The three followed Adjutant Qi into the room and lined up in a row, three meters in front of the Imperial Supreme Commander’s desk.
Unsurprisingly, Qin Zhen, walking at the front, took the center position. To his left was Ni Hong, and to his right was a female soldier drawn from the random selection box. After performing a military salute, they placed their hands behind their backs and stood ramrod straight with their chests out.
Adjutant Qi spoke: “Although the Commander has already received your files, he would like you to introduce yourselves. Keep it brief, focusing on your service record and why you wish to become a beast soldier.”
It was an expected opening. Qin Zhen had already prepared his speech mentally. With burning eyes, he was ready to speak.
Adjutant Qi suddenly looked to his left: “You start.”
Ah, a miscalculation! I should have stood on the left! People read from left to right! Qin Zhen felt a wave of regret.
“I… my name is Ni Hong, twenty four years old. I come from the C01 Star Province in the Third Star Sector. Private Third Class.”
“Where did you graduate, and how many years have you served?” Adjutant Qi asked, guiding him kindly as he noticed his nervousness.
“Graduated from the Central Military Academy. Two years of service.”
To graduate from the Central Military Academy and accumulate enough merit points for fusion within just two years suggested an extraordinary family background. In this batch of expectant parents, there were not many who could compare to him, though he was not unique.
Adjutant Qi continued: “Why do you want to become a beast soldier?”
“Because only by becoming a beast soldier can” For some reason, Ni Hong paused, and his voice lowered. “Becoming a beast soldier is a necessary path in my life.”
Qin Zhen grew anxious listening to him. This kid! How could he say that?!
At the very least, he should have said that becoming a beast soldier would allow him to make a greater contribution to the Empire!
Adjutant Qi nodded: “You are very honest. Next, your turn.”
Qin Zhen was still reeling from Ni Hong’s answer. He assumed it was his turn, but Adjutant Qi tilted his head and looked to his right.
Fine, fine. I am the grand finale. The finale is better anyway!
“Reporting, sir! My name is Leng Fei, twenty six years old. I am a Private Second Class from the Deep Space Fleet of the Central Military District. I graduated from the Central Military Academy and have served for eight years. My reason for wanting to become a beast soldier is simple: possessing a combat beast will make me more powerful. I want to become the War God of the Empire.”
This answer was both concise and powerful, leaving Qin Zhen stunned.
When he first heard the name “Leng Fei,” he had secretly chuckled. What kind of names are these? Little Ni on the left, a “Concubine” (Fei) on the right, and the Supreme Commander sitting in front. It is enough to stage a palace drama.
Of course, in interstellar history, the concept of imperial concubines did not exist.
But hearing the rest…
Damn, the Central Military District!
Damn, the Deep Space Fleet, the most elite fleet in the district!
Damn, the only single soldier legion in the entire Empire deeply integrated with the beast soldiers!
And she had served for eight years, exactly double his service time!
Most importantly, her answer about why she wanted to become a beast soldier was almost identical to the mental script he had prepared!
Adjutant Qi’s reaction remained calm. He glanced at the data on his communicator: “With your merit points, you had enough to register for fusion in your second year of service. Yet, you have had zero registration records for eight years. Why wait until now?”
“Reporting, sir! Because I wanted to know the limits of my own strength! I spent eight years finally reaching that limit. Now, I need a combat beast to break through the ceiling!”
What a ruthless person!
Gestation of a combat beast is something many people dream of; she had the patience to wait eight years? That was hardcore!
Qin Zhen was certain: this was a female “power fantasy” protagonist and his strongest competitor!
He could not help but steal a glance at Leng Fei.
Aside from her tall stature, she had two striking features: first, her skin was pale, which was rare among female soldiers. Second, her “skirt” was very short; judging by the loose threads at the hem, she had intentionally cut a section off her gestation clothes.
If not for her answer, Qin Zhen would have suspected her of trying to seduce his idol with that look!
“One small question.” Adjutant Qi was clearly satisfied with her. “What happened to your gestation clothes?”
Leng Fei remained expressionless: “Reporting, sir! The clothes were too long and hindered my movement. I must be prepared for potential danger at all times.”
