When the aircraft landed at the entrance of the palace, the patrol guards responsible for security witnessed a flash of blue figure descending from above, swiftly scrambling and running towards the direction of the council hall. Due to the hurried and frantic pace, the individual even accidentally stumbled on the steps, revealing themselves to be none other than Lord O’Hara, known for their usual composure and etiquette.
“Your Majesty! Your Majesty! I have an important matter to report!”
O’Hara was truly anxious to report this momentous news to the Zerg Emperor and, before entering the council hall, urgently shouted out. The Zerg Emperor, along with Duke Monck, heard the commotion and instinctively looked towards the entrance, only to see Lord O’Hara being intercepted by guards. His chest heaved unevenly, clearly having run all the way. If not for leaning against the door frame, he might have collapsed from exhaustion the next second. Urgently, he exclaimed, “Your Majesty! I have an important matter to report. Please allow me inside!”
Emperor Apu, seldom witnessing O’Hara in such a disregarded state of appearance, subtly furrowed his brow, thinking something serious must have occurred. He waved his hand, signaling the guards on duty to let him in, saying, “O’Hara, come in and speak.”
Lord O’Hara, having received permission, hastily pushed aside the blocking guard and rushed into the inner chamber. He raised the blood test report in his hand, his heart still unable to calm down. Gasping for breath, he addressed Emperor Apu, “Your… Your Majesty! The blood purity test report for His Excellency Lu Yuan is out!”
“What did you say? His Excellency Lu Yuan’s blood purity report is out?!”
Duke Monck had already secretly investigated Lu Yuan’s background. This male zerg hailed from a remote and underdeveloped third-tier star, devoid of any noble lineage. Despite his somewhat handsome appearance, his blood purity barely reached 40%. In contrast, Boya’s blood purity was a solid 45%.
For male zergs, once their blood purity reached 40%, attempting further purification seemed nearly impossible. If lucky, it would take an average of three generations to increase it by 1%. Although it appeared to be just a 5% difference, the span covered at least several thousand years.
As for the claimed 60% purity by General Saphir?
Well, that seemed more like a tall tale!
Duke Monck chuckled inwardly, disregarding the somber expression on Yusto’s face. He finally turned his gaze to Lord O’Hara, who seemed hesitant to speak. In a rather cheerful mood, Monck inquired, “Tell me, Lord O’Hara, what is the blood purity of that commoner male zerg?”
O’Hara, struggling to regulate his breath, pounded on his chest to ease the tightness. His rapid run had left him breathless, making it difficult for him to speak now.
Yusto instinctively stepped forward and asked, “Is the data 60%?”
O’Hara vigorously shook his head.
Yusto’s expression subtly changed, and he anxiously pressed on, “Then, is it 45%?!”
Lord O’Hara continued to vigorously shake his head, a movement that sent Yusto’s heart plummeting. Seeing this, Duke Monck coldly sneered, “So, it turns out to be a commoner male zerg with a blood purity that doesn’t even reach 45%, daring to come to the imperial capital and deceive everyone! Your Majesty, I earnestly implore you to severely punish him, immediately deport him to a desolate star…”
“No—!”
Duke Monck’s words were abruptly cut off by the furious outburst of Lord O’Hara. Holding up the blood purity report, he looked at the Zerg Emperor, took a deep breath, and then revealed an explosive piece of news that could shock the entire Salaranfa: “Your Majesty, His Excellency Lu Yuan cannot be harmed right now because his blood purity is…”
Lord O’Hara swallowed hard, his face contorted with excitement. Finally, he managed to utter those words with difficulty, “It’s 100%!”
A crashing sound echoed, as if a vase had shattered and fallen to the ground.
Emperor Apu, upon hearing the revelation, abruptly stood up from his seat with such force that he nearly toppled the chair. Uncharacteristically agitated, he exclaimed, “What did you say?! What is his blood purity?!”
Upon hearing this, Duke Monck snapped out of his shock and erupted in anger, exclaiming, “How is that possible?! Nonsense! What kind of joke are you playing?!”
He couldn’t fathom the idea of Salaranfa having a male zerg with a blood purity of 100%. In disbelief, he quickly advanced and snatched the test report from Lord O’Hara’s hands. However, as Duke Monck scanned through the data, his expression turned extremely unpleasant. He looked at the bottom row of figures, and a sense of shock overcame him. Uttering in disbelief, he said, “100%? No… this can’t be possible! It must be a problem with the equipment!”
