No matter what race, crowds always hold a certain curiosity towards the unknown. Even before Faeus returned to the city with his team, news of Western male zergs staying at the Chloe Hotel had already spread throughout Hossburgh. This led to a several-fold increase in pedestrian traffic on the nearby streets, all residents coming to “witness” out of curiosity.
Just as the Western male zergs desired to taste the flavor of the Northern female zergs, the Northern female zergs were equally curious about what the Western male zergs looked like.
Today, as the snowfall finally ceased and the sun emerged, it was a rare sight. Several elegantly dressed female zergs sauntered near the hotel, clearly up to no good. With mischievous smiles, they whispered to each other:
“Hey, I heard that the male zergs from the west are all clean and pristine-looking. I wonder if it’s true.”
“In their region, males are revered. Are you suggesting we should kneel down and take a whipping like those Western females?”
“Well, if he’s handsome enough, it’s worth considering.”
“Shouldn’t you be more concerned about whether they’re robust down there?”
Their conversation erupted into a burst of crude laughter, immediately drawing several glances from passersby. One of the female zergs laughed so hard that tears welled up in his eyes, pointing at his companion and saying, “Elden, then you’ll be disappointed. Those male zergs from the West are short and weak, not even comparable to our Northern ones.”
Elden was about to respond when suddenly, a figure appeared at the hotel entrance, astonishingly the Western male zerg they had been waiting for. However, this zerg didn’t appear short or weak at all. On the contrary, he was slender, with striking black hair and eyes, and an exceptionally fair complexion. Standing in the snow, he resembled an ink painting.
Elden and his companions found themselves unconsciously holding their breath, their eyes nearly bulging out in astonishment. It wasn’t until the male zerg was about to disappear from their sight that they realized what was happening and hurriedly chased after him. However, before they could even exchange a word, they were suddenly caught off guard as two gun barrels pressed against their lower backs.
“Stop right there!”
Soldiers responsible for protecting Xu Cenfeng had been shadowing them all along. They aimed their guns at the group of troublemakers, issuing a stern warning, “Dare to harass the male zergs within Hossburgh? Do you want to spend time in the prison of Blackstone City?!”
Blackstone City Prison was the most heavily guarded prison in the Northern region, rumored to house countless vicious interstellar criminals, earning its reputation as a purgatory-like existence on Salaranfa.
Elden and his companions were nothing more than a group of small-time troublemakers. Upon hearing this, they froze in fear, their bodies stiffening. With a strained voice, Elden tried to argue, “Who harassed the male zerg? Which of your eyes saw us harassing them?! Wearing military uniforms doesn’t make you superior, does it?!”
“Yeah, that’s right!”
Faeus’ subordinates shared his temperamental nature. Upon hearing Elden’s loud protests, one of them reached out and grabbed Elden, preparing to give him a piece of his mind. However, just as he was about to do so, Xu Cenfeng, who was walking ahead, seemed to sense something amiss. He turned back abruptly and retraced his steps.
Xu Cenfeng hadn’t expected trouble right after leaving the building. Observing the commotion before him, he spoke up, “What’s going on here?”
The soldier quickly explained, “Your Excellency, these troublemakers were attempting to harass you.”
Elden’s protests grew even louder upon hearing this. “I didn’t even touch him or speak to him. How is that considered harassment?! By that logic, you talk to me so much, isn’t that harassing me?!”
The soldier, infuriated, raised his fist. “You!”
“Enough—”
Xu Cenfeng intervened, raising his hand to stop the soldier, and said, “They’re just a bunch of youngsters. Let them go.”
The group of troublemakers before him looked to be around sixteen or seventeen years old, akin to high school students on Earth. In Xu Cenfeng’s eyes, they truly seemed no different from children.
Elden, always ready to exploit a situation, chimed in, “Yeah, that’s right! Didn’t His Excellency just say it? Hurry up and let us go!”
The soldier, hearing this, reluctantly released Elden.
Xu Cenfeng calmly assessed the group of teenagers before him, his gaze settling on Elden, the apparent leader. Elden sported a head of brown curly hair, with a youthful face and cunning eyes, appearing quite familiar.
Xu Cenfeng paused for a moment, lowering his gaze in contemplation. After a brief moment of reflection, he finally remembered who Elden was—
One of Faeus’ trusted confidants from his past life.
In the previous life, Faeus had two beloved confidants, one of whom was Hawke, and the other was Elden.
Compared to the noble-born Hawke, Elden’s story as a general was more intriguing to everyone. He hailed from the slums of the Lower Third District since childhood, often landing in prison for theft, making him the lowest of the low in Hossburgh.
