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

***************

......

The Insect King gave a satisfied "hmm".

"Second Prince, you must be tired from your long journey back. Would you like to have dinner with me?"

Orion straightened up, his expression still gentle: "Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty. I am deeply honored. However, it is getting late, and I am not very familiar with my brother's palace. I would like to return early to familiarize myself with it. What do you think..."

"Of course, of course. You should go back now."

The Insect King wasn't angry at being rejected for dinner; he was now very tolerant of Orion.

"Then I shall take my leave." Orion bowed again, then turned and left.

As soon as he turned around, the gentle expression on his face vanished like a thin mist blown by the wind.

What an idiot.

Atticus, what have you found?

Now that I've regained my identity and command a large army, I'll have to listen to you then.

I've never seen a dumber idiot than him.

The previous queen was his partner, and the next queen is his son. This amazing start, where he could have relied on his partner for the first half of his life and his son for the second half, has been ruined by him.

No wonder the parliament wanted to make him a puppet. He's really useful. He willingly caused the deaths of his partner and son, yet he trusts foreigners.

......

*************

......

4:30 in the morning.

First Military Region, Northern Hemisphere.

It was still pitch black, with no light at all; it would be a while before dawn.

Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows of Commander-in-Chief Qi's office, all was quiet. The military region staff hadn't gotten up yet, and the military headquarters hadn't started work. Only the sentries stood guard quietly below.

Further away, there is a cityscape carved out by high-strength alloys and glass.

In the distance, the skyscrapers and cubicles of the city were not yet lit up; only the edges of some buildings, still glowing with lights, traced the outline of the city.

Even the hardest-working animals don't stay up this late.

But the First Military Region Commander's office was brightly lit.

The First Military Region is located on Earth and guards the capital.

Commander-in-Chief Qi guarded the First Military Region and almost never left the military headquarters.

Commander-in-Chief Qi sat behind a large alloy desk.

On the floating screen in front of him, encrypted nighttime briefings and satellite-based frontline situation maps for defense against insectoid attacks were scrolling.

An S-class alpha's body is incredibly resilient. Even after going without sleep for several days and nights, he doesn't experience arrhythmia or sudden death. His heartbeat remains regular and steady, like the heart of a giant machine.

"Buzz...buzz...buzz..."

In the stillness of the night, the communicator on the table suddenly started beeping.

The sound echoed in the empty office, tearing apart the silence before dawn.

4:30 a.m.

Call him at this time.

Commander-in-Chief Qi's finger, which was swiping the screen, paused. He looked away from the briefing, picked up the communicator on the table, and glanced at the screen.

The caller's name flashes on the screen.

...Head of the research institute.

may be......

Gao Xing's DNA test results are in.

Commander-in-Chief Qi immediately answered the phone: "Feed?"

"President Qi." The voice of the research institute director came through the communicator. His voice was low, with a barely perceptible hoarseness, the exhaustion of not having slept all night, and the immense pressure compressing his vocal cords. "I'm sorry to bother you at this time."

"Please speak, I won't disturb you." Commander-in-Chief Qi leaned back slightly, sinking into the shadow of the high-backed chair. He closed his eyes briefly, his jawline appearing unusually hard.

He was waiting for the next part.

They are also waiting for a trial.

The timing and tone of this report could not possibly be a routine one.

"The full test results for the genetic sample you provided are in."

These words settled in the cold air.

Commander-in-Chief Qi's hand, which was resting on the armrest of his chair, tightened almost imperceptibly.

The knuckles of his fingers, gripping the communicator, turned slightly white from the force.

He silently hummed in agreement, still waiting for the rest of the story.

"Following your instructions, we activated the most comprehensive DNA testing technology and repeatedly checked the raw data and samples for all gene segments. The results... are somewhat complicated."

Complex.

The word carries a slightly ominous connotation when uttered by these research fanatics.

Researchers' dictionaries only contain rational terms like conformity, deviation, anomaly, and data.

They had never even learned how to write subjective feelings or emotions.

If something cannot be explained using rational terms in an objective sense, then it is abnormal.

It was an outcome he didn't know whether he wanted to see.

"Based on existing genetic models, we conducted an in-depth comparative analysis of the residual genes in this sample, and found some inexplicable contradictions that exceeded the scope of a routine report."

Inexplicable contradictions. Beyond the scope of standard reporting.

Commander-in-Chief Qi closed his eyes.

In the dim light before dawn, at the bottom of the unfathomable fog of truth, something seemed to be silently stirring, struggling, and roaring upwards.

It's about to break free.

What is it?

His knuckles were more taut as he placed his hand on the armrest.

"So?" Commander-in-Chief Qi's voice was lower than usual, penetrating the communication line and reaching the person in charge's eardrum.

The person in charge on the other end of the communicator took a deep breath and mustered his courage.

"Commander, this sample is too large for me to issue a report on... I mean, the significance and potential impact of this test result itself are beyond the scope of any test report I can issue."

"Could you give me a general overview?"

The person in charge paused for a moment: "I can't explain over the phone. I strongly suggest you come to the First Military Region Research Institute in person. It would be best if you could review all the raw data, the analysis process, and the final DNA test results in person."

Commander-in-Chief Qi's hand, which was resting on the armrest, bulged with veins.

I went to the research institute in person.

Let's discuss this in person.

This is not a report, this is a warning.

Based on his professional and career experience, the person in charge believed that this result could not be transmitted through any encrypted lines, nor could it even be put on paper.

Its content must be received and judged personally by decision-makers in a safe and controlled environment.

Gao Xing's problem was far bigger than he had imagined.

Commander-in-Chief Qi shifted his gaze from the communicator to the deep blue sky outside the floor-to-ceiling window, which was yet to be illuminated by daylight.

The city skyline lay silent in the darkness.

On the distant horizon, a faint orange-red light struggles to pierce the heavy night.

It was getting light.

Dawn seems to be just around the corner.

The clock on the wall announced five o'clock.

The head of the research institute was still quietly waiting for his reply over the communicator.

Suddenly, a virtual electronic cigarette shot into the pre-dawn darkness, exploding into a tiny firework with a "pop!"

This was just the beginning. Soon, waves of fireworks erupted in the distant city, rising and falling in a continuous, magnificent, and festive display.

Countless fireworks soared into the sky, accompanied by the sounds of electronic firecrackers, creating a scene of celebration.