When the Major General Omega Picked Up a Little Snake Alpha - Chapter 4

“Are you feeling unwell? Maybe there’s a toxin we missed in the scan,” Luo Qi said, holding a small spoon to apply ointment to the wound, smoothing it out with a cotton swab.

His five slender fingers hovered just above his adjutant’s hand. The scent of cherries had already faded, replaced by the faint, delicate aroma of lavender.

It was likely picked up from the incense in the bedroom, but Jiang Luoyi’s sharp nose caught it instantly. In that same heartbeat, that snake-like gaze swept over them again.

Feeling like needles were pricking his back, Jiang Luoyi’s tall frame shifted backward in a flurry of nerves.

“No, it’s nothing.”

This bizarre behavior was baffling. Luo Qi glanced at Fang Xi. “Are you sure he wasn’t poisoned?”

“Positive. I checked his bloodwork myself,” Fang Xi replied, striking a pensive pose. “Adjutant Jiang, what’s going on with that snake?”

“Really, it’s nothing,” Jiang Luoyi said, composed now. “I probably just didn’t sleep well. I had nightmares all night.”

“About what?”

“It was…” Jiang Luoyi seemed to find it difficult to say, but he answered truthfully anyway, “It was about snakes.”

Luo Qi gave a soft chuckle. “I don’t recall you being afraid of snakes.”

“My apologies.” Jiang Luoyi’s face shifted from a pale green to a deep flush.

“Don’t blame yourself. Once we land, take two days off to rest and reset.”

“Understood.” Jiang Luoyi suppressed the urge to sniffle. His General was simply too kind.

After finishing the treatment, Luo Qi invited them both to the study for a brief meeting, going over everything that needed to be handled upon arrival.

Once they finished, Jiang Luoyi left first, carrying a bundle of soothing incense gifted by Luo Qi. Fang Xi stood by the doorway, watching him depart.

“Is there something else?” Luo Qi returned to the living room and sat back down on the cushions.

“I think Adjutant Jiang is acting strange,” Fang Xi said, his eyes drifting toward the snake tank in the corner. “If it were just pressure from a Snake Alpha’s pheromones, it shouldn’t be enough to cause nightmares.”

“And your point is?”

“I suspect this snake can influence human mental strength,” Fang Xi said gravely. “Not just for Omegas, but for Alphas as well.”

“Fang Xi, we land in two hours.” Luo Qi flipped through the care guide in his hands. “You should go get ready.”

“…Yes, sir.” Fang Xi bowed and took his leave.

With the door shut, Luo Qi finally had some peace and quiet to study the little snake’s data.

“Let’s see what breed you are.”

He turned to the chapter titled “Snake Species.” There was a small metal button on the page, and with a single press, a color holographic screen popped up, offering a 360-degree view of various species.

Luo Qi pulled another communicator from the cabinet—not the watch type, but a handheld phone that offered more privacy for calls and allowed for photography.

He snapped a photo of the little snake through the glass. At the click of the shutter, the snake’s head poked out from the pile of newspapers.

The photo uploaded directly to the book, and the holographic screen began its search. A few seconds later, the result displayed: [Species Unknown]. Below it, several similar breeds were listed.

The “Doro Black King Snake” was the closest match, but the details were off. This snake’s scales were much larger, mostly octagonal in shape. The eye color was entirely unique.

Perhaps it was a galactic mutation. That wouldn’t be surprising, as the Landon System was full of nameless, strange creatures.

Still, if they were similar, their habits likely overlapped. Luo Qi studied the information for a while and decided to follow the standard protocol for pet snakes for now.

Once they landed, he would have a veterinarian take a look.

After a brief read-through of the basic care instructions, he closed the book and pulled out his computer to handle some work.

His computer was a flat, round metal disc no larger than a palm, engraved with the Imperial Crest—a Continental Iron Eagle surrounded by eight silver and blue planets, with three stars below representing his rank as a General.

These patterns were intricately condensed onto the lid. With a snap of Luo Qi’s fingers, four mechanical legs extended from the base, and the device scuttled across the table.

Attracted by the sound, the little snake slowly lifted its head and pressed against the glass, flicking its tongue at Luo Qi.

Luo Qi looked up to see a tiny pink dot flickering against the black coil nearby.

Within seconds, the disc on the table unfolded and transformed into a thin laptop. The snake’s head nudged closer, seemingly curious.

