MCDWTBS Chapter 62

Chapter 62: “Because I’m marked, so I…”

Chapter 62 “Because I’m marked, so I…”

Before meeting Colean, Lin Huanyu knew exactly what he wanted to gain from this unexpected indulgence by the royals.

He wanted two things. First, the ownership of the Fourth Army. He wanted to return the control of a legion to Edwin, to the female Chong general who truly cared about the army, cared about honor. Second, he wanted to understand more information. He wanted to glimpse what the royals’ trump card was that allowed them to stand tall in the face of the church.

He hadn’t forgotten that Yun Jiaren was still missing, and that the tiny star suspected to be the Mother Chong’s true form was suspended above Sky City.

Lin Huanyu had to admit that his adherence to atheism had made him underestimate the situation he faced, and also overlooked the strength of his opponents. The power displayed by the church had surprised him time and again, and he would no longer repeat his mistakes in the hands of the royals because of ignorance and underestimation.

From the bottom of his heart, Lin Huanyu didn’t regret his atheistic beliefs. Even if he had to backtrack, he firmly believed that no power could override humanity and life, no power deserved to be called divine, and no life could be placed on a divine altar for worship.

Regarding the situation of the Chong race, Lin Huanyu was even more willing to call the Mother Chong a mother, creator, or designer. Just consider him stubborn; in an increasingly complex environment, one must adhere to oneself in order not to be swept away and lost by the complex currents.

He wanted to get these two things from Colean. This was his bottom line. With these two things, the royals could continue to regard the Duke’s Mansion as a pawn to deal with the church, and Lin Huanyu wouldn’t let the church off either. But if Colean only wanted to use vague “blockades” and “sanctions” to deal with Lin Huanyu, and given that the Duke’s Mansion and the church had already negotiated, Lin Huanyu wouldn’t let the royals escape unscathed after this accident.

A royal successor who betrayed his comrades and allowed the church to wreak havoc on the Capital Star? Mother Chong above, not to mention the media’s sensationalism, just this one fact could greatly damage the image that Colean had cultivated for many years.

Therefore, Lin Huanyu was almost certain that Colean would give him what he wanted, because after his miraculous survival—thanks to Yun Jiaren—he was the Chong Star’s new legend, the Duke who had survived a great disaster. Both the royals and the church were at a disadvantage, which was why both the Pope and Colean had to condescend and negotiate with Lin Huanyu.

Not to mention that after seeing Lin Huanyu’s abilities as a young insectoid, they had no way of imagining just how strong Lin Huanyu was now after a successful metamorphosis.

Whether it was the church or the royals, they all praised Lin Huanyu for being favored by the Mother Chong, but they didn’t understand the true meaning of those words.

Colean’s gaze fell on Lin Huanyu. After Lin Huanyu’s metamorphosis, he was even taller than Colean, even though Colean’s height already exceeded that of ordinary male insectoids. And Lin Huanyu no longer needed to feign obedience and bow before Colean, so Colean’s gaze had long lost the intimidation he thought it had.

Lin Huanyu looked worried, but in his heart, he was almost at ease. His mental tendrils wrapped around Edwin’s ankle behind him, gently nudging it, earning a ticklish shudder from the black-haired female insectoid.

Yes, Colean still refused to be alone with Lin Huanyu in their private talks. Sub-males, female insectoids, and robots quietly lurked in the reception room, including Ilia, who was uncharacteristically silent this time. This undoubtedly made Lin Huanyu more certain of Colean’s fear of his power and Colean’s contempt for female insectoids and sub-males.

Unlike the church, Colean had never regarded sub-males and female insectoids as threats. His arrogance and blindness were almost laughable, and they made his loopholes even more obvious.

Sure enough, after only a moment, Colean said with a smile:

“My dear Duke, there’s absolutely no need to waste your precious brain on this! You should know that the insectoids most favored by the Mother Chong have always been the Golden Feather Clan and the four noble families with the most honorable bloodlines! The church is just a bunch of clowns. They vainly attempt to use divine artifacts and control lowly sub-males and female insectoids to control power, but they don’t know that true power has always stemmed from the male insectoid himself.”

