CH CH2

Tree shadows danced, green leaves swaying rhythmically with the wind.

Simulated artificial plants appeared before people in various pleasing postures; the few remaining vigorous, native plants gasped weakly for breath in some secret scientific research laboratory.

This was an era of technology, an era of artificial intelligence, but uniquely not an era of life. In known interstellar history, peace and stability were merely brief transitions.

The Zerg had just been annihilated not long ago. The profound despair and fear ingrained in people’s hearts had yet to fully dissipate, while various mutants ran rampant across the galaxy, and no one knew when the next disaster would strike.

At this critical juncture where fresh blood was scarce, there wasn’t much time left for children to grow up.

“Latest news: An unknown spiritual domain has appeared on an S-class dangerous planet, and a new type of mutant has appeared on an A-class dangerous planet… Currently, the Federal Special Rescue Team and the Federal Army have rushed to the frontlines. The Imperial Silver Guard Legion is heading to peripheral interstellar fortresses for defense…”

The female voice on the Federation broadcast reported mechanically. Danger had already been reduced to a daily routine, so much so that no one showed any expression of surprise.

Students inside the Federal Military Academy gathered in small groups, buzzing with discussions about the recent interlude.

The laser cordon in front of the dormitory building had been removed. The students watched the massive flying warship depart; some pulled out their devices to reluctantly snap a few photos, while others turned to talk excitedly with their peers.

Not long ago, Jiang Tianji would have been one of them.

But even now, draped in a combat uniform jacket someone had tossed to him as charity and sitting on a cold interrogation room chair, he still felt zero sense of reality.

The interrogation room was dead silent, save for the sound of light breathing.

“Aren’t you going to retract it?”

Ling Kongmiao raised a hand, signaling his subordinates to leave. He then leaned against the interrogation table, arms crossed, scrutinizing the clearly out-of-it young man before him.

Jiang Tianji squeezed his legs together in a total lack of security and pulled the jacket tighter around himself. After a moment of silence, he realized that sentence was likely directed at him and tilted his head up a beat too late.

“Ah?”

“…Your pheromones.” Ling Kongmiao tilted his head as if looking at some rare species, his gaze taking on a hint of amusement. “Even a late-blooming child should know that continuously releasing pheromones at someone else is extremely rude.”

My… pheromones?

Do Betas have pheromones these days too?

Jiang Tianji, whose head was currently splitting with pain, asked in complete bewilderment.

“Are you talking to me?”

Ling Kongmiao straightened up, walked over, leaned down in front of him, and lightly patted his cheek with a finger.

“Is there anyone else here?”

The slightly cool finger touching Jiang Tianji’s burning face brought a wisp of light, elegant fragrance, like jasmine, clearing his chaotic thoughts just a bit. Jiang Tianji subconsciously sniffed and muttered.

“What’s that smell? It’s awfully nice.”

Ling Kongmiao’s movements paused. He withdrew his hand without a trace, his gaze somewhat complex as he sized up the person in front of him.

It didn’t look like an act. As an Alpha, he couldn’t feel his own pheromones, nor did he reject another Alpha’s pheromones.

But unless he was an idiot, he should have been able to guess something from the current situation.

However…

Seeing his glassy eyes and sluggish reactions, Ling Kongmiao mentally added a sentence.

—Although there’s a strong suspicion he’s burned himself stupid with this fever right now.

“Alright, you should have pretty much guessed by now…”

Ling Kongmiao tugged at the corner of his mouth, casually pulled a chair over, and sat down. Just as he was about to, out of pure humanitarianism, explain the whole story to this rare and pitiful late-blooming Alpha, the guy suddenly grabbed his hand like a drowning man clutching the last straw.

After a brief silence.

Jiang Tianji threw caution to the wind. Furrowing his brows in a look of serious sincerity, he spoke in a deep voice.

“Here’s the thing, Officer.”

“I sincerely admit my mistakes to the organization. I shouldn’t have acted impulsively and gotten into a conflict with a classmate on a rainy day, resulting in him slipping and breaking his arm when he came to hit me. But I really did want to help him up at the time, it’s just that the road was indeed a bit slippery. I truly didn’t mean to sit on him and cause secondary damage. I am incredibly sorry for that!”

Ling Kongmiao paused. His gaze drifted down to where Jiang Tianji was tightly gripping his hand, transmitting a burning-hot sensation.

Seeing him stay silent, Jiang Tianji’s brain went into overdrive, mentally reviewing every mistake he had ever made in his entire life.

