EROS [Zerg]

Evanson Eastland's words made Rowling feel nauseous, and she truly understood that he wanted her to know that she was cooperating with a non-human being.

Evanson Eastland provided her with generous assistance. In addition to advanced laboratories and ample experimental materials, he also rallied her within the human base, instigated numerous small-scale wars, and created miracles of turning the tide in times of crisis. Step by step, he elevated her to the rank of officer, making her the only woman with power in the human base.

"How is the experiment going?" Evanson Eastland walked over to Rowling and looked at the tiny embryo, no bigger than half a palm, lying in a square culture medium, with a heart the size of a grain of rice beating incessantly inside.

"It is now able to sense light and sound."

"The next growth cycle will probably take about five years, and we will need another five years."

“Five years.” Evanson Eastland’s gaze toward Rowling turned hostile.

Rowling was unhappy with Evanson Eastland's rudeness: "Life takes time to develop. Five years is the limit for a single cell to grow into an adult insect the size of you."

Time is involved throughout the entire course of life; this is an unchangeable fact.

Evanson Eastland, who had been involved in the entire secret experiment, naturally understood this principle, so he did not object: "What name are you going to give it?"

“Number 1,” Rowling said naturally.

"..." Evanson Eastland found it difficult to agree with the aesthetic sense of the human woman in front of him.

"Your human civilization is so complex, you should have a better-sounding name."

“A test subject’s name just needs to be easy to remember. What’s the use of it being nicer?” Rowling complained. Although Evanson Eastland tried his best to meet her experimental requests, the pressure he put on her was unprecedented. She was only 19 years old, but a few strands of white hair had already grown in her hair.

"..." Evanson Eastland didn't speak. He flipped through the experimental data records, pointed out a few areas that needed improvement, and then left.

As he was leaving, Evanson Eastland held the square container containing the embryos in his palm, carefully admiring the life within: "Next time, it probably won't be me you meet."

"Who could it be?" Rowling turned her head, looking blankly at the female insect opposite her.

“I don’t know, but he will have the same memories as me.” Evanson Eastlan paused for a moment. “However, emotions are not inherited. Just like the insect you first met is different from me, he will not be the same as me, so… protect this place.”

“And one more thing.” Evanson Eastland turned his gaze away from Rowling and looked intently at the plump embryo: “You are Eros.”

"What?" Rowling stared wide-eyed at Evanson Eastland. "What are you talking about?"

“Its name is Eros.” Evanson Eastland placed the container steadily on the table and gave Rowling a warm smile for the first time. “Isn’t this name better than Number 1? You’re the one who told me this. I remember you really liked that god.”

"..."

Rowling watched Evanson Eastland leave without saying a word. When she came to her senses, she found herself alone in the cold laboratory, her hair already soaked with sweat.

She slowly squatted down, covered her face with her hands, and let the tears flow freely.

Evanson Eastland wiped the blood from his nose with a silk scarf. Kowe had initially predicted he only had three years to live, but he has now survived for three years and three months.

Three years is a short time. Evanson Eastland felt his limbs slowly going numb. Before going to sleep in the Evita Laboratory, he had to see one more insect.

“Evanson wants me to meet him in the Sixth Star System.” Ener frowned after receiving Evanson Eastland’s communication, then glanced at Berlanham beside him.

“You’re going? He hasn’t seen us for years.” Berlanham warned, “I heard he’s been doing well these past few years. He even had a male larva three years ago. He knows what we did before. Now that he hasn’t contacted us for so many years, we don’t know what his attitude is. Don’t let this invitation be a trap.”

Ener's gaze darkened: "If Evanson wants to see me, I have to go."

“Oh dear, you…oh!” Berlanham sighed, conflicted. “I have to go with you.”

Berlanham felt that Evanson was too distant and unable to give his heart to him because of their short time together.

Evanson Eastland originally intended to go to the fourth star system to find Enel himself, but his physical condition could not guarantee that he would be able to return alive after a long interstellar journey.

"Your Excellency Lieutenant General, you wanted to see me?"

Enl arrived at Evanson Eastland’s operations command center, led by Desail.

Evanson Eastland was not embarrassed by the distant address; instead, he racked his brains to find the memories he had inherited in order to talk to Enl.

Ener was surprised that Evanson Eastland had summoned him to the Sixth Star System just to catch up with him.

“I think you must be quite curious as to why I made you travel all this way here.” Evanson Eastland raised an eyebrow, feigning ease, as he looked at his dear friend from his memories.

“That’s true.” Ener nodded. “So what’s your opinion?”

“I have some good news for you. Remember what we and Owen envisioned back then? It’s about to become a reality.” Evanson Eastland looked excited. “It’s the power of genetic technology. The genes of our ancient ancestors can induce the Zerg’s genes to revert to their ancestral form.”

“We’ve tried, but none of them have been successful,” Ener said.

"Because we lack the addition of another gene sequence, which I found in the Earthlings."

"A Blue Star person?" Ener asked in surprise.

“Yes.” Evanson Eastland handed a black metal box to Enl.

"I left you something here. Open it and take a look when you get back."

“You must go back and check it again,” Evanson Eastland reminded him once more.

Ener returned to his temporary hotel, completely bewildered, and opened the box Evanson Eastland had given him under the equally inexplicable gaze of Berlanham.

Inside the box were a letter and a gun.

When Enl unfolded the letter and saw its contents, both he and Berlanham were startled.

"Evanson Eastland is collaborating with the Blue Star pirates? Has he gone mad? This is practically treason!"

"Shut up!" Enl glared at Berlanham, but didn't stop burning the letter with his claws.

"what's wrong with you?"

Berlanham was puzzled, but then he saw a strange smile curving up at the corner of En'er's mouth:

"Organize our insects to investigate that laboratory."

"If necessary, we'll seize the experimental subjects inside."