A thick, pure white fur blanket was draped over the black and red sofa, its plush fibers densely packed, with intricate patterns and golden tassels hanging down to the floor.
It lay lazily on the white blanket, its jet-black fur sleek and shiny.
Two beautiful maidservants knelt beneath the sofa, using pure white silk cloths to wipe its body, while a platinum comb gently brushed through its sleek, jet-black fur. Another knelt before it, holding an exquisite snow-white porcelain plate in both hands, presenting the delicacies that had been meticulously prepared by the chef who served both it and its master, bringing the food to its mouth.
Dozens of attendants stood by its side, hands at the ready, prepared to rush forward at the slightest of its movements to serve it.
Having enjoyed a life of luxury since birth, one that even lesser nobles could not dream of, it lazily reclined there, eyes half-closed, its jet-black head resting atop its front paws.
It looked rather bored, and distracted, occasionally lowering its head to lick the fur on its front paws.
Suddenly, it stirred, its head, which had been resting on its front paws, shot up. This abrupt movement immediately drew the attention of those serving it, who nervously watched its every move. However, it paid them no mind, instead raising its head and staring off in a particular direction with glowing eyes.
It narrowed its eyes, and its pupils became thin slits.
Then, out of nowhere, it leaped forward.
Before anyone could react, its swift, agile figure had disappeared.
For a moment, everyone was struck with panic.
“Lord Caesar!”
***
Tens of thousands of years ago, humanity left Earth and ventured into space, marking the beginning of the so-called Great Interstellar Age and entering a period of rapid development. At that time, an ambitious leader led humanity into the cosmos and, after several centuries, was reluctantly placed on the throne by his subordinates, becoming the emperor and founding the human Empire.
As time passed, this ruling family experienced ups and downs over the millennia, yet they managed to retain the imperial throne, preserving the Empire from its inception to the present day.
However, the passage of tens of thousands of years had caused the Empire to grow decrepit.
In the last thousand years, wars became frequent, pirates flourished, rebellions erupted, and the vast Empire was constantly struggling to survive. With each war, the Empire grew weaker. As the central government became less reliable, various star systems began recruiting their own armies to defend against enemies. Dukes and nobles started to seize military power, whether out of ambition or self-preservation, and many began refusing to follow the orders of the central government. This further weakened the central authority, and as the Empire’s control diminished, more and more local forces broke away from its grasp.
By now, the emperor, who was nominally the ruler of the entire universe, only had real control over the star system where his imperial planet resided. The central power was feeble, while the nobles and Dukes of the various star systems wielded their military forces, dividing the galaxy. Though they still paid lip service to the emperor, in reality, they ruled their territories as kings.
Among these star system powers, some were ancient noble families with long histories, while others were newly emerging forces.
Major General Taylor was one of the most prominent figures among these emerging powers. Coming from a once-declining ancient family, he rose to prominence within just a few decades, going from obscurity to widely known.
Despite his young age, he held not only the rank of Major General but also commanded a significant military force and controlled several planets. As an emerging power, he had no family backing him, and being young, he had no heirs. His entire power base was held together solely by his influence and leadership.
It could be said that he alone supported the entirety of his star system’s power.
So… once he’s gone, it will be like the sky falling and the earth-shattering.
If Major General Taylor dies, not only will everyone waiting aboard the Ishtar flagship in space be doomed, but his entire power structure will also immediately collapse.
In this era, fraught with dangers and surrounded by powerful factions, if he dies, the pack of wolves circling his territory will undoubtedly tear into the prey that is now without a master. When that time comes, who knows how many planets will be plunged into violent wars, and how many people will perish as a result?
So…
So, Major General Taylor must survive.
His entire body was nearly submerged in water, his already drenched black hair clinging damply to his pale cheeks.
He floated on the surface, his forehead pressed tightly against the metal ceiling. The water surrounded him, icy cold, the chill penetrating his flesh and bones. From shivering uncontrollably to now feeling nothing but numbness.
