Chapter 57: A+A (V)

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Chapter 57: A+A (V)

The maglev car entered the First Capital Military Academy through a private passage, and Rhine took Shang Ke directly to a dormitory reserved for special advanced-study students. Each floor was self-contained, with very few people coming and going. The peaceful, secluded environment was ideal for recuperation.

“I’ve already spoken with the academy president. Stay here for now. Later, someone will come explain the schedule and procedures for the decoration ceremony.” Rhine stepped into the living room, his tall figure somehow making the fairly spacious room feel cramped.

Shang Ke was not short himself, but he simply lacked Rhine’s imposing presence—the kind that seemed to compress the air and claim every space he entered as his territory.

“Thank you.” Shang Ke set down his backpack and looked around. The unit had one bedroom and a living room, along with a kitchen and bathroom. It was clean and tidy, with every necessary household appliance provided. He nodded, reasonably satisfied with his new residence.

After checking the bedroom, Shang Ke turned around and nearly collided with Rhine behind him. Rhine stood squarely in the doorway, his distinctly Alpha presence filling the surrounding space with a faint trace of sweetness.

If Shang Ke had been an Alpha born and raised in this world, he would immediately have noticed that something was wrong. Alpha pheromones naturally repelled one another, and Alphas possessed strong competitive and territorial instincts. When one Alpha showed obvious hostility toward another, they released pheromones that put the other person’s nerves on edge. To another Alpha, those pheromones were practically a pungent biochemical weapon. Even without a sense of smell, their mind would still suffer merciless pressure. That was why romantic or sexual attraction between two Alphas was extremely rare.

By contrast, an Alpha’s pheromones held an irresistible attraction for Omegas. The pheromones released by an Omega in heat were equally irresistible to Alphas, powerful enough to make most of them lose control.

Shang Ke had no firsthand understanding of any of this, but Rhine was different. From the moment he rescued Shang Ke, he had realized that Shang Ke’s scent did not repel him at all. Standing beside him felt almost like walking through a sea of flowers, the air carrying the fresh fragrance of blossoms and the sweetness of honey.

An Omega’s pheromones were like an aphrodisiac, provoking raw, overwhelming desire. Shang Ke’s scent, however, made Rhine feel calm and comfortable. He preferred this natural sense of closeness far more than desire dictated entirely by biological sex.

“Brigadier General Lancelot, thank you for going to so much trouble today. Everything here has already been arranged, and I’m sorry for taking up so much of your time.” Shang Ke tactfully hinted that it was time for Rhine to leave.

Rhine looked at him for a moment, then nodded. “It is getting late. Get some rest. I’ll be there on the day of the decoration ceremony.”

After seeing Rhine off, Shang Ke was just about to find something to eat when his communicator suddenly rang. Seeing that it was his cheap father, he couldn’t help rolling his eyes.

The moment he answered, Kenwyn’s angry voice came through. 【Didn’t we agree that I would come pick you up? Why did you leave first on your own?】

Shang Ke replied innocently, “Sorry. Brigadier General Lancelot personally came to pick me up today and discuss matters related to the decoration ceremony. I really couldn’t refuse.”

There was a brief silence on the other end before Kenwyn’s tone softened. 【Ahem. Brigadier General Lancelot is a person of considerable status, so naturally he should take priority. Mm, you handled things very well this time. Just remember to notify me beforehand next time.】

“All right, Father. I’ll remember.” Shang Ke chatted pleasantly with him for a while and finally soothed his ruffled temper.

Kenwyn had actually treated Filmore fairly well—at least before Filmore returned from Via City, he had usually granted whatever his son wanted. But Kenwyn was also someone who placed self-interest above everything else. If Filmore failed to meet his expectations, Kenwyn would immediately reduce both his emotional and material investment.

When the original Filmore was put on trial for desertion, Kenwyn severed ties with him at once. Even after learning that his son had fallen into desperate poverty, he never offered any help. If Filmore’s Omega father had not secretly looked after him, he probably would not even have lived to thirty-five.

Three days later, Shang Ke’s decoration ceremony was held at the academy. Every military student attended, along with more than a dozen high-ranking officers and representatives from Via City.

Shang Ke wore a brand-new military uniform, standing straight and radiant with confidence, his entire figure seeming to shine like the sun. The moment he stepped onto the stage, screams erupted from the audience. When Rhine appeared as the officer presenting the honor, the ceremony reached another peak.

Rhine stopped before Shang Ke, saluted him first, then solemnly pinned the medal representing his honor onto his chest.

