The Top-Tier Alpha Asked Me for a Contract Relationship - Chapter 4

Wen Yu had reached a level where merely seeing the three words “Vigeson York” made him feel unlucky. Upon seeing these messages, he froze for two seconds, quickly ended his stream, and then stared blankly at the screen.

…What the hell did this dog Alpha want?

Wen Yu’s first reaction was to wonder if Vigeson York had contracted the same “illness” as him, which was why he was seeking him out.

But on second thought, it seemed unlikely.

That day, he had worn a pheromone blocking patch and sprayed an ample amount of neutralizer. Even if Vigeson York had caught a faint scent of his pheromones, it shouldn’t have caused such a reaction; otherwise, he would have come looking for him long ago. Why wait until now?

Wen Yu verified the identity of the stranger’s account and confirmed it truly belonged to Vigeson York’s secretary before dialing the number back.

On the call, the other party repeatedly invited Wen Yu to meet with Vigeson York. His tone wasn’t forceful; rather, it was quite tactful. He stated that he didn’t know the specific reason Vigeson York wanted to see Wen Yu, only that there were important matters to discuss, and he was merely responsible for delivering the message.

Seeing that he couldn’t get any information, Wen Yu was tempted to just hang up.

“Wait, please wait a moment, Mr. Wen!” the person on the other end hurriedly called out, his tone becoming urgent. “Although I don’t know what the Admiral wants to discuss with you, he said it’s a private matter and that there are important things he wants to talk to you about. If you aren’t busy, please come for a meeting. it won’t take up too much of your time.”

Wen Yu asked, “What ‘important matter’ could I possibly have with him?”

“I’m not sure. You’ll find out when you ask the Admiral in person. It really is important, please consider it.”

Listening to the grave tone from the other end, Wen Yu felt something was strange.

His relationship with Vigeson York had been mediocre to begin with, and they hadn’t seen each other in five years. What could there be?

“Why should I consider it? Am I close with him?”

“Uh, that…”

“I’m not his subordinate. Just because he has his secretary give me a call to demand a meeting, I have to go? Sorry, I don’t have the time.”

“No, I am very sorry, Mr. Wen. The Admiral has been extremely busy lately and has had almost no time to handle private matters. Giving me the order to call you was a temporary instruction given in the midst of his busy schedule. I apologize for not considering your feelings…”

The other party was far too polite, making it hard for Wen Yu to scold him. He could only say lazily, “Forget it. If it’s really important, have him tell me himself. I’m busy too; I don’t have time to meet with people I’m not familiar with. Hanging up.”

Military District Secretary’s Office

After hanging up the phone, the secretary, Melvin, turned and walked toward Vigeson York’s office. Hearing the sounds of scolding coming from inside, he instinctively stopped at the door.

—This was the nth time this week he had heard the Admiral reprimanding his subordinates.

Now that Mr. Wen had rejected the invitation, he wondered if the Admiral’s mood would worsen upon hearing the bad news.

Melvin had worked by Vigeson York’s side for many years and was the person most familiar with Vigeson York’s working habits.

He felt that ever since Vigeson York returned to the Imperial Star, he had become a bit strange.

While this man’s temper wasn’t exactly great, compared to those moody and violent high-level Alphas, he was actually quite decent. Although he usually wore a cold, expressionless face, in actual contact, he was a good leader who looked out for his subordinates—certainly not to the point of being as harsh as he had been recently.

Lately, it was as if Vigeson York was using himself as the standard, trying to train every subordinate to be exactly like him.

But how was that possible?

By now, Vigeson York had worked for two consecutive months without a break. Melvin had thought he could rest for a while after returning to the Imperial Star, but instead, he became even busier. He spent the whole day processing military district affairs without stopping. Last night, he was still reviewing documents at three in the morning, barely sleeping at all.

Melvin didn’t understand the necessity. The war was over; couldn’t the remaining tasks be handled slowly? Why did he have to work himself to death?

He really couldn’t fathom the thoughts of these superiors.

Melvin stood outside the door sighing, feeling that being a worker was becoming increasingly difficult.

Ten minutes passed, and the scolding inside finally stopped.

Two colonels emerged looking crestfallen, and only then did Melvin dare to knock.

