Chapter 85
The central cabin provides a comfortable environment for the male insects. The robotic insects conduct health checks on the two princes to ensure they are healthy. The female insects bring out exquisite drinks and then leave silently, standing guard at the cabin door.
Isidore, as the Queen, was not allowed to enter.
Only Hilgard and Sirius remained in the vast central cabin. A moment later, the golden communication device rang, and a tall and majestic golden projection appeared inside the cabin.
“Father.” Sirius and Hilgard spoke at the same time.
Cyrus turned his gaze to Hill first, scanning him from head to toe before opening his arms and exclaiming, "Our little Hill has grown up! Won't you come and give your father a hug?"
Hilton hesitated for a moment, but eventually went over and gently buried herself in Cyrus's firm embrace, whispering, "Father."
He knew how much his health worried his family, and now they could finally put their burdens to rest.
The virtual projection had no real weight, but Cyrus's eyes softened considerably, and he even seemed somewhat flattered.
The virtual hand gently stroked the little boy's head, and even Cyrus couldn't help but sigh, "Little Hill is still the best. Your older brothers won't want to be held by their female fathers after they turn ten."
Not to mention Hill's female insect brothers. At least the male insects stayed on the capital planet with him, but his female offspring had already wandered the universe and never returned home.
As he spoke, he gave Sirius a meaningful look. Sirius rubbed his nose with his long, slender fingers, pretending not to hear.
Cyrus was a very dashing, independent, and self-respecting insect from a young age. He had a large group of female insects chasing after him at a young age. He did not consider himself a male insect like Nathaniel, who had a bad temper and needed to be coaxed by other insects and would act cute at the drop of a hat. How could he possibly rush into his female father's arms in front of so many insects? That was something only a young male insect like Hill would do.
The hug was brief; Hill quickly pulled away.
His Majesty the Insect Emperor, whose eyes were usually stern, softened when looking at his insect offspring. He lowered his voice and said, "Regarding the current situation, Sirius, little Hill, your mother would like to hear your thoughts."
"Is the female father not going to make a move?" Sirius frowned.
If the female parent intervenes, it should be easy to resolve, right?
“Of course I can take action, but the problem is that Nathaniel is determined to stand with Hessen. If he is convicted of attacking the male insect prince and treason, Nathaniel will be hanged at the most severe punishment, and exiled or imprisoned for three hundred years at the lightest.”
The Zerg's lifespan is only two hundred years, meaning Nathaniel will be exiled until death.
Cyrus's golden eyes were fixed on his two insect offspring. Sirius raised his eyebrows, seemingly not expecting the punishment to be so severe. Hill, on the other hand, showed no expression on her delicate face, as if she had already anticipated it.
"Does the female father want to bring forward the battle for the Insect Emperor in order to exonerate Nathaniel and prevent him from being executed?" The young male insect raised his light-colored eyes and looked quietly at Cyrus.
His eyes were clear and bright, which made the insect feel a sense of pity.
“Little Hill is very clever,” His Majesty Cyrus praised softly. “If the conflict between the Insect King and the Insect Emperor is opened up, then you will have to resolve the current situation yourselves, and the Female Father will no longer lend a hand.”
"Do it yourself?" Sirius finally abandoned his leisurely posture and stood up straight.
How should we proceed? Should we let them fight Hessen themselves?
Seeing his cubs take the matter seriously, His Majesty Cyrus was gratified. He said lovingly, "If you are unwilling, you can leave everything to the female father. Of course, the female father is willing to handle anything for my cubs."
His Majesty the Insect Emperor sat in his throne, his golden eyes revealing a domineering and authoritarian nature that he would never show in front of his children: "However, if the female father handles this, then the female father will also have to decide everything in the future. My little insect children, are you willing?"
If one is sheltered under the wings of the female father, then one cannot defy the female father in the future, including marriage and the inheritance of the position of the insect queen. When one chooses to give up the possibility of one's own efforts, one also gives up some of the freedom that one could gain through effort.
Sirius glanced at Hill instinctively. Although he was the elder brother, he had always been indifferent to that position and didn't care much about it, and he already had a queen.
If she were to be controlled by her current master, she would likely only be able to secure a limited number of female servant positions. But for Hill, this decision was crucial.
"I choose to handle it myself." After a brief hesitation, Hill made her choice softly.
A glint appeared in Cyrus's eyes as he exclaimed, "My little Hill has really grown up; he's become so decisive."
Even through the virtual screen, you could see the satisfaction on his face. Young male insects are pampered as they grow up, and often they habitually rely on the more powerful female father and female ruler, rather than trying to solve problems on their own.
Of course, there is no problem with that. A female insect that cannot solve problems for the male is incompetent, but how adorable is the little male that can take responsibility and bear the consequences himself.
"The female father and your male father will not interfere in this war. The capital star and other star systems will be granted autonomy in the war for three months. Normal Zerg residents will avoid this war."
"As for your other three female insect brothers..." Even His Majesty Cyrus couldn't help but hold his forehead as he said this.
