Author: 唇亡齿寒 / Lips Gone, Teeth Cold

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

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Interlude 1

Neo Athens. Once an inconspicuous colonial planet on the border between the Empire and the Federation, it transformed into the academic and technological center of the galaxy due to the remodeling efforts of Earth exiles who crossed a thousand years of time.

Two hundred years ago, the third group of Earth exiles landed on Neo Athens. Unlike the politically ambitious first two groups, they were the most elite scientists and technicians from Old Earth, bringing with them the pinnacle of lost Earth technology—advanced artificial intelligence. They built a city on Neo Athens, managed by three advanced AIs—Beatrice, Mona Lisa, and David. To protect their new homeland, they built three space carriers named after Greek philosophers—Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. To spread civilization, they established the Neo Athens Academy, welcoming anyone eager to pursue knowledge.

Two hundred years have passed, and Neo Athens has become a bright star on the galaxy’s frontier, symbolizing the light of civilization and technology.

Lina looked up at the holographic clock floating above the Neo Athens Academy. It rotated clockwise, with the outer ring showing galactic standard time and the inner ring displaying Neo Athens planetary time. It was still daylight, and the holographic clock seemed to blend with the azure sky. When night fell, it would become a dazzling halo above the academy, outshining all stars, symbolizing that human technology would one day dominate the galaxy and illuminate the universe.

Whenever Lina looked at the holographic clock, she felt a surge of pride. As a citizen of Neo Athens, this pride was almost innate. Especially since Lina had entered the academy’s core, working as the secretary to the dean and serving the city-state. Although the work was tedious and busy.

Now, Lina hurried through the white archways reminiscent of ancient Greece, unable to return the greetings of the students who greeted her. The sound of her velour robe rustled against her ankles. She was heading to the academy’s third greenhouse, which wasn’t open to the public because it belonged to Neo Athens’ first governor, Giorgione. Two hundred years ago, Giorgione led the third group of Earth exiles to Neo Athens and was elected the first governor, diligently serving until his retirement. At seventy years old, he was considered elderly by human standards, and most of his companions had passed away. Giorgione was unwilling to die. “I can’t die yet,” he told the doctors. “Kester hasn’t arrived. He won’t abandon us. I believe one day he will come to the colony, to Neo Athens, and join us.”

So he entered cryosleep. The nitrogen-filled sleep pod slowed his aging, a method people used to endure long space travels before the invention of warp engines. Giorgione woke up once a month to receive reports on the latest happenings in the galaxy from the dean’s secretary.

In the third greenhouse, thousands of Old Earth plants thrived, creating a lush, vibrant scene. The former governor, who had survived two hundred years in cryosleep, sat under a cluster of vines, holding a white porcelain teacup decorated with light blue totems. His sparse white hair and deteriorating vision required him to wear resin glasses, and even then, he had to squint to see the television in front of him.

“Good morning, Lord Giorgione,” Lina bowed with her hands folded in her sleeves.

The old man trembled as he turned his head, staring at Lina for a long while. “Good morning, Terry,” he said. Terry was the name of the previous secretary, and the old man could never tell her apart from Lina. After many failed attempts to correct him, Lina decided to go along with it. “Yes. You look well.”

“Not bad. It’s a nice day.” The old man smiled slightly, glancing at the holographic clock against the clear sky. “I wish Kester could see this.”

Kester, the legendary scientist from Old Earth and the father of advanced artificial intelligence, chose to stay on the dying Earth to continue his unfinished research. Giorgione admired him greatly and always believed that Kester would complete his research and, with results to awe the universe, travel to the colonies and reunite with his companions—though now Giorgione was the only one left.

“Terry, any news lately?”

“Nothing major. The Empire and the Federation are still at war. Neo Venice has developed a new type of fighter, said to be faster than the Godot Type II.”

“Faster than the Godot Type II?” The old man turned his head. “Then no one in the universe can pilot it.”

“Oh, and the impregnable prison planet Hecate had an escapee.” This could be considered a significant recent event, though almost no one in Neo Athens cared.

Giorgione seemed very interested. “Really? I said back then that building that place was pointless…” He waved his hand as if shooing flies. “But escaping from there is no easy feat.”

Lina nodded. “Yes. One of the escapees is Joanna Begrel. Do you remember her?”

The old man frowned, seemingly unable to recall who Joanna was. After all, he had lived too long, and Joanna was just a young girl to him. Lina pointed to the television, where the Empire’s wanted notice appeared, showing the portraits of three escapees. “You’ll remember her when you see her face.”

The old man stared at the red-haired pirate’s photo. “Ah… yes… I remember. Isn’t she the crazy girl who wanted us to build a ship?” He turned to the other two photos. “Who are they?”

Lina explained, “The dark-haired man is a murderer, a former member of the Imperial Royal Guard who betrayed the royal family and assassinated the prince’s mistress.”

“Hmm…” The former governor mused. “He looks young, but why do I find him familiar?”

The secretary smiled weakly. “You must be mistaken. I swear you’ve never met him.”

“Really?” The old man was doubtful. “And the third escapee…?”

“He’s The Mourner, a famous assassin known across the galaxy. He…”

Lina didn’t finish her sentence. The old man suddenly stood up, almost springing to his feet, the teacup falling to the ground with a crisp sound.

“My God! Lord above!” The former governor excitedly pointed at the photo of the silver-haired man on the television. “Isn’t that Kester?!” He grabbed Lina’s sleeve, trembling. “See, I was right! Kester has finally arrived! He’s finally here!”

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<<< || Table of Contents || >>>

Author: 唇亡齿寒 / Lips Gone, Teeth Cold

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

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Chapter 15

“Ibb, like me, had never seen a cat before,” Joshua said as they walked into the elevator. “He loves small animals. He once had a goldfish, but he overfed it, and it died.”

The elevator doors slowly closed. “Since when did you get so close to him?” Alois said with jealousy.

The assassin raised an eyebrow but was interrupted before he could speak. “Alright, alright, you can be friends with whoever you want. It’s none of my business.”

Joshua couldn’t help but laugh. He reached out and ruffled Alois’s hair. “Are you angry again?”

“No!”

“Ibb knows a lot about firearms, so we talked for a long time.”

Both of them stared straight ahead, not looking at each other. The elevator shook slightly as it descended.

“You…” Alois stole a glance at the assassin. “You don’t have to explain to me. We’re…”

Snap!

The elevator made a grating sound and stopped. The lights above flickered a few times before going out. The small space was plunged into darkness, with only an emergency light emitting a faint glow.

“Hey, hey, no way! It’s broken?” Alois furiously pressed the emergency alarm button, but there was no response. “Leo? Leo, can you hear me?” He shouted at the wall, but there was no reply. It seemed the elevator’s circuitry had malfunctioned, cutting off the AI’s connection. “We’re screwed. We have to wait for Leo’s self-check system to detect the problem.” Alois crossed his arms and impatiently knocked on the metal wall.

The breathing behind him suddenly became heavier.

Alois turned around to see Joshua hunched in the corner, one hand tightly gripping the other, as if trying to stop himself from doing something uncontrollable.

“Joshua? What’s wrong?” The young man took a step forward.

“Don’t come near me!” the assassin growled.

“Are you alright?”

“Don’t come near…” The voice grew softer. Joshua’s breathing became more rapid. He looked around in terror, as if there were enemies hiding in the small elevator. In fact, it was something like that. Darkness was his enemy.

Alois was completely confused. Joshua seemed to be in bad shape. His face was pale, looking as if he might collapse at any moment. Was this what they called… “Claustrophobia?”

“Now that you know, stop bothering me!” Joshua glared at him fiercely, though without much intimidation. “Talk about something to distract me. Anything!”

Alois scratched his head, searching his mind for recent stories he had heard. “Uh… The captain has Leo take Pavlov for a run every day, from the bow to the stern, to help the dog lose weight.”

“Keep going!”

“Leo found a box of plastic pellets in the cargo hold. They can be used as litter for Schrödinger. When we get to Neo Venice, we can buy better ones.”

“What else?”

“And… Joshua,” Alois cautiously took a small step forward, “if you’re scared, you can lean on me.” The assassin said nothing, so the young man boldly took his hand. Joshua’s hand was cold and sweaty, showing how frightened he really was.

Being so scared like this. Alois couldn’t help but smile. Like a child.

But his satisfaction didn’t last long. Joshua suddenly pressed him against the wall, gripping his chin tightly and kissing him fiercely.

“…Mmph!”

It wasn’t a gentle kiss at all. The assassin forcefully pried open his teeth, wildly exploring every inch of his mouth, suppressing his tongue, swirling around, and capturing every breath. It wasn’t until Alois was almost suffocating that the hold loosened slightly. He took a breath, only to be hit by another stormy kiss.

Joshua had found a perfect way to distract himself. Kissing Alois allowed him to temporarily abandon all worries, discard the darkness of the past and the haunting memories. The deeper the kiss, the clearer his mind became. The idea that a killer could be afraid of the dark sounded like a joke, but it was true. Throughout his long career, Joshua had faced the darkness more than once. In that oppressive fear, he forced himself to complete tasks as quickly as possible (which made his clients very happy). Whenever he was in a confined space, thoughts of bloodshed and slaughter surfaced, and his targets became his objects of destruction. After bouts of frantic and precise killing, Joshua often felt like he had walked through hell and climbed out of a grave.

