Chapter 10: Pride and Weakness
Even in a well-fitting shirt, the deep red scar on Wien’s neck was still clearly visible.
Coagulated blood prevented the wound from continuing to bleed, and the color had changed from bright red to dark red. The pattern of the woven leather rope could be seen at the edges of the scar, looking more like a dark red iron chain wrapped around his neck, or perhaps an exquisitely crafted…
Collar.
He Yue walked ahead, Wien following behind carrying large and small bags, as if an invisible chain extended from the wound on his neck, the other end held in He Yue’s hand.
The gazes of the insects they passed varied, mostly not complimentary.
But regardless of the meaning behind their gazes, in Wien’s eyes, they were all expressions of envy or admiration.
He genuinely considered this a source of pride, secretly rejoicing.
There were many large shopping malls in the insect world, and as far as the eye could see, all the employees working in retail were female insects.
He Yue bought a lot of things at the art supply store, claiming that the painting that had appeared in his memory made his hands itch. Painting was his hobby, and before transmigrating, it was also his job.
He Yue looked at the items on the shelves and tossed a paintbrush into the shopping cart Wien was holding.
The shopping cart, initially empty, was quickly filled with various art supplies, He Yue picking out all kinds of paints and tools.
He Yue took out both cards and handed them to Wien: “Pay.”
This lifestyle of only looking at the goods and not the price was something He Yue had been accustomed to since childhood. Before transmigrating, no matter how much he spent at the mall, his family’s wealth wouldn’t decrease by a single digit. After transmigrating, he was a male insect with a military colonel and a research institute doctor rushing to give him money.
The hardships of life couldn’t touch him.
Wien handed his own card to the female insect store manager, packed all the items, and tossed the long receipt, almost long enough to make the receipt printer overheat, into the trash can beside the counter.
On their way back, they passed the base’s training ground and heard the unusually noisy commotion.
“The base is quite lively today.” He Yue glanced over.
The lines for distributing supplies and uniforms were long, and the newly enlisted military females were chatting with each other. The epaulettes they received were pieces of black cloth wrapped around cardboard, with only a single white horizontal line on them.
“These two days are for new recruits, and the enlistment ceremony will be held soon.” Wien explained.
He Yue leaned against the railing above, looking down at the new military female insects in the base, feeling that they were as excited and enthusiastic as the children participating in military training before he transmigrated.
Wien, still carrying the shopping bags, also stopped and stood by the railing.
(What are they so happy about? Won’t the military training be brutal?)
[Most of them are masterless female insects. Although they’re not qualified to be officers and can only ever be soldiers or sergeants, tools for combat, it’s probably still safer in the military than being the lowest-class slaves outside, livestock that can be trampled on at any time.]
Masterless female insects…
No wonder Koeyle tore open his accompanying male insect’s nurturing membrane to gain a few seconds to sign the contract. Even if he had to endure the backlash of the genetic imprint, he had to obtain the opportunity to become an officer.
Just as he was thinking, a few loud booms came from the training ground, smoke and fire filling the air and obscuring the view. The insects erupted in commotion, mixed with sharp screams.
Besides the burning smell, He Yue also distinctly smelled something strange.
Wien stepped forward and shielded He Yue behind him: “Is this female insect pheromone? Someone’s insectoidizing, so suddenly?”
(What effect does female insect pheromone have on me?) He Yue asked the system in his mind.
[Female insect pheromone is a tool used by female insects to compete for male insects. Higher-ranking ones suppress lower-ranking ones. It has no effect on the host.]
(What about insectoidization?)
[Female insects need the soothing pheromones of male insects to maintain mental stability. If their minds break down, it will lead to insectoidization, and then they will struggle and die in pain, and the process is irreversible.]
The smoke cleared, revealing a giant insect lying on its back on the training ground. It still had some life left, its limbs twitching in the air.
Its painful cries echoed throughout the base, initially loud and piercing, then gradually weakening, becoming softer and softer.
He Yue, as a transmigrator, had never seen such a large insect before. He frowned, turned his head away, and strode away from the scene.
A gunshot rang out close behind him, and He Yue stopped, looking towards where the sound had come from.
On the observation deck above the base, behind the railing, the gun was still pointed at the ground. Koeyle holstered the gun and said a few words to the female insect beside him.
Even from the long distance between the observation deck and the training ground, almost at the limit of the pistol’s range, his shot had still hit the vital point.
Even from a distance, He Yue could clearly see Koeyle’s expression. He was so calm and collected that it didn’t seem like he had just ended a life, as if it were an everyday occurrence.
Koeyle also saw him and walked towards him.
“Master, I apologize for this happening in the military zone. Are you injured?”
“Not at all, I was far away.”
Koeyle nodded slightly: “This kind of thing is likely to happen frequently these two days. Masterless female insects who can’t endure the new recruit training, or female insects whose male insects suddenly die, may insectoidize. This happens every year in every military zone.”
“Such dramatic events like sudden death also happen often?” He Yue asked.
Koeyle replied: “Perhaps it’s some kind of manipulation behind the scenes?”
Like Koeyle, killing their male insects or concealing the reports from the enlistment system, but the female insects’ genetic imprints and their need for male insect pheromones couldn’t fool anyone. They had to endure the torment of the genetic imprint and the lack of pheromones, struggling to survive under the threat of irreversible insectoidization and death.
“Not every female insect can replicate the colonel’s path.” He Yue looked at the lifeless insect on the training ground.
Koeyle’s initially calm eyes flickered with a strange expression. He adjusted his collar, a hint of amusement finally entering his composed tone: “That’s why I’m able to stand in this position.”
Even though his emergence had given countless female insects hope, so far, no one had replicated his path.
This was his pride.
Being able to endure the backlash of the genetic imprint to the point of being disgusted by male insect pheromones, being able to heal from war injuries without the soothing effect of male insect pheromones.
It was also his weakness.
He Yue understood and didn’t continue the conversation, waving his hand at him.
“At the new recruit ceremony in a few days, please remember our agreement, Colonel.” Koeyle paused, subconsciously touching the pocket of his military jacket.
The iron ball was still safely tucked inside.
“I will remember.”
The rising flames of his arrogance were doused considerably.
