Chapter 13#

The Beta Lieutenant Colonel Who Died for His Country#

The two of them, having returned to the starship, received word from the medical department that Carl had fully recovered. This time there was no need for Lu Heng to do anything—Schuyler took the initiative to have Carl come to his office for a talk. Lu Heng had originally not planned to get involved in this mess again; he and Schuyler had already reached an agreement regarding Carl’s disposition. Schuyler had always been a man of his word, and Lu Heng trusted that he could handle things well.

However, Schuyler insisted on dragging Lu Heng along to wait for Carl’s arrival. When asked why, Schuyler uncomfortably rubbed his nose. “I always feel like Carl’s attitude toward me is a bit strange. I used to think that was just his personality. Later, when I found out he was an Omega, I realized something was off. I can’t explain it clearly—I just feel it’s best not to be alone with him.”

As for the proposal that Carl have his gland removed to continue serving in the military, Lu Heng had initially been somewhat hesitant. Later, he recalled that in their youth, Schuyler had once said he wanted to find a like-minded partner in the future, and that he didn’t care whether it was an Omega or not. If Carl could stay in the military, then after his departure, the relationship between the two destined ones would probably be able to proceed more smoothly—that was what Lu Heng thought. Despite the Little Assistant’s repeated assurances, Schuyler’s continuous string of mishaps still left Lu Heng feeling somewhat uneasy.

After much deliberation, and to prevent any unexpected incidents, Lu Heng agreed to sit in with Schuyler for the talk with Carl.

Carl had just finished his follow-up examination at the medical department when he received Schuyler’s comm call. He had no memory of this injury. All Carl remembered was impulsively charging through the wormhole to find Schuyler. By the time he woke up, he was already back aboard the Feng Lei. The medic tending to him said the Commander had brought him in.

Walking along the corridor leading to Schuyler’s office, Carl felt a knot of unease in his stomach. Back then, upon learning that Schuyler had lost contact, he had been burning with anxiety and had resolutely used Drug No. 1 to go find him. At the time, Carl had thought that his spiritual compatibility with Schuyler was extremely high and that he would surely be able to help. But what followed exceeded his expectations—the side effects of Drug No. 1 turned out to be far worse than anticipated. He had barely passed through the wormhole before losing consciousness due to spiritual power disruption.

It’s fine, my intentions were good. Schuyler won’t blame me, Carl told himself, trying to cheer himself up. For some reason, he suddenly remembered the first time he met Schuyler.

It had been an extremely disheartening day for him. He had put in so much effort, even going so far as to use forbidden drugs to alter his constitution, only to be turned away at the gates of Feng Lei. Just as he was preparing to leave the Feng Lei in defeat, the interviewing examiner had notified him to go to Schuyler’s office.

At the time, Carl had nervously pushed the door open, and the most radiant color he had ever seen filled his vision. Carl still remembered that man, dazzling as sunlight, who had smiled warmly at him and asked, “You’re Sergeant Meg’s boy?”

He had nodded blankly, then watched as Schuyler strode over with visible excitement, firmly clapped him on the shoulder, and said, “I’ve got your back from now on.”

Schuyler truly was a man of his word. Despite strong objections from Adjutant Lainer, he made a special exception to let Carl join Feng Lei. After that, he personally taught him hand-to-hand combat, mecha piloting, and various other combat techniques, guiding him step by step as he quickly integrated into Feng Lei.

Thinking of this, Carl’s mood calmed down.

Schuyler is special to me. He’s always taken such good care of me—what do I have to fear? Carl said to himself in his heart, then pushed the door open.

Inside the office, besides Schuyler, there was also a slender young man. The young man’s brows were slightly furrowed, his somewhat sharp gaze hidden behind plain-lens glasses, and the expression on his face remained the severity that made Carl’s heart sink with fear. Carl had always been afraid of Lu Heng. He always felt the adjutant had it in for him—perhaps because of the leniency Schuyler showed him.

“Sit.” Schuyler nodded to Carl.

Carl took a seat on the sofa opposite Schuyler, offering a timid smile.

Schuyler was not his usual gentle self. His expression was uncommonly serious. “Carl, do you want to stay with Feng Lei?”

Carl involuntarily leaned forward slightly, his hands on his knees curling into fists. “Feng Lei has always been my dream.”

Only then did Schuyler nod with a hint of satisfaction. “Omegas are not permitted to serve in the military. However, for those who have the capability and a strong desire to serve, there are exception clauses…”

“As long as I can stay with Feng Lei, realize my dream, and fight the Zerg, I’m willing to do anything!” Carl said excitedly.

“Do you know General Dylan Shaw?”

The legendary General Dylan Shaw and his exploits were known to all across the Alliance. Carl was no fool; he immediately understood what Schuyler meant. “You… you’re saying you want me to have my gland removed?”

