Next to the command center was a tearoom, but only a select few were allowed to rest there.
Only Major General Taylor and his most trusted aides had access to this room.
As long as the flagship was not in a state of war or on high alert, Lieutenant Colonel Via would take a short break in the tearoom around three or four in the afternoon. He would drink some coffee or tea to refresh himself, allowing a brief rest to regain his energy and maintain focus for the tasks ahead.
During this time, if anyone needed to find him and it wasnโt urgent, his orderly would direct them to the tearoomโjust like Professor Terry today.
A light beam from the doorwayโs holographic scanner swept over Professor Terry from head to toe, verifying his identity and ensuring he carried no dangerous items before the metal door automatically opened.
Inside was a serene little garden, with small clusters of trees arranged in an orderly fashion, lush green vines winding around trunks, and warm sunlight cascading onto the verdant grass. Tiny butterflies flitted among the small white flowers in the grass.
Several wooden benches were situated in the garden, shaded by dense tree canopies. The green-haired Lieutenant Colonel sat on one of the side benches, a white porcelain cup on the table in front of him, and the rich aroma of coffee wafting through the air.
Of course, all of this was simulatedโvirtual reality projections, yet they were so realistic that one felt truly immersed.
A faint scent of fresh grass filled the air. Professor Terry walked across the grass and took a seat in front of Lieutenant Colonel Via. A wooden tray quickly floated over, bringing a cup of tea to him.
โLieutenant Colonel Via, I have something to ask of you.โ
Already anticipating Professor Terryโs visit, the blue-haired Lieutenant Colonel shook his head.
โThe order cannot be changed, Professor Terry.โ
He said, โI know you want Lord Miao Te to continue guiding you all, and I understand thatโs how his talents could be best utilized. But right now, thatโs not possible. More important than putting his knowledge to use is protecting him.โ
Since Miao Te had received the badge, Via had to address him with a respectful title.
โYou should understand that we must place him in the safest location.โ
Indeed, to make the best use of the teenagerโs knowledge and abilities, keeping him in the History Research Department would be ideal.
But now wasnโt the right time; there were too many unstable factors.
The teenagerโs value was simply too immense, drawing the attention of many factions, and the History Research Departmentโs security was relatively weak, making it easy for others to exploit any vulnerabilities.ย Although they were on the Ishtar flagship, there was no guarantee that there wasnโt a single traitor or spy among the thousands on board. Increasing the History Research Departmentโs security would require a complete reallocation of personnel, which was not feasible in the short term.
So, when the Major General ordered Via to transfer Miao Te to the Strategy Department, Via immediately understood.
Officially, Miao Te was now part of the Strategy Department, but most of its members were required to stay close to the Major General at all times. On Ishtar, the most secure location was naturally by the Major Generalโs side.
Via believed that the Major General had made the right decision; the teenager was a treasure everyone wanted to snatch.
To keep him safe, keeping him within sight was the best option.
โI understand, Lieutenant Colonel.โ
With his experience, Professor Terry quickly grasped the reasoning. If not for this, the stubborn old man wouldnโt have let Miao Te go so easily.
โIโm here today for something else, of course, related to Lord Miao Te.โ
He sipped his tea and smiled as he asked.
โDoes Lord Miao Te have a family yet?โ
Though sixteen was not yet an adult, under Imperial law, anyone over fourteen could marry.
Of course, very few married at fourteen, but just in case, Professor Terry thought it best to ask first.
His sudden question caught Via off guard, and after a momentโs pause, he shook his head.
The old professor nodded, his smile widening.
โDoes he have a prospective marriage partner?โ
Lieutenant Colonel Via continued to shake his head.
Truthfully, if the teenager had a family or intended to marry, he would have been sent to the Major Generalโs direct territory long ago, rather than staying on the Ishtar flagship.
Thinking about it this way, Via felt somewhat relieved. Luckily, the teenager had a peculiar orientation; otherwise, they would have missed out on such a treasure.
