Picking Up An Alpha On Garbage Star - Chapter 65

Xie Yu pretended to be nervous as he opened the door to the room, taking a quick glance at the stationed rebel soldiers. He hurriedly grabbed a nutrient supplement from the robot’s tray and closed the door with a “bang.”

 

Once the door was shut, several nearby rebel soldiers burst into laughter.

 

“No wonder he was so scared; it turns out his wife is an omega.”

 

“This alpha is so timid; I don’t know how he managed to marry such a beautiful omega.”

 

More harsh laughter followed.

 

“With an alpha’s pheromones, what kind of omega isn’t easily obtainable?”

 

“You alphas are truly wicked; beta’s just can’t do that.”

 

The Yinxing Hotel had excellent soundproofing, so the two inside the room couldn’t hear the laughter and impolite conversation outside. One of them tore open a nutrient supplement and put it in his mouth.

 

The pheromone scent lingered, and though the clothes on Pei An and Xie Yu were slightly disheveled, they were still intact.

 

“Now the rebels know that the guests in room 8808 have to stay in the room due to the omega’s estrus period and cannot attend the founding ceremony,” Xie Yu said as he quickly finished the nutrient supplement and threw the packaging into the trash.

 

He had exchanged pheromones with Pei An to cover up his own scent with omega pheromones. Then, he used the internal phone to contact the front desk, informing them that his omega was in estrus and needed to stay in the room. He requested that the hotel send up some nutrient supplements.

 

Xie Yu played the part of a concerned but cowardly alpha well, and the hotel front desk quickly agreed, sending a robot with the nutrient supplements. However, this robot was not an ordinary one; the rebels had added a hormone detection function to it. If an alpha opened the hotel room door, the robot would detect the pheromones to confirm if the omega in the room was truly in estrus.

 

Pei An’s estrus was genuine, not a pretense, so the rebels did not receive any false results.

 

All guests were under strict surveillance, so Pei An and Xie Yu did not overlook any details that might be investigated.

 

“The miniature detector has successfully established a route and transported a C1 bomb to beneath the flagpole at Yinxing Square,” Pei An checked the status of the miniature detector through the smart brain and smiled slightly.

 

Xie Yu began assembling the remaining tools. A single C1 bomb’s impact was far from enough; their goal was to blow up multiple locations at Yinxing Square.

 

At the same time, they needed to block all surrounding detection devices and then leave Yinxing Hotel after the explosion.

 

Several miniature detectors were released, carrying newly improved C1 bombs. After the upgrade, the C1 bombs were more powerful than before.

 

Pei An sat at the bed, the wide skirt spread out, and continued working with the virtual screen.

 

Xie Yu’s fingers were very agile, quickly assembling each component as if it were alive.

 

As they focused on their tasks, the alpha pheromones continuously soothed the omega. Pei An was enveloped in Xie Yu’s pheromone scent, and despite being in a dangerous enemy-occupied area and in estrus, he did not feel anxious or uncomfortable.

 

The pheromone scent grew stronger, and Pei An was already marinated in the plum blossom scent of his own pheromones. The glands on the back of his neck were pulsing continuously, making their presence strongly felt.

 

Finally, as nightfall descended upon Yinxing and shrouded the square filled with ginkgo trees, Pei An and Xie Yu stopped their work simultaneously.

 

“Xie Yu,” Pei An rubbed his sore neck from sitting still for too long.

 

Xie Yu got up from the sofa, knelt on the bed, and gently held Pei An in his warm embrace.

 

He lightly stroked Pei An’s glands, causing Pei An to shiver and instinctively clutch Xie Yu’s clothes.

 

Xie Yu lowered his head, turning to kiss the enticing omega pheromone-scented glands. His warm lips pressed against the heated glands, feeling surprisingly cool.

 

Pei An’s closed eyes misted over, dampening his delicate eyelashes, and his body grew even warmer.

