Insect Clan: The Cold and Aloof General and His Green Tea Dog-Like Male Lord - Chapter 3

Wrapping up a grueling day of military paperwork, Asayer thought of the evening dinner with his family, and a rare, genuine smile softened the corners of his lips.

He piloted his starship toward a majestic white fortress. The moment the vessel touched down on the landing pad, an attendant hurried forward from the distance to receive him.

“Welcome home, Second Young Master. The Lord Consort is already waiting for you in the main hall,” the butler said, bowing respectfully to Asayer.

Asayer offered a brief, polite nod in acknowledgement and strode into the grand estate.

“Father, Mother, I have returned.”

Stepping through the threshold, Asayer saw his father lounging comfortably on a sofa, leaning into his mother’s side as they watched a broadcast together.

Seeing their younger son arrive, Asayer’s Mother, Venus, gently patted his Male partner’s shoulder and stood up to greet the young insect he hadn’t seen in weeks.

Though Venus had long been a father, his physique remained remarkably upright and imposing. With sharp, aristocratic facial lines and a cropped head of silver-white hair, he looked incredibly crisp and disciplined. Over his long lifespan, he was still considered young by Zerg standards, but his extended career in the military had etched a distinct, lethal edge into his demeanor. He looked cold and sharp, like a pristine blade waiting to be drawn from its scabbard.

“Asayer, welcome back. How have you been lately? No anomalies with your psychic stability, I hope? Is everything running smoothly at headquarters?”

Venus poured out his affection, his voice layered with the deep longing of a parent.

Hearing his Mother’s protective, caring words, Asayer’s habitually cold eyes warmed with a trace of tenderness. “Everything is perfectly fine, Mother. How have you and Father been doing recently?”

“Oh, wonderfully, of course. Except your Mother spends every waking hour buried in military affairs, leaving him absolutely no time to keep me company,” Asayer’s Father chimed in from the couch, his voice carrying a soft, dramatic whine.

Seeing his Male partner shamelessly complain to their own child, Venus felt a touch of embarrassment and smoothly shifted the topic. “Butler, is dinner ready? Have the kitchen staff serve the courses.”

Amused by how easily he had flustered his fierce Female partner, Asayer’s Father, Eri, chuckled softly, stood up, and made his way to the dining hall.

Noticing a missing presence at the long table, Asayer asked curiously, “Is Brother not joining us for dinner tonight?”

“Frost told us to start without him; he should be back momentarily,” Venus replied. Right as the words left his mouth, the crisp echo of approaching footsteps resonated through the hall.

Unlike Asayer, Frost had entirely inherited their Father’s genetic traits. His golden hair gleamed with a warm, soft luster under the dining chandeliers, complementing his handsome, refined features. His scholarly appearance radiated profound cultural cultivation and effortless poise. Beneath a brow that spoke of deep-seated stability and high intellect, his blue-purple heterochromatic eyes shone brilliantly.

“Frost, come, take your seat.”

Once the family was settled, Venus looked across the table at his younger son. “Asayer, the primary reason we requested your presence tonight is to gauge your current thoughts.”

Though it was an uncomfortable topic, the geopolitical reality left them with very little choice.

“It is time you look for a Male Lord. Otherwise, your psychic stability collapses are only going to grow more severe,” Venus said, his heart aching as he recalled the sheer agony his child endured during previous episodes.

Naturally, Venus wished for his children to be as fortunate as he had been to find a Male partner they truly loved, rather than being driven into the arms of a tyrannical, abusive master out of medical desperation or forced system matching. But if true love was out of the question, he at least hoped his son could secure a relatively mild-mannered civilian Male.

Even if such a partner only courted their family for political leverage and wealth, so be it at least his child would be treated well.

Understanding his parent’s profound anxiety, Asayer suppressed the deep-seated aversion he harbored toward Males and offered a comforting assurance:

“Please do not distress yourself, Mother. My current psychic instability is well within manageable parameters. Should the condition deteriorate, I will secure a Male partner as quickly as possible. You truly do not need to worry.”

As he finished speaking, Asayer elegantly lowered his utensils and pulled a linen napkin to gently dab the corner of his lips.

“Mother, Father, Brother I have been managing operations all day and find myself rather fatigued. I shall retire to my quarters first. Please enjoy the rest of your meal.”

With a polite bow, Asayer turned, his silhouette gradually vanishing up the grand staircase.

