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Chapter 182 – Brutal Beastman Marshal vs. White Lotus, Black Lotus, Pitiful Plant Prince (09)
The martial prowess of the Beastman Empire is evident to all, especially under Cromwell’s leadership, where the army has dealt blow after blow to the insect tribes. The man’s contributions in this regard are undeniable.
Due to Mu Jin’s keen interest in Cromwell’s stories, Wilson “casually” mentioned that he had a lot of training materials and video footage of the Marshal. This included simulations of him piloting mechas and sparring in training grounds. He asked if Mu Jin would be interested in watching them.
Mu Jin eagerly nodded, following Wilson to watch his lover’s battle prowess.
As Wilson watched the young man sitting obediently in the chair, his large, bright cat eyes fixed on the battle scenes featuring Cromwell, he couldn’t help but smirk.
Any man would be thrilled by such intense combat scenes, even the relatively peaceful plant people. Look at this usually shy little fellow, his face flushed with excitement as he watched his lover Marshal dominate his opponents.
Although Cromwell’s reputation for brutality was well-known, primarily in the Plant Empire, the Beastman Empire revered strength. Even if they feared the Marshal’s ferocity1, they also admired his unparalleled combat abilities.
Seeing Mu Jin’s reaction, Wilson thought that with a bit more effort, their Marshal would surely gain a devoted little fan.
Meanwhile, Cromwell sat aboard the starship, commanding his troops to repel the insect tribes. The soldiers felt reassured, knowing that as long as the Marshal was there, they had nothing to fear.
What they didn’t know was that their usually battlefield-focused war god was currently troubled.
After successfully repelling another wave of insect tribes, Cromwell sat expressionless in his seat, sighing inwardly. He thought about the age difference between himself and his little companion and how the other seemed somewhat afraid of him. The Marshal, who had slain countless enemies, was now at a loss.
Glancing at Kofi, who was leisurely awaiting the next attack, Cromwell furrowed his brow and hesitated before coughing lightly and asking his adjutant, “Kofi, do you know how to win a companion’s favor?”
Kofi almost spat out the nutrient drink he had just sipped. He looked up at Cromwell, who was staring at him expressionlessly, and cleared his ears.
After confirming he hadn’t misheard, the young man couldn’t help but twitch his lips, tentatively asking his superior, “Marshal, did you just ask me how to win a companion’s favor?”
To his astonishment, the usually stoic man before him nodded seriously. Recalling the recent arrival of the Plant People Empire’s prince, Kofi was amazed that the little guy had such an impact, turning a hardened warrior into a softened lover. Now, his commander was asking him how to please a companion!
Kofi almost burst out laughing, eager to share this juicy gossip with his friends. But, remembering the Marshal’s terrifying demeanor, he suppressed his amusement just in time.
But seriously, Marshal, asking him, a single guy, how to please a partner, is that really reliable? Thinking about Mu Jin’s cute face and likable personality, Kofi had to admit that if it were him, he’d also want to make the other person happy.
Understandingly, he gave Cromwell a glance, acknowledging that his superior had good taste. Keeping such a lovely partner cooped up in the Marshal’s residence would indeed be a waste.
After a moment of thought, Kofi suggested, “Sir, you mentioned that the young prince from the Plant Empire feels a bit restrained in your home, which is understandable. After all, he’s moved here because of an arranged marriage and knows no one. Naturally, he’d feel out of place.”
“I recall this young prince has just come of age. At his age, many are still in school. Sir, perhaps you could consider sending him to the Imperial Academy. There, he can meet peers his age, which might help him feel more at home.”
Cromwell hesitated upon hearing Kofi’s words but knew he was right. Mu Jin was young and might indeed feel more at ease among peers, even fostering a sense of belonging to the Beastman Empire.
Though he cherished his little companion deeply, finding him adorably perfect and wanting to keep him safely hidden away, Cromwell knew he couldn’t do that.
He couldn’t bear to imprison him, to see the smile fade from his face. He wanted Mu Jin to live freely and genuinely happy.
During his days on the battlefield, although the frontline warriors were far from relaxed, Cromwell deftly handled the probing Zerg units.
In his spare moments, he had someone investigate Mu Jin more thoroughly, obtaining details even more granular than what Wilson had.
Through this information, he learned that Mu Jin, although the fifth prince of the Plant Empire, was born to a slave girl and lived a harsh life in the palace. His original form lacked beautiful flowers and fragrance, causing others to look down on him.
Cromwell was indignant upon learning this, angered that his beloved had been bullied for such superficial reasons. These plant people were indeed shallow.
While the Beastman Empire could appreciate beauty, they revered strength above all. True respect came only with power.
Although Mu Jin had not yet displayed remarkable strength, in Cromwell’s heart, he occupied every part of his being. Through the marshal’s rose-colored lenses, his partner was perfect in every way, deserving all the protection and care in the world.
Thinking of the hardships Mu Jin endured in the Plant Empire, Cromwell was even more determined not to restrict his freedom. He wanted to present the best of everything to Mu Jin.
Thus, after careful consideration, the Marshal decided to follow Kofi’s advice and send Mu Jin to the Imperial Academy. However, even if he were to attend, it would be as a day student.
Because this Zerg raid clearly had a probing intent, Cromwell couldn’t return quickly to prevent future threats.
Knowing that the Imperial Academy’s term was about to begin, he had to suppress his desire to personally take the young prince to the academy. Instead, he used his communicator to contact Wilson, asking him to handle Mu Jin’s enrollment.
Of course, he first had to ask Mu Jin if he was willing to go. If Mu Jin preferred to stay at the Marshal’s residence, Cromwell would be just as happy to keep him as his cherished flower.
He would protect him from all harm, willing to provide whatever life Mu Jin desired.
When Wilson received the communication from Cromwell, he immediately thought of Kofi, suspecting it was the clever young officer’s idea. Otherwise, his straightforward Marshal likely wouldn’t have come up with it.
Regardless, it was a good thing for Mu Jin. To Wilson, Mu Jin was only twenty and staying cooped up at home would not be as beneficial as gaining knowledge and experience at the academy.
So, Wilson approached Mu Jin to ask his opinion. Mu Jin was surprised when Wilson mentioned it was Cromwell’s idea. Although the Plant Empire had prestigious academies, as an unappreciated prince, he had only learned the basics.
The original Mu Jin had deliberately hidden his talents, so no one had invested resources in his education. Unlike the rigid hierarchy of Plant Empire’s academies, the Beastman Empire’s academies were more merit-based. Even commoners could attend top schools if they were capable.
More importantly, the Beastman Empire’s academies offered a major in alchemy, though it was a niche field due to limited resources and faculty.
Mu Jin wasn’t worried. Despite differences in flora between the two empires, he was confident in his abilities. He believed he could find suitable substitutes for the ingredients and even develop better formulas.
Excitedly, Mu Jin looked at Wilson, his voice trembling with anticipation, “Is it really Marshal Cromwell’s idea? Did he really say I could attend the Imperial Academy?”
Seeing the disbelief on Mu Jin’s face, Wilson gave a kind smile and patted his head. Though a somewhat informal gesture for a prince, their recent time together had fostered mutual respect, allowing Wilson to treat him almost like a junior.
Seeing Mu Jin’s eagerness, Wilson seized the moment to boost Cromwell’s image. Smiling, he nodded and said, “Of course, the Marshal hopes you’ll quickly feel at home here. The Imperial Academy has many peers your age. I’m sure you’ll get along well with your classmates.”
Note :
- “Ferocity” refers to the state or quality of being ferocious, which means exhibiting extreme aggression, intensity, or savagery. ↩︎