Tian had also arrived at the central station of the Vermis tribe by this time.
He had dressed up elaborately for the occasion, gazing into the mirror for a long time and taking numerous photos, thoroughly enjoying himself.
“Your Highness Tian, Crown Prince Bart of the Vermis tribe requests an audience,” a female Zerg said, kneeling before him.
Tian did not reply immediately. Instead, he continued looking at himself in the mirror, widening his eyes and adjusting his bangs while curling his pinky finger.
“How do you think I look today?”
Before transmigrating into this book, the transmigrator had a penchant for cross-dressing. Now, his new appearance far surpassed his old one, possessing features that were difficult to distinguish between male and female.
Consequently, he thoroughly enjoyed wearing outfits resembling shorts, lace trimmings, and puffy sleeves every day, occasionally applying a bit of lipstick and eye makeup. Rather than looking at other male or sub-male Zergs, he preferred standing before the mirror every day to admire the cross-dressed version of himself.
Today, he had gone so far as to wear a skirt paired with over-the-knee white socks, along with a translucent top.
“This is a new outfit I designed myself.”
Zergs displayed an exceptionally high level of tolerance toward male Zergs. The female Zerg immediately responded with enthusiasm. “You look absolutely charming, Your Highness Tian. The newly designed outfit is exceptionally striking, perfectly accentuating your beauty and leaving me scarcely daring to look directly at you.”
Tian curved the corners of his mouth, continuing to pout at his reflection in the mirror and flash a flirtatious wink.
He thought so too. Anyone would surely be captivated by him.
“Very well, let that Crown Prince enter.”
Crown Prince Bart of the Vermis tribe was a remarkably tall Zerg. He possessed a sturdy build, yet did not appear aggressive; in fact, he looked somewhat simple and honest.
Tian watched with satisfaction as Bart cast an astonished gaze upon him, after which Bart bowed deeply.
“Your Highness Tian, Admiral Keo of Hashu has prepared for a meeting with you.”
“If you do not mind, my father will serve as the mediator for this meeting.”
Tian smiled at him.
“Of course I do not mind. Thank you for the Vermis tribe’s hospitality.”
Bart wore a flattered expression. “This is our honor.”
The Vermis tribe excelled in farming and architecture, possessing a peaceful nature and an aversion to warfare, while maintaining significant trade relations with both sides. Because war was detrimental to the economy, they firmly advocated for peace.
However, Tian knew how to make others act according to his wishes.
He had Bart escort him to the conference room, intentionally manufacturing some physical contact along the way. True to form, Bart was soon blushing from head to toe.
It was only a matter of time before this big, burly Zerg fell in love with him. By then, wouldn’t the Vermis tribe have to lean in his favor?
Tian smiled smugly to himself, though his primary focus today was not Bart, but the fellow named Keo.
If Keo also fell for him, he wouldn’t even need to fight this war to win.
Furthermore, with Keo on his side, pillaging resources from all Zergs in the future would be as easy as taking things from his own pocket.
The doors to the conference room swung open shortly after. When Tian finally caught sight of Keo seated inside, he couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow in surprise.
Given the other man’s formidable military record, one that struck terror into the hearts of others in Baz to the point of being able to stop crying children at night, he had assumed Keo would undoubtedly be a ferocious-looking or rough-hewn Zerg.
He never expected Keo to look so handsome.
Moreover, he possessed an arrogant yet effortlessly cool type of handsome. Between his brows, there was none of the submissive obedience found in other Zergs. How should he put it?
He looked rather like a straight man.
Which happened to match his tastes quite well.
Tian couldn’t help but feel a twinge of anticipation for today’s meeting. He flashed a charming smile and took a seat.
The Vermis tribe had actually lent two opposing buildings in the central district to Hashu and Baz respectively, while constructing a meeting place right in the middle.
After dropping Tian off, Bart left the central area and instead headed toward the location where Hashu’s forces were stationed.
“No wonder everyone says Tian is the best-looking male Zerg in the entire Zerg race.”
“That silver hair and those golden eyes are simply stunning.”
Hearing a few passing soldiers softly discussing the matter nearby, Bart couldn’t help but nod inwardly.
His Highness Tian was indeed unforgettable. He found it difficult to imagine any male Zerg in the world surpassing his beauty.