Venus watched him go, the heavy blanket of worry refusing to lift. Unlike Males, a Female had to exert ten times the effort just to survive and maintain status in the Empire. His precious Asayer had entered the harsh military academy at such a tender age, enduring countless hardships. Now that he was finally grown, he still had to suffer the agony of mental degradation. The sheer injustice of it broke his heart.

Seeing his Mother locked in such deep sorrow, Frost leaned forward to offer comfort:

“Do not worry so much, Mother. Asayer’s medical charts aren’t that critical yet. Even if the situation escalates, given our clan’s formidable standing, we are more than capable of vetting and securing an entirely suitable Male Lord for our little brother.”

“Yes, exactly. Let the matter rest for tonight, my dear,” Eri added gently, placing a hand over his partner’s. “Asayer is an adult now with his own calculations. The situation is nowhere near as bleak as you think.”

Soothed by the dual reassurances of his Male partner and his eldest son, Venus’s mood gradually lifted, shaking off the oppressive melancholy from before.

Meanwhile, Lu Li enjoyed a night of unblemished, perfect sleep.

When the first golden rays of dawn crept through the seams of the heavy drapery, they scattered softly across the expansive bed. Wrapped in this gentle, natural awakening, Lu Li’s eyelids fluttered, and his vision slowly cleared.

He sat up and executed a long, satisfying stretch. “Day two in the Zerg universe. I should head out to the garden in a bit to see if my abilities have deteriorated.”

Stepping out of bed, he made his way downstairs. Before he could even approach the glass doors leading outside, Yuanyuan’s cheerful synthetic voice chimed at his side.

Seeing Lu Li descend, the little robot whirred with excitement. “Good morning, Master! You are awake! Yuanyuan has already prepared a fresh breakfast for you.”

Perfect, Lu Li thought. I’ll eat first, then explore the garden. It’s a good opportunity to see what the culinary standards are like around here.

Laid out elegantly on the dining table was a glass filled with an opaque, milk-like white fluid. The overall spread leaned heavily toward Western-style cuisine: a porcelain plate arranged with finely sliced strips of seared meat, accompanied by a basket of artisanal bread.

“Master, Yuanyuan has prepared fresh Star-Beast milk and premium Star-Beast loin, paired with toasted bread. Please enjoy your meal!”

Lu Li picked up his knife and fork, slicing a piece of the Star-Beast meat to sample. It wasn’t bad—there was a slight, unfamiliar gaminess to it, but the meat itself was incredibly tender and succulent, offering quite a distinct, exotic flavor.

“Yuanyuan, the execution is great, but why are there absolutely no green vegetables?” Lu Li asked, setting his fork down. “While I certainly enjoy meat, I can’t subsist entirely on a carnivorous diet.”

Consuming pure protein first thing in the morning was admittedly a bit heavy.

Hearing Lu Li’s critique, Yuanyuan immediately dropped its head in an apologetic stance. “Forgive me, Master. Fresh vegetation is exceptionally cost-prohibitive for our household right now. Given our current operational budget, if we purchase standard green vegetables, Master might have to survive on plain rice gruel for the rest of the month.”

How could that be? Lu Li frowned internally. Didn’t the Male Protection Association just deposit a massive sovereignty stipend into my account?

Curious, Lu Li activated his optical terminal to browse the local market prices for agricultural produce. One look at the digital catalog sent a wave of sheer shock through him. Given his current financial bracket, maintaining a diet with consistent vegetable intake would indeed bankrupt him.

He had never imagined that simple greens could command such astronomical prices in an advanced interstellar civilization.

A brilliant realization flashed through his mind. I possess dual-element control over Water and Wood. If I can simply source viable seeds, wouldn’t I practically be sitting on a goldmine? I could become a billionaire and coast through the rest of my life on easy street.

Never one to hesitate, Lu Li immediately accessed an e-commerce platform. To his delight, while mature vegetables were priced like rare gemstones, raw vegetable seeds were incredibly cheap. It appeared that across the Zerg Empire, aside from massive, state-sanctioned agricultural conglomerates with specialized equipment, almost no one possessed the capability to successfully cultivate and sprout flora.

This plays perfectly into my hands, he grinned.

Exercising caution, Lu Li refrained from buying in bulk. He selectively purchased a small handful of experimental seeds to test his theories. The logistics of the Capital Planet were stunningly efficient; within minutes of hitting the confirmation button, the front door chime echoed through the villa. Yuanyuan scurried over to retrieve the delivery.

“Master, your express parcel has safely arrived.”

Before Lu Li could even slice open the packaging, the crisp chime of the front gate resonated through the villa once more.