EROS [Zerg]

“I only went for a check-up at the beginning, and then I stopped going because it was inconvenient.” Alai nodded.

“I’m here right now, let’s go today.” Eros pushed Alai’s wheelchair and found the mechanical leg covered in dust in a cardboard box: “Take your mechanical leg with you, let’s go fix it.”

Alai looked up at Eros with a questioning look in his eyes, but he didn't say anything and let Eros lift him off the wheelchair.

"How's it going in the Sixth Star System?" Alai asked, clinging to Eros's back, trying to find a topic of conversation.

Eros said, “I’ve seen a lot… If I have the chance, I think I’ll take you there; it’s really amazing.”

"magic?"

"A town where male insects feed themselves, multiple species coexist, and there are some special... friends."

"Being able to make friends...that's great. Are you a bug from the military?"

“Yes, there are plenty.” Eros nodded.

Alex was placed in the co-pilot's seat of the aircraft by Eros, and the fresh air outside calmed his gloomy mood slightly.

Eros opened the window of the aircraft to let Alai get some fresh air.

The town of Wellia is quite far from the hospital. Eros looked around and found that the major hospitals were all in the city, while some towns only had small clinics nearby.

“Prenatal checkups can be done at Vitara Health Center.”

"But health centers of this level cannot provide hospitalization."

"Hospitalized?" Alai was taken aback. "I don't need to be hospitalized."

“Your due date is still two weeks away, but I’m not sure if I’ll be staying in the First Star System for the next two weeks. I’m worried about leaving you without the insects to take care of you.” Eros piloted the spacecraft into the sky, his words carrying a hidden meaning:

"The wards at the Saint Cascades are very nice. If your male insect comes to visit you, there are also very good private rooms for him to stay in. Ordinary male insects can't usually stay in such nice houses."

“Saint Ka’s Birthplace?” Alai frowned. “The Royal Hospital of the Nax Empire? I can’t afford the hospital fees there, not even for a day. Besides, we’re not nobles anymore, so we can’t get in.”

“I can get admitted, and I can afford the hospital fees.” Eros looked at Alai’s empty wrist: “Have you been checking the StarNet these past few days?”

"I'm going to have a new name."

"What?!" Alai's heart skipped a beat, thinking that Eros had been forced by some noble male insect.

“Eros Eastlan.” Eros uttered the name with a cold laugh. He had just been on his way to the town of Willia when he received a message on his terminal that his identity information had been changed.

As expected of an empire, their efficiency in serving the nobility is absurdly high. This morning, His Majesty the Insect Emperor had just informed them that he had agreed to the Eastlan family adopting him and Luo Lanxiong, and by noon, they had received news of the change in their identities.

“Eros Eastlan?” Alex was somewhat surprised; it was hard not to associate that surname with his former idol.

"That sounds awful, doesn't it?" Eros rolled his eyes as he thought of his name on his ID.

"Why did it turn out like this? Are you going to marry a male insect from the Eastlan family?" Alex felt that Eros had completely missed the point.

“Of course not.” Eros told Alai why he had returned to the First Star System and why he had changed his name: “I feel very uneasy, so I can’t stay in the First Star System forever. I will soon find a reason to leave and return to the Sixth Star System.”

“What are you uneasy about?” Alai asked.

“I don’t know.” Eros said while piloting the aircraft. “Perhaps everything that has happened in the past has gone too smoothly, making me wonder if what is happening now is a trap.”

“Don’t be afraid, Eros. If that day ever comes, you can give up all that fame and fortune and come to me. I’ll support you by copying your writings.” Alai could also sense Eros’s unease. Perhaps it was ever since he met Eros that this female insect had been uneasy.

Upon hearing this, Eros shrugged and teased, "Come on, raising a male insect is expensive enough. I heard you even bought that male insect a pair of Herbaberi cufflinks the other day. You'd have to copy tens of thousands of words to afford that."

“Bami’s male and female fathers disagree with him marrying a disabled insect, but he said that if I can prove that I can make money and am willing to spend money on the male insect, maybe I can get them to agree… Eros, how did you know that I bought cufflinks for the male insect?” Alex asked in confusion.

