Chapter 18: Blackwater Street
After leaving the trash mountain, the Fourth Legion squad found a clearing. Saiensi ordered the team to set up camp there.
“Lan Ze,” Saiensi walked over.
“The site of the incident was on Blackwater Street.” At this point, Saiensi paused, looking at Yan Mo. Seeing no particular reaction on his face, he continued, “We need to start our investigation there.”
Lan Ze had no issue with this. The inspection was originally led by Saiensi. If he were the one executing the mission, he would also start with Blackwater Street.
“Didn’t those scavengers say that Blackwater Street has been cordoned off by a research team?” Yan Mo asked casually.
Saiensi didn’t seem concerned. He had been notified of this long ago. Due to the Interstellar Rift, Blackwater Street wasn’t just being inspected by the military as requested by the Male Protection Association; the Interstellar Celestial Research Center had also sent a team.
“It’s fine. We have passes,” Saiensi replied before continuing with the arrangements.
“I assume Lord Yan Mo wanted to come to Planet 1347 to see if he could find any traces of his memories. Now that you’ve seen it, you must realize this planet is far from peaceful.”
Yan Mo nodded. Even from just a few snippets of conversation, he had gained a certain understanding of the lawlessness of this garbage planet.
“Then why don’t you let Lan Ze accompany you to see some other places? Once the inspection mission is complete, we can take the ship back to Planet Efa together.”
“Alright.” Lan Ze naturally had no reason to refuse.
Yan Mo didn’t really want to go anywhere else. His goal for this trip was Blackwater Street; nowhere else held any meaning for him.
“I want to go see Blackwater Street.”
Saiensi looked at Yan Mo. He didn’t approve of Yan Mo going there. It was one thing to have Lan Ze protect him elsewhere. But according to previous research on Interstellar Rifts, they tended to vanish on their own after a period of time.
Still, it was an unknown risk. Bringing a Male Lord to a chaotic planet like 1347 was already a gamble.
“Lord, I suggest you don’t go to Blackwater Street. At least wait until the researchers have confirmed that the rift has vanished,” Saiensi advised.
But Yan Mo was firm. It seemed there was no stopping this stubborn Lord. Saiensi shrugged at Lan Ze.
After spending some time with Yan Mo, Lan Ze had discovered that while the Male was usually gentle toward everyone, once he decided on something, he would absolutely follow through. Lord Yan Mo wouldn’t give up on going to Blackwater Street.
It was just like when he had initially refused to let Yan Mo come to Planet 1347.
Lan Ze thought that instead of having Yan Mo head to Blackwater Street alone when he wasn’t looking, it would be better for him to go with him. At least if they encountered any danger, he could shield the Male and keep him from getting hurt.
“Lord Yan Mo, are you truly certain you want to go to Blackwater Street?” Lan Ze asked softly, wanting to hear him confirm it once more.
In truth, Yan Mo was no longer certain if he actually wanted to go back. He had even thought that if the Interstellar Rift had already vanished, he might have to wait centuries for the next one. If that were the case, he likely wouldn’t be able to return to Earth.
Then he would just live a good life in this strange world as an ordinary Male. If Lan Ze was by his side then, it seemed like a pretty good life.
Yan Mo felt he couldn’t make a firm decision at the moment, but he still wanted to see Blackwater Street. The Zerg government took the discovery of an unregistered Male on Planet 1347 very seriously. Lan Ze said pheromones occasionally appeared on him, but he still didn’t know if, as a human, he could actually differentiate into a true Male. He needed to look into some potential hidden dangers.
Yan Mo looked up and gave Lan Ze a nod. Lan Ze understood his intent.
“If that is your wish, then fine. I will go with you.”
“Lan Ze!” Saiensi called out his name in disapproval.
“Saiensi, this is Lord Yan Mo’s wish. It is his right to explore his own past. I don’t want to stop him.”
“But…”
Lan Ze interrupted, “It’s fine. I am Lord Yan Mo’s guardian. Protecting him is my duty anyway.”
“Alright then.” Saiensi shrugged and threw up his hands in resignation. “I’ll take the team on the inspection then. You keep Lord Yan Mo safe.” With that, Saiensi went to help set up the camp.
Lan Ze stood where he was. Yan Mo looked at him.
“You’re… not going to ask me…”
Lan Ze looked into Yan Mo’s eyes. When those quiet black eyes looked at him, they were always filled with gentleness.
“You have your own plans, Lord. If you ever want to share them with me, I would be more than happy to listen.”
“…Thank you.”
Lan Ze shook his head in disapproval. “You shouldn’t always say ‘thank you’ to me. Protecting you is my responsibility. In the Zerg race, no Male ever thanks a Female so frequently.”
Yan Mo frowned and said seriously, “No. There is no ‘should’ or ‘shouldn’t’ here. You brought me here and are even protecting me so I can go to Blackwater Street—this is not something you are ‘supposed’ to do. So I must thank you. As for those other Males, if they don’t say thank you, it’s because they have no manners. I am me; I can’t be like them.”
Lan Ze was stunned for a moment, then let out a soft laugh.
“Lord, if the Male Protection Association ever hears those words, it won’t be good.”
The Association might not blame the Male, but it wouldn’t help Yan Mo’s future interactions with other Males of the Zerg race. Yan Mo didn’t care. If all the Males were like Pete, he had no interest in befriending them anyway.
Blackwater Street was originally a chaotic, lawless territory on Planet 1347. It had been disputed by two Female gangs until a Male was discovered there, after which the entire street was turned upside down. The gang enforcers didn’t dare set foot on the street anymore.
The Interstellar Research Center had sent over a dozen researchers to study the Interstellar Rift; even Professor Bai Ye from the Capital Star Research Institute had come in person. Blackwater Street was guarded so tightly by hundreds of security personnel that not even a breath of air could get through. No one could enter or leave without a pass.
The Fourth Legion had received word of the research center’s presence on Planet 1347 and had prepared the necessary passes. Saiensi handed a pass to the guard. After a careful inspection, the security Female returned the pass to Saiensi and signaled the others to let the Fourth Legion squad through.
“If the Interstellar Research Center is here to study the rift, why are they guarding it so strictly?” Yan Mo asked Lan Ze in a low, curious voice as they entered Blackwater Street with the soldiers.
Lan Ze lowered his voice, “The Star Net says the rift has vanished, but that’s actually just to calm the situation.”
Yan Mo whipped his head around to look at Lan Ze.
Lan Ze paused before continuing, “The matter of your discovery on Blackwater Street isn’t over yet. The military has conducted several searches and hasn’t found a black research lab on the street. If word gets out that the rift hasn’t vanished, the Male Protection Association and the Fourth Legion will face even greater public pressure.”
“The Interstellar Rift will swallow any biological being that gets close. To prevent Zerg from accidentally wandering in, the research center has temporarily cordoned off the area.”
Yan Mo thought to himself, So, the Interstellar Rift hasn’t vanished yet?
Does that mean I can go back through it?
But… do I really still want to go back now?
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