Don't tell the General

It hurt.

Shen Que was in pain.

Muscles that had gone unused for so long had suddenly exploded into action, and every one of them screamed in agony.

The Combat Soldier was very strong. The blow to Shen Que's elbow must have left extensive bruising; it was probably black and blue by now.

Hot sweat mingled with cold sweat as it dripped from his forehead.

A strange surge of heat suddenly rose within him, intertwining with the sharp pain.

Like two electric currents, they stimulated every nerve ending in his body.

Shen Que couldn't stop trembling.

The neck was fragile. Unless he intended to kill someone, he wouldn't step on it.

But he had no strength left. This was the only way he could keep his opponent under control as effectively as possible.

A faint floral scent spread through the air. The Alpha pheromones seemed to have caught the scent of prey, surging toward it in a frenzied rush.

So hot...

These weren't Pei Ji's pheromones.

He couldn't...

His hard military boot was almost crushing the soft neck beneath it. Having lost all sense of how much force he was using, Shen Que forced a final few words through clenched teeth.

"Rein in your pheromones!"

Charles immediately realized something was wrong.

Shen Que's breathing suddenly quickened, and an unnatural flush rose to his cheeks.

Damn!

He was about to step forward when he suddenly caught the scent of Omega pheromones in the air.

Charles stopped in his tracks and turned to Luo Yuan. "Go support the Commander!"

Luo Yuan had been staring at Austin on the ground. A tiny red light shone from inside his jacket.

His quick mind understood almost immediately.

-He was secretly filming Shen Que!

Caught off guard by Charles's sudden order, Luo Yuan froze for a moment. "Huh?"

Dr. Li's voice was unusually stern, carrying an Alpha's innate air of dominance. "Don't hesitate. Go!"

Luo Yuan shuddered. Before he could step forward, Shen Que swayed and toppled sideways.

Luo Yuan reacted instantly, lunging forward and catching him just in time.

Shen Que's lashes were lowered as he panted rapidly. His face was as cool and sharp as ever, but his body was limp, utterly devoid of strength.

Only then did Luo Yuan realize what had happened. "He's gone into heat?!"

"Yes."

Charles gave a brief reply, then stepped forward to pin down Austin, who was clutching his neck and trying to get up. He took a vial from his jacket and plunged it into Austin's neck.

Austin's eyes rolled back, and he collapsed to the ground again.

"Do something, quick!"

Luo Yuan's plea for help reached him.

Charles looked up.

The young officer's upper body was rigid with tension as he served as Shen Que's stiff backrest, both hands held out in midair to prove his innocence.

It was as though he wasn't holding an Omega in heat, but a scalding hot potato.

Charles's mouth twitched. "...Does he have thorns or something?"

Luo Yuan was close to tears. "What do you know? If I accidentally touch somewhere I shouldn't, I'll lose my hands!"

Glancing at the young officer's big, pitiful eyes, Charles pressed his lips together to suppress a laugh and tossed him a vial.

"This is a soothing agent. Open it and let him smell it."

Then he instructed Anya, "Go get the General."

Anya nodded and left.

Luo Yuan opened the soothing agent. Shen Que's breathing slowed a little, but his body was still burning hot.

The faint floral scent kept spilling out. Luo Yuan sniffed.

It smelled damp.

A little like rain.

Charles spoke again. "There's a flower garden nearby. Carry him and follow me."

"Oh, okay!"

Luo Yuan readily agreed, then looked down at the Omega in his arms.

He had to admit that Shen Que was truly beautiful.

His features were refined, a faint flush coloring his face in the throes of heat. Suffused with pheromones, he seemed damp all over.

He lifted his eyelids and gave Luo Yuan a fleeting glance.

For anyone else, that single glance would have been enough to set their heart racing.

But in that glance, Luo Yuan saw his own doom.

"What are you waiting for?" Dr. Li looked displeased.

"Um..."

Luo Yuan, who had always adhered to the principle of absolute obedience, asked cautiously, "Well...Dr. Li, do I have to carry him in my arms...? Could I carry him on my back instead...?"

Charles sighed.

"As long as you get him there."

"Got it!"

Luo Yuan glimpsed another chance at survival. He hoisted Shen Que onto his back, making sure to remind Charles once more.

"Dr. Li, whatever you do, don't tell the General I touched the Commander!"

Inside the banquet hall.

Pei Ji threaded through the guests and servants coming and going, making his way to the reception room behind the banquet hall.

Barry stood guard at the reception room door.

Pei Ji rushed up to him. "Is Dad in there?"

Barry, the butler, was startled. "Young Lord? What are you doing here?"

Pei Ji loosened his tie, letting some of the heat from his run escape. "I'm here to see Dad."

Barry said, "The lord is inside, preparing to receive a guest."

"A guest?" Pei Ji paused. "What guest does he need to meet privately at a time like this?"

Barry said, "An interstellar merchant introduced by Duke Owen. He hopes to do business in ore here on White Sand Star."

An interstellar merchant?

Pei Ji frowned.

He was no stranger to these itinerant merchants who traveled between planets, but he had no particular fondness for them either.

In the Icarus Empire, nearly all large-scale trade was controlled by the Imperial Court or the lords.

But the empire's territory was vast. Some planets were remote, far from interstellar shipping routes, and large quantities of goods could not reach them.

That was where interstellar merchants came in.

Rent a starship, buy a shipment of goods, and a single round trip could earn them tens of thousands of Starcoins.

Because they spent years traveling between planets, these people had extensive connections.

From lords and council members down to mercenaries and pirates, some merchants' reach even extended into the nearby Eden Star System and the interstellar pirates' Nomad Star.

Some of them were said to supply the Golden Butterfly Auction.

There were even rumors that, as long as you paid enough, they could find any goods you wanted.

Whether those goods were legal was another matter.

Pei Ji pushed the door open without stopping.

"Have that interstellar merchant wait a little longer. I need to see Dad about something. It'll be quick-ten minutes is all I need."

He couldn't leave Shen Que waiting alone for too long.

"Wait, wait, wait!" Barry hurried to stop him. "Young Lord! That merchant, he..."

The heavy door flew open with a bang.

Pei Ji called out loudly, "Pei Li!"

In an instant, every gaze in the room fixed on Pei Ji.

The lord, the Lord's Wife, and...an unfamiliar merchant.

Pei Ji stopped mid-step.

"...Is already inside."

Barry awkwardly withdrew his hand.

Pei Ji's mouth twitched. He leaned toward Barry. "Could you finish your sentences without taking such long pauses?"

Barry wiped away tears. "You could at least give me a chance!"