SGT CH187

Tianjia: The Little Cake Runs Away 6

◎The Tianjia Emperor is so jealous he warps out of shape◎

Imperial… Consort?

Ah?

The Zerg military females inside the command room were completely dumbfounded.

They knew their army had captured two high-grade Tianjia males, but they had no idea one of them was the Tianjia Imperial Consort.

Of course, even if they had known, they still would have captured him without hesitation.

At most, they would have fled a bit faster.

Giving the Tianjia Emperor zero opportunity to catch up.

Still, whose Imperial Consort would wander out into the open sea, without even an escort guard detail accompanying him?

Had it not been for the fact that using a high-grade male as bait was far too costly a sacrifice, the Zerg officers would have suspected the Tianjia Emperor was running an entrapment operation.

“Wait…”

A bug murmured in a low voice, “I recall the Tianjia Imperial Consort is an S-grade, the only S-grade male Tianjia in thousands of years.”

“?!!”

Over thousands of years, the grades of Tianjia males had progressively declined, with the number and proportion of high-grade males sinking lower and lower.

While the Tianjia birthed their first SSS-grade female representing the ceiling of cosmic combat power, a male breaking through to S-grade had not appeared for thousands of years.

Until half a year ago, when the Tianjia announced the emergence of an S-grade male, who was taken into the harem by the Tianjia Emperor.

Regarding this “S-grade,” most Zergs had been skeptical.

They were more inclined to believe it was a Tianjia publicity stunt.

Fabricating a fake “S-grade male” to project a false impression to cosmic nations that the Tianjia Emperor remained invincible, impenetrable, and unbothered by mental riots.

Only now, beholding this male who remained breathtakingly gorgeous even in plain attire, a sight bugs could not pull their eyes from, did the Zerg military females dare confirm that the Tianjia had truly produced an S-grade male.

For the Tianjia as for the Zerg, beauty and allure were tied directly to rank.

This was also the norm across most races in the universe.

The higher the grade, the greater the attraction, securing priority mating rights so that stronger genes could be passed down.

Even though the Zerg and the Tianjia had split into two distinct races tens of thousands of years ago, with vast differences in societal structure and aesthetic standards.

The Zerg military females still found this male extraordinarily beautiful, possessing an allure capable of resonating with the soul.

Beauty elevated to a certain peak unified all aesthetics.

This was an S-grade male.

The Zerg military females regretted their actions even more.

The moment they brought the male aboard the warship, they should have initiated a hyperspace jump to deliver him straight back to the Empire.

As for some “Tianjia Imperial Consort,” haha, once in the Zerg, he would be our Zerg’s Imperial Consort.

Wait… the Zerg Emperor is a male.

Awkward.

Never mind, the Imperial Consort could be everyone’s Imperial Consort.

Now, however, everything could only remain a sweet fantasy.

The Tianjia Emperor had pursued them, intercepting the fleet and demanding the surrender of his Imperial Consort.

Under an overwhelming disparity in power, the Zerg officers had no choice even if they did not wish to comply.

“We are willing to return the Imperial Consort, provided that the Tianjia immediately cease fire and pull all forces out of the Silver Moon Constellation nebula!”

Adjutant Albert said in a cold voice.

Such an unyielding stance…

The other military females in the command room could not help casting sidelong glances.

Facing them was the Tianjia Emperor, known as the cosmic nightmare.

The adjutant dared to confront the Tianjia Emperor head-on; what courage.

“You dare negotiate conditions with Me?”

The Tianjia Emperor half-lidded his eyes to glare at the Zerg officer, his hand resting on the armrest of the levitation chair, exuding majesty without anger.

The military females in the Zerg command room were soaked in cold sweat from the intimidation, yet Adjutant Albert seemed completely unaffected, his expression not shifting in the slightest.

Because… the one controlling him was Mu Si.

As a male who had dared to stab the Tianjia Emperor through the heart, Mu Si had feared pain and feared an ugly death, but he had never feared the Tianjia Emperor himself.

