Chapter 39

It was only after his senior gave him the chip that Su Lin learned the bracelet had other uses.

As soon as Su Lin stored the chip in his bracelet, Medises waved his hand, and a translucent screen appeared before him. It displayed countless pieces of detailed information, including his name, appearance, physiological measurements, and location aboard the ship. But Su Lin's attention went straight to the top of the screen, where his current job was displayed.

Name: Su Lin - Blood Wing

Colony: Dew Nest

Position: Librarian

Su Lin was a little confused.

"Librarian?"

There were no useless members among the Zerg. When you were part of the swarm, you had to have a job and contribute to the entire species. Otherwise, the only fate awaiting those useless Zerg was to be destroyed, driven out, or "enjoyed."

For example, according to Blood Wing's records, the Dew Nest colony's original job was to produce honey constantly for the higher-ranking Zerg of Blood Wing to enjoy to their hearts' content.

Su Lin had no idea that, under Medises's original plan, he would have been given a different chip.

On that chip, his job would have been Medises's exclusive source of honey.

Medises would have had plenty of reasons to persuade Su Lin to accept that "job."

A young, scrawny, frail larva.

From the inferior Dew Nest.

Yet he could become the greatest source of pleasure for a high-ranking Zerg inspector.

But while preparing the chip, driven by a feeling that even Medises himself could not understand, he searched through the depths of his optical computer and found another "job" Su Lin could handle.

Librarian.

During the hundreds of millions of years it took them to evolve into an advanced civilization, the Zerg had lacked even the concept of writing for ninety-nine percent of that time.

Yes, their immensely powerful bodies and terrifying combat instincts were still enough to let them roam freely through the universe, but their brutal nature made them constantly strive to devour and exterminate Zerg of other colonies.

They were far too busy killing one another. They had no time, and even less need, to create "writing" for communication or to leave any mark of civilization behind.

It was not until the Primordial Mother appeared a hundred thousand years ago that the fate of the Zerg changed, giving these vicious bugs a civilization of their own. But even so, in the empire today, the vast majority of Zerg were the type who would rather fight to the death than touch a book.

Still, there really was a small library on the Security Committee's ship. After all, as members of the empire's security organization, the Zerg here could more or less be considered cultured bugs.

Well, even so, the library on the Security Committee's ship was still rarely visited.

It was safe for Su Lin, and the work was easy enough. It was a fairly perfect "job."

But for Medises, what he lost was pleasure within easy reach, as well as the legitimate right to keep the young man before him to himself and enjoy him.

It should have been easy for him to make the right choice. But just as he was about to follow his own desires completely, Su Lin had said those things to him.

Su Lin had no idea how close he had come to becoming some Zerg's captive lover.

He was busy lamenting one thing: even though his former workplace was now a ruin, even though he had become half-human and half-Zerg for some strange reason and was in Zerg territory, he still could not escape the fate of "going to work."

Su Lin: "..."

Su Lin: "Thank you, senior."

Forcing a smile.jpg

Perhaps because he considered Su Lin's present circumstances genuinely pitiful, Medises was considerate enough to escort him to the Zerg library personally.

They encountered a few Zerg along the way. Without exception, they all wore the Security Committee's crisp, austere black uniforms, and all showed due respect at Medises's appearance. Even so, Su Lin could still feel that, as they passed those Zerg and continued down the corridor, the seemingly docile Zerg kept... kept watching him.

The hairs on Su Lin's body stood on end.

Were Zerg gazes always this sharp? Even though, strictly speaking, they were only peeking at him from the corners of their eyes, Su Lin still had the illusion that they might pounce on him and tear him apart at any moment.

Could it be that his human scent was still too strong, and the other high-ranking Zerg on the ship had noticed something was wrong with him?

The more Su Lin thought about it, the more nervous he grew, and he involuntarily edged closer to Medises.

"Senior..."

Anxiety churned wildly in Su Lin's heart.

"You should call me 'master' in public," Medises said without looking away.

Su Lin did not pay it much mind and immediately corrected himself. "All right, master. There's something a little off about those Zerg, isn't there? Have they already smelled something wrong with my scent?"

Had he known, he would not have been so fussy when drinking the nutrient solution that morning. No matter how awful it tasted, he should have forced down a few more packets to mask his scent.

The young man's face was a little pale from the strain, and his eyes held nothing but complete reliance as he looked at Medises-as though Medises were his entire world.

"Pay them no mind."

Medises lowered his gaze to Su Lin and raised a hand, resting it on his shoulder with complete ease.

"But-"

The silver-haired Zerg suddenly bent down, cutting off Su Lin's anxious question.

The man's breath brushed the side of Su Lin's neck.

The "inferior Zerg" was currently wearing the standard clothing issued to all "servant bugs," a special, tight-fitting uniform that covered his body completely. Su Lin could feel Medises hook a finger into his collar and pull it down slightly. The Zerg's cool breath fell on the side of his neck, raising goosebumps.