“I came to see what kind of special thing the Balk family managed to pick up from the trash!”
Colin had noticed Gu Lin’s presence long before the others. Because of his angle, he caught sight of Gu Lin earlier than Coverdale did and truth be told, it was almost impossible not to notice him, someone dressed like that was far too eye-catching. Even if one wanted to ignore him, one’s eyes would drift toward him all the same.
But since Colin was still standing at a distance, he hadn’t gotten a clear look at Gu Lin’s expression. He certainly hadn’t expected that the other would be heading straight for him!
For a moment, Colin stood there, blank and confused, while Coverdale reacted instantly.
“I didn’t expect Your Highness to arrive so early,” Coverdale said quickly, his tone neither humble nor servile. “It was my oversight not to have welcomed you personally.”
Instead of clashing head-on with Gu Lin, he deftly changed the subject, redirecting the focus and taking the blame upon himself.
Colin froze for a second, startled by the quick shift, before finally understanding what Coverdale was doing.
Among the Zerg race, especially for males, rank was closely tied to social standing. An A-grade male could already be respectfully addressed as “Your Highness.” Even members of the royal family sometimes had to bow their heads before a higher-grade male.
Colin had no idea that the female standing before him was a true royal, he simply assumed Coverdale was just an ordinary female.
Coverdale didn’t want him getting into trouble by offending such a male, so he deliberately took the conversation upon himself, deflecting the tension.
Realizing this, Colin felt both touched and a little guilty.
He couldn’t understand, though, why was this stranger, someone he had never even met, targeting him so directly? He didn’t remember having any kind of conflict with him.
Because Colin and Coverdale hadn’t tried to speak in private and because they were standing in a relatively open area plenty of other Zerg nearby could see them. Many were already watching Gu Lin; plenty more were eager to find an excuse to approach him. It didn’t take long before the place began to fill with curious onlookers.
【This villain reacts fast.】 Gu Lin maintained his proud and arrogant performance but inside, he was muttering complaints to his system.
【And he acts really well too.】 The system, meanwhile, was trying to trace the person who had sent those incriminating photos to its host. On the surface, the sender appeared to be one of Gu Lin’s “friends,” but in truth, someone had used that friend’s hand to send them.
Given Gu Lin’s personality, being humiliated like that meant he would never bring the matter up again. He would probably start distancing himself from that “friend,” maybe even cutting off contact altogether.
【But no matter how convincing that act looks, it’s useless. My host already stripped off his mask long ago.】
The system practically beamed with pride. After all, wasn’t its host’s brilliance proof of its own excellent taste? Praising the host was basically the same as praising itself!
Unlike his giddy system, Gu Lin didn’t comment on Coverdale’s tactful handling of the situation.
He had seen Coverdale in the original’s memories before, but this was his first time meeting him face-to-face.
Although Coverdale was only a C-grade female and not particularly stunning, Zerg were a species rarely lacking in good looks. What made him stand out wasn’t his appearance but his temperament.
He wasn’t cold and stern like a military female, nor was he gentle and delicate like a sub-female. His demeanor carried a kind of warm tolerance, and when he smiled, that quiet gentleness could easily draw anyone in.
Unfortunately, Gu Lin wasn’t the type to get lost in appearances. His only regret at the moment was that his plan to earn some quick system points using Coverdale had been temporarily derailed.
Coverdale had reacted swiftly, and had even taken the blame onto himself. Since he was one of the males who admired Coverdale, Gu Lin naturally couldn’t continue to make things difficult for Colin.
In fact, to maintain a good impression in front of Coverdale, Gu Lin even decided to hold himself back while the others remained nearby.
Outwardly, he restrained his temper and exchanged polite words with Coverdale, though he wasn’t in any real hurry.
【Host, you’re just going to let it go like that?】 The system grew anxious, completely unaware of Gu Lin’s deeper plan.
The first three tasks assigned to new players didn’t come with any penalties, but they were also the easiest and most straightforward ones for earning points. If he failed to seize these early chances to farm points, later missions would only become more difficult.
