When Yusto arrived at the royal palace, he saw that the council hall was already filled with figures. Among a cluster of sleek white silhouettes, several Northern generals dressed in black and gold military uniforms appeared conspicuously out of place, exuding an arrogant and domineering aura. They were unmistakably the forces of Faeus.
Yusto narrowed his eyes in silence, evidently puzzled as to why these Northern barbarians would be present at the meeting. He withdrew his gaze and took a seat at the table, conveniently next to General Saphir.
With a slight frown, Yusto lowered his voice and asked, “Why did His Majesty urgently summon us to the palace?”
General Saphir remained calm and shook his head, maintaining an unmoved demeanor as steady as a mountain. “Your Majesty has already negotiated with the Northern Zerg Clan to jointly eliminate the source of contamination stones. Today’s meeting is to announce this agreement.”
Upon hearing this, Yusto’s figure paused, as if he had guessed something, and he chose not to inquire further. In fact, he had already heard rumors, but he didn’t expect this day to come so quickly.
Before long, military commanders began to arrive one after another, including Emperor Apu. He usually dressed casually, but today, he wore a military uniform—a rare sight. His appearance closely resembled the former Zerg Emperor Gopin, but his aura seemed even more profound and inscrutable.
Witnessing the scene, Yusto couldn’t help but be reminded of his long-deceased father. He had only seen him a few times in his early childhood, and as decades passed, the memories had become blurred. However, at this moment, they suddenly became clear, faintly overlapping with the current Emperor Apu. He couldn’t help but be momentarily lost in thought.
Yusto recalled that Emperor Gopin had been laid to rest deep in the Solitiam Forest. He lowered his gaze, lost in silent contemplation.
The meeting commenced, and it became evident that Emperor Apu had indeed summoned the military commanders to discuss the removal of contamination stones from the Solitiam Forest. He began by instructing his subordinates to distribute a pollution index chart to each general. Then, in a solemn tone, he addressed the assembly: “The pollution index in Salaranfa has been exponentially rising over the past decade. The remaining areas for cultivation have significantly diminished. Whether in the west, north, east, or south, all regions have been significantly affected. It is at this time that we should collectively overcome this challenge.”
Pausing for a moment, he continued, “I have already negotiated with the Nothern Clan’s head, Faeus. The western and northern regions will jointly select a portion of elite forces rated A or above. They will form teams to enter the Solitiam Forest and eliminate the contamination stones. The southern and eastern regions will be responsible for reconnaissance, providing support from the sidelines. This mission is crucial, and we must completely eradicate the source of contamination.”
Upon hearing these words, the military commanders remained silent. They had entered the Solitiam Forest not less than a hundred times, yet every attempt had failed, resulting in the loss of numerous top-tier elites. The memories of those losses were still fresh in their minds.
General Hamer frowned, breaking the silence, “Your Majesty, the Solitiam Forest is fraught with danger. We have not been able to accurately detect the terrain and environment inside. In case…”
“Where is there so much nonsense?”
Faeus directly cut off General Hamer’s words, his expressionless face leaning back into the chair with his legs crossed lazily. He clearly looked down on these Western generals, his tone impatient. “Haven’t you in the West always regarded glory as life, considering death in battle as a belief? Why are you afraid now? Dying in the forest, isn’t that more glorious than dying under contamination?”
The last sentence was full of mockery and provocation. General Hamer’s face turned angry upon hearing this, and he stood up, slamming the table, “You barbaric and brainless zergs understand nothing! Leading troops into the forest without knowledge of the terrain is akin to sending them to their deaths. If you don’t care about your own kind, I care about my subordinates!”
The troops rated A or above were the cream of the crop, requiring countless years of effort to cultivate. Now, abruptly pulling away the majority of them to undertake a mission with almost certain death—how could anyone bear that?
Faeus remained indifferent to these words. His emerald green eyes, though appearing lively at first glance, were, in reality, cold and ruthless. He slowly curled his lips and said, “Then just stay in your comfort zone, waiting to be consumed by contamination. At least you’ll live a couple more days.”
General Hamer’s anger was palpable, “You!”
While Yusto did not appreciate General Hamer’s hesitant attitude, he disliked Faeus’ arrogance even more. Upon hearing their exchange, he raised an eyebrow and chuckled, “Even if the West stays in its comfort zone, we’ve entered the forest not less than a hundred times. Isn’t it the first time for the North? It seems you’ve grown tired of your comfort zone and are eager to rush to your deaths now.”
