Z:IGSG -- Chapter 2

  Chapter 2 - Counterfeit

The bar's back door opened directly onto a narrow alley crammed with junk. The moment the door swung open, a pungent stench of cheap fuel and rusty metal hit them. Several ragged zergs huddled in the shadows of a corner, their cloudy eyes fixated on the clean-cut, handsome zerg with a look of ill intent.

Parked at the alley entrance was an old hover truck emblazoned with the words "Dune Runners" on its side, though the paint was peeling, leaving the lettering incomplete.

The driver of the truck was a sub-female named Lide. As He Lin approached the alley entrance, Lide was struggling, bent over, trying to lift several wine crates bearing the Tumbleweed logo from the ground onto the truck. 

"He Lin? You finally made it." Lide froze upon seeing He Lin, then inwardly berated himself for losing his composure over a female insect. Wiping sweat from his forehead, he said, "Quick, give me a hand. We need to get this cargo loaded."

He Lin said nothing. He walked over, effortlessly stacked two heavy crates of liquor together, lifting them steadily and placing them in the back of the truck with clean, efficient movements. In a few breaths, he had finished loading the liquor.

Seeing this, Lide clicked his tongue, sating with ambiguous approval, "You females really are something-- strong as oxen."

He Lin smiled, closed the trunk and slid into the passenger seat.

Lide opened the driver's door, settled in, and leisurely lit a cigarette.

He took a drag as he started the hover truck's engine. The ancient truck rumbled like an aged beast, it's engine thudding as it carried them away from the dirty, chaotic slums and towards the central district of Blackstone Starport.

He Lin, who spent most of his days in an office facing massive screens and data streams, rarely had an opportunity to venture outside. Curiosity piqued, he turned his head to look at the constantly changing streets out the window.

Outside, the slum's haphazard shanties gradually gave way to low, orderly metal structures. The streets remained narrow, but they had transformed from bumpy dirt roads into paved asphalt, and there were even more patrolling guards. 

The Governor's Mansion was situated on a massive metal platform in the central district. It was a steel fortress, constructed from a dark alloy, its height sufficient to overlook the city below, which resembled an ant colony. A blue lion's flag, symbolizing the Empire, hung from its soaring spire.

The hover truck was halted at an intersection still a considerable distance from the metal platform.

"Present your pass," a guard stepped forward, his tone stiff.

Lide hastily tossed his cigarette, rolled down the window and plastered on a fawning smile, "We are from the 'Tumbleweed' bar, delivering liquor to the Governor Bao."

The guard's face remained stony as he peered into the cargo hold, then scrutinized the electronic order Lide handed him. He spoke into the walkie-talkie pinned to his collar, and after receiving confirmation, he waved his hand, signaling that the truck could proceed.

Guided by the guard's instructions, the truck entered a dedicated unloading lane.

After driving for several more minutes, they finally reached the end of the lane. Several other hover trucks were already parked here and worker females in Governor's Office uniforms were busily and efficiently unloading various supplies.

Fruits, meats, seafood... It was clear everything here was operating at high speed in anticipation of the high ranking military official's imminent arrival.

The moment He Lin and Lide stepped off the vehicle, a female zerg dressed as a butler, with a haughty expression, strode over. "What are you delivering?"

Lide rubbed his hands together, fawningly saying "We're from the 'Tumbleweed' bar, delivering liquor."

"Why are you so late! Hurry up, the liquor needs to be taken to the kitchen's cold storage immediately, get moving!" The butler's tone was stern, and her disdainful gaze swept over the two zergs. It lingered on He Lin's face for a moment, seemingly surprised there would be such a good looking zerg from the slums.

"Yes, sir! Right away! He Lin, hurry up!" Lide responded repeatedly, pushing He Lin forward.

He Lin said nothing, walking straight to the truck's rear compartment. He lifted two crates of liquor and followed the route the butler had indicated, entering through the thick, cold alloy doors of the Governor's residence.

Beyond those doors lay a completely different world.

The vast space was supported by a complex metal structure, the dome soaring to a dizzying height, projecting dynamic halos of light that simulated a starry sky, like a second sky within in the room.

The air here was fresh and clean, carrying a subtle fragrance that completely sealed out the outside world's pollution. 

He Lin followed the female worker through corridor after corridor. Along the way, the walls displayed either metal reliefs that were clearly expensive, or hung magnificent, colorful oil paintings. The soft carpets on the floor and the gentle glow of the glass lamps made it seem like a completely different world from the slums.

Occasionally, a Zerg in ornate robes and jeweled adornments would hurry past, casting a cold glance at the lower-ranking worker females hauling supplies-- their gaze as dismissive as if sweeping over roadside trash.

