【Congratulations, Host. Points +287】
The system’s cheerful voice rang out in his mind.
Just like that, he had earned one-tenth of the total mission points in a single move. The system was astonished, but also very pleased.
Gu Lin was equally surprised when he heard the result.
He glanced at the protagonist, who still looked dazed and bewildered. Clearly, the man had just learned about Coverdale’s true identity, not to mention everything that person had gone through in the past.
It was obvious that the protagonist felt guilty for his earlier rudeness, his careless words had hurt Coverdale and now, on top of that guilt, he was beginning to harbor a certain resentment toward Gu Lin.
So… could making the protagonist dislike him actually be a quick way to earn points?
Gu Lin deliberately put on a shocked expression. He looked as though he wanted to chase after Coverdale but in the end, he forced himself to hold back.
After all, as an A-grade male, it would be absolutely beneath his dignity to go running after a C-grade female, especially one who had already had another male before him.
His jaw tightened, and he glared furiously at Kaili, eyes burning with anger, as if he might tear him apart on the spot.
Kaili, however, wasn’t angry at all. In fact, seeing Gu Lin so enraged seemed to amuse him. The two of them had been butting heads since childhood, they were of similar age and they had been at odds practically since they could talk. Some things never changed.
“Hmph! and Hicks’s mecha-operation skills are still garbage!” Gu Lin shot back coldly.
If he had said anything else, Kaili probably wouldn’t have cared but the moment he mentioned Hicks, the very Zerg, Kaili adored, the one he dreamed of marrying, Kaili exploded.
His temper flared like a struck matchstick but before he could fully lash out, someone hurried over and stopped him.
It was a familiar face, another young Zerg Kaili knew well. He rushed up to him, panting, and thrust his light-brain screen forward for Kaili to see.
Kaili glanced down and his face instantly turned pale. Without even sparing Gu Lin a final glare, he spun on his heel and hurried away in such a rush that it left the others completely confused.
Only Gu Lin had a pretty good guess. Hicks’s encounter with the Takashi clan must have already been exposed.
Still, thanks to Gu Lin’s earlier instructions, Hicks shouldn’t be in any real danger. Injuries were inevitable, of course but at least they shouldn’t be life-threatening.
Now that Kaili was gone and Coverdale had also left, the once-crowded room suddenly felt empty. Only Gu Lin and Colin remained.
Colin didn’t know much about the Zerg race’s internal politics. At first, he had kept quiet out of respect for Coverdale’s wish to let the matter go. Later, while Coverdale and Gu Lin were talking, he hadn’t found a chance to interrupt anyway.
When Coverdale left, Colin didn’t follow. He could tell that the flashy, arrogant Zerg, Gu Lin, clearly had feelings for Coverdale. If Colin went after him now to offer comfort, it might only make things worse.
If he accidentally provoked that temperamental noble again, Coverdale might not be able to leave at all and Colin would end up having to clean up the mess.
Still, even though he hadn’t said anything, he was inwardly dissatisfied with Gu Lin’s behavior.
He had long known that the Zerg race placed extreme importance on hierarchy. The higher-grade males were addressed as “Your Highness,” and they were treated with blind reverence and indulgence that seemed to have no limits.
Colin found that kind of world instinctively repulsive. He couldn’t understand it.
Why did the females, who worked tirelessly in the army and in business, who were the ones truly building their society, have to let a bunch of pampered, idle males sit around and enjoy all the benefits without lifting a finger?
And that wasn’t even the worst of it. Many of those males were cruel, capricious, and wasteful, treating females with cold arrogance and harsh demands.
From the few things Colin had already witnessed, he felt disgusted and he knew that what he had seen was only the tip of the iceberg.
Yet, as someone who was technically one of the privileged, though a very low-ranking one, there wasn’t much he could do.
Or maybe… he wasn’t completely powerless because he still had a system.
“System?” Colin called softly in his mind.
【I’m here】 the system replied, its voice mechanical and emotionless.
