Chapter 11: 011
Zhu Ran quite liked keeping pets. Before the apocalypse, he had kept hamsters, rabbits, dogs, and cats.
Among them, he loved noble, reserved, elegant, yet tsundere cats the most, ranking them as his number-one favorite fluffy animal.
Unfortunately, after the apocalypse arrived, not only did humans awaken abilities, but all animals and plants followed suit. Thus, the originally harmless little animals all turned into mutated beasts capable of tearing through bulletproof glass with their bare hands, and Zhu Ran could no longer keep pets.
At this moment, seeing a person with a beautiful pair of sea-blue eyes, he couldn’t help but feel a favorable impression.
Although the person had a heavy aura, was tall, and had a cold, impersonal face, because of these eyes, Zhu Ranās impression of him improved.
Who told his eyes to be so beautiful?
And he was a soldier…
Zhu Ran decided not to hold the aura that almost caused him to have a stress reaction against him.
Speaking of which… that delivery person Z from last time also had a very strong aura.
The interstellar era really was full of hidden talents.
Zefaer Suoye, the one Zhu Ran thought ‘looked like a Ragdoll cat,’ was currently disguised as an Aispu Planet military officer with his trusted subordinates to track an S-grade weapon theft case.
They all wore cloaking devices that made their distinctive appearances ‘ordinary.’
Zefaer took a look at Zhu Ran, who was huddled in a corner wrapped in a blanket.
Zhu Ran’s already small frame looked even more fragile and tiny as he crouched on the floor, like a defenseless herbivore cub.
His pale, somewhat thin face had several faint bloody scratches, adding a touch of fragility.
However, those green eyes of his were very lively, seemingly flowing with a faint light, though alertness was hidden in their depths, along with a touch of… worldly innocence.
Zhu Ranās complexion was a bit better than their last meeting, but he still looked quite weak.
No wonder the robbers chose to rob him; he indeed looked very easy to bully.
Zefaer withdrew his gaze and continued to survey the room.
Upon entering, even though the air had been replaced and flushed several times by the cold wind, he caught the lingering mixed fragrance in the air with the sharp sense of smell provided by his ultra S-grade spiritual power.
Compared to last time, this fragrance had a bit more of a bitter, woody scent.
He assumed a new variety had been cultivated.
It seemed Zhu Ran’s ability to cultivate nature was no coincidence.
If the people at the research institute knew someone on a D-grade planet could easily cultivate natural plants, those highly paid professors would probably be ashamed.
“Report MajāSir, the identities of the two robbers have been verified. Evidence of bribery involving Police Chief Zou Xing was also found in their chat logs.”
Upon hearing this, Zefaerās aura instantly became a bit more violent, like dark clouds obscuring the sun.
“They certainly have quite the nerve. Sentence them for colluding with external enemies!”
“As for these two, deal with them directly.”
“Yes.”
With that, two soldiers put the specialized interstellar handcuffs and shackles on the robbers and hauled them back to the hovercar.
Zefaer turned and walked toward Zhu Ran. His walking posture was very light, making almost no sound.
But because of his innate aura, one couldn’t help but feel a sense of approaching pressure.
Zefaer spoke: “Your door is broken; the earliest it can be fixed is tomorrow.”
Zefaer’s voice was low, and paired with his cold tone, he always seemed impersonal.
If anyone else were being questioned like this by a stern military officer, they would be trembling from the other’s aura even if they hadn’t done anything wrong. But… Zhu Ran was not disturbed by the other’s tone.
Should I just make do for a night, or…
Zhu Ran, being questioned, looked up at the other’s eyes.
This officer’s eyes were covered by the cap’s brim again, so he could only see the shadows cast by his long eyelashes.
Despite the ‘do not approach’ aura the man carried, probably because those blue eyes made Zhu Ran like him, Zhu Ran wasn’t flustered at all.
Zhu Ran grew bold and followed his heart: “I wonder if you officers could find a place to put me up for the night. I’ll find a place and move out first thing tomorrow morning.”
As soon as he finished speaking, the two soldiers behind Zefaer opened their mouths slightly, their faces full of surprise.
Was this person too daring? He actually asked if His Majesty could put him up?
Did he not know who His Majesty was?
Well…
The other party really didn’t know who His Majesty was.
In his eyes, His Majesty was probably a reliable military officer who had rescued a worried ordinary citizen in the middle of the night!
But Zefaer Suoye was no kind-hearted military officer.
He was the interstellar’s highest ruler, described by the outside world as the ‘Brilliant Slaughterer.’
As a cold-blooded man in power, how could Zefaer actually house a… common citizen.
Zefaer let out a light laugh and didn’t answer directly.
Zhu Ran tilted his head up, unflinchingly meeting Zefaer’s gaze.
A silence filled the room.
Just when everyone thought Zefaer would firmly refuse, Zefaer turned around, walked a couple of steps, and then spoke: “Aren’t you coming?”
??
The two military officers belonging to Zefaer looked at each other, both reading the word ‘shock’ in the other’s eyes.
‘Did I hear right? His Majesty said… come along?’
‘I heard His Majesty say come along too.
It can’t be that we both have hallucinations, right?’