Qin Zhen looked down at his own clothes, already considering whether to cut them to the root of his thighs. But he was not wearing underwear; if he cut them too short, his “little brother” would be exposed.
“Number 1069.”
Adjutant Qi called twice before Qin Zhen snapped back to reality. His first reaction was not “Reporting, sir” or “Here,” but a blank, “Huh?”
Adjutant Qi frowned imperceptibly and said, “It is your turn.”
In the next instant, the blankness in Qin Zhen’s eyes was burned away by fire. He shifted his gaze, staring intensely at Cang Bai behind the desk.
Leng Fei was impressive, but she had made a big mistake! Adjutant Qi was not the mentor. What was the point of addressing him? Every word should be directed at the Supreme Commander!
There must be eye contact! One must display sincerity and enthusiasm appropriately!
“Reporting to the Supreme Commander! My name is Qin Zhen, and I come from the F1901 colonial planet in the Sixth Star Sector. Private Third Class! I was admitted to the Sixth Star Sector Single Soldier Academy at fifteen and graduated early at eighteen. I have currently served for four years!”
He practically bellowed it. Ni Hong, being close, felt his ears ring. He glanced at Qin Zhen, and his expression changed instantly.
Qin Zhen was having a nosebleed!
Two streams of bright red gushed from his nostrils, flowing down both sides of his philtrum, bypassing his moving lips and dripping off his chin.
Drip, drip.
“Brother Qin! Brother Qin!” Ni Hong hissed desperately.
But Qin Zhen’s attention remained fixed on Cang Bai; he could not hear a thing.
“Wipe your nose,” Adjutant Qi said, losing his patience.
“Nosebleed?”
Qin Zhen froze, wiped his mouth and nose, and found his hand covered in blood.
“Oh, it must be from hitting the door earlier. My apologies, my apologies.”
He pulled up the hem of his gestation clothes to wipe his face casually. As he lowered his head, he suddenly heard a cold, indifferent voice.
“Why do you want to be a beast soldier?”
Realizing it was the Supreme Commander speaking, Qin Zhen was overjoyed.
The strategy worked! My idol is talking to me directly!
He was about to answer when he suddenly felt a chill on his leg.
Something hooked around his ankle, climbed up his calf to his thigh, wrapped around his waist and abdomen, slid across his chest, and emerged from his neck.
A python head the size of a fist stood tall and erect. Pure silver pupils stared into his wide eyes. With a hiss, the crimson, forked tongue nearly licked his eyelid.
Qin Zhen shrieked and recoiled, losing his balance and falling backward. The hem of his gestation clothes flipped up, pointing directly toward where Cang Bai sat.
The “scenery” beneath the skirt was momentarily exposed, and a white snake tail could be faintly seen wrapped around his waist.
Cang Bai’s gaze lingered for a split second on the bronze toned lower abdomen before it was hidden by the falling clothes. He said calmly, “White Python, return.”
The python head vanished. A bolt of snake shaped lightning appeared in the air and dove into Cang Bai’s military uniform.
Qin Zhen scrambled up, looking rather disheveled.
It was not that he was a coward. First, the White Python appeared too suddenly. Second, that python head reminded him of yesterday’s nightmare—the giant snake he had birthed that nearly strangled him to death.
Feeling embarrassed, he scratched his head and thought quickly: “That… that is why I want a combat beast. Even if it does nothing, just having the beast show its face can make an opponent wet their pants in fear.”
He stopped halfway because it sounded as if he were saying he had wet his own pants. He had not been scared to that extent.
Cang Bai nodded toward Adjutant Qi.
Adjutant Qi cleared his throat: “Very well, the introductions end here. Next, I will ask you a few questions to understand your gestation status. First question: Within the week prior to fusing with the beast egg, did you engage in sexual activity? If so, were you the active or passive party?”
This was a highly private question, so Adjutant Qi immediately explained: “I know you were all examined upon admission, but within a week of conception, no technical means can accurately detect the results. The coexistence of a human embryo and a young beast is very dangerous. Once both begin to develop, it will likely endanger your lives.”
“Reporting, sir! No!” Leng Fei was the first to answer.
“I have not either,” Ni Hong said with a blush.