But it was precisely this “lowly” zerg who, by a twist of fate during a rebellion, saved Faeus’ life. He later became the right-hand zerg to that leader, accompanying him through numerous life-and-death situations. Rising through the ranks, he eventually attained the prestigious position of general, accomplishing a remarkable leap across social classes and becoming a legend in his own right.
But this “legend” of Hossburgh hadn’t yet encountered his moment of glory. Currently, he was just a penniless street thug, far from the mature and steady demeanor of his past life.
Encountering this “old acquaintance” again, Xu Cenfeng couldn’t help but smile. “What’s your name?”
Seeing the male zerg smile so charmingly, Elden, surprisingly, felt a bit embarrassed and scratched his head. “Elden.”
Xu Cenfeng continued, “How old are you?”
Elden answered honestly, “Eighteen.”
Still so young.
Observing the harsh weather outside and noticing their thin clothing, Xu Cenfeng scanned the surroundings and spotted a restaurant ahead. Taking the initiative, he extended an invitation, “I apologize for my friend’s misunderstanding earlier. If you don’t mind, how about having a meal together? Consider it my way of making amends.”
His words caught not only Elden and his group off guard but also the soldiers behind them.
Elden and his companions were surprised. Not only did Xu Cenfeng look handsome, but he also had a kind personality. They hadn’t expected such a good-natured demeanor, not just from a proud and hard-to-please male zerg but even from a female zerg.
The two soldiers hadn’t expected Xu Cenfeng to refer to them as friends. After all, they were assigned to protect Xu Cenfeng; they were guards, or, to put it bluntly, servants. The word “friend” carried immense weight among the Northern zerg community and wasn’t uttered lightly.
Seeing their silence, Xu Cenfeng took it as a tacit agreement and smiled. “Let’s go then. It just so happens I haven’t had lunch yet.”
With that, he led Elden and his group of street thugs into the adjacent restaurant. Following the waiter’s guidance, they chose a round table and took their seats. Xu Cenfeng ordered a meal for each of them, including the two soldiers.
Elden felt even more embarrassed. Initially, he had just wanted to tease this Western male zerg, but now the zerg was treating them to a meal and apologizing. Elden found himself feeling extremely guilty. “Your Excellency, thank you for your hospitality. I’ll definitely repay you if I have the chance.”
Coming from the slums, without education or military service, they usually lived hand to mouth. They rarely had the opportunity to dine in such upscale restaurants.
Xu Cenfeng simply shook his head slightly. “There’s no need for such formalities among friends.”
This meal might not mean much, but it served as a token of gratitude for saving Faeus’ life in the past. Xu Cenfeng vaguely remembered how, in his previous life, Elden always intervened to mediate whenever he and Faeus reached an impasse. Reflecting on it now, there was a hint of regret.
The Northern culture was robust, reflected even in the style of the restaurant’s food. The waiter brought the dishes one by one, each containing a large piece of unidentified grilled meat, hefty and substantial.
Elden and his group were famished and immediately dug in with gusto upon seeing the food. Xu Cenfeng, not particularly hungry, only ordered a small cake and ate it leisurely.
Although zergs frequently passed by outside the restaurant, it remained quiet. Occasionally, a few snow crows flew by, their wing flaps resonating distinctly in the snowy landscape.
Just as Xu Cenfeng finished his meal and prepared to settle the bill, a sudden commotion erupted outside. Countless female zergs hurriedly ran past the restaurant entrance, rushing excitedly towards a certain direction. The scene seemed chaotic, occasionally accompanied by enthusiastic shouts from the crowd:
“Good news! Good news! Lord Hill is visiting the Morhan Arena today! Female zergs who want to participate in the selection, hurry up and register!”
“Hurry! There’s no time to waste!”
“Hey! How dare you push me!”
Although Xu Cenfeng had spent some time in Hossburgh in his previous life, there were still many things he didn’t fully understand. Seeing the zergs outside rushing towards the central area, he couldn’t help but feel curious. “What’s happening outside?”
Elden glanced back and then explained, “Oh, Lord Hill is probably at the Morhan Arena selecting a mate. He’s the male zerg with the purest bloodline in all of Hossburgh and is very popular. Any female zerg who can defeat all opponents in the arena will win his favor. That’s why those female zergs are rushing to register.”
Elden’s companions also looked hopeful. “They say Lord Hill’s blood purity is as high as 52%, and his pheromones are exceptionally delicious. I wonder if it’s true.”