【Don’t worry. I’m not in a rush. Coverdale won’t stay by Colin’s side forever.】
Gu Lin maintained the haughty tone that fit his character as he continued chatting stiffly with Coverdale.【Even if he insists on staying, once the dance begins later, he’ll have to part from Colin anyway.】
To be honest, the topics chosen by the original Gu Lin were terrible, shallow, offensive, and utterly devoid of substance. Only someone as tactful as Coverdale could keep the conversation going smoothly.
Still, Gu Lin found talking to him unexpectedly pleasant. Even without the obsessive affection the original host had felt, he didn’t find the exchange dull.
Coverdale was well-read, insightful, and sharp in his views. Speaking with him was stimulating rather than tiresome.
If only Gu Lin were still the brilliant human commander he used to be, instead of the spoiled, ignorant young master he had become, he might have been able to discuss deeper subjects with Coverdale and learn something truly valuable.
Unfortunately, their conversation didn’t last long before someone interrupted.
The newcomer was someone Gu Lin, or rather, the original Gu Lin, knew all too well: Kaili Benson, the same person who had been deliberately making his life miserable not long ago.
Kaili was not in a good mood. The last time he had sneaked out with the family crest to cause trouble for Gu Lin, his brother had found out and punished him severely.
Of course, as a male Zerg, corporal punishment wasn’t an option, but his brother had forced him to study beginner-level mecha construction nonstop. He had been kept indoors like a caged bird, only being eased now because the Balk family’s banquet required his attendance.
Every time he thought about how, once this party ended, he’d have to go back to endless lessons, he felt his very soul groan. His once carefree days of sleeping until noon were gone forever and all because of Gu Lin!
Resentment burned in his chest.
If that annoying idiot hadn’t picked a fight with Hicks that night, he would never have been dragged into this mess!
Just as he was fuming at the unfairness of it all, his eyes fell upon Gu Lin, laughing and chatting cheerfully with Coverdale.
The moment he saw him, Kaili’s first reaction wasn’t anger but shock. He immediately covered his eyes and turned around.
What was that hideous, blinding outfit supposed to be?!
But then he stopped himself. How could he turn away now? He and Gu Lin had been rivals since childhood. If he backed down now, that arrogant bastard would only get even more full of himself!
He couldn’t back down. Not ever.
With that thought, Kaili spun back around and glared fiercely at him.
He had no idea that the system, who loved nothing more than laughing at others’ expense, was already rolling on the floor in delight.
It didn’t care how ridiculous its host’s attire might be, this was pure entertainment! And to make things even better, the laughter was courtesy of its host’s old rival.
Gu Lin, who had read the entire original novel, of course knew exactly what kind of person Kaili was. The Benson family carried the genes of a unique Zerg lineage, one that blessed its members with exceptional eyesight, keen perception, and a strong spiritual sense. They were natural-born mechanics.
Unfortunately, the males of the current era were spoiled rotten. Expecting them to spend time building or repairing mechas was harder than killing them outright.
Kaili’s untrained talent likely amounted to little more than his unusually sharp vision.
“What are you doing here?” Gu Lin’s voice turned cold as soon as someone interrupted his conversation with Coverdale. He even shot a sidelong glance at Colin, his disdain and irritation plain for everyone to see.
Colin said nothing, but Kaili immediately exploded.
He was an A-grade male, pampered and revered since birth, and he had never been treated this way. Yet Gu Lin had been at odds with him since the very day they were born!
“Why can’t I be here? Is this your house?” Kaili snapped back furiously.
Unlike his older brother, Orcott, whose light-colored eyes were sharp and narrow, Kaili’s eyes were darker and rounder. When he widened them in anger, he looked more like an indignant kitten than a threatening rival, utterly lacking in menace.
Then, suddenly, he felt a sharp pain behind his eyes. It was as though he had been struck by a ten-ton emotional blow.
That bastard, Gu Lin, had somehow landed a physical hit without even moving!
“Then you must be following me, you little stalker!” Gu Lin sneered mockingly.
“You’re the one who’s always chasing after the Third Prince! Don’t act so high and mighty!” Kaili shot back instantly, his words tumbling out before he could stop himself. “Too bad the Third Prince already has a male, and it isn’t you!”