Lin Huanyu showed just the right amount of confusion, allowing the complacency and arrogance in Colean’s eyes to almost overflow. He lazily sat on the reception room’s noble throne and smiled at Lin Huanyu:

“Power comes from blood. Lin Huanyu, don’t you understand? The Mother Chong’s blood flows in the Golden Feather Clan’s bloodline. Flowery piety cannot compare to being connected by blood. The Pope arbitrarily seizes the Mother Chong’s power and claims that they are the closest to the Mother Chong, but that’s nothing but a complete lie!”

He dramatically raised his voice, and a pair of golden eyes surged with almost manic arrogance:

“The only ones truly close to the Mother Chong are us. The Golden Feather Clan is forever illuminated by the Mother Chong’s glory. The Mother Chong is with us.”

Lin Huanyu immediately thought of the star suspended above Sky City. He wasn’t sure if Colean’s words were a flamboyant rhetoric or a physical “illumination.” And Colean trembled almost neurotically in the afterglow of his emotions, his voice hissing like a snake:

“Her power… has never been about burning and destruction, Lin Huanyu. Only the Golden Feather Clan, her true children, can listen to her teachings. For thousands of years, the Chong race has long lost her news, but her will flows in our blood. Our golden eyes—are her divine blood.”

“The church is abusing her power and slandering the Mother Chong’s benevolence.” Lin Huanyu quietly looked at him and gently guided Colean to reveal more information: “Your Highness, I have never believed a word of the church, which is why I unhesitatingly dedicated my family’s loyalty to the Golden Feather Clan. However, my abilities still have their limits. My Highness, the Duke’s Mansion has been declining under my father’s management. I need faith—this is what I desperately want to obtain from the Golden Feather Clan.”

“Of course, my dear Duke, of course.”

Colean said softly, almost like an elder coaxing an ignorant child. His arrogance and contempt were fully exposed, but Lin Huanyu knew that this also meant that Colean’s vigilance had dropped to a certain level. Sure enough, Colean soon said the information that Lin Huanyu had always wanted to obtain:

“The church’s fallacy cannot deceive you because they’re foolish enough to even fear female insectoids and sub-males. They haven’t grasped true power, my friend. They haven’t even touched the edge of power! Sub-males and female insectoids are creations of the Godchild, they say, but no true creator would fear his own creations. The title of Godchild isn’t something that every male insectoid deserves to wear. A true Godchild… is fearless.”

Lin Huanyu stared at Colean, and an extremely ominous premonition arose in his heart. He held his breath and listened to Colean’s words:

“Creations are puppets in the creator’s hands, Lin Huanyu, and it’s foolish for something created to possess free will. Perhaps our predecessors thought that physical control was enough, but we all know very well that what truly inspires trust is rules, procedures, and complete, unquestioning submission, isn’t it? The Golden Feather Clan has always ensured this. The royals are assembling a special army, an unshakable force. They are pure, powerful, and fearless. When they’re born, the church will understand what the Godchild’s unshakable majesty is. The robots they control like jokes, those endless brainwashings and preachings, are just outdated jokes.”

“Your Highness means that the royals have been researching the brain domain all along?”

Lin Huanyu’s chest stung. He stared at Colean, his voice squeezing out from between his teeth bit by bit. No wonder Colean was suspicious, but never really took female insectoids and sub-males seriously. The church was wantonly seizing power in the royal army, but Colean and the old insectoid Emperor almost allowed them to act. That wasn’t stupidity, it was either unnecessary or intentional.

Lin Huanyu had always thought it was because of stupidity. How he wished it was because of stupidity, but things went against his wishes.

The real reason why the royals had no fear was that they had been researching brain control of female insectoids and sub-males. Yes, Lin Huanyu completely understood the meaning of Colean’s words. The other party was showing Lin Huanyu the power of the Golden Feather Clan in order to gain Lin Huanyu’s faith and loyalty. Colean wasn’t lying; the facts were right in front of him.

