Just look at how tiny the babies are... đ˝
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Due to Xi Wei and Carloâs firm opposition, His Majesty Trand could only give up on the idea of matchmaking the two of them together. Carlo could finally pursue Aiden with peace of mind. After he returned to the capital star, he went to the Cobra Corps according to his family eldersâ arrangements. During the day, he studied the corpsâs management and operations under his Uncle Drew, and at night he slipped out secretly to meet Aiden. He was busy as a bee all day long.
Aiden felt that after Carlo graduated and returned, he became more and more mature and thoughtful. He was very considerate of him; when the weather turned cold, heâd always tenderly shelter him in his arms, and when the place they were walking to was a bit far away, heâd worry that heâd get tired, and insist on carrying him. Aiden was happy to be carried. So every evening, on the boulevard near Randyâs house, you could see the scene of a tall alpha carrying his omega and slowly walking along.
Carlo had never expected that after always disliking omegas when he was little for being troublesome and needing someone to take care of them, heâd now feel that no matter how he took care of Aiden, it wasnât enough. If Aiden just gave a small cough, heâd be worried to death that he was in poor health and heâd get sick again. He hated that he couldnât have Aiden turn into a cute little palm-sized version of himself, so he could carry him around in his pocket every day, and be together with Aiden at all times.
The two of them dated for a while, attached at the hip, and their relationship naturally advanced by leaps and bounds.
On Christmas Day, the two of them celebrated around the Christmas tree. The atmosphere was great, so Carlo felt bold enough to give Aiden a kiss. The latter didnât resist, but took the initiative to kiss him back. The two of them held each other and kissed, unwilling to let go. If it wasnât for the setting not being right, Carlo wouldnât have been able to hold himself back from marking Aiden on the spot.
After a few days passed, it was New Yearâs Day. Carlo once again boldly took out a ring, knelt down on one knee in front of Aiden and said, âAiden, I can feel that I'm in your heart. You should like me too, right? This is my second time proposing to you, do you have the heart to reject me a second time?â
Faced with his shining eyes, Aiden couldnât help but smile. âHow do you know you're in my heart?â
Carlo said very directly, âBecause I carried you, held you, and kissed you, and you werenât against it, but were very happy instead.â
Aiden found that in front of him, he couldnât help the corners of his mouth rising. He deliberately hardened his face and said, âDid I? Iâve liked smiling since I was small. It wasnât because I liked getting closer to you that I smiled, youâre thinking too much.â
Carlo dejectedly dropped his head. âIs that so...and I was thinking you liked me. This just means I havenât been good enough to you. Iâll do better in the future.â
Hearing his wronged voice, Aidenâs heart finally softened. He put away the thought of bullying him, smiled and rubbed his head. âI havenât said no.â
Carloâs eyes suddenly lit up. âWhat did you say? You...youâre really willing to put this ring on?â
Aiden smiled and reached out his hand. âHelp me put it on.â
â...Okay! Then Iâll put it on for you.â Because he was too excited, the hand Carlo had the ring in was trembling slightly. The fingers Aiden stretched out in front of him were slender and fair, beautiful to the extreme. Carlo lightly kissed the back of his hand, and only then managed to calm down. He slid the silver diamond ring onto the ring finger of Aiden's left hand.
There was a saying from long ago that the ring finger was connected most closely to the heart. By putting a ring there, you could encircle the other personâs heart.
When he saw the ring he had bought sitting on Aidenâs finger, a feeling of satisfaction and pride immediately rose up in his heart, a feeling of âheâs mine now.â He stood up and took Aiden into his arms, saying in excitement, âHow wonderful, Aiden, youâll be my omega from now on. Iâll be good to you.â
Aiden smiled and nodded in his arms, gently tightening his hold.
Maybe this decision was a little impulsive, maybe he still didnât love him enough, but Aiden felt he would never meet someone better than Carlo in all his life. The painstaking love and care Carlo showed him, the thoughtful and gentle way he cradled him in his hand to protect him, all made him feel safe and warm.
