ABFMV Chapter 18 Part 1

Actually, both Chu Shao and Rong Ruyue already knew a little about the Zerg experiments, but those were military secrets and never disclosed to the public.

It wasn’t really about deliberately hiding the truth—mainly, they were afraid of causing mass panic. Besides, they weren’t even certain whether the Zerg had really carried out such experiments.

The idea of experimental subjects came from mere speculation, pieced together from faint clues on the battlefield.

Now, hearing Qiye speak of it so directly, both of them couldn’t hide the shock in their eyes.

The Zerg really had experimental creations—and they had appeared inside the trial grounds—and the military hadn’t noticed a thing.

This was no small matter.

Soon, several officers carried in massive crates into the cell.

The young man beside Chu Shao was the first to open one. A wave of stench poured out instantly. Inside, the beast’s dismembered body twisted grotesquely, its neck bent at an angle that was nearly broken.

The young man staggered back in horror.

Rong Ruyue covered her mouth and nose, peeking inside. Even she couldn’t hide her shock at the beast’s mutilated, terrifying death.

Chu Shao braced both hands on the crate, staring and shaking his head in disbelief.
“This can’t be… How could the Zerg possibly reach this stage?”

Rong Ruyue’s face hardened.
“Does this mean their experiments succeeded?”

Chu Shao let out a heavy sigh.
“Not only succeeded. This isn’t like those crude transplants we’ve seen on the battlefield. They’ve moved on to genetic fusion.”

Rong Ruyue’s eyes sharpened.
“You need to report this to the military right away. I’m worried the Marshal could be in danger out there.”

If the Zerg had been running such experiments in secret and had already made a breakthrough, there was no doubt they had a purpose for it.

Thinking of her husband fighting the Zerg on the front lines, Rong Ruyue felt a wave of dread and could hardly sit still.

Chu Shao recorded a live video with his personal terminal, compiled the detailed data, and, after double-checking, sent it all to the Marshal.

“Please rest assured, Madam. Judging from this corpse, the Zerg’s technology is still immature. The likelihood of them producing experimental creatures in large numbers is very small.”

Rong Ruyue gradually calmed. She lifted her gaze toward Qiye.
“Was it you who killed this beast?”

Qiye nodded.

Chu Shao froze.
“You killed it alone?”

He had just run a quick scan of the specimen’s genetic level—it was Grade A.

From the autopsy: three injuries in total—two severed forelimbs and one fatal break at the neck.

No scratches. No signs of a struggle.

That meant the killer’s strength far surpassed the beast’s. The creature never even had the chance to resist.

Chu Shao frowned at him.
“Are you an S-rank?”

Qiye replied, “Probably. My admission into Lilan Military Academy was revoked, so I never got the full genetic testing.”

Chu Shao glanced at Rong Ruyue, as though waiting for her judgment.

She drew a small electronic shackle from her personal space.
“I can have your academy status reinstated. But there’s a condition.”

Qiye showed no surprise.
“The condition is that I wear this willingly, isn’t it?”

Rong Ruyue’s face remained impassive.
“The tests show you don’t carry Zerg genes, but your father was Zerg. That still makes you a risk. Only with this shackle will the Empire trust you.”

This was for the Empire’s sake—and for Qiye’s as well.

With the shackle on, he would be considered controllable, low risk. That was the only way the people would tolerate his existence, and the only way the military and Empire could dare to use him.

The issue wasn’t just about his future. It was about his very life.

Even if the reports said he had no Zerg genes, ordinary citizens would never fully accept him. Their hatred for the Zerg was bone-deep, carved into their souls.

Wearing the shackle would actually serve as his shield in public opinion. After all, people don’t fear what they can hold in their hands.

Rong Ruyue held out the device. The path was there. The choice was his.

Without hesitation, Qiye took the shackle, checked the size, and locked it around his ankle.

Clean. Decisive. No fuss.

“The new one’s on. Can you remove the old one now?”

He raised his hands, the chains rattling faintly.

Rong Ruyue gave a subtle signal to the guard by the door. The man tapped a command into his terminal. With a soft beep, the transparent restraints binding Qiye fell away.

Qiye knew he had cleared this hurdle.

This meant that from now on, he could remain by Xu Linlang’s side, protecting her in the open, as one of her people.

———

Xu Linlang lay sprawled on her bed, drained of energy.

Qiye had promised to bring her the kitten that evening. But with his trip to the prison, that promise had vanished like smoke.

She had no idea where he had placed the cat, or how it was faring now.

As for Qiye—his safety was no longer something she had the power to influence.

If he had been gravely injured before her, maybe she could have saved him.

But this time, he’d gone looking for trouble himself. She couldn’t exactly beg Rong Ruyue for mercy. And even if she did, it wouldn’t matter.

A Zerg half-blood—people wanted them dead on sight. Anyone who spoke up for him would be branded an enemy of the Empire.