“Admiral, here is the meeting material for tomorrow.”

Melvin walked into the office and placed the documents on the desk. He looked up to see Vigeson York leaning back in his office chair with his eyes closed, rubbing his temples in pain. His face showed a hint of endurance.

The light from the window spilled onto his deep blue military uniform, reflecting a faint luster. The tight-fitting uniform accentuated the bulging lines of the man’s shoulders and chest, presenting the sharp and piercing edge characteristic of an Alpha.

Vigeson York was tall, and his genes were matchlessly powerful. At only 27 years old, he was already capable of taking charge of the military.

But it was also because of those genes that he suffered from a defect that current medical technology could not cure. Even when not in his susceptibility period, his mental power frequently experienced abnormal fluctuations.

Seeing Vigeson York open a drawer to take out a pillbox and skillfully swallow two pills, Melvin asked, “Is your headache acting up again?”

The other man didn’t answer, which was a silent confirmation.

These intermittent headaches had accompanied Vigeson York since he presented at age sixteen.

Even if everyone kept quiet about it on the surface, they all knew in their hearts: SSS-class Alphas were different from other Alphas. They would develop various illnesses due to their excessive mental power… and even face a short lifespan.

In history, most SSS-class Alphas barely lived past fifty.

Although Vigeson York was still young, ever since a certain battlefield accident occurred, his body had developed very serious problems.

But exactly how serious it was, only Vigeson York himself and his primary physician knew; Melvin only had a partial understanding.

“It seems the frequency of your medication has increased lately,” Melvin couldn’t help but express concern.

“It hasn’t,” Vigeson York denied coldly.

Melvin continued to himself, “Admiral, I believe your workload has been too heavy lately. You should take a break; perhaps it would help alleviate the symptoms.”

Vigeson York lifted his cold eyelids: “Do you think you’re tired?”

“Not at all,” Melvin denied, trying to cover it up. “How could I be?”

“If you want a vacation, say it directly. I will consider approving it.”

Melvin had his own plans; he intended to save up his leave until the end of the year to go traveling, so no matter how tired he was, he had to endure. Thus, he flashed a fake smile: “I didn’t mean that. I was just concerned for you, Admiral.”

“Then you can leave.”

Melvin: “…”

Remembering the rejection from Wen Yu earlier, Melvin fell silent for a moment, thinking about how to phrase it: “There is one more thing, Admiral. You asked me to contact that Mr. Wen just now, but Mr. Wen… was quite cautious and did not agree to meet with you.”

Vigeson York looked over at him.

Vigeson York’s pupils were darker and deeper than the average person’s. Especially when he frowned slightly, it always gave off an illusion of being deep, paranoid, and making one feel like they had thorns in their back.

Melvin was used to this kind of pressure and maintained his fake smile.

“What did he say?”

“Mr. Wen said he isn’t familiar with you and asked you to contact him personally.”

“Not familiar…” Vigeson York repeated the two words in a low voice, the corners of his lips sinking slightly in a subtle way.

Melvin didn’t notice the slight change in his expression and continued: “Oh, also, you asked me to investigate Mr. Wen’s situation over the past few years. The materials have been compiled. Per your request, there is only some simple information here without infringing on his privacy. His situation seems a bit special. If you need it, I can conduct a more in-depth investigation.”

“No need,” Vigeson York refused.

Vigeson York only wanted a general idea of the other’s recent years—for instance, what kind of work he was doing, who he was living with, and whether he had encountered any major events. That was all. He didn’t intend to investigate the other’s family background as if he were tracking a criminal.

Vigeson York used his terminal to receive the materials Melvin sent and asked, “What do you mean by saying his situation is ‘special’?”

“Uh… simply put, Mr. Wen has gained some fame on the internet these past few years. He mainly makes a living through live streaming, but he has also attracted quite a few enemies and anti-fans, such as some business figures, celebrities, or fan groups of the nobility.”

“Makes a living through live streaming? His family…” Vigeson York was surprised, but stopped halfway through his sentence as he remembered something. He remained silent for a moment before asking, “Are you saying he’s being bullied?”

“According to the investigation, it seems Mr. Wen is usually the one provoking others first.”

