A is in StarCraft, just disembarked from the Zerg Prince spaceship.

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......

The rain intensified on the central star, with thunder and lightning raging outside the window, illuminating the study with flickering light.

Orion gently swirled his wine glass, a half-smile playing on his lips.

The firelight danced on Speaker Invika's face, casting an inscrutable shadow over his expression.

The young crown prince, who disliked male rulers, ultimately chose a powerful one.

Although the male is human, the bond between the male and female remains unbroken, and he still entrusts his life to that human.

Why do you think he would be so depressed?

Is love such a terrible thing?

Knowing it's a dead end, why rush towards it?

What sane insect would choose a male lord?

Once you have a weakness, you can never get it back.

With the Crown Princess by his side, Orion's chances of winning have skyrocketed to eighty percent.

A thunderclap boomed outside the window, and the face of the fire ant appeared in the lightning flash, his red hair making his pale and cold face stand out even more.

Then you can't blame him for switching to Orion.

After all, the instinct to seek advantage and avoid harm is the natural instinct of living beings.

"I suggest we try to capture the Crown Princess alive first, and force the Crown Prince to abdicate on his own. That would be more legitimate."

He said calmly, "Of course, it doesn't matter if I can't do it. If I just kill him, the Crown Prince will most likely die of a broken heart anyway."

The Crown Prince might be able to hold on, but the probability is extremely low.

"Even if the Crown Prince dies, your succession to the throne will still be perfectly legitimate."

This weakness was something the Crown Prince himself discovered.

Orion couldn't possibly be blind to such a significant weakness.

If the Crown Prince refuses to abdicate, the Crown Princess will be sent to him one by one, starting from his fingers.

Which female insect could withstand this kind of pressure?

impossible.

Even if he held on, nothing would happen.

Their relationship is so good that their spiritual connection will only become stronger.

With the Crown Princess dead, the Crown Prince will most likely not survive either.

Orion laughed.

That's really toxic.

As expected of red imported fire ants.

That suited him perfectly.

"A very good suggestion. For the future of the Zerg." Orion raised his glass.

"For the great empire," Speaker Invika replied, raising his coffee cup as well.

Driven by self-interest and ambition, they each pursued what they needed.

The two cups virtually collided.

The fire in the stove flickered.

Isn't that fair?

I'd rather be an accomplice of the devil than a sacrifice to an angel.

If the Crown Prince wants to abolish them, then they will overthrow the Crown Prince's lifeline.

"Then let's discuss how to take the first step, Your Excellency Speaker."

"The first step is to restore the legitimacy of your identity. Please rest assured, leave the matter of your legal identity to me."

Speaker Invika put down his now-cold coffee cup.

"Next, we'll work to legitimize your identity through the Insect Emperor's pardon. I'll pave a path for you to the central star; it will take some time to pave the way."

Orion looked at him: "I have plenty of time, but my patience... is really not that great."

"Please rest assured, it won't be long."

What happened thirty years ago hasn't become common knowledge among all insects.

This gave them an opportunity to exploit the loophole.

"I guarantee that within a month at most, you will be able to set foot on the empire's soil openly and legitimately again."

It doesn't really matter to him which insect becomes the queen; it's just that the one who is more inclined towards him and shares his ideals will be more advantageous to him.

The Crown Prince and the nobles are bound to be irreconcilable enemies, so perhaps siding with Orion is the best option right now.

Orion is a madman, but his relationship with the nobles is more amicable than that between the Crown Prince and the nobles.

As he himself said, he didn't want equality; he wanted a strict hierarchy.

Orion's image stood up, his blue-gray eyes looking down at Councilor Invika: "Can you guarantee that?"

"I assure you, Your Highness." The red fire ant rose and gave a standard subordinate's salute.

For the pirate leader, paving a path to the central star was not a difficult task, as most nobles were members of their own council.

Orion looked at him and said noncommittally, "Then I'll stay at the border for a month. I'll wait for your news."

"Please wait patiently for good news." Speaker Invika bowed his head.

The communicator on the desktop flashed.

Communication is down.

The Speaker's study fell silent, with only the sound of the fireplace burning.

......

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......

As the holographic projection went out, the hidden door to the command room on the Orion pirate ship quietly slid open, and his second-in-command strode in, asking in a low voice:

"Do we really have to rely on him?"

A loyal minister does not serve two masters. That insect is so prone to betrayal; it doesn't seem very reliable.

Orion stroked the scepter, a trophy he had stolen from a small race, which sat on the table beside him. It was exquisitely crafted, like a small pendant, and his smile deepened.

"Sasha, don't look down on him."

Orion introduced his former adjutant: "You're a relative newer to me, so you might not know, but that was my brother's former study companion, his right-hand man, Invica, the most cunning person in the entire empire."

No insect knew the two brothers better than him and Atticus.

If his parents hadn't been biased, betrothing Sevisma to him and Invica to Atticus, he might not have lost in the struggle for the throne.

The Invica Serenhopnos bug is incredibly useful.

Both cunning and ruthless, a born politician, quick-witted and exceptionally intelligent.

Actually, his stepfather is quite funny.

She favored her youngest son, and in the fierce battle for the throne, she tried every means to protect his life, but insisted on giving the most important throne to her eldest son.

Do you think he prefers his younger son or his older son?

Orion suddenly felt a bit bored and didn't want to talk to his deputy anymore.

Sigh, never mind, there's no point in talking about this now.

His father-in-law died long ago, and Atticus died long ago too. They were all dead, and all love, hate, and resentment were buried in the past.

Even though they are the strongest Zerg in the local universe, time is the most irreversible thing.

Three-dimensional beings cannot touch time.

That's the fourth dimension, the privilege of the Insect God.

Atticus, who defeated him, ultimately died at the hands of a male insect.

How ironic.

Orion picked up the glass of wine beside him and drank it all in one gulp.

Then he threw the glass far away.

The wine glass fell to the ground and shattered into countless tiny fragments.

The crisp sound echoed in the empty starship command room, much like the shattering of everything, yet also like the rebirth of everything.

Like father, like son. Atticus was a good-for-nothing, and his son was just like him.

Because it is their fate to die as male insects.

Now all he wants is to take back the throne that almost belonged to him.