 

“An An, I hope that every time you’re in estrus, you can just relax and not have to think about anything or do anything. Just get through it smoothly,” Xie Yu said to Pei An.

 

Pei An’s eyes warmed, and a tear rolled down his cheek.

 

Xie Yu buried his head again, this time opening his mouth, showing his teeth, and biting the omega’s glands.

 

“Xie… Yu…” Pei An’s fingers turned white from clutching Xie Yu’s clothes as the pheromones surged forth.

 

When Xie Yu first accompanied him through estrus, they weren’t in a romantic relationship. Originally planning to use suppressants, Pei An had to get a temporary mark due to a sabotaged suppressant, and he had been busy despite the temporary mark.

 

This was the second time Xie Yu accompanied Pei An through estrus, and they were in the core of the enemy-occupied Yinxing, with the goal of sabotaging the rebel’s founding ceremony. They used estrus as the perfect cover for their destruction plan.

 

Whether it was tenderness, embrace, or kisses, the time was short, lacking the calm and pleasure of a normal estrus, only chaos and work.

 

Perhaps next time, Xie Yu will be on the battlefield, and Pei An won’t even have a temporary mark, having to rely on suppressants and continue working.

 

They had chosen a path of heavy burden and thus were doomed not to enjoy ordinary life.

 

After the temporary mark ended, Pei An lay in Xie Yu’s arms, slowly recovering.

 

He reached up to touch Xie Yu’s chin and felt some stubble, smiling slightly, “Xie Yu, if you grew a beard, you’d definitely be quite a stylish man.”

 

Xie Yu held Pei An’s hand to his lips and kissed it, then said, “No, if I had a beard, it would scratch you when I kiss you.”

 

Pei An’s eyes curved into crescent moons.

 

As time passed, at midnight local time on Yinxing, the two got out of bed and stood by the window.

 

The window opened to reveal Yinxing Square. The square’s lighting was beautiful and renowned for its light show, attracting tourists who came to Yinxing specifically for this display.

 

However, the rebels had tainted the beautiful lights with impurities. The square was cluttered with objects that didn’t belong there, disrupting its aesthetic.

 

“It’s a shame that such a beautiful square will be destroyed,” Pei An said.

 

Xie Yu replied, “It’s okay. After we take back Yinxing, we’ll restore it to its original state.”

 

But the scars of war would still remain in everyone’s hearts.

 

“This is a decisive moment. Whether we can strike a blow against the rebels and boost our morale depends on this,” Pei An thought, calculating the time on the Galley system, estimating that the action had already begun.

 

Overall, the rebels’ technology was inferior to theirs. Once the news that the Komo system had been reclaimed by the Independent Army reached Yinxing, the square would be blown up, the founding ceremony would be aborted, and the rebels would be kept busy for a long time. Meanwhile, they would use this time to further develop and strengthen themselves.

 

“Want to sleep for a bit?” Xie Yu asked, though he had already closed the window and was carrying Pei An to bed.

 

Pei An patted the bed beside him, “Stay with me.”

 

Xie Yu moved to the other side, put on his slippers, got into bed, and pulled Pei An close, using voice commands to turn off the lights in the room.

 

Pei An inhaled Xie Yu’s pheromones, closed his eyes, and fell asleep.

 

The sleep didn’t last long. At six in the morning, the rebels knocked on the door. Xie Yu, wearing a bathrobe and drying his wet hair with a towel, opened the door with a mixture of impatience and fear.

 

The visitor was the same person who had checked them in yesterday. As soon as the door opened, he began glancing inside and saw the deliberately discarded cover and the wet floor.

 

“Is there something you need?” Xie Yu asked urgently, his gaze repeatedly shifting back.

 

Pei An also cooperated with a few moans, his tone overly sweet, “Hubby…”

 

“I just wanted to check if you needed any assistance. It seems you don’t,” the visitor said. The pheromone scent was overwhelming, likely due to an intense night.

