Chapter 31
“If we can go out, we don’t need to buy too much, right? Otherwise, it might expire before we can finish it,” Shi Nuo asked tentatively.
Hugh Elvis glanced at the list Shi Nuo had compiled. “There’s a communication satellite orbiting this planet, did you know?”
Shi Nuo nodded. “Yes, a butler mentioned it when I arrived. He said I could use it to contact the outside world, but… there’s almost no signal here.”
“The tidal storms interfere with the signal. It’s weak most of the year,” Hugh wasn’t surprised. “That satellite also has monitoring equipment, not only to track my vital signs but also to detect Long Xu’s energy signature.”
“Today’s tidal storm destroyed that satellite. The house’s intelligent system was linked to it, and now all the data is corrupted.”
“The Elvis family openly monitors me, just to make sure I’m still alive. But the monitoring of Long Xu was done secretly by Yarlin.”
Long Xu, capable of space travel, could take them away from here at any time. To Yarlin Elvis, this was a threat he wanted eliminated.
Shi Nuo, recalling the data he had seen in the house, suddenly understood. Hugh had been checking the satellite’s status.
Hugh Elvis’s eyes turned cold. “With the monitoring equipment destroyed, they’ll likely send another satellite to continue monitoring.”
“But it will take them at least ten days to react and deploy a new one.”
The journey from the First Star System to this planet took about ten days at its fastest.
Transporting a satellite via expensive space jump points wouldn’t be justifiable for such a seemingly minor task.
After ten years of monitoring, with Long Xu never having appeared, anyone would become complacent. His half-brother, Yarlin Elvis, cunning and ruthless, had managed to secure his position within the complex power dynamics of the Elvis family, but he was greedy, short-sighted, easily swayed by emotions, and lacked any real talent for finance or business. His ambition far exceeded his abilities, and he wouldn’t devote his full attention to this remote planet.
The communication satellite didn’t necessarily have to be transported from the First Star System, but the specialized monitoring equipment couldn’t be acquired through other channels. Yarlin would want to continue monitoring Long Xu’s energy signature but, not wanting to reveal his actions to the rest of the family, would likely handle the satellite deployment himself.
This gave them at least ten days.
Thinking of his plan, Hugh looked at Shi Nuo. “This is an opportunity. After we leave, I’ll deploy some of Long Xu’s equipment. Any information they gather through the new satellite will be filtered through Long Xu. We might even be able to monitor them in return.”
“I’ll control the surveillance from now on, but there’s no need for us to leave frequently. I’ll buy as many supplies as possible, including vacuum bags and preservation containers, enough for you.”
Unlike him, the Omega’s dietary needs were more diverse. Even if the satellite hadn’t been destroyed, he wouldn’t let his mate face food shortages, even in winter.
The resources in the mountains were abundant, and further out, there were even richer areas. The reason they had stayed near the plains was because of the house.
Compared to living outdoors or in a cave, a fragile Omega was better suited to a warm, clean, and comfortable dwelling with modern amenities.
This was the first time Shi Nuo had heard Hugh talk about these things. He knew Yarlin Elvis was the current heir to the Elvis family.
From the Alpha’s cold, hostile expression, he sensed something unspoken and asked hesitantly, “Does your genetic disorder and pheromone instability have anything to do with him?”
The genetic disorder itself wasn’t outwardly visible. Apart from the incident with the interstellar stray beast, when he had been triggered and lost control of his pheromones, Hugh seemed like a normal Alpha.
Hugh Elvis raised an eyebrow, his sharp gaze softening slightly as he looked at Shi Nuo. The Omega seemed naive but not stupid.
He nodded. “Yes. When I was nine, his Omega father tricked me into consuming a beast heart. My genes were constantly being disrupted and rearranged, driving me into a berserk state. For years, they couldn’t find a cure, and after I was sent here, he finally got what he wanted: the title of heir.”
A beast heart.
Only beastmen in ancient times consumed them to evolve and gain human forms.
So that was the cause of his genetic disorder.
The Elvis family had covered it up, but it wasn’t surprising.
It wasn’t difficult to guess. He, the first heir, driven into a berserk state, had paved the way for Yarlin Elvis.
Power struggles were common, even among minor noble families, often turning violent and bloody.
After processing this information, Shi Nuo calmed himself and asked softly, “If they’re monitoring you, why not leave here, go somewhere more…free?”
The man’s hand, hovering over the virtual screen, froze. He turned to look at Shi Nuo, his expression unreadable.
Shi Nuo felt a surge of nervousness.
“You want to leave here?” Hugh Elvis asked directly, cutting to the chase, leaving no room for ambiguity.
The Alpha’s bluntness wasn’t new, but Shi Nuo was still caught off guard, his mouth opening and closing, unable to answer.
Hugh turned back to the data on Long Xu and said casually, “Why leave?”
He continued, as if not expecting an answer, “This is my territory, an entire planet that belongs to me. Even with the satellite surveillance, Yarlin and his Omega father can’t interfere with anything I do here. They’re probably worried I’ll recover, return, and take back what’s mine.”
That Omega, having failed to kill him the first time, must be filled with regret. But even though his relationship with his biological father was strained, he was the firstborn son, the former heir, and with the memory of his deceased mother, and the Elvis family’s reputation to consider, his father wouldn’t allow Yarlin and his Omega father a second chance.
After consuming the beast heart, his life force and energy signature had become so strong that the satellite could detect him but couldn’t gather any specific information.
As for Shi Nuo, he had seen the data exchange between the house’s intelligent system and the satellite. The Omega wasn’t even considered a monitoring target.
His insignificance, in this case, was an advantage.