“There is nothing impossible, Your Majesty!”
O’Hara coldly spoke up and directly snatched the report from Duke Monck’s hands, feeling quite displeased at being called a joke by the old man. “To ensure the accuracy of the data, the medical officer divided the extracted blood sample into sixteen parts and tested each one with sixteen different instruments. If you want to see the other fifteen reports, I can show them to you right now!”
After his statement, O’Hara handed the report to Emperor Apu, looking at him with a solemn expression. He furrowed his brow and earnestly said, word by word, “Your Majesty, this data is undoubtedly accurate. When Prince Yusto experienced a psychic outbreak, that male zerg calmed an S-rank royal zerg without even being marked by him. Aside from a blood purity of 100%, I can’t think of a second explanation for such behavior.”
Emperor Apu’s expression fluctuated as he listened. He took the blood test report from O’Hara and carefully examined it from beginning to end. The tightly furrowed brows gradually relaxed a bit, revealing a rare hint of relief. He then turned his gaze towards O’Hara and said, “O’Hara, I want you to swear to the Zerg God that this report is genuine!”
O’Hara placed his hand over his heart and solemnly declared, “Your Majesty, I swear to the Zerg God that everything I’ve said is true. If there’s even half a falsehood, my family’s honor shall bear endless shame!”
Duke Monck and Duke Durant standing nearby felt a sudden dizziness, their steps wavering, almost stumbling to the ground. If this report was indeed true, wouldn’t Lu Yuan become the only male zerg in Salaranfa with a blood purity of 100%? Retaliating against him would be the least of their worries; avoiding retaliation from Lu Yuan would be the real challenge!
Duke Monck’s face turned ashen, filled with a sense of dismal defeat. He was so furious that his teeth seemed on the verge of grinding into pieces. He couldn’t believe such an absurd thing could happen in Salaranfa. It was infuriating!
The quickest to regain composure was surprisingly Yusto. He felt a massive weight lift off his heart because this meant Lu Yuan finally possessed a get-out-of-jail-free card. “Your Majesty, since His Excellency Lu Yuan’s blood purity report is 100%, according to the Imperial Reproduction Laws, the pardon authority surpasses all male zergs. Please immediately instruct the military to release him!”
Emperor Apu didn’t appreciate the way Yusto let the emotions of the male zerg influence him. However, breaking with tradition, he didn’t counter him this time. Instead, he immediately ordered his subordinates to instruct the military to release Lu Yuan and have him undergo a detailed medical examination at the interstellar hospital.
However, an unexpected message came from the military: “Reporting to Your Majesty, His Excellency Lu Yuan suddenly felt unwell and fainted during interrogation half an hour ago. He is currently receiving treatment at the interstellar hospital.”
Leaving aside the severity of Lu Yuan’s fainting spell for the moment, the news did startle everyone. After all, he was the Empire’s sole male zerg with a blood purity of 100%, and any mishap was intolerable.
Upon hearing the news, Emperor Apu immediately rushed to the hospital with Yusto and Lord O’Hara. As he left, he saw the Duke Monck and Duke Durant looking like they had lost the world. He halted and, devoid of emotion, issued a warning, “This matter is of great significance. Until everything is settled, I do not want it to become common knowledge. Do you understand?”
Indeed, it was a directive to keep their mouths sealed.
Duke Monck, upon hearing this, wearily closed his eyes. In an instant, he seemed to have aged considerably. A premonition lingered in his heart, suggesting that the appearance of this male zerg might alter the current situation of the empire. Reluctantly, he bowed and said, “I will comply with your command. I will not utter a single word about it.”
Yet, a lingering doubt crossed his mind. Could such significant news truly be kept hidden?
Meanwhile, Lu Yuan was lying in the hospital undergoing treatment. After the doctor moved him to a deluxe ward and administered a fever-reducing injection, his burning body temperature finally started to decrease, making him feel more comfortable.
Lounging in bed, Lu Yuan stretched lazily under the covers without making a sound. He thought about something and glanced to the side, only to find the middle-aged female zerg who had interrogated him standing there like a statue. A headache washed over him.
