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

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

......

On the surface, Orion was an envoy sent by the Liernia Insect Emperor, but the Human Federation did not understand the tense political relationship between the Liernia Insect Emperor and the Crown Prince.

Of course, even if we knew, there was nothing we could do. Given our public identities, we still had to give him a warm welcome as usual.

Commander-in-Chief Qi of the Human Forces recently fell seriously ill for unknown reasons and has not yet recovered. This time, only the Alliance Director came to greet him at the airport.

Orion stepped down the last gangway, his boots making a duller "thump" on the solid ground than they would on the metal steps.

He looked down and raised an eyebrow.

So this is Earth.

It's a fragile little planet, not very big, and could be blasted apart with a single shot if there were no planetary barrier.

However, he's a man of principle and wouldn't do such a thing.

Orion thought to himself with a clear conscience.

The tarmac, wide enough to accommodate several large aircraft, was covered with a large, brightly colored red carpet that stretched straight forward from the bottom of the gangway.

On both sides of the red carpet, the honor guard of the Federation of Humanity stood at attention. The neatly dressed Western Military District Alphas, wearing sharp dark blue uniforms and white gloves, gripped their bayoneted rifles tightly with the butts at their feet and the bayonets pointing straight up, saluting him.

The young alphas had upright faces and postures, standing as still as javelins, their eyes fixed straight ahead.

They are all around 1.9 meters tall, with broad shoulders and backs and straight spines.

This is the human alpha group that caused such a huge uproar in Liernia; it is indeed completely different from the male insect group in Liernia.

It's a pity I didn't come sooner.

If he were the one who discovered Earth... well, wouldn't that be great?

His nephew was indeed indecisive. If he were the one who discovered Earth, he would completely extinguish human autonomy, control this group of high-quality male insects to infiltrate the Empire, and seize control of the Empire in the shortest possible time.

In the empire at that time, controlling superior male insects meant controlling everything.

Humans aren't that noble; there will always be some who want to go to the Zerg Empire and live a life of luxury as male Zerg.

His little nephew, however, refused to accept this and insisted on liberating the female insects, trying to establish diplomatic relations with the entire nation.

The male insect's status has declined, and without its mate—the carrot dangling in front of the female insect—it will be more difficult to rule the empire and gain the loyalty of the female insects. I really don't know why his little nephew would do something so thankless.

A boring idealist.

Orion's gaze swept across the area without changing his expression, then he looked towards the end of the red carpet.

At the end of the red carpet stood high-ranking officials from the Human Federation who had come to welcome him, the leader of whom was an elderly human male alpha.

He was quite old, and his movements were somewhat sluggish, but he was not hunched over. He wore a well-tailored gray suit, a burgundy scarf, and gold-rimmed glasses. His hair was completely white, but he combed it meticulously, and it gleamed softly under the airport lights.

Despite her good appearance, the signs of age were still visible on her face, with deep wrinkles. She smiled at Orion as he descended the gangway, waiting for him to approach.

Felipe Rodri, the Union Director of the Human Federation Executive Department.

They're just like their Invika council president.

Orion's mind flashed with this identity label.

Director Rhodes, the nominal highest administrative official of the Federation of Humans, is a veteran politician who has been navigating the quagmire of politics for decades.

Intelligence indicates that this person is known for being shrewd, cautious, and secretive; he is a true old fox.

At this moment, the old fox had a clearly visible warm smile on his face. His eyes behind his gold-rimmed glasses curved up, and the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes were deep yet relaxed. He was gentle and sincere, exuding a humble and approachable charm that belonged to an elderly creature, waiting for him to approach.

Dealing with these humans is disgusting.

Orion's lips slowly curled upwards, a perfectly diplomatic smile appearing on his handsome face.

He was a master of disguise, impeccable in every way, which instantly softened his coldness and made him appear polite, gentle, and warm.

He received various etiquette educations from a young age. He strode confidently down the red carpet toward the Alliance Director, his steps steady and his pace moderate, his shoulders and back straight, exuding poise and grace.

The soft carpet absorbed the sound of his hard military boot soles, making him walk silently, like a handsome large feline.

The Alliance Director took a small step forward and warmly extended his hand to shake hands with Orion.

That hand was well-maintained, but the skin was already loose and covered with age spots typical of the elderly.

"Admiral Orion, a warm welcome to Earth! It's an honor to have you here!" The old fox had risen through the ranks from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, so his words were exceptionally sincere, every single one brimming with genuine goodwill.

Orion stopped in his tracks, raised his right hand without hesitation, and stepped forward to shake the hand of the Human Alliance Commissioner.

His long, slender fingers were encased in pure white gloves, which stood out against the backdrop of the red carpet and dark uniform.

Their hands clasped together.

Orion's hand did not actually touch the Alliance Commissioner's skin; he merely gave a light squeeze through the fabric, applying just the right amount of pressure—neither impolite nor overly enthusiastic.

Through the thin white gloves, one could clearly feel the looseness and slight warmth of the Alliance Director's skin.

The Alliance Director was much more enthusiastic, holding Orion's hand tightly and conveying a warm welcome.

