The streets of Onia Star glittered with lights, crowded with throngs of people. Ace stomped along, hands in his pockets, muttering irritably to Loes beside him.
“Gu Qing and his love-struck brain! Usually he’s as cool and composed as an iceberg, but the moment Milton’s involved, he’s all fired up… Did you see how obsessed he got with the construction of the Qingyuan Star River Hotel? He pushed everyone into overdrive just to make sure the proposal and wedding went off on schedule!”
His hands gestured wildly, frustration spilling from every word. “And that ‘Eternal Star Chain’—he actually made it himself! A fully grown male, and he personally crafted a necklace as a proposal gift! Who does that? Normally, the female prepares lavish gifts for the male. But him… he flipped the script. Probably the only male in the entire species bold enough to do that!”
Loes glanced at him sideways, lips curving slightly. “Gu Qing has never been one to follow the usual path. And he even had me help source the materials for that necklace—at the time, I was stunned. In interstellar culture, a necklace isn’t just decoration; it’s a symbol of love and proposal…”
He paused, eyes softening. “But thinking about it… maybe it’s not so surprising. After all, Gu Qing and General Milton have always had a strong bond.”
“That necklace is special, too—not just for the materials. I feel like it’s more than a token for a partner; it’s a vow.” Loes tilted his head slightly, lowering his voice. “Gu Qing has never been good at saying his feelings outright, but he hid every promise inside that chain.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah—universe’s best love strategist male, so impressive,” Ace muttered, lips twitching, though his steps unconsciously slowed, his mind replaying the way Gu Qing looked at Milton during the wedding.
He tugged at his shirt collar, still grumbling. “Right now, those two are probably glued together, showing off nonstop… I don’t want to stay in that hotel just to watch them smother each other all day.”
Loes paused, remembering something, his tone softening. “But Gu Qing was considerate this time. He even prepared private suites for each of us at the hotel—you, me, and the other subordinates. He said it could serve as ‘everyone’s home.’ No matter where we go or what we face, these rooms will always be here, waiting for our return.”
Ace froze for a moment, silent, but his fingers in his pocket lightly pinched something, tracing a familiar memory. It was a group photo—Gu Qing, Milton, and himself, smiling a bit awkwardly during the wedding. His expression softened for the first time in a long while.
Loes glanced at him, smiling. “And isn’t that convenient? We can even start operations early. Having the wedding at the hotel, with this level of exposure, is the kind of publicity money can’t buy.”
Ace shrugged, half-resigned. “True enough… a lot of high-ranking officials and business elites have booked events here, and plenty of people came just to dine. Even in post-war recovery, reservations are insane.”
Loes nodded. “Our network now reaches even the remote star belts. News spreads faster than ever. The hotel has become the central hub for Star Alliance socializing, which also benefits our intelligence network.”
Ace widened his eyes. “How are you so good at this?! We’re out there fighting, and you actually—”
“You’re risking yourselves on the frontlines; I can’t just stand by.” Loes smiled faintly, eyes darkening. “And… if Gu Qing is right, this war is only the beginning. The future will be even more dangerous. Our intelligence systems need to be in place.”
Ace snorted. “Gu Qing must be some kind of outsider. Look at that proposal—he had all of us there, claiming we were witnesses, but really… he wanted to show us something.”
Loes nodded. “Exactly. The wording, the style… it’s not typical of our society. He wasn’t just proposing; he was sending a message.”
Ace raised an eyebrow. “What kind of message?”
“He might not be from here, or even from this universe’s normal order,” Loes said, voice low. “Yet he chose to bind himself to General Milton and hold the wedding on Onia Star… Don’t you think he was using this ceremony to make a statement?”
Ace’s eyes widened, realization dawning. “Wait… you’re saying the wedding itself was a political move?”
“Exactly. General Milton is the greatest hero of the Aris campaign. His symbolic importance within the Star Alliance is huge. Anyone attempting to harm him would never go unnoticed. Gu Qing leveraged that, turning the wedding into a declaration of protection.” Loes’s voice was calm but certain. “That’s why the wedding was on Onia Star, not in the bug territory.”
“…Then the bug aristocracy wouldn’t dare act rashly,” Ace murmured. “Gu Qing… he’s paving a safe path for Milton.”
“Yes.” Loes gazed at the neon-lit hotel in the distance, calm and resolute. “This isn’t just a wedding. It’s the gentlest way to lay the groundwork for a turbulent future.”
