They hadn’t stayed on Forna Star for long, only about ten days, before they had to return to the Ishtar flagship once again.
Since that morning, Miao Te had wanted to find a chance to talk to Major General Taylor, but the Major General had been too busy, leaving early and returning late every day, sometimes gone for days at a time.
Even when he was at the house, he was always discussing business with a group of subordinates in the study, leaving Miao Te with no opportunity to approach him.
Meanwhile, the subordinates who often visited went from looking at him with initial shock and disbelief to calm acceptance. Eventually, some of the more clever ones even started bringing him small gifts or unique local delicacies during their visits…
Faced with such friendly gestures, he found it hard to refuse, so he reluctantly accepted the offerings.
Hehe, Miao Te thought. Even though Dada hadn’t called him “Major General’s wife” again, in the eyes of these people, he was already being treated as such.
The only person who could clear up the misunderstanding, the Major General, didn’t seem to care at all, letting the rumors spread unchecked.
Sometimes, the teenager couldn’t help but secretly wonder if the Major General was deliberately letting this happen.”
As they prepared to leave the house, the white orb floated closely behind Miao Te, gazing at him pitifully with a face full of grievance.
With its voice system disabled, Dada couldn’t say a word and could only stare at Miao Te with its large, simulated teary eyes, looking incredibly pitiful.
Miao Te couldn’t help but soften when he saw its pitiful appearance.
After all, once the Major General and he left, only Dada, the AI, would be left behind. Leaving it all alone here, not even allowed to speak, really was quite pitiful.
As he thought about this, he turned his head to glance at Major General Taylor beside him.
The black-haired Major General was currently speaking with the executive officer in charge of managing Forna. The executive, who ruled over millions on the planet, stood respectfully before Major General Taylor, carefully noting down his superior’s orders.
It’s worth noting that, aside from the subordinates in the Major General’s army, fewer than ten people on the entire planet were qualified to come to this villa to bid farewell to the Major General. Although they appeared powerful and influential on this planet, all of that authority was bestowed upon them by none other than Major General Taylor.
Forna Star was the domain of the Major General, who held the power of life and death over everyone in this star system. With just one command from the Major General, these so-called high-ranking officials could be reduced to nothing.
If you were a soldier in Major General Taylor’s army, all you needed was bravery in battle, without worrying about anything else. But for this man to become the executor governing a planet, aside from having considerable ability, he certainly also possessed the necessary tact.
As he bowed slightly, attentively listening to the Major General’s orders, he noticed out of the corner of his eye that Miao Te was looking in their direction. Seeing that the Major General hadn’t noticed, the executive deliberately lifted his head slightly, subtly directing the Major General’s attention behind him.
Taylor noticed his gaze and naturally turned to look back at him.
As soon as he turned his head, he saw the teenager’s expression, as if he wanted to say something but hesitated.
“What’s wrong?”
The Major General asked.
His tone was calm and indifferent, betraying no emotion, his expression unchanged—just as it had been when speaking to the Forna executive.
The executive, however, felt that his action had been the right move.
Don’t be fooled by how indifferent Major General seems when he speaks, making it look like he treats everyone the same. But if it were someone else just staring at the Major General without saying a word, do you think the Major General would even bother to acknowledge them?
Yet here he was, taking the initiative to ask the black-eyed teenager what was wrong… This kid was quite favored.
“No… I was just thinking, since we’re about to leave, maybe we could lift Dada’s punishment?”
Unable to withstand Dada’s teary, pitiful look, Miao Te finally voiced his plea.
After all, during the ten days he spent here, it was mostly this little one who kept him company, fulfilling his every request. It had played a significant role in helping him quickly learn how to write in the Imperial language.
He decided to help it out.
The Major General’s long, narrow eyes glanced at the white ball, causing it to shiver and quickly float behind Miao Te for cover.
The Major General’s gaze shifted to Miao Te’s face, locking with his bright, dark eyes for a moment. Then, he raised his hand and gently ruffled the teenager’s hair.
“You can give the command,” he said calmly.
With that, he withdrew his hand from the teenager’s head and turned back to continue issuing instructions to the Forna executive.
“Alright, then… I’ll lift your mute command.”
With a soft click, the white orb, having been silent for so long, couldn’t wait to speak.
“Miao Te-sama, you’re the best~~ I like you so much~~ just as much as I like Major General-sama~~”
It bounced around excitedly, rubbing its round body vigorously against Miao Te’s hand.
“You and Major General-sama are leaving, Dada will miss you both so much! When will you come back?”
“You’ll have to ask the Major General about that…”
He certainly didn’t have the authority to confirm the Major General’s schedule.
“But you better behave. I just got your punishment lifted. If you anger the Major General again, I won’t be able to help you.”
At Miao Te’s words, the white ball shuddered in alarm.
“Dada will be good, very good! Dada will wait quietly for your return.”
***
After returning to the Ishtar aboard the landing ship, Miao Te suddenly had a feeling of being home as he stepped onto its deck.
Although it was just a flagship, compared to the house on Forna Star, he always felt a stronger sense of belonging on this ship.
He thought, perhaps the Major General felt the same way. After all, compared to the villa he visited only a few days a year, this starship, which had accompanied him through countless battles and into which he had poured his entire life, must feel like his true home.