 

“No, we don’t need anything,” Xie Yu stepped back, creating a defensive posture, “If there’s nothing else, please leave. My omega and I have matters to attend to.”

 

“Of course,” the rebel, having confirmed that the omega in the room was indeed in estrus, said “Sorry to disturb” and left quickly.

 

In reality, Pei An was dressed neatly, had tidied up and hidden everything under his skirt, and Xie Yu’s post-event bath was an act; they had only slept and done nothing else.

 

Guests “invited” to breakfast would enter the hotel’s restaurant at seven. After breakfast, they would be taken by special car to Impression Square. They would then be seated for the founding ceremony, which would start promptly at nine in the morning.

 

The rebels had also arranged a live broadcast. They weren’t afraid of the ceremony being disrupted, even as they flaunted their defiance. However, cross-domain network transmission was slow. Despite signal enhancers, only nearby star systems could synchronize with the broadcast, and these systems were undoubtedly occupied by the rebels.

 

The rebels aimed to crush the resistance spirit of the occupied zone’s people and used every possible means. It must be acknowledged that the person making these decisions was a warrior, but it wouldn’t change the fact that the rebels would ultimately end up as tools for others.

 

After drinking a nutrient supplement, Pei An continued to watch Impression Square.

 

Yesterday, they deployed ten mini-drones, each carrying a C1 bomb, strategically placed around Yinxing Square, all focused on the flagpole. Their mission was to blow up the flag.

 

Aside from their mission, others had different tasks, such as bombing the rebel administrative departments or disrupting communications. Each team had its specific role.

 

Pei An had been watching from the window for a long time and finally saw the start of the rebel founding ceremony.

 

“That person in front of Xie Li Joyce must be the emperor of the so-called Free Empire created by the rebels,” Xie Yu said coldly. “He certainly doesn’t look like an emperor.”

 

Indeed, no matter how unpopular an emperor might be, the entrance should still be met with some applause, if only to show respect. But this emperor, representing the brutal rebels and symbolizing evil, appeared to be a mere figurehead. If not for the large number of “guests” provided by the rebels to make a show, the scene would have been even more awkward.

 

Yet the emperor in his regalia seemed indifferent, waving and walking onto the podium with a smile, as if he were genuinely welcomed.

 

“Look, he really knows how to put on an act, even better than I could,” Pei An sneered.

 

In their view, the emperor took his seat at the main position on the podium, while others seated themselves in a very formal manner. From their demeanor, it was clear that the emperor was just a puppet, with the real power being held by someone else. It was uncertain whether that person was Xie Li Joyce, who controlled the rebel army, or someone else.

 

Xie Li Joyce, who was hosting the ceremony, recited nauseating lines from a script. The “guests” were clearly uninterested; Pei An even spotted one person playing a puzzle game, perhaps thinking that listening to Xie Li Joyce’s speech would be brain-numbing.

 

Pei An endured the entire speech, as he might need to attend a press conference after returning to the Galley system and might need to respond to the rebels’ statements.

 

After enduring the speech, he finally waited for the puppet emperor to announce the flag-raising.

 

Raising the national flag was a significant event, and the rebels had assembled a ceremonial guard made up entirely of tall, strong alphas. However, due to lack of rigorous training, their performance was quite subpar and unimpressive to Xie Yu.

 

“On the national day of the Lyte Empire, the ceremonial guard always marches in perfect unison, like it was copied and pasted. The rebels’ guard…” Xie Yu remarked, not out of mockery but out of fact, “is even worse than our freshmen at military academy.”

 

This showed the difference between serious training and casual handling.

 

The rebels’ military training was primarily focused on combat skills—physical fitness, marksmanship, and starfighter operation—but did not emphasize military discipline and internal affairs like formal military academies. This led to the rebels, even when dressed in neatly arranged uniforms, still carrying the aura of space pirates.

 

The ceremonial guard approached the flagpole slowly, and Pei An gripped the window tightly, watching intently.

