MCDWTBS Chapter 80

Chapter 80 Those Morals He Couldn’t Abandon…

The words had barely left his mouth when the communication abruptly ended, leaving Serra staring in stunned silence.

Serra had never imagined hearing such a caring sentiment from Warren, who had a personality disorder. He was stunned for a long moment before belatedly narrowing his eyes.

Perhaps… life always finds its own way to grow. Transmigrating into the insectoid race, especially in these turbulent times, was not a pleasant surprise, but even barren land could give rise to thorny life.

Maybe he didn’t need to worry so much. Warren was clever. Within his own trajectory, it might not just be Marshal Ax who was “fixed,” but also his own young, lost soul.

And Serra, after meeting Edwin… he had also changed a lot. He had to admit that.

Slightly curling his lips, Serra relayed the message to Edwin. He told Edwin that this was the best arrangement for now, even though he himself couldn’t be sure if Warren could take care of himself and Ax.

If Serra were smarter, he could have concealed all of this from Edwin. Explaining the inexplicable connection between him, the Mother Goddess, and the Holy Child was already giving him a headache. It wasn’t that Edwin was overly inquisitive, but Serra was even worse at lying. He simply couldn’t convince Edwin how he and Warren, who had blown up the lab and rescued Ax, knew and trusted each other so well. Serra’s original, transparent resume didn’t leave him much room to maneuver.

But he couldn’t hide such important information from Edwin. This was the least he could promise to the one he loved.

Edwin didn’t ask much, as usual. He sat silently on the other end of the line, listening to Serra’s stumbling explanations, watching the male insectoid’s eyes cautiously sizing him up.

“Your male insectoid friend doesn’t allow us to pinpoint Marshal Ax’s location?”

Finally, Edwin spoke. His tone was neutral, but Serra felt extremely guilty. He knew it sounded strange, especially since Warren was a male insectoid, and a rather radical… rebel.

“He… cough, he’s quite cautious. You know, male parent, he’s a researcher, so he has some quirks. But he saved Marshal Ax, and… he seems to still be a young insectoid, so even if he’s a male insectoid, it shouldn’t matter, right? Don’t you think so, male parent?”

Serra’s voice grew softer and softer, while Edwin’s eyes were filled with disapproval:

“Allow me to remind you, Duke, you were also a young insectoid when we met, and you still call me male parent now.”

–But that doesn’t stop you from marking your “male parent.”

The unspoken words were deafening, and Serra lowered his head even more guiltily, his little curls drooping. He couldn’t even defend Warren, especially since he also felt that Warren’s possessiveness towards Ax sounded off.

Although it was highly likely that Warren regarded Ax as a valuable test subject—these geniuses often had quirks—Serra, based on his own experiences, had to consider the possibility that Warren had other intentions. He couldn’t be sure that his student’s personality was so deficient that he had completely lost interest in finding a partner.

“Male parent… Edwin, it was careless of me. I’m under heavy surveillance and can’t act rashly. I’ll contact Krison and Sison to find them, don’t worry…”

“There’s no need.” Edwin found that even though Serra now had broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and a physique and strength that were extremely aggressive, lacking any weak elements, he still couldn’t be stone-hearted when Serra’s little curls drooped.

He was sure it wasn’t affection for a young insectoid, it was just… he didn’t know what it was, and it prevented him from controlling himself, from blaming Serra in the slightest.

“You’ve done very well, Serra. You’re right, you shouldn’t act rashly, or it will attract more trouble. And Krison… his identity is also special. The rebels are under intense scrutiny now, and their involvement will only reduce the marshal’s chances of survival.”

Although his expression remained tired and anxious, Edwin’s demeanor calmed down. His fingers twitched slightly, as if he wanted to reach out and touch Serra’s hair from across the vast distance.

“The Fourth Army has received an order from Golden Feather, and the entire army is preparing for war. I think this time, the target isn’t the alien races and space pirates from beyond the border, but the rebels.”

Serra frowned instantly and said softly:

“Are you sure, male parent?”

Edwin nodded. Given his identity as a military female insectoid, he shouldn’t be divulging confidential imperial military matters, so he could only offer a bit of his own speculation and no further details, but this was enough to make Serra anxious.