In the Northern region, the method of selecting a mate was vastly different from the West. Female zergs only needed to participate in the selection at the Morhan Arena. If they could defeat all opponents within three rounds, they would have the opportunity to be with the male zerg they favored.
Lord Hill was currently known as the male zerg with the highest blood purity in Hossburgh. Additionally, he came from a noble background, so it was not an exaggeration to say he was the center of attention. He had announced his intention to select a mate early on, and his appearance at the Morhan Arena today had caused quite a stir.
Xu Cenfeng thought for a moment and then asked, “Aren’t you going to check it out?”
These female zergs were too young to participate in the fights, so at most, they could watch from the sidelines.
Elden shook his head. Despite their young age, they were quite observant. It was no wonder he could become Faeus’ right-hand zerg in the future. He smiled and said, “I’ve seen Lord Hill before. He’s not as handsome as you. I think I’d rather look at you.”
Due to racial factors, most Northern zergs had a bronze skin tone, including the male zergs. Xu Cenfeng, with his jet-black hair and eyes, epitomized the most revered black color in the Northern region. His fair complexion and handsome features made him a striking figure in Hossburgh.
Elden’s companions nodded in agreement with Elden’s statement.
Xu Cenfeng chuckled at their response, remaining silent as he signaled for the waiter to bring the bill and pay with a card. As for where the card came from, Xu Cenfeng wasn’t sure. It had been in his pocket ever since the soldiers had given him replacement clothing. He saw no reason not to use it.
After the waiter processed the payment, they respectfully handed the bill to Xu Cenfeng. “Your Excellency, here is your bill. We look forward to your next visit.”
Seeing Xu Cenfeng finishing the payment, the two soldiers couldn’t help but ask, “Your Excellency, are you not planning to visit the Morhan Arena?”
Xu Cenfeng rarely frequented crowded places like that. “No, I’ll just take a stroll around here and then head back.”
These two soldiers were usually quiet and reserved, rarely speaking much. However, today, they broke their silence to urge, “Are you really not planning to go in and see what’s happening?”
Xu Cenfeng paused slightly at their unexpected insistence, sensing that something was amiss. Curious, he asked, “What’s wrong?”
After hesitating for a while, one of the soldiers finally blurted out, “Supreme Leader Faeus might also be inside.”
He hadn’t intended to say it, but Xu Cenfeng seemed too kind-hearted to withhold the information.
“…”
The Morhan Arena hosted competitions of all sizes every day, becoming the most popular entertainment venue in the area. From nobles to commoners, whenever they had leisure time, they would buy tickets to watch the excitement. However, today’s event seemed particularly grand.
Xu Cenfeng bid farewell to Elden and his companions, then approached the ticket booth at the arena to purchase an entrance ticket. Fortunately, as a male zerg, he had access to the VIP channel. Meanwhile, the female zerg area was in chaos, with several barriers broken due to the frenzy.
The two soldiers struggled to protect Xu Cenfeng amidst the crowded zerg tide, but they were stopped by security guards at the entrance. The reason? They didn’t have entry tickets.
The soldiers were infuriated, nearly drawing their guns. “Open your zerg eyes wide and see clearly! We’re the personal guards of Supreme Leader Faeus!”
The guard, unfazed by their claims, retorted with a touch of sarcasm, “The last female zerg who didn’t buy a ticket said the same thing. He claimed to be a distant relative of Supreme Leader Faeus. Perhaps you can go find him and see whose identity is more prestigious… Of course, no matter how prestigious you are, you still need a ticket to enter.”
With that, he took the entrance ticket from Xu Cenfeng’s hand, tore off the stub, and gestured, “Your Excellency, you may enter now.”
The soldiers were seething with anger, ready to explode, but Xu Cenfeng intervened just in time. “How about you wait for me outside? I’ll go in and have a look myself.”
The soldiers were in a state of urgency. “Your Excellency, the situation inside the arena is extremely chaotic. It’s dangerous for you to go in alone. Supreme Leader Faeus instructed us to protect you at all times and not to let you out of our sight!”
Xu Cenfeng gestured for them to calm down. “It’s okay. I’ll be out soon. Find a place to wait for me.”
After speaking, he disregarded the soldiers’ hesitant expressions and turned around, walking straight into the dark and noisy inner arena.
The two soldiers were actually twin brothers, the elder named Duoqi and the younger named Duoluo. Seeing this, they couldn’t help but be equally dumbfounded.
Duoqi couldn’t restrain himself and slapped Duoluo hard on the back of his head. “Damn it! Why did you tell His Excellency Xu Cenfeng that the leader was also in the arena?”