“I don’t remember him being that kind of person.”

Melvin’s work attitude was never sloppy: “The investigation results say so.”

Vigeson York did not respond. Whether he was indifferent or stubborn, he didn’t take Melvin’s answer to heart. He leaned back in his chair and began to focus on processing military documents.

Seeing that he didn’t intend to discuss the topic further, Melvin added, “Do you need to rest for a while? How about I cancel your afternoon schedule…”

“No need.”

“But your headache is acting up. You still want to continue working?”

“There are matters left to handle. Did Lieutenant Lin finish the task I gave him? Have him come in to report.”

Melvin had no choice but to stop talking: “…Understood. I’ll go inform him now.”

11:30 PM

Wen Yu was wearing his equipment, sitting inside a fully enclosed gaming pod, engaged in a passionate duo-queue battle with North.

He was lurking in the bushes, acting as North’s support and commander while simultaneously observing the game data.

Other people played games to win, but Wen Yu didn’t.

He played Ember purely for its realism.

The realism of this game had remained unsurpassed in the industry for years. It could even synchronize real-life mental power into the holographic world, achieving something infinitely close to reality. A player’s mental strength in reality would directly affect the performance and operation level of the mecha.

Furthermore, every mecha inside was so realistic that it could be dismantled into screws identical to those in reality—even the weight of the screws was exactly the same.

The reason today’s military school students could perform simulated training and assessments in the holographic world was entirely thanks to the core technology of this game company.

This was also why the mecha designs in Ember were enough to make people shrink back in intimidation.

Such realism dictated that the mecha design for this game could only be done by a tiny minority of people in the industry.

To outsiders, Wen Yu was an old internet-addicted youth who frequently teamed up with others to fight passionately in the game until dawn.

In reality, he just enjoyed looking at the pinpoint-accurate mecha statistical data.

When a round ended, Wen Yu’s arms were already aching.

He took off the equipment, stretched his arms, and checked his terminal for the time. Only then did he realize he had received messages from a stranger.

3 Missed Calls [Unconnected]

Stranger Message: Are you asleep?

The three missed calls were from before 10:30 PM, and the message had been received ten minutes ago. They were all from the same person.

Wen Yu didn’t recognize the number and just casually replied.

WWW: ?

He put down the terminal, unbothered, and was about to put his gear back on to continue playing when the stranger’s number called him directly.

Wen Yu paused for two seconds and pressed the answer button.

“It’s me, Vigeson York.”

Wen Yu was stunned for a moment. His first reaction was that the voice sounded quite nice; his second reaction was realizing what the other person was saying.

After a moment, he pretended to be unaware and answered slowly, “…Oh, Admiral York? Why are you calling me all of a sudden? Do you need something?”

The other said, “I apologize. I didn’t talk to you personally this afternoon. It was a lack of consideration on my part.”

Wen Yu thought, You damn well know it, but his mouth played the part of being falsely polite: “You don’t need to be so formal. I know you’re an Admiral and different from me. You’re so busy you don’t have time to call personally; I can understand.”

Vigeson York: “…”

Vigeson York wasn’t sure if it was an illusion, but he felt a faint sense of sarcasm in Wen Yu’s tone. He said nothing of it and continued, “Why haven’t you rested so late? Are you busy?”

“Oh, busy playing games. I usually don’t sleep until dawn,” Wen Yu replied casually. He started a new game, and while adjusting his equipment settings, he urged, “Just say whatever it is you want.”

“It’s not convenient over the phone,” Vigeson York said. “If possible, could we set a time to meet tomorrow?”

“Meet?”

“Yes.”

“Can’t you say it without meeting?”

“…No.”

Wen Yu let out a slight “tsk” and fell silent for a while. He rubbed the back of his neck; the gland that had been injected with a suppressant was still faintly feverish.

He wasn’t interested in what Vigeson York had to say, and he didn’t want to meet him; he was psychologically very resistant. But logic told him this was a rare opportunity to alleviate his condition… after all, the addiction was too hard to bear. Meeting once might be good.

In any case, his illness wouldn’t worsen because of one more or one fewer meeting; only contact with the other’s pheromones could provide brief relief.

