Unless necessary, You Que seldom went out. His daily routine was to turn on the shabby TV in his rented room at seven in the morning, watch the morning news, and use this method to understand the world outside.
After the investigator left, You Que used the remote control to turn on the TV. However, because the parts were too old, the screen flickered, and even the sound was intermittent:
“Good morning, everyone. Today is February 6th in the Zerg Calendar. Welcome to today’s news broadcast…”
“According to the research institute’s investigation and statistics, the birth rate of male zergs has decreased compared to last year, and the exact cause has not yet been identified. In order to boost the empire’s birth rate, the higher-ups held an urgent meeting overnight, issuing several decrees and policies to be implemented in every household, encouraging single male zergs in the empire to participate in more matchmaking events…”
You Que pressed a button on the remote control and changed the channel.
”Saint Lieux News, bringing you daily updates. According to reliable sources, there have been frequent sightings of interstellar pirates near the mountain town, with several tourist groups and caravans being attacked. The government has strengthened military presence for protection, and citizens are advised to pay attention to their safety and minimize trips out of town… Next, we will show you street interview recordings…”
You Que pressed the remote control again, changing the channel to an entertainment program. A group of acrobats unfolded the wings on their backs and performed on an aerial stage, receiving thunderous applause from the audience. This scene was not unusual among the Zerg Race, but if it were on Earth, it would be quite strange, as humans do not grow wings.
This country is called Salaranfa, and the residents living on this land are not humans, but zergs.
Females, males, and sub-females—these are the only genders in this world.
Female zergs are strong and responsible for bearing offspring. In most cases, they serve in the military to protect the country. Male zergs, on the other hand, are few in number and physically weak, lacking any combat ability. However, their pheromones can calm the mental turmoil of female zergs, making them indispensable to the entire empire and granting them a revered status.
The last type is the sub-female. While they resemble females on Earth in appearance, they possess male genitalia. The offspring they produce will only be sub-females. They are neither as strong as females nor as irreplaceable as males, and their social status is relatively low.
In order to promote the birth rate, the empire constantly encourages males to marry more. It is common for a single male zerg to have four or five females in his household.
You Que closed his eyes and lay on the sofa, his mind in a chaotic mess. He hadn’t slept well last night, and now he was feeling somewhat drained. However, before he could catch up on sleep, a sudden, urgent knocking sounded from outside:
“Bang bang bang!”
The loud, thunderous knocking made it clear that the visitor was rude and uncouth. You Que opened his eyes, as if already guessing who was at the door, and got up directly to open it.
“Creak—”
The door swung open, revealing two scruffy male zergs standing in the hallway. The one at the front had an unusual coloration—orange with hints of yellow and red—and even his shirt was brightly colored and flashy.
You Que stood behind the door, not really wanting to let them in. “What do you want?” he asked.
Gu Yigu chewed gum casually and said, as if it were obvious, “Of course we have something to do. The sun’s up, aren’t we heading out to work?”
If his “work” had nothing to do with theft or scamming, it would certainly give off an impression of someone quite hardworking.
Upon hearing this, You Que turned and went back inside, already knowing that their visit likely meant trouble. “Didn’t we just go out yesterday?” he replied.
Gu Yigu, along with two lackeys, walked straight into the room and without hesitation, took over the sofa in the middle. “The money from yesterday was too little, it’s already all spent. Both John and I were spotted by the patrol officers, so there was no chance to act. Since there are more zergs on the streets today, you should hurry up and make a quick score.”
You Que asked, “What happens if we get caught?”
Gu Yigu clicked his tongue in annoyance. “How many times have I told you? Male zergs don’t get jailed for stealing. The worst that happens is a fine. John and I have been stealing for years, and nothing’s happened to us.”
As he finished speaking, Gu Yigu suddenly noticed the pockmarks and scars on You Que’s face. He turned his head with a look of disgust, his expression twitching. “By the Zerg God, lucky I haven’t had breakfast yet, or I’d definitely throw up seeing your face. Do you have to cover your pretty face with those disgusting marks?”
You Que wasn’t bothered by his rude tone. “What if I look different from the photo on my ID? What if they find out I’m an illegal resident?”
Gu Yigu scoffed dismissively. “Why do you always use that ID you found? Just apply for a new one. Get a blood test to check your purity, submit a birth certificate, take a photo—it’ll be quick.”
You Que spoke coldly, “I don’t have a birth certificate.”
Gu Yigu shrugged. “Alright, I almost forgot about that.”
He probably found it strange—how could such a precious male zerg not have a birth certificate? However, recalling the day when You Que was lying bloodied in the outskirts, it didn’t seem so unusual. After all, Saint Lieux, this border town, was a place full of mixed characters, and every zerg had their secrets.