His vision had already begun to blur…
There were still a few centimeters of space between the water’s surface and the ceiling, but in a few minutes, that gap would be filled as the water continued to rise.
It’s fine.
The teenager, whose trembling fingers were pressed against the ceiling in fear of death, kept repeating this to himself.
If he died, it would just be him. But if Major General Taylor died, the number of dead would be in the tens of thousands, if not more.
He desperately tried to convince himself.
Look, I’m a hero. I’m the hero who saved many people.
Hahaha, since I’ve become a hero, I can’t act like a coward. Even if I have to fake it, I’ll keep up the act until the end—
He kept trying to tell himself this, persuading himself again and again, trying to stave off the overwhelming fear that was consuming him. But still, no matter what, he couldn’t stop his hands from shaking uncontrollably.
His face, streaked with water, was ghostly pale, devoid of any color. His messy, wet hair clung to his cheeks, and he looked utterly disheveled—nothing like a hero at all.
…He was terrified of death.
Lying on the hospital bed, after countless times struggling desperately on the brink of life and death, he feared death more than anyone else. So, even though he knew there was no way out, Miao Te’s survival instinct still forced him to follow the rising water to the surface, keeping his head above the water.
He tilted his head back, and since there were only a few centimeters of space between the water and the ceiling, he had to keep his head tilted, his face pressed against the cold metal, gasping desperately for air.
In those brief ten or so minutes, he helplessly watched as the water level rose, inching higher and higher, submerging his knees, his waist, his chest…
That feeling of helplessly watching death creep closer and closer was enough to drive anyone mad.
The water continued to rise, inching closer to the ceiling.
His nose and mouth were practically pressed against the metal wall now, as he greedily inhaled the last two centimeters of air.
However, no matter how much he feared and struggled, the rising water eventually submerged him completely.
The icy water surged in, engulfing his entire body.
Even though he knew it was futile, the teenager instinctively covered his mouth and nose, holding his breath as long as he could.
Water surrounded him, enveloping him completely, his soaked clothes gently floating in the water. His body slowly sank downward, his jet-black hair floating in the water, tracing soft arcs.
Desperately holding his breath was useless; he couldn’t hold on any longer and finally opened his mouth.
The freezing, icy water rushed into his nose and mouth, and he began to cough in agony. But the more he coughed, the more water flooded into his windpipe—an unbearable pain that instantly reddened Miao Te’s eyes, forcing tears to well up.
But he was underwater, so even if he cried, no one would see.
His consciousness gradually began to blur as the teenager’s body slowly sank toward the bottom of the water. His eyes were slightly open, his long eyelashes visible in the water.
His vision started to dim, and everything before him gradually lost its color, sinking into darkness.
In the haze, he seemed to see that sea-blue planet. With a gentle blue hue that felt as though it could embrace you entirely, it quietly rotated in the darkness, peaceful and serene.
In his daze, the teenager reached out his hand.
But no matter how hard he tried, his fingertips couldn’t touch that distant sea-blue hue that was far beyond his reach.
I want to go back…
The light in his jet-black pupils faded away, covered by his lowered eyelashes.
The fingers he had been stretching out slowly sank in the water.
Back to Earth …
Back home…
… Mom … Dad …
***
Countless tiny, glowing stones gathered to form a luminous white veil, drifting around the golden planet like floating silk. The delicate fabric fluttered gently, creating the usual dreamlike beauty.
As usual, landing starships bearing the crests of different families were slowly approaching Mia Star from various directions. However, something unexpected happened that astonished everyone. A yellow shuttle suddenly reversed course, shooting out from Mia Star, breaking free of the planet’s gravity and soaring into space.
Before this, dozens of yellow and black destroyer ships had been silently hovering outside the glowing veil surrounding Mia Star, as if waiting for something. When the yellow shuttle burst through the shimmering veil, the destroyers moved almost instantaneously, swarming around the shuttle with lightning speed. They encircled it so tightly that nothing could get through.
