Chapter 257: Female Disguised as Male x Despairing Straight Female (13): A Date—the Kind Where You Bring Male Zerg Pheromones

[Major General Lucas! I remember you used to be a straight Female Zerg!]

[You’re already thinking about the date? And the kind where you bring Male Zerg pheromones? How is that any different from washing yourself clean and getting ready for His Excellency to enjoy you? Except you’re even bringing your own tools!]

[His Excellency is His Excellency, but Felix is a Female Zerg! So there’s no status, no pheromones, no Psychic Soothing, no hatchlings, no prospects, no future! There’s nothing at all, it might not even feel good, and yet you’re still going to offer yourself up to sleep with him. I’m crying!]

[Major General Lucas keeps saying this isn’t allowed and that isn’t allowed, but his heart has been out of his control for ages, hasn’t it?]

[He’s cared about Felix from the very beginning. He keeps thinking Felix is wonderful in every possible way and exactly the type Male Zergs would like, but isn’t that actually what he likes? The Major General probably just hates that he isn’t a Male Zerg himself. If he were a Male Zerg, he would’ve married Felix and taken him home long ago to dote on him exclusively.]

[That wouldn’t work. Felix likes Female Zergs. If Lucas were a Male Zerg, he’d miss his chance.]

[Not necessarily. What Felix likes is the Zerg called “Lucas.” Regardless of identity or sex, female or male, he’d still like him.]

[Holy shit! That’s so philosophical. Where’d you learn that?]

[From my notes on Lord Xi’an’s classic quotes~ (laughing)]

[There are still lots of planets that celebrate Lovers’ Festival, even though it’s a holiday from the former Empire. Too bad it was several months ago for us, otherwise I’d ask my Male Lord out on a date too. He’s following this book as well, and if he happened to read this part, he’d definitely agree.]

[It’s fine, it’s fine. Male-Female Social Day, Reproduction Day, Nuptial Flight Festival... they’re all the same thing under different names. There’s always some planet celebrating one of them. Expand the range to the whole Federation and, as long as you want to, every day is a holiday. If that still isn’t enough, expand it to the entire universe!]

[Good point. I’m going to invite my Male Lord to the merfolk mating season right now. There are still tickets available if I make a reservation now.]

[Wait, no? Celebrate whatever festivals you want, but who the hell is buying up Male Zerg pheromones in bulk? How did the stock suddenly become scarce???]

After Lucas decided in the novel to bring Male Zerg pheromones, the swarm of Zergs who followed his example and decided to buy some quickly discovered that pheromone supplies were running low!

From limited-edition pheromones collected directly from Male Zerg lords to ordinary artificially synthesized pheromones, everything was showing low stock. Demand vastly exceeded supply, countless stores were completely sold out, and they actually couldn’t buy any!

[Ahem. Single Female Zergs need to celebrate holidays too. Otherwise, once everyone from the novel to real life has a Male Zerg beside them while you’re all alone and miserable, unable to even satisfy yourself and forced to watch the protagonists getting intimate in the book... that would be way too tragic.]

[Yes. After experiencing pheromones selling out several times, I’ve learned to prepare in advance.]

[Wait? You’re planning to read intimate scenes between two Female Zergs too?]

[It’s written by An-shen. Why wouldn’t I read it? Forget just reading it—because I couldn’t buy any pheromones, I’ve already decided to share one tube with my brothers.]

[???]

[Yeah, I splurged for once too. My comrades and I pooled our money to buy the highest-grade pheromones.]

[You guys? You guys? HUH???]

[The Female Zerg lesbian population is skyrocketing...]

[Ah, no, we’re just brothers helping each other out. This is completely normal (righteous gaze).]

When Philor came across the discussion online, he immediately sprang upright.

There were many Female Zergs in his household. Some were on Capital Star and nearby planets, while many others were away carrying out missions, so he became particularly anxious.

He could tell the Zergs near Capital Star to come home if they needed anything, but what about those several star systems away?

Watching the pheromone-buying frenzy on StarNet, along with all the discussions about Female Zergs sharing pheromones, sent him into a panic.

Absolutely not. His Female Zergs could not share pheromones with other Zergs. Besides, if everyone else had some, then his family needed some too.

After racking his brains, he finally came up with an idea and dashed out of the room to find a pheromone collector.

He spent the entire following day collecting a whole box full of pheromones—more than a dozen tubes—and mailed them out separately.

Interstellar express delivery was fast. With spatial transmission, it wouldn’t take long for them to reach every Zerg.