Heâd been looking for a suitable partner for all these years. When all was said and done, wasnât he looking for someone whoâd treat him well from the heart?
Now he had found him.
He had been far away past the horizon, yet right under his nose. He was a little clumsy, but very sincereâthe Carlo he had known for many years.
If he really had to entrust the rest of his life to someone, Aiden felt that the alpha in front of him was just right.
On New Yearâs Day of the year 795, Carlo and Aiden held each other and happily listened to the sound of bells in the Imperial Plaza. Across the capital planet, many families were welcoming the new year amid the sounds of cheers and laughter. No one knew that at the border of the Empire, at the outer rim of the Iswell galaxy, the Glory Corps vanguard had met with a blockade from the Stelan Federationâs Direwolf Corps. Their unmanned aircrafts had been wiped out, and more than half of their mechas were damaged.
To make matters worse, because the vanguard was completely surrounded, communications had also been cut off by the wide-range electromagnetic interference.
In the control room, Major General Jenny frowned tightly. If things went on like this, the vanguard might be completely finished off here!
Today, the Federation enemy troops had suddenly hyperleaped here through a mysterious wormhole, then quickly encircled them and cut off their lines of communication. It was clear that they had planned this in advance. The Empire and the Federation had been experiencing constant friction at their borders for the last few years, but both sides had been relatively peaceful internally, and no large conflicts had broken out at the borders. Because of this, Jenny had been careless. She had never thought that sheâd be caught in an enemy ambush.
A man with long hair appeared on the viewscreen. He had on an all-white military uniform and a gentle smile. âMajor General Jenny, long time no see. Is your marshal still doing well? Heâs probably spending the New Year all alone by himself again, right? How about I wrap you guys up and send you to him as a New Yearâs present?â
Jenny clenched her fist tight and slammed it down on the console. She said between gritted teeth, âDamn! Itâs this son of a bitch again!â
The marshal had arranged for Klaire to be Major General Jennyâs student. Recently, he'd been constantly at her side patrolling the front lines. Heâd seen the Federation enemy troops many times, but this was his first time seeing the legendary commander of the Federationâs Direwolf Corps, General Mikel.
With one look, you could tell he was a vicious, merciless and extremely sinister man. He had been called the Federationâs evil genius, and it was only this kind of unpredictably changing, all-pervasive, dirty style of combat that had allowed him to contend against Marshal Rosen at the front lines for so many years.
Klaire naturally didnât have a good opinion of the Empireâs enemy. The Federal generalâs image had evidently appeared on the viewscreen because he was controlling the vanguardâs communications signal. If they couldnât get in contact with the Glory Corps mothership, trying to go up against the Federationâs Direwolf Corps with only one divisionâs worth of troops was no different from attempting the impossible. Today, they might all be buried in the middle of this vast, obscure universe.
Major General Jenny thought it over calmly, and then moved to Klaireâs side and said softly in his ear, âKlaire, this is a critical time. I have to give you a mission.â
Klaire nodded. âPlease say it, Major General.â
Jenny said, âIâll deal with them here, while you go out back and escape from the emergency exit. Go to the mothership as fast as possible and inform them, and ask the marshal to try to rescue us.â
Klaire stared blankly. Giving such an important task to a new recruit like him didnât seem quite appropriate, under the circumstances⌠But before he could think about it carefully, the major general hit him on the shoulder and said, âDonât hesitate. As a soldier, you have to obey the orders of your superiors!â
Klaire could only straighten his back and give her a standard salute. âYes, Maâam!â
When he drove Bluestar out of the emergency exit, Klaireâs hands were covered with a layer of cold sweat. This wasnât a scene in a movie he was shooting, but a real battlefield. If he was the slightest bit careless, his life might come to an end here. In the near distance, the numerous white battleships formed a distinct contrast with the black battleships of the Glory Corps. The immense disparity in numbers was enough to make his heart tremble in fear.