Gu Yigu gestured with his hand in a motion that mimicked rubbing money together and asked You Que, “Hey, I can help you with the ID photo issue, but it’ll cost 20,000 star coins. Are you in?”
You Que turned his head to look at him, his light tea-colored eyes exceptionally clear in the sunlight. “What’s the plan? Are you going to get me a fake receipt?”
Gu Yigu waved his hand dismissively. “Of course not. A fake wouldn’t be recorded on the Star Network, and it’d be exposed as soon as they checked. My uncle works at the Saint Lieux police station. If you’re willing to pay, he can take the risk of logging into the database and replace the photo on your current ID with a new one. That way, you won’t have to keep plastering those disgusting marks on your face every day.”
It did sound like a solution, after all, he couldn’t keep using allergies as an excuse to cover his appearance forever.
You Que pondered for a moment and then asked, “20,000 star coins?”
Gu Yigu, feeling quite generous, replied, “I’ll give you a discount, 19,000!”
You Que shot back, “1,900.”
Gu Yigu couldn’t help but suck in a breath, pointing at You Que in frustration. “What the hell, you’re haggling too harshly! I’m the one who saved you from the outskirts, and when you couldn’t afford rent, I covered it for you!”
You Que thought there was some truth to that, so he decided to give a little extra for his “savior” and added 100 more. “2,000. If we can work it out, great. If not, then forget it.”
“You…”
Gu Yigu was momentarily stunned, but then he slapped his hand down in agreement.
“Deal! Let’s get to work!”
In the Salaranfa Empire, male zergs are rare and precious. Not only are medical expenses fully covered, but they also receive monthly welfare subsidies. However, all of this depends on the purity of their blood.
The higher the purity of a male zerg’s blood, the stronger their reproductive ability, making them a target for the wealthy and aristocratic families. On the other hand, male zergs with a blood purity below 30% have negligible reproductive capabilities and are regarded as “precious” trash.
”The high-purity male zergs have all gone to the capital to enjoy life. I heard that one with pureblood even married the prince! As for us, with our low purity, we can only muddle through in Saint Lieux. Don’t you think so?”
Gu Yigu was the representative of the lower-tier male zergs. Every month, he received a small welfare subsidy, then made some extra money through various shady means, living a carefree life. He leaned against an alley, observing the zergs passing by. Eventually, he spotted a wealthy target. Nudging You Que with his elbow, he whispered, “Hey, hey, hey, see that male zerg in the green clothes? Let’s steal from him!”
You Que had been absentmindedly leaning against the wall, but at the sound of Gu Yigu’s voice, he turned to look. He saw a pudgy male zerg sitting on a roadside railing, eating bread with a thick gold chain around his neck, his mouth full of cream. “Is he really that rich?”
Gu Yigu replied, “His family runs a casino in our town. What do you think?”
However, You Que refused. “No, not him. Find someone else.”
Their line of work had its rules—never steal from the local big shots, especially those involved in underground casinos, as it could easily lead to trouble.
Gu Yigu hesitated, eyeing the passing zergs, unsure of what to do. “Then…”
You Que stood up straight and said decisively, “Forget it, I’ll go by myself. You stay here.”
After speaking, he put on a black hat, lowered his head, and squeezed into the crowded swarm of zergs. His long fingers gripped a thin blade, quietly lurking in the shadows. It only took him less than three seconds to slit the pocket of a bag—fast enough for the movement to be nearly invisible. Within half an hour, he returned, his haul in hand, and slipped back into the same hidden alley.
Gu Yigu’s eyes lit up when he saw You Que return, quickly leading his lackey John to greet him. “How did it go? Did you get it?”
You Que remained silent. He unzipped his coat, pulled out four wallets, and tossed them onto the lid of a nearby trash can. “Hurry up, divide the money and get out of here.”
John, who was usually silent due to his stutter, couldn’t help but be surprised when he saw the haul. “Y-You Que… you’re amazing… y-you actually stole four wallets!”
Gu Yigu had already opened the wallets and squatted down on the ground to count the money. “John, can you just stop talking? Every time I hear you speak, it feels like effort.”
John quickly fell silent.
You Que had a sharp eye, always able to pick out the richest targets from a crowd of zergs. However, he seemed disinterested in the process of dividing the money. Instead, he crouched down, lit a cheap cigarette, and the swirling smoke made it hard to get a clear read on his expression.
