MPWATMBC Chapter 81

Graydon Stark tucked the hem of his white shirt into his pants, staring at himself in the mirror while sucking in his stomach in a futile attempt to appear slimmer. Broad-shouldered and stout since childhood, Graydon had fleetingly considered dieting and exercising only a handful of times—once for his high school graduation, once to meet his spouse-to-be, and now, for some reason, once again.

But no amount of stomach-sucking could magically make the pounds disappear. Losing weight was so hard!

Soon, the strain of holding his breath made him give up. He loosened his belt, letting his belly wobble freely, and patted it with a laugh. Turning to Herman, he quipped, “Our ancestor Antonio was a fat man himself. He didn’t pass down his brilliance, but boy, did that stubborn ‘fat gene’ thrive through the generations!”

Meanwhile, a sneeze erupted from the toddler sitting on the carpet, engrossed in building blocks. Unbothered, the little one wiped their nose with the back of a pudgy hand and continued assembling what had become a miniature castle. Despite being under two years old, the child already displayed intelligence surpassing that of both parents, undoubtedly inheriting the brilliance of their ancestor Antonio Stark. Unfortunately, the infamous “fat gene” was just as apparent. Born chubby and blessed with an insatiable appetite, the road to slimness seemed an impossible dream.

Herman Franz, who had once been lean himself, grabbed a wet wipe to clean the child’s nose and sticky hands. He then handed the toddler a small, orange candy-like tablet. “The air quality on the capital planet is nothing like back home,” he remarked, a hint of frustration in his tone. The child’s sensitive respiratory system had been acting up ever since their arrival, leading to frequent sneezes that only medication could alleviate.

Receiving no response, Graydon kept talking to himself. “With this body of mine, even drinking water makes me gain weight. Sigh.” He continued scrutinizing his figure in the mirror, a mix of resignation and indifference on his face.

Herman rolled his eyes. “You don’t gain weight from drinking water. You gain weight from chocolate cake, steak, pizza, barbecue ribs, pork hock, Dongpo pork, curry chicken rice… Shall I go on?”

“Heh heh,” Graydon chuckled sheepishly, rubbing his hands. He glanced at his wife, Herman, whose face was plump, rosy, and endearing—resembling a ripe peach, both appetizing and adorable. When they first met, Herman had been a slim guy standing 177 centimeters tall and weighing only 120 pounds. A few years into their marriage, “happiness weight” had brought Herman to over 200 pounds. “It’s my fault, all my fault,” Graydon admitted with a grin.

“Of course, it’s your fault!” Herman snapped. Graydon, a food reviewer for a popular website, always brought home delicious treats to share. His job ensured a constant supply of tempting food, making his current weight an occupational hazard. Under his relentless feeding, it was nearly impossible for Herman not to gain weight.

“Yep, yep, it’s Daddy’s fault!” the toddler chimed in, nodding earnestly. Standing loyally by his father’s side, the little one didn’t fully understand what his two dads were discussing, but he was happy to agree nonetheless.

Graydon waved off the housekeeping robot, instructing it to take the full-length mirror away. Stepping out into the room, he spread his legs slightly and bent over with some effort, giving his son’s head a playful ruffle. “It’s my fault for bringing too much food home. From now on, I’ll only give it to Papa, not you.”

“Okay,” the toddler responded absentmindedly, completely engrossed in his toys and paying no real attention to what his dad was saying.

Straightening up, Graydon turned toward his wife, Herman, who was already dressed and ready to go. A hint of worry crossed Graydon’s face. “Bringing just a bottle of wine and two boxes of pastries—isn’t that a bit rude? Doesn’t seem very impressive.” He scratched his head with a broad hand, contemplating what else they could bring. It was his first time visiting such an influential household, and he felt out of his depth.

Herman frowned slightly and replied, “I think this is enough. On our way out of the hotel, we can pick up a large flower arrangement.”

“Huh?” Graydon tilted his head, confused.

“That’s the General’s estate we’re visiting. Do you think a general would lack anything? For a first visit, it’s our thoughtfulness that counts as the most sincere gift. If we bring something overly extravagant, I suspect General… uh…” Herman caught himself mid-sentence, almost calling Auston by name. During their travels, they hadn’t observed the usual social hierarchy, addressing each other casually by name. They had always assumed that their travel companion Auston merely shared the same name as the Imperial Admiral, never imagining they were one and the same.