The royals’ trump card was complete, large-scale brain control of female insectoids and sub-males, allowing them to return from life to puppets completely controlled by the male insectoids, completely devoid of free will.

“Brain domain? Soul? Whatever definition. Dear Duke, you may not know that the mental sea is a wonderful field. Its mysteries have kept our cutting-edge researchers from advancing for a long time. Sometimes I really don’t understand why our predecessors had to bestow mental seas to female insectoids and sub-males. Their free will and stubbornness have become our trouble.”

“But one day, we’ll get good news, a huge breakthrough, won’t we? Complete obedience, fearless fighting, Lin Huanyu, my dear ally, I entrust this good news to you. I hope you understand that standing under the banner of the Golden Feather Clan, you will be invincible and have no need to fear.”

Lin Huanyu lost his voice for a long time. His fingers trembled slightly, but he desperately concealed it. What could be more terrifying than depriving a life of its free will and soul? He couldn’t think of anything, and he didn’t understand what extent the male insectoid rulers had to reach to be satisfied. They had deprived the female insectoids and sub-males of their health, deprived them of their ability to think independently and question, and deprived them of their labor income, sense of value, social relationships, and channels of expression.

They had deprived the female insectoids and sub-males of their dignity and honor.

And finally, they had deprived them of their free will and soul. If Colean really succeeded, it was conceivable that female insectoids and sub-males would forever be reduced to true tools and playthings. They wouldn’t even be able to be slaves; they would be equivalent to dolls deprived of life.

Lin Huanyu knew that Edwin behind him could also hear these words. He didn’t dare to look at Edwin’s reaction. His tendrils wrapped around Edwin’s ankle, but only grasped a lump of ice. In front of him, Colean’s complacent face carried a greedy distortion, and Lin Huanyu only realized at this time that Ilia, who was kneeling behind Colean, had no blood on his face.

Nor was there any unexpected expression.

Lin Huanyu wasn’t sure if Ilia knew about Colean’s power beforehand, or if it was the first time he had heard about what Colean was preparing to do to female insectoids and sub-males. He only knew that Ilia, like Edwin behind him, calmly and silently responded to the heinous crimes and enormous malice committed by Colean.

They seemed to be used to it, because they knew that their violent reactions when facing difficulties and malice would only exacerbate the bad things that happened. Their panic and tears would only turn into sharper whips, tearing their flesh and blood. No one would sympathize with them. Calmness was the only way for them to maintain their composure and self-restraint.

The only way to preserve a little dignity.

“…Of course, I’m standing by Your Highness’ side. Today’s conversation has benefited me greatly.”

Lin Huanyu finally said. His disguise had almost been torn apart by the information Colean had revealed. He had no way to continue his official rhetoric and could only respond briefly.

He had already realized that Colean’s destructive power to the Chong race civilization was almost greater than that of the church. Lin Huanyu had even thought about assassinating Colean at this moment, but he wasn’t sure if the royals still had other co-conspirators and trump cards.

He had to lie low and accumulate power. One day, he would watch these monsters and demons who had destroyed lives suffer the consequences of their own evil deeds.

“It’s just that Your Highness, I believe that the church’s reckless actions must receive the warning they deserve. The four major legions have fallen into the hands of the church for too long, so long that they really regard themselves as the masters of the army. In any case, the army still belongs to the royals and the empire. They should be punished for this. What does Your Highness think? Having power but not showing it will only make foolish opponents even more rampant.”

Lin Huanyu’s words brought a burst of laughter from Colean. He almost leaned back and forth, and only stopped laughing after half a minute, and then said slowly:

“You’re always so insightful, my dear Duke. I admire this about you the most. Go, reaffirm Duke Noah’s control over the Fourth Legion. The church’s game has gone too far. It’s time to let them understand who’s pulling the strings behind the scenes.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Lin Huanyu lowered his head slightly to express his submission, and the submission of a powerful male insectoid made Colean feel unprecedented satisfaction. The more power he had, the more he craved it. He deeply envied Lin Huanyu’s luck and divine power. Yes, he needed Lin Huanyu to contain the church, but this didn’t prevent him from wanting to trample this male insectoid, who was far stronger than him, into the mud.