 

The flag of the Free Empire was carried up to the flagpole by four rebel soldiers and secured to the rope.

 

With a smile, the puppet emperor announced, “Raise the national flag, play the national anthem!”

 

As for why the anthem wasn’t sung? It was simply because no one among the audience knew it. Playing it was likely to be embarrassing.

 

The music began, and the flag was raised by electric controls.

 

As the flag ascended, Pei An detonated the C1 bomb hidden beneath the flagpole.

 

With a thunderous explosion, the flagpole was blown apart, and the flag fell to the ground, covered in dust.

 

The ten C1 bombs had immense power, overturning the entire flagpole. The ceremonial guard was caught within the blast radius. Some rebels were killed instantly, while others were severely injured.

 

Xie Li Joyce held back the panicked puppet emperor and quickly organized a search.

 

After witnessing the explosion, Pei An and Xie Yu jumped from the eighth floor of the hotel, using tools to slow their descent and landing safely on the ground before beginning their retreat.

 

Meanwhile, explosions erupted all over Yinxing, creating massive panic. Several teams quietly withdrew amid the chaos.

 

On the Komo system, all rebel flags were torn down by the Independent Army soldiers. Those that couldn’t be reached were shot down. The streets still showed signs of recent intense battles, with smoke lingering, but everyone’s faces were filled with joy.

 

The soldiers celebrated their victory with jubilant cheers, firing into the sky as a way to mark their reclaiming of the Komo system from the rebels.

 

The battle was hard-fought, with every second stretched thin. The troops, accustomed to space rfare, engaged in many impressive ground battles.

 

Lika had her short hair bandaged by medical staff after being grazed by an enemy’s stray bullet. If it had been any lower, it might have been fatal.

 

Ye Xiuze removed his glasses, his sharp gaze now unobstructed.

 

Lin Bieyan’s communications were buzzing non-stop with battle reports.

 

“For this victory, they invested hundreds of thousands of troops, and the number of warships and fighter jets was countless; the spent bullet casings could pile up into a high-rise building.”

 

“Ms. Tang Yunzhen, I’ve dispatched escorts for all the reconnaissance aircraft to return. The news coverage is up to you!” Lin Bieyan said with barely contained joy, unable to resist clenching his fist.

 

Li Chengrui came to the Komo star system with the fleet this time. He did not disembark but stayed on the bridge, watching the battle on the ground. After the battle ended, he grabbed the intercom and shouted, “Everything must be recovered! Including the enemy’s! We must be frugal and economical!”

 

He could hardly imagine how much they had spent to make this battle so successful.

 

It is said that the Haiyan Base, being the newest munitions factory, has already been emptied.

 

Li Chengrui suddenly panicked, wondering if they would run out of money after this battle!

 

In the distance, a small craft carrying personnel took off from a private spaceport. It left Golden Leaf Star amidst the chaos and jumped into space, quickly making its way back to the Galley star system.

 

As the battlefield, the people of the Komo star system were undoubtedly the first to know that the Komo star system had been reclaimed from the rebels. After listening to hours of battle sounds, the air was now filled with celebratory cheers.

 

They cautiously stepped out of their homes or safe hiding places. The streets were no longer filled with menacing, violent rebels but were occupied by the Independent Army.

 

“Excuse me, have we regained the light?” someone asked fearfully.

 

“Yes, the light has returned to the Komo star system. You all can celebrate freely!”

 

At that moment, the morning light fell, and golden rays broke through the gloomy clouds.

 

……

 

Pei An returned to the Galley star system. While it was still early and he did not need to go out for work, he and Xie Yu went into the bedroom.

 

The temporary marks were still there, but they both longed to be with each other. Today was a good day, and they decided to make their bond official with a complete marking ceremony, adding a sense of ritual.

 

Meanwhile, Gu Fan, who was temporarily in charge of the work, was nearly overwhelmed. He couldn’t help but admire Pei An for being able to sort out so many tasks systematically. Even with the help of two secretaries, he was still struggling with the non-military affairs.