Mourner. Sometimes he wasn’t sure whose death he was mourning.

But now, he had to restrain his destructive impulses. This wasn’t a slaughterhouse, and the person next to him wasn’t a target. He couldn’t hurt Alois or alleviate his inner turmoil through inflicting pain.

He chose to kiss. Perhaps a bit roughly, but with good intentions. After the initial frenzy, Joshua slowed down, no longer forceful, instead kissing gently. Alois even responded a few times, which eased Joshua’s guilt. At least Alois didn’t resist or hate him.

So when the diligent mechanic Ibb Descartes pried open the elevator door with a wrench, he saw this scene: Joshua pressing Alois against the wall, kissing him passionately. Alois was blushing, unable to move, allowing the assassin to do as he pleased.

Clang. The wrench fell to the ground. Ibb stepped back, stammering, “Sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt.”

The two didn’t separate. Joshua turned slightly, throwing a cold glare, the golden rings around his black pupils burning like flames. Ibb finally understood what the “Abyssal Flame” described: terrifying eyes. He picked up the wrench and stumbled away.

Alois pushed Joshua away, finally breathing in fresh air. The feeling of suffocation was terrible. Well, not the worst. “Ibb saw… He saw everything…” He felt the need to explain to the mechanic to avoid any misunderstandings. Wait, what misunderstandings? Misunderstandings were good! He wished everyone on the ship thought he and Joshua were a couple!

“I’ll go explain to him,” Joshua said.

“No, no, no!” Alois hurriedly stopped him. “Don’t. The more you explain, the worse it gets. Explaining is just covering up, covering up means it’s true. So it’s best not to explain anything!” He lied without a hitch.

“Hmm…” The assassin pondered for a moment, then nodded in agreement.

Alois sighed in relief.

Later, neither of them went to explain to Ibb, even though their reasons were quite different, the result was the same.

As for Ibb Descartes, the witness, he had a completely different perspective.

“You know, I always thought there was something off about Alois and Joshua’s relationship,” Ibb said one day in the maintenance bay, worriedly speaking to Leo. “I saw them kissing in the elevator, but Alois seemed very unwilling. It was clear Joshua was forcing him. I know life on the ship is boring, but that doesn’t justify sexual violence against a companion, right?”

“…” Even the wise AI Leo didn’t know how to respond to such a deep and complex issue.

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<<< || Table of Contents || >>>

Author: 唇亡齿寒 / Lips Gone, Teeth Cold

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

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Chapter 14

“Fran calling Doro, please respond if you hear me.”

A companion’s call echoed in his ears. Alois pressed the communication button, his eyes never leaving the screen. “My name is not Doro. Thank you.”

“Doro is such a cute name. What don’t you like about it?”

“Everything!”

“Let’s duel!”

Alois instantly felt drained. This was the third time today.

Before he joined, there were four pilots on the Lady of the Night: three of them were triplet siblings, and the last one was Joanna. The captain was always busy with many affairs and rarely participated in training. So, most of the time, it was just the three siblings and Alois practicing under Leo’s guidance. The siblings, true to being from the same womb, were identical in appearance and personality. For example, this morning—

“Why are there only five pilots on the ship but over a dozen fighters?” “The captain likes to collect fighters.” “That’s quite a hobby…” “What, you have a problem with the captain? Let’s duel!”

And at noon—

“Titia is fine, but you two brothers look exactly the same. I can’t tell you apart.” “How do we look the same? Let’s duel!”

And just now… Alois instantly understood Leo’s eagerness to recruit a pilot.

The one proposing a duel was Titia, the youngest of the siblings. She had face blindness, unable to distinguish people other than herself and her brothers, relying on body features instead. Hence, she developed a habit of giving people nicknames. The first time she saw Alois, she confidently said, “No problem, I’ll definitely recognize you. You’re the most unremarkable person on the ship.”

Alois decided that if she failed to recognize him next time, he would challenge her to a duel on the spot.

Although the siblings had odd personalities, they were top-notch pilots. The previous two duels had ended with Alois being overwhelmingly defeated, making him deeply doubt his own abilities. If he lost again to Titia, he feared he would become the ship’s laughingstock by dinner.

“Come on, Doro, show me what you’ve got!” Titia piloted her beloved “Fran”, circling around Alois, continuously provoking him.

“My name is not Doro!” Doro was the name Titia had given Alois’s fighter. She also named her brothers’ fighters Rachel and Liz. Every fighter and shuttle on the Lady of the Night had been named by her. Naturally, Alois didn’t accept her naming style, which led to this duel.

Alois brightened the lights in the simulator cockpit, switching the operation mode to free combat. The Lady of the Night didn’t have Godot Type II fighters, so he had to adapt to the Federation-made Kant fighters. The operating system, vastly different from the Empire’s, initially gave Alois a headache. Fortunately, he quickly mastered the piloting techniques.

On the radar, the icons for Liz and Rachel disappeared, leaving only the red dot representing Fran flashing half a kilometer away.

Leo’s voice sounded. “Titia is tougher than her brothers. Be careful.”

“Of course.”

“Don’t lose too badly. Joshua is watching.”

A small window popped up, showing the training room. Several crew members were pointing and discussing the simulator battle, with the silver-haired assassin Joshua among them. He stood slightly to the back, holding a black cat, not watching the screen but talking to Ibb Descartes. Ibb was animated, smiling as if he had met a long-lost relative. Oh, he even took Schrödinger from Joshua, clumsily petting the cat.

…How infuriating!

Alois quickly closed the window, pulled up his fighter, and charged at Fran.

“The newbie is pretty fast!” Titia easily dodged. Alois changed direction and dived again, firing laser beams. Amidst the deadly weave of beams, Fran danced nimbly, evading leisurely. Alois understood why she was “tough”. Her brothers, though highly skilled, had predictable patterns. One could anticipate their attacks and retreats, cornering them with beams and missiles. But this approach didn’t work with Titia. He couldn’t fathom her intentions; she defended when she should attack and attacked when she should retreat.

She was utterly unpredictable, like a novice who knew nothing about aerial combat. Of course, Titia wasn’t a novice. This made her tactics especially terrifying. On the battlefield, not understanding the enemy’s intentions was the most frightening thing.

“Women are terrifying!” Alois distanced himself, trying to engage her in a prolonged battle, but Titia circled back, closing in while firing missiles. After destroying the missiles, he expected her to press the attack, but she suddenly held back, observing from a distance, plotting something.

Alois was nearly driven mad by her antics. “So annoying!” He decided to take the initiative, chasing Titia’s tail relentlessly. Fran swiftly moved behind him, seemingly to attack from the rear, but when Alois turned, Fran had vanished.

Titia was playing hide and seek. She waited for her opponent to lose patience and expose a weakness. If he had the patience to outlast her, Alois, with more ammo, would undoubtedly win. But the earlier chase had drained too much energy. A red light flashed on the screen, indicating low ammo. In a real space battle, he would return to the mothership for resupply. However, this was a duel mode. The simulated space didn’t even include a mothership.

Titia probably noticed his predicament. She glided side to side, seemingly mocking his impatience, then launched dozens of missiles, turning the Kant fighter into space dust.

The lights in the simulator cockpit brightened, and the screen displayed a giant, bloody “OVER”. Leo, barely stifling laughter, said, “I told you not to lose too badly… haha.”

“Shut up!” Alois slammed the controls.

“Can’t handle losing, huh…” Leo cut the communication, feeling defeated.

The hatch opened, and white light flooded in. The siblings’ laughter echoed in the training room. Seeing Alois climb out, Titia’s brothers each patted his shoulders. “Good job, kid,” they said in unison. “Lasting 10 minutes against Titia is rare.”

“…Thanks.” Alois insincerely accepted the compliment.

Leo powered down the simulator. “Today’s training ends here. See you all tomorrow.”

The spectators dispersed in small groups. From afar, Joshua called out, “Hey, Alois.”

The young man ran over but avoided eye contact. “Uh… let’s go back. Let’s go back.” He pretended to look around, trying to hide his embarrassment from the defeat.

“Joshua, can I take the cat back?” Ibb, excited about playing with the cat, asked. “I have some dried fish. It might like them.” Seeing Joshua hesitate, he added, “I’ll return it to you tonight.”

“Okay.” The assassin nodded.

Ibb left happily, carrying the cat.

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<<< || Table of Contents || >>>

Author: 唇亡齿寒 / Lips Gone, Teeth Cold

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

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Chapter 13

After ejaculating, Alois lay on the bed, panting heavily, slowly recovering from the afterglow. He stared blankly at the white liquid on his body, unable to believe he had cum just from being touched from behind. Joshua pinched his face. “Isn’t it fixed now?” He withdrew his fingers, planning to clean them.

Alois grabbed him.

“What now?” the assassin asked.

“I…” Alois’s gaze darted around, unsure where to look. The playful expression on the assassin’s face was incredibly humiliating. “Joshua, I… I…” After stammering for a while, Alois decided to stop wasting words and explain through action. He pulled Joshua down, pressing him onto the bed, kneeling between his legs. “You… you helped me. Let me help you, okay?”