“Extravagant gifts might actually rub him the wrong way,” Herman finished.

Out of his military uniform, Auston was a far cry from the cold and rigid general often seen in the news. It was hard for anyone slow on the uptake to connect the two personas—and the Stark couple happened to be exactly that kind of slow and easygoing pair. It wasn’t until Ryan was attacked and Auston publicly announced their marriage—causing a stir across the internet—that Graydon and Herman fully realized just how extraordinary their traveling companion truly was.

Graydon came to a sudden realization. “You’re right, honey. A general wouldn’t be short of anything. When we visit, our sincerity is what matters. By the way, coming to the capital planet on this risky adventure to clear our ancestor’s name… Herman, thank you. Thank you for supporting me.”

“We’re married. If something happens to you, what would I do?” Herman stood up, lowering his gaze to hide the worry, fear, and frustration that flickered in his eyes. What was done was done—there was no use dwelling on it now. With heartfelt conviction, he added, “If I don’t support you, who will?”

“Daddy.”

Both Graydon and Herman looked down at the same time. Their chubby son was clutching Herman’s leg for balance, having just stood up. The little one tilted his head back to look at his two fathers, then patted his chest proudly. “Me.”

He didn’t quite understand what “support” meant but decided he wanted to join in anyway.

Graydon laughed heartily. “Right, and you’re supporting Dad too.”

Graydon Stark wasn’t just accusing former Prime Minister Gustav; in his effort to clear the name of his great-great-grandfather, he took direct aim at the Gustav family. When the entire Empire’s attention was drawn to the capital, focusing on the trial of the former Prime Minister due to the “Starry Insect” scandal, Graydon made his move. His call to clear his ancestor’s name could not be quietly brushed aside. As soon as the case was brought up, it sparked widespread public debate. Under the pressure of public opinion, the interim government had no choice but to address the issue. A special task force was established, consisting of personnel from the public security, prosecution, and legal departments, specifically assigned to handle the case.

Of course, there were multiple hands behind the scenes pushing this forward.

Under the scrutiny of public opinion, the “Stark Case” had to be addressed and resolved in a way that was satisfactory to the public. Regardless of the motives behind those who had helped stir the pot, they had directly or indirectly helped Auston achieve his goal. If they could clear Antonio’s name for the tax evasion scandal from seven hundred years ago, how far off could resolving other matters be?

At the Dalton residence, it was a rest day, and both Ryan and Auston stayed home to entertain guests. In the small garden, a thick blanket was spread across the ground, with a lively little baby joyfully moving around on it.

Tuantuan, too, was the kind of child who didn’t want to stay indoors after waking up today.

The grass on the ground was soft and thick, meticulously trimmed by the gardener, with no small stones hidden in the grass to hurt the baby’s delicate skin. This area was specially designated for Tuantuan. The grass had been carefully planted, and the surrounding flowers were carefully transplanted. To provide shade, a ten-meter-high tree stood nearby. Its leaves were thin and let sunlight filter through, casting scattered spots of light on the ground. The air was free from any strong smells. The wind rustled the leaves, creating a gentle sound, and the spots of light shifted along with the breeze. It was Tuantuan’s favorite sight. He would reach out with his little hands, trying to catch the “stars” that danced in the light.

Auston sat cross-legged next to Tuantuan, occasionally glancing at the child while reading. He reached out to play with Tuantuan, gently squeezing his soft little hands, stroking his adorable little feet, and poking his round nose. He would lightly tap his chubby cheeks and even take a moment to playfully touch his small ears. If Tuantuan wasn’t happy about being touched, he would pout, on the verge of tears. Auston, feeling as if he had done something wrong, quickly looked around, anxious about receiving a disapproving glance from the butler, Bowers, standing nearby. When he realized Bowers wasn’t looking his way, Auston let out a quiet sigh of relief. He hurriedly patted Tuantuan’s body, softly coaxing him, “Don’t cry, Tuantuan, don’t cry.”