Two years ago, You Que had been sent to prison for theft. When he was released, he had planned to quit for good, but unexpectedly, he had fallen back into his old ways. Without changing his expression, he stubbed out the cigarette on the ground and asked Gu Yigu, “How much?”
Gu Yigu flicked through the thick stack of cash in his hand. “A little over 8,000, pretty good. Same old deal—you take 4, the rest is split between John and me.”
After speaking, Gu Yigu counted out 3,200 star coins and handed them to You Que. The remaining money was split evenly between him and John, and the wallets were discarded into the trash can.
You Que took the money, counted it, and handed 2,000 back to Gu Yigu. “This is for you. Make sure you get the ID issue sorted out quickly.”
Gu Yigu took the money with a grin and said, “Don’t worry, I’ll handle it. Oh, I’ve got something to do this afternoon, so I won’t be hanging around with you guys.”
John, stuttering, asked, “Y-You… what do you have to do?”
They were all idle street thugs—what legitimate business could they possibly have?
Gu Yigu, irritated, said, “What else could it be? Blind dates. The matchmaker came to my place yesterday, insisting on setting me up with a female zerg. They do this every year, it’s so annoying.”
You Que turned his head to look at him. Despite the deliberate marks on his face making him appear somewhat unattractive, his brows and eyes were particularly deep and striking, exuding a rare handsomeness for a male zerg in the Salaranfa Empire. “Then why don’t you just get married?”
He knew that Gu Yigu had never married a female monarch or female attendant.
Gu Yigu asked, “You haven’t gone on a blind date, have you?”
You Que nodded in response.
Gu Yigu, hearing this, sympathetically patted You Que’s shoulder. “The ones the matchmaking agency brings are all a bunch of rejects—either too tall and bulky, or too dark and ugly. Unless they find me a beautiful female zerg, I’d rather stay single for life. Good luck to you.”
The matchmaking agency’s matches were always based on “status,” and with You Que’s current appearance, it was unlikely he’d be matched with any beautiful female zerg.
Fortunately, You Que didn’t mind these things. After bidding farewell to Gu Yigu and the others, he bought a loaf of bread downstairs and went back upstairs. To the neighbors, he seemed like a very solitary zerg, spending fifteen days a month cooped up at home. Even when he did go out, it was only to buy fast food, always in a hurry. He was truly an odd character.
In reality, You Que hadn’t figured out how to survive in this strange world. He only knew that he didn’t want to be caught and studied like a monster. The more he spoke, the more mistakes he made, so he preferred to say as little as possible. This had led to him living in Saint Lieux for so long without getting to know a single neighbor.
However, on the third day, the marriage agency’s investigator knocked on You Que’s door again, disrupting his peaceful life.
“Lord Eugene, hello. I’m the investigator from the marriage agency. Are you available tomorrow, Saturday? We’ve arranged a blind date for you at the Kino Restaurant. If you’re free, we hope you can make it.”
You Que stood behind the door wearing a mask, silently sizing up the investigator’s face. He realized that this investigator was different from the one who came last time. “Sorry, I’m not available,” he replied flatly.
The investigator looked down at the form in his hands upon hearing You Que’s response. “Would you be free on Sunday?” he asked.
You Que replied, “I’m not available.”
The investigator, seeing that You Que was a male zerg, maintained his patience. The smile on his face didn’t change at all as he asked, “Then when would you be available?”
You Que responded flatly, “I’m not sure.”
The investigator’s smile finally faded, and his voice took on a note of seriousness. “Your Excellency, please be aware that matchmaking is a decree issued by the Empire. Every zerg is required to participate. If you do not attend at least three matchmaking events before August this year, you will be subject to a hefty fine. Are you sure you don’t have time?”
You Que’s eyelid twitched. “A hefty fine?”
The investigator smiled faintly. “Between fifty thousand and three hundred thousand.”
You Que finally realized that he had been burdened by money his entire life. He raised his hand and adjusted his mask before reluctantly agreeing, “What time on Saturday?”
The investigator handed him a small card. “Saturday at 1 PM, Table 4. Please be sure to arrive on time. On the day of the matchmaking, remember to hold a rose, dress appropriately, and refrain from any verbal insults or offensive gestures towards your match. If you have any questions, feel free to call the number on the card. We wish you a pleasant matchmaking experience.”
The investigator finished speaking and left after giving some final reminders.
You Que closed the door and stared at the small card in his hand for a moment. He knew that it would be difficult for someone with a criminal record to find a partner, but he hadn’t expected it to be this hard.
It was one thing when he couldn’t find a woman to match with back in his village, but now, he had fallen to the point of having to arrange a matchmaking meeting with zergs—zergs that looked almost identical to men in size and appearance.
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