“No need.”

“Don’t you ever need to take care of your physiological needs?” Alois lowered his head deeply, too afraid to look at Joshua’s face, fearing to see either anger or mockery.

A hand reached to his ear, pinching his earlobe and lifting his chin to force him to look up. Joshua’s serious and solemn face came into view. “I can handle it myself,” the assassin said expressionlessly. “Just take care of your own business.”

Coldness hurt more than ridicule. Alois felt a bit disappointed. “You really don’t want it? I…” He pitifully shifted his gaze to avoid further hurt. “I’m really good… Just let me help you this once, as thanks…” His voice trailed off.

After what seemed like an eternity to Alois, he finally heard Joshua sigh lightly. “Suit yourself.”

Alois got what he wanted, excitedly unbuttoning Joshua’s pants, revealing the large erection. He was surprised to find the assassin was also hard. Clearly feeling it yet pretending to be indifferent—it was quite aggravating! Alois grumbled silently as he massaged the big member a few times before lowering his head to suck and lick at the head.

Joshua took a deep breath, leaning back against the wall. His need for sex was minimal, not because of any physical issues but because he was always indifferent. But that didn’t mean he would refuse offered service. Within certain limits, Joshua even quite enjoyed such service. In fact, watching Alois work hard to please him now made him rather happy.

Alois hadn’t lied; he was indeed very skilled. His mouth was hot and soft, his nimble tongue moving up and down the shaft, occasionally flicking over the small opening at the tip. The assassin shivered with pleasure, grabbing the young man’s hair and pressing him deeper between his legs, trying to push further in. Alois whimpered, glaring at Joshua reproachfully, then took the entire shaft into his mouth, down to his throat.

The pleasure of being fully enveloped made Joshua gasp. He rewarded Alois by rubbing his nape, pushing a bit deeper.

“Ugh…” The discomfort in his throat was intense. Alois tried to pull away from Joshua’s hand but was pushed back down. It seemed the assassin enjoyed deep throating. His erection swelled a bit more, and Alois could only manage to lick the shaft with difficulty. His breathing became labored, saliva flowing from the corners of his mouth, soaking into his clothes.

Joshua wiped away the saliva, grabbing Alois’s hair, starting to thrust, pushing deeper into his throat repeatedly. Alois could hardly breathe, unable to make a sound, barely maintaining his composure through each thrust.

The suffocation-induced hypoxia soon made his vision go dark. Just as he was about to pass out, Joshua came in his mouth. The thick semen flooded his mouth, choking him as it mixed with the much-needed air.

Alois coughed violently. Joshua held his shoulders, patting his back to help him breathe. It took a while for him to recover. Alois glared at the assassin angrily. “Are you trying to kill me?” he said, wiping the white liquid from his mouth.

Joshua brushed his hand aside, leaned in, and kissed the corner of his lips, licking away the semen. Alois froze, and Joshua captured his lips, kissing them deeply several times before biting hard, leaving a mark.

“Ugh…” Alois covered his mouth.

“Well done.” Joshua patted his butt. “Go back to your room and rest. Don’t you have training to attend?”

“Ah!” The young man jumped off the bed in a panic. “I almost forgot!” He pulled up his pants. “What time is it?”

“Standard time: 4 a.m.” Joshua picked up the communication terminal. “You can sleep for a few more hours.”

Alois hesitated. “Can I… sleep here?”

“In your dreams.” The assassin mercilessly issued an eviction order.

Maybe it really was a dream. Alois floated out of the cabin, feeling he had gotten a bit closer to Joshua. It was indeed better to be proactive. One day, he believed, he and Joshua would not only mutually masturbate and perform oral sex but also go all the way. Maybe even have some emotional connection.

Joshua somewhat resembled the person he had been waiting for—the one who would take him away from desolate Hecate and support him through his life.

“Leonard?”

After Alois left, Joshua called out to the AI. Dressed in robes and styled as a scholar, Leo folded his hands inside his sleeves, bowing slightly to the assassin. On ancient Earth, this was a gesture of respect to superiors, still practiced in Neo Athens.

“What do you need?”

“Leo, Alois said he likes me.”

“I heard that too.”

“Do you think it’s true?” The assassin felt a prickling pain at his ankle. Looking down, he saw Schrödinger scratching him. He picked up the neglected black cat, placing it on his lap to scratch its head. “Do you think he really likes me?”

“You don’t even know yourself. How could I possibly know?” AI wasn’t omniscient, especially when it came to emotions.

Joshua lowered his eyes, the golden rings in his pupils dimming slightly. “Leo, what does love feel like?”

The AI looked into the nonexistent void. “It’s sweet and bitter, both wine and poison. It drags you into hell, an eternal abyss, and also makes you deliriously happy, willing to embrace it.”

“You seem to understand it quite well?” Joshua smirked.

“Don’t mock me.”

The black cat on his lap purred contentedly.

“Don’t tell me you’ve lived this long without ever falling in love.” Leo looked at the assassin.

“I really haven’t.”

“Then seize the opportunity to fall in love. After all, you humans have such short lives, and opportunities are fleeting.”

Joshua’s hand, scratching the cat, paused. The black cat flicked its tail in confusion. “Meow.”

Leo disappeared. The cabin was left with only Joshua.

“So… can I… also…?”

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<<< || Table of Contents || >>>

Author: 唇亡齿寒 / Lips Gone, Teeth Cold

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

---

Chapter 12

“Cheers to new friends!”

The mess hall of the Lady of the Night was filled with laughter and merriment. The chefs served the most delicious food, steaming hot and fragrant, stretching from one end of the long table to the other. The captain brought out her prized private collection of fine wine for everyone to enjoy. (She had also locked Pavlov in a room to prevent it from being tempted by the feast. However, Leo later let it out, and now the dog lay sadly at the AI’s feet, watching “Debunking Pseudoscience” with him, Leo’s favorite show).

The party was to celebrate Joanna’s safe return and the addition of two new companions. People kept toasting Joanna, while Ibb Descartes was half-drunk, hiccupping beside the pirate lady. “You’ve struck gold, Captain, hic.”

“Ah, yes. Quite a surprise.” Joanna smiled, downing a glass of sherry, her eyes fixed on Alois Lagrange. He stayed close to Joshua Planck, as if afraid the assassin might get lost. Joshua, claiming low alcohol tolerance, politely declined the toasts, but the crew was so enthusiastic that Alois had to drink on his behalf. Eventually, he ended up being the one who got more drunk.

Joanna waved to Joshua. “Take him back to his room. I don’t want my crew dying of alcohol poisoning.”

With permission, the assassin immediately grabbed Alois by the shoulders, half-dragging and half-pulling him out of the mess hall. The latter part of the party turned into a free-for-all, with the revelers too caught up in their high spirits to notice the main guests’ absence.

“Such slackers!” Joanna shook her head, taking another swig of her drink.

Joshua dragged Alois toward the cabins. The drunken young man couldn’t keep up, almost falling several times, but Joshua quickly caught him each time.

Alois clung to the assassin’s arm, swaying unsteadily, his eyes hazy as if he might fall asleep at any moment. “Jos… Joshua…” he slurred, almost biting his tongue.

“What?”

“I… I beat Joanna…”

“Well, technically you didn’t win. It was at best a draw.”

“But I didn’t lose!” Alois leaned against the wall, barely managing to stand straight. “I… I want a reward…”

Joshua almost laughed. “You’re not a child. What reward do you want…” Before he could finish, he was suddenly pinned against the wall. Alois, with surprising strength, held him firmly, one hand on his shoulder and the other cradling his face.

“Joshua, I… I…” Alois murmured, leaning in to kiss his lips. It wasn’t deep—just a light, fleeting kiss. A quick peck, and then it was over.

The assassin hadn’t even had time to react before the kiss ended. He was surprised at his own slowness, perhaps the alcohol had dulled his senses, or maybe he hadn’t expected Alois to make such a move. Whenever he was around the young man, he let his guard down, vulnerable to sudden attacks. This was something that never would have happened before; as an assassin, he was always cautious, preemptively eliminating any threats. But ever since meeting Alois, he had undergone some subtle changes. Initially, he hadn’t noticed, but once he did, he felt uneasy and anxious. The Mourner was always a person who lacked a sense of security.

Before he could analyze his source of anxiety, there was a thud, and Alois collapsed to the ground.

The assassin really wanted to leave him there. But the drunken youth mumbled incoherently in his sleep, and when Joshua listened closely, he realized he was calling his name.

Sighing, the assassin crouched down and nudged Alois’s shoulder, but he lay there like a heap of mud, unmoving. “What a hassle.” He had no choice but to pick him up in his arms, grumbling about the weight as he carried him back to the cabin.

Alois had a wonderful dream.

He dreamt that Joshua approached him lovingly, inviting him to join him. He felt like he was floating on clouds, entering Joshua’s body, and sweating profusely. They tried several positions, with Joshua always cooperating gently. Finally, they reached a peak of joy together.

When Alois woke up, his head was splitting. The hangover left him groggy, and it took a while for him to realize where he was. He moved his limbs, confirming he was still intact, then slowly sat up and looked around. He was in his cabin, with only the dim light from the communication terminal’s screen. He winced at the bright light when he turned on the lamp, then quickly turned it off again.