A silent exchange was completed through facial expressions, and the two high-quality officers, who had experienced many storms, quickly returned to normal.
His Majesty only agreed to let this ‘common citizen’ follow because he wanted to play the role of a helpful officer well; it must be that.
Both of them convinced themselves of this.
Zhu Ran, who had received permission, instantly revealed a smile, his green eyes condensing fine light, making them look very bright.
He knew the Ragdoll cat officer wouldn’t leave him be.
Zhu Ran, draped in his tattered blanket, put a few low-quality nutrient solutions and his optical computer into his pockets, and then followed with the several pots of flowers in his hands.
These were all his worldly possessions.
Zhu Ran introduced himself: “I’m Zhu Ran. Thank you for coming so late to help me. Sir, how should I address you?”
Zefaer answered indifferently: “Vier.”
“Officer Vier, thankā”
Zhu Ran’s words of thanks weren’t finished; as soon as he stepped out the door, he faced a level 9 gale.
The night wind was even stronger than the daytime wind, making Zhu Ran stumble and nearly fall.
The sand blowing past Zhu Ran’s face left several more scratches, bringing a slight stinging pain.
Zefaer quick-handedly grabbed Zhu Ranās tattered blanket, preventing him from falling.
His black-gloved hand was very prominent against the grayish blanket.
He looked at Zhu Ran, who couldn’t even keep his eyes open or walk straight, yet still wanted to protect the plants in his arms, and felt a bit displeased.
He was quite eloquent when asking for lodging; why didn’t he ask someone for help with the plants?
Zefaer took off his cap and pressed it onto Zhu Ran’s head.
His unremarkable brown hair was blown into a mess by the wind, which, paired with those beautiful blue eyes, made him look noble and elegant yet incredibly majestic.
Rather than a Ragdoll cat, he was more like a majestic tabby Maine Coon.
The next moment, the wind and sand around Zhu Ran ceased their rampage.
It was Zefaer using his spiritual power to form a shield for Zhu Ran.
Zhu Ran felt the surrounding wind suddenly stop and also felt someone put a cap on him.
He opened his eyes, looked up, and immediately saw the Ragdoll cat officer using his spiritual power to form a barrier for him.
He really was a cold-faced but warm-hearted officer…
Zhu Ran opened his mouth: “Thank you.”
His voice was a bit dry from the wind and sand, but not unpleasant.
“It’s getting late, don’t dawdle.”
Zefaer spoke as if on official business and stepped into the hovercar.
However, a close observer would notice that Zefaer’s pace had slowed down a bit.
After boarding the hovercar, Zhu Ran quickly arrived at Zefaerās residence.
The residence was located in the central district protected by high-tech shields, where the temperature was comfortable and the humidity was moderate. Furthermore, there were no sharp winds that could injure people, making it worlds apart from the lower district where Zhu Ran previously lived.
Zefaer: “Any room on the first floor is fine; you are not allowed on the second floor. Move out before 12 tomorrow.”
“Okay.”
Zhu Ran nodded obediently and handed the cap back to Zefaer: “Thanks for the cap.”
After Zefaer took the cap, he went upstairs.
Zhu Ran randomly picked a room and moved in; the room was very tidy, and toiletries and a change of clothes were all provided.
Zhu Ran didn’t overthink it, took a comfortable hot shower, changed into soft pajamas, and lay down on the large bedāwhich was big enough for him to roll around onāto sleep.
The five plants placed on the table were a bit crooked from the wind, but under the nourishment of the purification water infused with Zhu Ran’s spiritual power, they quickly grew even more lush.
Among them, the three separated Daisy stalks were each blooming flowers one by one.
The fragrance slowly filled the entire room, fresh and natural.
Meanwhile, in the gray, white, and black decorated room on the second floor, Zefaer pressed the cloaking device behind his ear.
With a light ‘click,’ the disguise was deactivated.
Zefaerās brown hair turned into a brilliant gold, and those beautiful blue eyes became blue and gold heterochromatic eyes, cold and noble.
His somewhat ordinary features also became exquisite and deep in an instant, possessing a sharp sense of looking down on all things.
Zefaer rubbed the cap’s brim with both hands, and then, he brought it to his nose to sniff.
A woody fragrance with a hint of sweetness entered his olfactory cells, following his nerves and lingering, coloring the violent spiritual sea with a touch of light sweetness in just a few breaths.
It was like fine rain, like a hidden fragrance, falling like pale shadows within the thunderous, lightning-filled ruins of his spiritual sea, calming the frantic darkness and abyss.
His breathing grew slightly rapid.
Not enough… not enough… more…
He was a bit dazed and also somewhat intoxicated, and it wasn’t until the scent on his fingertips faded that Zefaer snapped back to reality.
His eyes were full of hostility.
He was panting, the veins at his temples bulging from the pain, and his Adam’s apple rolled up and down continuously.
A moment later, he finally stopped controlling himself, letting himself indulge in the scent that made him feel comfortable.
Zefaer lowered his head and smelled the scent left on his cap.
Very fragrant.
Very special.
His large, fair hand had prominent veins, and his well-defined, powerful fingers tightly gripped the dark cap.
He still… wanted more.
Recommended Reads