The moment the words left his mouth, Kaili froze.
The surrounding crowd, which had grown even larger as curious Zerg gathered to watch, all fell silent. Dozens of eyes turned toward him in shock.
Even Kaili himself realized, a second too late, what he had just said. His face went pale as he looked at Coverdale, who now wore a faint, sorrowful expression.
He hadn’t meant to hurt him. For all his childish pride, Kaili didn’t actually dislike Coverdale. The gentle and courteous female had never done him any harm. But his tongue had slipped and every Zerg in the Empire knew that Coverdale’s male consort had died in a pirate attack years ago.
The two had been deeply in love.
After his consort’s death, Coverdale had fallen into a long period of quiet grief before finally returning to public life.
Kaili knew he was in the wrong but years of being pampered as a high-ranking male made it impossible for him to bow his head. His pride simply wouldn’t allow it.
With two A-grade males present, and the Third Prince himself among them, it was no surprise that a crowd had gathered quickly.
Male banquets were always full of males and spoiled ones at that, none of whom cared to watch their tongues. The newly arrived Zerg began asking what had happened and soon the entire scene devolved into noisy chaos.
【Is this guy stupid?】 the system snickered between fits of laughter, unable to stop itself from commenting on Kaili’s blunder. 【Seriously, he’s pure comedy gold.】
【He’s not stupid,】 Gu Lin replied coolly, his expression twisting into one of righteous fury. 【He’s just here to deliver us free points.】
“That trash isn’t even fit to be compared to me, ” Gu Lin’s voice trembled with suppressed rage, his expression twisted in disgust.
“That’s enough!” Coverdale’s voice cut sharply through the rising tension. His carefully composed expression was close to cracking as he said, “Forgive me, I’m not feeling well. I’ll take my leave first.”
It seemed to take all his willpower to maintain his composure. He gave a restrained bow toward both Gu Lin and Kaili, then nodded faintly to Colin before turning to go.
His figure swayed slightly as he walked away, his steps light but unsteady. Though he quickly regained his balance and maintained his elegance, the weakness in his gait was unmistakable.
Gu Lin watched, momentarily taken aback. If he hadn’t already known the truth, from both the novel’s plot and traces he’d uncovered in this reality, he might have truly believed that Coverdale’s love for his late consort had been deep and genuine.
To nearly every Zerg, Coverdale was the perfect picture of gentleness, grace, and inner strength. It was hard to imagine that this same gentle soul would one day become the cold, calculating mastermind who manipulated countless Zerg like pieces on a chessboard.
Even the consort he had supposedly loved so deeply… had ultimately died by his own hand.
But Gu Lin didn’t dwell on that thought for long, because his system suddenly interrupted with a gleeful exclamation.
【Host, your points just went up!】
Actually Kaili and Gu Lin might become a best friend? Kaili isn’t that bad.. Just dumb?
✦ ✧ ✦
[Translator]
☕ A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR THE TRANSLATOR
(｡•̀ᴗ-)✧ you know what to do
☕ BUY THEM A COFFEE →
✧ (づ｡•ㅅ•｡)づ ☕ ✧
✦ thank you for reading ✦
← PreviousNext →