“Yes, this is a negotiation and an exchange,” Mu Si manipulated Albert to speak:

“The Tianjia withdraw, and our side surrenders the Imperial Consort. Otherwise…”

Under Mu Si’s control, Albert raised his gun, aiming it straight at Mu Si’s head, saying coldly:

“Your Imperial Consort will be buried alongside us in the Silver Moon Constellation nebula.”

“You dare?!”

The Tianjia Emperor was consumed by fury, the alloy armrest of the levitation chair crushed out of shape under his palm.

Seeing the icy barrel pressed against the Imperial Consort’s temple, the Tianjia Emperor lost his composure for the first time.

Not only the Tianjia Emperor, but even the military females on the Zerg’s side were profoundly shocked.

The adjutant was actually treating an S-grade male like this, this was far… far too excessive, wasn’t it?

Mu Si took in all of the Tianjia Emperor’s loss of composure.

He could not tell whether the Tianjia Emperor reacted this way because his authority had been challenged, or because he was worried about him.

Probably the former.

Even if it was due to him, it was merely because he was an S-grade, a precious resource.

“Whether I dare or not, the Tianjia Emperor is welcome to test it.”

The cold barrel pressed forward firmly, resting completely against Mu Si’s temple.

When manipulating the adjutant to execute this movement, Mu Si faintly sensed a resisting force.

The adjutant was struggling to break free of his control.

This would not do.

He had to quicken the pace and resolve this swiftly.

Mu Si lifted his eyes in feigned terror, looking as though he had been frightened out of his wits.

Tears welled up in his emerald eyes as he looked across the screen at the Tianjia Emperor, calling out softly:

“Your Majesty…”

The Tianjia Emperor’s dark red pupils contracted abruptly, his breath hitching.

He closed his eyes for a second, reining in the emotions about to break through, and spoke in a deep voice:

“Cease fire. Withdraw the troops.”

Although unaware of the contents of this negotiation, out of loyalty and absolute faith in His Majesty the Emperor, the Tianjia military females ceased fire and withdrew the moment they received the order.

At the same time, the Zerg military females on the battlefield received orders to cease hostilities and return to base.

Seeing both sides retreat simultaneously, Mu Li’an, who had already switched to a fresh mecha, realized what had happened and returned to the flagship immediately, striding quickly toward the command room.

Inside the command room, the Tianjia Emperor, projected gigantically on the massive screen, looked down upon them and said coldly:

“I have withdrawn the army according to your words. Return the Imperial Consort immediately.”

The terminal on the Tianjia Emperor’s wrist lit up, a message popping up.

Pausing slightly, the Tianjia Emperor added, “As well as the other male of the Tianjia.”

Mu Si: “…”

The wordplay he had attempted was discovered after all.

Even provoked to such a degree, the Tianjia Emperor still had not forgotten Joshua.

Conspiring with the Imperial Consort to escape.

Mu Si dared not imagine what they would face upon their return.

He was willing to use himself to pacify this war and halt this pointless sacrifice.

Yet he was unwilling to let Joshua suffer agony because of him.

Heading to the Zerg might not promise a good ending, but returning to the Tianjia was guaranteed to be awful.

Anyone would know how to choose.

Mu Si remained silent for a moment, then manipulated the adjutant to speak:

“Regarding this matter, we need to ask for Your Excellency Joshua’s opinion.”

The Tianjia Emperor frowned.

“Naturally, we will return His Imperial Highness the Consort as agreed.”

Unwilling to provoke the Tianjia Emperor’s displeasure, Mu Si offered himself as appeasement.

The hatch to the command room swung open abruptly.

The Second Prince strode inside.

The Tianjia Emperor on the screen, the male who shouldn’t have been present here, and the adjutant pointing a gun at the male’s head.

Taking in the scene before him, Mu Li’an understood everything in an instant.

Consumed by shock and fury, Mu Li’an flashed forward, snatched the gun from the adjutant’s hand, and kicked him away ruthlessly.

“Albert! What do you think you are doing? Have you gone mad?!” Mu Li’an interrogated furiously.

“Ah…”

Seeing the adjutant kicked straight into the wall, Mu Si was stunned, reaching out to grasp the Second Prince’s arm to stop him.