Escorted by the destroyer ships, the shuttle made its way toward the Ishtar flagship, which was quietly suspended in outer space. The silver-blue starship, resembling a massive whale floating serenely in the cosmic sea, slowly opened its hatch, welcoming the returning vessels.
The yellow rescue shuttle landed gently with a soft hiss as white vapor sprayed out and the door automatically opened. The young Major General with blue eyes leaped out of the shuttle. Though his body was covered in blood, he didn’t seem to be in critical condition.
Lieutenant Colonel Via, who had been waiting anxiously, immediately sighed with relief. The weight lifted from his chest at last, and without hesitation, he led the prepared medical team forward.
The Major General’s left shoulder had an obvious laser wound, still oozing blood and staining most of his white shirt crimson. Swiftly, the medical team sprayed a nanomedicine over the wound. The tiny nanobots immediately penetrated the injury, forming a dense, synthetic vascular membrane that sealed the blood vessels scorched by the laser, closing the wound.
After the initial treatment, the young Major General immediately resumed walking briskly forward. His clothes were soaking wet, and even his black boots were drenched, leaving small watermarks on the metal floor with every step he took.
“Prepare the landing ships,” he commanded, his wet black hair clinging to his pale cheeks, exuding a cold, icy aura.
“Major General?” Via, following closely behind him, hesitated, showing a hint of shock in his eyes.
Preparing the landing ships could only mean one thing: they were going back to Mia Star.
But why, after escaping from the lion’s den at such great risk, would he want to return?
Even a strong dragon doesn’t suppress the local serpent.
Via understood this well. Mia Star was within the Mia family’s sphere of influence. They had come a long way, with only part of their forces, and were in no position to confront the Mia family head-on in their own territory. Moreover, as an emerging power, they were significantly weaker than the long-established Mia family. If they wanted to challenge the Mia family, they would need to commit their entire army. Even though Marquis Mia had attempted to assassinate Major General Taylor on the planet, they could not afford to publicly expose this incident.
If they exposed the assassination attempt, it would mean a death match with the Mia family. However, if their two forces fought to the bitter end, the real beneficiaries would be the other factions lurking on the sidelines.
Thus, this grudge had to be swallowed, no matter how bitter. There would be another day.
“Major General now is not the time to confront the Mia family head-on…”
With this in mind, Via wanted to persuade the Major General to endure for now and seek revenge when the opportunity arose in the future.
“Check which factions have not yet entered Mia Star, and contact the closest one,” Taylor interrupted calmly.
His damp hair stuck to his forehead, and water droplets trickled down into his eyes, and then slid along the bridge of his nose.
This single statement made Via realize something immediately.
Indeed, returning to Mia Star was risky, but since they hadn’t openly broken ties with Marquis Mia, the Major General was still a guest invited by the Marquis.
Even the old Marquis wouldn’t dare commit any blatant wrongdoing in front of everyone against a guest he had invited himself. Any harm would have to be done in secret.
Dark deeds could not withstand the light of day.
If they publicly announced that the Major General had briefly returned to Ishtar for personal matters and then re-entered Mia Star alongside other factions attending the birthday banquet, it would ensure his safety.
As long as the Major General remained in plain sight throughout the banquet until his departure, Marquis Mia would have no opportunity to make a move. In the end, he would be forced to watch the Major General leave, unharmed and victorious.
Rather than retreating quietly, this dignified counterattack was much more satisfying.
“Understood.”
The blue-haired lieutenant colonel responded quickly. “I will contact two or three factions as soon as possible—”
He was interrupted once again by Taylor.
“One will suffice. Quickly, and nearby.”
Via was momentarily puzzled. Wouldn’t it be safer to involve more factions? But, accustomed to following orders, he nodded, saluted, and turned to leave.
He needed to prepare the landing ships, arrange new escorts, and make contact with the other faction as instructed.
Taylor took a deep breath. His wet hair clung to his forehead, water still dripping from the ends and partially obscuring his vision. He raised his right hand and brushed aside the wet hair obstructing his view, slicking it back as his fingers ran deeply through the damp strands.
