Author: 唇亡齿寒 / Lips Gone, Teeth Cold
Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/
Chapter 47
“Welcome back, Major General!”
Colonel Gilbert Gauss saluted the Major General, who had just stepped off the shuttle, trying hard to maintain a calm expression to hide his own anxiety.
The Major General returned the salute, his brown eyes as emotionless as glass beads. “I’m glad to see you safe, Colonel,” he said without a trace of warmth in his voice. “I heard your flagship sank and you escaped in a lifeboat?”
“Yes!” The Colonel’s face was pale. “I’m very sorry! Please forgive me!”
“I have no authority to forgive you. Seek forgiveness from Her Majesty the Queen and your fallen subordinates.” The Major General waved dismissively, with a hint of disgust. “By the way, where is the prisoner?”
Colonel Gauss puffed out his chest. “Do you mean the pirate pilot?” Although the fleet had suffered significant losses, they had captured someone, and Colonel Gauss felt a bit proud of that. “He is confined in the seventh compartment. Do you want me to bring him to you?”
“No. I will see him.” The Major General slightly raised his chin. “Lead the way.”
“Yes, sir!”
Colonel Gauss eagerly led the Major General and his entourage towards the seventh compartment. He noticed that besides the Major General and his attendants, there was an unfamiliar silver-haired man with his hands cuffed behind his back, closely followed by two soldiers, as if he were a dangerous criminal. Colonel Gauss immediately understood that this man was likely a significant prisoner the Major General had captured from Milantu.
At that moment, the man raised his head and glanced at Gauss, casually surveying his surroundings without lingering on anyone in particular. Yet, Gauss was instantly captivated by his gaze—cold yet burning like flames, the flames that roared behind the half-opened gates of hell.
Moreover, the man’s incredibly beautiful face, coupled with those eerie eyes, gave him an extraordinary, intimidating allure.
Colonel Gauss stood frozen, his brain seemingly fried and unable to think. It wasn’t until the Major General called his name several times that he realized how embarrassingly he had behaved.
People with malicious hearts often assume the worst about others. At this moment, Gauss had an irreverent, wicked thought, ‘No wonder the Major General brought back such a prisoner. Perhaps he isn’t as high-minded as he appeared.’
The seventh compartment and the adjacent eighth compartment were officer quarters. After capturing the prisoner Alois Lagrange, the officers debated for a long time before deciding to confine him here (even vacating a room specifically for this purpose). Their reasoning was that the high occupancy made it more likely for an escape attempt to be noticed. In fact, most of the officers who agreed to this plan were graduates of the Empire Military Academy. They made this decision primarily to get a close look at the legendary alumnus who had graduated with all A+ grades (“He even got an A+ in Empire History, which is so boring! Empire History!”). After Alois was confined, several groups of people came to “inspect” the cell, with questions mostly revolving around “How did you stay awake in Empire History class?” After getting the response, “It was actually quite interesting,” they all looked at him with newfound respect.
So when the compartment door opened, Alois thought it was another group of alumni coming for a chat. He reluctantly dispelled the irritation and drowsiness from being disturbed, got up from the bed, and ruffled his messy hair.
The guy at the door looked really familiar. He thought, maybe he had seen him at school, in a different class?
“You’re quite comfortable, aren’t you, senior?” The guy at the door said in an annoying tone.
So it wasn’t a fellow graduate, but a junior. Alois sat on the bed, thinking for a moment, then shivered, his drowsiness instantly vanishing.
“Don’t remember me? Senior, you really are forgetful.”
“Bayes?” he asked in disbelief.
“Who else?”
The person in front of him was undoubtedly Darius Bayes himself. Alois hadn’t seen him in about two or three years and barely recognized him at first glance. Bayes looked more mature. His hair was longer, and his epaulettes were much fancier. The hawk-like eyes remained unchanged, perhaps sharper, like an invisible knife capable of slicing through one’s exterior to analyze the soul within.
Alois futilely straightened his clothes to look less disheveled, then made some space. “Sit down.”
Bayes stood before him without moving, looking down at him, making Alois feel like a rabbit being watched by an eagle.
“You always surprise me, senior,” Bayes said. “You managed to escape from the prison planet and join a pirate group. Just like two years ago. Do you know what the rumors said?”
“What? Not that Duke Winnet framed me?”
“There was a rumor.” Bayes’ eyes gleamed. “That you were in love with the prince and killed his lover out of jealousy.”
Alois’s mouth dropped open. “No one would believe that, right?!”
“I believed it.”
Alois was speechless.
“Fortunately, it was later proven to be just a rumor. I must say, you have good relationships. Many colleagues wanted to rescue you, but they couldn’t match Winnet, that old fox.” Bayes spread his hands. “But none of that matters now. You’ve escaped from Hecate, and I won’t be bored enough to lock you up again.”
“What do you want?”
“Join me, senior.” Bayes extended a hand in invitation. “I always dreamed you’d become a pilot on the ‘Sword of the Queen’. You like flying, don’t you? I can give you a new identity, a new life. When I defeat Winnet, I’ll restore your honor. I’ll make everyone know you’re a hero of the Empire, recognizing the great sacrifices you made for the country.” His voice lowered. “Becoming a soldier, then achieving glory—wasn’t that your dream?”
Alois stared at him. “It sounds tempting, but…”
“If you can’t decide now, that’s fine.” Bayes bent down, pressing a hand on his shoulder. “You can think about it. Let me know when you make up your mind. I can wait.”
He straightened up, walked to the door, his finger hovering over the open button. “Oh, the other fugitive, the assassin Mourner, is also on the ship, right next door. If you both want to defect, you’re welcome.” With that, he pressed the button, the door rose, and the armed guards saluted the Major General. The Major General nodded, said a few encouraging words, and the door closed.
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