At that moment, Orion suddenly felt grateful that the Imperial uniform included gloves.

I'm sorry, I previously said that gloves were a pretentious aristocratic etiquette, but it turns out he was being careless.

Without gloves, he would have vomited to death if this old male insect had gripped him so tightly.

However, he had to maintain a gentle and sincere expression, the smile on his lips remained unchanged, his hand remained steady, his white gloves were spotless, and he shook hands with the Alliance Director with elegant and reserved movements:

"Director Rodri. Thank you for coming to greet us in person. The Liernia Empire values ​​its friendship with the Human Federation, and His Majesty the Insect Emperor has high hopes for this exchange."

He deliberately emphasized the pronunciation of "Your Majesty the Insect Emperor" to indicate that he and the Crown Prince were two opposing forces.

"You must be tired from your journey, General." The Alliance Director seemed not to understand, released his hand, and looked Orion up and down with concern to make sure that this distinguished guest was well. "From the main planet of Liernia to the solar system, this long interstellar journey must have been quite tiring even for an advanced starship."

Thoughtful, full of empathy, but just not engaging in conversation with him.

hypocritical.

"It's my duty," Orion replied with a smile, his tone humble.

"Too modest!"

"These are my heartfelt words. It is my honor to represent the Empire and shoulder the responsibility of promoting peace and prosperity between the two races."

The Alliance Director exclaimed, "Such lofty aspirations!"

Orion tilted his head slightly, glancing at the bustling airport scene and the faintly visible city silhouette in the distance, a perfectly timed expression of appreciation on his face: "You flatter me. On the other hand, seeing such a vibrant and beautiful sight of Earth after landing completely washes away the fatigue of the journey."

The Alliance Director laughed: "General, you flatter us. We are deeply honored that Earth is so vibrant."

There was another round of nods and pleasantries.

After the pleasantries were almost over, Director Rhodes stepped aside, allowing several Human Alliance officials in formal suits to stand behind him.

"Look at me, I've been having such a pleasant chat with you that I've forgotten the important matter. Please allow me to introduce you; these are all important officials of our Federation responsible for interstellar affairs and security."

Orion maintained a perfect smile and calmly nodded to everyone, but no longer shook hands.

It's alright if we don't shake hands. Every official from the Alliance Agency whose gaze swept over him subconsciously straightened their backs and greeted him warmly.

"Welcome, Admiral Orion!"

"Welcome, Your Excellency, to Earth!"

......

In a brief glance, Orion had already memorized the appearances and positions of these officials.

These may all be useful pieces in the future.

After exchanging pleasantries, the Alliance Director turned the focus back to the Zerg: "Speaking of which, Your Highness the Crown Prince left a very deep impression on us when he visited Earth before."

"The Crown Prince is still young, so please forgive him if he has done anything inappropriate," Orion immediately apologized on behalf of the Crown Prince.

"Not at all!" The old fox praised the Crown Prince highly, not knowing what he meant or whether he was being sarcastic or not: "His Highness Kyle Lorius is young and promising, with extraordinary demeanor. He has spared no effort in promoting peace between the two races. Our Federation holds His Highness in the highest esteem and goodwill."

Orion's smile remained unchanged: "His Highness the Crown Prince indeed speaks highly of your nation's civilization and development."

"Oh?"

Following the Alliance Director's words, Orion continued naturally, "After the Crown Prince facilitated the establishment of diplomatic relations with humanity, our Liernia Empire has also undergone many changes. His Majesty the Insect Emperor has also heard of this and attaches great importance to your nation's potential."

I just don't know if his emphasis is a good thing or a bad thing.

Orion once again brought out His Majesty the Insect King, dividing the Crown Prince's forces from the Insect King's forces.

But the Alliance Director still didn't seem to understand what he meant, or perhaps he did understand but didn't respond, only expressing the honor of being recognized: "To receive the affirmation of the Liernia Empire is truly a blessing for the Federation."

"We believe that with your support, the friendship and cooperation between our two ethnic groups will reach a new and more solid level, and we are full of expectations for the future."

Orion and the Alliance Commissioner exchanged a smile, their faces showing a peaceful demeanor, but no one knew what they were thinking.

The Alliance Director extended his hand in an inviting gesture, pointing to a long, black, luxurious hovercraft convoy parked not far away:

"As you can see, we have arranged your accommodations and the motorcade is ready. Why don't we head to the state guesthouse for a short rest? There will be a welcome dinner for you tonight."

"Thank you very much." Orion nodded.

"Please." The director stepped aside to make way.

"please."

They exchanged another wave of greeting, and Orion, no longer declining, strode towards the convoy, surrounded by the director and a group of federal officials.

His perfectly gentle smile remained unchanged throughout as he sat in the car amidst the enthusiastic throng of human officials, creating a picture of a diplomatic envoy's arrival that couldn't be more standard.

But once the convoy started moving, he glanced out the window at the passing human coastlines and cityscapes, and chuckled as he considered the undercurrents surging beneath each seemingly calm step.

The internal structure of human society is also so fragile.

Humans, humans, humans are just too easy to break through.

Despicable humans, hypocritical humans, greedy humans.