Zerg: I ​​was picked up by the cold and beautiful Major General at the start of the game.

The initial surge was an anger at the plan slipping out of control.

The statement from the Male Insect Protection Association, the noble petition he secretly orchestrated, the carefully crafted public opinion...

Faced with the dual facts of "S+ grade" and "officially confirmed to be beneficial to male insects," it instantly becomes pale and laughable, and may even backfire.

Lin Luo was not crushed by public opinion; instead, he used the controversy to rise to an even more dazzling and unshakeable height.

This was not part of his calculations.

He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and forcibly suppressed the restless anger in his heart.

He can afford to lose even one failure.

Political maneuvering is inherently unpredictable, and this setback is not enough to throw him into disarray.

When the eyes opened again, the surging anger within had been replaced by something more intense—desire.

His gaze was fixed on the words "promote positive changes in the male insect hierarchy," and his heart began to pound uncontrollably.

He was born at A-rank... This was one in ten thousand in the empire, enough to grant him honor.

But it's not enough.

He would always remember his father's golden eyes, which occasionally swept over him with a hint of assessment.

Even as the S-rank Insect King ages, its oppressive aura remains clearly perceptible.

To rightfully inherit that supreme position, to truly win over the old guard of the empire and the female generals of the military, and even... to suppress any potential competitors in the future, A-rank is far from enough.

He had tried it in private.

He had secretly obtained samples of those banned drugs hidden deep in the black market, which were said to be able to stimulate potential and even upgrade levels, and had also conducted cruel tests on "voluntary" male insects.

The result was disastrous; after a brief surge in mental power, he suffered a complete collapse or distortion, with side effects so severe that he would never dare to use it on himself.

It was a seemingly shortcut that actually led to destruction.

And now, a completely new approach, one that even has successful precedents, has suddenly appeared before him.

"Trust, healing..." Case chewed on these words that were somewhat unfamiliar and even laughable to him, but a confident smile slowly crept onto his lips.

The plan failed? No problem.

Compared to an opportunity that could allow him to break through the limits of his life and reach S-level or even higher, all of the previous things seemed insignificant.

"Lin Luo..." he murmured the name, "You've given me an unexpected and wonderful gift."

He quickly clarified his thinking: the urgent task was no longer to get entangled in the already bankrupt propaganda war, but to master and implement this new method of appeasement as soon as possible.

He needs to find a suitable "practice partner" and "partner".

Ordinary female servants probably won't work; their mental strength may not be sufficient, and they may not be able to provide enough "feedback." He needs stronger, more stable females, and ideally, females who already have enough "value" and "controllability" for him.

Several names and figures flashed through my mind, but I rejected them one by one.

Ultimately, a plan took shape in his mind. Perhaps he should reassess his relationship with certain military or noble female insects and replace the old exchange of interests with a new prospect of "cooperation".

------------

Deep beneath the palace, the prison cell door slid open silently.

Field Marshal Arnold walked in, his boots making a clear echo on the smooth ground.

He held a report in his hand, his expression calm and composed.

"Your Majesty," he spoke. The Insect King did not turn around, his voice indifferent: "What is it now?"

Arnold placed the report on the metal table in front of the Insect King.

"This isn't meant to humiliate, it's just stating a fact." Arnold's voice was exceptionally clear in the empty cell.

"A new S+ level male insect has appeared in the Empire, and an evolutionary path that may benefit more male insects has been found."

The Insect King's back stiffened almost imperceptibly for a moment.

After a moment, he slowly turned his head, his gaze first falling on Arnold's face before sliding to the report.

He read very quickly, but with each line he finished, his expression seemed to grow colder, a chill that he tried to suppress but still emanated from his very bones.

He is an S-class insect, the empire's recognized top male insect, an honor he was born with and one of the cornerstones of his power.

He could not tolerate, absolutely could not tolerate, the existence of someone of a higher rank than himself, especially in this way—a "warm" way that he had never mastered and even despised.

"...Lin Luo." The Insect King finally spoke, his voice surprisingly calm.

"That little male from the edge of the planet that you thought so highly of? He's really... had a stroke of luck." He tried to attribute it all to luck, but his taut jawline betrayed him.

"It wasn't luck, Your Majesty," Arnold corrected, his tone calm yet resolute.

"This is a breakthrough in methodology and understanding, proving that the potential of male insects may not be predetermined at birth."

"Method?" The Insect King's golden pupils narrowed sharply, a hint of almost uncontrollable rage and jealousy flashing across his face, but he immediately suppressed it with his powerful willpower.

He certainly understood the implied meaning in the report—he might have had that path before, but he chose another. He chose to use the potion to improve himself, even though no insect knew it, he knew it himself and constantly endured the pain that resulted from it.

But now a strange male insect from a desolate planet has proven that a better solution is available, which is even more unacceptable to him than simply being surpassed in rank.

He took a deep breath, leaned back in his chair, and even seemed somewhat relaxed.

"So, Arnold, what do you want to tell me with this good news? Is the future of the Empire bright? Are females and males about to usher in a new era? And I..."

He paused, a completely unsmiling smile curving his lips. "These rulers of the old era have been rendered obsolete, haven't they?"

"Times always move forward, Your Majesty," Arnold replied, "whether individuals like it or not."

The cell was silent. The two, who might have once been the closest of friends, were now separated by power and betrayal, locked in a silent standoff.

The Insect King's chest rose and fell slightly. He closed his eyes, seemingly trying to calm the intense emotions that were about to break free of the cage of reason.

When he opened his eyes again, they were calm again.

"Arnold," he began slowly, his voice low, "you told me a beautiful story about 'the future' and 'evolution,' it was very interesting."

He suddenly turned his face, his gaze piercing Arnold: "But don't forget, no matter how many S-class and S+-class beings appear in the future, one fact will never change."

"Your spiritual sea, Arnold," he said, emphasizing each word, seemingly with a hint of pleasure.

"It was personally soothed, nurtured, and branded by me, the S-rank Insect King. It has long been accustomed to my unique mental fluctuations. Any other male insect, even that newly promoted S+ Lin Luo, their mental power will be poison to you!"