This question helped Qin Zhen move past his embarrassment, and his mood lightened.
In the past, he simply did not know men could give birth, but he had seen men marry each other; the phenomenon was incredibly common. In his view, the interstellar era was simply more open than the old world.
Setting aside that he had been single for thirty years across two lifetimes, even if he were to do it, he would do it with a woman.
Furthermore, even if he were with a man, he would definitely be the active party.
“Then I certainly have not,” he replied, sticking to his strategy of looking the Supreme Commander in the eye.
Cang Bai did not look away. His slender index finger, resting on the desk, tapped the surface lightly.
“Good. Second question: After fusing with the beast egg, have you felt any discomfort?”
The subsequent questions focused on early gestation symptoms. They were simple and direct, and the questioning ended quickly.
Adjutant Qi put away the communicator and said finally, “Raise the hand wearing your sound card.”
The three each raised a hand.
Adjutant Qi also raised his left hand; the black ring on his index finger was identical to theirs.
“This sound card is the latest model developed by the Military Research Institute. Its communication range covers the entire Central Star Sector, and it features advanced photoelectric technology, so you never need to worry about power. If you have any questions or needs, simply press the button on the ring to contact the Commander or me immediately.”
“Additionally, it integrates high end physiological monitoring functions, which are more sensitive and comprehensive than the Gestation Center’s bracelets. It will collect your physiological data to facilitate our monitoring of your gestation”
Adjutant Qi’s voice stopped abruptly. His gaze was fixed on Qin Zhen’s hand.
“You” He hesitated for a few seconds before deciding to ask. “Why are you wearing the sound card on your ring finger?”
Specifically, the ring finger of his left hand.
Leng Fei and Ni Hong, like him, wore theirs on their index fingers.
Qin Zhen blinked and said instinctively, “Only the ring finger fits. The pinky is too thin, and the other three fingers are too thick.”
“The sound card can adjust its size automatically.”
“Adjust automatically? It did not do that.”
“You did not turn it on. Press and hold the button for three seconds.”
“Oh. I have to turn it on.”
In the early stages of gestation, many physiological traits have not yet appeared, so the initial meeting did not last long.
Half an hour later, Adjutant Qi led the three expectant parents out of the room.
A cold sensation slid across Cang Bai’s left arm and collarbone, emerging from the neckline. Silver python eyes looked at the nearby pensive face.
“From such a close distance, you still did not feel any energy traction?”
“You are so annoying. Why are you asking again?” The voice appearing in his mind was as irreverent as ever. “Energy traction? None. But as for that little soldier’s firm, muscular body? I felt that. Hey, Mr. Frigid, do you really not miss it even a little bit?”
“Your venom is ineffective against humans, yet he possesses a gestation sac,” Cang Bai thought to himself. “Combined with the abnormal rejection reaction after his fusion, is there a possibility that there is already a human embryo in his gestation sac, serving as a hiding place for your genes?”
That would explain why weak, irregular exotic beast energy could be detected.
“Are you saying my genes are playing a game of wits with me, finding the safest refuge before being wiped out by the venom? I am truly impressed by you. Think about it. Do your little swimmers have the ability to play games with you? Besides, the little soldier said himself he has had no sexual activity. Where would a human embryo come from?”
The White Python paused and gave a cold laugh.
“Even if we treat your impossible theory as a possibility, if a human embryo and a young beast coexist, the little soldier is as good as dead sooner or later. Does that not suit your wishes? Look at how scared you are.”
“Tsk, tsk, tsk. Did you see the way he looked at you? He even had a nosebleed. Is it possible he remembers what happened between you two and is far more interested in you than in that beautiful doctor?”
Just then, the door opened.
Adjutant Qi walked to the desk, his expression hesitant.
“Speak.”
“Commander, while I was walking them out, Qin Zhen kept asking questions. He even asked if you, as a mentor, would be staying at the Gestation Center. I think it might be more appropriate to hand him over to Tie Tu.”
“Hmm?”
Adjutant Qi thought for a moment and steeled himself to explain: “Considering his nosebleed, the way he looked at you, the act of wearing the ring on his left ring finger, and the record of him being reported for harassing Elder Chang, I think… I think he has improper thoughts about you.”