A droplet of water slid down the back of his hand and fell before his eyes.
Ding.
At the very moment, the droplet fell from his view—
Ding. A crisp sound echoed beside his ear.
The silver-blue metal bracelet on his right wrist suddenly shattered before his eyes.
The young Major General’s pupils dilated slightly.
In his deep, ink-stained blue eyes, countless fragments of the broken metal were vividly reflected as they fell before him.
The most expensive memory metal in the universe, perfectly seamless.
Even if it’s split into two parts and placed in different locations, if one part is damaged, the other will be destroyed as well.
To prevent the information ring, which imprints the wearer’s mental data, from falling into the wrong hands, it is designed to self-destruct the moment the wearer dies.
Drip.
Another drop of water slid down from Taylor’s right hand, which was pressed against his head, gliding over the now empty wrist where the ring once was, and fell from his pale skin.
“Via.”
The sudden, icy voice halted the blue-haired lieutenant colonel just as he was about to leave.
Via turned back, looking at his commanding officer.
The young Major General had one hand raised, brushing aside the wet black hair from his forehead, his fingers deeply entangled in his scalp.
With his head slightly lowered, the shadow cast by his hand obscured half of his handsome face, making it impossible to discern his expression.
All that could be seen were his pale, thin lips, moving ever so slightly as he spoke in a calm, emotionless tone.
“Contact multiple factions,” he said.
Via blinked in surprise. Just a moment ago, when he’d suggested contacting two or three factions, the Major General had insisted on only contacting the nearest one. Why was he now asking to reach out to multiple factions?
“Yes, sir,” he responded quickly, though still a bit confused, and hurried away.
There was no need to rush anymore.
Time… no longer mattered.
***
One hour later.
In the quiet room, a light screen slowly emerged, rippling as the image of the blue-haired lieutenant colonel appeared on the screen.
“Major General, everything is ready.”
Taylor acknowledged with a brief sound and cut off the communication.
After issuing orders to Via, he had spent a long time in the medical room. His left arm, covered in blood, appeared severe, and the doctors, worried about potential complications, carefully fussed over him for hours, conducting thorough examinations. Only after confirming that the injury posed no lasting threat did they finally allow him to leave.
He had just finished cleaning up in the shower, his body still fresh from scrubbing away the blood, when Via’s message came through. Taylor picked up the glass of water resting on the table and took a drink. The cool water moistened his slightly dry lips.
Then, he stood and reached for the new black military jacket hanging on the wall. Stretching out his arm, he slipped it into the sleeve. His left shoulder still sent sharp jolts of pain whenever he moved it, but it didn’t hinder his actions. The doctors had treated the injury well enough that even if he moved a bit aggressively, the wound wouldn’t reopen or bleed again.
Standing before the mirror, his long fingers methodically fastened the buttons on his fitted uniform, the fabric wrapping tightly around his lean but powerful frame. When his fingers reached the topmost button, near the collar, they paused for just a moment.
The mirror reflected the young Major General’s tall, slender figure. At the slightly open collar, where his neck met his shoulder, an unexpected scar stood out—the scabbed-over imprint of teeth, glaring against his pale skin.
His fingers rested on the collar for only a brief moment before moving again, quickly fastening it up. The high-standing collar of his black uniform, threaded with silver, now concealed the bite mark the teenager had left on him, hiding it from view.
In the mirror, the Major General stood silently. His handsome face was framed by strands of jet-black hair falling over the corners of his sharp, phoenix-like eyes. His expression remained distant and emotionless, his ink-blue pupils like glass, glinting faintly with cold light.
But his lips—his lips were pressed together so tightly they seemed almost painfully thin, drawn into a line sharp as a blade, cutting deep.
[“Don’t worry, I’m here.”]
He had never broken his word.
Whatever he promised, he would fulfill.
…And the first time he broke his word, it cost him the one thing he had wanted to protect more than anything.
***
Translated by NightOwll
***