The Northern Zerg Clan had always been selfish and focused on their own interests. Before this, they had never taken any action to eliminate contamination stones. If this year’s pollution hadn’t become so severe, endangering the Hossburgh territory, Yusto had reason to believe that they would continue to watch indifferently from their comfort zone.
Upon hearing this, Faeus coldly raised his eyes, about to say something, but Emperor Apu, unwilling to see further verbal sparring, frowned and interrupted, “Regardless of the danger in entering the forest, removing the stones is imminent. This mission will be led by Yusto and Faeus, and General Saphir, with his extensive experience, will accompany the troops. When necessary, both of you should follow his commands.”
Emperor Apu needed to stay in the capital to stabilize the situation. Among his sons, only Yusto was suitable for this mission. If the stone removal succeeded, it would give him the confidence needed for future succession—
Even though this “confidence” might come with significant life-threatening risks.
Yusto, considering the situation, unconsciously furrowed his brow but still bowed and saluted Emperor Apu at the head of the table. “I will obey your command.”
Faeus, indifferent as ever, added, “I’ll listen to you.”
The subsequent discussion revolved around military deployment. Since any sophisticated equipment would fail deep within the forest, they couldn’t carry too much detection gear or supplies. They would have to go into battle lightly armed when the time came.
General Saphir, with his extensive experience, had already devised countermeasures for the situation. Combined with the topographical map provided by Lu Yuan, their chances of success were evidently much higher than the previous attempts.
Yusto, however, was restless throughout the entire meeting. He knew the battlefield was unpredictable, and a slight misstep could lead to his demise deep within the forest. In the past, he would have faced it without fear, but now, with the prospect of becoming partners with Lu Yuan, his thoughts weighed heavily on him.
He was so absorbed in his thoughts that he didn’t even notice when the meeting concluded. It wasn’t until Emperor Apu lightly kicked his chair that he slowly came back to reality.
“Yusto, if you’re unwilling to undertake this mission, stay in the capital as the regent. I will lead the troops.”
Emperor Apu believed that the throne required struggle and battle, and warriors should not fear death. However, facing the relatively young Yusto, he hesitated. He didn’t want Yusto to end up buried in the depths of the forest like his deceased brother, and he rare gave him room for regret.
Yusto, upon hearing this, frowned subtly. He pushed his chair back and stood up, looking directly at Emperor Apu. “Do you think I fear death?”
Emperor Apu’s gaze remained calm, as if he could see into Yusto’s heart. He hinted, “Yusto, you’re not afraid of death, but you fear the separation death might bring. In the long lifespan of a soldier, you’ve only traversed one-eighth. If you were to sacrifice yourself in the forest like your father, it would be too great a pity.”
In the vast conference room, with only the two of them present, Emperor Apu fell silent after his words. He patted Yusto’s shoulder and then slowly tightened his grip, as if sighing. “You are the only royal zerg prince, apart from Gaien, to break through to the S-rank. Your talents and achievements are the most noteworthy. Now, with a male zerg companion with 100% purity, when you inherit the throne in the future… Yusto, I believe there won’t be a female zerg in the entire empire who has lived a more fulfilling life than you.”
Emperor Apu, usually indifferent and ruthless, found himself unwilling to shatter this moment. “Before the team departs next month, you can still change your mind. While I hope you fulfill my brother’s wish as the crown prince, I equally hope you live well.”
Yusto interrupted, “No, I won’t change my mind.”
His deep voice echoed in the vast conference room, carrying an inexplicable sense of distant loneliness but couldn’t conceal his determination. “The Gohedra family has been guarding this land for generations. We’ve never retreated, nor have we feared death. I will fulfill my father’s unfinished wish, continue to protect the people he couldn’t, just as Faeus said. If one day we are destined to die, burying our bones deep within the forest will be the utmost glory.”
Emperor Apu frowned, “Aren’t you afraid of being separated from that male zerg?”
Yusto replied, “I will come back alive to see him.”
He gazed silently into Emperor Apu’s eyes, as if making a solemn vow. Each word was spoken with utmost sincerity, “Uncle, I will successfully remove the stones, and I will come back for him.”
…
The meeting continued until the afternoon. When Yusto hurried back to the academy, he discovered that Lu Yuan had sent him several messages inquiring about his whereabouts.