Through the screen, the Tianjia Emperor saw the Imperial Consort’s hand resting on the crook of the Second Prince’s arm.

Pressing his lips tightly together, his eyes contracted as if pierced by intense pain.

“Your Highness the Second Prince, do not be angry, this is actually…”

With the Tianjia Emperor present, Mu Si could not say it aloud.

He could only communicate mentally inside the Second Prince’s mind:

[This was actually my idea.]

[I was the one controlling Adjutant Albert.]

Mu Li’an turned his head in astonishment, meeting Mu Si’s eyes.

Clearly wearing a mental inhibitor, yet still capable of utilizing psychic power.

Unless he was… an S-grade.

The Tianjia’s sole S-grade male, that Imperial Consort.

Mu Li’an understood everything in a flash.

No wonder the Tianjia Emperor had appeared here in person.

This sight of exchanging silent glances was exceptionally glaring.

Enraged, the Tianjia Emperor crushed the alloy armrest on the other side out of shape as well, ultimately snapping it clean off.

The tough alloy, crushed beyond recognition into something resembling modeling clay, slipped from the Tianjia Emperor’s hand.

The Tianjia Emperor said coldly, “The Tianjia fleet has already exited the Silver Moon Constellation nebula. Delay no longer.”

The only one that had departed was the Tianjia fleet.

The Tianjia Emperor himself had not left.

Piloting his mecha, the Tianjia Emperor stood in outer space, facing the entire Zerg fleet alone, his aura not conceding an inch.

Even with only himself remaining, the Tianjia Emperor still possessed the strength to contend with an entire Zerg fleet.

“Prepare a shuttle and send me off,” Mu Si said to the Second Prince.

“Is this your own decision?” Mu Li’an asked.

Mu Si nodded.

The future within the Zerg painted for him by the Zerg military females was very beautiful.

Yet the Tianjia was his race, his homeland after all.

Although that nation was awful, although that race would march toward doom in the near future.

He was a part of the Tianjia, willing to live and die alongside his people.

Previously, thoughts of the future and the psychic plague had weighed heavily upon his heart. The irremediable despair toward what was to come had suffocated him.

A week of fleeting escape had allowed him to see many things clearly.

He ultimately could not abandon his past to leave all alone.

A rose could never leave its native soil.

A bird was willing to perish alongside the forest that birthed and raised it when the wildfire arrived.

“I am a Tianjia,” Mu Si said.

With just this single sentence, Mu Li’an understood his meaning.

He no longer possessed any standing to dissuade him.

“Very well, I will see you off,” Mu Li’an said.

Mu Si: “Before this, I must see Joshua once.”

“Alright.”

Watching the entire exchange while being thoroughly ignored, the Tianjia Emperor: “…”

He would endure.

As long as his Imperial Consort could return, what harm was there in enduring a little while longer?

Still, the gaze the Tianjia Emperor fixed on Mu Li’an looked as though it wanted to tear him to shreds.

Right after stepping out of the command room, Mu Si saw Joshua.

“Mu Mu, I am returning with you,” Joshua said.

Mu Si was stunned, hurriedly saying, “Have you thought this through? Returning to the Tianjia might…”

Mu Si glanced at the Second Prince standing in the distance without disturbing them, deciding not to finish his sentence, only gripping Joshua’s hand tightly, expressing his disapproval through his gaze.

“I received a message from the Foreign Minister…” Joshua said softly.

From the very day he departed, the Foreign Minister had been sending him messages continuously.

He had never opened them to look.

Yet he had not deleted or blocked the other either.

With Mu Si’s modifications to his terminal, there was no need to worry about being tracked by the empire through terminal data.

Sometimes when there were too many messages, Joshua found it annoying.

He would take off the terminal bracelet and stuff it into his spatial button.

Placing it together with the jewelry and commemorative coins the Foreign Minister had gifted him.

Only just now, during the negotiations between the Zerg and the Tianjia, did he take the terminal out to review the messages the Foreign Minister had sent.

There were far too many messages: from anxious inquiries at the beginning, to believing he had been kidnapped and issuing threats and negotiations to the kidnappers, to various baffling messages later on…

And finally, the message sent right after negotiations began.