It seemed he had to accept Colean’s invitation and attend the meeting organized by the royal family. He was almost certain that Colean didn’t have good intentions, but he didn’t have enough information at the moment.

Yes, the imperial laboratory had exploded, but that didn’t mean the royal family’s secret plans had vanished. In fact, there was a high probability that Colean had already modified and mind-controlled the female insectoid army. Simply blowing up one laboratory couldn’t completely erase the experimental results.

And the whereabouts of this army were unknown. Although the rebels had been operating for many years, after losing Marshal Ax as their leader, they couldn’t compete with the regular army in terms of form or size, let alone an army that had been brainwashed, feared no casualties, and had unknown combat capabilities.

Even though many sub-males and female insectoids who couldn’t bear the oppression had secretly joined the rebels through the guidance of the hand-ring network, they lacked combat experience. Serra, as an investor and one of the behind-the-scenes leaders of the rebel army, couldn’t let them fill the cannon fodder, causing unnecessary sacrifices.

A war… no matter the starting point, was cruel and bloody. Countless lives would be extinguished by war, and the glory and honor achieved by war would only shine on a few survivors. Serra understood the cruelty of war better than any insectoid, and he cherished the value of life even more. As long as he still had a place in the rebel army, he wouldn’t allow unnecessary and blind sacrifices.

His and Krison’s leadership had been effective so far. Although the rebels were turtling and refusing to come out, they had gained combat experience and supplies from space pirates and male insectoid lords on marginal planets through small-scale battles. In the long run, the rebels lacked experience and confidence in large-scale battles.

This wasn’t entirely unexpected, after all, neither the combat-trash male insectoids nor the researcher Krison were suitable for leading an army. They had built the rebels’ rear supply base and headquarters, but they were reluctant to let the rebels engage in direct conflict with the imperial army.

Perhaps this was why the empire and the church were unwilling to wait for the rebels to gradually expand.

“I’m going to attend the Highborn Court initiated by Colean to get more information. Male parent… whatever instructions you receive, you must prioritize your own safety and the safety of the Fourth Army.”

Serra looked up, using the virtual image outlined by the light to look at the female insectoid he missed thousands of miles away. Edwin’s appearance hadn’t changed much. His military life had made his contours more resolute and firm, like an arrow that wouldn’t bend.

But when facing Serra, his pair of light blue eyes softened, as if a pool of warm spring water had been brewed in the white snow of the high mountains, instantly destroying that sharpness.

“You shouldn’t go.”

Edwin’s voice was calm, but Serra knew him well enough to hear the slight tremor in his tone beneath the calmness.

“We’ve said it before, you should take the opportunity to leave Capital Star as soon as possible and go to Duke Noah’s territory planet. Sison has established fortifications there, which is safer than Capital Star. Although… the rebels are exceptionally active now, I don’t think the rebels will choose to attack you, they’ve also witnessed the miracle of the Mother Goddess. Why do you want to take risks?”

Edwin’s tone gradually became urgent, as if he couldn’t suppress his concern for Serra’s safety, but after realizing his gaffe, he returned to his usual calm, just like he always did.

Serra was on the other side of the communication, almost greedily looking at him—times had changed, everything had changed, but some small habits engraved in his bones hadn’t had time to change. Even though Edwin no longer needed to suppress his emotions to find small measures of control and reduce his own damage, he was still used to suppressing them. Beneath his calm surface, those struggling, budding affections, worries, and… things that could be called love, were sweeter than nectar in Serra’s eyes.

“Edwin, the Mother Goddess is with me. I’m the most powerful male insectoid, you know that. Colean can’t do anything to me.”

Serra comforted Edwin’s emotions from afar. Even though he repeatedly gained new life in Edwin’s love, he didn’t want Edwin to worry too much. Many of Duke Noah’s territories had become gathering places for the rebel army, and Sison, like his male child Ilia, had also joined the rebel army. Serra certainly wouldn’t stop them, but he didn’t want Edwin to take on more risks.

He had concealed the fact that he had joined the rebel army from Edwin.

Serra knew, of course, that this wasn’t right, but he had his own reasons. The rebel army’s situation was very dangerous. The empire and the church would never allow the rebel army to expand, and the two sides might even join forces to target the rebel female insectoids and sub-males. Serra himself was extremely proud to have joined the rebel army, and he was willing to bear all the risks for this revolution, but he wasn’t willing to let Edwin bear such risks.