As for Miao Teโs past bold confession to the Major General, Via could now understandโMajor General was so handsome and outstanding; anyone with taste would be drawn to himโit was only natural the teenager couldnโt help himself.
โOh, so in that caseโโ
The old professorโs eyes lit up.
He was about to bring up his granddaughter but was interrupted by the sound of the tearoom door opening behind him.
Seeing the newcomer, both Lieutenant Colonel Via and Professor Terry immediately stood up.
Via raised his fist to his chest in a military salute, while Professor Terry bowed slightly.
โSir.โ
“Your Excellency, Major Generalโ”
Under his dark hair, Major General Taylorโs deep blue phoenix eyes glanced at the two of them indifferently. He made a slight sound of acknowledgment, then walked directly to another wooden table and sat down.
A cup of strong tea quickly floated over. The Major General took a sip, then closed his eyes slightly, as if taking a brief rest.
Standing up, Via signaled to Professor Terry to step outside with him to avoid disturbing Major Generalโs rest, but the old professor, observing the Major General quietly resting, felt that this was indeed a golden opportunity.
Technically, his direct superior was Lieutenant Colonel Via, so he wasnโt supposed to directly contact Major General Taylor or meet him casually. But today, he had chanced upon him.
It felt like fate was supporting his endeavor.
Thinking this, Professor Terry turned to stand before Major General Taylor.
โYour Excellency, Major General.โ
The dark blue eyes opened, their depths seemingly gleaming faintly.
The Major General looked at the old professor standing in front of him.
What is it?
He didnโt speak but conveyed this with his gaze.
โYour Excellency, Major General, I believe Lord Miao Te is still too young. At his age, heโs vulnerable to outside temptations, and many people are undoubtedly interested in him now.โ
Professor Terry spoke tactfully.
โSo, I believe we should find a way to bind him to our side, to prevent him from being lured away by others, which would be a significant loss for us.โ
The Major Generalโs expression, which had been indifferent and unconcerned, suddenly deepened. He gave Professor Terry a long, hard look.
โAnd so?โ
He spoke, his voice carrying a hint of coldness. However, since he usually spoke in a detached, indifferent manner, that trace of coldness went completely unnoticed. And Professor Terry, who was wholly focused on achieving his own goal, certainly didnโt pick up on it either.
โOnce a man has a family, heโll settle down. With a home, heโll resist any temptation from outside.โ He smiled.
โYour Excellency, I think if we arrange for Lord Miao Te to marry, once he has a wife and children, heโll be reluctant to leave, right?โ
He continued with a grin, โYou see, I have a granddaughter named Maya; you should have met her. Sheโs beautiful, has a good personality, and importantly, Lord Miao Te seems to like her. Theyโve been getting along very well recently, always quite friendly with each other, probably because they fancy each other.โ
Major General Taylor lowered his gaze, his long lashes casting soft shadows on his pale cheeks.
His lips, light in color and sharp as if cut by a blade, held a faint chill.
He let Professor Terry talk without interruption, his expression calm and impassive as usual, his right hand resting on the table, tapping lightly on the wooden surface with his index finger.
The tapping was faint, almost inaudibleโyet the blue-haired Lieutenant Colonel standing nearby was already on edge, his heart racing from that barely perceptible sound.
He had followed the Major General for quite some time, and although it was always difficult to read the Major Generalโs thoughts, the almost tangible aura of killing intent around him now was unmistakable. If he couldnโt understand that, then he truly didnโt deserve to be a Lieutenant Colonel!
So Via quickly stepped forward, positioning himself between Professor Terry and the Major General, and in a low voice, reprimanded the old professor.
โDonโt bother the Major General with such trivial matters. Letโs continue this discussion outside.โ
However, as a distinguished intellectual and scholar, being oblivious to the atmosphere was a common trait, and Professor Terry was no exception.
โNo, no, I just mean, if the Major General has the time to officiate at Lord Miao Te and Mayaโs wedding, Lord Miao Te would be deeply grateful and would surely repay youโโ
The Major General, who had been quietly listening, finally moved. He lifted his head, his dark blue eyes narrowing slightly.