 

“Commander Gu, how come you’re doing so much by yourself? Where are Secretary-General Pei and Commander Xie?” someone asked, confused.

 

Gu Fan replied with a hint of bitterness, “Secretary-General Pei is in a critical phase, and Commander Xie is accompanying him.”

 

Single people really have no rights, only work.

 

Despite Gu Fan’s reluctance to disturb Pei An and Xie Yu, others did because news of the Komo star system’s liberation spread quickly, followed soon by news of the destruction of the rebel establishment’s founding ceremony. People speculated that these major events were the work of the Independent Army, but the Secretary-General had not yet spoken, causing great agitation and restlessness.

 

Thus, a large group of people arrived at Pei An and Xie Yu’s residence, knocking on the door.

 

A familiar scene unfolded: Xie Yu, with his hair dripping wet and only wearing pants, answered the door. The strong scent of his pheromones almost overwhelmed everyone outside.

 

Everyone: “……” It felt like Commander Xie was ready to kill them with his gaze.

 

Xie Yu’s well-defined muscles were evident, but the scratches on his body were also quite noticeable.

 

Leaning against the door with his arms crossed in front of him, Xie Yu raised an eyebrow and said, “Could you all come back at another time? We are a bit busy right now.”

 

Everyone: “……” Sorry for the intrusion!

 

Oh my gosh! Even though Commander Xie wasn’t angry with them, they still felt very uncomfortable…

 

Gu Fan, watching with wide eyes: “……” Xie Yu really has a good temper. If it were any other alpha, the consequences of disturbing him at this time would be severe.

 

Xie Yu returned to the bedroom, and Pei An immediately pounced on him, biting and kissing him while a thin layer of sweat appeared on his body.

 

“An An, are you learning from cats?” Xie Yu touched his chapped mouth, “Why do you like to bite so much?”

 

“Not at all,” Pei An wrapped his arms around Xie Yu’s neck, breathing heavily and resting. “I only bite you.”

 

Xie Yu’s breathing faltered, and his pheromones surged like a rushing river, unstoppable.

 

Pei An quickly immersed himself in Xie Yu’s pheromones, unwilling to move.

 

The process of complete marking is longer than temporary marking and typically takes several days. However, with work pressing, they couldn’t afford to indulge, so… they might become the first couple ever to go from bed to work immediately.

 

But Pei An was very happy; the cloud of gloom that had weighed on him had lifted significantly. Even though his back and buttocks ached, he was still energetic and ready to dress and go to work.

 

Tang Yunzhen, along with the newly established News Department, worked overtime to send out numerous press releases. The news of the destruction of the rebel establishment’s founding ceremony and the recapture of the Komo star system quickly soared to the top of the star network’s trending list. All the media were scrambling to forward the reports. With Pei An’s deliberate efforts, the news spread to various places in the Lyte Empire.

 

This press conference was clearly more crowded than the previous one, as media from many star systems came to the Galley star system to cover the front-line news.

 

This press conference had a much larger attendance, including Pei An, Xie Yu, Gu Fan, as well as Lin Bieyan, Li Chengrui, Xiao Xue, and others, filling up a long row.

 

However, the main target of the media’s questions remained Secretary-General Pei An, representing the Independent Army.

 

“Secretary-General Pei, we have learned that the Komo star system has been completely reclaimed and the rebels’ founding plan has been destroyed. This was done by the Independent Army, correct?”

 

Pei An leaned closer to the microphone and said, “Yes, from the moment the rebels announced their founding ceremony, the Independent Army began to prepare meticulously to destroy their arrogant plan. For a whole month, the Independent Army made thorough preparations, attacking both the Komo star system and the founding ceremony simultaneously, achieving success in both.”

 

“Secretary-General Pei, from the footage received from the front lines, it seems that the Independent Army deployed a massive force. Were any rebels captured?”