Ace pouted. “Love-struck brain or not, once his romantic mode kicks in, he even mixes it with grand strategy… Honestly, after marriage, he’ll probably come up with even more earth-shattering schemes.” He shivered, muttering, “The Star Alliance… might already be in his calculations.”
Loes chuckled lightly. “Well, he did choose General Milton as his partner.”
Their eyes drifted to a massive electronic billboard on the corner, displaying the trial of Sairo at the High Military Tribunal of the Star Alliance. The once-mighty supreme commander now sat expressionless, head bowed, his former arrogance erased. Convicted and exiled to a frontier planet, his past glory seemed like a dream best forgotten.
Ace frowned. “The Rhine family won’t just let him go, right? That’s their face.”
Loes shook his head, cold but steady. “Don’t forget, his losses are deeper than imagined. Even if they wanted to intervene, they’d have to weigh the consequences—offending the majority of the Star Alliance isn’t a risk they can afford.”
Ace sighed, a touch of regret in his gaze. “His path… seems truly at an end. Even family bows to pragmatism.”
Loes’s eyes scanned the bustling street, voice sharp: “In a world of tangled power and profit, individual fates are often sacrificed for the larger game. Sairo is merely a pawn.”
Among the crowds, the billboard showed Sairo’s lonely back. Once imposing, now vulnerable and scrutinized, while life around him went on—hustle, laughter, and indifference. The contrast between the vibrant street and the harsh reality captured the cost of power: blood, tears, and sacrifice.
Meanwhile, in the upper suites of the Qingyuan Star River Hotel, morning sunlight streamed through expansive windows. Fili, Irel, and Veli enjoyed a rare moment of leisure.
Veli hugged a steaming cup of milk tea, eyes sparkling, speaking in awed tones: “Gu Qing treats the General so well! Never heard of a male proposing to a female like that—and holding a wedding!”
“Usually the female works tirelessly to win over the male, often in polygamous arrangements. Gu Qing… truly legendary,” Irel added, lying on the bed, flattening his pillow, admiration in his eyes. “The banquet alone was extravagant—venue, cuisine, guests, even the whole hotel for bug soldiers. Star Alliance high-ups practically all attended… mostly for the General, of course. He’s hot property right now.”
He lowered his voice. “Luckily, only Rain and Navien knew Landei was Gu Qing; the rest of the species had no clue. Otherwise, the wedding would have exploded. God of War paired with the God of the Military—mind-blowing.”
Irel flipped over. “Gu Qing really must be an outsider, huh? That proposal… not the kind of script you’d see in bug society. Still don’t know his ultimate goal, but at least he’s on our side. That wedding was… a first step in safeguarding the General with the Star Alliance’s backing.”
Fili smiled faintly. “Rare for you to notice that.”
“Hey, hey! What do you mean?!” Irel snapped, sitting up. “I’m not dumb! So many high-ranking officials at the wedding, if something big happens later, it was also the first line of defense for the General!”
Fili chuckled softly. “I agree. But the purpose might go further. Notice the wedding and proposal location—it’s this hotel we’re staying in.”
“Eh? That’s normal, isn’t it?” Irel scratched his head. “But the cuisine tastes just like the Qingyuan restaurants back in bug territory… maybe even the same branch?”
“Not just similar,” Fili said calmly. “The Qingyuan brand was nominally founded by Ace, but I suspect Gu Qing is the real operator. He opened it on Onia Star, leveraged the wedding for fame, and now it’s the go-to hotel for political and business elites.”
“…He isn’t short on funds, is he?” Irel frowned. “Wasn’t there a huge dispute over Qingyuan’s management with the Mel family? Then suddenly quiet—no idea what deal was made.”
“Think about it,” Fili said, gazing out the window, expression icy. “Gu Qing probably suspected the outsider he was dealing with could be high-ranking within the bug hierarchy. Otherwise, why go through all this, opening a hotel here? Likely preparing for future upheavals.”
Veli blinked, admiration in his voice. “Gu Qing really is cunning—a single wedding hiding so many schemes… but ultimately, his goal is protecting the General, right?”
He watched the morning sunlight spilling in. “It really is a unique and dazzling love story…”
Irel flopped back on the bed, muttering, “Good thing Gu Qing’s on our side… otherwise, one sly male would outthink everyone.”
Fili added, “Only a male like that could take such good care of the General.”
The three fell silent, the morning light spilling quietly through the windows. They all understood: this was not just a wedding—it was the beginning of a new era.