He noticed he was only in his underwear, his clothes neatly folded at the bedside. His memory only went as far as being dragged out of the mess hall by Joshua, nothing after that. Someone must have brought him back and kindly helped him undress.

“Leonard!”

The AI’s voice came from the ceiling, “What?”

“Who brought me back?”

“Joshua, of course. Who else?” Leo’s voice sounded listless, “He even helped you shower. Do you need me to play the video?”

“No!” Alois rubbed his nose to hide his embarrassment. His ears felt hot, probably blushing. The thought of Joshua taking care of him made his heart race and filled him with a small joy.

And that dream… Joshua, tender and loving… Though it was impossible! Still, Alois dared to secretly fantasize about Joshua’s silky silver hair, Joshua’s supple waist, Joshua’s fair skin…

And then he shamefully got aroused.

He climbed back into bed, trying to relieve himself with his right hand, but to no avail. The hangover left him weak, and all his blood seemed to rush to his head, fueling his fantasies instead of going below.

Frustrated, Alois turned over several times, covering half his face with the blanket, and whispered, “Hey, Leo, do you… do you have any adult videos?”

The ceiling was silent.

After about a minute, Leo’s sly voice came from very close to Alois. “I do, actually. Don’t tell the captain. She’d burn my database.”

“I won’t say a word.” Alois felt like he was making a secret deal with a spy.

“Alright. What kind do you want?”

“Um…” Alois’s voice grew quieter. “I mean… is there any video where the main character… happens to look like Joshua?”

Another minute of silence passed.

“I understand, brother.” This time, Leo’s voice was filled with sympathy. “Poor guy. Let me find something for you… Ah, there actually is one! But I can’t guarantee they ‘look alike’, after all, AI aesthetics are a bit different from human aesthetics…”

“Stop rambling and show it to me!”

“I’ve sent it to your terminal,” Leo said. “Remember to delete it after you watch it. If someone else finds out, don’t you dare say I sent it to you! Don’t drag me into this!”

“You also can’t tell anyone I watched it. Especially not Joshua.”

“Of course, of course.” Thus, the two reached a secret agreement.

Alois happily picked up the communication terminal, where the screen indicated a movie had been transferred to it. He opened the adult film and settled into a comfortable position to watch.

After a lengthy copyright statement, a slender man appeared on the screen. He had light blonde, almost silver hair, and black eyes that, while lacking the golden rings, were somewhat similar in shape to Joshua’s. The man posed seductively for the camera. Alois thought he didn’t look nearly as good as Joshua, but human imagination is powerful. He silently imagined the blonde actor as Joshua and began his delightful fantasy.

He grasped his erect member and started stroking it slowly. As the film progressed, the blonde man was pinned down by several burly men, letting out helpless moans. Alois’s stroking sped up. The blonde actor was thrust into until he came, his hoarse cries irresistibly alluring. Alois quickened his pace, holding his breath, on the brink of climax. Then, out of nowhere, he remembered his first encounter with Joshua, when Joshua calmly serviced him, and then…

“Damn it!” The memory of that bone-deep pain made Alois immediately lose his erection. Frustrated, he turned off the terminal and punched the wall in anger.

“Don’t hit the wall! Don’t you think it hurts me too?!” Leo yelled. “Joshua is right next door. If you’re mad, go find him!”

“Do you think I won’t?” Alois quickly got dressed and headed straight to the next cabin. Any man would be extremely indignant upon discovering he had gone soft due to some psychological shadow, especially when that “shadow” was right next door.

“What’s wrong?” Inside the cabin, Joshua was playing with the cat. He had somehow gotten a cat teaser and was having a great time with Schrödinger. This contrasted sharply with Alois’s anger.

He snatched the cat teaser, threw it into a corner, then grabbed Joshua by the shoulders, eyes almost blazing, “It’s all your fault!” Alois yelled, “It’s all your fault! All your fault!”

The assassin looked at him innocently. “What’s wrong?” He tilted his head back. “Leo, tell me what happened.”

Leo appeared beside them. “Mr. Lagrange discovered he has erectile dysfunction while watching a film,” he stated matter-of-factly, like a seasoned doctor.

Alois glared at him, “Didn’t you promise not to tell?!” AI is truly untrustworthy!

Leo tossed his head. “I didn’t say the actor looked much like Joshua.” He blinked and immediately covered his mouth. “Oops, sorry. AI isn’t perfect either. Sometimes we slip up.” He disappeared before Alois’s anger could explode.

Joshua narrowed his eyes, looking at the young man with interest. “Erectile dysfunction, huh?”

Alois shivered. “Uh… I… I was just visiting…” He took a few steps back, ready to flee, but Joshua grabbed him, throwing him onto the bed. He tried to find an opening to escape, but the assassin pinned him down, leaving no room to struggle.

“Can’t get hard looking at my face?” Joshua pressed against his groin, massaging him with just the right amount of pressure. Alois’s hair stood on end, and he immediately stopped resisting, afraid the assassin might get too excited and crush his privates.

“Sorry, Joshua, I…” He racked his brain for an excuse, but no words came out. Finally, he shut his eyes and said resolutely, “Anyway, I just like you!”

Then he felt a chill at his waist as his pants were pulled down. “What are you doing?” He sat up, seeing the assassin lick his fingers, the other hand spreading his knees apart.

“Giving you a treatment.” Joshua’s fingers slid into his anus.

Alois screamed and fell back onto the bed. Although he had done it with men many times, he was always the top, and his small hole had never been penetrated. The sudden pain and discomfort made him moan. Joshua didn’t stop, his fingers exploring inside, pressing lightly and heavily against the walls.

“You’re pretty tight,” Joshua smirked. “Haven’t used this place before?”

“Of course not!” Alois arched his back in pain, trying to escape the assassin’s intrusion, only to be pinned back down.

“Stay still.” Joshua added another finger. The two fingers together expanded the narrow passage, their movements gentle like a caress. He must have hit a certain spot because a wave of pleasure shocked Alois, making him cry out. Joshua grinned, “Here it is.” He pressed heavily on that spot.

“No! Not there…”

“Does it feel uncomfortable?”

Alois wanted to protest, but the overwhelming pleasure turned his protest into a soft moan. Joshua skillfully massaged his prostate, occasionally squeezing his sacs. The pleasure from front and back made Alois whimper. His penis was already hard, its tip leaking sticky fluid, running down his legs. He had never thought the pleasure from the prostate could be so intense. His hole secreted liquid as Joshua’s fingers thrusted in and out, dripping down his legs, making a mess.

“Joshua… I… I’m going to…” Alois, near collapse, could barely complete a sentence.

“Then cum if you want to.” Joshua bent down, kissing his earlobe, whispering, “Alois…”

This was the first time Joshua had ever called him by name alone.

Alois bit his lip, climaxing.

---

<<< || Table of Contents || >>>

Author: 唇亡齿寒 / Lips Gone, Teeth Cold

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

---

Chapter 11

The warden of Hecate Prison held a picture frame, wiping away tears with a tissue while lamenting to the officer in front of him. “Those damn pirates, that damn assassin, that damn political prisoner… They not only broke out of prison but also stole my little beauty…” The frame contained a photo of the warden and his black cat Schrödinger. The warden looked full of spirit, while the black cat wore a stern expression.

“Yes, your pet cat.” The officer rubbed his temples, patiently listening to the warden’s sobbing tale. He thought it was an excellent decision to assign this guy to the prison planet, as even someone as patient as himself couldn’t tolerate the warden’s fussiness and nagging. Only someone like this could manage the desolate prison planet, wearing down the most vicious prisoners over the long term until their rough edges were smoothed out.

Several days had passed since the Hecate riot. Aside from the riot instigator Joanna Begrel and the two escapees, Alois Lagrange and Joshua Planck, no other prisoners escaped. Thirteen prisoners were killed. None of the guards died, but many were slightly injured, and one poor soul broke his neck and needed a neural connection surgery.

The rioting prisoners could have seized aircraft to leave the planet, but that didn’t happen. The riot was quickly quelled, thanks to Major General Darius Bayes. He was leading his fleet nearby and descended upon Hecate to suppress the riot upon receiving the distress signal. Now, his fleet had fully taken over the prison planet’s security, replacing the injured guards in watching the prisoners, while the major general himself assumed the warden’s duties, as the latter was heartbroken over the loss of his pet cat.

The major general’s adjutant was sorting through the prison’s documents and had to endure the warden’s crying. He absentmindedly nodded, searching for important files.

Three light knocks sounded at the door. The warden blew his nose. “Come in.”

The door opened slowly, and the adjutant glanced at the newcomer, quickly dropping the files, standing up in a hurry, and saluting the entering man.

The man in the black uniform returned the salute with a glance at the adjutant, then strode to the warden. “Good afternoon, Warden.” The man’s epaulettes bore golden cloud patterns with a golden star emblem.

“Major, Major General!” The warden hastily wiped his tears and, holding the picture frame, bowed to the man, resembling a relative thanking guests at a funeral.