 

Pei An replied, “Naturally, there were. Apart from those who were killed during the fighting, the rest have become our prisoners due to their defeat.”

 

“How does Secretary-General Pei plan to deal with these prisoners?”

 

Pei An maintained a calm smile, seeming not to notice the hidden implications in the reporter’s question.

 

There were genuine reporters from the media in the Galley star system wanting to understand the situation, but there were also those specifically sent to stir trouble. Pei An had never relaxed his vigilance.

 

“This reporter from Guiyun Newspaper has asked a particularly interesting question,” Pei An said, adjusting his posture, as sitting in one position for too long had made his rear protest.

 

To the questioning reporter, Pei An’s slight movements seemed quite menacing.

 

He forced a stiff smile and asked, “Was the question unexpected?”

 

Pei An responded, “No.”

 

He continued slowly, “It’s just that few people pay attention to this.”

 

Pei An toyed with the reporter from Guiyun Newspaper, slowly wearing him down.

 

Not voluntarily discussing the topic but bringing up the issue as part of his task, the reporter had no choice but to ask again, “How will Secretary-General Pei handle the prisoners? Will they be executed directly?”

 

Pei An smiled meaningfully, as the person behind the reporter seemed less intelligent.

 

“This reporter, the approach to prisoners should not be revenge but correction,” Pei An said. “You are too extreme.”

 

The reporter was left embarrassed. Since Pei An did not specify the exact handling methods, he had to continue asking despite his discomfort.

 

“Can Secretary-General Pei reveal how you plan to handle them?”

 

Xie Yu’s expression turned stern. “Military secrets. Don’t ask what shouldn’t be asked.”

 

Although not angry, the reporter trembled three times in fear.

 

“Yes, this is a military secret,” Pei An said, his hands clasped and posture relaxed. “When the dust settles, everyone will know what they need to know; nothing will be missing.”

 

Other reporters with better sense quickly raised their hands to ask questions, covering up the earlier awkward situation.

 

Pei An remained patient, answering the media’s questions.

 

……

 

The news of the Komo star system being reclaimed and the rebels being humiliated at the so-called founding ceremony caused a national sensation in the Lyte Empire.

 

Pei An also appeared with a clearer impression before the citizens of the Lyte Empire.

 

Clovis Mondrei trembled with rage, his immense anger making it impossible for him to maintain his noble demeanor. In a fit of frustration, he smashed the smart device he was holding.

 

The smart device rolled several times on the expensive carpet before coming to a stop. Clovis’s new lover gasped in shock, covering her mouth and staring wide-eyed.

 

She had never seen Clovis so disgraceful.

 

“Pei Ruyu…” Clovis Mondrei gritted his teeth. How could the rebels be so inept? Pei Ruyu’s child is still alive, still alive! Does he know the truth about the Bright Goddess?

 

Clovis Mondrei grew fearful. If the truth about the Bright Goddess was exposed, his status as a duke would be finished!

 

After a moment, Clovis Mondrei suddenly laughed maniacally. He must not know; otherwise, why wouldn’t he come back to the central star to confront him?

 

Moreover, the one who appeared elegantly in the news was Clovis Mondrei’s biological son! And his biological son is the Secretary-General of the Independent Army, which just achieved a great victory!

 

It was as if the heavens were helping him! The heavens were helping him!

 

Clovis Mondrei had the butler bring a backup smart device and immediately donated a large sum of money to the Independent Army, along with sincere words of praise.

 

At the same time, Clovis Mondrei posted a message on the star network, claiming that the Secretary-General of the Lyte Independent Army, An Mondrei, was his son, and that he was proud to have such a son.

 

He ordered the message to be spread widely, ensuring it reached Pei An’s ears. He wanted to bring his son home.

 

Not only did Clovis Mondrei learn about Pei An, but another couple also became aware of Pei An’s existence.