The two stood facing one another, equally striking and equally outstanding. For a moment, countless eyes were riveted to them.

The ceremony proceeded smoothly. Awarded the title of “Hero,” Shang Ke became the first student in the First Capital Military Academy’s history to be promoted from Second Lieutenant to First Lieutenant immediately upon graduation, earning the admiration and pursuit of countless men and women.

A stream of interview requests followed, all of which Shang Ke refused.

Most people outside still did not know that Shang Ke had suffered severe injuries in that battle, might never regain his peak physical condition, and could even be forced to leave the military permanently. Unaware of the truth, many people were baffled that he had declined a military assignment and instead remained at the academy for further study.

“Haa…” Shang Ke walked out of the training room looking as though he had just emerged from a sauna. His entire body was soaked in sweat, with faint steam still rising from him.

When he reached his dormitory, he discovered someone waiting outside. The young man looked around twenty, with refined features and a pair of clear blue eyes like autumn waters, making him exceptionally attractive.

Shang Ke quickly recognized him as Ryan, the Omega whom Filmore had once been infatuated with. The moment Ryan saw Shang Ke, a blush immediately spread across his face.

Shang Ke had only just finished training. His body radiated strength, and the intense Alpha pheromones surrounding him struck Ryan like a wave of heat. Ryan’s heart involuntarily sped up, his legs weakened, and even his breathing grew hurried.

Completely unaware of his effect, Shang Ke gave him a puzzled look. “Ryan, were you looking for me?”

Ryan struggled to steady himself and offered Shang Ke the gift box in his hands. “Congratulations, First Lieutenant Filmore.”

“Thank you.” Shang Ke accepted the box and unlocked his dorm room. He casually asked, “Want to come in and sit for a while?”

Ryan’s face flushed again, his heart pounding.

Shang Ke did not know that Alphas and Omegas were expected to maintain a safe distance unless both parties were mutually interested and willing to establish a romantic relationship. Otherwise, they generally avoided being alone together in a room. In Shang Ke’s eyes, however, a male Omega was no different from any other man. Inviting someone inside for a while was simply basic courtesy.

Ryan hesitated at the doorway. He knew Filmore liked him, but he still had not decided whether to accept his pursuit. Compared with Zeka, Filmore was clearly inferior in family status, but he was now a celebrated hero with a promising future. Becoming his partner no longer seemed like such a bad choice…

Just as he was about to step inside, a cold voice suddenly sounded behind him. “This doesn’t seem like a place an Omega should be visiting.”

Ryan turned around and saw Rhine. His face immediately paled with fright, and he hurriedly saluted. “Brigadier General Lancelot. I was thoughtless. My apologies. I’ll leave immediately.”

With that, he lowered his head and fled as though his life depended on it.

Shang Ke invited Rhine inside and asked curiously, “He seems really afraid of you?”

Rhine gave an unconcerned snort.

Alphas possessed an overwhelming biological dominance over Omegas, leaving Omegas not only instinctively submissive toward them but also naturally fearful. Some timid Omegas could barely interact normally with particularly powerful Alphas.

“I just finished training and I’m covered in sweat. I’ll take a quick shower first. Brigadier General Lancelot, please wait here for a moment.” Shang Ke poured Rhine a glass of water, then headed straight into the bedroom. He did not notice how casual his manner with Rhine had become, as though they had known each other for a very long time.

“Mm.”

Rhine stared at Shang Ke’s retreating figure, inexplicably irritated.

Was that Omega the person he liked? Aside from being somewhat prettier, Ryan seemed no different from any other Omega. If Rhine hadn’t come today, would Shang Ke have established a relationship with him?

At the thought, a flash of violent hostility unconsciously passed through Rhine’s normally calm eyes.

“Brigadier General Lancelot, what brings you here today?” Shang Ke returned after washing up, now dressed in pale casual clothes and looking especially fresh and relaxed.

Rhine’s gaze lingered for several seconds on his damp hair and full lips before he said, “I’ve reviewed your training data. You’re recovering well, but it will probably still be some time before you’re ready to return to combat.”

Rhine understood Shang Ke’s physical condition extremely well, so he knew just how heavy a burden every rehabilitation session placed on him. Shang Ke was putting in several times the normal effort without receiving proportional results. At this rate, he might not meet even the physical standard for a junior officer within two or three years.