Eros replied nonchalantly, "I heard it from the other insects."

Alex found it strange. Would Herbabel, one of the top luxury brands on the main planet, really disclose its customers' information?

Alex was about to say something when he turned around and saw Eros's face was terribly dark. The female insect beside him was completely different from the gentle and smiling female insect he used to know: "Eros, why do you look so pale?"

“My mental strength has been unstable lately, and I need to go to the hospital for an injection in a while.” Eros was now certain that the female insect that Cardian had told him about being deceived by the male insect was his friend Alex. He couldn’t wait to expose the fake male insect’s mask and give him a good beating.

But reason told Eros that he couldn't. Not only was Alex pregnant, but the Kritata family was not a minor noble family; they still had considerable influence on the main planet. Alex had already severed ties with the Dahonlik family and would not receive any help from them.

Alai certainly couldn't compete with that noble male insect on his own. The noble insect disguised itself as a commoner to deceive the female insect's feelings, probably just for novelty and to have some fun, and had no feelings for her at all.

Moreover… isn’t the Kritata family the noble family that Alai rejected in marriage? Eros was used to guessing the male insect’s purpose with the worst possible thoughts, and the word “revenge” crashing into his mind only made him feel scared.

At worst, I'll reveal the male's true nature after Alai lays his eggs. Then I'll talk to Alai and secretly take him to other star systems so that the male can't find him.

Saint Carlos Hospital truly lived up to its reputation as a first-class hospital serving the imperial ruling class. After Eros presented his altered identity information and explained his purpose, he was quickly taken care of.

Perhaps it was the excessive privilege of the Eastland family, the second largest noble family, that allowed Eros and Alai to have a smooth examination at the hospital without even having to wait in line.

Two weeks later, he was admitted to a private ward.

Looking at the doctor's diagnosis, Eros realized that the two insect eggs were not safe and were at risk of slipping. The medical record showed that in addition to her crippled legs, Alai's reproductive system was also underdeveloped. In the insect race, twins usually hatch from a single egg, and Alai's pregnancy with two eggs at once proved this point.

"Let his male worm get more water. The eggs aren't developing well right now; they're malnourished." The doctor described to Eros that female worms that normally carry two eggs will have a torn abdominal exoskeleton, but Alai's eggs, due to malnutrition, only had a slightly protruding abdomen, as if they had overeaten, and it wasn't very noticeable.

"Could you please prescribe some nutrient injections to use for now?" Eros didn't know if Alai's male insects would irrigate Alai, so he didn't give the male insects any hope at all.

After paying the treatment fees, to reassure Alai about staying at the hospital, Eros used up the two star cards he carried with him, leaving 800,000 star coins on the hospital card.

Eros thought that even if the hospital didn't use all the money, Alai could withdraw it after being discharged. As for how many days he would have to drink cheap nutritional fluids, he didn't think much about it. As long as he went back to the military and made a few more orders, he could earn it back in half a year. If anything happened, he could just withdraw his military merits stored in the military and exchange them for star coins.

After settling Alai in, Eros went straight back to the academy.

Alai's mechanical prosthesis was severely damaged, with many screws and connecting pulleys deformed. Judging from the cracks alone, Eros was certain that it was caused by deliberate sabotage.

Considering that Alex doesn't even have a terminal right now, Eros has no idea what Alex has gone through. But in order not to upset Alex in the present moment, Eros restrained his desire to ask. However, since Alex is currently in the hospital, no insects will cause trouble at the Saint Cardinal Ruins Hospital, which is backed by the royal family.

Eros took the mechanical prosthesis to Brandt's office, removed all the broken parts and replaced them with new ones, and it was already midnight when it was finally repaired.

Eros simply lay down on the table and fell asleep, only to wake up the next day at noon.

Brandt's lounge was connected to his office, and he usually lived in the lounge. Eros didn't see Brandt return overnight.

Out of concern, Eros made a call to Brandt.