Tuantuan didn’t hold any grudges against his dad. After a few gentle words of coaxing, he stopped crying. He reached out his little hand, forming a very uncoordinated fist. “Ah ah~”

Auston caught his hand with a smile, saying, “Thank you, Tuantuan.”

This was usually when Tuantuan would break into a happy grin, as though offering the “little stars” he had caught to his dad.

After lying down for a while, Tuantuan would get uncomfortable and start to wiggle his body. He was still so small, unable to fully control his movements. He was in the process of learning how to roll over, how to lie on his stomach, and how to use his soft neck to lift his little head. With a few protesting “ah ah” sounds, Tuantuan would be lifted into his dad’s arms. His tiny body was propped up by Auston, giving him a new view of the world. He looked around and made an “oh” sound, his mouth forming an “o,” as if his little eyes could now see a whole lot more. Auston chuckled softly, lifting his gaze to the distance.

He saw Ryan tossing a frisbee into the sky. Standing at Ryan’s feet, Da Fu immediately spread his wings and started running. With each stride, he flapped his wings, and within just a few moments, Da Fu took off, soaring like an arrow toward the frisbee. He snapped his mouth open and caught it mid-air, then braked by kicking his feet, changing direction, and diving back toward Ryan.

Once Da Fu delivered the frisbee to Ryan’s hand, still flying high in the air, he proudly puffed out his chest, showing off a hint of the future air and land king’s pride and vigor.

Ryan grinned. “Well done.” He didn’t hesitate to praise Da Fu. When Da Fu performed well, Ryan would reward him with specially made jerky. The jerky was infused with calcium powder, a necessary supplement for Da Fu as a mutated griffin. Being on a constant path of calcium enrichment was something he’d never stop.

Ryan tossed a piece of jerky into the air. Da Fu skillfully snapped it out of the air, his eyes squinted in enjoyment as he savored the delicious treat.

If the researchers from the Empire’s Mecha Institute had witnessed this, they would have been astonished. Da Fu’s human-like expression at that moment was remarkably similar to how the researchers looked when they received praise from Ryan. Ryan had a certain charm about him—those who were praised by him could truly feel the pride of being valued from the bottom of their hearts. They would eagerly anticipate the next compliment and put in even more effort to earn it.

“See how amazing Dad is?”

Tuantuan blinked his eyes. Though he couldn’t see much or far—his vision was still developing—his little eyes were fixed with focus, and his expression seemed to say, “I saw it!” He was already proud of his dad’s beast-training skills.

Tuantuan squirmed a bit in his dad’s arms. He didn’t like staying in one position for too long; he was eager to explore the world around him. Auston gently put him down, a thought crossing his mind. As he lowered Tuantuan, he let him lie on his tummy. Tuantuan let out a small “eh?” sound, trying hard to lift his head. The neckline of his onesie dropped a little, revealing his chubby little chest. He supported himself with both hands, lifting his head, and a tiny “full” crease appeared in the middle of his chest. With a little grunt, Tuantuan exerted some effort and managed to roll over onto his back, staring up at his dad.

Auston: “!!!”

Auston: “Ryan, Ryan, Ryan…”

Ryan, who had just thrown the frisbee again, turned around when he saw Auston waving and looking quite excited. Ryan called out, “What’s wrong?”

Auston said, “Tuantuan can roll over now!”

Ryan’s excitement mirrored Auston’s: “!!!”

Ryan decisively turned and quickly walked toward Auston and Tuantuan, taking three steps in two and almost arriving in the blink of an eye. Standing to the side, Bowers, who was also thrilled for Tuantuan, felt his pupils suddenly shrink. He had grown up in the Dalton family, watching how his peer, the old general, trained and grew from an innocent child into an exceptional warrior. Bowers knew what top-tier soldiers should be like. It was the first time he realized just how impressive Ryan truly was!

Ryan knelt down on the rug, watching as Tuantuan raised one little foot, which was easily grabbed by his tiny hand. Ryan blinked in surprise, almost as though he were seeing his son’s feet for the first time. The brief moment ended quickly, and Tuantuan’s foot dropped back down. But true to the unwavering spirit he inherited from both of his fathers, Tuantuan stretched his little hand again, determined to grab his foot once more. This sent both fathers, who were eagerly waiting to see Tuantuan flip, into a panic. Ryan’s hands hovered in the air, trying to help his son flip again, but seeing how focused Tuantuan was on grabbing his foot, he hesitated, feeling it might be too much of a disruption. His anxiety had him scratching his head in frustration.