Duoluo, feeling wronged, rubbed his head and murmured softly, “But Lord Hill is also inside today. What if the leader takes an interest in Lord Hill?”
Duoqi shot him a glance, silently cursing his silly brother. “Don’t worry about things you don’t understand. Is the leader the kind of zerg who acts on impulse just because of looks?”
Meanwhile, Xu Cenfeng had already entered the inner arena.
The interior of the arena was a world apart from the outside. Dimly lit, the air was heavy with the lingering scent of blood. Through a heavy, rustic wooden door, faint but deafening clamor from the arena could be heard, yet it was muffled.
In the main hall outside, there was a massive electronic screen displaying the rankings of the most successful female fighters in the combat competitions. The flashing green and red neon characters were dazzling, and the accumulating numbers behind them represented countless killings.
The walls on both sides were uneven rocky caves, adorned with bloody beast heads and animal fangs, appearing exceptionally eerie under the dim blue light. Around him, zergs of all kinds bustled about, with the majority being robust-looking females.
Xu Cenfeng noticed that both males and females would approach the front desk to receive a silver necklace before entering the inner arena. He was about to inquire about it when suddenly a hand rested on his shoulder, accompanied by a pleasantly surprised voice in his ear, “Xu Cenfeng?! What are you doing here?!”
Upon hearing the voice, Xu Cenfeng instinctively turned around, only to find that it was Raya, which surprised him. “Raya, what are you doing here?”
Since the last time they entered the city, the northern males had all been escorted back home by the military, and they hadn’t seen each other since. It was unexpected to encounter each other here.
Raya shook a small silver pendant necklace in his hand. “Don’t you know? The top three ranked females on the Morhan Arena Fighting List are all here to compete for the right to be Hill’s companion. Many zergs are betting on who will win. I’m just here for the excitement.”
As he spoke, he suddenly remembered that Xu Cenfeng was a western male and might not understand the rules of the North, so he added, “Hill is the highest-ranked male in terms of blood purity in our North. He’s very popular. Look, those females are all crazy about him.”
Raya shrugged subtly as he said the last sentence, his tone tinged with a hint of sarcasm.
However, Xu Cenfeng wasn’t paying much attention to that. He took the small silver pendant necklace from Raya’s hand, noticing some strange characters engraved on it, and asked, “What is this?”
“Oh, this is an identity badge. You haven’t gotten yours yet. Let me take you to get it,” Raya replied.
Raya took Xu Cenfeng directly to the counter and asked the attendant for a form. On it were several lines to fill in personal information.
Xu Cenfeng, having studied the zerg script in his past life, took a pen and filled in his name, gender, and age. When it came to the column for blood purity, he hesitated for a moment before filling in a moderate “35%.”
The attendant took the form, giving Xu Cenfeng’s unique appearance an extra glance, and handed him a silver necklace. “This is your identity badge. Please don’t lose it. Once you confirm everything is correct, you can enter.”
Raya couldn’t wait any longer and quickly pulled Xu Cenfeng away from the counter towards one of the corridors, urging him on, “Hurry, hurry, hurry! The fights are about to start!”
The Morhan Fighting Arena was vast, capable of accommodating up to ninety thousand spectators. Its architecture resembled that of a Roman colosseum, with a central grandstand surrounded by massive displays at different angles to ensure every detail of the fights could be seen clearly. Even before the matches began, the roar of the crowd was deafening.
“Ugh, it’s so noisy.”
At the forefront of the VIP seats, a group of dark figures sat, comprising high-ranking generals and nobles from Hossburgh, led by Faeus himself. He lounged with crossed legs, his posture lazy, and his emerald eyes tinged with sarcasm as he remarked, “Look at these females fighting over males; they look like wild dogs fighting over scraps.”
Hawke, seated beside him, coughed softly and tactfully reminded, “Supreme Leader, there are others seated behind us.”
Many of those nobles had come for Hill, and Faeus’ words seemed to condemn nearly everyone in the arena to be akin to wild dogs fighting for scraps.
In the North, there are two deputy leaders. One is Hawke, and the other is Faeus’ clan brother, Yenia. Upon hearing Hawke’s words, Yenia chuckled lightly and said, “Hawke, don’t you understand Faeus? He only spoke because there are others seated behind us.”
Faeus raised an eyebrow, casting a sidelong glance at Yenia. “What do you mean?”
Yenia glanced at Faeus’ neatly buttoned military uniform with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “Oh, nothing much, Faeus. You really look like a gentleman today.”
The author has something to say:
Yenia: (〃’▽’〃) Why aren’t you showing off your big chest muscles~
