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

After Lin Luo finished his medical examination, Lieutenant Colonel Hawke respectfully led him to Ailand's private lounge.

Eland was already waiting there, with a glass of pale blue juice on the small table beside him.

"How did the checkup go?" Aland gestured for him to sit down and pushed the juice towards him.

"Your Excellency, this is made from blueberry juice. Conditions on the warship are limited, so the taste may be so-so, but it can quickly replenish energy."

Lin Luo was thirsty, so he picked it up and took a sip. It was sweet and slightly sour, and the taste was surprisingly good.

"It tastes great, thank you. The checkup went smoothly."

Eland gazed at him, his fingertips unconsciously tracing the rim of the cup, as if carefully choosing his words.

After a moment, he spoke:

"Lord Lin Luo, your mental strength is A-level, which is a very high value for a male insect."

"And what about you?" Lin Luo asked curiously.

"My mental strength is S-rank, but I'm a female soldier, so there's no comparison."

"Okay." Lin Luo shrugged.

"But regarding your identity, the Imperial database did not find any record of a male insect matching the name 'Lin Luo'."

Lin Luo's heart tightened, but she just blinked and said, "I see... then I really have nowhere to go."

"We're not without options," Eland replied, his tone becoming more serious.

"In fact, I have a suggestion that might solve both of our current predicaments at the same time."

Lin Luo put down her juice and listened attentively.

Ayland looked at him honestly with his grey-blue eyes:

"Due to old injuries, my mental state is very unstable and I need regular reassurance."

"And you seem to possess a very special and effective ability to soothe. Your touch just now made me feel a sense of relief I had never experienced before."

He paused for a moment, then continued:

"You currently lack a legitimate identity and a safe place to stay. Based on this, I propose that I, as a Major General of the Empire, apply to the military to become your 'temporary guardian'."

"Temporary guardian worm?" Lin Luo raised an eyebrow.

"Yes," Eland explained.

"Imperial law stipulates that male insects that have been separated from their relatives and cannot find a relative can be temporarily assigned a guardian insect to help them better integrate into society for a period of one year."

"You can obtain legal citizenship here, enjoy all the rights and benefits that an Imperial Male should have, and live in my manor, with my safety in charge."

"In exchange," he said, glancing at Lin Luo's hand.

"I hope... you can soothe my mind at least once a week, using the same method you used before. What do you think?"

Lin Luo didn't agree immediately. He tilted his head and tapped the table lightly with his fingers, as if he was thinking seriously.

"Sounds good," he said slowly, "but I have conditions."

"Of course, please go ahead," Aland replied readily.

"Although you are a major general and your position seems quite high, you are still a stranger to me. There are risks involved in me staying at your house, and it is not necessarily safe for me."

"Of course, since I'm considering doing business with you, I'm willing to take the risk, but..."

"You can make any requests you have," Elland said.

"However... you asked me to help you soothe your mental state, and I can help you, but you need to pay me a monthly fee, similar to that of your adjutant. Also, after one year, regardless of whether you have recovered or not, you will need to pay me an additional fee. The specific amount... will be your annual salary."

"Also, you'll be responsible for all my expenses for the entire year, do you agree?"

Although I've never lacked money, I still know that you can't do anything without it. Everything else can wait, but money is only safe when it's in my own hands.

Without hesitation, Aland replied, "Of course, all of this can be written into the guardianship agreement. We can discuss further details a year later, depending on the situation, how about that?"

"Deal!" Lin Luo readily extended his hand, happy that he had resolved his illegal residency issue and found a powerful patron.

Ailand looked at his hand, paused for a moment, then reached out and gently shook his hand, and the agreement was reached.

"So, does that mean I've been taken in by you, Major General Ailand?" Lin Luo said jokingly.

"It's my pleasure, Your Excellency Linluo." It was rare for Elland to joke.

The atmosphere immediately became much more relaxed.

Lin Luo leaned back, a sly smile appearing on his face:

"But to be honest, Major General, I have to tell you in advance that my ability to 'see' your so-called spiritual sea was purely accidental."

"Now that I can't 'see' anymore, I don't know how to take the initiative to 'comfort' them. If it doesn't work later, don't blame me, okay? It's not too late to back out now."

Looking at his lively expression, Ayland's lips also curved into a rare, noticeable smile:

"You don't need to feel pressured. Since you've succeeded once before, just let things take their course. Besides, I'm in much better shape now, so there's no rush."

"It's good that you're not in a hurry," Lin Luo relaxed, and then asked, "Major General Ailand, do you often kill star beasts like this?"

