Watching Yun Changsheng and Qin Shuang fuss over him, Yun Xingze felt deeply uncomfortable.
“Bro, you’re amazing!” Yun Wu handed him a peeled apple, grinning. “Dad told me you got an internship at the Mecha Research Institute even Director Cheng came to see you!”
Yun Changsheng glared at Yun Wu and said in a hushed tone, “Are you an idiot? How can you blurt out something like that? Why can’t you learn from your brother and be a bit more composed?”
Although Yun Xingze was just an intern at the research institute, it was a tremendous honor for the Yun family.
Seeing their reactions, Yun Xingze immediately understood. They must have discovered his connection with the institute.
However, it seemed Cheng Yuan hadn’t revealed anything about his research on the psionic amplifier.
Yun Xingze took a bite of his apple and casually thanked Yun Wu.
“Son, I’ve thought it over, and I admit I was wrong before,” Yun Changsheng said with uncharacteristic warmth. “Xingxing, from now on, whatever you want to do, I’ll support you!”
“Do I need your support?” Yun Xingze looked at him, lips curling into a cold smile. “Didn’t you already cut ties with me, Yun Changsheng?”
In the past, such defiance would have earned Yun Xingze a scolding.
But now, Yun Changsheng didn’t dare retort. He forced a laugh and said, “Xingxing, I was just angry back then. How could I ever sever ties with you? We’re father and son I’ve always cared about you.”
Yun Xingze raised an eyebrow mockingly. “When have you ever cared about me?”
Yun Changsheng hastily pulled out a check and handed it to him. “I know you’re upset. Consider this compensation. I hope you’ll accept it.”
The check was filled with a staggering number of zeros.
“Take it, Xingxing,” Yun Changsheng insisted, pressing the check into his hand.
Yun Xingze tossed it aside indifferently and turned to the hospital director. “I’m tired. Get them out.”
The director, not daring to delay, promptly ushered Yun Changsheng and the others out. As he was leaving, Yun Changsheng called out, “If the amount isn’t enough, just name your price.”
The director rolled his eyes inwardly. As if the future crown prince’s consort would care about your petty money.
Alone in the medical pod, Yun Xingze contemplated his next steps.
After removing his gland, his physical abilities would undoubtedly improve, making it easier to pilot mechas.
By his calculations, the NCLM quarterfinals should have concluded by now.
He checked the news on his terminal and was relieved to see that Starsea Military Academy had won, making history in recent years.
However, the reports also noted that without Yun Xingze, with Oliar as his replacement, the victory had been hard-fought. The team’s chances of advancing further were slim.
Yun Xingze immediately asked the doctor beside him, “Can I return to the NCLM arena?”
“I’m afraid not,” the doctor replied. “While your gland wound has healed, your overall condition is still under observation. The organizers definitely won’t allow you to compete. It’s best if you don’t return to Noah Star for now.”
Yun Xingze considered calling Luo Wenchuan but decided against disturbing his training. Instead, he sent him a brief message.
The thought of possibly not seeing Luo Wenchuan again flickered a trace of sadness in Yun Xingze’s eyes.
The dean also said to Yun Xingze, “Xingze, the queen will be here soon. She mentioned bringing you the best health supplements and various devices beneficial for gland recovery. During this time, just focus on healing your gland.”
“You all should leave first,” Yun Xingze pursed his lips and said to the dean. “I’d like to be alone for a while.”
With that, everyone else in the room left, leaving Yun Xingze by himself.
He stepped out of the medical pod and found the room dim and stifling, so he walked to the window and turned off the shading mode.
In the next moment, sunlight poured in from outside.
When Yun Xingze’s gaze landed on the street outside the hospital, he suddenly froze.
On the street outside the hospital, many people were sitting on the curb or the grassy patches by the roadside.
Most of them were Omegas, holding up various signs, solemnly and silently protesting against the marriage laws.
From a distance, the slogans made Yun Xingze’s heart ache.
[Marriage is my choice, not my obligation.]
[My gland is not an alpha’s personal property.]
[There are many things I can do besides getting married.]
[…]
Omegas were known for their gentle nature, and their slogans were mostly peaceful, without any harsh words.
Yet under the sunlight, these signs seemed almost too painful to look at.
Like nameless flowers blooming in the summer heat.
They carried a power that pierced straight to the heart.
When the crowd noticed Yun Xingze’s window open, their eyes lit up with joy, but they remained quiet, merely waving their signs silently.
Yun Xingze scanned the crowd. The youngest Omega looked no older than a middle school student, but the slogan he held was deeply moving.
[When I grow up, I want to marry someone I love.]
The middle schooler, seeing Yun Xingze by the window, jumped up to wave at him since he wasn’t tall enough to be seen clearly.
Yun Xingze couldn’t help but smile, though his eyes stung.
He should have been in a classroom, enjoying his youth.
Among the crowd were also many middle-aged Omegas. Their slogans weren’t as emotional as the younger generation’s, but they all stood up for Omega rights.
In truth, most middle-aged Omegas were already married, unaffected by the pheromone matching system.
Yet they still chose to stand up for the next generation.
There wasn’t much they could do for Yun Xingze personally, so they expressed their respect for him and their resistance against the empire’s marriage laws in this way.
It could be said that Yun Xingze’s act of severing his gland was the spark that ignited this protest.
