TCPUAAV Chapter 19

 

 

The Galactic Empire’s history spans three critical eras:

 

The Great Annihilation Period: Triggered by the sun’s explosion, a chain reaction devastated the entire solar system. Earth suffered catastrophic natural disasters—earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, and meteor impacts. Its atmosphere was obliterated, plunging the planet into a prolonged Ice Age.

 

The Great Migration Period: After enduring 500 years of annihilation, Earth’s survivors finally mastered wormhole jump technology and embarked on an exodus to new star systems.

 

Over 300 years, they found a sustainable new home.

 

The Great Expansion Period: Humanity entered the interstellar age, discovering not only new homes but also other intelligent species. Together with these species—humans, the mutated beasts known as Beastkin, and other sentient beings—formed the first Galactic Empire. This coalition led to the prosperous Great Expansion Era.

 

Among the contributing species, the Ymir, Dragons, Merfolk, and Nine-Tailed Foxes stood out as key contributors.

 

The Ymir were natural leaders.

 

The Dragons were born warriors, forged in the hostile environment of Luso, a volcanic planet in the northeastern Syracusan sector.

 

Luso was a perilous place, with its fiery landscape dominated by lava and ash clouds. However, the harsh climate gave the Dragons unparalleled physical strength and combat prowess.

 

In recent years, many Dragons had abandoned the harsh life on Luso to migrate to Sikkim, the capital planet. Luso, in turn, became their private resource reserve, teeming with mining teams extracting treasures from beneath its volcanic surface.

 

Dragons returned to Luso only when breeding offspring, as its volcanic heat was essential for hatching dragon eggs.

 

Yet, the Dragon race was infamous for its chaotic private lives and lack of prejudice regarding partners, often resulting in hybrid offspring rather than pure dragon eggs requiring volcanic incubation. Some Dragons, unable to produce their own eggs, even resorted to stealing or robbing others.

 

A dragon egg in slumber for nearly a century, such as the one on Ruan Shiqing’s workbench, could easily become the focus of fierce competition among Dragons.

 

Rong Heng clicked his tongue in annoyance, pushing the troublesome egg with his paw.

 

Thankfully, the current conditions were insufficient for incubation.

 

If this egg were to hatch, and the volatile Dragons learned of it, they wouldn’t thank Ruan Shiqing. More likely, they’d accuse him of being a thief.

 

Deciding to deal with the problem, Rong Heng commanded Noah to delete all records from the smart terminal and analysis device.

 

He then pushed the egg off the workbench with his paw and began rolling it to find a hiding spot.

 

The Crown Prince was practically running the household single-handedly, yet the “head of the house” remained oblivious.

 

The sound of something hitting the ground brought Ruan Shiqing over just in time to witness the puppy’s antics.

 

Scooping up the metal sphere, Ruan Shiqing gently scolded, “You can’t play with this. Daddy needs it.”

 

Glancing at the workbench, he inhaled sharply. How did such a small pup manage to push something so heavy?

 

Rong Heng shifted his gaze from the hovercar in the yard—now equipped with six aerodynamic baffles—back to Ruan Shiqing.

 

This reckless human isn’t planning to melt the dragon egg, is he?

 

Though Dragons weren’t known for their intelligence, their keen noses and long memories could spell trouble.

 

Locking eyes with Ruan Shiqing, Rong Heng growled pointedly: I’m trying to save you, don’t be ungrateful.

 

Unfortunately, the Crown Prince seemed to forget he was in his pup form. His indignant growls sounded like nothing more than typical puppy noises to Ruan Shiqing.

 

Mistaking his protests for dissatisfaction at losing a new toy, Ruan Shiqing tried reasoning. “It’s heavy; it might hurt you if it falls.”

 

“Arf! Arf!”

 

The pup’s insistent yaps made it clear he was ready to throw a tantrum.

 

“…”

 

Sighing, the doting father relented, placing the sphere in front of the puppy. “Just for a little while, alright?” He tapped the wet nose affectionately.

 

Rong Heng cast him a disdainful glance and resumed pushing the egg.

 

Watching him go, Ruan Shiqing muttered, “How can something so small be so strong? Are interstellar puppies different from regular ones?”

 

Unconcerned with the musing, Rong Heng roamed the house, eventually deciding to hide the dragon egg in the cold storage room.

 

The low temperatures of the cold storage were unsuitable for incubation, effectively prolonging the egg’s dormant state.

 

Switching to his human form, Rong Heng slipped into the kitchen and into the storage room.

 

The space was about ten square meters, half of it used for food storage and the other half left vacant, with a few boxes piled in one corner.

 

He tucked the egg into the farthest corner, stacking several boxes on top of it for concealment before leaving, satisfied.

