Chapter 65: The Incident Arises Part 2

Isiris slapped a hand over his face. Just as Zane grinned to kiss his palm, a smack pushed him away.

“Leo,” he said to his child. “That’s enough.”

Over there, Li Ao—still pumped with adrenaline—hadn’t quite heard, continuing to swing the wooden sword on instinct. His blue eyes shone brilliantly. In the midst of another block, his hand was gripped.

The child panted heavily, clearly not yet processing what was happening.

“Rest for a bit.” Isiris placed a hand over his eyes, pulling him into his arms. “You’re about to exhaust yourself.”

Before the words even finished, Li Ao turned back into a kitten and passed out. The little guy rarely stayed in human form for long precisely because of this—prolonged time in humanoid shape burdened his body, plunging him into deep sleep.

“Isn’t this longer than before?”

As Isiris spoke, he reached out to stroke the kitten’s belly. The fluffy, warm little tummy rose and fell. Within two seconds of his palm pressing down, the kitten started snoring.

He fell asleep on the spot, without the slightest bit of lingering.

Silver Wing’s electronic eyes flickered as it rapidly calculated the result. “Forty minutes and five seconds.”

“Previous humanoid sustain time was between twenty-five and thirty minutes. This performance shows a clear extension.”

Isiris looked at the sprawled-out kitten in his arms, raising an index finger toward the front in a shushing gesture.

The robot’s program paused. Following his gaze, it took two seconds to detect a figure hurrying over anxiously.

The newcomer had just opened his mouth when he caught sight of the Monarch’s gesture and swallowed his words.

“Take him to rest.” Isiris handed the kitten to the robot, then bent down to pick up Xun—who had reverted to his coal-ball shape—and tossed him over too.

Golden hair fluttered in the wind as he turned and strode away, crisp and decisive.

Only after entering deep into the corridor, far enough from the area, did the man speak at the Monarch’s prompting glance. “Report from the Abyss Frontline: Xenoids and Xenoid Variants are rioting. The Third Legion is trapped.”

Before he finished, another stern-faced man approached to report: “Lord Caleb was attacked en route during diplomatic proceedings.”

Isiris didn’t break stride, only asking, “Any injuries?”

“No injuries, but in interstellar space, many are saying…” The man’s teeth ground together, seething with anger. “Demanding we hand over the little Highness.”

“Public opinion is raging. They say that since Highness Leo can cleanse Doom Virus contamination, he should help those in need find release. There’s even widespread rumors that Delphi has a cure for Doom disease but has been hoarding it.”

A millennium ago, Delphi had been thrust into the spotlight because of the Crystal of Delphi. Back then, the interstellar world had just encountered Xenoids, and humanity—once on the back foot—had gone mad with desperation, viewing that crystal as a divine miracle to change their fate.

It was only later that people recognized the truth: the crystal only worked on Delphi natives, and the side effects were immense. Outsiders who implanted it would instantly perish in a puff of smoke. Only after countless foreigners died trying did the rumors finally die down.

And now, Li Ao’s appearance had reignited the exact same scenario.

“Shameless.” Zane, catching up to them, let out a scoff. “How low can humans sink? To morally kidnap a child not even six?”

“Words are useless.” Golden eyes lowered slightly, gaze sharp as a blade, cold enough to make one avert their eyes. “Dispatch five legions to patrol the Delphi system border. Any suspicious individuals encountered are authorized for immediate execution.”

The Federation and other starfolk didn’t dare confront Delphi head-on, but there was no guaranteeing that some, driven to desperation by Doom disease, wouldn’t risk everything to come to Delphi for a shot.

They were dying anyway—maybe Delphi offered a slim chance. Such hope in desperation was enough to drive ordinary people to extraordinary acts.

“Zane.” Isiris said, “You’ve rested long enough. Handle diplomatic affairs. Depart immediately for the Federation core and rendezvous with Caleb. Demand they cooperate in quelling the public opinion.”

At Isiris’s words, Zane—who had just been exuding a carefree, debonair air—instantly shed his laziness, his expression turning solemn.

“Yes.”

The roguish smile vanished from his face, his melodious voice steady and crisp. In a breath, he transformed from a flamboyant noble into the empire’s sharpest blade.

“Bro, you…”

As if knowing what Zane would ask, Isiris looked up toward the Mandjet in the spaceport. “I’ll head to the Abyss Frontline myself.”

Golden lashes lowered slightly, making it hard for others to guess the Monarch’s thoughts.

Only Isiris himself knew: he had never feared human hearts, nor cowered before Xenoids. But now, he was a little worried about that little one. Knowing his father was heading out to battle again… he’d be sad, wouldn’t he?

After collapsing from exhaustion, Li Ao slept straight through to late at night, woken by a full bladder.