Wen Yu couldn’t help but weigh his options…

Vigeson York might be a bit of a dog, but on a societal level, he was a good person. A meeting wouldn’t be dangerous.

Besides, since he had called personally, he might as well give him some face. No matter what the issue was, he could just refuse after they met, couldn’t he?

And since he was an Admiral… maybe the meeting place would be at the Military District?

Wen Yu was quite excited by this fantasy.

“Alright then,” Wen Yu agreed with feigned ease. “Since you’ve asked, I have no reason to refuse.”

“Then it’s settled. We’ll meet tomorrow at 6:00 PM.”

“Oh.”

“Send me your address. I’ll have someone pick you up then.”

The next day, before six o’clock, Wen Yu tidied himself up a bit.

His hair hadn’t been trimmed for a while, and the slightly curled golden fluff was almost covering his eyebrows. So, he simply combed his hair up, revealing his forehead to make himself look sharper, and paired it with a light-colored casual suit. His temperament was excellent.

Standing in front of the full-length mirror, he looked like a completely different person from his usual casual style.

Of course, this wasn’t for Vigeson York, but rather in case the meeting place was the Military District; he wanted to make sure he didn’t look too disheveled.

At six o’clock sharp, Melvin arrived at the base of his building.

Probably because the distance was quite far, Vigeson York had sent a business aircraft to pick him up. The exterior of the aircraft was a steady, serious black, with the insignia of the First Military District emblazoned on its wings.

Seeing the insignia, Wen Yu believed his guess was more than half-right, and his mood began to soar. To avoid letting it show, he kept his head down looking at his terminal after boarding, taking the opportunity to post a notice canceling his live stream for the evening.

Knowing that Wen Yu’s addiction had been severe lately, Lu Yuyan had been paying close attention to his condition. Therefore, as soon as the cancellation post went out, Lu Yuyan’s inquiry followed immediately.

Lu Yuyan: What’s wrong, baby? Feeling unwell?

WWW: No, going out.

Lu Yuyan: Where to?

WWW: Guess.

Lu Yuyan: The fast-food convenience store downstairs, the roadside fried rice stall, the snack street or hotpot place next door… what else can you do at this time except look for food?

WWW: No, I’m going to the Military District.

The other side was clearly silent for a moment before replying.

Lu Yuyan: Didn’t wake up yet? Then go back to sleep.

Wen Yu “tsked.”

WWW: Actually, Vigeson York is looking for me.

Lu Yuyan replied with “As expected.”

WWW: Don’t overthink it. What if it’s official business?

Lu Yuyan: What kind of official business could there be? If it’s not to bait you, then the only possibility is that your genetic grade has been discovered.

Wen Yu froze instantly.

WWW: That’s impossible, right? I’ve hidden it pretty well.

Lu Yuyan: Who knows. Anyway, protect yourself while you’re out. You’re an Omega now; don’t let someone cheat you and then help them count the money, you hear me?

WWW: Tsk, you don’t need to tell me. I’m not an idiot.

Lu Yuyan: Yeah, right, sure you’re not.

Wen Yu put down the terminal, too lazy to argue with him.

About half an hour later, Melvin informed him they had arrived.

Wen Yu stood up, waited for the hatch to open, and slowly walked off the aircraft.

Half a minute later.

He stood by the side of the road, looked around, and suddenly fell silent.

He couldn’t find the gates of the Military District. As far as the eye could see, other than the military insignia on the wings and tail of the aircraft, there was nothing else related to the military.

Before him was only a garden-like luxury mansion.

It appeared to be a private residence.

Who was he?

Where was he?

Why on earth did he come to this kind of place?

Wen Yu’s face was filled with bewilderment.

His expectations had fallen flat. Across the black wrought-iron gates, there was only a vast courtyard and a brightly lit villa in the distance…

Wen Yu stood there like a disheveled corn stalk chewed by locusts, unsure of what to do, rooted to the spot.

Soon, a middle-aged Beta in a neat black uniform, looking like a butler, walked out from the interior.

He opened the electronic gate, came before Wen Yu, and gave a polite bow.

“Hello, Mr. Wen. I am the butler here, Forlen.”

“Welcome to the Admiral’s home as a guest.”

“May I ask, have you had dinner yet?”