 

*

 

Meanwhile, in the courtyard, Ruan Shiqing and Xiong Yuanyuan had completed installing the air baffles and replacing other worn-out components.

 

The remaining tasks included optimizing the fuel distribution pathways, adding more fuel igniters, and installing a hydraulic system, rearview sensors, and an upgraded computer system to display engine diagnostics.

 

These upgrades would improve the hovercar’s stability and speed while providing auxiliary features to help a human driver compensate for their natural physical limitations.

 

With only a week remaining before the race, Ruan Shiqing decided to take his time on the finer modifications, which required his personal attention. By evening, he wrapped up his work early.

 

Xiong Yuanyuan, initially planning to head home, was stopped by Ruan Shiqing.

 

“You’re not taking payment, but at least stay for dinner,” Ruan Shiqing insisted.

 

Before Xiong could refuse, Ruan Shiqing went to the kitchen and returned with ten tubes of nutritional supplements. “The hovercar’s modifications are nearly complete. In two days, I’ll be taking it out for a test run to identify any issues. I’ll need you and Xiong Fangfang to come with me.”

 

This test run wouldn’t be like the leisurely drive back when he first acquired the hovercar. It would push the vehicle to its limits. Ruan Shiqing remembered Xiong Yuanyuan mentioning they’d driven hovercars before.

 

Although confident in his modifications, Ruan Shiqing preferred having backup, especially experienced drivers, for added safety.

 

Reassured, Xiong Yuanyuan accepted the supplements and happily agreed.

 

After sending Xiong Yuanyuan off, Ruan Shiqing changed out of his work clothes and took a shower. Passing by the kitchen on his way out, he spotted a shadow flit past the window.

 

Frowning, he went to investigate, catching only a fleeting glimpse of a red blur.

 

Was it just my imagination?

 

The shadow reminded him of the nine-tailed fox cub from the auction.

 

As he pondered, his gaze fell on the windowsill, where a fuel igniter sat—a six-tenths-new part that didn’t belong in his workshop.

 

It wasn’t a valuable piece, and his workbench had plenty like it. But this one was clearly not from his collection.

 

Thinking back to the red shadow, Ruan Shiqing considered the possibility of a connection.

 

After a moment’s thought, he pocketed the igniter and placed three tubes of nutritional supplements on the windowsill. Picking up a pen, he wrote on one of the tubes: “This is a thank-you gift.”

 

He left the kitchen with the supplements, stopping to instruct 09, who had just finished constructing the small pool for the mermaid: “Leave the kitchen window open for now.”

 

Nota hid in the dense vines outside, her red tail blending into the foliage. She watched as the young man leaned on the windowsill, scanning the area outside.

 

When he picked up the fuel igniter, she wagged her tail happily.

 

Content, she darted back to her “new home” nestled in the undergrowth near the house.

 

Since her encounter in the kitchen with the terrifying man who had let her go, Nota had decided to move closer to this house.

 

Despite the man’s frightening aura, her instincts told her the area was safe. She had been living there for four days now.

 

She used the thick vines for cover, venturing out only during quiet times of the day or at night. When her food supply ran out, she scavenged from nearby repair shops, which were usually well-stocked. She took only small amounts—half a tube or a full tube of supplements at most. Wealthier households rarely noticed the missing food and thus didn’t increase security.

 

Nota had perfected her survival skills over years of wandering.

 

But after that first time, she hadn’t stolen from the large house again. Instead, she stayed hidden, occasionally observing the inhabitants from a distance.

 

She had learned a lot. The young man was the owner, and he cared for a disfigured mermaid cub, a golden robot, and the frightening man who often disguised himself as a pup.

 

The man seemed kind-hearted. He always smiled, and his expression softened when he tended to the cubs. Even the scarred mermaid, far less attractive than Nota herself, was treated with warmth and care.

 

Once, Nota had dared to sneak closer and overheard him praising the little mermaid.

 

That kind of gentle warmth was foreign to her.

 

During her time wandering on Tutar, the people she encountered often looked at her with disdain or disgust.

 

Even in her memories, her biological father had regarded her with the same contempt.

 

No one had ever treated her with such tenderness.

 

Curling up on the cold, hard ground, Nota hugged her tail and whispered to herself, If only someone could be that kind to me.

 

She buried her face in her tail for comfort, then stubbornly added, Even if no one else likes me, I’ll like myself.

 

Her vibrant red tail, which others deemed unsightly, was beautiful in her eyes.

 

If I’m the only one who thinks so, that’s enough.

 

 

 

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NOTA MY BABY GIRL!!!!! I can’t wait for this sweetie to join the house too c’mon ;____;

 

Also, Idk, I have a distinct feeling that whatever Rong Rong did is going to *precisely* help the dragon egg hatch lmao

 

Thanks for reading!

For every three ko-fis, I will upload a bonus chapter~