Klaire took a deep breath and calmed himself down. He looked at the navigation system on the viewscreen before him and decisively issued Bluestar an order: âGo!â
Although Bluestar had been pretending to be a C-class military mecha during this period, his real speed was still more than ten times higher than a C-class mecha. Maybe he was influenced by his ownerâs focused state of mind, but Bluestar stopped jumping around for once and seriously started up the navigation and flight systems. He turned the power up to the max and flew quickly into the pitch-black universe.
A blue mecha slipped through the battleship encirclement like an agile fish. General Mikel noticed something wasnât right, and he immediately sent down an order. âAttack at full strength! Donât let that mecha leave!â
After that, beam after dazzling beam of white light shot out, and explosions sounded one after another.
âOwner, owner! Theyâre hyper particle cannons! If weâre hit, weâll definitely be blown to pieces!â
Bluestar jumped up and down in agitation. âIs that Major General Jenny crazy? Why have us complete such a difficult task?! The Federal corpsâs encirclement is so dense, I donât want to be blown to pieces!â
â...Shut up.â Klaire kept his calm and used all his mental strength to pilot Bluestar, dodging left and right and narrowly avoiding the Federal corpsâs pincer attack. At a speed too fast for the eye to see, he flew sideways through a gap between two large battleships. Afterwards, he disappeared like a comet from everyoneâs sight.
âWho was that?â Mikel looked at the blue dot fading from the viewscreen, and couldnât help but frown. âHis mecha piloting skill is extraordinary. In the Glory Corps vanguard, only Major General Jenny can reach this level...no, even Jenny canât reach it.â Mikel thoughtfully stroked his chin. âThis mechaâs origin is also very suspicious, so that I canât help but thinkâŚâ
A brilliant streak of red flashed through his mind. The deputy general at his side couldnât help but say, âGeneral, are you thinking of the Empireâs former War GodâPhoenix?â
âYes, besides Marshal Rosen and Major General Ling Yu from back then, thereâs very few people in the Empire with this much skill in mecha operation. Back then, it was only Phoenix who could use this high of a speed to break through our encirclement.â After he said this, Mikelâs eyes couldnât help but narrow. âIf I didnât judge wrongly, that blue mecha from just now should be an S-class mecha. If not, how could he break through our encirclement this quickly⌠An S-class mecha, who could it be?â
âAs far as I know, Rosen never married, so he wouldnât have an heir. In the Empire, itâs generally only the heirs of generals who have the qualifications to obtain S-class mechas.â
âCould he be the son of a general?â Mikel frowned slightly and waved his hand. âStop the attack. Take the entire vanguard captive, I want them alive!â
âMikel, youâre thinking too much.â A handsome man suddenly appeared in the middle of the screen. He was wearing a well-ironed black military uniform, and his expression was hard and cold. He said unhurriedly, âPlaying cheap tricks and fighting unpredictably like a guerrilla, donât you get tired of it after a while?â
Mikel looked blankâhe hadnât expected that Marshal Rosen would arrive this quickly!
âAfter knowing me for so many years, did you think that Iâd send the vanguard to their deaths by leaving them without the slightest defense?â Rosen looked at him calmly, then said blandly, âLook into the distance.â
Mikel immediately opened up the viewscreen to take a look. In the distance, at the periphery of the Federal corpsâs encirclement, he saw innumerable black battleships crowded together, slowly approaching them. The golden navigation lights on those battleships were just like the eyes of wild beasts hidden in the jungle, waiting for the chance to pounce.
A layer of cold sweat suddenly formed on Mikelâs palms. He planned a surprise attack to encircle them, but didnât expect that heâd actually become the prey who walked into a trap!
Rosen said coldly, âI donât want to start a fight with you today. Let go of Major General Jenny from the vanguard, and I can let you leave.â
Jenny heard his words through the screen that had restored its communications signal, and couldnât help but say, âMarshal!â
Rosen raised his hand to have her be silent, and continued with Mikel, âWell? Or do you want to die together with the vanguard?â
Actually, seizing the opportunity to blow the three-star general Mikel to pieces would undoubtedly be to everyoneâs satisfaction. However, Rosen never did things carelessly. The Empire and the Federation had been relatively at peace for so many years. If he destroyed Mikel today, the Federationâs major five corps would all send out their troops, and it would lead to a full-scale war breaking out between the Empire and the Federation.