Wen Yu: “…”

Chapter 4

Wen Yu had reached a level where merely seeing the three words “Vigeson York” made him feel unlucky. Upon seeing these messages, he froze for two seconds, quickly ended his stream, and then stared blankly at the screen.

…What the hell did this dog Alpha want?

Wen Yu’s first reaction was to wonder if Vigeson York had contracted the same “illness” as him, which was why he was seeking him out.

But on second thought, it seemed unlikely.

That day, he had worn a pheromone blocking patch and sprayed an ample amount of neutralizer. Even if Vigeson York had caught a faint scent of his pheromones, it shouldn’t have caused such a reaction; otherwise, he would have come looking for him long ago. Why wait until now?

Wen Yu verified the identity of the stranger’s account and confirmed it truly belonged to Vigeson York’s secretary before dialing the number back.

On the call, the other party repeatedly invited Wen Yu to meet with Vigeson York. His tone wasn’t forceful; rather, it was quite tactful. He stated that he didn’t know the specific reason Vigeson York wanted to see Wen Yu, only that there were important matters to discuss, and he was merely responsible for delivering the message.

Seeing that he couldn’t get any information, Wen Yu was tempted to just hang up.

“Wait, please wait a moment, Mr. Wen!” the person on the other end hurriedly called out, his tone becoming urgent. “Although I don’t know what the Admiral wants to discuss with you, he said it’s a private matter and that there are important things he wants to talk to you about. If you aren’t busy, please come for a meeting. it won’t take up too much of your time.”

Wen Yu asked, “What ‘important matter’ could I possibly have with him?”

“I’m not sure. You’ll find out when you ask the Admiral in person. It really is important, please consider it.”

Listening to the grave tone from the other end, Wen Yu felt something was strange.

His relationship with Vigeson York had been mediocre to begin with, and they hadn’t seen each other in five years. What could there be?

“Why should I consider it? Am I close with him?”

“Uh, that…”

“I’m not his subordinate. Just because he has his secretary give me a call to demand a meeting, I have to go? Sorry, I don’t have the time.”

“No, I am very sorry, Mr. Wen. The Admiral has been extremely busy lately and has had almost no time to handle private matters. Giving me the order to call you was a temporary instruction given in the midst of his busy schedule. I apologize for not considering your feelings…”

The other party was far too polite, making it hard for Wen Yu to scold him. He could only say lazily, “Forget it. If it’s really important, have him tell me himself. I’m busy too; I don’t have time to meet with people I’m not familiar with. Hanging up.”

Military District Secretary’s Office

After hanging up the phone, the secretary, Melvin, turned and walked toward Vigeson York’s office. Hearing the sounds of scolding coming from inside, he instinctively stopped at the door.

—This was the nth time this week he had heard the Admiral reprimanding his subordinates.

Now that Mr. Wen had rejected the invitation, he wondered if the Admiral’s mood would worsen upon hearing the bad news.

Melvin had worked by Vigeson York’s side for many years and was the person most familiar with Vigeson York’s working habits.

He felt that ever since Vigeson York returned to the Imperial Star, he had become a bit strange.

While this man’s temper wasn’t exactly great, compared to those moody and violent high-level Alphas, he was actually quite decent. Although he usually wore a cold, expressionless face, in actual contact, he was a good leader who looked out for his subordinates—certainly not to the point of being as harsh as he had been recently.

Lately, it was as if Vigeson York was using himself as the standard, trying to train every subordinate to be exactly like him.

But how was that possible?

By now, Vigeson York had worked for two consecutive months without a break. Melvin had thought he could rest for a while after returning to the Imperial Star, but instead, he became even busier. He spent the whole day processing military district affairs without stopping. Last night, he was still reviewing documents at three in the morning, barely sleeping at all.

Melvin didn’t understand the necessity. The war was over; couldn’t the remaining tasks be handled slowly? Why did he have to work himself to death?

He really couldn’t fathom the thoughts of these superiors.

Melvin stood outside the door sighing, feeling that being a worker was becoming increasingly difficult.

Ten minutes passed, and the scolding inside finally stopped.

Two colonels emerged looking crestfallen, and only then did Melvin dare to knock.