The black mass was pressed against the glass, its body coiled near the edge while the tip of its tail wriggled against the pane.

It looked desperate to get close to Luo Qi, its tiny round nose almost flattened against the surface.

Luo Qi kept his eyes on the screen, watching the snake out of the corner of his eye. The sight made him want to laugh.

What a fascinating creature; perhaps it really did possess high intelligence.

Combined with pheromones that were a near 100% match, Luo Qi had no reason not to keep it.

A perfect toy.

However, it might be a bit troublesome if someone chose to investigate.

Luo Qi opened his messages and found an important contact named “Luo Xiaoyu,” sending over a document regarding the snake.

An hour later, as the starship entered the signal range of the capital planet, Xiaoyu’s reply popped up.

[Luo Xiaoyu: Brother! I missed you so much! When are you getting here? (Heart)]

Luo Qi typed back.

[Luo Qi: Very soon. Did you see the document I sent?]

[Luo Xiaoyu: Saw it! I’ll get right on it!]

Luo Xiaoyu was Luo Qi’s younger brother, a twenty-four-year-old Beta who had started a media company right after graduating college.

In reality, he was a bit of a slacker; the company was just something to keep him busy. Whether it made money didn’t matter.

After all, the family wasn’t short on cash.

[Luo Qi: Luoyi will come find you.]

[Luo Xiaoyu: Got it, see you tonight!]

Not all confiscated animals were sent to nature reserves. After an entry appraisal, animals with a low danger rating could be put up for auction.

Buyers with the right resources and permits could book tickets to the auction and purchase them for legal ownership.

Of course, if you had enough money, those conditions didn’t really matter.

The plan was for Luo Xiaoyu to buy an ordinary small snake, put it in the current empty tank, and have Jiang Luoyi take it through the appraisal process to “buy” it on the spot, bypassing the auction entirely.

That way, no one could trace anything back to the original snake box.

And to ensure everything was foolproof, he would personally carry this little snake into his private car home.

Luo Qi worked for a while longer until the light outside the window began to shift, a soft glow spreading through the cabin.

They had entered the atmosphere.

After a two-year defense mission in the galaxy, the Starship Luo had returned to the launch center.

Two rows of Imperial soldiers stood at the exit, welcoming the General’s return.

Jiang Luoyi was organizing the troops in the hall while Luo Qi supervised.

After a brief debriefing, the crew members were dismissed, filing out through another exit to take the company shuttle led by Jiang Luoyi and several captains.

Luo Qi took Fang Xi through the main entrance, carrying the snake box draped in a black cloth.

He hadn’t walked far when he caught a very faint scent of red wine.

The tank’s filter was blocked with a specialized plug that needed regular replacement. It seemed the pheromone concentration was too high, causing it to fail early.

He needed to get to the car quickly.

They hurried into the hall. Normally, someone would be sent to greet him here—usually the Deputy Minister of the Logistics Department, a Beta who didn’t like to meddle and was easy to deal with.

Luo Qi would exchange polite pleasantries, decline a dinner invitation, and leave.

But this year was different. Standing outside the waiting hall was someone unexpected: the station commander of Planet East-V, Imperial Three-Star General Xue Ying.

Xue Ying was the archetype of a “traditional high-quality Alpha.” He possessed S-level mental strength and a physical appearance that people rated as “S-level” as well. He was stoic, with perfectly slicked-back hair, a sharp jawline, a high bridge to his nose, and deep-set eyes.

Because he was so tall, he always seemed to look at people with a hint of disdain.

Right now, for instance, Xue Ying stood by the main gate in a long black overcoat. Standing at well over two meters, he looked down at Luo Qi with a cold, stern profile.

His soldiers crowded the entrance, forming a narrow corridor that blocked off other paths, leaving only the opening where Xue Ying stood.

Seeing this, Luo Qi considered turning back to take the shuttle.

Xue Ying had the nose of a bloodhound. S-level Alphas had a pheromone sensitivity far beyond that of an A-level; if he got any closer, he might catch the scent from the box.

Luo Qi slowed his pace, and seeing him hesitate, Xue Ying took the initiative to walk over.

Fang Xi whispered in his ear, “Sir, give me the box. I’ll take another route.”

He didn’t move. Xue Ying had already spotted the box; handing it over now would only look more suspicious.

Xue Ying stopped a meter in front of him, one hand tucked into his coat pocket, his gaze scanning Luo Qi from head to toe.

