Chapter 97: Legion Festival Invitation: Ulysses’ Arrangements

"Heavenly Garuda" Completed

Male Lord and Female Lord Each Have Their Own Logic

Hybrid Hatchling

"The Most Sci-Fi Novel in the Entire Zerg World Has Finally Ended! An-shen Keeps Breaking the Limits of Science Fiction—Can You Imagine Hearing Someone Called 'Female Lord' in Zerg Society?"

Ever since Instructor, where a female Zerg on the verge of total psychic collapse was matched with a high-ranking Male Zerg, and that Male Zerg Lord firmly insisted on marrying him as his Female Lord, An-shen had been charging down the road of science fiction without ever looking back.

You thought that was already the limit of sci-fi... the limit of dreaming?

An-shen said no.

It could get even more sci-fi.

In the second novel, Isidore appeared.

A hatchling who crossed through time personally delivered the precious child every female Zerg dreamed of straight into Iso's arms, even tying an unbreakable bloodline connecting them to Lord Hill.

Lord Hill's kindness surpassed every Zerg's imagination.

A Male Zerg who longed for a small family might not fit mainstream Zerg values, but he gave every member of his family unconditional love.

He was the perfect Male Lord.

The perfect father.

Who hadn't secretly called Lord Hill "Father" in their heart?

You thought that was already the limit?

No!

An-shen came up with something even more outrageous!

The story was set in the future from the very beginning.

Can you honestly say that isn't science fiction?

A Heavenly Garuda male and a Zerg military officer.

A male posting online asking for help because he wanted a female Zerg to become his Female Lord.

Mock the Heavenly Garuda worldview all you like.

But don't tell me none of you felt a thrill every time you heard the words "Female Lord."

It felt so strange.

You knew it was wrong.

You knew it couldn't work.

You worried that the little male would be hurt and wronged.

Your heart ached for him.

Yet for just one brief moment...

It still made your heart itch with satisfaction.

This novel pushed the feeling of taboo to its absolute limit.

The adoptive parent relationship actually became secondary.

What truly mattered was Heavenly Garuda and Zergs.

Male and Male Zerg.

Female Lord and Male Lord.

As for even more outrageous sci-fi concepts like "diplomatic relations between the Zerg Federation and the Heavenly Garuda" and "co-producing movies together"...

I genuinely can't figure out how An-shen came up with ideas like that.

(Old Zerg staring blankly at the screen aboard a starship.)

Sometimes it gets so absurd I want to report it to the authorities.

Fortunately...

It's only a novel.

Anyway!

Welcome to An-shen's Sci-Fi Trilogy!

Present.

Past.

Future.

Everything your imagination could ever want!

...

[It's true... he really filled in the present, the past, and the future. No matter what kind of dream I want to have, An-shen has already imagined it for me.]

[Who else pampers me like this besides An-shen's sci-fi novels? (Wailing.) I'm voting him into the Top Three Rankings no matter what! He's the Male Lord I most want to marry! Even if I had to become his Female Lord, I wouldn't mind!]

[Calm down. Getting into the Top Three is even harder now. As soon as this new novel finished, Axel entered the rankings too.]

[Wait, fictional characters can be ranked now? Lord Xi'an and Lord Hill are real Male Zerg Lords, but Axel is completely fictional!]

[Plenty of Male Zergs and female Zergs have already started naming their hatchlings "Axel." How dare you assume "Axel" is fictional?]

[6.]

[Here we go again. Reported.]

[I'm a Zerg!]

[Oh, sorry. Give him a proper burial.]

[Now we don't just have to compete against those rival Psychic Soothers—we also have Axel.]

[Axel is our own protagonist. If he outranks An-shen, that's basically the same as An-shen winning. Losing to our own protagonist isn't embarrassing. But we absolutely cannot lose to those rival Psychic Soothers!]

This ranking carried tremendous prestige throughout Zerg society.

It was essentially a ranking of the most beloved and most popular Male Zergs.

The only reason An-shen kept losing was because he remained anonymous and no one even knew whether he was male or female.

Otherwise, with the way his novels had stirred up the entire Federation—and had even become wildly popular among the Heavenly Garuda—he should already have been comfortably sitting in the Top Three.

[The invitation list for the Legion Festival is partially based on this ranking. Don't you want to see An-shen with your own eyes? Aren't you curious whether An-shen is male or female, or what he looks like? Whatever it takes, vote him into the rankings!]