“Your brother Andrew chose a space pirate overlord and wandered the universe. He has now been expelled and is no longer eligible to participate in the Insect Emperor competition. Grayson only cares about powerful physical modifications. Three days ago, he was undergoing chest reconstruction surgery and will have a recovery period of at least six months. He voluntarily gave up his qualification. Ravenel is currently serving in the Third Army. He said he can't beat Celt and doesn't want to come here to humiliate himself.”
An eerie silence fell over the room. Hill, who had been listening attentively to his brothers' updates, suddenly pursed his lips upon hearing a familiar name. The silence ended with Sirius unable to suppress a laugh.
The Insect Emperor and Insect King pay great attention to their offspring's interests and completely respect their wishes. This has resulted in the Insect Emperor's family having a lot of strange insects, and even Nathaniel seems much more normal.
His Majesty Cyrus shook his head, a sense of resignation washing over him, before finally speaking: "Hill, do you feel that Father and Mother are biased?"
Hill shook his head but didn't say anything.
Cyrus's eyes softened: "After this is over, Father will teach Nathaniel a lesson he will never forget, but Father cannot bear to see him sentenced to death. Hill, please forgive Father?"
Hill's light blue eyes rippled slightly, as if on a lake. He raised his chin slightly and said, "Father, I don't blame you."
Hill knew that the female father loved him, but the female father also loved Cyrus and Nathaniel, loved Grayson and loved Andrew, because they were all the female father's offspring.
He only received one-sixth of the love; not the whole love came to him. He had known this for a long time.
He doesn't blame him.
Only two male insects remained in the central compartment. Sirius felt a pang of pity: "Hill..."
The female father did not stand up for the little insect, not because she did not love it, but because it was still too much for Hill.
“I said I would make all the worms who wronged me pay the price, including Hesen.”
If I had confessed voluntarily instead of being manipulated by the insects, would things have turned out differently?
Hill had thought countless times that there might have been a different ending, but in any case, the damage had already been done and he would not let any of the insects go.
The projection of His Majesty Cyrus disappeared. In the spacious and bright palace, Cyrus pressed his hand to his forehead. This female insect at the top of the insectoid empire looked up and sighed: "Hill is to blame, Nathaniel is to blame too. I am a failed female father."
In his early years, he focused all his attention on expanding territory, which neglected Nathaniel's growth and fostered Nathaniel's naive, arrogant, and terrible personality. Now, he must take responsibility for this outcome.
“Hill is too sensible and too fragile. He needs a love that completely envelops and suffocates him.”
He always showed consideration for other insects, so he hoped to receive unparalleled favoritism so that he could act willfully and not have to be sensible anymore.
A melodious voice came from the window surrounded by flowers and trees. The Insect King sat suspended in front of the window, his long blue hair wrapped around his bare ankles, and the sunlight danced on his fair skin.
"Could Celt be that insect?" Cyrus opened his golden eyes and spoke in a low voice, his arms resting on either side of the throne, an invisible pressure following him like a shadow.
"That depends on whether he can relinquish his power." The Insect Emperor raised his eyes and looked into the distance, his gaze fixed on a deep, azure lake.
No matter how well Celt concealed her burning desire for power, the Insect King and Insect Emperor could still sense it. This female insect, in the prime of her life and at the peak of her fighting power, possessed such a vast ambition.
Even though he is currently in prison, he still wields unimaginable influence over the outside world.
After traversing space, the starship arrived directly at the capital planet. After several male insect princes left, the female soldier carried a huge metal cage covered with a black cloth from the starship.
The terrifying atmosphere made the female soldiers uneasy, but the order was irresistible. During the transport, the sound of shackles could be heard inside, a strange sound that was not simply metallic.
Later, experienced female soldiers with keen ears recognized the sound as the shackles striking the insect carapace.
—There's a female insect that's gone out of control and turned into a worm inside!
"No wonder they need to cover it with a black cloth. The out-of-control female insects are very sensitive to light, and any disturbance could cause them to lose control!"
"A normal female insect has a wingspan of about 3 to 3.5 meters, right? This outline is at least 5 meters long. This wingspan is terrifying."
"Did you hear the electric shock? I think I heard it."
"That's normal. Out-of-control insects all have inhibition rings. When they sense something is wrong, they will release an electric current directly."
"I don't seem to have heard this female insect's voice before? She's really good at holding back."
"Which female insect is in here? I'm so curious. Is her pheromone sealed? I can't find a single clue."
"Isn't that simple? Just check the list of those who left the First Army; whoever didn't show up is the one, right?"
"It seems the First Army's female soldiers suffered no losses?"
"Wait a minute—Marshal Celtic doesn't seem to have shown up?"
"What? Marshal Celtic?"
"Wasn't the Marshal on his honeymoon with His Highness Hilgard? How could he suddenly lose control?"
Celt's outstanding achievements and considerable prestige caused an uproar on the StarNet.
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