Z:IGSG -- Chapter 4

 Chapter 4- Easy

Grant remains half-reclined on the sofa, his deep blue military coat open, collar slightly askew. His crimson eyes had reverted to a deep, mysterious blue.

At He Lin's words, a fleeting, complex expression flickers in his gaze.

This was his first time being comforted by a male zerg, his first intimate contact with one. These sensations were unfamiliar, yet he found himself captivated by them. The earlier entanglement, where even his fingers weak and trembling, made him eager to grab the collar of the male zerg before him and demand another round.

He was utterly bewitched.

“Proof?” Grant's voice was low, hoarse from the aftermath yet still commanding. “You did achieve what other males couldn't. But the only thing that proves is that you're dangerous.”

He Lin chuckled. “General, I don't understand your meaning.”

“A male with psychic power strong enough to quell an S-class military female's rampage phase, coupled with a face like yours, should have made you famous across the light net long ago. Yet you've hidden in a minor starport on a backwater planet, never appearing in public.” Grant continued, “Who exactly are you?”

He asked, but his tone held little caution.

Male zergs were a bunch of incompetents—that stereotype was deeply ingrained in Grant's mind. Even if the other had ill intentions, he was ultimately just a male zerg. With Grant's abilities, subduing him would be effortless.

He Lin sat up straight, making no attempt to placate Grant with kisses or soothing gestures. He raises his wrist, smoothing out the wrinkled cuff of his sleeve.

His voice remaining gentle. “General, I am merely a powerless B-class male zerg, forced to conceal my identity to survive.”

“B-class?” Grant's expression betrayed surprise.

Among the zerg race, a low-ranking male could only appease a female two ranks higher at most.

In other words, a B-class psychic power was the bare minimum requirement to appease an S-class female. Not to mention Grant's psychic strength surpassed that of an average S-class female.

Could it truly be, as this male claimed, due to the kisses and embraces before appeasement?

Seeing his rank had successfully diverted Grant's attention, He Lin added softly, "General, I am an orphan. You may not know this, but at Blackstone Starport, a male without backing is no different from cargo slaves."

Grant froze, then frowned, reaching out to grip He Lin's shoulder. “Are other zergs threatening your safety?”

He Lin smiled.

He felt as though he is watching prey willingly crawl into the trap he'd set for it.

The Zerg missions were indeed easy to handle.

“Don't worry, General. Not yet.” He Lin raised his hand, gently removing Grant's grip from his shoulder. Under the other's displeased gaze, he spread Grant's fingers and interlaced his own with Grant's.

Grant was charmed by this small gesture, his furrowed brow unconsciously smoothing out.

“Such tricks,” Grant's gaze swept over He Lin's flawless face as he coldly asked, “How many female zergs have you taken as wives?”

He Lin could easily detect the jealousy in his tone and said, “None.”

Grant didn't believe a word: “Do you take me for a fool?”

He Lin said, “General, not only have I never married a female zerg, this is also my first time using psychic energy to soothe one. Before meeting you, I disguised myself as a female zerg to work as a bartender in a bar to make ends meet.”

His words carried genuine sincerity. In truth, back on the main world, He Lin had been so consumed by work that he'd never dated anyone either—even kissing was a first for him. Had he not undergone prior training from the AI system, cramming some theoretical knowledge, he might not even have known how to move his tongue during that kiss.

After discovering He Lin could soothe him, Grant had already claimed this male zerg as his own possession. Learning that no one had ever touched him before brought Grant considerable relief.

Yet among the zerg species, most males were greedy and lustful. Could a male as exceptional and powerful as He Lin truly have never marked or comforted any female?

Doubt lingers in Grant's mind. He warned in a low voice, “I'll have my subordinates thoroughly investigate your background later. If I discover you've deceived me...”

“If I've uttered a single false word, I shall submit to whatever punishment you deem fit,” He Lin replied with a light chuckle.

Grant snorted, suddenly tightening his grip to pull He Lin back onto the sofa.

He wanted to be soothed once more.

He Lin obediently wrapped his arms around Grant's waist, clasping his hands as they kissed, their lips and tongues entwining. Within Grant's mind, that warm, gentle force flowed like spring rain, silently nourishing nerves long ravaged by torment.

Grant relaxed completely, as if sinking into a cloud. Clutching the male zerg's neck, he recalled something and murmured, “What... is your name?”

“He Lin.”

He Lin...

Grant silently repeated the name in his mind, tightening his fingers intertwined with He Lin's. “Kiss me again...” he urged, his voice thick with desire. “...Harder...”

--

During conversations with colleagues at the Administration and Operations Department, He Lin had heard them say the zerg world was the easiest to complete.

The females there were all incredibly simple-minded. A little tenderness would make them take a liking to you, grow fond, and then fall in love.

After that, even if you demanded the price of their souls, they'd accept it willingly.

He Lin had never truly grasped the weight of those words until now, gazing at the golden-haired female zerg nestled against his chest. He realized it was indeed true.

A single glance, a kiss, a few tender words—that was all it took to make an Imperial General submit and snuggle into his embrace.

Though he hadn't yet earned her full trust, achieving this level of intimacy on their first meeting was unheard of in any other world.

