A Chemist's Interstellar Saga

Chapter 43: The Empire And The Alliance
Chapter 43: The Empire And The Alliance

As soon as Ortiz got back to the Gravity Training Center, he wrapped his arms around Bauer and wailed, ”I’ve had enough! Arix must be my jinx. Every time I run into her, something bad happens.”

”What happened now? Did you land her in the medical center again?” Bauer asked curiously, as if it was to be expected.

”No, this time she sent someone else there,” Ortiz said, sounding sad but oddly proud.

”Who?” Bauer asked, surprised.

As soon as he mentioned it, Ortiz’s face fell. He wiped his face and mumbled, ”Captain Cantet, Kellan Kering’s arch-rival.”

Cantet and Kellan were the top contenders for the next Rear Admiral. Their rivalry was well-known throughout the Fifth Legion.

Bauer’s mouth twitched as he gave Ortiz a thumbs up. He said sarcastically, ”When it comes to courting disaster, you’re the best, Ortiz. You just might have offended two future Rear Admirals.”

Ortiz cursed inwardly, ”Damn, you think I wanted this? Who knew Captain Cantet would show up at the training base today, and just happen to go to the psychic training area, and of all places, the hypnotism chamber. And just at that moment, he runs into Arix.”

Today was just one unlucky coincidence after another, like someone meticulously planned it all out.

Bauer thought of something and muttered, ”Do you really think Arix’s psychic power is only Supergiant-Class?”

”What do you think?” Ortiz gave Bauer a look that said ’Figure it out for yourself.’

Bauer instantly understood his friend’s point. He said thoughtfully, ”The Alliance has a bright future.”

”The Alliance might have a bright future, but mine is bleak for now. I don’t even know if I can smooth this over,” Ortiz said with a gloomy face.

”Why not tell her big brother?” Bauer felt it was better not to get involved in fights between big shots.

”No way!” Ortiz immediately objected. With a heroic expression, he declared, ”I’ll protect my student myself. What would it look like if I ran to a student’s parents when facing trouble?”

Bauer rolled his eyes and said, ”Good luck then.”

...

When Cantet was sent to the Fifth Legion’s hospital, Kellan had already received the news. He immediately had his aide look into the situation, and when Kellan learned the truth, he burst out laughing.

His rival had really embarrassed himself.

”Captain, do you think Captain Cantet might make things difficult for Miss Kering? Should we keep an eye on the training base?” Kellan’s aide, Basell, asked.

”No need, Cantet likes to set traps for people, but he’s basically honest. I didn’t expect that this time, trying to set a trap for me, he’d fall into it himself,” Kellan said, and laughed again.

As soon as Basell heard this, he laughed along, ”It’s a good thing Miss Kering is so capable.”

”Capable or not, she’s still just a kid. Alright, let’s stop talking about them,” Kellan said with a laugh.

He looked at the virtual map of the Alliance on his desk, his expression turning serious. ”Basell, let’s talk about the insectoids. I have a feeling they’ve been unusually active lately.”

Basell looked at the map, covered with planets large and small, and zoomed in on the eastern section.

Then he said, ”You’re right. Lately, the insectoids seem to be targeting the Fifth Legion. The Fifth Legion’s area of responsibility on the Alliance border has seen the most insectoid activity. And recently, a wormhole appeared in Hecaris. I’m afraid they’re up to something big this time.”

Kellan thought for a moment, then suddenly asked, ”Is there any news from the Empire?”

”Miss Kering saved their crown prince this time. Alpha Leonidas was originally a warmonger, but he has changed quite a bit. He probably won’t plan to wage war against the Alliance for the time being,” Basell said, ending with praise, ”All thanks to Miss Kering, the Alliance was helped a lot without deploying a single soldier.”

Kellan smiled as he listened to Basell. He said, ”The best outcome is for the Empire and the Alliance to coexist peacefully. Our ancestors fled from Earth during the apocalypse; without the help of the Empire, the original inhabitant country, there would be no Alliance today.”

Basell listened quietly to Kellan’s words and didn’t respond. Matters like these were global in scope, and while a captain had the right to comment, he did not have the right to participate.

Kellan understood why Basell remained silent. He didn’t continue about the Empire and changed the subject, ”I’ll ask my father to pay more attention to the insectoid issue. That’s all for today, you can go now.”

”Yes, captain,” Basell said. Then he turned and left Kellan’s office.

Kellan sat back in his chair and rubbed his temples, ”I always feel like something bad is going to happen. I hope it’s just my imagination.”

Meanwhile, Arix had just walked out of the psychic training area. She was planning to enjoy the scenery outside while waiting for Drexel, when Instructor Pritchett called her back.

”Arix, come with me. The legion’s investigative team has some questions about Captain Cantet, and please put on this bracelet,” Pritchett said gently.

He handed her a simple bracelet.

Arix thought it was Captain Cantet who had reported her to the legion’s investigative team, and this bracelet was like handcuffs. After putting it on, she said weakly, ”It’s on.”

Arix followed Pritchett out of the training base, heading towards an increasingly secluded area. That’s when she realized something might be wrong.

”Sir, are we going the right way?” Arix asked warily, suspecting that Cantet might be seeking revenge.

”Don’t worry, we haven’t gone the wrong way. Actually, we’re already here,” Pritchett’s mouth curled into a sinister arc, his normally clear blue and white eyes gradually turning into all-black compound eyes.

”You’re an insectoid! You’ve parasitized Instructor Pritchett!” Arix exclaimed, her pupils constricting in shock.

Arix was about to summon her psychic powers for defense, but she found that her usually responsive psychic power now seemed as if it were asleep.

”Save your energy. The bracelet on your hand was crafted from the finest materials to restrain psychic powers. You’re the first one to use it. Don’t you feel honored?” Pritchett, with his compound eyes, looked at Arix and sneered evilly.

Arix gave up on using her psychic power and turned to run. But she had only taken a few steps when she realized she was surrounded by a psychic barrier.

Seeing no escape, Arix faced the parasitized Pritchett and asked, ”What exactly do you want to do?”

”What do I want to do? I am of course going to take you back to serve as a breeding vessel for our great future Queen,” Pritchett replied.

Then, without wasting more words and with a cruel, bloodthirsty expression, the insectoid advanced toward Arix.