โReally?โ
He asked.
โOf course, if you help him marry and settle down, heโll be gratefulโโ
The old professor had only said half of his piece when he realized something was off.
The Major Generalโs gaze wasnโt on him but had shifted past him, clearly addressing someone else.
Professor Terry turned, following the Major Generalโs line of sight, and was momentarily stunned.
A dark-eyed teenager had entered at some point and was standing behind him, looking at him with a mix of amusement and helplessness.
โIs that true?โ
The Major General spoke again, his eyes fixed on Miao Te, his sapphire gaze sharp as starlight.
A chill ran down Miao Teโs back.
โWell, since youโre hereโโ
However, the old professor, utterly oblivious to the tension, pressed on.
โLord Miao Te, what do you think of Maya?โ
The professor believed that since Major General valued Lord Miao Teโs opinion more, as long as Miao Te expressed his interest, Major General would surely agree to officiate the marriage.
โUh, Mayaโฆโ
Having walked in only to hear news of his supposed marriage, Miao Te was feeling very conflicted.
To be honest, Maya was indeed a beautiful and kind girl. She treated him well, and it would be a lie to say he wasnโt moved at all.
She was an outstanding girl, and though a few days of interaction wouldnโt necessarily mean he was in love, he did have some faint feelings of affection for her. He could tell Maya also had some budding feelings for him.
If they continued spending time together, who knows, they might genuinely like each other in the future. But bringing up marriage now felt way too sudden.
And to discuss this in front of the Major General and Lieutenant Colonel Viaโhow was he supposed to respond?
However, he didnโt want to outright reject Professor Terry either.
Not only would refusing outright embarrass the professor, but Maya would likely feel hurt and upset… which would make things awkward between them, and he wouldnโt be able to casually chat or joke with her anymore.
โMaya is a nice girl. Sheโs very pretty and adorableโฆ Um, I do, um, like her too.โ
The teenager stammered, racking his brain for a way to get through this situation.
โWell, Iโฆโ
โYou said you like men.โ
Major General suddenly interrupted, his cold gaze fixed on Miao Te.
Miao Te: โโฆโ
There was no way to refute it.
No amount of excuses could beat the straight, to-the-point blow of that statement.
Miao Te could only endure Professor Terryโs incredulous gaze in silence, swallowing down his frustration.
Thanks to this, he could forget about ever approaching Maya as just a friend again.
Silence meant consent.
With the teenagerโs silent acknowledgment, Professor Terry left in a daze.
Tiny butterflies still fluttered among the small white flowers in the grass, quiet and peaceful. But inside the tearoom, the atmosphere was icy cold.
After a long moment, Lieutenant Colonel Via broke the silence.
โLord Miao Te, do you intend to deceive someone into marrying you?โ
His face had already darkened.
โHuh?โ
Viaโs sudden reprimand left Miao Te bewildered.
โYou like men, but to have children, you need a woman. Do you find the prospect of earning enough merit to qualify for artificial reproduction too troublesome, so youโd rather deceive someone into being your wife to bear your children?โ
Viaโs words made Miao Teโs face flush with anger, and he snapped back.
โHow could I? Thatโs so shameless… Who would do something so despicable?!โ
Via nodded impassively.
โIโm glad you donโt intend to do that. But in the future, please avoid actions that could mislead women your age. I donโt want to see this situation repeated.โ
โโฆโ
Miao Te felt like he was about to choke on his indignation.
So, what if he met a girl he liked in the future?
โVia.โ
The Major General spoke.
โYes.โ
With his superior speaking, Via ceased his reprimand of Miao Te and refocused his attention on Major General.
Major General said, โAll historical archives and ancient preservation equipment need maintenance. The History Research Department will suspend work for one month.โ
Via: โ…Yes, sir.โ
The so-called preservation equipment ensured ancient books were stored in vacuum spheres, preventing any changes while also providing scanning and inspection functions.