The Major General hadn’t told him what he was going to do, and he didn’t ask.
Although the Major General treated him well and had special feelings for him, Miao Te knew his place.
Sometimes, knowing too much wasn’t a good thing. As Major General Taylor’s subordinate, he didn’t need to know everything—just obediently follow orders.
The massive blue-black starship sailed through the starry sky, slowly departing from the fiery red Forna Star, and heading toward the endless expanse of space.
Countless smaller ships followed behind it in a neatly ordered formation, steadily cruising through the cosmos.
The external cloaking device hadn’t been activated yet. Miao Te stood by the titanium glass window, watching as the fiery planet gradually receded, like a burning sphere drifting away.
“Come here.”
A familiar voice called out, the teenager turned his head, looking toward the speaking Major General.
The black-haired Major General sat on a wooden chair next to a projection of wisteria vines, his dark blue eyes fixed on him.
The red-haired Major stood nearby, his gaze carrying a faint smile as he also looked over.
Miao Te shot a glare at Robin.
He still hadn’t settled the score with this guy for selling him out last time!
He sent a silent message with his eyes to Robin, then obediently walked over to the Major General.
Major General Taylor reached out, took Miao Te’s right hand, and lifted it.
Before Miao Te could react, there was a soft click, and a blue-black metal band with a distinctive blue planet insignia was clasped onto his right wrist.
The half-circle band immediately lit up upon contact with his skin, quickly expanding into a full circle. With another click, it locked into place, beeped twice, spun around with a glowing light, and then finally settled quietly on his wrist.
Miao Te was stunned for a moment and instinctively glanced at the Major General’s wrist.
He saw that the Major General’s right wrist also bore an identical blue-black metal band, only larger than his.
He stood there in a daze for a moment. By the time he snapped out of it, the Major General was already standing and heading toward the tea room door, with Robin naturally following behind. As he passed Miao Te, Robin gave him a subtle, knowing smile.
As he watched the Major General prepare to leave, the teenager glanced at the data band on his wrist and felt he couldn’t delay this any longer.
If he kept stalling like this, it wouldn’t be good for anyone.
He had to come clean about his mistake, even if it meant angering the Major General or facing severe punishment. He couldn’t deceive him any longer.
“Wait!”
Miao Te quickened his steps, catching up to the Major General, pressing his lips together as he nervously looked up at Taylor.
“Major General, I… I…”
He said, “I’m sorry, I’ve been lying to you all along.”
Steeling himself, he gritted his teeth and forced the words out.
“The truth is, I don’t like men, I like women!”
He tensed up, fully bracing himself for the Major General’s impending wrath.
No matter what punishment came, he would accept it!
After all, he was the one who lied first. Whatever consequences he faced, he deserved them.
But as Miao Te nervously waited for a long time, expecting the Major General’s fury, it never came. The Major General merely looked down at him, his long, narrow phoenix eyes narrowing slightly.
“Oh.”
The Major General simply let out an ‘Oh,’ indicating he understood, then, with an indifferent expression, turned and continued walking.
Miao Te stared in shock at the Major General’s nonchalant reaction, his mind in turmoil, unable to process what had just happened.
He hurried forward again, grabbing the Major General’s sleeve.
“Um, I know I was wrong. Back then, I was afraid you’d abandon me, or… help me find… cough… a woman, so I lied about liking men. I didn’t want to lie, but… I didn’t want…”
Due to his intense nervousness, the teenager’s words came out somewhat incoherent, but he still managed to say the most important thing.
“I’m sorry for lying about liking men. The truth is, I like girls.”
The Major General allowed him to tug at his sleeve, quietly watching and listening to him.
After he finished speaking, Major General Taylor raised his hand and gently ruffled Miao Te’s hair.
“Alright.”
The Major General said, “Be good.”
As he spoke, he patted Miao Te’s head, his expression suggesting the boy should stop fussing. Then, with a calm, composed demeanor, he continued walking without a change in expression.
Following behind, the red-haired Major snickered and slapped Miao Te on the shoulder.
“Alright, alright, kid.”
Still chuckling, he continued, patting Miao Te on the shoulder.
“We know you’re just coming up with excuses to reject the boss… If you’re going to lie, at least come up with a better one. ‘I like women’? Tsk, tsk.”
Robin laughed as he spoke, then quickly caught up with the boss who had already walked ahead.
The youth, left behind, stared in shock at the two figures walking away, unsure what expression he should make at that moment.
So… both of them thought he was just making excuses to reject the Major General by lying about liking women?
But I wasn’t lying this time!
The youth, on the verge of tears but unable to cry, suddenly remembered a story his mother used to tell him at bedtime when he was little.
The shepherd teenager who cried wolf.
The first time, people believed him and came running.
But there was no wolf.
A few days later, the teenager cried wolf again.
Again, people believed him and rushed to help.
But still, there was no wolf.
The third time, when the wolf appeared, the teenager shouted desperately, but no one believed him anymore. Everyone thought he was lying, and in the end, the teenager was eaten by the wolf.
…eaten by the wolf…
…eaten…
[T/N: Hahaha! My poor boy.]
***
Translated by NightOwll
***