On what basis? The Noah family was old, but only the Golden Feather Clan were the Mother Chong’s descendants! All other male insectoids were clumsy imitations. How could they compare to the most honorable bloodline of the first-generation male insectoids? A male insectoid who had undergone reversion… why wasn’t it him, not the descendant of the Golden Feather Clan? How could the Noah family deserve it… How could that Holy Son that the Pope had found in a corner deserve it?

Sooner or later, he would personally kill these despicable people who had deceived the Mother Chong, but now… he still needed Lin Huanyu.

Having obtained what he wanted, Lin Huanyu didn’t feel much relieved. The news Colean had revealed was too vicious, and Lin Huanyu’s spirit had been tense. They completed the discussion on the details with Colean’s staff, and it was already sunset when Lin Huanyu was able to leave Sky City.

Lin Huanyu’s first thing was to check on Edwin’s condition. After enduring his worries and returning to the Duke’s Mansion’s airship, Lin Huanyu’s mental tendrils swarmed around Edwin, checking whether the female insectoid had any pain reactions. Edwin was gently pushed by the tendrils and sat on the seat, and had to reach out to gently stroke the smooth ends of the tendrils, and his pair of azure blue eyes no longer awkwardly avoided the male insectoid, but looked in Lin Huanyu’s direction.

It wasn’t difficult for him to see that the young male insectoid seemed exhausted amidst pressure and worry. His solemn dress was now pulled open at the collar, and beneath the intricate patterns, the male insectoid’s Adam’s apple rose and fell with his breathing, tiredly tense. There wasn’t a trace of frivolity on his young face, only heaviness and deliberation.

Edwin’s heart ached for this, and he already knew that this somewhat familiar feeling was because of heartache. His insectoid pup had just undergone metamorphosis and had survived because of luck, and these… weren’t things he should be facing at his age.

He had only broken out of his shell eighteen years ago. When Edwin was eighteen, he was just a lieutenant colonel in the army who followed orders and had never commanded any large-scale battles.

Lin Huanyu noticed Edwin’s gaze, and he quickly adjusted his state and showed a smile: “Male parent, do you feel alright? I’m sorry for the delay. The airship has a medical bay. Do you want to go first—”

“Young Male Master, you need the medical bay more than I do.”

Edwin didn’t show any sentimentality. His gaze searched Lin Huanyu’s face for fatigue: “The royals are doing experiments on controlling female insectoids and sub-males. This isn’t surprising. What’s surprising is that they’ve made a breakthrough. Is Young Male Master worried about this?”

Lin Huanyu was caught red-handed. His fingers gently clenched the fabric on his knees before he stammered:

“That’s not true, male parent, I didn’t—”

“Why are you hiding it from me?”

The female insectoid interrupted Lin Huanyu’s words again for the first time. The black-haired female insectoid tilted his head slightly, his confusion mixed with unmistakable anger: “It was the same this morning. Young Male Master clearly knew that Chris didn’t say anything wrong. I did—I did make an indecent physical reaction, but Young Male Master apologized to me as if he was worried that I couldn’t bear my own mistakes. It’s the same now. You’re worried about the royal’s research results, but you refuse to admit it in front of me. Are you worried that I can’t bear the pressure you’re bearing?”

Edwin’s eyes were extremely bright with anger, making Lin Huanyu unable to look away at all. The male insectoid’s blood was getting hotter and hotter, and his heartbeat almost pierced his own eardrums.

“Because I’m marked by you, is that right? So in Young Male Master’s eyes, I’ve become a fragile and breakable item, unable to withstand even bad news? Or does Young Male Master not want to allow me to face the truth of everything?”