However, he wasn’t quite sure why the other man wore such unfamiliar clothing and painted colors on his face. Different customs, perhaps?
Lost in thought, Bart soon arrived at the area where Hashu was stationed.
Earlier, Tian had secretly asked him to inquire about the whereabouts of his older brother, Eugene. It must have been out of deep sibling affection and genuine concern for Eugene’s situation.
Although physically imposing, Bart was actually a sensitive and emotional Zerg at heart. He found himself unable to refuse such a request.
While he had felt somewhat uncertain about how to locate the room where Eugene was staying, as he walked past a certain door, he unexpectedly heard the sound of knocking from within.
Thump, thump, thump.
The distinct pause in the rhythm was a military distress signal.
Bart’s expression shifted. He placed his hand on the door, invoked the highest administrative clearance, and forced the door open.
In the next moment, a silver-haired male Zerg tumbled out from the doorway like an angel falling from the sky, landing flat on his back on the floor.
Bart was completely stunned.
Eugene had actually been locked inside the bedroom, knowing that the Vermis territory might offer a chance of escape. He had dragged the bed all the way out, nearly exhausting himself to death in the process.
When he tumbled out, the bright sunlight outside made him squint, and Eugene lay flat on the floor, completely devoid of energy to move.
It took him a moment to narrow his eyes and look at the kind soul who had set him free, greeting him with a smile. “Hello.”
Bart blushed for no apparent reason.
He felt compelled to take back what he had just said.
Tian didn’t seem to be the most beautiful male Zerg in Baz after all.
The person in front of him was.
Eugene’s arm was still tethered to the bed frame, and his current sprawling posture looked quite disheveled. He was also lightly sweating, bearing no resemblance to Tian’s meticulously polished appearance.
Yet, as the sunlight streamed across his face, it made his skin appear more translucent than fine jade. His silver hair seemed like a glowing treasure, and his golden eyes shone brighter than precious gems. Eugene needed no other adornments to enhance himself.
Instead, his mere existence alone made the entire corridor seem to radiate brilliance.
Eugene waited for a moment, but the other party said nothing, simply staring straight at him as if petrified.
Feeling somewhat puzzled, he had no choice but to continue, “Thank you for letting me out. Could you tell me who from Baz came for these negotiations?”
Recovering his senses, Bart hurriedly dropped to a crouch and reached out to help Eugene up. “Please do not worry. His Highness Tian has already spoken with me.”
Upon hearing this, Eugene instantly clamped his mouth shut and regarded him with guarded suspicion.
What he needed was to return to his eldest brother’s side, but he absolutely could not let Tian find out.
The army that had arrived this time belonged almost entirely to Tian’s faction. Eugene had no doubt that if Tian discovered him, the other man would attempt to assassinate him.
He had initially assumed the Vermis people would remain neutral, but to his dismay, the very first person he encountered seemed to have already been bought off by Tian.
Eugene’s expression darkened, and he stopped speaking altogether.
Meanwhile, Bart noticed that Eugene was currently bound.
Because of Eugene’s exceptionally fair skin, any bruise appeared severe. At that moment, a distinct circle of bluish-purple marks had already formed around his wrists.
Furthermore, his hands were tied to the headboard.
Bart stared at Eugene’s fair arms for a moment, suddenly recalling the rumors about Prince Baz forcing his affections on someone. He blushed fiercely, his eyes widening in shock.
“This isn’t Admiral Keo’s room, is it? Could it be that he tied you here, waiting until tonight…”
Hearing this, Eugene assumed Bart was about to leak his whereabouts to Tian and come assassinate him by nightfall. “No, it won’t just be Keo at night; others will be standing guard as well.”
Bart drew a sharp breath. “There are others?”
Eugene wore a solemn expression. “Many people.”
Bart instantly felt his eyes sting with tears. He covered his face, looking utterly heartbroken.
“This is simply too outrageous! I can scarcely imagine what kind of humiliation you’ve had to endure over this period!”
“For them to subject you to such madness and abuse, did they have no concern for whether your body could take it?”
Eugene wondered what on earth this man was talking about.
“Please do not worry. Since you have arrived here, I cannot simply stand by and do nothing!”
Bart suddenly leaned forward and helped Eugene to his feet. “Here is what we will do: from now on, I shall take care of you. I will do my utmost to ensure you receive the proper treatment a male Zerg deserves!”