Shi Nuo’s life force was too weak to be detected on a life-sustaining planet, even weaker than that of a wild animal, like a faint flicker in the vastness of space.
And he had already checked. Shi Nuo hadn’t been implanted with any monitoring chips or other devices.
The primitive, natural environment here had allowed him to recover. Apart from Shi Nuo, no one knew he had regained his human form, or his sanity.
He was free here, unrestrained. As for the satellite surveillance, he wasn’t concerned. He would soon control it himself.
As for the family’s wealth, power, and the title of heir, he had long since lost interest during those years of torment.
“There’s no conflict here. There’s no need to leave,” he said calmly, then, remembering Shi Nuo’s desire to leave, frowned, a vague unease settling over him.
He didn’t think Shi Nuo wanted to leave him.
This thought calmed him somewhat.
He looked at Shi Nuo, then asked casually, “Do you want the title of Elvis Family Mistress?”
Having lived as a beast for ten years, running wild and hunting, he had grown accustomed to this life and had no desire to return to the Elvis family. This was his true home.
But if Shi Nuo wanted it…
Shi Nuo instinctively shook his head. “No.”
Being misunderstood, his desire to leave mistaken for a desire for power, embarrassed him, and his eyes began to water.
“Then why do you want to leave?” Hugh asked, puzzled.
“I’m just…not used to it,” Shi Nuo admitted honestly.
“Not used to it,” Hugh repeated, trying to understand. “You have a house, electricity, clean water, food. You won’t starve.”
He provided for all of Shi Nuo’s basic needs, and he took care of his heat cycles. He couldn’t imagine what the problem was.
Unable to truly understand, he asked, “What are you not used to?”
Shi Nuo’s eyes glistened with tears. He bit his lip and said in a trembling voice, “There’s no one else here. No transportation, no shops, no star network…nothing.”
Hugh Elvis frowned. He couldn’t argue with that. There truly was nothing here.
These weren’t necessities for him, but for an Omega accustomed to a different life, they were probably important.
“I can’t buy you people. What do you need the star network for?” he asked.
Shi Nuo was taken aback by the question.
Of course, he couldn’t buy people, but Hugh’s expression was serious, not playful. He didn’t seem like the type to joke.
He thought for a moment. “To watch movies and TV shows. To buy things. The star network is convenient.”
Thinking about it, these weren’t essential. He could live without them. He just wasn’t used to it yet.
Realizing this, he lowered his eyes, his spirits sinking. These were just material comforts, nothing to be upset about.
Hugh Elvis considered this. “A star network signal base station would generate detectable energy fluctuations. And online shopping would leave a trace, revealing our location. It’s not safe yet. But movies and TV shows are easy. I’ll buy storage chips and a holographic projector. What do you want to watch?”
Shi Nuo’s dejection vanished instantly, and he looked up eagerly. “Everything! Buy those large capacity storage chips. The top hundred, no, top two hundred movies and TV shows.”
Remembering Hugh’s words about not leaving frequently, he amended his request. “TV shows are long. Top two hundred is enough. For movies…top five hundred.”
“Mm,” Hugh pulled up the list Shi Nuo had compiled earlier and added the requests.
“And animation. And books,” Shi Nuo added, then, realizing he didn’t know what specific books he wanted, said, “I don’t know which books to buy. I can’t make a list. Could I go with you?”
“Not this time. I’m going to the black market. It’s not safe,” Hugh refused, then, seeing the disappointment in Shi Nuo’s eyes, added, “Long Xu has a large cargo hold. I can bring back all the supplies you need. As for books…you want physical books? That’s easy. I’ll go to a bookstore and buy one of each. Two hundred enough?”
“Yes,” Shi Nuo nodded. “Choose from the entertainment and history sections. Comics are fine too.”
“Okay,” the man noted his requests.
They continued making their shopping list, discussing and adding items. For half an hour, Shi Nuo talked almost non-stop, saying more than he usually did in an entire day.
Hugh Elvis, his expression calm, dutifully recorded everything.
Finally, Shi Nuo reviewed the list. Apart from food, the rest were entertainment items. He couldn’t think of anything else he needed for now.
Buying so many things in bulk would cost a lot.
“Do you have money? I have some. It should be enough,” he hesitated, then asked cautiously.
If Hugh didn’t have enough, he had a seven-figure balance in his account, his savings, which should be enough for these relatively inexpensive items.
Hugh Elvis raised an eyebrow, stood up, and approached Shi Nuo, his sharp gaze intense as he looked down at the Omega sitting in the chair.
He ruffled Shi Nuo’s hair playfully, his deep voice rumbling, “Don’t worry about the money. I don’t need currency on the black market. There are two energy crystal mines in the mountains. I’ll just dig up some.”
Energy crystals were a universal currency, accepted everywhere.
“Okay,” Shi Nuo mumbled, trying to smooth his hair, but Hugh’s hand stopped him.
Hugh finally released his grip and asked suddenly, “Do you want clothes or jewelry?”
He remembered that many Omegas liked pretty clothes and jewelry. He had nothing like that to give Shi Nuo, only the silver chain.
There were many mineral deposits on this continent. He knew where to find gemstones, though they wouldn’t be cut and polished. If Shi Nuo liked raw stones, he could mine a few.
Shi Nuo thought for a moment. “No jewelry. A few sets of clothes. Five sets for each season, spring, summer, autumn, and winter. That’s enough.”
He glanced at the white animal skin around Hugh’s waist, then quickly looked away, and added shyly, “M-maybe you should buy some clothes too.”
When Hugh was in his human form, he only wore that animal skin. His strong, muscular physique was undeniably attractive, flawless, exuding masculinity. Even his face, despite seeing it every day, was still strikingly handsome.
Shi Nuo averted his gaze, embarrassed.
