Chapter 1: Planet Efa
“Heavens, I’ve never seen such a handsome Male Lord!”
“Oh, please. How many Male Lords have you actually seen?”
Two nursing insects stood in the corner of the ward, unable to keep their eyes off the Male resting on the hospital bed.
Since the Great Radiation, the number of Males in the Zerg race had plummeted. The mental power levels of those who survived grew weaker with each generation, and most low-to-mid-level Males possessed quite ordinary appearances.
“But he really is beautiful. A Male this stunning must have a very high pheromone level. If I could become his Female Attendant—no, even a Female Slave—I’d be willing.”
“Stop dreaming. He might have some kind of genetic disease or a low pheromone level. Otherwise, with the Male Protection Association being as protective as they are, what family would be heartless enough to abandon a Male Lord on a garbage planet without even a registered identity?”
“That would be such a pity. Are the Lord’s test results out yet? I hope such a wonderful Lord doesn’t have a genetic disease. That would be too cruel!”
On the bed, Yan Mo—the subject of the two insects’ hushed debate—suddenly twitched his eyelids. He struggled to open his eyes, revealing pupils as dark as the midnight ink.
The first thing Yan Mo saw was a pristine, white ceiling. His throat felt as parched as if he had spent days wandering a desert.
“Water…”
“Ah! Quick, call the doctor!”
The two nursing insects cried out in pleasant surprise upon seeing Yan Mo wake up. One immediately ran for the doctor, while the other brought a cup of warm water and carefully fed it to him.
“Thank you.”
With his throat relieved, Yan Mo let out a breath and whispered his thanks to the person who had helped him.
Yinuo’s face turned bright red. He stood frozen in place as if Yan Mo had just done something utterly inconceivable.
Heavens, a Male Lord actually said ‘thank you’ to me. Am I going crazy? I must be hallucinating.
Seeing the person in front of him freeze up, Yan Mo raised an eyebrow in confusion. “What’s wrong?”
“N-nothing… It is my honor to serve you, Lord!”
Lord?
Yan Mo found the address strange but didn’t dwell on it. He was more concerned about his current location.
“Excuse me, where is this? Why am I here?”
In truth, ever since he opened his eyes and saw the two people before him, Yan Mo had sensed something was wrong.
He had woken up in what appeared to be a hospital ward, which made sense given that his last memory was of a car accident.
However, the two men—presumably medical staff—were decidedly odd.
Yan Mo forced himself to avoid staring at the two antennae protruding from the top of Yinuo’s head.
Was I abducted by aliens?
If that were the case, would aliens really be this friendly?
“Oh! You poor Male Lord, do you not remember?”
“This is the Planet Efa Military Hospital. You were discovered on a garbage planet by a team of Military Females. At the time, you were severely injured and on the verge of death. You were rushed to the nearest military hospital for emergency treatment.”
As Yinuo spoke, he clenched his fists in anger. “Those damned Females! To dare abandon a noble Male Lord on a garbage planet… once the Male Protection Association tracks down your relatives, they will surely be punished severely!”
Males? Females?
A sharp pain suddenly churned in Yan Mo’s brain, turning his world upside down. He rubbed a red mark on the palm of his left hand. This was his birthmark; he was certain this was his own body.
He remembered the car accident, so waking up in a hospital hadn’t surprised him, but now it seemed more like he had transmigrated.
These people called him a “Male,” so it seemed they had mistaken him for one of their own.
“I’m sorry, I might have amnesia. I don’t remember anything from before.”
Yan Mo’s words triggered another round of sharp exclamations from the two Females, who frantically summoned a group of medical staff.
A dozen doctors surrounded Yan Mo, asking about his physical condition and performing a series of checks. Finally, a Female who appeared to be the highest-ranking officer stepped forward to explain the situation.
“Noble Lord, you were stranded on that garbage planet for too long. You likely experienced a severe shock there, leading to extreme fear and a subconscious refusal to remember the past. Oh, you poor Lord! Rest assured, we will protect you. We will never let you be stranded on a desolate planet to face such terror alone again.”
The Director looked at Yan Mo with a face full of pity, offering a solemn promise.
Males were fragile creatures. This poor little Lord must have been terrified out of his wits, causing him to suppress his past experiences as a trauma response.
Ever since the nursing insects had summoned a dozen doctors, Yan Mo had felt somewhat overwhelmed by the attention.
The Director claimed Yan Mo was suffering from shock-induced memory loss, but he knew perfectly well that “amnesia” was just an excuse he had made up.
He hadn’t expected it to draw so many doctors.
Fortunately, they had filled in the blanks with their own reasoning. Yan Mo was more than happy to avoid exposing the fact that he wasn’t the “Male” they thought he was.
“Doctor? Excuse me, when can I be discharged?”
The Director looked at the exquisite Male Lord with even more affection. He had never met such a polite Male. Most Males were arrogant and never used words like “excuse me” or “please.”
“Lord, I’m afraid the useless Females at the Male Protection Association have yet to identify your relatives. Since you are still a minor, you must wait until the hospital clears you, and then a relative must handle the discharge procedures.”
Yan Mo froze in shock. He had passed eighteen years old a long time ago. Even if he had transmigrated, this was definitely his own body. Could it be that the age of adulthood for this Zerg race was different from humans?
“How much longer until I reach adulthood?”
The Director shook his head.
“My dear Lord, I cannot answer that. Whether it is a Male or a Female, the timing of the secondary differentiation varies from person to person. Only after your secondary differentiation can you become a mature and charming Male Lord.”
Yan Mo grew worried.
He knew he was human, not some “Male.”
He didn’t dare act rashly now, but he couldn’t stay in the hospital forever just because he wouldn’t undergo a “secondary differentiation,” could he?
“Must I stay in the hospital until I reach adulthood?”
“Of course not. While we would be delighted to raise a noble Male Lord, the Male Protection Association wouldn’t allow it. Do not worry, Lord. Since they haven’t found your relatives, the Association has already begun selecting a suitable guardian for you.”
“Guardian?”
Does that mean an adoptive family?
At twenty years old, Yan Mo didn’t feel he needed an adoptive mother or father.
He wasn’t used to having strangers suddenly enter his life.
“No, Doctor, I don’t need a guardian. I can take care of myself and live independently. Thank you for your kindness and for saving me. I will find a way to pay back the medical expenses; please just give me some time.”
As he spoke, Yan Mo moved to get out of bed. Zerg medical technology seemed excellent; he felt perfectly healthy, with no trace of the car accident he had just been through.
However, the dozen medical insects surrounding him clearly disagreed.
“No, Lord! You are still very weak. Please, stay in bed and rest.”
“What do you need, Lord? I would be honored to serve you.”
…
Translator’s note:
Welcome to the Zerg-verse! In this world, the word Gexia (阁下) or Lord is a formal title used for Males because they are so rare and valued. Planet Efa (厄法星) is our starting point—a military hub.
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