“Admiral, here is the meeting material for tomorrow.”

Melvin walked into the office and placed the documents on the desk. He looked up to see Vigeson York leaning back in his office chair with his eyes closed, rubbing his temples in pain. His face showed a hint of endurance.

The light from the window spilled onto his deep blue military uniform, reflecting a faint luster. The tight-fitting uniform accentuated the bulging lines of the man’s shoulders and chest, presenting the sharp and piercing edge characteristic of an Alpha.

Vigeson York was tall, and his genes were matchlessly powerful. At only 27 years old, he was already capable of taking charge of the military.

But it was also because of those genes that he suffered from a defect that current medical technology could not cure. Even when not in his susceptibility period, his mental power frequently experienced abnormal fluctuations.

Seeing Vigeson York open a drawer to take out a pillbox and skillfully swallow two pills, Melvin asked, “Is your headache acting up again?”

The other man didn’t answer, which was a silent confirmation.

These intermittent headaches had accompanied Vigeson York since he presented at age sixteen.

Even if everyone kept quiet about it on the surface, they all knew in their hearts: SSS-class Alphas were different from other Alphas. They would develop various illnesses due to their excessive mental power… and even face a short lifespan.

In history, most SSS-class Alphas barely lived past fifty.

Although Vigeson York was still young, ever since a certain battlefield accident occurred, his body had developed very serious problems.

But exactly how serious it was, only Vigeson York himself and his primary physician knew; Melvin only had a partial understanding.

“It seems the frequency of your medication has increased lately,” Melvin couldn’t help but express concern.

“It hasn’t,” Vigeson York denied coldly.

Melvin continued to himself, “Admiral, I believe your workload has been too heavy lately. You should take a break; perhaps it would help alleviate the symptoms.”

Vigeson York lifted his cold eyelids: “Do you think you’re tired?”

“Not at all,” Melvin denied, trying to cover it up. “How could I be?”

“If you want a vacation, say it directly. I will consider approving it.”

Melvin had his own plans; he intended to save up his leave until the end of the year to go traveling, so no matter how tired he was, he had to endure. Thus, he flashed a fake smile: “I didn’t mean that. I was just concerned for you, Admiral.”

“Then you can leave.”

Melvin: “…”

Remembering the rejection from Wen Yu earlier, Melvin fell silent for a moment, thinking about how to phrase it: “There is one more thing, Admiral. You asked me to contact that Mr. Wen just now, but Mr. Wen… was quite cautious and did not agree to meet with you.”

Vigeson York looked over at him.

Vigeson York’s pupils were darker and deeper than the average person’s. Especially when he frowned slightly, it always gave off an illusion of being deep, paranoid, and making one feel like they had thorns in their back.

Melvin was used to this kind of pressure and maintained his fake smile.

“What did he say?”

“Mr. Wen said he isn’t familiar with you and asked you to contact him personally.”

“Not familiar…” Vigeson York repeated the two words in a low voice, the corners of his lips sinking slightly in a subtle way.

Melvin didn’t notice the slight change in his expression and continued: “Oh, also, you asked me to investigate Mr. Wen’s situation over the past few years. The materials have been compiled. Per your request, there is only some simple information here without infringing on his privacy. His situation seems a bit special. If you need it, I can conduct a more in-depth investigation.”

“No need,” Vigeson York refused.

Vigeson York only wanted a general idea of the other’s recent years—for instance, what kind of work he was doing, who he was living with, and whether he had encountered any major events. That was all. He didn’t intend to investigate the other’s family background as if he were tracking a criminal.

Vigeson York used his terminal to receive the materials Melvin sent and asked, “What do you mean by saying his situation is ‘special’?”

“Uh… simply put, Mr. Wen has gained some fame on the internet these past few years. He mainly makes a living through live streaming, but he has also attracted quite a few enemies and anti-fans, such as some business figures, celebrities, or fan groups of the nobility.”

“Makes a living through live streaming? His family…” Vigeson York was surprised, but stopped halfway through his sentence as he remembered something. He remained silent for a moment before asking, “Are you saying he’s being bullied?”

“According to the investigation, it seems Mr. Wen is usually the one provoking others first.”

“I don’t remember him being that kind of person.”