Only after making sure that each Zerg would receive a portion of pheromones did Philor finally relax. He let out a long breath and fell backward.

Being the Male Lord of a large family really wasn’t easy.

The pheromones were sold out, and Zergs throughout the interstellar world eagerly awaited what would happen next.

Would Lucas actually bring Male Zerg pheromones? Would they use them? And just how would Felix and Lucas’s date unfold?

With countless eyes watching, a new chapter was released.

...

[Since it was his first date with Lucas, Felix was both excited and took it extremely seriously. He even stayed up overnight preparing an entire plan, listing several different options for Lucas to choose from.

Inside the aircraft, Lucas made selections on the light screen.

“Option One: lakeside camping and roasted mushrooms...”

The moment he saw the word “mushrooms,” Lucas’s expression soured, and he immediately raised his hand and crossed that option out.

He genuinely had PTSD from “mushrooms.”

It wasn’t that he disliked Felix hugging him and rubbing against him. Rather, he didn’t want to see Felix lose control of himself and become delirious again. It worried him.

Repeated hallucinations could also cause damage to the nervous system.

A Female Zerg’s Psychic Domain was always fragile, especially for one who didn’t receive Psychic Soothing from a Male Zerg...

Lucas fell silent for a moment and decided he would keep a close eye on Felix. He absolutely could not let him touch mushrooms again.

“Option Two: go to Amber Star for Lovers’ Festival, walk around and have fun, experience the festive atmosphere, watch a nuptial flight performance... Then spend the night at Dawn Star, the tallest hotel, overlooking the city’s nighttime scenery.”

Lucas considered it. His gaze lingered on the word “hotel” for an extra moment, and he thought this option seemed acceptable.

Amber Star was one of the planets that still preserved the tradition of Lovers’ Festival. Every year, it held enormous celebrations, including nuptial flight performances modeled after those of ancient times. Many Female and Male Zergs traveled there together.

It was just that... among crowds of male-female couples, two Female Zergs traveling together would attract quite a lot of attention.

Lucas considered this as he continued reading.

“Option Three: go to the beach, sunbathe, dive, surf...”

Lucas imagined it.

A seaside beach crowded with Zergs coming and going, laughing and having fun... Felix wearing very little, exposing his beautiful arms and muscles, with that disastrously attractive face of his and his brilliant smile, radiating charm everywhere he went. Every Male and Female Zerg would be drawn to him and stare. Some would even approach him, strike up conversations, and invite Felix to join them.

At the thought, Lucas’s expression darkened. He raised his hand and crossed that option out as well.

Felix sat opposite him, watching Lucas review his plans and eliminate them one after another. For some inexplicable reason, he felt nervous—more nervous than when facing a superior officer.

After all, the Zerg in front of him was both his superior officer and his lover.

Double the nervousness.

Mm... they were lovers now, right? Lucas had agreed to go on a date with him.

He absolutely could not mess up their first date.

Felix was still anxiously waiting when Lucas finally handed back the plan, which had almost nothing left uncrossed.

Lucas probably realized that what he had done wasn’t exactly conducive to a romantic atmosphere. He coughed awkwardly and said, somewhat uncomfortably,

“Let’s go with the second one. Amber Star. It’s pretty nice there.”

Felix breathed a sigh of relief.

Since this was a date, both of them needed to be satisfied. Fortunately, he had prepared plenty of options.

Felix set their destination, then moved over to sit beside Lucas, pressing close against him.

“Since you agreed to go on a date with me, does that mean you like me just a tiny bit, sir?” Felix asked with a grin.

Lucas knew the answer in his heart, but he still looked away and said,

“I just didn’t want you to spend Lovers’ Festival alone.”

“Oh? So you feel sorry for me and worry about me?” Felix didn’t mind his stubborn denial and continued asking with a smile.

“Mm...” Lucas responded, his voice dropping even lower until it was almost inaudible. “Maybe... a little...”

The tips of Felix’s ears twitched. He vaguely caught something and immediately asked in delight,

“A little what?”

Lucas pressed his lips together and refused to speak again.

Felix was so annoyed that he leaned over and planted a hard kiss beside his lips, deliberately kissing him with enough force to make his presence unmistakable.

Lucas lowered his eyes to look at him in confusion. Felix seemed like a little hatchling to him, and he couldn’t understand his emotions at all.

What Zerg expressed anger by kissing someone?

Wouldn’t a normal Female Zerg choose to fight that Zerg instead?

As their gazes met, the tiny bit of resentment in Felix’s chest disappeared as well.

