Chapter 61

That statement was a bit too harsh.

Strangely, Toto wasn't angry, but he wasn't completely unresponsive either. He lowered his head, and the flesh on both sides of his cheeks twitched silently as he took a deep breath.

Fei was somewhat surprised, and he tried to look at Toto's face.

"Toto?"

Toto turned his head a beat late: "Mm."

He had grown taller and his hair had grown longer, but he was still thin. Perhaps sensing that Fei was determined to see his expression, he sullenly raised his head, but his gaze passed over him and vaguely landed on a point in mid-air.

"Is Lanna alright?"

Fei paused for a moment: "It's all over now."

Toto packed the herbs into a cloth bag in the yurt and handed the bag to Fei: "For him."

Fei stood there awkwardly for a while, then didn't refuse again and took the small cloth bag. When he held it in his hand, he realized that the bag was very well preserved. It wasn't made of the coarse cloth of the grasslands, but a finer and thicker material, dyed in a special color with a strange dye.

Toto carried him while chopping wood, showing no intention of chatting with him.

He wasn't like a child; he always had a serious, aloof demeanor. Fei didn't treat him like an ordinary insect either. He looked at him for a while, and only left Toto's tent after confirming that everything was alright.

Back on the starship, the relentless work made him forget about the small bag, and by the time he remembered, he had no idea where he'd put it. But more than ten days had passed since his last trip home, and Lanna's injuries had almost completely healed, requiring no further treatment.

Fei did not see him on the starship; when he returned to his residence, only the butler, whom his parents had given to his younger brother, was there.

He lay wearily on the sofa, casually asking the housekeeper about his brother's recent situation, and the conclusion, of course, was that everything was fine.

Fei frowned when his gaze fell on the herbs in the trash can, and called the housekeeper to inquire.

You mean this?

The butler, initially confused, suddenly realized what was happening after the young master's prompting. With barely perceptible resentment, he said, "It's that kid. He brings these things every day, and if I don't accept them, he just waits at the door. Luckily, prisoner management is very strict, yet he always manages to get a permit. I've already refused several times, but... Anyway, although Mr. Lanna is soft-hearted, I won't let him touch these things!"

A green medal, a little bug that grew up in the mud, will probably never have the chance to see the life of a high-ranking male bug in its lifetime!

Using such inferior things to deceive Mr. Lanna is undeniably a despicable tactic.

Having been an insectoid for over sixty years, the steward has seen countless insectoids who fawn and flatter like this.

He finished speaking angrily, secretly hoping that the young master of the family, who held considerable power in the family, would casually agree with him.

But the young master did not speak disdainfully as he had expected; instead, he reached out as if to touch the trash.

"Your Mightiness!"

The butler's expression changed drastically, but the female general's cold gaze was like a gun pressed against his forehead, rendering him speechless instantly.

The fingers, with their distinct knuckles and slight calluses, lay listlessly in the female insect's pale palm, adorned with small purple flowers of green herbs.

The female insect is not the one who sits on the throne. In her youth, she followed the army into battle and went deep into dangerous places, where her life was hanging by a thread. Naturally, she had seen this plant that grows in deep mountain streams and is difficult to obtain.

As the housekeeper grew anxious, he heard the female soldier coldly ask, "How many times has he come to deliver goods?"

Butler: "Well, it will probably be delivered every two or three days."

"Would he give it to you?"

The butler didn't understand at first. After a few seconds of reflection, he recalled the details of his first negotiation with that brat and suddenly realized, "He was unwilling at first. I had to use a lot of persuasion before he agreed to hand over the things to me."

At this point, the young master seemed displeased, but that illusion lasted only a moment, and the female insect's face quickly regained its calm and composed expression.

As expected, no further questions were asked, and the butler secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Fei reflected on it afterwards and realized that he felt sympathy for the boy, but he wasn't sure how much of it was.