Melvin’s work attitude was never sloppy: “The investigation results say so.”

Vigeson York did not respond. Whether he was indifferent or stubborn, he didn’t take Melvin’s answer to heart. He leaned back in his chair and began to focus on processing military documents.

Seeing that he didn’t intend to discuss the topic further, Melvin added, “Do you need to rest for a while? How about I cancel your afternoon schedule…”

“No need.”

“But your headache is acting up. You still want to continue working?”

“There are matters left to handle. Did Lieutenant Lin finish the task I gave him? Have him come in to report.”

Melvin had no choice but to stop talking: “…Understood. I’ll go inform him now.”

11:30 PM

Wen Yu was wearing his equipment, sitting inside a fully enclosed gaming pod, engaged in a passionate duo-queue battle with North.

He was lurking in the bushes, acting as North’s support and commander while simultaneously observing the game data.

Other people played games to win, but Wen Yu didn’t.

He played Ember purely for its realism.

The realism of this game had remained unsurpassed in the industry for years. It could even synchronize real-life mental power into the holographic world, achieving something infinitely close to reality. A player’s mental strength in reality would directly affect the performance and operation level of the mecha.

Furthermore, every mecha inside was so realistic that it could be dismantled into screws identical to those in reality—even the weight of the screws was exactly the same.

The reason today’s military school students could perform simulated training and assessments in the holographic world was entirely thanks to the core technology of this game company.

This was also why the mecha designs in Ember were enough to make people shrink back in intimidation.

Such realism dictated that the mecha design for this game could only be done by a tiny minority of people in the industry.

To outsiders, Wen Yu was an old internet-addicted youth who frequently teamed up with others to fight passionately in the game until dawn.

In reality, he just enjoyed looking at the pinpoint-accurate mecha statistical data.

When a round ended, Wen Yu’s arms were already aching.

He took off the equipment, stretched his arms, and checked his terminal for the time. Only then did he realize he had received messages from a stranger.

3 Missed Calls [Unconnected]

Stranger Message: Are you asleep?

The three missed calls were from before 10:30 PM, and the message had been received ten minutes ago. They were all from the same person.

Wen Yu didn’t recognize the number and just casually replied.

WWW: ?

He put down the terminal, unbothered, and was about to put his gear back on to continue playing when the stranger’s number called him directly.

Wen Yu paused for two seconds and pressed the answer button.

“It’s me, Vigeson York.”

Wen Yu was stunned for a moment. His first reaction was that the voice sounded quite nice; his second reaction was realizing what the other person was saying.

After a moment, he pretended to be unaware and answered slowly, “…Oh, Admiral York? Why are you calling me all of a sudden? Do you need something?”

The other said, “I apologize. I didn’t talk to you personally this afternoon. It was a lack of consideration on my part.”

Wen Yu thought, You damn well know it, but his mouth played the part of being falsely polite: “You don’t need to be so formal. I know you’re an Admiral and different from me. You’re so busy you don’t have time to call personally; I can understand.”

Vigeson York: “…”

Vigeson York wasn’t sure if it was an illusion, but he felt a faint sense of sarcasm in Wen Yu’s tone. He said nothing of it and continued, “Why haven’t you rested so late? Are you busy?”

“Oh, busy playing games. I usually don’t sleep until dawn,” Wen Yu replied casually. He started a new game, and while adjusting his equipment settings, he urged, “Just say whatever it is you want.”

“It’s not convenient over the phone,” Vigeson York said. “If possible, could we set a time to meet tomorrow?”

“Meet?”

“Yes.”

“Can’t you say it without meeting?”

“…No.”

Wen Yu let out a slight “tsk” and fell silent for a while. He rubbed the back of his neck; the gland that had been injected with a suppressant was still faintly feverish.

He wasn’t interested in what Vigeson York had to say, and he didn’t want to meet him; he was psychologically very resistant. But logic told him this was a rare opportunity to alleviate his condition… after all, the addiction was too hard to bear. Meeting once might be good.

In any case, his illness wouldn’t worsen because of one more or one fewer meeting; only contact with the other’s pheromones could provide brief relief.