It was barely 4:30pm, yet the banquet hall's back kitchen was already bustling. The low hum of cooking machinery mingled with the shouts of chefs, creating a clamor that rivaled the street vendors in the slums. 

"Put the drinks in the coldest section at the very back," a chef-like female zerg said, pointing towards the cold storage area when she saw the crates of wine in He Lin's hands.

He Lin complied, placing the wine in the designated spot.

Governor Bao had ordered ten crates of wine for this banquet. Relying on the sub-female named Lide for help was out of the question. He Lin walked back along the route to the unloading passage, ready to continue hauling wine.

Simultaneously, he pondered how to find an opportunity to make an appearance before his target.

Turning a corner, he entered a corridor covered with plush flooring. He Lin's gaze drifted absently over the exquisite paintings adorning the walls when his ears suddenly picked up on a low, agonized growl.

In the next moment, a terrifying psychic force, like a collapsing mountain, suddenly surged down from the top of the stairs.

It was the aftershock of a female zerg entering his rampage phase.

He Lin frowned briefly before relaxing. A slow smile curved his lips, tinged with understanding.

Tonight's banquet had been specially arranged to welcome General Grant. Every notable zerg in Blackstone Starport was present. It was inconceivable that any zerg would dare cause trouble in the Governor's mansion at this time.

Given this, this powerful and extremely chaotic mental storm, which seemed poised to collapse at any moment, could only originate from a single zerg.

General Galileo Grant.

As if to confirm his suspicion, a low suppressed roar, as if squeezed through clenched teeth, came from above. "Useless! Get out of here, all of you!"

The surrounding working females around had already collapsed to the ground due to the terrifying pressure of this mental force. Those who still had some strength scrambled away, crawling and stumbling. 

Being caught in the high- ranking female zerg's rampage could be fatal.

However, He Lin didn't hesitate at all. Instead of fleeing, he strode towards the stairs. Like a nimble leopard, he moved quickly, and in a few steps, he was on the second floor.

In the hallway at the top of the stairs, Governor Bao lay sprawled like a heap of rotten flesh. His fat face covered in tears and snot, his whole body trembling uncontrollably. 

And before him, General Grant's face was grim, his eyes bloodshot, clearly teetering on the edge of losing his sanity. He had golden hair, a tall figure, and his powerful body was encased in a dark blue military uniform, the three golden stars on his epaulets shining brightly in the light.

"General, please calm down!" Bao's voice cracked with fear. "I meant well when I spent a fortune procuring that male insect. The psychic scan clearly rated him A-grade! Who knew he'd be so useless?  He couldn't even approach you without triggering your..."

"Good intentions?" Grant's voice was hoarse. With a flick of his wrist, he drew a cold, silver-glinting light gun from his waist, its jet-black muzzle trained on Bao laying on the floor. "So I suppose I should thank you for your kindness?"

Governor Bao's lips trembled uncontrollably. His face was deathly pale, unable to utter a single word of plea. 

Just then, Grant seemed to sense something and snapped his gaze towards the staircase.

By the staircase, amidst a crowd of zergs who had collapsed from his psychic pressure, stood a young man in a white shirt. His expression was serene as he silently watched Grant.

The young man stood straight, his spine rigid, seemingly unaffected by Grant's chaotic psychic storm. Within those deep, dark eyes lay only the tranquility of a still lake.

"Who's there!" Grant roared.

 Seeing that he had been discovered, the young man didn't panic and run away, but instead took a step and walked towards Grant.

"General," the young man's voice was clear, his attitude neither humble nor arrogant, with a gentle smile playing around his eyes.

Only when he drew closer did Grant notice that this zerg not only had a pleasant voice, but this possessed exceptionally good looks.

However, at this moment, this handsome appearance only heightened Grant's wariness to the utmost. He raised his hand, the gun barrel shifting to aim squarely at the zerg.

The youth halted at this gesture, "There is no need to fear, sir. I've come to assist you."

"Assist me?" Grant narrowed his eyes.

"I am the true male zerg sent by Governor Bao," the youth replied with a smile. "The one who disturbed you earlier was merely an imposter. Wouldn't you agree, Governor Bao?"

Governor Bao, laying on the ground, was utterly bewildered. His eyes widened as he stared at this completely unfamiliar zerg in front of him, his mind blank.

Such features-- and he was a male zerg?!

How had he never noticed such a prime specimen before?

But with death looming, Governor Bao had no time for further thoughts. He seized this sudden glimmer of hope, stammering, "Yes, yes! He is the male zerg I sought! The other was fake! General, he will surely be able to soothe you!"