He didnât like war. He had gone through many heart-rending farewells, and in his years on the front line, he had gotten used to death. If Mikel didnât provoke him, Rosen wouldnât take the initiative to attack. In the Glory Corpsâs defense of the border, they relied mainly on intimidation to deter invasion.
Mikel had dealt with him for many years, and he knew Rosenâs temperament. He immediately smiled and said, âMarshal, youâre joking. Dying together sounds so bloody. Itâs the New Year, I just came over to say hello.â
As he said that, he gave the order to retreat. The Direwolf Corpsâs style really deserved to be called ignoble. In the blink of an eye, they completely retreated with their tail between their legs. Rosen was too lazy to stop them. With a wave of his right hand, he gave the order for the Glory Corps mothership to close in, and then had Major General Jenny and her people board.
When Jenny stepped into the control room, she saw Klaire standing to the side. Rosen looked back at her and said, âYouâve brought up this student of yours pretty well. I saw the whole process of how Klaire broke out of the Federal corpsâs enclosure today. At the critical moment, he kept a cool head. His performance was outstanding.â
Jenny smiled, saluted and said, âYes, Marshal, I was thinking he could graduate already. I donât have much more to teach him.â
Klaire had a face full of surprise, seeming to say âYouâre playing with me.â He looked at Jenny, and then looked at the marshal.
Rosen gave a rare smile and patted Klaire on the shoulder. He said, âI knew beforehand that Mikel would set up an ambush there. Today, I purposely sent the vanguard there to sit back and wait. Jenny only sent you out to report in order to test your skills. Your father told me that you have a mecha, and I wanted to see your skill in piloting it. Iâm happy you didnât disappoint us.â
Klaire smiled and said, âThank you for the compliment, Marshal!"
Since these words were already said, Klaire immediately understood that though the danger had seemed extreme, since the marshal dared to let him go out to test himself, he must have still had a card up his sleeve. If his Bluestar really did get blown up, he supposed the marshal would have personally rode into battle in his war-god mecha to save him.
It really was a false alarm. So after surviving that disaster, could he expect good fortune to come?
Just as he was thinking that, he heard the marshal say, âStarting today, youâre with me. Iâll personally teach you the skills for command.â
Overjoyed, Klaire immediately saluted and said, âYes, Marshal!â
This little New Yearâs episode soon spread to the capital planet. The media trumpeted the story of how Klaire broke through the Federal corpsâs encirclement in his mecha. As it was repeated, the story grew more and more and more miraculous, until Klaire practically became a genius.
Although Xi Wei stayed in the palace, he went online every day, and he followed the empireâs news closely. When he learned about this, he couldnât help sending Klaire a message out of worry. âI saw the news saying you broke through the Federal corpsâs encirclement alone in your mecha. Youâre okay, right? It sounded really dangerous!â
But the strange thing was, he didnât receive a reply within seconds this time, but had to wait until late at night until one came. âIâm fine, the marshal just wanted to give an opportunity for actual combat. Iâve been really busy lately, and havenât had the time to check messages. How about you? What are you up to?â
Xi Wei smiled and said, âMe? Iâm just a big old lazybones. Oh right, Iâm going to my little sisterâs wedding in a few days.â
âPrincess Sia? Sheâs getting married?â
Xi Wei said, âThatâs right, sheâll be nineteen years old after New Yearâs. Her wedding dateâs long since been set. After New Yearâs, Iâll send her over. You know her health hasnât been good since she was small. I really feel a little reluctant to send her to such a faraway place.â
Klaire couldnât help but smile. Xi Wei had really gotten used to being a big brother. He was even reluctant to send his little sister off to be married, what was he going to do when his own wedding day came?
