Chapter 39
Perhaps because he was just involved in mecha combat, Claire kept his collar partially open. A faint scent wafting from him, reminiscent of rust, filled the air around Mu Cai, flooding his nostrils.
This happened to be the smell of Claire's pheromones.
An alpha does not generally have a fixed mating cycle. Unmarried alphas could be thrown into frenzy by the scents emitted during the heat cycle of an unmarked omega, subsequently releasing their own pheromones to suppress the other party. However, everyone uses suppressing devices now, as advocated by the Galaxy Empire. These ensure the mating cycles of unmarried omegas are effectively kept in check, preventing the pheromones from haphazardly broadcasting in large amounts.
Post-intense physical activities or in certain unique situations, alphas conventionally make conscious efforts to keep their pheromone scent subdued. An alpha's pheromone scent is rarely familiar to anyone aside from their intimate partners.
The faint, rust-like scent rolled in. Despite not being overwhelming, the scent expanded just as water flows, as if wrapping Mu Cai in a cloak that remained long after the moment had passed.
Mu Cai could not claim to be a fan of this bloody-like scent ordinarily. However, in this particular moment, he did not find it distasteful. Even more, he found the scent rather appealing and comforting, soothing his recent bewildered emotions.
Claire gently gripped Mu Cai's shoulder, tenderly asking, "Cai Cai, will you accompany me to the military department?"
Mu Cai nodded in affirmation.
Having calmed down, Mu Cai started to sense something amiss. There's no way Claire would arbitrarily take him to a place like the military department. Despite being unaware of the specifics, Mu Cai was certain it had something to do with the recent mech confrontation.
Perhaps there had been an issue with Mu Feng's mecha, necessitating him, as a temporarily assigned mecha repairer, to go and inspect.
Seeing the young man before him unopposed to his pheromones, Claire was secretly pleased. Having received an affirmative response, he held onto Mu Cai's slim shoulder, guiding him forward, "I've asked Ian to prepare the aircraft, we'll depart for Zone F shortly."
Mu Cai obediently responded.
Due to their positioning, Mu Cai and Claire were standing very close. Claire radiated warmth like a glowing fireplace in winter, the heat spreading onto Mu Cai's skin, making him flinch slightly.
The originally faint scent of rust intensified.
To the other bystanders, Claire, with his towering height, long legs, and muscular physique, displayed under the rolled-up shirt sleeves, was a powerful presence. On the other hand, Mu Cai, appearing much slenderer, looked exceptionally docile beside Claire, as if nestled in his embrace, a sight that was rather endearing.
As the two left the venue and boarded the personal aircraft that Ian had parked in the open area, Mu Feng followed soon after.
He glanced at the two people sitting together in the back row, a few words teetering on the tip of his tongue.
Mu Cai was preoccupied with his smart device, oblivious to Mu Feng's presence. Claire, however, looked up and locked eyes with him.
That look reminded Mu Feng of an immovable iceberg, a hidden warning within. Unable to outmatch Claire, he could only sit in the middle row in silent frustration, his thoughts, however, were far from settled.
He couldn't shake the feeling that his brother was being abducted, and by the evidently ulterior-motivated Claire!
Usually, his brother was so caring towards him. Seemingly annoyed yet always subtly showing concern for his life circumstances, occasionally even slipping him an allowance.
Mu Feng couldn't stand idly by.
Just thinking about how Mu Cai was oblivious to the fervent glances from the alphas and some betas during their mecha combat lessons kept him from speaking up.
How was he to caution him? His brother was utterly clueless. Plus, Claire might just be waiting for Mu Cai to realize it!
After all, Claire could feign ignorance when Mu Cai was clueless. If this unspoken truth were to be pierced, Claire might just exploit the guise of pursuit to act outrageously unhindered!
'What if my actions backfire and cause the other party to intensify their efforts, resulting in Mu Cai being captured even faster?!'