“I also shouldn’t have secretly slept in class. I will definitely study hard from now on. I especially shouldn’t have pulled too hard and broken the door handle on my dorm locker. Although I think the academy bears some responsibility too—if they used blast-proof doors and bulletproof glass, why was the locker handle quality so poor? Of course, I don’t mean to point fingers, and I secretly bought a new one and installed it after the incident…”

Ling Kongmiao’s face showed no sign of anger or joy. His gaze shifted back up, listening without a word as Jiang Tianji began to confess all the trivial “wicked deeds” he had committed, begging him for a chance to turn over a new leaf and start fresh.

After hearing eyebrow-twitching statements like, “I shouldn’t have secretly studied behind my roommates’ backs during finals,” Ling Kongmiao finally reached his limit and pressed his hand down over the other’s.

“Are you done talking?”

His tone wasn’t harsh, yet it was inexplicably intimidating.

Jiang Tianji belatedly pulled back his paws, looking at him somewhat helplessly.

“While I don’t know if you’re actually stupid or just playing dumb, you don’t have much time left to accept reality.”

Ling Kongmiao picked up the file nearby and tossed it to him.

“Jiang Tianji. Male. Incoming freshman at the Federal Military Academy. Secondary gender: Beta.”

“But just now, the Federal Military Academy detected unknown Alpha pheromones. After screening and on-site confirmation, the source of those unknown pheromones is indeed you. This appears to be an extremely rare case of delayed differentiation combined with sensory impairment. We can’t determine the exact situation at present, but once we reach the base, relevant personnel will come over to give you a thorough examination.”

“And even if we can’t determine the exact details, the fact that you have differentiated into an Alpha is set in stone.”

Jiang Tianji’s entire body ached. Even shifting his eyes seemed to come with a delay; he was incredibly dizzy.

“…Alpha,” he couldn’t help but mutter.

Seeing Jiang Tianji completely lose all reaction, Ling Kongmiao objectively added:

“Yes. This interrogation room is currently flooded with the scent of your pheromones, and it’s quite unpleasant.”

The person in front of him stopped talking, remaining as stiff as a statue for a long time before letting out a poorly acted, dry laugh.

The expression on his face was half an unwillingness to accept the facts, and half the relief of consoling himself that the other party was just joking.

“Officer, stop joking around.”

Jiang Tianji knew the other couldn’t be joking around, because halfway through talking just now, he belatedly realized why this person looked so familiar.

His mind had been too chaotic to think about it earlier, but now, sitting this close and looking for so long, he finally noticed the clues.

Long silver-white hair, a pair of blue eyes that seemed to possess soul-capturing abilities, and an outstanding appearance.

It was to the point that even Jiang Tianji, who had become a slacker and completely ignored the Federation channels, knew who he was.

This face frequently appeared on virtual big screens by the roadside and inside the school, once becoming a top trending search term during his initial debut.

The Chief Commander of the Federation’s strongest combat force, the Special Rescue Team: Ling Kongmiao.

Sure enough, Ling Kongmiao looked at him with a half-smile, toying with a small knife he had just pulled from his tactical pants.

An interrogation room was different from a teacher’s office; the atmosphere wasn’t relaxed, but rather somewhat oppressive.

At this moment, even with his dizzy head, Jiang Tianji realized this was no place for him to joke around and play the fool.

In the thick silence, Jiang Tianji suddenly felt a bit cold. He couldn’t help but clench his fists, his voice somewhat dry.

“I… I’ve always been a Beta. How could I suddenly differentiate into an Alpha?”

Ling Kongmiao lifted his eyelids to look at him. Jiang Tianji subconsciously fiddled with his fingers, as if forgetting what kind of setting he was in.

He stood up, staring down condescendingly at the muddled young man, then suddenly raised a hand, pinched the other’s jaw, and forcefully shoved him backward.

Cold metal pressed tightly against his skin, and the pinch on his jaw stung sharply. Jiang Tianji shivered, his consciousness snapping clear instantly.

“Wake up. No accident or war will ever greet you in advance.”

Jiang Tianji’s expression showed obvious shock.

“Someone will be here shortly.”

Ling Kongmiao withdrew his hand, dropped a largely emotionless instruction, and turned to leave the interrogation room.

With a “click,” the interrogation room door was closed once again.

As everything quieted down around him, Jiang Tianji heard his own slightly hurried breathing.

His communication device lit up once more; this time, it was an incoming video call.

—Her Majesty, Mother.

Jiang Tianji looked at this affectionate contact name, his gaze turning somewhat complicated.

He hesitated for a moment, then closed his eyes, letting the ringtone echo through the empty interrogation room.

Only when the ringing stopped did Jiang Tianji purse his lips and open the communication device’s chat window. His fingers hovered in the air as he thought for a long while before typing out a sentence. Just as he was about to hit send, he hesitated again.

Ultimately, he gave up, deleted all those reassuring explanations, and simply replied with a few words.

-Mom, I’m fine, don’t worry.