Author: 唇亡齿寒 / Lips Gone, Teeth Cold

Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/

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Chapter 2

Joshua suddenly let out a piercing scream, jumping up from his seat and shouting in alarm, “What is this?!”

His enemy leisurely walked out from under the table, swishing its tail. “Meow.”

The prisoners burst into laughter.

“Oh, it’s just a cat,” Alois said, shoulders shaking. “A black cat. Don’t worry. It won’t hurt you. Have you never seen such a creature before?”

The cat meowed again, its amber eyes with almond-shaped pupils.

Joshua calmed down, returning to his indifferent demeanor. “No. I’ve only seen a creature called a panther. This cat looks a bit like its cub.” He looked at the cat rubbing against his foot, puzzled. “What’s wrong with it?”

“It’s hungry. Give it some food.”

Without thinking, Joshua picked up the broccoli from his tray. Alois sighed. “It doesn’t eat that.” He picked out a grilled fish, threw it on the ground, and the cat sniffed it before eating contentedly.

“…Can I kill this little beast?” Joshua frowned. It was eating better than humans!

“Of course not. It’s the warden’s pet. If you do, you won’t see tonight’s moon.”

The cat quickly finished the fish, then leapt onto the bench, eyeing the remaining food on the tray. Joshua hurriedly shielded his tray, afraid the cat would do something irreversible.

The cat squinted, showing an expression that could only be described as “disdain”, then turned to Alois.

“Don’t look at me! Shoo, go find your owner!” Alois shooed the black cat away.

As soon as Alois finished speaking, a commotion erupted at the cafeteria door. The prisoners, who had been sitting and eating, stood up in waves like a human tide. The governor and warden of Hecate, surrounded by a crowd of guards, made his entrance. The warden was a middle-aged man with a perpetually sorrowful face, deep nasolabial folds that spoke of professional misfortune. In his youth, he might have been known as a melancholic handsome man, but now he was just a balding, chubby middle-aged man.

The warden surveyed the crowd, and everyone stood at attention, afraid of being beaten for showing disrespect. In Hecate, the warden’s authority was second only to the head chef’s. The warden’s gaze swept across everyone’s faces, finally stopping on Joshua and Alois. His previously dull eyes suddenly lit up, burning with an intensity that made them shiver.

Just when they thought this malicious man was going to make their lives miserable, the warden suddenly squatted down, opening his arms joyfully and shouting, “Schrödinger! My dear little sweetheart. You’re here after all!”

The black cat jumped down from the bench, running into his arms. The warden lovingly stroked the cat’s smooth fur, choking up. “You little rascal, you scared Daddy to death. Daddy thought something happened to you! Don’t run off next time. You know there are a lot of creepy uncles here who love to eat cat meat…” He kept muttering as he turned and walked out the door, leaving the crowded cafeteria behind. The guards coughed awkwardly, waving for everyone to sit down. The cafeteria returned to its noisy state.

Joshua put the tray back on the table, his eyes glinting as he asked Alois, “So… cats are edible?”

“What are you planning?!”

In the dark expanse of space, a ship blacker than darkness was speeding towards its destination: a desolate planet on the edge of the galaxy, the prison planet Hecate.

After dinner, the prisoners began their colorful nightlife. The game room was the most popular spot, but not everyone could secure a place there. The fight for spots often involved bloody violence and body trading. In his first month at Hecate, Alois secured a reserved spot by the pool table.

However, today he had no interest in facing the jeers of his fellow inmates in the game room. Gathering a few clothes, Alois headed to the bathroom. As soon as he walked in, he was once again taken aback by the scene before him.

Joshua Planck, using his incredible intelligence, luck, and humility in asking questions, had found the bathroom without Alois Lagrange’s guidance. Now he was nonchalantly bathing amidst a group of burly, energetic men. Alois swallowed, greedily watching as water soaked Joshua’s silky silver hair, flowing down his smooth back, sliding into the cleft of his ass, and then down his straight, long legs. Joshua’s skin glowed like some kind of jade, looking even more lustrous when wet. Just imagining the smooth texture made Alois want to rush over and press Joshua against the wall for a rough assault.

While he was indulging in his fantasies, a dirty hand ruined the beautiful scene.

“Hey, little chick, are you new?” Johnson Caron leered, slapping Joshua’s butt, eliciting laughter from those around. “Pretty fresh. Wanna have a go with me?”

Joshua looked at him coldly. “Take your hand off.”

“Oh, I’m so scared. Daddy, come save me!” Johnson Caron mimicked in a shrill voice, then chuckled.

“I’ll repeat, take your hand off.”

Johnson ignored the threat, instead pinching the pale skin. Joshua stepped back, trying to shake off the big man, but his wrist was grabbed.

“Let go!” The silver-haired man’s eyes narrowed, the black and gold irises glaring like a beast in the misty bathroom air.

Johnson whistled, intending to continue his harassment.

“I hate repeating myself more than three times.” Joshua grabbed the big man’s arm, twisting it lightly. With a crisp “crack”, Johnson howled and collapsed on the floor.

“My hand! My hand!” He rolled on the ground, splashing water everywhere. Joshua frowned and wiped his hands with a towel.

The guards outside heard the commotion and tried to come in. Alois blocked the door, saying casually, “It’s nothing. Johnson slipped and broke his arm.”

The guards hesitated, glancing at the big man on the ground, then at “boss” Alois Lagrange, nodding as if nothing had happened.

Alois turned to the others in the bathroom. “What are you standing around for? Help him to the infirmary!”

The men snapped out of their daze, hastily lifting the big man and, guided by the guards, carried him out. As they passed Alois, he pinched the big man’s broken hand hard, making him scream like a pig being slaughtered.

“That’s what you get for touching what’s mine!”

“Sorry… Lagrange. I didn’t know he was…”

“Now you know. Do it again, and I’ll break your dick!” Alois threatened, then walked into the bathroom. If it were Joshua, he might really break Johnson’s dick. Today, Alois had experienced that excruciating pain…

He walked over to Joshua, who was clumsily soaping his back.

“You shouldn’t have broken Johnson’s hand. He’s quite influential in Hecate, and he might retaliate.” For some reason, Alois familiarly took the soap, helping Joshua wash his back as if they had known each other for years.

“He needs the ability to do so.” Joshua yawned, silently enjoying Alois’s service. In return, he allowed the “boss” to sneak a feel.

Alois lathered up, finding it hard to believe the silver-haired man’s apparent docility. He continued to greedily stroke the smooth skin, suddenly feeling like he was petting Schrödinger. “In a one-on-one fight, Johnson isn’t your match. But what if he gathers a group to ambush you in a dark alley? Can you guard against a sneak attack?”

“Ah… isn’t that what you’re for?”

“…!” Alois felt a warm rush in his nose. He wiped at it with emotion, only to find blood on his hand.

Joshua noticed the person behind him suddenly freeze. “What’s wrong, Lagrange?”

“Nosebleed.”

“…How pathetic.”

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