ChaptersChapter 1 · Crossing OverChapter 2 · KaxiuChapter 3 · Social DeathChapter 4 · Female Servant/WifeChapter 5 · ConfusedChapter 6 · MysteryChapter 7 · CamouflageChapter 8 · AcquaintanceChapter 9 · Man in a ShellChapter 10 · FoodChapter 11 · RemunerationChapter 12 · GossipChapter 13 · TaskChapter 14 · CoverdaleChapter 15 · Mission AccomplishedChapter 16 · ExchangeChapter 17 · DreamChapter 18 · DelicateChapter 19 · ReasonChapter 20 · SpecialChapter 21 · 2 Dose of VialChapter 22 · Night WatchChapter 23 · One NightChapter 24 · GratefulChapter 25 · ContestChapter 26 · FortChapter 27 · RecordChapter 28 · SealChapter 29 · MissedChapter 30 · Treasure TroveChapter 31 · Battle SpiritChapter 32 · IllusionChapter 33 · PhotosChapter 34 · DifferentChapter 35 · Heartfelt wishesChapter 36 · TeasingChapter 37 · InterestChapter 38 · TrappedChapter 39 · Borrowing a knifeChapter 40 · SecretChapter 42 · ConditionChapter 43 · QuestionChapter 44 · AnswerChapter 45 · CoreChapter 46 · MeetChapter 47 · WeirdChapter 48 · DifferentChapter 49 · Spiritual SeaChapter 50 · ConceptsChapter 51 · Hicks Return!Chapter 51 · RoefellerChapter 53 · 10 thousand points!Chapter 54 · RedemptionChapter 55 · ChangeChapter 56 · ReceiveChapter 57 · Side QuestChapter 59 · It seems like a old FriendChapter 60 · TrainingChapter 61 · MoodChapter 62 · ConfusedChapter 63 · Children’s PlaygroundChapter 64 · GiftChapter 65 · ApproachingChapter 66 · ThreatChapter 67 Part 1 · Do you have any objections?Chapter 67 Part 2 · Do you have any objections?Chapter 68 · MaintenanceChapter 69 · Thank youChapter 70 · UndercoverChapter 71 · VisitChapter 72 · FrenzyChapter 73 · TransactionChapter 74 · ReminderChapter 75 · ArenaChapter 76 · InterestingChapter 77 · CuteChapter 78 · SecretChapter 79 · CompareChapter 80 · StrategyChapter 81 · CrisisChapter 82 · ProtectChapter 83 · Blind SpotChapter 84 · SafetyChapter 85 · Mission ObjectiveChapter 86 · DeterminationChapter 87 · Grave DangerChapter 88 · GuessingChapter 89 · Chess PieceChapter 90 · EmotionsChapter 91 · Guardian’s HeartChapter 92 · A Dangerous FigureChapter 93 · FrustratedChapter 94 · BullyChapter 95 · NegotiationChapter 96 · ChallengeChapter 97 · RejectionChapter 98 · PlantingChapter 99 · Thank youChapter 100 · LeveragingChapter 101 · ChaosChapter 102 · SubmitChapter 103 · ThoughtsChapter 104 · Good news and bad newsChapter 105 · MadmanChapter 106 · CooperationChapter 107 · Just drawingChapter 108 · It was a pleasure working with youChapter 109 · StargazingChapter 110 · GuideChapter 111 · Plant FlowerChapter 112 · White WolfChapter 113 · SterilisationChapter 114 · CollarChapter 115 · RunChapter 116 · GenerousChapter 117 · ImageChapter 118 · FriendlyChapter 119 · LostChapter 120 · TasteChapter 121 · System upgradeChapter 122 · Transfered FromChapter 123 · Keep dragging it outChapter 124 · CategoryChapter 125 · DemolitionChapter 126 · I want to cry but can’tChapter 127 · Upgrade completeChapter 128 · Tears streaming down my face in the windChapter 129 · Strange luckChapter 130 · UnknownChapter 131 · Dog plant flowersChapter 132 · Contest of Wits and Silent UnderstandingChapter 133 · ColinChapter 134 · AmbushChapter 135 · DullChapter 136 · BattleChapter 137 · Post-WarChapter 138 · Return ToChapter 139 · Strength EnhancementChapter 140 · Is this a staged accident scam?Chapter 141 · ToolChapter 142 · ProcessingChapter 143 · CluesChapter 144 · MemoryChapter 145 · UnderstoodChapter 146 · I want to hug youChapter 147 · Differential treatmentChapter 148 · So DifficultChapter 149 · Going to farChapter 150 · Real or FakeChapter 151 · ResponseChapter 152 · The truthChapter 153 · Let’s chat Causally?Chapter 154 · A Way to RelaxChapter 155 · ConversationChapter 156 · Daily MissionChapter 157 · A QuarrelChapter 158 · NamelessChapter 159 · ProbingChapter 160 · A Good HelperChapter 161 · ConfirmationChapter 162 · DiscussChapter 163 · ForgottenChapter 164 · TraceChapter 164 · TraceChapter 165 · Contact