyed themselves.

Midway through, the earl organized a small game: write different questions on slips of paper, have everyone write poetic answers based on the questions, then compile the answers into poems. The game was fun, interactive, and satisfied everyone’s curiosity.

The crowd instantly grew excited and rushed to draw slips.

Shen Yu set down his wine glass and unfolded his slip. Sure enough, his luck wasn’t great—

He hadn’t drawn a good question.

“What does it feel like to be sick?”

What did it feel like?

Shen Yu lowered his lashes, gripping the pen and absentmindedly twirling it between his slender fingers. The black pen danced at his fingertips, almost leaving afterimages.

The silver-haired Male Insect leaned against the round table, tall and straight, his figure slender. His brows and eyes held a deep, cold aloofness, his snow-dusted long lashes suppressing a distant chill.

At such informal occasions, Male Insects dressed simply. The crisp white shirt was tucked into his narrow waist, and his long, straight legs were clad in modified gray combat pants that made them appear even longer.

As he twirled the pen, pondering carefully, he suddenly seemed to think of an answer. His waist bent slightly, and his unbound silver hair tilted with it.

Shen Yu scribbled two quick strokes on the slip, writing his answer.

After folding the slip, a shadow slanted over.

Shen Yu smoothed the folds of the paper. His light-colored long lashes lifted, light piercing through them to illuminate his eye color. His entire face was like a freshly cleaned oil painting, emerging completely from the dim shadows into the brightness.

That heart-stirring beauty struck Fred’s vision like a meteor.

Fred’s breath hitched. The major, slightly stiff, licked his lips and extended a hand to Shen Yu, asking softly: “Do you need me to take it over for you?”

Shen Yu’s gaze swept over the outstretched arm. A blue gem was creatively pinned to the cuff—hardly Fred’s style.

Shen Yu handed over the slip. Their fingertips brushed unintentionally. He had forgotten gloves today, and his cold fingers met a slightly warmer temperature, the sensation distinct.

Shen Yu glanced at the Female Insect before him. His military rank had risen quickly through the war; after the battle in the Scorpion Tail Star System, this major seemed on the verge of promotion to lieutenant general.

Getting entangled unclearly with one Male Insect, unable to draw boundaries, and now openly pursuing another—should one call this major arrogant, or just plain foolish?

Truly disgusting.

Shen Yu handed over the slip and quickly withdrew his hand in disgust.

At that moment, he suddenly sensed a terrifying gaze, almost tangible, landing on his back.

Shen Yu narrowed his eyes and turned his head. He only saw the shadows of the bushes. His brow twitched. A cold wind blew, seeping into his sleeves, carrying an eerie chill that seemed to forebode ill.

Shen Yu sneered inwardly. He wanted to see who was playing these ghostly tricks.

After Fred left, Shen Yu straightened up, turned, and walked alone through the winding path sprinkled with clear water, leaving the poetry recital behind.

The cobblestone path, washed with water, reflected faint white light and carried a damp chill, shimmering like rippling waves.

The silver-haired Male Insect passed through the flower-shaded path and stopped under the watery moonlight.

Soon, clear footsteps sounded in the night. Amid the rich floral fragrance in the air was another scent—warm and moist.

Shen Yu wrinkled his nose.

Shen Yu crossed his arms, lazily drooping his eyelids and leaning haphazardly against a corridor pillar. His long lashes were like snow-laden branches, staring at the ground.

This was a downhill path. The servants hadn’t been careful when sprinkling water, so at the bottom, a concave spot had pooled into water, gleaming like a swirl of mercury under the light.

Shen Yu appeared relaxed but was fully tensed, the entire insect on high alert.

The footsteps, heavy with pressure, drew closer.

One step.

Two steps.

Three steps.

A black military boot entered his view, shattering the pool of mercury.

A highly aggressive figure detached from the darkness, his shadow nearly engulfing Shen Yu entirely.

“Sadro.”

The temperature in Pochidu was very low, the damp chill soaking into exposed skin.

The man’s low, deep voice rang out in the endless night, as if the surrounding air had frozen solid.

“Being despised by you is my honor.”

A faint bloody scent drifted in the air.

Shen Yu lowered his gaze.

A blood-drenched severed arm was thrust before him. The blue gem at the cuff refracted the light, emitting an eerie icy blue glow.

“So, he touched you with this hand?”