For those obsessed with ancient Earth culture, being cut off from their research and historical texts was like a death sentence.
He recalled last year when the equipment was maintained for only five days, the senior researchers were utterly devastated, as if they had lost everything. Now, an entire monthโฆ Lieutenant Colonel Via could already imagine Professor Terryโs heart-wrenching despair when the order was issued.
โDismissed.โ
โYes.โ
Lieutenant Colonel Via saluted Major General Taylor, then quickly turned and left the room.
The tearoom was now silent, with only the Major General and the speechless teenager remaining.
The Major General glanced at Miao Te, his sapphire eyes sweeping over the still somewhat youthful face.
The teenager was pursing his lips, clearly unhappy, and sulking.
โDid you hear what Via said?โ
The Major General shifted his gaze away and asked.
โ…I heard.โ
The teenager reluctantly replied.
โGood.โ The Major General nodded lightly and stood up. โFrom now on, you are forbidden to get close to women.โ
Miao Te: โโฆโ
Avoid women?[1]
Major General, donโt you think your wording is a bit strange?
He was still grumbling inwardly when Major General Taylor suddenly stood right in front of him.
Instinctively, Miao Te looked up at the Major General, who also happened to lower his head.
The Major General leaned in slightly.
The teenagerโs eyes widened, his dark pupils reflecting the Major Generalโs face so close to him.
That face was so close, the jet-black strands of hair, like the night sky, softly brushed against his forehead.
Stunningly handsome, with snow-white skin and starry eyes, impossible to look away from.
The tip of the other person’s nose lightly brushed against his, and he could feel the warm breath grazing his cheek.
The deep blue eyes, reflecting his image, seemed to capture all the starlight in the vast sea of stars. They looked at him, glowing brightly at this moment, as if drawing him in entirely.
“โฆBeing close to men is allowed.”
The Major General whispered, his voice barely audible.
It was incredibly deep, slightly husky, and inexplicably made his ears tingle.
The teenager was still in a daze when suddenly, he felt a fleeting touch as if something had lightly brushed against his lips.
His eyes flew openโ
The young Major General leaned close, and whispered that single line near the teenagerโs face, in less than a second.
It was over in a flash.
As the metal door opened and closed again, the tearoom was left with only the stunned teenager standing alone.
The youth stood there dumbfounded, his fingers touching his lips.
Did… did he just touch me?!
No! Definitely not!
His mind was almost blank, and Miao Te pressed his fingers firmly against his lips.
It felt like he did, but maybe not…
It had been so closeโฆ there was still a faint lingering sensation on his lips…
โฆSo it did happen, didnโt it?!
The teenagerโs face turned bright red as if it had been set ablaze.
Sunlight shone down on him as he stood on the green grass. A small butterfly circled his feet before flying away. The breeze rustled through the dense leaves, making a soft, rustling sound.
Miao Te clutched his burning face, feeling utterly confused and lost as if his whole world had been thrown into chaos.
What did the Major General meanโwhat did he mean, ahhh?!
Why would he do something like that without any warningโwhat did he mean by itโ
Wait, hold onโฆ
What the hell does ‘being close to men is allowed’ mean?!!
***
Next up Part Two: Son of the Empire.
***
[1] “็ฆๆญข่ฟๅฅณ่ฒ” (jรฌnzhว jรฌn nวsรจ) is a phrase that means “forbidden to get close to women or indulge in lustful behavior.” It typically implies a restriction on interacting with women in a romantic or sexual context, often as a way to maintain discipline, focus, or moral purity. The phrase is commonly seen in traditional or formal settings, such as in historical or martial arts stories, where characters are expected to avoid distractions or temptations, especially those related to romantic or sexual relationships.
***
T/N: Yay! Part 1 is done! I’m taking a break in translating. Oh boy, when I took this task I thought I could do this but then WoW, here we are.(>.<) See yaโll dear readers!
***
Translated by NightOwll
***