Yusto didn’t want Lu Yuan to know about the morning military meeting at the palace, so he claimed to be in class and promised to visit him in the dormitory later that evening. Fortunately, there were still two theoretical classes in the afternoon, so Yusto headed straight back to the classroom. After all, excessive absences would affect his graduation.
Yulejia was sitting at his desk reviewing notes when he casually glanced at Yusto, who had returned. He clicked his tongue in surprise and said, “Yusto, weren’t you feeling unwell and resting in the dormitory? Why are you back in class?”
Yusto was aware of Yulejia’s peculiar tone and replied, “I feel fine now. Can’t I come back to class?”
Yulejia noticed a slight change in the color of the zerg pattern on the back of Yusto’s neck. He sarcastically remarked, “Of course, of course, especially when you’re with a male with 100% purity. It wouldn’t make sense if you’re not feeling well.”
Yusto glanced at him with raised eyebrows, “What do you mean?”
Yulejia pursed his lips, pointing subtly at the back of Yusto’s neck, indicating there was something going on. “Hey, Yusto, your zerg pattern has already changed color. It’s clear that you’ve been marked by His Excellency Lu Yuan. Why pretend to be clueless?”
Yusto, upon hearing this, instinctively touched the back of his neck. Realizing it, he awkwardly adjusted his collar and frowned. “It’s none of your business. You shouldn’t be looking at things you’re not supposed to.”
Yulejia made a mocking face at him. “You, the guy who burns bridges after crossing them. I shouldn’t have helped you request leave this morning. But I heard from my brother that you’re leading the mission to clear the origin stones this time. Doesn’t that mean you’ll be separated from His Excellency Lu Yuan soon?”
This morning, all the females underwent a medical examination, and those rated A or above were included in the military’s action list. Lord O’Hara couldn’t bear to let his brother go “to his death”, so he secretly used his connections to remove Yulejia from the list. This left Yulejia feeling quite frustrated.
Upon hearing this, Yusto paused, then responded emotionlessly, “I’ll be back as soon as possible.”
Yulejia had a strange expression on his face. He thought that it wasn’t a matter of how soon Yusto would return but rather if he could return. However, he found it difficult to directly express that sentiment. He sighed and complained, “I really wish I could go with you. This mission will surely go down in history—a great honor.”
Yusto was evidently aware of the reasons behind it. “Lord O’Hara is doing it for your own good, Yulejia. Don’t make him worry too much.”
Yulejia rolled his eyes in response. “Got it. I’m learning.”
When it came to lengthy lectures, the students tended to get drowsy. The classroom was already filled with students dozing off while the teacher continued lecturing.
Yusto had never fallen asleep in class, but after a night of activities with Lu Yuan, he couldn’t help feeling a bit lethargic. Suppressing a yawn, he silently regretted why he had even bothered attending class. It would have been much more comfortable to go back to the dormitory and sleep.
The theoretical class teacher had a habit of extending the class, and there was no break even during class intervals. Yusto was bored, jotting down notes, when he heard two soft sounds from the window. Instinctively lifting his head, he saw Lu Yuan standing in the corridor outside, seemingly appearing out of nowhere.
Yusto: “???”
Lu Yuan, separated by the window, glanced at the teacher on the platform. Seeing that the teacher wasn’t paying attention to this side, he made a gesture, signaling Yusto to open the window.
Yusto, puzzled, still quietly opened the window, lowering his voice to speak to Lu Yuan, “Why are you here?”
Lu Yuan couldn’t exactly say he came to check on him. After all, Yusto hadn’t responded to any of his messages in the morning, and using the excuse of attending class was too far-fetched. He casually draped his coat over his shoulders, supporting himself on the windowsill. “I suspected you were skipping class, so I came to check. Is that not okay?”
Upon hearing this, Yusto felt a lump in his throat, thinking that the image of him being a lousy student in Lu Yuan’s mind was probably already established and hard to change. “I’m still in class. You go back to the dorm first, and I’ll find you after the class.”
Lu Yuan didn’t really come to check on him. He had gone to the cafeteria, noticed the empty kitchen, and negotiated with the chef to borrow some utensils. On his way back, he decided to prepare some food and bring it over.
Lu Yuan handed a package through the window directly to Yusto and succinctly said, “Take it.”
Yusto was momentarily stunned, subconsciously asking, “What is this?”