The kitten rolled out of his nest and trotted familiarly into the bathroom. After handling business, Li Ao returned to his cat bed with light steps, letting out a huge yawn at the soundly sleeping coal ball. He licked his newly sprouted little milk teeth, then turned his teary eyes toward the robot hibernating against the wall.

He wasn’t sleepy at all now. Sitting at the edge of the cat bed, he picked up a sparkly gem comb and groomed his big tail.

Stroke by stroke, finishing the tail then the belly, combing himself until his engine revved, purring loudly.

Short-legged cats were still cats. His excellent night vision and hearing picked up on something. Li Ao set the comb back in the nest, pattered to the door, poked his little head out, and listened curiously.

Was that Xixi?

The kitten’s ears twitched. Recognizing the sound from Isiris’s courtyard, he bolted off. Racing through the corridor, the Ground-hugging Supercar was fast, slipping right through the small door into Isiris’s room.

The moment the little guy entered, Isiris sensed him.

The man had just emerged from the bathroom, still steamy.

A white bath towel knotted around his waist hugged his narrow waistline, muscle lines carving sharply from waist to shoulders. His honeyed skin gleamed faintly damp under the warm indoor light. Golden strands draped loosely, a few clinging to his neck, water droplets trailing down his collarbone to land on his persimmon-hued nipples.

“Xixi!” The kitten dashed straight to his ankles and began rubbing.

“You’re wet.” Isiris bent to scoop him up, fingertips immediately finding the damp patch on his belly—clearly rubbed off from himself.

Isiris’s brows furrowed slightly. He simply yanked off his waist towel and briskly wrapped the kitten, rubbing him down without much force.

“Stay put. I’m going to change.” Isiris instructed tonelessly, turning into the inner dressing room. In mere seconds, he returned, a dark bathrobe draped over his shoulders.

The robe half-open, he tied the belt as he walked. “Why are you awake?”

Li Ao’s fur fluffed up from the towel-rub, head tilted back as he explained to the man, “I got up to pee, then heard noises from your side.”

Isiris chuckled softly. “Good ears.” He was cold by nature, rarely praising anything, but with this little one around, he’d gotten into the habit of encouragement.

“Heehee.” The kitten looked delighted, big tail swishing and knocking papers off the table onto the floor. “Xixi, why aren’t you sleeping?”

With departure looming, Isiris had soaked in the Purification Pool all night and had just showered upon return when the kitten caught him. The man picked up the cat and headed to the bed.

“I was out. Just got back.”

“Oh.” Once on the bed, Li Ao scampered straight to the man’s pillow and plopped down farmer-style.

Isiris reached out, kneading a cat ear. Amid the rumbling purrs, he said softly, “Leo, I’m heading out.”

The engine stalled. The Ground-hugging Supercar stood on all fours. Of course, with such a low chassis on the soft pillow, standing or sitting made little height difference.

“Where to?”

Isiris never lied, nor did he coax children. “I’m going to the human alliance’s Abyss Frontline. The situation there is dire. The Third Legion needs rescue.”

Never before had he so painstakingly explained his intentions to a cub like this. While lying in the Purification Pool, he had pondered for a long time over the little one’s reaction.

He probably wouldn’t cry outright, as he wasn’t the type to cry easily, but there would be clear grievance in his eyes.

What he hadn’t expected was that the cub merely stared blankly for a moment before asking, “When are you coming back?”

He was waiting for a firm return date. “You have to think about it very seriously and solemnly before answering!”

The fluffy little face was extremely solemn, with two small paws resting on the man’s thigh, claws slightly extended—as if to say that if the answer didn’t satisfy mii, mii would scratch him right then and there.

Isiris let out a low chuckle, pinched the cat’s nape, and promised, “I will return on the last day of July. That is July 31st—your birthday.”

The little one had been all puffed up and aggressive at first, but now that he had a real answer, he felt a bit down instead. He was already going to school and had learned a bit about calculating time.

It was only May now, which meant two whole months ahead. Two months equaled sixty sunsets. Li Ao would have to go that long without seeing him.

He dejectedly buried his head in the man’s embrace and muttered, “Xixi is going to fight the bad things…”

Isiris stroked his little body and quietly replied, “Yes.”

“The bad things are really bad…” He was a child who had made a deal with the laws—even if no one, not even the parties involved, knew about it—his instincts told him that the Xenoid Variants had to be eradicated. “The bad things eat people…”

“Yes.”

It wasn’t just for Delphi’s sake, but also for humanity, and above all, for the peace and safety of his child.

If the front lines fell, no one would be spared.

Isiris said, “It is a responsibility I must fulfill.”

The small body seemed to tremble faintly. He clutched at the man’s bathrobe and, after a long moment, mumbled, “You have to keep your word and come back that day.”

“I will do everything I promise you.”

“You have to call me too.”

“Alright.”