The Only Ultimate Alpha in the Universe - Chapter 16

Xiao Sa spoke softly, but the sharp-eared Landis heard him nonetheless.

Landis gazed deeply at him, his eyes gradually softening with a touch of warmth. He actually… likes them?

Those scars were left behind several years ago. At the time, a King-class xenomorph had nearly pierced his heart. That such deep marks remained after all this time was a testament to the lethality of the battlefield.

The Third Legion, led by Landis, had the highest casualty and pollution rates in the entire Imperial military. Consequently, it also had the lowest success rate for Hainuo’s matchmaking system.

The average lifespan of these warriors was less than forty years. They either spent their entire lives unable to find a partner, or found that potential spouses were put off by the risk of indirect pollution. In the marriage market, being a soldier was often seen as a liability. Military scars were symbols of glory, yes, but they were also synonyms for danger and calamity.

This was the first time Landis had heard someone say they liked them.

Carlo had urged him to show off his strengths, but Landis also didn’t want to hide the risks of marriage from his potential partner. To his surprise, Xiao Sa didn’t just overlook the risk; he seemed to understand Landis.

Landis felt a rare sense of relief and joy.

“So, regarding my proposal, what is your decision?” Landis remained seated upright, his gaze fixed intently on the other man.

Single for thirty years, this was his first time proposing to someone, and the recipient was a young man many years his junior. Landis’s fingers twitched slightly against his knee. Steady as he was, even he couldn’t help but feel a flicker of nerves.

Xiao Sa suddenly snapped back to reality. His mental power was still abundant, but he felt the faint onset of a headache, the kind that comes from excessive mental processing.

This was a real headache.

He looked at the man across from him. Landis’s expression was as solemn and dignified as ever, silently waiting for his answer. He was serious about this proposal.

Xiao Sa, single for twenty-four years himself, was also being courted for the first time. With zero experience to draw upon, he truly didn’t know how to react. Sigh, it seems this Admiral really did fall in love at first sight, but this pace is a bit too fast.

Besides, they weren’t even the same species. There might even be reproductive isolation.

Xiao Sa rubbed the tip of his nose. He had intended to refuse directly, but looking into those eyes, it was hard to say something hurtful to the man’s face. He settled for a diplomatic approach. “This is too sudden. I need a few days to consider. Besides, I don’t have any immediate plans to get married.”

Landis fell silent for a moment before nodding. “I understand. I was being presumptuous. Do not feel burdened, and do not feel pressured to refuse immediately. I will show you my sincerity.”

Sincerity?

Xiao Sa’s gaze couldn’t help but drift slightly downward toward the man’s chest. No, no, no… he had already felt that “sincerity” quite clearly.

Landis seemed about to say more, but he paused, glancing down at his vibrating optical brain. He looked at Xiao Sa apologetically. “Forgive me, there is a matter at Military Headquarters. I must leave now.”

He put his military jacket back on, fastening the buttons one by one, and placed his cap squarely on his head. “I will contact you again in a few days.”

Without waiting for a response, he stood up and walked away with a brisk stride.

Xiao Sa froze. It’s over… just like that?

When he emerged from the virtual pod, he stretched lazily and collapsed onto the bed. He hadn’t slept for a day and a night; his body was exhausted, but his brain was still in a state of high arousal. For some reason, despite only sitting in a cafe for less than two hours, he felt more tired than if he had fought another round against a mech in the Ladder Arena.

[Xiao Sa, a 100% match isn’t bad, is it? ^O^]

Hainuo’s projection appeared by the bedside, arms crossed, with a very human-like, mischievous smile.

Xiao Sa glanced at him and gave a tsk. “I didn’t even summon you and you’re out already. Not even going to pretend to be an AI anymore?”

Hainuo shrugged, his rich, middle-aged voice filled with sentiment. “You have no idea how long, how long, how long it’s been since I’ve spoken to a living person.”

Xiao Sa sat up, bending one leg and resting his elbow on his knee. He squinted as he looked the projection up and down. “Actually, you were lying to me when you said you couldn’t change your image, weren’t you?”

Hainuo’s eyes flickered.

Xiao Sa rubbed his chin, staying true to his heart. “I still like the black-and-white bear. Just change into that.”

Hainuo: “…”

The older man let out an exaggerated sigh. Under Xiao Sa’s expectant gaze, the projection began to shift.

Black, furry, fat short arms and legs appeared, along with a round white belly, and a middle-aged man’s head with semi-long black hair and stubble.

Xiao Sa: “…” What the hell is this?

Hainuo looked at him piteously. “You humans all have your own unique bodies. I only have a cold core, but I want to be a person, too.”

Xiao Sa was speechless. It appeared Hainuo not only possessed self-awareness, but a very strong one at that. He could no longer treat the other party as a mechanical AI. “Fine, just change back.”

“You got it.” Hainuo straightened his collar and steered the topic back. “Why didn’t you agree to Admiral Landis’s proposal? A perfect match; you won’t find another in a hundred million people.”

Xiao Sa didn’t speak for a moment.

Although he wasn’t the same species as Landis, it was highly likely he had marked the man. Furthermore, Landis was an Imperial Admiral; if he took this chance and agreed, he might be able to use that status to infiltrate the palace later.

Xiao Sa thought for a long time but eventually shook his head. “I haven’t fallen in love with Admiral Landis. Marrying him just to use his status would be too despicable. It doesn’t align with my principles.”

A stream of data flashed through Hainuo’s dark pupils. “Based on analytical data, Admiral Landis is the only single S-grade in the over-thirty age group. According to the patterns of military casualties and pollution, if the Admiral does not marry or receive help from a high-level healing specialist within three months, the risk of pollution-induced mutation is as high as 78%.”

“And the highest grade within the Royal Healer Association is only 3A. To clear mental pollution for an S-grade, the treatment risk is as high as 89%.”

Xiao Sa’s brow furrowed slowly. “You mean… he might end up like Duan Feng, with his legs turning into beast limbs?”

Hainuo shook he head. “Not just the legs. When pollution reaches the final stage, the entire person is swallowed by their mental entity, reduced to a beast that only knows how to kill.”

Xiao Sa looked at him in shock. It’s that serious!

Then why hadn’t Landis explained that just now? Was he unwilling to use his own predicament to win sympathy? Knowing what little he did of Landis, Xiao Sa realized that was very likely the case.

He sat cross-legged on the bed and fell into deep thought.

Meanwhile, after Landis went offline, he held a military video conference in his study while instructing several private secretaries to organize his personal assets.

When the meeting ended, Carlo carried two large boxes of contracts into the study. “Admiral, I haven’t asked yet; how did the date go?”

Landis signed the last document and set down his pen. He recounted the chance encounter with Xiao Sa in its entirety. “Do you think he will agree?”

After hearing the whole story, Carlo nearly spat out his water. His boss had, as expected, done something bizarre. But the good news was that the guy the boss was dating seemed to have a similarly unique way of thinking. He hadn’t refused on the spot and stormed off; he was truly the kind of person who would solemnly accept an Admiral’s personal combat notes.

Carlo said with concern, “I applied for a Royal Healer for you based on your condition. But as soon as they heard it was an S-grade, not a single one agreed.”

Landis wasn’t surprised. “I see.”

Seeing how indifferent he was, Carlo wanted to offer more advice, but a notification suddenly arrived on his glasses-style optical brain. He looked up, his expression a mix of shock and joy. “Admiral! That man you’ve been looking for, Xiao Sa, we found him!”

Support The Only Ultimate Alpha in the Universe