This was also why he had facilitated Edwin’s return to the imperial army to take command of the Fourth Army.

He couldn’t let Edwin bear the brunt of the attacks against the empire and the church—especially when neither Colean nor the Pope had revealed their trump cards. He couldn’t bear to see Edwin suffer the scars of war before his very eyes. He was willing to pay any price to bear any risk for Edwin.

And in Serra’s blindly arrogant plan, Edwin would inject new, powerful forces into the rebel army in perfect condition after the situation became clearer.

This might be the most selfish and obscure plan Serra had ever made, but no one could really blame him, could they? Ever since his initial transmigration, when his feelings for Edwin were just budding, he had made up his mind to take risks for Edwin and clear the way forward. And he was only doing this now to fulfill his promise to himself.

On the other end of the line, Edwin was silent for a moment. He couldn’t refute Serra. He had felt Serra’s power more directly than any insectoid, even when Serra was still a young insectoid. But knowing Serra’s power didn’t mean he wouldn’t feel fear for Serra—he had seen Serra seriously injured and on the verge of death right in front of him.

Serra was his young insectoid. Even though the adult male insectoid on the other side was always trying to call him by his name in various ways, and rarely called him “male parent,” even though a secret corner of his heart knew that some things had changed permanently, and they could never go back to the days when their emotions were pure and reckless.

He would always worry. He became the commander of the Fourth Army not only to fulfill himself, to fulfill his promise to Marshal Ax to protect his compatriots. It was also for Serra. Serra was so powerful that the corrupt forces couldn’t tolerate his existence, and he was so kind that he was out of sync with this world. Edwin understood that if he couldn’t grow wings and didn’t have strength and an army, he would never be able to stand by Serra’s side, become his support and haven, and he would never be able to do what a male parent should do.

But even though he had all of this, he still felt it wasn’t enough, he still couldn’t protect his young insectoid.

–What if Colean could hurt you? Like the church once did, and I can’t do anything, I’m too far away from you.

The words that surged into his throat were never spoken, because useless entanglements were always inappropriate. Serra keenly sensed Edwin’s emotions. He began to act spoiled towards the female insectoid, telling some nonsensical nonsense, until the black-haired military female insectoid had used up his personal time, and then he reluctantly hung up the communication.

Serra knew Edwin was worried about him… but let him be selfish for a while. He was more worried about Edwin, so he couldn’t leave rashly without exploring Colean’s trump cards, nor could he allow Colean to issue orders to the Fourth Army—according to the old laws of the empire, in order to return to the Fourth Army belonging to Duke Noah, the royal family and Duke Noah needed to sign an execution order at the same time before it could be mobilized. He had to make sure Colean hadn’t played any tricks on him.

Half a month later, the network of insectoid star systems on various planets was still spreading news about the royal family’s conspiracies, miracles, and the rebel army. The oppression of female insectoids and sub-males by the male insectoid rulers was even more insane. Male insectoids who followed the teachings of the church forbade female insectoids and sub-males from looking up at the sky, simply because of the line in the forbidden song that was being sung:

“When the stars align in a row, that is the signal the Mother Goddess gives us.”

“Forbidden to Look Up” was written into law by conservative male insectoid lords, and it was quickly approved by the Imperial Court. Heavy laws and restrictions were once again placed on the shoulders of female insectoids and sub-males. Everything looked so absurd. Every day, the execution grounds of countless planets hung the corpses of female insectoids and sub-males who had been executed and displayed to the public.

Their bodies and the dark red blood plasma looked so glaring in the desolate wilderness and bright cities. Small-scale riots by female insectoids and sub-males were staged in insectoid gathering places on various planets. This was unprecedented, and almost no high-ranking male insectoids were injured as a result, but the panic and anger that erupted from the male insectoids was catastrophic.

The rebel army became the target of public criticism for the insectoid race. Whether they were supporters of the royal family or the church, they were eager for the rebels to turn their spearheads toward the damned, blasphemous rebels. The male insectoid lords ordered their female insectoids and sub-males to form small armies to attack any suspicious, unowned female insectoids and sub-males, and Serra didn’t know how many rebels were among those targeted female insectoids and sub-males.