Eugene was left completely speechless.
Meanwhile, the negotiations on the other side were not going well either.
Tian had been driven to gnash his teeth in fury by Keo’s attitude, coming dangerously close to tearing the skirt of his own dress.
Unbelievable! He had never encountered such an ungrateful, unyielding Zerg in his life!
During the negotiations, he tried bringing up several demands, but Keo flatly rejected every single one of them without a shred of leniency.
When Tian smiled at him, Keo acted as though he didn’t see it. When Tian offered a few compliments, Keo merely cast a cold glance in his direction without uttering a single word in response, even letting his expression of impatience hang openly on his face.
Tian had even covertly released a trace of pheromones, something that would have left any other Zerg weeping with gratitude. Yet Keo had the audacity to tell him to have some self-respect! Self-respect!
Tian choked on his breath, nearly fainting on the spot. He was utterly fit to be tied.
Was this Keo even a Zerg, or was he some kind of eunuch?
At that moment, the door to the conference room was abruptly knocked open.
“Admiral!”
Ross rushed in hurriedly, leaning close to Keo’s ear to whisper a few words.
With his sharp senses, Tian thought he caught the name Eugene.
Keo, who had maintained a poker face the entire time, suddenly stood up and walked straight out with the messenger.
Tian never imagined that midway through a meeting, he could be so blatantly stood up.
This was simply outrageous!
Suspecting he had heard Eugene’s name, he stamped his foot in anger and chased after Keo.
Downstairs in the area where Hashu’s forces were stationed, several of Keo’s soldiers were on the verge of a brawl with the Vermis guards.
Eugene stood right in the center of the commotion, looking thoroughly awkward as Bart shielded him from behind.
“No matter what, I am taking this male Zerg Highness with me today!”
Eugene closed his eyes briefly. He had merely wanted to sneak out to gather some intelligence today, never anticipating that it would draw such massive attention.
As he felt a wave of annoyance, he looked up to see Keo striding toward him with a dark, brooding expression.
His heart skipped a beat. He couldn’t understand why Keo looked so furious.
Was it because he had tried to escape?
It was over.
In a flash, Keo reached him, and Eugene instinctively flinched backward in fright.
Yet in the next second, he was violently yanked away from Bart and pulled straight into Keo’s embrace.
“Give him back to me!”
Eugene looked at Keo in slight bewilderment.
So Keo’s anger just now wasn’t directed at him, but was instead aimed at Bart.
“Who gave you permission to take him out like this?”
At that moment, Keo’s expression toward Bart was exceptionally grim, and Bart’s attitude toward him had likewise plunged to freezing point.
While different cultures across races might have minor differences, the preferential treatment afforded to male Zergs remained identical everywhere. Even if Eugene was a hostage from an opposing nation, Bart found it hard to believe that Hashu would treat a male Zerg in such a manner.
“Since we are the mediators of this negotiation, we have every right to temporarily look after His Highness Eugene.”
“I never agreed to such a thing!”
“This isn’t a matter of whether you agreed or not! It’s because of you—you abused a male Zerg, locking him in a room, chaining him to a bed, and taking unauthorized…”
The remaining words were far too shameful and restricted for Bart to bring himself to utter.
However, the straight man Keo completely missed his implication.
“He is a prisoner of war; why wouldn’t I lock him up? The room he stays in is the room I stay in. If you want to talk about abuse, it’s that the bed you provided wasn’t good enough.”
“You have the nerve to complain that our provided bed wasn’t good enough?”
Bart’s face was flushed completely red. He had truly never witnessed such brazen shamelessness!
Meanwhile, lurking at the back of the crowd, Tian watched Keo and Bart arguing over Eugene, coming dangerously close to grinding his back teeth down to dust.
That guy Keo! He was so aloof and indifferent toward me earlier, but the moment he sees Eugene, he displays this excessive possessiveness, refusing to let go. What on earth is that supposed to mean?
Even Bart, who had been completely captivated by me, has forgotten me entirely and is now turning red in the face arguing over Eugene, daring to talk back to Hashu.
To top it all off, with so many people at the scene, not a single person has even noticed my existence. What kind of nonsense is this?
Shouldn’t I be the focal point of the crowd here?