"Star beasts of this size are rare even on the borders, and the probability of one occurring is not high," Eland replied.

"I see. Do all the female soldiers in your army have wings? I saw you fly over to fight using only your wings," Lin Luo asked again.

"Yes, all the female soldiers have wings," Eland replied.

Before Lin Luo could press further, Ailand felt Lin Luo's gaze fixed intently on his back and asked expectantly, "Can I see your wings?"

The air in the lounge seemed to freeze for a moment.

In the Zerg race, the wings of female Zerg are a symbol of strength and beauty, but also of extreme privacy.

Typically, only in the closest of relationships, especially in the presence of the male, will the female insect proactively spread her wings; this is a request with strong suggestive implications.

Aland was silent for a moment. He looked into Lin Luo's eyes, which were filled with pure curiosity and without any hint of intimacy, and knew that the other party had no other intentions.

"...Okay," he replied softly, turning around.

A faint light flashed, and a pair of enormous and magnificent bone wings quietly unfolded.

They are not simply bones, but are covered with a dark metallic sheen, with sharp edges, and beneath the cold metallic texture flows a sense of life force.

The wing membrane is a nearly transparent dark color, beneath which are faintly visible, complex, dark blue energy patterns, like electrical circuits.

At this moment, it flickered slightly with its owner's breathing, breathtakingly beautiful yet harboring a deadly aggression.

"Wow..." Lin Luo couldn't help but exclaim in surprise, and subconsciously stepped forward, extending her hand.

"It's so beautiful...can I touch it?"

Ayland's body stiffened abruptly, his Adam's apple bobbed, and he almost held his breath the instant Lin Luo's fingertips touched the cold bone wing.

During battle, the wings are cold, hard armor, but they become exceptionally sensitive to the touch of a male insect.

When Lin Luo's warm fingertips gently brushed against the smooth, slightly cool "bones" of the wing edge—

An indescribable sense of dread, a mixture of numbness and throbbing, instantly coursed through Ailand's entire body!

He bit his lower lip hard to stop the slight sound that was about to escape his lips. A faint blush rose uncontrollably to his cheeks, and his fingers, hanging by his sides, curled up tightly.

Lin Luo gently stroked it twice, feeling the strange texture—cold and hard, yet seemingly containing the warmth of life.

He quickly noticed Aland's stiffness and awkwardness, and immediately withdrew his hand, somewhat embarrassed.

"Oh, sorry, are you feeling unwell? I won't touch it anymore, you can put it away now."

Eland retracted his wings almost immediately, turned around, and said with the blush on his face not yet completely gone, "It's alright."

Lin Luo asked curiously, "Will I have wings too?"

"...Male insects don't have wings." Eland straightened his collar, his voice regaining its composure.

"Oh," Lin Luo said, a little disappointed.

"But some male insects like to 'collect' wings." Aland's tone was emotionless.

"Collect? Make an exact replica?" Lin Luo hadn't even reacted yet.

"The female insect is plucked from her body. Once her wings are removed, she will forever lose the ability to fly."

Lin Luo's smile froze instantly, a chill running down his spine:

"Take it off?! Just to collect it?!"

Seeing the genuine shock and disgust on his face, Eland's heart stirred slightly, and he continued in a calm and even tone:

"This is not an isolated case. Male insects treat females in many ways, including psychological punishment, public humiliation, deprivation of property, and even arbitrary transfer of assets... these are all common practices."

Lin Luo's face turned pale upon hearing this, and the lighthearted feeling he had previously experienced from being admired and supported by the female soldiers vanished instantly.

For the first time, he realized with such clarity how distorted and cruel the core of this world, which seemed to have given him a prestigious status, might be.

The lounge fell silent for a moment.

After a long while, Eland finally got up:

"Let me take you to your room, it's all ready."

"Oh, okay." Lin Luo followed absentmindedly.

Arland stopped in front of a door that was clearly more elaborately decorated:

"This is your lounge. The new personal computer has been placed inside, but you can't log in for the time being. You can use it freely once your identity verification is approved."

"It will also connect to my terminal, so you can pay for anything you want without limit. Also, if you need anything, just press the bell to call a servant or contact me directly."

Lin Luo nodded and reached out to press the door switch.

Just as the door slid open, Ayland looked at Lin Luo and suddenly spoke, his voice low and deep, revealing a subtle expectation that he himself was unaware of:

"Lord Lin Luo."

Lin Luo turned around.

Aland gazed intently at him:

"I hope... you can stay this way forever."

Lin Luo smiled brightly, her tone matter-of-fact: "Of course I won't change!"