Considering his age, which seemed even older than his grandfather’s, Lu Yuan reluctantly maintained the traditional Earth value of respecting elders. He furrowed his brow and reminded him, “I’m going to sleep now. You can leave.”
Lu Yuan had just experienced the relentless interrogation in the examination room, feeling almost driven crazy by the persistent elder. In order to escape this ordeal, he went as far as pretending to faint to end up in the hospital, only to discover that the interrogator, like a piece of chewing gum, stuck with him relentlessly. No matter how he tried to shake him off, it seemed impossible.
The middle-aged military female zerg, upon hearing his request, didn’t even lift an eyelid. Calmly, he said, “Your Excellency, I must remind you that the testimony is not complete yet. Until then, I have to keep an eye on you to prevent any escape attempts through the hospital window.”
Lu Yuan thought to himself that this place was damn near 84 stories high. Only a lunatic would try to escape through the window. Did he want him to end his life?!
Lu Yuan sat up directly from the hospital bed, glaring at him. “How can I get you to leave?!”
The middle-aged military female zerg raised an eyebrow, seemingly surprised by Lu Yuan’s patience. If it were any other male zerg, they would have thrown a fit by now. He maintained his calm demeanor and said, “Your Excellency, I’ve said it before. I only need a truthful testimony.”
Here we go again.
Hearing those words, Lu Yuan felt a physiological headache. He wearily lay back on the bed, covering his eyes with the back of his hand. “I’ve said it a hundred times already. I injured that male zerg. Whatever punishment you want to give, go ahead.”
The middle-aged military female zerg flipped through the transcript in his hands. “Your Excellency, even though you admit to the incident, many details don’t match. Moreover, according to the testimony recorded by His Excellency Boya, he claims to have been injured by Prince Yusto. Can you explain that?”
Lu Yuan gave him a perfect explanation, “I messed up his brain.”
The military female zerg in charge of the interrogation obviously didn’t buy into Lu Yuan’s clumsy lie. He calmly spoke, “Your Excellency, while male zergs engaging in physical altercations won’t face any bodily punishment, His Excellency Boya is a noble male zerg, and his blood purity is a significant 45%. If he insists on pursuing this matter, you might be deported to a desolate star…”
So,
“You actually don’t need to shoulder this charge for an unrelated female zerg. Just confess truthfully, and you can be released from the interrogation now.”
Lu Yuan opened his eyes at the words. “Just deportation to a desolate star for male zergs?”
The military female nodded. “Yes.”
Lu Yuan asked, “And the female zerg?”
He smiled, “While harming a male zerg is a serious crime, Prince Yusto won’t be in mortal danger as the heir to the throne. At most, he’ll receive a hundred lashes with the light whip and need half a year to recover.”
After saying this, seeing Lu Yuan remaining silent, the military female hinted at something, “His Highness, with his rebellious personality, has always been like this from childhood to adulthood. He used to offend male zergs more times than you, enduring countless lashings until he finally toned it down a bit in adulthood… Although a hundred light lashes are severe, for him, it’s not too much. An S-class royal zerg can completely withstand it.”
He finished speaking and looked up at Lu Yuan, suddenly curious about how this male zerg would choose. After all, no one could deny the formidable strength of an S-class royal zerg.
The Zerg God not only granted the Gohedra family the supreme royal authority but also bestowed them with incredible healing abilities. No matter how severe the injuries on their bodies, as long as they didn’t affect the bones, after a prolonged period of healing, they would always be restored to their original state.
Take the Seventh Prince, for example, with his untamed spirit. No one could tell that he had endured lashings more than thirty-seven times. For any other female zerg, they would likely be dead or maimed, but he could still go into battle and kill enemies with an unchanged expression.
Lu Yuan, upon hearing that Yusto had also endured lashings before, couldn’t help but be momentarily stunned. “A hundred light lashes? Won’t he die?”
The military female shook his head lightly, seemingly smiling. “He’s used to it.”
At least for now, Yusto was still alive.
“Your Excellency, while the Durant family has not yet pressured the military, you still have time to change your testimony. The environment on a desolate star is harsh, and fragile male zergs cannot survive there. It’s better to leave this matter for the female zergs to bear…”
The military female always spoke in a calm and logical manner, even earnestly analyzing the pros and cons for Lu Yuan, encouraging him to make the most sensible choice.