When Mu Feng thought of this, although he had already sat down in the middle row, his mind was still preoccupied with every move in the back row.
Even if President Claire wanted to dismantle his mecha armor, he couldn't let his brother be wronged!
________________________
Mu Cai didn't know what Mu Feng was thinking; he was busy texting Ruan Jia. Before leaving, the two had agreed to have lunch together. Now that he was going to the military department, he didn't know when he'd be back, so it was natural to inform Ruan Jia in advance.
Claire sat next to Mu Cai, still maintaining the posture of holding him close.
The young man was looking down and texting, exposing the area from his small, delicate ears to his snow-white nape to Claire's line of sight without any defense.
Claire glanced at Mu Cai's ears, which were very clean, round, and only had a small piece of earlobe.
It must be soft to suck on.
His gaze lingered, shifting to the small protrusion where Mu Cai's neck and left shoulder connected.
That was Mu Cai's gland.
The sweet peach fragrance was continuously emanating from that spot, stimulating the nerves in Claire's brain and challenging his patience.
He really wanted to take a big bite. It must be very sweet there, and once bitten, an even richer peach aroma would surely emerge.
If he bites hard, the young man might cry and run away. But it'll be in vain, Mu Cai will be branded by hims, injected with his own pheromone. The whole person must be as fresh and juicy as a peach, very delicious.
When Claire thought of this, he felt a little excited.
This won't work. He's sitting very close to Mu Cai. If this continues, the other party will definitely be frightened by him.
Claire thought of this, and while Mu Cai was still sending messages without paying attention, he quietly bent down and took a deep breath near the other's neck.
At the moment, he felt as if he were like those who have just finished smoking, experiencing unusual satisfaction. Claire shut his eyes, sensing a gaze coming from ahead.
He didn't rush to look back; instead, his nostrils flutters, taking in the scent for a while before nonchalantly straightening up. Opening his eyes, he turned towards the person known as Mu Feng.
The blonde-haired, blue-eyed man, dressed in a snowy white shirt, was practically leaning onto the oblivious young man. His gaze, sharp as a hawk's, was so intimidating that it startled Mu Feng.
Sweat running down his forehead, Mu Feng quickly looked away. He knew that he couldn't confront Claire head-on and that he needed to tactfully hint at his elder brother at some point.
Otherwise, given the other party’s wolfish tenacity, his elder brother might likely be devoured entirely.
________________________
When Mu Cai finally gave Ruan Jia a brief explanation about the situation and got a response, they had arrived at the heavily guarded gates of the military base.
As the heir of the Léon family, Claire spent two periods of every year at the military base and had even gone on missions with the fleet. It was only natural that the gatekeepers recognized him.
Therefore, the soldier on guard duty did not give Claire's group much trouble. After a detailed security check on both Mu Cai and Mu Feng to ensure they did not carry any dangerous items, the soldiers let them in.
Following Claire through a maze of twists and turns to the point where his head was spinning, Mu Cai finally noticed the man's walking pace slow down.
Claire led them to a vast, independent area. At a glance, the divided spaces were filled with large-scale workshops, rows of dormitory buildings, and a central control area.
As Mu Cai walked with Claire, he saw a car carrying countless shiny metal components being transported from one workshop to another.
Although Mu Cai had only attended mecha repair courses for a few months, he could still recognize some basic components. These were all used for making mechas. Claire had brought them to the military base's mecha manufacturing site.
Mu Cai was utterly confused.
He didn't think Mu Feng's mecha was broken, and even if it was, it shouldn't be so severe.
As expected, Claire became flustered with concern for Mu Feng. He might have brought them here out of precaution, fearing that something might have happened to Vermillion Bird.
However, why did Mu Cai have to come along too? He studied mecha repair, not mecha manufacturing.
Claire caught the attention of a researcher in a white lab coat passing by hurriedly – likely someone who had emerged from the central control area.
Claire got straight to the point, asking, "Where's Professor Baze right now?"