Seeing Schuyler nod, Carl suddenly felt as though he had sunk into the depths of a ten-thousand-meter ocean. His entire body was gripped by a suffocating feeling. He didn’t know why he felt such sorrow. Reason told him this was indeed the best course of action, but emotionally he couldn’t accept it—especially when the person proposing that he remove his gland was Schuyler.

“No,” Carl blurted out, then immediately felt it was somewhat inappropriate. “For an Omega, removing the gland is such a cruel thing…”

“Removing the gland will only make your constitution stronger. Don’t worry—the surgery is already very well established,” Schuyler reassured him. “Official statistics show that Omegas who underwent the surgery due to gland canceration have all seen their constitution improve by at least one grade.”

“No, you can’t be this cruel.” Carl’s eyes slowly began to redden. In his flustered state, he spoke without thinking. “Schuyler, you said you’d have my back. You’ve always been so special to me—why?”

“Carl, I remember telling you from the very beginning that because Sergeant Meg was a senior I greatly respected, and he even saved my life, I was willing to take care of you in your father’s stead to the best of my ability…” Schuyler paused. “But that doesn’t mean I will put all of Feng Lei in extreme danger for the sake of your personal wishes. Do you understand?”

Schuyler spoke earnestly and with gravity, but Carl seemed not to have heard a single word, merely shaking his head over and over. “Why? Why are you treating me like this?”

“If you’re not willing to have your gland removed,” Lu Heng, unable to watch this farce any longer, spoke up, “you can choose to retire.”

Seeing Lu Heng open his mouth, Carl’s emotions suddenly flared up. “I won’t have my gland removed, and I won’t leave Feng Lei! Why do you have to target me like this? I may be an Omega, but I have the right to realize my dreams! You’re jealous of me—I know it! You’ve always been jealous of how good Schuyler is to me!”

Lu Heng felt a faint throb of pain at his temples. Carl truly was his nemesis. Every time he encountered Carl, his self-control seemed to collapse instantaneously. Was this kind of person, who was forever lost in their own world and incapable of understanding human speech, really not in the wrong production? Lu Heng sincerely felt that Carl was far better suited to the romance idol dramas that were all the rage.

“Private First Class Carl Meg!” Schuyler suddenly raised his voice, his tone extremely severe. “Mind your language. Now, apologize to your superior.”

Carl bit his lip in grievance, too stubborn to open his mouth.

Lu Heng took a deep breath and waved his hand. “Let’s get back to the matter at hand. Carl, the law stipulates that Omegas may not serve in the military. Although you used a drug to alter your constitution, the drug is not one hundred percent reliable—as the incident during the last mission has already proven…”

“We must be responsible for the entire unit.” Schuyler picked up where Lu Heng left off. “Your constitution is a liability that could shatter Feng Lei to pieces at any moment.”

Carl seemed to think of something and composed himself. “Commander, Adjutant, I am currently a Beta. Serving in the military does not violate the law, and you have no authority to require me to retire.”

Having used forbidden drugs to alter his constitution, Carl was indeed a bona fide Beta at present. There was no method available that could detect his altered physiology. Schuyler and Lu Heng, who had personally witnessed his heat, had no concrete evidence to present either. As long as Carl was a Beta, and had not violated any law or military regulation, he could stay.

Neither Schuyler nor Lu Heng could allow such a massive variable to remain aboard Feng Lei—especially at such a sensitive time. For the first time, Schuyler felt some regret at having disregarded Lu Heng’s objections and made a special exception to recruit Carl.

“Private First Class Carl Meg, you have violated Article 72 of Imperial Military Regulations by using Drug No. 1 for personal reasons. You are hereby temporarily confined to the detention room pending further action once the matter is reported to the Law Enforcement Corps.” Lu Heng, however, remained entirely composed. He had, after all, always had a contingency plan.

He then called two guards into the room.

“I took Drug No. 1 to find you because I was worried about your safety!” Carl’s face was pale as he explained to Schuyler. “Schuyler, I’ve always been—”

Carl wanted to say more, but Schuyler simply waved his hand and had the guards escort him out.

“Carl won’t voluntarily submit a retirement report, so this was the proper course of action.” Lu Heng, noticing Schuyler’s troubled expression, reassuringly patted him on the shoulder.

“This is still better than him being discovered as an Omega.” Schuyler leaned back against the sofa, looking somewhat exhausted.

Indeed, violating regulations by using a drug would at most result in dishonorable discharge. An Omega concealing their identity to serve in the military could, in the worst case, be sentenced to fifty years.

Carl’s situation was temporarily resolved. The Queen had not yet entered the final stage of evolution, and to give Feng Lei ample time to prepare, the military department adopted a conciliatory posture, refraining from making further trouble. This could be called the most leisurely period since Feng Lei’s founding.

Lu Heng continued his monotonous three-point line of life—from quarters, to the mess hall, to the training room. Until one day, when he noticed things seemed a bit too quiet, he realized that Schuyler seemed to have disappeared again. However, this time, before vanishing, he did remember to send Lu Heng a message. The content was very simple: Handling personal matters. Don’t worry.