In the many days after returning to Capital Star, he confined himself to the west wing of the Duke’s Mansion, reading reports from the hand-ring network and the Imperial Star Network. He had personally seen barbaric and absurd scenes unfold before him. He had witnessed the deaths of countless anonymous people—most of them were innocent, bewildered, and only sang the song seeking guidance with dry throats, or looked up at the starry sky when they shouldn’t have.

And among them, there were also many who were determined and refused to turn back. The faces of countless female insectoids and sub-males were covered with blood. They had lost their appearances in the extreme punishment and torture of the male insectoid rulers, leaving only pairs of eyes–

–Those burning, unyielding eyes, those eyes that refused to fall asleep again after awakening, those eyes of the rebels.

These eyes were imprinted in Serra’s mind, making it almost impossible for him to fall asleep or wake up. In the end, he was just an ordinary person. He might have a complete set of theories and ideological systems, but that was just empty talk. He didn’t have the will of a warrior, didn’t have transcendent decision-making skills, and didn’t have the ruthlessness to step over blood and corpses and move forward without hesitation.

He was just an ordinary person. On countless nights, he could only see a sea of blood, and those burning eyes. He questioned himself countless times where he hadn’t done enough, why he had brought so much death and blood. He curled up under his mental tendrils like a kicked stray dog, and was extremely grateful that Edwin couldn’t see his current embarrassment.

He didn’t want Edwin to find out that he was actually a coward. He wasn’t as confident as he looked, not as brave and fearless.

He wasn’t worth Edwin’s love.

He didn’t want Edwin to know. Every time he communicated with Edwin or other insectoids, he pretended that everything was as usual. Even Edwin hadn’t been able to detect his clues. This was the only thing Serra was grateful for.

After another sleepless night, Serra opened his eyes, which were full of bloodshot. It was midsummer on Capital Star, and the sky was full of stars. He hurriedly put on a robe and stood on the open-air balcony, blowing in the cool breeze.

The alcohol stung his throat, and cold and heat intertwined in his body. He blindly looked up at the starry sky, looking at the scattered stars, and couldn’t read half a word of the universe’s proverbs.

In his hand-ring, there was a war plan sent by Krison yesterday.

The rebel army was ready. With the promotion of public opinion and the hand-ring network, and with countless efforts and preparations, they were preparing to declare war on the empire and occupy large swathes of territory. And among the rebel army’s small parliament, only Serra hadn’t given his permission.

Apart from that war plan, Krison hadn’t said anything else. This silent trust put even greater pressure on Serra. He wasn’t sure if he was worthy of this trust. He knew he couldn’t shoulder death and war—and he had already caused so much blood and so many casualties. What was he doing?

Before dawn, the starlight gradually faded into the darkness. Serra’s fingers holding the hand-ring were stiff and cold. The empty Duke’s Mansion was like a tomb. He couldn’t hear any sound or see any omen.

The hand-ring went into sleep mode. Edwin’s sleeping face, which he had once secretly photographed, was faintly projected in the darkness. The white, almost transparent skin was the only light that Serra could see. His fingers trembled suddenly for a moment. Before the light of dawn broke through the clouds, he opened the deployment plan and signed his name on it.

He wanted to see Edwin’s sleeping face every day. He looked so peaceful in his sleep, without a trace of worry, and Serra only hoped that he could eventually give Edwin such peace of mind.

He was willing to do anything. Even if he failed, died without a complete corpse, and was engraved on the pillar of shame, so be it.

As long as he had fought for Edwin, he wouldn’t regret it.

It was also hypocritical to say that after so many isms, so much hypocrisy, and morality, it was Edwin’s sleeping face that finally made Serra sign his name. Human nature was ultimately selfish. Even if Serra complained about the injustice and plight of the insectoid race, he still hadn’t personally experienced the pain of female insectoids and sub-males. He still had a pair of clean, bloodless hands and an unburdened conscience.

Those conscience and cleanliness that those morals wouldn’t let him abandon, Edwin could.

He clenched the bone-white serpentine arm ring until the first ray of light shone on him, and then turned and went back to the bedroom.

Soon after, Serra, wearing a pure white Duke’s dress, stepped into the airship with the support of the robots, and flew to Sky City.

At noon, the Highborn Court, set at the highest point of Sky City, officially began.