The person in the white lab coat evidently recognized Klaire and smiled, saying, "He's in Room 314. Young Master Claire, you can go directly."
Claire nodded, put his arm around Mu Cai's shoulder, and headed into the central control area.
The three of them entered the building and took the elevator to Room 314. Claire had been here many times before. He gently knocked on the door before pushing it open.
Inside, two people were standing.
One was in a white lab coat, of short and stout stature, with central-parted hair, thick eyebrows, and squinted eyes. It was Baze.
The other was trim and dressed in a military uniform, wearing white gloves, and had fine facial features. He was conversing in low tones with Baze.
Claire took the initiative to greet them politely, "Professor Baze, Lieutenant Colonel Nolan."
Both men turned to look at Klaire, nodded, and then almost involuntarily shifted their gaze onto Mu Cai, who stood beside him.
Startled by the direct stares, Mu Cai also greeted them seriously, "Hello, Master, Lieutenant Colonel."
Upon hearing this, Nolan at the front paused before nodding and responding, "Hello."
Mu Feng was extremely excited.
Mu Feng didn't expect to meet the most outstanding mecha designer in the entire empire, Master Baze - the creator of Bai Ze!
After exchanging greetings, Claire got straight to the point with Baze, "Master, I just finished participating in the academy's internship and discovered a case of a mecha being controlled solely by mental power."
Upon hearing this, Baze's eyebrows shot up, his squinted eyes widened, and his expression became extremely passionate, "Is that true?"
Current mechas are controlled by a combination of mental power and command input. Thanks to the efforts of the research and development team, the number of commands has been reduced by 70% compared to the previous fully manual control.
Even so, a mecha fighter still needs to master hundreds of commands. This significantly increases the difficulty of operating a mecha, and thinking and inputting commands also cause a delay in the mecha's actions.
This is extremely unfavorable for humans combating the Zerg invasion.
Baze has been trying to create a mecha that can be controlled solely by mental power without any command input, but has not been successful. Recently, a new semi-finished mecha was produced in the factory, and he was preparing to find someone to test it. However, he didn't expect Claire to bring such a big surprise.
After a moment of excitement, Baze's heated mind quickly cooled down.
The scientist's rigor prompted Baze to put on a serious face, "Seems? So you're not certain yet. I need to confirm it myself."
Claire stepped aside, holding Mu Cai's shoulder, revealing Mu Feng behind him, "Master, you can examine his mecha. There should be residual mental power in the cockpit."
As he spoke, he paused for a moment and looked at Mu Cai, "It should be his."
Baze immediately conducted the test with his team.
He and his assistant scanned Vermilion Bird with testing instruments, comparing the fluctuating images with Mu Cai's mental power wave patterns.
The test results were obtained right away, revealing that Mu Cai's mental power was indeed found in the cockpit and on a screw beneath it.
This meant that even though Mu Feng hadn't controlled the mecha, Vermilion Bird was able to dodge Claire's attack by rolling to the side on its own, because Mu Cai's residual mental power played a role while inspecting the mecha.
When Mu Cai's emotions fluctuated, his mental power took control of the cockpit in a split second according to his thoughts.
Excitement filled Mu Feng's heart. What did this mean? It meant that his brother was truly worried about him!
Mu Cai's expression changed.
Oh no, the story spiraled out of control again!
________________________
Author's Notes:
Mu Cai (righteously indignant): Look at the clothes you're wearing! They're too shabby! Hurry up and buy some new clothes! *Trying to humiliate with words*
Mu Feng (starry-eyed): My brother really cares about me!
Mu Cai (generous): I understand you're very poor, probably don't even have the money to buy clothes. Here, take this, no need to thank me! *Trying to humiliate with money*
Mu Feng (tears of gratitude): My brother gave me spending money! I should secretly save it!
Mu Cai: ... I'm really having a tough time.
Previous Chapter | TOC | Next Chapter
Thanks for the update
ReplyDelete