The second round of soothing concluded. He Lin's hand gently caressed Grant's waist. “General, once your inspection concludes, will you take me with you to the home world?”

“Of course. You're already my male zerg.” Grant, finally satisfied, nestled into the male zerg's embrace and spoke without hesitation. “For now, you'll stay by my side. Don't go anywhere.”

He remembered He Lin's earlier words and refused to let his male zerg face danger.

He Lin said, “I left some things behind in the barracks dormitory.”

“Are they important?” Grant asked.

“Just clothes and daily necessities.”

As a noble female and an Imperial Admiral, Grant naturally wouldn't let He Lin suffer any hardship in food, clothing, or daily necessities. He flipped his wrist, produced a virtual card, and handed it over. “If it's not important, don't bother going back. I'll have the steward help you buy new things. This is my secondary card. Take it. When the credit runs out, just tell me.”

He Lin wrapped one arm around Grant while taking the card with the other. Seeing the astronomical balance, he couldn't help but smile wryly. “Aren't you afraid I'll run off with it?”

Grant scoffed dismissively. “If you think you can get away with it, go ahead and try.”

With that, he shifted his body slightly, resting his head on He Lin's arm.

He was thoroughly satisfied with the male zerg he had found. Otherwise, even if he were certain He Lin couldn't escape his grasp, he wouldn't have so readily handed over his secondary card before the marriage was even agreed upon.

The male zergs he'd encountered on the home planet were either scrawny or short. Grant stood at 185 (6'06") centimeters tall, honed by years of training and combat into a mass of powerful, taut muscle. The thought of marrying one of those frail males for the sake of a mental bond, submitting beneath them, filled Grant with an indescribable revulsion.

In contrast, He Lin not only possessed striking looks but also stood slightly taller than Grant. Likely from years of roughing it in the lower levels, disguised as a female and performing physical labor, his arms, chest, and abdomen were covered in solid, powerful muscles. Though Grant felt a twinge of shame nestled in such a male's embrace, it was something he could accept.

Through his shirt, Grant idly traced He Lin's abdominal muscles, his desire stirring as he contemplated another round. Then, a cautious knock sounded at the door.

The captain of the guard's tense voice reported, "General, Governor Bao has inquired whether you will still attend tonight's banquet! And... if you do attend, will His Excellency the Zerg be accompanying you?"

Grant glances at He Lin, who smiles. “I'll defer to your judgment.”

“Tell him,” Grant's voice carries out into the hallway, regaining its usual sternness and detachment. “Lord He Lin and I will attend the banquet together. Also, find me a suitable formal gown.”

“Yes, sir!”

The incident outside the rest area had undoubtedly exposed He Lin's true identity. Grant needed to remain at Blackstone Starport for several more days due to work commitments. To prevent other unscrupulous zergs from coveting his male zerg, he must first mark He Lin.

This banquet presented the perfect opportunity to assert his claim.

Lost in these thoughts, Grant noticed He Lin had already sat up. He followed suit.

Glancing down at his rumpled uniform, Grant frowned in frustration. Just as he considered rising to tidy himself before a mirror, He Lin's fingers touched his collar.

Grant watched He Lin's focused gaze and gentle movements as he smoothed his clothes, his expression growing strangely unsettled.

Privileges granted by law, coupled with the physical disparity between males and females, meant males always treated females with an air of superiority. After marriage, beatings and whippings were commonplace.

Grant’s haughty treatment of He Lin stemmed solely from their vast class divide. After all, he was merely a male zerg born to the poor on a secondary star.

Grant had dismissed He Lin's earlier lack of resistance during his comforting as him simply enduring it.

But now, He Lin was voluntarily adjusting his clothes, his expression showing not a trace of reluctance.

His Adam's apple bobbed once. Grant mused that this male zerg must have spent too much time pretending to be a female, which caused him to behave this way.

Yet his heart began racing within his chest.

--

The formal attire arrived swiftly, delivered with utmost reverence by the Captain of the Guard himself into He Lin's hands.

In the lounge, Grant showed no inclination to avoid awkwardness, so He Lin's said nothing and simply unbuttoned his shirt.

His physique was superb—muscles defined without exaggeration, broad shoulders narrowing to a waist, chest and abs beautifully proportioned.

Grant shifted his gaze uncomfortably at the sight.

It seemed He Lin truly lacked any awareness of his role as a male zerg, casually shedding his shirt in front of him without even bothering to hide.

Such a personality was precisely what most easily attracted female zergs.

Bringing him back to the home planet this time meant restoring his status as a male zerg . With Grant's standing and influence, monopolizing a B-grade commoner male zerg was hardly difficult. But keeping He Lin from flitting from flower to flower would require paying closer attention to such matters.

The delivered formal attire was slightly old-fashioned in style, yet impeccably tailored with fine materials. After changing into the suit and slipping on brand-new leather shoes, He Lin turned to find Grant seated on the sofa, arms crossed, chin resting on his hand, intently studying the nightscape beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows.

He walked over, stood beside Grant, and joined him in gazing at the view before them.

The bright lights of the lounge mingled with the night outside, transforming the glass into a mirror brimming with reflections.

He Lin met Grant's gaze in their reflection on the window. After a moment, he leaned down and kissed Grant's ear. “General, I'm ready.”