Luo Qi wore tall boots and a military overcoat—a thick, deep-blue cloak with white fur lining the collar, wrapping around his slender, delicate neck.

Higher up, his hair was tied back in a loose knot, with a few stray strands falling over his forehead, brushing past his small, exquisite nose and resting on his moist lips.

The hall was warm, and a faint pink flush had crept from the tip of Luo Qi’s nose to his cheekbones.

He was still the same—so beautiful he didn’t look like a soldier. He looked like someone you’d want to keep indoors like a flower.

Those peach-blossom eyes were staring back, just as Xue Ying was staring at him, devoid of emotion, as if looking at an animal hide rather than a person.

The two remained in a standoff for a moment before Luo Qi curled his lips into a hollow smile. “General Xue, are you here to block my way?”

Xue Ying took a step forward, pulling his hand from his pocket in a stiff gesture. “Welcome back, General Luo.”

His voice was low and magnetic, vibrating through the air so clearly that Luo Qi felt the box in his left hand tremble.

No, it wasn’t a vibration; the little snake was moving inside.

Luo Qi reached out his right hand for a brief, shallow handshake. “What brings you here?”

Xue Ying was usually stationed on Planet East-V and only visited a few times a year.

“The King sent me to meet you. He’s calling a meeting, and you’ve received the notice,” Xue Ying stated firmly. “You just didn’t pay attention.”

“I saw it, I just didn’t expect you to be there,” Luo Qi said, quickly pulling his hand away. “Thanks for the welcome. However, I’ve just landed and have a mountain of urgent matters to attend to.”

He glanced at his watch. “If there’s nothing else, I’ll be going.”

He didn’t want to say another word to Xue Ying.

He had known Xue Ying since military academy; they had studied under the same mentor, but their relationship was mediocre at best. This Alpha was far too arrogant, and talking to him was exhausting.

Luo Qi always tried to avoid long conversations with him. He was afraid that one day he wouldn’t be able to hold back and would punch that icy, stuck-up face.

As he moved to leave, Fang Xi followed closely. But Xue Ying’s long legs crossed the distance in two steps, blocking his path. “General Luo, don’t be in such a hurry.”

Luo Qi stopped pretending and dropped the smile. “What now?”

“Actually, I’m not just here to meet you. I’m also here to screen for contraband.”

“Contraband? You’re in the wrong place for that.”

“No, I came specifically to see you,” Xue Ying’s dark grey eyes shifted, landing on the small box in Luo Qi’s hand. “Luo Qi, your scent has changed.”

That cherry aroma seemed to have undergone a fermentation; though mostly gone, Xue Ying caught the shift with precision.

Only an S-level Alpha could perceive such a minute change.

Luo Qi’s scent had become sweeter, more succulent, with an indescribable, intoxicating quality. Just a whiff of the trailing scent was enough to trigger an Alpha’s instinctive restlessness.

But that urge was aggressive. Xue Ying realized that Luo Qi’s pheromones had mingled with another Alpha’s.

He wondered if there was a mark.

“Did you finally find a suitable Alpha? Or…” Xue Ying’s eyes fixed on the back of Luo Qi’s neck, “did your little doctor invent a new medicine?”

Hearing this, Fang Xi frowned and turned his face away.

Luo Qi shifted the box to his other hand, feeling the snake moving again.

“Xue Ying,” he said, his expression cold, his lips curling into a mocking sneer, “are you a dog?”

Xue Ying froze. The soldiers behind him stiffened, and everyone present quietly turned their gaze toward them.

Did he just get insulted?

“Only dogs have noses that sensitive, obsessing over my scent all day.” Luo Qi smiled again, looking pure and innocent.

Xue Ying’s face tightened, and he took a deep breath, his chest heaving visibly.

“I am indeed interested in your scent,” he admitted bluntly. “And that box in your hand.”

“I smell another Alpha’s scent.”

He leaned in toward Luo Qi. As he did, a metal button on his long coat brushed against the black cloth of the box, making a sharp clink.

The vibration made the little snake inside even more restless. It pressed its head against the ventilation holes, the tip of its tail prodding the area until the plug holding the filter was on the verge of falling out.

“It’s a pheromone that only the two of us can smell,” Xue Ying whispered, leaning down toward Luo Qi’s ear. “Luo Qi, what are you hiding in that box? An old shirt from a lover?”