The man in front of him was Darius Bayes, a promising young noble officer of the Empire, who had already risen to the rank of major general at the age of twenty-six, leading a fleet patrolling the border between the Empire and the Federation. He held a hereditary count title, with his fief on the Empire’s most prosperous York Gamma star. His father was a hero who gloriously sacrificed himself in the Battle of Dacia, beloved and respected throughout the country. His mother was the granddaughter of the late King Frank IV, a bona fide royal. Prince Annot and Princess Alveira were his childhood friends, and the Queen regarded him as her own, raising him. Even if he did nothing, his noble bloodline and prestigious status would have secured him a place in the court, promising future glory. However, Count Darius Bayes chose to join the military, not to seek accolades for future career prospects but to genuinely engage in warfare, repeatedly going to the most dangerous battlefields. Every battle he commanded ended in victory, earning him immense glory. His rapid promotion was unprecedented, making him a rising star in the military and gaining significant public praise (the ministers happily took advantage of this, devising various plans to make him an idol for the Empire’s youth—especially needed after the former idol Joanna Begrel had disappointed the public).

Now, this bright star was eyeing the warden with his amber eyes, like a raptor selecting prey. The warden shivered involuntarily, unable to associate any pleasant thoughts with the young officer’s handsome yet cold face, especially knowing that Major General Darius Bayes was nicknamed the “Whip of Judgment”.

“What can I do for you, Major General?” The warden clutched the picture frame tightly, afraid the cold officer might snatch it away.

Darius Bayes’s gaze moved from the warden’s face to the picture frame in his arms, then to the various cat photos on the wall behind him. His mouth twitched slightly. “It seems you love your pet very much.”

“Yes, my cat, my little beauty…” The warden was on the verge of tears again.

“No need to worry. I will retrieve your pet and those three escapees, ensuring your little beauty returns with not a hair missing.” Darius paused. “Though I can’t guarantee the safety of the escapees.”

“Of course, of course! As long as Schrödinger returns!” The warden’s eyes brimmed with tears.

Hearing the cat’s full name made the major general’s mouth twitch again.

“I need to access some data to help track the escapees. I need your authorization.”

“Yes, I’ll give it to you right away…” The warden carefully placed the picture frame on the desk, took out a chip from his pocket, and handed it to Major General Darius with both hands. “This can access all the data in Hecate’s database.”

The major general weighed the chip in his palm. “Does Hecate’s central computer have artificial intelligence?”

“Yes, a mid-level AI, twinned with the AI of the third satellite.”

“Good.” The major general, holding the chip, left the office with long strides, as abruptly as he had arrived.

The adjutant was momentarily stunned, then snapped to attention and saluted the warden. “I’ll take my leave, sir!” He hurriedly followed the major general.

In Hecate’s underground central computer monitoring room, Darius Bayes inserted the chip into a slot. The computer scanned the chip and confirmed the authorization.

“AI Lilia at your service,” an electronic female voice sounded.

“I want to see the surveillance footage of Joanna Begrel’s escape.”

“Searching now.”

After a moment of silence, the electronic voice spoke again. “Sorry, the footage you requested does not exist.”

The major general frowned. “Does not exist? Why?”

“I was attacked by an unidentified hacker during Joanna Begrel’s escape. All functions were controlled by the intruder, so no relevant data was recorded.”

“A hacker?” Darius Bayes pondered. He recalled the AI on Joanna’s ship, though the female pirate claimed it was merely auxiliary, Darius was sure its capabilities were far more advanced. Hecate’s central computer and satellites were equipped with a total of six mid-level AIs, forming the Empire’s strongest defense barrier. Now they were all simultaneously breached by an “unidentified hacker”, and Darius couldn’t fathom who had such capabilities. Maybe the legendary inventor Kester from ancient Earth could have done it? But he had been dead for two thousand years. Could it be a high-level AI? But there were only three high-level AIs in the entire galaxy, all in Neo Athens, and Darius doubted the high-minded Neo Athens Academy would lend their treasures to rescue a mere pirate.

For most people, escaping from Hecate would be a miracle, but for space pirate Joanna, it was a trivial feat. If she possessed the galaxy’s fourth high-level AI, it would be even less surprising. Darius needed to quickly figure out the origin of that AI. And also…

He stared at the standard entry photos of the three escapees on the screen, feeling a mix of complex emotions. “Joanna, a former colleague, now an enemy.” He turned to the silver-haired man. “Mourner, a former idol, now also an enemy.”

Finally, he looked sadly at the last photo. “Lagrange, a former senior, now still an enemy.”

The young officer pressed his hand to his chest. “How did it come to this, Prince Annot? What should I do?”

AI Lilia recorded Darius’s muttering word for word. She searched the database but found no similar question’s answer, nor was she equipped with a program for comforting humans. Moreover, the person Major General was addressing was “Prince Annot”, not her. So, the AI decided to remain silent and didn’t respond.

---

<<< || Table of Contents || >>>

Author: 唇亡齿寒 / Lips Gone, Teeth Cold

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

---

Chapter 10

The fighter was launched into space, and Alois felt dizzy for a moment. The radar and various data on the screen, combined with the sudden sensation of weightlessness, left him fumbling for a while. Fortunately, this was in zero gravity space; otherwise, he would have crashed long ago. Alois pulled up the fighter, circling the “mothership” once. Leo had set up several stationary targets nearby, which wouldn’t move or attack. This was beginner-level practice. Alois silently scoffed at Leo’s low expectations of him. After easily destroying a few targets, he started to regain his feel for piloting the fighter.

Soaring freely in the universe… This had been Alois’s fervent dream in his youth. But after being toyed with by fate repeatedly, he had given up on this dream. However, now it seemed he had stumbled closer to it by chance.

His hand trembled slightly on the control stick. Leo’s voice echoed in his ear. “Next, I’ll increase the difficulty. If you’re shot down by a simulated enemy, I swear you’ll become the laughingstock of the entire ship.”

Several red dots appeared on the radar, quickly approaching Alois.

“Bring it on.” Alois maneuvered the fighter towards the targets. They circled around him like flies, but still didn’t attack. Within seconds, they disintegrated into cosmic dust.

The next opponents were three Godot Type I fighters, Empire-made. They were inferior in both speed and firepower to the Godot Type II and had been retired from the Empire fleet, used only by some civilian shipping companies for escort. To Alois, who had regained his skill, the three fighters were like slow-moving old men, posing no threat. After sending them to the cosmic scrap heap, Leo’s voice reappeared.

“You’re doing quite well,” the AI said with a hint of surprise. “I’m impressed, family member.”

“I have a name!”

“Ah, Joanna is here.”

The space scene on the screen turned to static, and the simulated weightlessness disappeared. Alois opened the simulator pod door and stuck his head out. The training room was bustling with activity; the crew seemed very interested in this match. Joshua was among them, his arms crossed, with the black cat Schrödinger hanging around his neck like a scarf. The assassin’s black-gold eyes were fixed on Alois’s pod, and when he noticed Alois looking back, he quickly averted his gaze.

Alois grunted.

The crowd stirred slightly as the red-haired female pirate entered the training room, like Moses parting the Red Sea. A simulator pod opened, and Joanna jumped in lightly. “Don’t get distracted, family member.” Her voice came through the speaker. “If you lose, I’ll have Leo play the footage of your defeat on repeat during dinner.”

“Don’t, Captain! Didn’t you promise to let me choose the program?” the AI protested loudly.

Alois closed the pod door and restarted the fighter system, silently cursing the female pirate for being so ruthless.

“Alright, let me explain the rules of your duel,” Leo said. “You belong to two opposing destroyers, encountering each other in battle. The one who shoots down the other’s fighter or mothership wins. Both of you have the same amount of energy. When it’s depleted, the match ends. If neither side is shot down, it’s a draw. Understood?”

“Understood,” Alois said.

“Understood,” Joanna replied.

“I’ll now cut off your communication channels. No chatting during the fight.” Leo paused. “And no talking to me either.”

“Who has the time for that?” Alois frowned. But the communication channel was already cut off, leaving only static noise in the speaker. The screen showed a 5-second countdown. He gripped the control stick tightly, took a deep breath, and as the countdown hit zero, the simulated fighter was launched into space with a huge thrust.

This time, Alois quickly took control of the fighter. He maneuvered it around a few times, and the radar showed an enemy target approaching. He turned on the optical telescope to get a look at Joanna’s fighter. What he saw made him gasp.

“Typical woman.” He shook his head.

Fighters used for space combat often had structures modeled after insects. Nature’s incredible designs gave insects perfect proportions; mimicking them allowed fighters to maintain balance in the zero-gravity void of space, avoiding being thrown off by thrusters and particle turbulence. For instance, the Empire Godot Type I mimicked a dragonfly, while the Godot Type II borrowed from a moth.

However, the “Bard” that Joanna was piloting was vastly different from the mainstream insect-like designs. It had a streamlined body, thrusters hidden under the wings, and evenly distributed beam cannons and missiles resembling feathers on its wings. It lacked the terrifying steel skeletons and black mesh insulation layers. The silver shell covered the body. Neo Venice’s pinnacle technology made the “Bard” look like a bird flapping its wings, freely flying among the stars.

The “Bard” looked more like a concept machine from an exhibition than a combat model. Under normal circumstances, Alois might have marveled at its technological brilliance, but the rapidly approaching red dot on the radar told him that the “Bard” wasn’t just an art piece but a lethal weapon.