However, Lu Yuan stared back at him and asked, “Do you think it’s more severe for me to be deported to a desolate star, or for him to endure a hundred lashes?”
Upon hearing this, the military female seriously contemplated for a moment, “From my perspective, of course, it’s more severe for you to be deported to a desolate star.”
“Is it? But my view is exactly the opposite of yours.” Lu Yuan’s tone was indifferent, and he even smiled, “I can survive anywhere, whether it’s a desolate star or the capital. There’s no difference for me.”
After saying this, he directly took the transcript from the military female’s hand, flipped to the page containing his testimony, and swiftly signed his name. His tone, in stark contrast to his earlier nonchalance, was resolute as he drove the pen through the paper, “This is my final testimony, and I won’t change a single word. You can submit this testimony as it is; I accept whatever consequences come my way.”
Lu Yuan is like wild grass, able to thrive wherever it is planted. Changing environments doesn’t bother him much. However, the same accusation falls upon Prince Yusto, and he must pay the price in blood. Lu Yuan cannot fathom the wretched appearance Yusto might have under the lashings.
Noble blood should not fall to dust.
After signing the document, Lu Yuan laid back on the bed, covering himself with the blanket, indicating a clear dismissal. The military officer silently observed Lu Yuan’s actions, narrowing his eyes without saying a word. His expression seemed somewhat complex. He appeared to have something to say but ultimately chose silence. Holding the document, he quietly left the hospital room.
The entire floor of the interstellar hospital had been cleared in advance. Guards armed with live ammunition stood at every corridor and corner, ensuring tight security. There was no other reason than the fact that the Zerg Emperor himself had arrived.
After the military officer emerged from the hospital room, he saw the Zerg Emperor and Lord O’Hara standing quietly at the door. Prince Yusto remained silent, leaning against the wall with his head lowered, lost in thought, his tall figure casting a deep profile in the shadows.
The hospital corridor was eerily quiet. The military officer, seeing the Zerg Emperor, didn’t express surprise but instead calmly bowed and whispered, “Your Majesty, the testimony has been recorded.”
The Zerg Emperor acknowledged with a sound of agreement, “Thank you, General Lulin.”
The military officer who conducted the interrogation with Lu Yuan turned out to be a General in the Imperial Army.
General Lulin smiled and casually tucked the transcript under his arm, saying, “It was indeed a bit ‘troublesome’. When that gentleman confessed, he was remarkably straightforward. You told me to delay his confession, and it did take some effort.”
After his words, General Lulin noticed Prince Yusto standing nearby. He walked over, patting him on the shoulder with a gaze filled with the kindness of an elder. He sighed, “You’re fortunate this time. You won’t have to go to the military department for corporal punishment. I don’t want to be your supervising officer again.”
Upon hearing the words, Yusto closed his slightly reddened eyes, saying nothing. He asked in a subdued tone, “How is he doing? His condition?”
The “he” referred to undoubtedly was Lu Yuan.
General Lulin wasn’t sure how to explain to Yusto about Lu Yuan intentionally pretending to faint to avoid the interrogation. He hesitated and said, “It should be fine. Maybe it’s just a recurrence of old injuries. The doctor mentioned there is still some residual snake venom in his blood, but a few days of treatment should suffice.”
Hearing this, Yusto straightened his posture, thanked General Lulin, and then turned to enter the ward. With a backward motion, he closed the door with a loud “bang”.
“Thud—”
Lord O’Hara had intended to follow inside but was abruptly stopped outside the door. Seeing this, he was momentarily stunned and instinctively looked to the side at Emperor Apu, asking, “Your Majesty, shouldn’t we go in?”
Emperor Apu remained silent for a moment, pondering something. He then said, “Forget it, Yusto probably doesn’t want us to go in right now. The blood of that male zerg has already been submitted to the testing room. Let’s go check the results. I don’t want any errors in this matter.”
At the same time, he couldn’t help but find the situation tricky. The appearance of a male zerg with a blood purity of 100% in the Salaranfa Empire could lead to complications. Once the news spread, not only would the nobles be agitated, but there was also a risk of interference from the Zerg Clan in the northern regions.
Author’s note:
Lu Yuan: QAQ Me! Earthling! Strong! I can survive anywhere!