Uncharacteristically containing only a single sentence:

“I am pregnant.”

Joshua was so shocked he almost dropped the terminal.

“I think I must go back.”

Joshua actually did not understand why he insisted on returning either.

The Foreign Minister’s situation was different from the Tianjia Emperor’s.

The egg in the Tianjia Emperor’s belly required S-grade pheromones, which only Mu Si could provide.

For the sake of that unborn life, Mu Si had even left his own blood before departing.

The Foreign Minister’s egg, on the other hand, merely needed any random A-grade male.

With the Foreign Minister’s wealth and military merits, he was fully capable of exchanging for a normal A-grade male.

There were many, many reasons not to return.

Reasons to return, conversely, were hard to find.

If one had to name one, it seemed only… he wanted to go back; he felt he ought to return.

At least to return and take a look at that egg the Foreign Minister had exhausted every method to conceive with him.

Ultimately, Mu Si and Joshua boarded the shuttle together.

Before departure, the Second Prince removed the mental inhibitors for both males:

Mu Si’s earring, and Joshua’s collar.

“Could you leave it to me as a keepsake?”

When the Second Prince was about to put the earring away, Mu Si suddenly asked.

Mu Li’an paused, “Of course.”

Mu Li’an retrieved a needle-like tool, making a few adjustments to the earring.

Afterward, he handed the earring back to Mu Si.

“I destroyed the mental inhibition device inside. It is now purely an accessory.”

“Thank you.” Mu Si offered a sincere smile to the Second Prince.

Taking the earring, he clasped it back onto his left ear.

“This was what I should have done all along,” Mu Li’an said. “I promised you… that the inhibitor could be removed.”

Only, what he had said back then was that it could be removed once they reached the Zerg Empire.

Now, he was personally escorting the male back to the Tianjia, sending him back to a tyrant.

It felt like personally delivering the male into hell.

Mu Li’an’s mood sank.

Mu Si did not know how to console him, ultimately saying only:

“Please convey my apologies to Adjutant Albert.”

Recalling that kick of his, Mu Li’an felt very embarrassed and deeply guilty.

“I should be the one apologizing.”

Before stepping into the shuttle, Mu Si remembered something, turning back to smile at Mu Li’an:

“Also, please give my regards to your gege.”

Having this matter brought up again, Mu Li’an felt somewhat bashful.

Because this was the male’s final request, he could not refuse.

Thus, he replied in all seriousness:

“Alright, I will.”

Mu Si was amused into laughter by his solemn manner.

How interesting.

…

He truly envied that Male Zerg for having such an outstanding didi.

Mu Si and Joshua boarded the shuttle.

The small shuttle departed the Zerg vessel, sailing toward the Tianjia Emperor’s location under the watchful eyes of the surrounding Zerg fleet.

The Tianjia Emperor could sense the Imperial Consort was aboard that shuttle.

He immediately maneuvered his mecha forward, cradling the shuttle.

Turning his back toward the Zerg fleet, he drew the shuttle into the mecha’s interior.

This was actually extremely dangerous.

His mecha was far too close to the Zerg fleet.

At such proximity, should the Zerg open fire, he would have no way to evade.

It was precisely for this reason that he used his own mecha to shield between the shuttle carrying his Imperial Consort and the Zerg fleet.

Should the Zerg attack, he could absorb the blow with his own body on the Imperial Consort’s behalf.

The Tianjia Emperor’s sudden approach also put the Zerg fleet on edge.

Just as the Tianjia Emperor worried the Zerg might fire upon the Imperial Consort, the Zerg military females feared the Tianjia Emperor might launch a sudden strike and cleave their flagship in two.

Mu Li’an ordered the entire army to fall back.

The Tianjia Emperor stored the shuttle inside the mecha.

Looking at the Zerg fleet now, his hands truly itched.

He wanted very much to annihilate them completely, especially that Zerg prince…

Considering that the Imperial Consort was inside the mecha and might suffer turbulence.

Coupled with the Zerg fleet retreating promptly.

He spared them for the time being.

The Tianjia Emperor opened the hyperspace jump channel, the mecha cruising smoothly inside.