A meal specially made with love by yours truly.
Lu Yuan didn’t say a word, just responded, “You’ll know when you open it. I’ll go back to the dorm first. Find me after your class.”
Having said that, without waiting for Yusto’s reaction, he closed the window decisively and left, displaying an impressive level of aloofness.
“You…”
As Yusto was about to ask, he noticed that the teacher was frowning and looking in their direction. Quickly, he slid the bag under the desk and continued to lower his head, pretending to concentrate on taking notes. Internally, he felt an inexplicable tension: Could it be that Lu Yuan sent a bomb or something?
Yulejia, acting as a big third wheel, observed the entire process. He was even more curious than Yusto about what was inside the bag. Seeing that the teacher was still focused on the lecture, he nudged Yusto’s arm discreetly. “Hey, the teacher isn’t looking this way. Quickly, open it up. Let’s see what Lu Yuan sent you.”
They had no concept of gifts since, in Salaranfa, it was only the females who gave gifts to the males, and there was never a tradition of males giving gifts to females.
Yusto was equally curious, so he opened the bag in front of Yulejia. To their surprise, it contained various small snacks neatly arranged in transparent boxes, along with a thermos. They couldn’t help but be amazed.
Yulejia, wide-eyed and tongue-tied, couldn’t help but stammer, “Could it be that His Excellency Lu Yuan personally cooked and sent this to you?”
He knew how good Lu Yuan was at cooking, and the neatly packed meal didn’t look like something commercially available. It seemed clearly homemade.
Yusto was also a bit incredulous. Frowning, he opened the thermos and found a drink he had never seen before inside. It had a caramel hue, and a faint fragrance of milk wafted from it.
Is it milk tea?
Yusto’s mind was suddenly filled with this term. He remembered that Lu Yuan had mentioned during their previous casual chats that there was a type of bitter leaf among the Zerg Race. If boiled with milk, it could be made into milk tea, and the taste was surprisingly good. The drink in his hand seemed somewhat similar.
However, can something made from bitter leaves really be drinkable?
Yusto, filled with doubt, hesitated for a moment and took a sip. To his surprise, the taste was unexpectedly good. Just as he was about to take another sip, he casually glanced aside and noticed that Yulejia was staring at him with green eyes, practically drooling. “Yusto, what are you drinking? It smells so good.”
Yusto: “…”
Yusto immediately closed the lid, tightened it without a hint of emotion, and casually replied, “Oh, nothing special. Maybe it’s a drink that Lu Yuan made himself.”
Yulejia, hearing this, turned green with envy, pounding the table and muttering under his breath, “Damn it! Did you save Salaranfa in your past life? How can you encounter such a great male zerg! I don’t care; you must share a box with me!”
Yusto firmly refused, “No!”
Yulejia, unwilling to accept this, pleaded, “Half a box, just half a box?!”
Yusto remained resolute, “No!”
Yulejia tried a different approach, “Aren’t we brothers?!”
Yusto hesitated for a moment at the mention of brotherhood, finally relenting, “Fine, I’ll let you taste one.”
Yulejia exclaimed, “Damn, you’re more stingy than my brother!”
The friendship between Yusto and Yulejia has always been harmonious, and their playful banter has been going on for quite some time. Unbeknownst to them, the surrounding female zergs showed subtle and complex expressions, each with their own unique emotions.
As aristocratic sons, they had long been reminded by their families to find a way to get close to the male zerg with a pure blood purity of 100%, even if it meant offending Yusto.
When Lu Yuan came over to deliver food earlier, some sharp-eyed female zergs had already recognized him. After all, with such distinctive black hair and eyes, there was no second person like him in the entire academy. They never expected that Lu Yuan not only lacked any arrogance befitting a male zerg but also humbly came over to offer snacks to Yusto, all of which he personally made. Each detail was enough to make the surrounding female zergs seethe with jealousy as they overheard the conversation.
Yusto must have had some incredible luck to encounter a male zerg that’s considered hard to find by many. Little did he know, at the corner of the corridor near the stairs, Lu Yuan was secretly plotting, wearing a smug expression, and feeling like he held all the aces.
There’s no such thing as a free lunch. If Yusto ate his food, he would have to take him to the forest, or this matter wouldn’t be settled!
Author’s note:
Yusto: (▼ヘ▼#) Liar! Liar! Hmp! Take this!
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