But before Colin could continue the conversation, Gu Lin’s simmering anger suddenly turned toward him.
“Well, well, look who’s still standing here,” Gu Lin sneered, his tone dripping with contempt
“Didn’t run off with the others, huh? A C-grade male, tsk, tsk, tsk. The Balk family must really be in decline to think they’d throw such a grand banquet just to celebrate the return of a mere C-grade male… has the Balk family really fallen so low that they have no one else left?”
“You…” Colin clenched his fists. With Coverdale gone, there was no one left to step in and he was forced to face Gu Lin’s bullying alone.
He was furious, yes, but he was also clear headed enough to know he couldn’t afford a direct confrontation.
He didn’t fully understand what it meant for a family to lack a high-grade male, but from the way the old butler had spoken earlier, he could vaguely sense how important his own existence was to the family.
Even a C-grade male held great value to a powerful clan like the Balks. So could he really afford to provoke an A-grade male who clearly came from an even higher background?
He wasn’t afraid for himself but he was afraid of bringing trouble down on his family.
And yet… the way Coverdale had been treated earlier still weighed on his mind. Coverdale had stood up for him but he, Colin, couldn’t even bring himself to speak up in return, was he really that much of a coward?
【Mission progress: fifty percent. Please continue your efforts, Host!】the system chirped happily in Gu Lin’s ear.
Gu Lin was a little surprised. According to the novel, the protagonist wasn’t someone who got angry easily. He was, in fact, a good person, too good for his own sake. Kind, a little timid, overly cautious.
The kind who always hesitated before taking action but he did care deeply about the people around him. That must be why Gu Lin’s mission progress had jumped so suddenly, it had something to do with Coverdale.
Now that he understood the reason, Gu Lin also understood how to complete his mission faster.
“I wonder which fool brought you back,” Gu Lin mocked, his tone dripping with scorn. “Probably another worthless Zerg just like you…”
“Shut up!” Colin finally snapped.
He could tolerate being insulted himself, but not when Gu Lin started dragging others into it!
He didn’t know what Gu Lin might say next but he couldn’t let him continue. He had to stop him.
To Gu Lin, however, Colin’s angry outburst was strangely satisfying. It eased the fire in his chest, almost soothing.
But instead of backing off, Gu Lin turned his full attention and malice onto Colin.
【Mission progress: eighty percent! Keep going, Host! Victory is in sight!】The system cheered wildly in his mind.
“Why should I shut up?” Gu Lin leaned closer, his voice a soft, poisonous whisper. “Even if you’ve returned to your family, what difference does it make? Sure, they’re all excited right now, thrilled that a male has finally come home but that joy won’t last.”
He stepped forward, until his breath brushed Colin’s ear.
“You’re only a C-grade male. Even if you mate with an A-grade female, the best offspring you could produce would barely reach B-grade. Tell me, how many A-grade females do you think would ever want you? Once they realize you can’t give them higher-grade offspring, what do you think they’ll do to you?”
Gu Lin’s voice dropped to a low, taunting murmur, like the whisper of a demon.
“When you fail to meet their expectations, when the ones who now treat you kindly and call you family, turn cold, what will you do then?”
“That’s not true!” Colin stumbled back a step, shaking his head violently. “They’re not like that! They would never do that!”
【Mission progress: one hundred percent. Congratulations, Host, mission complete!】The system announced joyfully, as if tossing confetti in celebration.
Gu Lin gave a short, mocking laugh. He said nothing more, but the ridicule in his eyes said it all.
Just then, another Zerg came hurrying over. He stopped beside Colin, bowed deeply to Gu Lin and said respectfully, “Your Highness, our family head has prepared generous gifts and humbly requests a private audience with you.”
So Colin has system too? Gonna be system vs system 😏 Anyway.. I don’t like righteous people, sometimes instead of making changes, they make it worst😩
✦ ✧ ✦
[Translator]
☕ A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR THE TRANSLATOR
The coffee spirits are watching. 👁️☕
☕ 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