Yun Xingze didn’t know how long their protest had lasted or how widespread it was.
But in this moment, he suddenly felt a sense of…
Responsibility.
Yun Xingze clenched his fists, took a deep breath, and made an unprecedented decision in his heart.
The decision was so bold that it startled even himself.
Yet he knew time was running out. He had to act immediately to prevent more Omegas from becoming victims.
One minute later.
Yun Xingze changed out of his hospital gown, opened the door, and walked straight out.
The doctors and nurses outside were startled and hurriedly asked where he was going.
“Noah Star,” Yun Xingze replied calmly.
“Yun Xingze, the Queen is about to arrive!” the dean said anxiously. “Stop this nonsense and stay in your ward to recuperate your gland.”
Though everyone was frantic, given Yun Xingze’s special status, they dared not physically restrain him.
“Then tell her to keep those health supplements for herself,” Yun Xingze replied without turning back. “My gland is already ruined, and I have no intention of growing another one. My apologies.”
Under the astonished gazes of the onlookers, Yun Xingze stepped into the elevator and simultaneously contacted Dean Cheng Yuan, requesting a shuttle to take him back to Noah Star.
Overjoyed, Cheng Yuan said, “Don’t worry, the shuttle has been waiting at the entrance all along, just for your awakening!”
Soon after, Yun Xingze boarded the shuttle prepared by Cheng Yuan and left the Imperial Capital Star, heading for the Mecha Research Institute.
Upon his arrival, Yun Xingze was warmly welcomed by everyone.
Cheng Yuan handed him a large bouquet of flowers and embraced him:
“You’ve finally returned.”
Jin Xuan, standing nearby, was so moved he nearly cried, murmuring, “It’s good that you’re alright. We’ve waited for you for so long.”
Yun Xingze teased, “Is it really that dramatic?”
“You have no idea how long we’ve been studying that black box of yours and those discarded drafts,” Ming Xiao began to complain. “But we couldn’t make heads or tails of them. There’s been zero progress all this time…”
Cheng Yuan asked Yun Xingze, “What are your plans now?”
“My body is still under observation, so I can’t compete for now,” Yun Xingze replied. “My next step is… to invent a new type of mecha.”
Everyone was taken aback by his words.
After all, Cheng Yuan was the father of new mecha technology, having pioneered numerous innovations. For Yun Xingze to say such a thing in front of him was bold.
Those unfamiliar with Yun Xingze’s abilities might have thought him arrogant, but the others, after their initial surprise, raised no objections.
“A new mecha, integrated with a psychic amplifier?” Cheng Yuan inquired.
“Exactly. I want this mecha to be one that anyone can pilot,” Yun Xingze said slowly. “Only then can we prevent the mecha industry from being monopolized by Alphas.”
The room instantly filled with respect for Yun Xingze.
You Jin stared at him, eyes shimmering with emotion, before exclaiming excitedly, “That’s fantastic! I’ve always wanted to try piloting a mecha!”
Once developed, this new mecha could become the seventh of its kind in the entire galaxy.
And this was merely the first step in Yun Xingze’s grand plan.
“Let’s begin the experiments then,” Cheng Yuan said to Yun Xingze. “We’ll support you wholeheartedly. By the way… should we assign you a position first?”
“No need,” Yun Xingze responded. “I have my own plans moving forward.”
His tone was firm, his gaze steady, so Cheng Yuan didn’t press further.
“Let’s run a psychic assessment first,” Jin Xuan suggested. “Given your current physical condition, the experimental parameters will need adjustments.”
Yun Xingze nodded in agreement.
After such a long slumber, he felt his psychic abilities had significantly improved.
A few minutes into the test, everyone saw that Yun Xingze’s psychic level.
Had risen to S-class, with the progress bar already at 90%.
Everyone was stunned.
In just one short week, Yun Xingze’s mental power had risen from A+ to S+?!
Could the effects of gland removal really be this dramatic?
“This… this can’t be possible. ” You Jin was stunned. “When I had mine removed, there was improvement, but nothing this rapid…”
Out of curiosity, Yun Xingze then tested his physical strength it had also risen to S+.
In other words, he was now a standard S+-level mecha warrior.
“Oh my god, your progress is terrifying,” Ming Xiao said, wide-eyed. “If you returned to the NCLM arena now, who knows how many people you’d crush!”
Cheng Yuan couldn’t help but whisper to Jin Xuan, “After removing his gland, it’s like he’s activated cheat codes.”
Yun Xingze didn’t idle after finishing his tests and immediately began developing a new neural connector.
Jin Xuan asked eagerly, “Boss, can you tell us what amplification coefficient you’ve achieved this time?”
The previous coefficient of 2.61 had already shocked many people.
“Just slightly higher than last time,” Yun Xingze said casually.
“How much is slightly higher?” Ming Xiao asked curiously. “2.7? Or 2.75?”
Under everyone’s expectant gazes, Yun Xingze ran a quick simulation on his light computer before looking up and answering, “Above 4.1.”
As these words fell, the entire laboratory plunged into an eerie silence.
After a long pause, Jin Xuan watched the busy Yun Xingze and said to Cheng Yuan, “I don’t think this is cheating.”
Cheng Yuan looked at Jin Xuan with dazed eyes.
Jin Xuan continued, “Yun Xingze, he is the cheat code himself.”