âWhoâs your sister going to marry? Have you met the groom?â Klaire asked.
âHeâs a rich businessman from the Lyra solar system. He seems to have some connections with the palace, and his family is super wealthy. He was attracted by our reputation and came to propose. Father let him meet with Sia a few times, and she felt the alpha wasnât bad, so they set an engagement.â When Xi Wei spoke of this, he felt a little indignant. âI think my little sister deserves better.â
Klaire said, âThatâs for sure, your sisterâs so beautiful, she should match with someone better. But things like feelings canât be helped, itâs fine as long as she likes him. As a big brother, you shouldnât be too reluctant to let her go. As long as that alpha is good to your little sister, sheâll be very happy.â
âThatâs true, girls always have to be married off when they come of age. When she was little, she was always clinging to me, toddling after me and calling me big brother. Now that sheâs grown up and has someone she likes, she doesnât like to cling to me anymore.â Xi Wei gripped his hair helplessly. He suddenly felt that their conversation sounded a bit like an old couple chatting about their family life, and changed the topic. âThatâs right, when are you coming back?â
Klaireâs eyes lit up. âWhat, are you looking forward to my return?â
Xi Wei flapped his hand impolitely. âNo no no, what I mean is, you must have a lot of things to learn from the marshal. Take your time and study. Itâs best if you study for five or six years, Iâll wait for you!â
Klaire smiled slightly. Did Xi Wei think his thoughts could escape him? This was obviously Xi Wei using him as a beard, wanting to put off marriage for a few more years.
So heâd better not tell him the news that he was coming back at the end of the year. When the time came, he could give him a nice surprise.
This year, all was quiet in the Empire. Harboring his reluctance, Xi Wei personally escorted the Second Princess Sia to the Lyra solar system for her wedding, bringing Princess Aliceâs necklace with him. He smoothly took the mecha the Underground Alliance had developed off of the capital planet, and after it had some work done in the Lyra solar system, he successfully brought it back.
Carlo and Aiden were now officially together. Although they hadnât married yet, they were attached at the hip, and showed off their PDA daily. Every time Xi Wei went out to eat with them and saw Carlo carrying Aiden on the way, he couldnât help but complain. âIs this necessary? Heâs long since gotten over his illness. Itâs a ten-meter distance, what do you need to carry him for!â
And every time, Aiden would smile gently and pat Carloâs back, expressing that this was his exclusive steed.
Carlo would then smirk cheerfully and say, âIâm happy to carry my wife, what do you care?â
âHeâs not even your wife yet, and youâre showing so much PDA!â Xi Wei expressed that single dogs also had human rights, and couldnât be abused like this!
As it happened, just as the three of them were eating, a tall young man suddenly pushed open the private roomâs door and walked in.
He wore the black uniform of the Glory Corps, and the trim outfit gave him the resolute air unique to military men. He had a head of fine golden hair, and a pair of eyes as clear of a blue as the sky. A faint smile hung on his lips. He walked slowly up to Xi Wei, reached out his arms and said, âMy prince, itâs been a long time.â
At the side, Carlo and Aiden smirked behind his back. Xi Wei stayed stiffly at the same spot.
The man walked forward a step, and hugged Xi Wei tightly with a smile.
It wasnât until the moment when he was pulled tightly into his arms that Xi Wei managed to react. He thumped Klaire hard on the shoulder and said in surprise, âKlaire! How come youâre back?â
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8 hours and 8 minutes for 3,930 words, or 12.4 minutes for every 100 words. An increase in rate by 0.8 minutes. All the military description, geez, I nearly died... onl
It's interesting, but did you know that "long time no see" is a literal translation of 弽äš
ä¸č§? The English expression might originate in Chinese pidgin, hence the weird grammatical structure. So I'm literally translating the Chinese expression to an English expression that came from the Chinese one.
If you like this translation, please consider encouraging me on Ko-fi. Extra chapter for every two ko-fis~ đ¸
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