“I know.” Shang Ke remained calm. He had already made his plans. He did not need to recover to his former peak; he merely needed to ensure that his physical condition did not fall below the normal standard. After all, he still possessed one advantage: his enhanced Beginner Martial Arts.

Combat in this world relied primarily on raw strength supplemented by combat aircraft and other technology. It was straightforward and direct, without many intricate techniques. Shang Ke’s fighting style, by contrast, was far more unconventional. He excelled at identifying an opponent’s weaknesses, striking where they were unprepared, and achieving victory through surprise.

“If you can complete the rehabilitation program within one year, I’ll recruit you into my unit.” Even if Shang Ke’s physical condition still failed to meet the official standard by then, Rhine intended to make an exception and bring him in anyway—keeping this man by his side.

“I won’t disappoint you, Brigadier General.” Shang Ke smiled. As the “protagonist” of this world, Rhine would someday become an undefeated general on the battlefield. Staying with him would undoubtedly allow Shang Ke to accumulate military merit quickly.

Rhine nodded and rose. “It’s lunchtime. Shall we eat together?” It was phrased as a question, but his tone left little room for refusal.

“If you don’t mind, Sir, how about we eat here?” Given Shang Ke’s current fame, stepping outside would get him surrounded within minutes. Add Rhine to the picture and they might end up generating gossip instead of actually getting a meal.

“Mm.” Rhine sat back down, his expression relaxing.

Shang Ke’s cooking had already reached Master level. No matter what world he was in, he could prepare food that suited local tastes.

In this world, ordinary food had largely been replaced by nutrient solutions. Only nobles and high-end restaurants generally employed professional chefs. Nutrient solutions were convenient, quick, hygienic, and waste-free, but they discarded the three essential qualities of good food—appearance, aroma, and flavor—which was rather unfortunate.

After the photograph of Shang Ke roasting an Insectoid leg was posted online, many people became intensely curious about the somewhat horrifying-looking food and bravely tried it for themselves. To their surprise, it actually tasted quite good! The poor Groundclinger beetles had no idea that before long, they were going to become a bizarre delicacy popular across the entire world…

When the steaming dishes reached the table, Rhine—who had never cared much about food—ate until he was completely stuffed for the first time in his life.

Shang Ke even prepared him a bowl of sweet-and-sour digestive soup afterward, leaving Rhine thoroughly satisfied and looking unusually lazy.

Rhine sat on the sofa, watching Shang Ke clean up the dishes in the kitchen. A faintly sweet scent lingered around him, and an unfamiliar restlessness suddenly began itching at his heart.

The moment that thought arose, Rhine’s pheromones immediately spread outward, forcefully invading Shang Ke’s territory.

Shang Ke froze. It felt as though something had suddenly bound his body, then transformed into threads of heat trying to seep into him. He instinctively retaliated, rejecting the invading presence.

The two pheromone fields—both fiercely combative yet strangely drawn to one another—collided, tangled, and fought for dominance, neither willing to yield. The powerful Alpha pheromones spilled beyond the room and rapidly spread through the surrounding area. Nearby Alphas and Betas were affected, but the Omegas suffered most of all. Unable to resist pheromones this potent, several were driven into heat almost instantly.

The arousal-laced pheromones released by those Omegas quickly mixed into Shang Ke and Rhine’s scents.

Shang Ke, who had never before experienced the temptation of Omega pheromones, was the first to lose ground. The involuntary biological attraction made his breathing quicken and his body grow feverishly hot.

Soon Rhine’s pheromones overwhelmed him completely, rampaging through his senses like a victorious beast claiming its territory.

Shang Ke braced both hands against the counter, his body trembling as sweat soaked through his clothes, making his fair skin appear almost translucent.

At some point, Rhine had moved behind him. Scorching breath washed across the back of Shang Ke’s neck, and the intense pressure made it difficult for him to remain standing. A pair of powerful arms wrapped around him from behind, and the moment their skin touched, both of them shuddered.

Rhine had never experienced desire this intense. The man in his arms possessed an almost fatal attraction. It wasn’t as though Rhine had never encountered an Omega in heat before, yet not a single one had ever made him lose control. And now, another Alpha was provoking desire powerful enough to overwhelm reason.

Shang Ke knew the situation was going badly and tried to resist, only to discover that his pheromones were being completely suppressed by the man behind him. Rhine stood pressed close without doing anything further, yet Shang Ke felt as though that overwhelming presence had already invaded him from the inside out.

Holy shit! This fucking world actually lets someone sexually assault you with pheromones alone?!

Shang Ke was having a complete internal breakdown.

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