 

They lived on a planet in the central star system and had some assets. Upon receiving the news of the great victory at the front, they donated a considerable amount of money to the Independent Army, hoping they would continue their efforts and reclaim the top ten star systems soon.

 

The gentleman with glasses, looking at the familiar face on the screen, staggered to the home projection screen and reached out to touch the image of Pei An delivering a speech.

 

“Dear, the Secretary-General of the Independent Army is named Pei An, and he looks exactly like our son,” the gentleman said, tears streaming down his face. Despite the tears filling his eyes, he didn’t even have time to wipe them, barely able to blink.

 

The resemblance was striking, truly striking. This young Secretary-General looked like he was cast from the same mold as Ruyu.

 

Mrs. Pei, who was still on her way back from a local charity auction, sat in the hover car, tears streaming down her face. As she wiped her tears, she told her husband, “I saw it, I saw it.”

 

The couple could not believe such a coincidence existed. This young man named Pei An looked exactly like their son.

 

This had to be their grandson. It had to be.

 

When Mrs. Pei returned home, she and her husband embraced and cried together.

 

“It’s An An, it’s really An An!” Mrs. Pei remembered how their grandson had been frail as a child, never able to run or jump when he visited, always enjoying drawing with her. She still kept the drawings An An made back then.

 

“Dear, let’s go to the Galley star system. Let’s meet this child,” Mr. Pei said. Over the years, his longing for his son had aged him considerably. He no longer had the youthful ambition to achieve great things and earn more money for his wife and son. Now, he just wanted to be with his family, with money being enough.

 

“We’ll buy tickets immediately. We’re going to the Galley star system.”

 

……

 

Pei An was unaware of being remembered by others. He was busy with numerous tasks, managing to complete the marking period and fully bond with Xie Yu. Finding time to rest was already a challenge.

 

After the rebels took over the Komo star system, they plundered extensively and conducted many suppressive activities. Currently, they were clearing up the aftermath. Many administrative officials who refused to submit to the rebel rule had lost their lives. The Komo star system needed a large number of talents to restore normal operations.

 

Finding suitable people to manage the Komo star system was crucial, and Pei An was overwhelmed, wishing he had three heads and six hands like Nezha.

 

Pei An had no intention of returning the Komo star system to the Lyte Empire. Once something is in his hands, he won’t easily give it up.

 

The rebel emergence, which seized the top ten star systems to establish a nation, had disappointed the Lyte Empire’s official response. Even with this great victory, the royal family and parliament made no statement, only the military issuing commendations. This only made the emperor and parliament less popular.

 

Without public support, Pei An didn’t believe the royal family’s rule could last much longer. Once they completely reclaim the top ten star systems, it would be time to confront the Lyte Empire directly. To prepare for the future, the Independent Army could not return the Komo star system to the Lyte Empire. Even Galley star system, influenced over time, would naturally choose the Independent Army over the ineffective officialdom.

 

Most people’s desires were simple; they just wanted to live better lives, away from the smoke of battle, without oppression or bullying—nothing more.

 

To select suitable people to manage the Komo star system, Pei An was extremely busy, wishing he could clone himself to handle the workload.

 

However, as the front line advanced, the army would be moving forward from the Galley star system. The Komo star system would temporarily be taken over by the military, so normal operations wouldn’t be affected in the short term. Pei An still had time to select suitable personnel for post-war recovery work in the Komo star system.

 

After about a week of intense work, Pei An finally had some time to rest, only to be summoned to a military meeting of the Independent Army.

 

Pei An: “…” I really want to rest.

 

But the reason for calling him wasn’t work-related; it was because of a trending topic.

 

“Secretary-General, are you really the biological son of the Mondrei family head?” an officer asked.

 

As military personnel, they had a strong dislike for the Mondrei family, especially since Mondrei family members in the parliament had made many shameless remarks. They would have cursed the Mondrei family members to step in dog poop, even though there was no dog poop on the Central Star.