[Charge!!]

—

Inside the military forum...

The military female Zergs were agonizing over the matter as well.

[Do we really only get one vote? Do I seriously have to choose between Lord Annor and An-shen? Can't I love both?]

[How can you be so fickle?! Have you forgotten that Lord Annor personally performed Psychic Soothing on you?! (Angry)]

[Uh... no. I haven't even reached my turn yet. The waiting list already stretches three years into the future.]

[So you're one of the Zergs who hasn't experienced Lord Annor's charm yet. Understandable.]

[Not understandable! Think about it! Lord Annor is a Psychic Soother who will one day save your life! The novelist on the other side only wrote stories you enjoy. You need to understand the difference between spiritual nourishment and Psychic Soothing!]

[But... I might not even survive another three years...

I may never live long enough to receive Psychic Soothing.

The only thing I can enjoy every single day right now is that spiritual nourishment.

It's my only joy in staying alive.]

The moment those words appeared...

The atmosphere became heavy.

No one spoke again.

That was the normal reality for military female Zergs.

Although the military provided free Psychic Soothing...

Not every Zerg could make it to their turn.

Some were already in such terrible mental condition, with their psychic values so low, that they would lose all reason and meet a painful end long before their appointment ever arrived.

That Lord might be capable of saving their lives.

But they simply couldn't wait that long.

An-shen's words...

Were the only thing they could truly grasp right now.

The Lord the military female Zergs spoke of was certainly wonderful.

The reply letters others posted were enough to move anyone.

But those things...

Never belonged to them.

They belonged only to a fortunate few.

...

Group Psychic Soothing Research (Even Hatchlings Can Learn Group Psychic Soothing)

An Ruo continued typing away on the light screen, compiling all the theoretical knowledge he had organized over the past several days into a proper manual.

Since the Zerg Federation had no relevant textbook...

He would research it himself.

He would write the textbook himself to fill that gap.

The theoretical framework was already complete.

What he lacked now was practical experience.

He had experimented during follow-up examinations...

And on the military female Zerg prisoners inside the prison.

But there were too few subjects.

Since they were follow-up treatments, the procedures hadn't been especially difficult either.

That wasn't enough to represent every possible situation.

He needed more case studies.

Just as he was thinking that...

A notification popped up in the lower-right corner of the screen.

An Ruo opened it.

It was a message from Uriel.

Along with an attached file.

Uriel: Are you interested in attending this year's Legion Festival?

Legion Festival?

What was that?

He only knew about the Legion Tournament.

An Ruo searched for it.

The Legion Festival was somewhat similar to a military parade combined with Armed Forces Day, but with a much stronger celebratory atmosphere.

There would be numerous performances and cultural events, all intended to promote military culture, strengthen unity, and raise morale.

Inviting Male Zergs to participate was one of the Federation's unique traditions.

Nothing inspired military female Zergs more than the presence of Male Zergs.

[An Ruo]: Can I decline?

An Ruo asked timidly.

Uriel: Of course. Everything depends entirely on your wishes.

Uriel: In that case, shall I decline both invitations—for Your Lordship and for "An" as well?

...?

Both invitations?

His author identity had also received an invitation?

[An Ruo]: Wait a moment. Let me read them first.

An Ruo opened the file Uriel had previously sent.

It turned out to be an invitation.

Actually...

Two invitations.

One was addressed to the Psychic Soother "Annor."

The other was addressed to the novelist "An."

An Ruo had never imagined both of his identities would receive invitations.

The feeling was exactly like maintaining two completely different pen names...

Only to have both of them invited to the same author event.

Something this absurd had actually happened to him.

This would definitely expose him, wouldn't it?

Far too dangerous.

Although...

Also incredibly exciting.

An Ruo glanced toward the document titled Group Psychic Soothing displayed on the neighboring screen.

A thought suddenly occurred to him.

"At the Legion Festival...

There will be a lot of Zergs, right?

A lot of military female Zergs will attend?"

Uriel knew this Lord disliked crowded places.

He also disliked interacting with strangers.

Deep down...

Uriel already knew there was no hope.

A short while later...

Another message arrived.

[An Ruo]: If I go, would I be expected to do anything?

Uriel looked rather surprised.

Was His Lordship actually considering attending?

Uriel: Nothing at all.

You'll have the best seat.