He admired the hardworking and pragmatic Zerg, and also appreciated the boy's resolute and military-like character. He treated Toto with no difference in rank or status, it was just his personality, and he wouldn't be particularly considerate or caring.

It was far beyond Fei's expectations that he would go to such lengths just because of a piece of advice or reprimand.

He felt that in Toto's eyes, it was indeed just a minor injury, but he was bound to feel resentful because of what Fei said about it. Doing those things was very similar to how Fei, as a child, broke his parents' beloved possessions, gritted his teeth in anger after being scolded, and did everything he could to make amends, wanting only to quickly, tenfold, or a hundredfold, compensate them to show his contempt and disdain.

Of course, Toto probably didn't feel contempt or disdain; he didn't want other insects to think he was an irresponsible insectoid.

This can be seen from his attitude toward his parents.

Even when she was so sad that she wanted to run back to her old home, she wouldn't say a word to her father to persuade him to stay. Even though she liked being with him, she never asked Sorim to go back to see him.

In Fei's opinion, the things Sorim did showed that he never considered that he had such a big little bug cub.

He's too trusting of the insect; you can entrust him with everything. I don't know if this kind of personality is good or bad.

Once you reach Fei's position, it's difficult to receive malice from other Zerg. No matter what you do, there are too many Zerg willing to provide help and convenience.

The steward probably saw Toto as a sycophant. The arrogant Zerg had standards for everything, and Toto was clearly outside of those standards.

The prisoner-of-war camp on the other side.

Toto sat on the woodpile, while Lanna stood pitifully outside the fence. But no matter how much Lanna threw a tantrum or acted cute, Toto ignored him.

On the Imperial Star, it would be quite rare for a male insect of his rank to be willing to talk to Toto, but here, the other party had a cold, sour face, crossed his arms, and didn't even look at Lanna.

Lanna jumped up to attract Toto's attention, then received a warning look from Toto telling her not to damage the fence.

For Lanna, the grasslands were so dangerous; even a small blade of grass could leave red marks on his skin. He couldn't stand the horrible plants and sharp stones, nor could he wade barefoot across the streams, eat outside food, or touch Toto. His steward had given him so many prohibitions, and if he got injured, he would have to live in the White House, and it would take Toto a lot of effort to see him.

If that's the case, then why play with him?

Or rather, what is play?

Toto thought, "I'm very busy. Even if my father isn't here, I can't let the tent get dusty. He still has to learn to read and write. He has so many things to do every day, but Lanna doesn't have to do anything."

He's clumsy, always causing trouble, and a fool who always gets hurt.

But such a fool, once lost, will never be found again.

Toto felt he couldn't protect him properly. If this was a rash, what would it be next time?

It seems he can't take good care of him, so it's better not to take care of him at all and just refuse to take care of him.

Toto pursed his lips, jumped off the woodpile, and ran into the tent.

After a while, when no sound could be heard, Lanna was gone.

After hesitating for a long time, Toto quietly lifted the curtain. Instead of sunlight, a large shadow came in. Toto looked up in surprise. The cold and refined face of the female soldier was reflected in her dark gray pupils. Lanna hid behind her brother and nervously waved her hand: "Toto, I didn't break the fence. It was my brother."

Toto's eyes widened.

Fei's lips twitched almost imperceptibly.

...

The butler prepared a dinner for one insect at sunset, but unexpectedly welcomed back two insects. He hurriedly swallowed his wine and asked in surprise, "Sir, Mr. Lanna, would you like to dine at home today?"

Lanna buried her face in his chest: "Toto doesn't like me anymore."

Before the butler could even appease him, the sulking Mr. Lanna ignored his elder brother's authority and shouted at him, "It's all my brother's fault! I was almost able to calm my friend down!"

Then she ran back to her room, whimpering, and slammed the door shut.

As is usually the case, Your Excellency would certainly reprimand your younger brother for his rudeness, but he seemed somewhat guilty, pinching his brow as if he were deep in thought.

The butler stretched out his hands, his face full of astonishment: "Is it because of that inferior insect?"