 

“Who is this person? I don’t know them, never seen them before. Stop trying to create trouble,” Pei An said, finding the trending topic amusing and ironic. Clovis Mondrei, that bastard, didn’t think about how “Pei An” could be his biological son when using him as a test subject?

 

Pei An had no intention of revealing the truth about the Bright Goddess at this moment. He simply said, “Don’t deal with Mondrei family members. They clearly aren’t good people.”

 

Clovis Mondrei would eventually meet his end. Once Pei An had dealt with the rebels, it would be time for that bastard, but there was no rush.

 

Xie Yu reassured Pei An with his gaze, but since they were still in the meeting, as the commander-in-chief, he couldn’t leave in the middle.

 

“But Secretary-General, we received a donation of 100 million from the Mondrei family a few days ago…” the secretary said, troubled. “Should we ignore the Mondrei family…?” Would there be gossip?

 

“The Independent Army is fighting a war. The Mondrei family is rich, but their donation isn’t more than what ordinary wealthy merchants give. What’s the point of paying attention to it? Besides, if we weren’t fighting outside, could these nobles live their luxurious lives so comfortably?” Rika waved her hand dismissively. “Don’t bring it up. It’s bad luck.”

 

The reason for summoning Pei An was this issue. They didn’t want their hard-fought battles to ultimately benefit the Mondrei family.

 

As the Secretary-General, Pei An couldn’t curse them out like he used to. Otherwise, he could have easily delivered a scathing critique of Clovis Mondrei on the spot.

 

What Pei An didn’t expect was that after a brief nap in his office cubicle, his grandparents appeared, claiming to be named Pei.

 

Pei An was bewildered. He knew it was likely the original host’s grandparents coming to visit, but the problem was that he wasn’t the original host and didn’t even have the original host’s memories. If he directly refused to meet them, the original host and Pei Ruyu would surely be very upset.

 

“Forget it, let’s meet them,” Pei An decided, choosing to have Xie Yu accompany him to meet them.

 

The meeting would take place in his office, under the pretext of receiving enthusiastic supporters from afar who came to visit and comfort the Independent Army soldiers. After all, Mr. and Mrs. Pei had donated a significant sum to the Independent Army and supported them through charity auctions, contributing several billion.

 

They were far superior to that shameless Clovis Mondrei.

 

Pei An fidgeted anxiously, nervously fiddling with Xie Yu’s uniform buttons.

 

“Don’t worry, they will be nice people, just like your father,” Xie Yu comforted him.

 

Pei An, a bit anxious, replied, “Xie Yu, I’m not planning to formally acknowledge them as relatives. It’s dangerous for them.”

 

If he formally acknowledged the Pei couple, once the outside world learned of it, it would confirm he was Clovis Mondrei’s biological son. Before the rebels were completely overthrown, he didn’t want to revisit the case; the timing wasn’t right. 

 

Moreover, if the rebels discovered he had other family members besides Xie Yu, they might attempt to kidnap the Pei couple to threaten him or even kill them out of spite. It was too dangerous.

 

The Pei family still needed true Pei family members to live on for Pei Ruyu and “Pei An” and to witness the moment when light would once again shine upon the earth.

 

“You’re right. So, just do what’s right,” Xie Yu kissed Pei An’s forehead. “I’m here.”

 

Pei An sighed and sat back in his office chair.

 

A short while later, the secretary brought the Pei couple into the office. The Pei couple was extremely excited to see Pei An.

 

After the secretary left, closing the door behind them, Mrs. Pei could no longer contain herself and stepped forward. “An An, I’m Grandma.”

 

Pei An forced a smile. “Mrs. Pei, hello.”

 

Mrs. Pei’s joyful expression faded. She had thought a lot about this visit and expected a warm family reunion.

 

Pei An turned his gaze to the original host’s grandfather, trying to maintain his smile. “Mr. Pei, hello.”

 

The Pei couple looked as though they had been struck by lightning.