Simply watch the military female Zergs perform for you.

If you grow tired of the performances, you may walk around the venue. There will be a gathering and a night market in the evening.

Printed editions of your novels will officially go on sale there.

There will also be a film screening.

The movie adaptation of Instructor will premiere during the Legion Festival.

Uriel: If you wish, I will remain by your side at all times. In addition, Lord Xi'an, Lord Hill, Colonel Claire, Major General Iso, and General Enzo will all attend this year's Legion Festival. Naturally, the Marshal will also be present.

A night market?

His novels?

There was even...

A movie?!

And Xi'an and Hill would be there too?!

An Ruo practically sat bolt upright from his sickbed.

Using something like this to lure an antisocial homebody out of the house...

That was completely unfair!

[An Ruo]: I need to think about it a little longer.

An Ruo couldn't make up his mind.

Uriel: Certainly. If you have any additional requests, please don't hesitate to ask. The military will do everything in its power to accommodate them.

[An Ruo]: Any request?

Uriel considered it.

Well...

As long as it wasn't something like asking the Marshal to put on a performance...

Almost anything else could be arranged.

Uriel: Of course.

[An Ruo]: Would wearing a mask be acceptable?

[An Ruo]: As you know, these two identities are rather difficult to manage, and it wouldn't be appropriate for them to appear together. I'd like to keep them completely separate.

Uriel thought it over.

That hardly seemed like a problem.

Even if His Lordship wanted every military female Zerg in the entire Legion to wear masks...

That wouldn't be difficult either.

What style of mask would you like?

I'll have it custom-made immediately.

An Ruo hadn't expected approval to come so easily.

[An Ruo]: Thank you so much.

[An Ruo]: I still need to think about a few things.

I may also need a makeup artist...

Or some kind of disguise equipment capable of altering my appearance.

Uriel: No problem.

I'll make the arrangements.

...

Uriel looked over the chat history before submitting an application to organize...

A masquerade ball.

Since His Lordship intended to wear a mask...

Then everyone else could wear masks too.

If everyone looked similar...

His Lordship would probably feel much more comfortable.

Since His Lordship intended to attend under two separate identities...

The schedule would have to be completely reorganized as well.

After submitting the application...

Uriel privately contacted his former commanding officer.

Uriel: His Lordship has decided to attend the Legion Festival under two separate identities.

[Marshal]: How did you convince him?

Considering that Lord hardly even left the prison...

He actually agreed to attend the Legion Festival?

That was completely unlike him.

Uriel: I mentioned the printed editions of his novels, the film premiere, Lord Xi'an and the others attending...

I also mentioned you.

Then His Lordship agreed.

Ulysses: "..."

He knew perfectly well that his own importance in that decision had been negligible.

If anything...

He might even have counted as one more reason not to go.

Fortunately...

The other party had agreed.

Ulysses looked toward the medal displayed inside the presentation case on his desk.

He would personally award it to him.

In front of a live StarNet broadcast watched by the entire Federation...

He would pin the medal onto the chest of the novelist "An."

That was an honor...

Lord Xi'an, Claire, and the others would never possess.

Ulysses continued reviewing the Legion Festival program.

With a casual swipe...

He crossed out several performances that showed far too much muscle.

He issued new orders.

All military female Zergs were to wear their uniforms properly.

This was the Legion Festival.

Not some matchmaking event meant to attract Male Zergs.

What kind of appearance was that supposed to be?

Then there was the seating arrangement...

His Lordship's seat should be moved even higher.

Seats at military ceremonies were assigned according to military rank.

Psychic Soothers were considered military medical personnel.

The highest rank they could receive was Lieutenant General.

Given His Lordship's contributions to Psychic Soothing...

He had already fully met every requirement for receiving military rank.

The only obstacle was that prisoners serving sentences could not hold military rank.

It would have to wait until the future.

The rank itself couldn't be awarded yet.

But every other privilege...

Could absolutely be provided according to the standards of a general officer.

No one would dare object.

His Lordship's contributions to Psychic Soothing were enough to silence the entire Federation.

Even the Generals of the various Military Regions would gladly offer him the very best they had.

They would only fear that what they offered wasn't good enough...

Not enough to bring a smile to His Lordship's face.

Without hesitation...

Ulysses moved His Lordship's seat directly beside his own.

Now...

Only a handful of Generals stood between them.

Nine Generals.

...

An eyesore.