Alois deftly dodged the “Bard’s” laser beam. The two fighters brushed past each other, weaving a large “8” in space. The unique aspect of the Godot Type II lay in its agility and speed; its high sensitivity made it a battlefield sprite but also difficult to operate, easily going out of control. Many pilots deliberately lowered the sensitivity parameters, making the fighter easier to control but sacrificing its greatest advantage. Therefore, the Empire Arsenal quickly introduced a modified version, sacrificing speed for increased firepower, making the Godot Type II Modified easier to handle.

Veteran pilots preferred the original Godot Type II, as skilled pilots could turn this agile machine into a deadly assassin. It would suddenly appear beside you in the chaos of battle, attack, and then vanish, leaving you unable to catch even the particle trail from its engines.

Alois considered himself the best student of his class at the military academy. Even his flight instructor praised him, saying, “You will become the ace pilot of the Empire’s fleet one day.” He controlled the Godot Type II better than any other student.

After successfully dodging several attacks, Alois launched a counterattack. The laser beam shot towards the beautiful “Bard”. He expected to hit at least once, but the female pirate seemed to anticipate his attack path, effortlessly dodging the beam, like a swan dancing gracefully on a lake.

The Godot Type II relentlessly pursued, and the two fighters engaged in a tangled battle, making it hard to tell who shot first or whose beams were flying in all directions. In space, a breathtaking game of cat and mouse unfolded. Alois pushed Joanna towards the side of the mothership, sustaining several hits himself, his fighter heavily damaged.

The “Bard” was also a high-speed model. Initially, Joanna could control it with ease, but as Alois tightened his pursuit, her overly aggressive maneuvers made the fighter’s responses sluggish. Luckily, she knew the Godot Type II’s capabilities and could almost predict his next move in the chase. The “Bard” broke away from the side of the mothership, looped in an S-shape, trying to create distance, but was tightly followed.

“So persistent!” The female pirate, used to quick victories, found this exhausting. She planned to end it in one decisive move. The “Bard” was equipped with armor-piercing missiles, needing just one hit to finish the enemy. While dodging, she brought up the missile targeting system, aimed at the Godot Type II during a spin, and pressed the launch button.

Two missiles flew towards Alois! He pulled up the fighter, avoiding one, but the other grazed a wing. The cockpit flashed red, the word “DANGER” on the screen indicated one engine was damaged. The system advised initiating the escape procedure, with the escape pod detaching to return to the mothership.

“No way!” Alois shut down two engines to maintain balance. The remaining engines greatly reduced the Godot Type II’s speed, making it slower than even the most basic civilian escort ships. He could only barely dodge the flying beams. Joanna took advantage, pushing Alois to the other side of the mothership. With two more missiles, she could easily finish off the Godot Type II.

Alois gritted his teeth and activated his missile targeting system. While his missiles were armor-piercing, they lacked the firepower of the “Bard” and couldn’t auto-track targets. He wasn’t skilled in sniping and couldn’t guarantee a direct hit. If the missile missed, Joanna’s next laser would pierce him.

He could almost imagine the female pirate’s triumphant smile. In fact, Joanna was indeed smiling. She pressed the launch button again, sending two missiles towards Alois. His fighter turned slightly, as if in a desperate struggle. Then the Godot Type II also fired a missile.

Was he relying on luck? The female pirate raised an eyebrow in doubt. Her missiles hit Alois’s fighter, causing it to burst into flames and turn into a charred metal mass. But to her surprise, Alois’s missile didn’t fly towards her; it struck the side of the mothership, piercing through in less than a second!

Joanna stared in disbelief at the red text flashing on the screen: “MOTHERSHIP SUNK”.

The simulator pod’s lights dimmed, the screen turned to static, and the pod door slowly opened.

The female pirate stumbled out of the simulator, looking incredulously at Alois, who climbed out of his pod dejectedly.

“Hey, you actually sank the mothership.” She said lightly, “In a 1v1 duel, we usually only target fighters, not the mothership.”

The young man shrugged. “But I treated it as a war. In war, I’m a soldier, a part of the military machine, always ready to sacrifice myself for a greater mission. And you’re a pirate.” Then he shook his head in disappointment. “But what’s the use of saying this? I was shot down first. I lost.” He looked unwillingly at the crowd, and Joanna followed his gaze to see the silver-haired assassin, the Mourner.

The female pirate chuckled softly. “Oh dear, what should we do now?” She patted Alois on the shoulder. “Forget all that military theory! From now on, you need to learn how to be a pirate!”

“…Huh?”

“I’m saying you’re hired, Alois Lagrange.” Joanna pushed him into the crowd, still dazed. The crew shook his hand, congratulating him on joining. Alois’s expression slowly turned from confusion to joy. He was jostled towards the training room door, with the excited Ibb Descartes rushing up to pat his back. “Great job, brother! I knew you could do it!”

Joanna watched Alois being surrounded by the crew, lost in thought. ‘Soldiers,’ she mused. ‘I’m a space pirate, but I was once a soldier too.’

---

<<< || Table of Contents || >>>

Author: 唇亡齿寒 / Lips Gone, Teeth Cold

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

---

Chapter 9

“Why are you following me?”

After lunch, Alois followed Joshua to the door of his cabin. They walked in silence until Joshua pressed the smart fingerprint lock on the door.

Alois pouted, “To feed the cat.” He was still holding a plate with the grilled fish. Joshua hesitated for a moment, then stepped aside to let him in. “Come in.”

As soon as Schrödinger inside the room smelled the fish, it eagerly rushed over and started scratching at Alois’s leg. He had to jump back and put the plate down as far from himself as possible.

“You should get something for it to scratch.” Alois looked around the empty room, realizing it wasn’t much better than his own cabin. Then he suddenly thought, wouldn’t it be better if the two of them shared a room? Would it be too crowded? “You should also make a little bed for it. Where else is it supposed to sleep?”

“It sleeps on my bed.”

“Hmph!” Alois couldn’t suppress his jealousy.

“Hey, why are you getting jealous over a cat?”

Joshua sat down on the bed, and Alois dragged a chair over to sit beside him. He stared into the assassin’s black-gold eyes for a while, and Joshua stared back without any reservations. “Hey,” he said, “are you really planning to support me?”

Joshua reached out and ruffled Alois’s short black hair, smiling mysteriously. “What else can I do? I brought you out of prison to a completely unfamiliar place, and you might be wanted by the entire Empire. If I don’t support you, what will you do?”

His voice was soft, almost like he was talking to himself, and his movements were gentle, like he was petting a cat. Alois closed his eyes, wanting to enjoy Joshua’s touch a little longer, but the assassin suddenly withdrew his hand. “Fortunately, Leo found your information in the database. You did very well in school, and we just happen to need a mechanic on the ship. He wants you to fill the vacancy.”

“So, you had this all planned out!” Alois looked for something to throw. “One plays the good cop, the other plays the bad cop. You two are a perfect pair!”

“Angry?” Joshua tilted his head, watching him with amusement.

“No! I’m not as petty as you!” Alois turned his head, saying he wasn’t angry but felt furious inside. “When did you and Leo get so close? He can’t even be used as emergency rations!”

“While chatting, we realized we had met before. I guess we’re old acquaintances now.” Joshua raised an eyebrow. “Why do you care so much? Do I need to report to you about my friends?”

“Can’t I care about you?”

“Thanks.”

“Ungrateful!” Alois stood up. “I’m leaving!” He pretended to leave, hoping Joshua would stop him, but Joshua just flopped back onto the bed and waved goodbye. “Go on. You should get to the training room and familiarize yourself with the fighter’s controls. How long has it been since you touched a control panel?”

“……” Alois clenched his fists, restraining his urge to hit him. “Don’t you have anything else to say to me?” he asked through gritted teeth.

“Well… don’t feel bad if Joanna shoots you down. It’s nothing to be ashamed of…”

“That’s not it!” Alois walked quickly to the bed and climbed on top of Joshua. “Shouldn’t warriors get a morale boost before going into battle?” He leaned down, feeling the warmth of the silver-haired assassin’s breath. Joshua’s lips were thin, with a beautiful curve, smiling, showing no signs of rejecting him.

Joshua squinted, the gold in his eyes almost spilling out. They got closer and closer, their lips almost touching, when Joshua suddenly pushed Alois’s face away forcefully.

“Don’t you value your life?” Joshua frowned. “Leo! Guide this guy!”

Leo’s voice came from the ceiling. “Hmm, do you two have to use me as a scapegoat for your quarrel? The plight of artificial intelligence is so tragic—getting blamed while doing nothing!”

Joshua slammed the wall. “Hurry up!”

“At your service! Mr. Lagrange, please follow the blue markers on the floor to the training room!” The smart AI immediately lit up a giant blue arrow, flashing towards the door, as if urging Alois to leave quickly.

“Well… I guess I’ll really go then.” Alois reluctantly walked out, and Joshua watched him go until the door closed completely, erasing his figure.

Leo’s hologram then appeared in the chair, hands folded inside his sleeves, looking solemn. “What’s with you? It’s just a kiss. Why act like an attempted rape?”