Behind him, Da Fu, who had caught the frisbee and performed a perfect mid-air “drift,” suddenly dove downward like a cannonball, tossing the frisbee toward the spot where Ryan had been standing just moments before. But when Da Fu landed, he realized Ryan was no longer there. He lifted his head, scanning the area, and spotted Ryan. Da Fu trotted over, bringing the frisbee back to Ryan, happily wagging his tail and letting out a joyful “woof.”

Ryan absentmindedly patted Da Fu’s head.

Da Fu: “Woo~” Where’s the reward?

When Ryan didn’t respond, Da Fu pushed his large head toward him, whining louder, “Woo woo woo!” Did you forget? It should be a reward! Jerky! Jerky!!

But all of Ryan’s attention was focused on Tuan Tuan, oblivious to Da Fu’s impatience. He exchanged a look with Auston and, without hesitation, took action to “flip” their son. Suddenly, Tuantuan was caught in a whirlwind of movement and exclaimed in surprise, “Eh?” He had been enjoying being on his tummy and had no intention of flipping over.

Ryan: “??!”

Auston suppressed a laugh, feeling a little proud, and said, “I saw Tuantuan flip for the first time.”

Ryan, with a hint of dissatisfaction in his eyes, lowered himself to the ground and coaxed, “Come on, Tuantuan, show Daddy how to flip.”

Tuantuan turned his head stubbornly. Not flipping!

Ryan moved closer, trying to catch Tuantuan’s gaze. “Come on, little one, show Daddy how to flip.”

But Tuantuan turned his head again, his little face pressed firmly against the ground, determined not to flip!

Ryan, who had faced thousands of Zerg troops without breaking a sweat, now felt a sense of defeat in the presence of his son. He leaned against Auston, pointing to their soft, chubby son and complaining, “Tuantuan won’t flip for me!”

Auston pursed his lips, a little uncomfortable with such affectionate behavior in public. Even in their own yard, it still felt a bit awkward to him. His gaze shifted, and he noticed that their butler, Bowers, had quietly slipped away. He let out a sigh of relief. “Give Tuantuan some time. He’ll flip soon.”

Did Tuantuan eventually flip?

As for Da Fu, who was frozen in place with Tuantuan’s tiny hand gripping his tail, the griffon had his own thoughts to share. “Woo!” he complained, No, he grabbed my tail! Now he has no interest in flipping.

At 9 AM, the sun was climbing higher, and the outside world was beginning to heat up. In the Eastern District, a small starship landed, and out stepped the Stark family, all with identical chubby builds, fair skin, and beaming smiles. They were here as invited guests at the Dalton family estate.

Graydon held a box of pastries and a bottle of wine, while the robot behind him carried a large basket of flowers. The sunflower-dominated arrangement exuded the warmth and cheer of sunlight. Herman pushed the stroller, with the baby sitting inside. Despite the polluted air making him sneeze and causing his nose to turn red, his expression was still full of joy. The baby sniffled, then noticed that there was nothing here to make his nose itchy, and let out a contented sigh of relief.

“Does it feel better here, little one?” Herman asked.

The baby nodded enthusiastically. “Yup!”

Herman glanced around. “The Eastern District of Eve City really is different. The houses aren’t as tall, and there are so many plants. It’s so much better than the downtown area where the hotel is.”

“People living here are different too,” Graydon said nervously, adjusting his bow tie. “Honey, can you check if my bow tie is straight?”

Herman glanced at him and said, “It’s just right. Don’t move, or it’ll get crooked. How about mine?”

“Mm, mm, it looks great,” Graydon said, looking at Herman, who was wearing a dark green suit. He couldn’t help but grin foolishly. “You look really good in that.”

Herman rolled his eyes playfully. “I looked even better before. My waist used to be 22 inches, now it’s 35. I used to be a clothes hanger, now I’m more like a barrel,” he grumbled, his tone joking but tinged with nostalgia.