Wen Yu couldn’t help but weigh his options…

Vigeson York might be a bit of a dog, but on a societal level, he was a good person. A meeting wouldn’t be dangerous.

Besides, since he had called personally, he might as well give him some face. No matter what the issue was, he could just refuse after they met, couldn’t he?

And since he was an Admiral… maybe the meeting place would be at the Military District?

Wen Yu was quite excited by this fantasy.

“Alright then,” Wen Yu agreed with feigned ease. “Since you’ve asked, I have no reason to refuse.”

“Then it’s settled. We’ll meet tomorrow at 6:00 PM.”

“Oh.”

“Send me your address. I’ll have someone pick you up then.”

The next day, before six o’clock, Wen Yu tidied himself up a bit.

His hair hadn’t been trimmed for a while, and the slightly curled golden fluff was almost covering his eyebrows. So, he simply combed his hair up, revealing his forehead to make himself look sharper, and paired it with a light-colored casual suit. His temperament was excellent.

Standing in front of the full-length mirror, he looked like a completely different person from his usual casual style.

Of course, this wasn’t for Vigeson York, but rather in case the meeting place was the Military District; he wanted to make sure he didn’t look too disheveled.

At six o’clock sharp, Melvin arrived at the base of his building.

Probably because the distance was quite far, Vigeson York had sent a business aircraft to pick him up. The exterior of the aircraft was a steady, serious black, with the insignia of the First Military District emblazoned on its wings.

Seeing the insignia, Wen Yu believed his guess was more than half-right, and his mood began to soar. To avoid letting it show, he kept his head down looking at his terminal after boarding, taking the opportunity to post a notice canceling his live stream for the evening.

Knowing that Wen Yu’s addiction had been severe lately, Lu Yuyan had been paying close attention to his condition. Therefore, as soon as the cancellation post went out, Lu Yuyan’s inquiry followed immediately.

Lu Yuyan: What’s wrong, baby? Feeling unwell?

WWW: No, going out.

Lu Yuyan: Where to?

WWW: Guess.

Lu Yuyan: The fast-food convenience store downstairs, the roadside fried rice stall, the snack street or hotpot place next door… what else can you do at this time except look for food?

WWW: No, I’m going to the Military District.

The other side was clearly silent for a moment before replying.

Lu Yuyan: Didn’t wake up yet? Then go back to sleep.

Wen Yu “tsked.”

WWW: Actually, Vigeson York is looking for me.

Lu Yuyan replied with “As expected.”

WWW: Don’t overthink it. What if it’s official business?

Lu Yuyan: What kind of official business could there be? If it’s not to bait you, then the only possibility is that your genetic grade has been discovered.

Wen Yu froze instantly.

WWW: That’s impossible, right? I’ve hidden it pretty well.

Lu Yuyan: Who knows. Anyway, protect yourself while you’re out. You’re an Omega now; don’t let someone cheat you and then help them count the money, you hear me?

WWW: Tsk, you don’t need to tell me. I’m not an idiot.

Lu Yuyan: Yeah, right, sure you’re not.

Wen Yu put down the terminal, too lazy to argue with him.

About half an hour later, Melvin informed him they had arrived.

Wen Yu stood up, waited for the hatch to open, and slowly walked off the aircraft.

Half a minute later.

He stood by the side of the road, looked around, and suddenly fell silent.

He couldn’t find the gates of the Military District. As far as the eye could see, other than the military insignia on the wings and tail of the aircraft, there was nothing else related to the military.

Before him was only a garden-like luxury mansion.

It appeared to be a private residence.

Who was he?

Where was he?

Why on earth did he come to this kind of place?

Wen Yu’s face was filled with bewilderment.

His expectations had fallen flat. Across the black wrought-iron gates, there was only a vast courtyard and a brightly lit villa in the distance…

Wen Yu stood there like a disheveled corn stalk chewed by locusts, unsure of what to do, rooted to the spot.

Soon, a middle-aged Beta in a neat black uniform, looking like a butler, walked out from the interior.

He opened the electronic gate, came before Wen Yu, and gave a polite bow.

“Hello, Mr. Wen. I am the butler here, Forlen.”

“Welcome to the Admiral’s home as a guest.”

“May I ask, have you had dinner yet?”

Wen Yu: “…”