“It was an attempted rape,” Joshua replied, putting his hands behind his head.

Leo sighed. “He’s actually quite sincere with you. Would it kill you to be nicer to him?”

“Leave, Leo.”

The AI gave him a regretful look. “Fine.” The hologram disappeared instantly.

The room fell silent, except for the sound of Schrödinger eating fish. Joshua turned over, facing the wall.

“Haven’t I been nice enough to him?”

He wasn’t asking anyone in particular, and no one answered.

Alois followed the markers to the training room, looking dejected. There was over an hour until his scheduled time with Joanna. The training room was empty except for the freckled young man he had seen in the cafeteria. He was fiddling with something on a monitoring device.

“Hi!” The young man greeted him with a friendly nod. “You’re early?”

“Yeah. I wanted to get familiar with the controls.”

The freckled young man extended his hand, shaking Alois’s. “Ibb Descartes. I’m the mechanic on this ship.”

“Alois Lagrange.”

“You went to military school?” Ibb asked curiously.

“Yes. But I haven’t touched a fighter control panel since I graduated.” Alois looked at the flowing data on the monitoring device. “What are you doing?”

Ibb scratched his head in embarrassment. “The captain wants to fly the latest ‘Bard’ model, so I’m helping Leo adjust the parameters.”

Alois was surprised. “Even Leo needs help?”

Leo suddenly appeared beside them, squatting on the floor, chewing on something with a troubled look. “If artificial intelligence were omnipotent, you humans would have been extinct by now.”

“What are you eating?”

“Data Ibb gave me.”

…Could you be less literal? Alois mentally screamed.

Leo gestured to the rows of simulation pods in the training room. “Go practice. Though I don’t think it’s necessary.” He hadn’t finished speaking when Alois climbed into a pod. “Oh, are you that eager to be beaten by the captain?”

“I’ll show you I can win!”

The pod door closed, and the small chamber plunged into darkness. Alois put on the training helmet and lightly touched the control panel in front of him. A faint light illuminated the buttons and the dark screen.

“What model do you want to fly?” Leo’s voice came through the speaker.

“Empire-made, Godot II.”

“That’s an old model. Are you sure? I also have the Godot II Modified and the Boun Dia model. All Federation models, except the newest Rousseau III, are available too. Don’t you want something else?”

“Old models have their advantages.”

“Alright, suit yourself.”

The control panel lit up, displaying “Godot II, starting up.”

Alois gripped the control stick with trembling hands. He hadn’t touched a fighter in years, but now it felt like he was back in his youth, nervously undertaking his first simulation flight.

He was familiar with the Godot II’s controls, its strengths, and weaknesses, as well as his own body. This was his great advantage. Although Joanna was highly skilled, she was flying an unfamiliar model. This alone would create a gap between them.

Confident, Alois seemed unaware that, like him, Joanna was also unfamiliar with the “Bard”, while she was just as familiar with the Godot II.

---

<<< || Table of Contents || >>>

Author: 唇亡齿寒 / Lips Gone, Teeth Cold

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

---

Chapter 8

Three people—accurately speaking, two humans and one AI—were walking on the way to the cafeteria. Leonard was leading the way, introducing things as they walked. “This path leads to the maintenance bay.” “The branch to the right goes to the repair bay.” “Don’t take this corridor because the toilets are broken.” “If you get lost, the best solution is to shout ‘Leo, save me’ at the ceiling, and I’ll light up some guiding markers for you. Don’t be embarrassed; except for the captain and the dog, everyone calls for help once or twice a day.”

Alois was following behind, obviously distracted, pretending to look around curiously while actually sneaking glances at Joshua from the corner of his eye. The assassin, however, listened attentively, occasionally asking questions about the Lady of the Night, looking every bit like someone who had joined the crew and cared about his new organization. Sometimes, he would suddenly stop talking and glance at Alois, who would immediately avert his gaze, staring at the floor and pretending he hadn’t been caught looking at Joshua.

Leo got more animated with his introduction and started gesturing wildly, moving a bit ahead of the other two. Joshua suddenly leaned close to Alois’s ear and asked, “Why do you keep looking at me?”

“You’re good-looking…” Alois blurted out, then froze, wishing he could go back in time to sew his mouth shut. “Who… who’s looking at you?!”

The assassin lowered his voice. “You should see my house on Olympus. There’s a whole cabinet of eyes preserved in formaldehyde…” He paused, seeming to relish Alois’s shocked expression. “From those who kept staring at me.”

“You’re… you’re joking, right?” Alois was really worried he might wake up tomorrow with only two empty eye sockets left.

Joshua shrugged. “You actually believed it.”

Alois began to regret not striking first back on Hecate and getting rid of this troublesome assassin!

Passing through a gate, he realized that since Joshua was joking with him, it might mean he was no longer angry with him.

The cafeteria on the Lady of the Night was slightly smaller than the one in Hecate prison because there were fewer crew members than prisoners, but the environment was much better. The most notable difference was that the one serving food wasn’t a robot that would yell at you but a pretty blonde girl with blue eyes. When Alois, holding his tray, walked up to her, she smiled sweetly and gave him a big spoonful of beef. Alois was too touched to speak. Then, the girl picked a piece of meat from his tray and threw it to the ground, still smiling sweetly. Alois clearly saw Pavlov standing by her feet, wagging his tail, and eating the beef that originally belonged to him.

“The captain doesn’t allow us to feed it from our meals, saying the dog would get fat. But…” The girl looked a bit embarrassed, “Consider it charity.” Then she added a grilled fish to his tray. “For your cat.” She winked.

Alois winked back in acknowledgment. He finally understood why Pavlov had gained so much weight after Joanna’s few weeks’ absence.

He found a less crowded corner to sit down, and Joshua, carrying his tray, came over and sat across from him.

“I love this place,” the assassin said. “Finally, no one’s forcing me to eat onions and broccoli.” He took a bite of the pork chop on his plate. “God, I’d be willing to work here for life!”

“Glad to hear that,” the red-haired female captain said, walking over gracefully with a tray in one hand and a dog leash in the other. She sat beside Alois and tied the dog to the leg of the bench. Pavlov glanced longingly at the delicious meat on the table, then lay down and pretended not to see anything.

A group of young crew members, chatting and laughing, sat around Joanna. “Captain, that’s animal abuse!” a freckled young man laughed.

“I’m doing it for his health. If you keep feeding him like this, Pavlov will become a fat dog one day.” Joanna stopped Joshua with a glance from giving extra meat to the dog. “Do it again, and you’ll only get broccoli to eat!” Joshua quickly stuffed the meat intended for the dog into his own mouth.

“Captain, you’re so mean.” The freckled young man said, “We used to eat Pavlov’s dog food, and he didn’t mind. Now we should make it up to him.”

Alois was curious. “Why did you eat dog food?”

“Ah… well.” The freckled young man had a nostalgic expression. “We were escaping from the Federal army. The ship got hit, and the food storage was destroyed. The only food left was the dog food in the captain’s room. We survived on it for a week.”

…What a tragic memory to be nostalgic about! And for it to feed the whole crew for a week… Joanna, how much dog food did you store? You’re the one feeding the dog the most, aren’t you!

The female pirate seemed to realize this as well and awkwardly changed the topic. “Speaking of which, since we have new members, let’s prepare a welcome party in a couple of days.”

The crew nodded in agreement, ignoring the dog food issue as per the captain’s intention.

A young girl said, “I never thought the Mourner would join us.” She turned to Alois. “Are you related to the Mourner? Are you brothers?”

“No,” Joshua denied.

The girl tilted her head in confusion. “So he is…”

Joshua continued, “His name is Alois Lagrange, and he’s my kept man.”

His voice was soft, but everyone in the cafeteria heard it. Instantly, all conversations stopped. The clinking of cutlery ceased, and all eyes focused on Joshua and Alois.

In the silence, Alois, mortified, threw down his fork and stood up. “Who’s a kept man?!”

“I thought someone who doesn’t work but has food and drink was a ‘kept man’. Does the meaning change in different regions?”

“By your definition, Schrödinger is also a kept man!” …Wait, no, Schrödinger should be a “kept cat*”.

*Clarity: There’s a pun here. The term “kept man/gigolo/boy toy” is little white face (小白脸). Alois changed the term to little black face (小黑脸) since Schrödinger is a black cat.

Joshua smirked. “Can you be the same as a cat?”

“Ahem…” Joanna intervened to smooth things over. “Mourner, that’s not right. If someone can support themselves, they’re not a kept man.” She gestured for Alois to sit down. “How about this, I’ll find you a job on the ship, and you’ll get a regular salary. Then you won’t be a kept… pfft.” She turned her head, covering her mouth, trying hard to stifle her laughter, but Alois clearly saw her eyes tearing up from laughing.

“No need, Captain,” Joshua said lazily, taking the opportunity to throw a piece of meat to Pavlov. “I can afford to keep him.”

“Who needs you to keep me!” Alois turned to Joanna, shaking her. “Captain! Please give me a job! I’ll do anything, really!”

“That’s right, Captain.” Leo suddenly appeared in the seat opposite Joanna. “I even gave him a communication terminal. And aren’t we short of a mechanic?”