He refused to say that he liked Felix, yet he didn’t even resist when Felix kissed him. He accepted it as naturally as anything, and he still dared claim he didn’t like him?

Felix wrapped his arms around Lucas’s waist and buried his face against his shoulder. He took a deep breath, feeling joyful and content, experiencing genuine happiness.

Lucas lowered his eyes to watch him. He raised a hand and touched Felix’s head, stroking his long wine-red hair.

He still didn’t quite understand.

He only thought that Felix’s emotions came and went quickly, and that... Felix was very close to him.

Lucas had never received this kind of dependence and intimacy from anyone before.

It was different from the trust and reliance his comrades placed in him on the battlefield. Felix’s feelings toward him had always been special.

Lucas wanted to respond somehow. His heart beat heavily beneath his chest, yet he wasn’t certain whether doing so would be right or wrong.

...

Regardless of the countless thoughts running through his mind, the aircraft eventually arrived on Amber Star.

It was a bright and dazzling planet. Its buildings were magnificent and vibrant, with numerous golden carvings decorating rooftops and windowsills, giving the architecture a touch of the former Empire’s classical style. The sunlight was perfect, making every street glitter brilliantly.

Felix and Lucas stepped out of the aircraft.

Both had changed into casual everyday clothes, allowing them to blend easily into the crowd.

Because the sunlight was so intense, Felix had also put on a baseball cap. When he smiled, he looked youthful and energetic, and many Zergs along the roadside secretly glanced at him.

Zergs in the prime of their lives didn’t visibly age. Their appearances remained similarly youthful, making their exact ages difficult to distinguish. Yet with Lucas standing beside Felix, he somehow still looked distinctly older by comparison.

Walking together, they looked more like an older brother taking his younger brother out.

Lucas pressed his lips together slightly, his expression serious.

He really was older than Felix, so the apparent age difference didn’t bother him. But the fact that so many Zergs along the road kept looking at Felix instinctively put him on guard.

“Ice cream. Want one?”

Felix remained completely oblivious. He bought a pair of ice creams from a vending machine and handed one to Lucas.

With the sun blazing this intensely, it was the perfect weather for ice cream—especially the couples’ variety.

Lucas accepted it. He wasn’t particularly accustomed to eating while walking down the street, but when he saw Felix lick the pure white cream, creating a strange mingling sensation of coolness and heat, he silently began eating his own as well, biting off half the snowy peak in a single mouthful.

And so the two Zergs walked side by side holding their ice creams.

Felix naturally linked his arm through Lucas’s.

Lucas paused slightly, his body somewhat stiff as he allowed Felix to lead him along.

It was a festival today, and the streets were filled with a festive atmosphere. Countless Female and Male Zergs traveled together, behaving intimately, with sweet pink bubbles practically floating everywhere.

Single Zergs were comparatively rare. Even when there were some, they were generally groups of Female Zergs calling their friends along and walking together, obviously a bunch of good brothers out having fun.

Two Female Zergs walking together like Felix and Lucas—and behaving intimately on top of that—were even rarer.

They were both extraordinarily attractive, their styles completely different yet each handsome and beautiful in his own way. They were extremely eye-catching. Every Zerg who noticed them couldn’t resist taking a few extra looks, so they received plenty of curious and inquisitive stares.

Felix acted as though absolutely nothing was unusual, as if everything were perfectly normal. He even had the leisure to point out interesting things he noticed and share them with Lucas.

Lucas’s feelings were complicated. He struggled over whether he should tell Felix to let go of his arm.

Just then, a Male Zerg accompanied by a Female Zerg approached them.

He greeted them with a smile, his attitude extremely friendly, but his gaze remained glued to Felix.

He asked whether Felix had a Male Zerg companion and whether he wanted to have some fun together, adding that both of them could join.

Meaning him, Felix, Lucas, and the Female Zerg behind him—all four of them together.

Lucas’s expression instantly darkened, as disgusted as though he had swallowed a Tianjia whole.

He closed his hand around Felix’s where it rested on his arm, then looked between Felix and the Male Zerg. His pupils contracted, his expression grim as he waited for Felix’s answer.

The other party was a Male Zerg.

A high-ranking Male Zerg.

If Felix agreed...

Making Felix fall for a Male Zerg had once been exactly what Lucas wanted.

Yet merely imagining that possibility now filled him with such rage that he wanted to tear everything apart.

It had to be because this Male Zerg wasn’t good enough for Felix.

Lucas thought this disrespectfully to himself, his expression cold.

...]