Graydon immediately responded, “No way! You look even better now. You were too thin before, now you’re perfectly rounded and just right.”

“Ugh, I can’t stand you,” Herman said, quickening his pace as a smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. “Hurry up, we’re running late, aren’t we?”

“Mm-hm,” Graydon agreed, also speeding up. He recalled how Ryan had mentioned the Dalton estate’s location, telling him to turn left after passing the wisteria tree. Since they weren’t familiar with the route, it had taken them longer, and they arrived at the estate’s door at 9:30. After knocking, they were greeted by Ryan, who looked surprised. “Didn’t you see the robots and flying machines by the stairway?” Ryan asked.

Because of his weight, Graydon was out of breath after walking a bit too much, and his forehead was already sweating profusely. He looked puzzled. “We didn’t see anything like that.”

“Which docking point did you get off from?” Ryan asked, raising an eyebrow.

Graydon named one, and Ryan sighed in exasperation. “That’s not the one I meant.”

Graydon slumped his shoulders. “The driver just dropped us off there and said it was the right place.”

“Ha, no worries, no worries. You must be overheated. Go to the guest room, take a shower, and change into something more comfortable,” Ryan said kindly. His familiarity with the Stark family wasn’t just due to their shared travel experiences, but also the bond formed by the Stark surname. Graydon’s great-great-grandfather, Antonio Stark, had been adopted by Qin Feng Anderson.

Ryan recalled that, as Qin Feng, he had accumulated military merit and had become a general. His first battle as a general was in the Storm Starfield, where he wiped out the Zerg. While his army was clearing away the Zerg’s devastation on a small planet, they discovered several children who had been protected by adults and hadn’t been harmed. There were five children in total, the oldest barely over two years old, and the youngest only three or four months old. The oldest, Antonio, was a strong and optimistic little boy. The adults had hidden themselves in a basement before the army arrived, and they had been there for three days. Antonio, though still a child, had already begun taking care of his younger siblings.

The army cleared away the piles of bodies blocking the basement entrance. When Antonio was brought out, the first adult he saw was Qin Feng, who immediately stretched out his arms and called him “Dad.”

Since the children had no names, Qin Feng gave Antonio the name Antonio Stark, inspired by a film from Ancient Earth that he had once watched. The name “Stark” also sparked the idea for the mechas that would later become part of his weapon designs after watching Iron Man.

It was clear that people had their fates intertwined in surprising ways.

When the Stark family arrived dressed in formal attire, Ryan and Auston greeted them in casual clothes, which created a bit of awkwardness. Fortunately, the mishap with the robots helped ease the tension. Graydon and Herman, looking at the casually dressed pair, didn’t feel slighted or disrespected. Instead, they felt the familiarity of their past travels together, and the initial nervousness about meeting the “General and his husband” was replaced by the joy of reconnecting with friends.

“I wanted to change clothes, but I didn’t bring any extra clothes.” Graydon shrugged helplessly. Their family’s body sizes were such that it wasn’t easy to find clothes for them to change into on the go.

The housekeeper was very considerate. Knowing that guests were coming and aware of their body types, the housekeeper had prepared clothes of their size in the guest room. So, Ryan said, “We have clothes here. Once you get to the guest room, you’ll see them. I guarantee you’ll like them.”

Graydon replied, “Alright.” Suits and shirts were indeed quite restrictive. The couple only wore them once or twice a year, usually on formal occasions they had no choice but to attend.

The old mansion was quite large, and the guest room was exquisitely decorated. The Stark couple hadn’t expected their first long stay in the general’s house to be spent in the guest room. Before even having a long conversation with the hosts, they had already spent a considerable amount of time in the guest room’s bathroom. After taking a shower to wash off the grease, they changed into dry clothes. Graydon stood comfortably by the window, noticing that the shrubs in the small garden outside were trimmed into animal shapes. The general’s home was completely different from what he had imagined.

“The clothes fit perfectly and are very comfortable.” Herman, now dressed in a beige casual outfit, walked toward Graydon. “Look, do they look good?”

“Looks good.”

“We also have clothes for the baby.”

“Then the baby won’t be running around without clothes.”

After the shower, the baby, completely naked, was tumbling on the bed. The bed was very soft, and he really liked it.