The female pirate wiped her tears. “Is anyone fit to be a mechanic? I’d rather leave the position vacant than let an idiot bungle it.”

“Who’s bungling it?!” Alois stood up again. “I graduated from military school with all A+ grades!”

“School and the battlefield are different.” Joanna narrowed her eyes.

Leo instantly disappeared and then reappeared behind her. “Captain, let him try.”

Joanna pondered for a moment.

“Alright.” She stretched lazily. “Meet me at the combat simulation room at 2 PM today. One-on-one. If you can beat me, the mechanic’s position is yours. I won’t go all out.”

“Afraid of you?” Alois raised his chin slightly.

Joanna turned to Leo. “Where does his confidence come from?”

“Humans are so complicated. How could I understand!” Leo clutched his chest.

If the AI had a physical form, Alois would have already pounded him into the ground.

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Author: 唇亡齿寒 / Lips Gone, Teeth Cold

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

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Chapter 7

Joanna took the freshly baked cream mousse from the crew member’s hand and sniffled with emotion. She hadn’t had a decent meal in weeks; the food on the escort ship and in prison was worse than Pavlov’s dog food. Although the dessert was high in calories and could easily make her gain weight, the female pirate decided to indulge herself a little and reward her taste buds and stomach.

Leo’s lazy voice came from above. “Seeing you have such a good appetite makes me really happy for you, Captain. I suggest you finish eating quickly because I’m about to report the ship’s damage, and you might lose your appetite after hearing it.”

“Just say it.” Joanna Begrel was a space pirate who roamed the sea of stars. She wouldn’t lose sleep or appetite over bad news!

“Alright. Your little lady took two hits; the first and third engines are damaged, the main power source is damaged, decompression chambers 26 and 27 are damaged, and the decompression devices can’t function properly. The microbial circulation systems in cabins 7 and 15 are damaged. I’ve sealed them off to prevent the whole ship from being flooded with wastewater, like in some old sci-fi novel.”

The female pirate let out a couple of pained grunts. “Can we hold out until the warp ends?”

“Of course. The warp generator is intact, and we still have sufficient energy. But I suggest repairing the damaged parts as soon as possible, or any Empire cruiser could sink your little lady without even trying to run.”

“Hmm…” Joanna bit her spoon, staring intently at the simulated navigation map on the screen. “We’ll go to Neo Venice to repair the ship, get supplies, and buy a few new fighter models. I saw an ad for their new ‘Bard’ model. It looks pretty good…”

“Alright, Captain.” Leo’s voice was filled with deep helplessness. “You should discuss that with the finance department. If you just want to play with new fighters, I can adjust the combat simulation system’s parameters…”

“What are you waiting for? Go do it!”

“……” The crew members on the bridge, overhearing their conversation, simultaneously put their hands to their foreheads.

“Oh right!” Joanna smacked the armrest hard. “I almost forgot! Leo, go to the supply cabin and find some clothes to send to the Mourner and his family. Those prison uniforms are an eyesore.”

“Do you even need to say that? I’ve already put them outside their door!”

Alois lay on the bed, tossing and turning, unable to sleep. Although the clock beside him told him it was morning according to standard time, it was night by Hecate’s planetary time. He should have been fast asleep, but he felt no drowsiness at all. The day’s thrilling experiences had excited him so much that he couldn’t sleep.

All he could think about now was Joshua. His silky silver hair, his resilient skin, his cold lips, his warm, wet tongue. The thought of Joshua made him hot and restless. Knowing Joshua was just a wall away intensified his agitation.

Joshua had black-gold eyes… Joshua was the Mourner. Damn it! The Mourner was the strangest legend in the galaxy, an urban myth, the embodiment of death. Alois had heard of the Mourner’s name back when he was in military school; his classmates worshiped him like an idol (they also idolized the space hero Joanna, and their hearts broke when she defected from the Empire military). During his time in the Royal Guard, the legend seemed to fade, but its influence remained. The court maids talked about the black-clad assassin as if he were a handsome devil tempting them to ruin, burying girls’ hearts in the fiery abyss. In Hecate prison, the Mourner became a symbol of belief; as long as he roamed free, it proved that galactic police and bounty hunters were useless.

Now the assassin Mourner was right next to Alois. They had been so close that they could hear each other’s breathing. It could be said that Alois had never been so close to “death”. This forbidden feeling only added to his excitement. He wanted to embrace Joshua, but he had just made Joshua angry…

Knock, knock, knock.

“Who is it?” Alois jumped up from the bed, warily staring at the door.

“It’s me.” The voice outside was unmistakable—the omnipresent guy from above!

“What… what do you want?”

“Tsk, I respect your privacy, so I’m knocking. Do you think there’s a door on this ship I can’t open?”

Before Alois could consent, the door opened on its own. A man with long, deep purple hair leaned against the doorframe, wearing a luxurious robe as elaborate as a scholar of Neo Athens. At his feet was a small robot, holding a large bag over its head, with a silly, unchanging smile on its face.

The man lazily walked in, the small robot hopping after him. The door closed behind them. “Good day.” The man sat boldly in a chair, as if he were the owner. “I’m Leonard, the navigator, network administrator, and daily affairs manager of the Lady of the Night. You can call me Leo.”

“Hello…” Alois sat up straight on the bed. This guy’s tone was annoying, but given his multiple roles, he must be highly capable and valued by the captain. He wasn’t someone to provoke.

The small robot cheerfully walked up to Alois, emitting a “hee hee hee hee” sound, which should have been childlike and innocent, but was creepy at the moment.

Leo pointed at the small robot with his chin. “It’s for you.”

“It?” Alois didn’t understand what he was supposed to do with a robot.

The small robot put down the bag, retracted its hands into its body, and began transforming. It retracted its outer shell and flipped out a new one. A few seconds later, it became a small communication terminal.

“This is really advanced!” Alois carefully picked up the terminal, afraid of breaking this rare item.

Leo crossed his legs. “It can make calls, send messages, play music and videos, and access the internet wherever there’s a super-light network signal. It can also transform into a robot, but its AI is low, so it can at most bring you a cup. Don’t expect it to chat with you. Every crew member has one. Even though you’re a family member, I prepared one for you. You might become an official employee tomorrow. Wear it around your neck, so even if you’re burned to ashes, we can identify your body through the communication terminal. If it breaks, bring it to me for repairs—although that’s unlikely. If you leave the Lady of the Night someday, return it to me.”

“What’s in the bag?” Alois lightly kicked the bag the robot had brought.

“Clothes and some personal items.” Leo shrugged. “But it’s just a uniform—might be a bit ugly, so bear with it. Joanna requires everyone to wear a uniform, but no one listens to her. Wearing such ugly clothes, we’ll be laughed at by the whole galaxy sooner or later.” He glanced at Alois. “But no matter how ugly, it’s better than your prison uniform.”

“……” It’s not like he enjoyed wearing it!

“The ship has entered warp.” Leo propped his chin. “We’ll end the warp in two weeks and arrive at the Lalage system, landing on the second planet, Neo Venice.”

“How long will we stay there?”

“Who knows? Depends on how fast they can repair us.”

Alois frowned. “Actually, I’m a bit worried…”

“Worried?”

“I’m an escaped convict.”

Leo burst into laughter, as if he had heard the funniest joke in the world. He fell off his chair, clutching his stomach, rolling on the ground, occasionally hitting the floor hard.

“Oh, Asimov! I’ve never heard such a hilarious joke!” He laughed so hard he nearly cried. “You’re an escaped convict? Worried about being wanted? Ahaha, ahahahahaha…” He staggered up while laughing. “Don’t worry. This is the Lady of the Night, a ship full of wanted criminals!”

“……” Alois’s face was stiff. Where was the humor? Why didn’t he find it funny at all?

A minute later, Leo finally calmed down. “Get dressed,” he said, “Lunch is soon. I’ll take you to the cafeteria.”

Alois remained seated.

“Why are you still sitting? Do you need me to help you undress?”

“Do I have to undress in front of you?”

Leo snorted, turning around while muttering, “Do you think I can’t see?”

Alois opened the bag, quickly putting on the clothes inside. The dark blue uniform was of good quality but was indeed ugly. He began to sympathize with Joanna’s crew.

“Alright.” He adjusted his collar, hung the communication terminal around his neck, and followed Leo out the door.

The door next door opened with a swish, and Joshua, wearing the same uniform, stepped out. Alois’s heart fluttered as he looked at him, then his jaw dropped. Another Leo followed him out!

What happened? Did Leo have a twin brother?

The two “Leos” shook hands amicably.

“Hello, Leo α.”

“Hello, Leo β.”

“I’m going to the cafeteria, and you?”

“Me too.”

“Haha, what a coincidence.”

“Yes, what a coincidence.”

Joshua rubbed his temples. “Won’t you get schizophrenia doing this?”

The two “Leos” simultaneously scoffed. One suddenly disappeared!

Alois’s jaw dropped again.

Joshua smirked. “Don’t look so surprised. Leo is the AI of this ship.” He walked up, extended a hand, and passed it through Leo’s body, making Leo scream, “Ah! It hurts! This is murder! I won’t let you off even as a ghost!”

The assassin withdrew his hand. “It’s just a hologram.”

Alois’s jaw dropped for the third time.

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