Dylan stood stoic by the adjutant’s side.
Ye Muo was taken aback. He seemed somewhat conflicted as he turned to the adjutant. “Is it okay to leave now?”
The adjutant also took a moment to come back to his senses. He glanced at the ring below, which had already been reset. “Yes, it’s fine.”
The mechanisms behind the ring required a higher clearance level to halt operations under normal circumstances. The adjutant had been debating over whether to go himself before Dylan forcibly intervened, after which the ring had reset.
Ano headed over first with Ye Muo following close behind.
The two of them nodded at the adjutant before falling in line behind Dylan.
Bert was still enthusiastically chatting with Gu Chuan by the time Dylan brought them back.
He had thrown an arm over the man’s shoulders. “Just let me know if you need a place to temporarily set up camp. There are plenty of suitable minor planets within Grantz territory. You need to train the students too, no? We can lend you our hunting grounds.”
Gu Chuan glanced at the approaching Ye Muo. “That would be very appreciated, of course. We would also like to exchange curriculums with your nation.”
“That’s not an issue. Our gals and boys are in need of some practice as well.”
Bert extended a hand as he stood up. “Looking forwards to working together.”
“Us as well.”
Bert left after a brief farewell. Ye Muo and Secretary-General Lin trailed behind him.
Bert took a seat as soon as the starship’s hatch closed. “In return for psychic weapons, they gave us a few mecha and promised a mothership as well. Not for free, of course, but might as well be. We just need to win a competition on their behalf. Shouldn’t be too difficult if someone on Ye Muo’s level managed to impress them.”
The technical exchange would require further discussion. After all, this meeting was just an informal one for the two sides to introduce themselves. Everything else needed more time to hammer out.
Ano nodded before recounting his observations, “Their training methods aren’t quite the same as ours. Many courses and exercises are targeted towards piloting mecha. The ring was interesting. I could sense a certain degree of restrictions meant to protect participants. The underlying mechanism is unknown.”
Helene grinned widely on the side. “I think they’re quite sincere in any case. I’m not opposed to continuing to associate with them.”
Dylan stood beside her with crossed arms. He remained silent after scoffing cooly out of habit.
Ye Muo blinked. He raised his hand once he confirmed everyone had said their piece. “The pastries in their canteen are delicious! I think their butter is different than ours! Also, the person in the ring reminded me a bit of Papa Ye for some reason.”
Bert looked at him. “Oh? Looks like I’ll have to tell Norton about you sneaking sweets–”
Bert suddenly sobered up halfway through. He sized Ye Muo up. “Isn’t your psychic power a bit too active?”
“I was participating in one of their games with Ano just now…”
“Hungry?”
Ye Muo paused, “Yeah.”
Despite consuming a considerable amount of food a short while ago, his limbs were still a bit sore. However, Ye Muo couldn’t tell if it was because of growing pains or the exercise earlier.
Bert turned to Ano. “Take him to the treatment pod. Make sure to add enough nutrient solution.”
Bert rose like he was the proud caretaker of a thriving pony. “The kid’s working hard to grow up.”
He noted how Ye Muo was visibly taller compared to a few days ago.
……
Gu Chuan turned to his adjutant. “What do you think?”
“They’re all exceptional youngsters.”
“All of them?”
“That’s right, sir. In my opinion, all of them qualify for the resource tournament.”
The adjutant recalled, “Their soldiers seem to have a higher than average level of physical fitness.”
“Their combat methods also starkly differ from ours. Perhaps it influenced their physique over time.”
Gu Chuan returned to his seat. “A nation that possesses such powerhouses will eventually thrive despite any initial setbacks. It would be in our best interests to make them an ally.”
“Send half of the psychic weaponry Grantz provides back to the Federation for analysis. Keep in touch with them.”
The adjutant saluted. “Understood, sir.”
……
Ye Muo slept in a treatment pod the entire trip home. The other Grantz were used to his increasingly frequent uses of the device by now.
It was Norton who eventually realized something was amiss when he went to call Ye Muo for dinner.
Ye Muo was deeply asleep, curled up in his pajamas in the pod. He wrapped himself in layers upon layers of psychic power like a silkworm would to make its cocoon.
Norton, who was very familiar with the various stages of the cocooning period by now, knew what was going on. Ye Muo’s cocooning period was about to end.
Ye Muo’s hair floated freely around his head in the suspension.
Norton stood before the pod and quietly watched over him.
Eventually, Adlet came to investigate what was holding them up.
He paused at the doorway to Ye Muo’s room. “Your Majesty.”
Norton inclined his head towards the butler and quietly stated, “He’s gone into hibernation, Adlet.”
It took Adlet a moment to respond, “Then I’ll call the doctor over, Your Majesty.”
Soon, he returned with not just the doctor, but a group of Grantz who had caught word.
The values provided by the treatment pods meant the doctor quickly finished his work. “Everything is normal. His psychic power is also very stable.”
“His Little Highness’ cocooning period will end once he wakes up again. Right on time too. Everything seems to be proceeding smoothly at the moment.”
“Right on time.” Norton traced the special glass covering of the treatment pod with a finger.
Ye Muo slept in the treatment pod for several days.
Although Norton was familiar with the stages of the cocooning period, he inevitably became nervous as his mind kept racing through possible scenarios.
Despite keeping a constant eye on Ye Muo using psychic power, he still checked on the child every few hours or even half an hour.
Then, one afternoon, Ye Muo woke up on his own. The vast quantity of memories that returned to him all of a sudden left his mind muddled. He was feeling somewhat disorientated.
Norton was in the study discussing the optimal time to have the civilians migrate to the centralized cities when he suddenly paused and turned in the direction of Ye Muo’s room. He rose from his seat a few seconds alter.
The treatment pod just finished asking Ye Muo if he would like to leave upon detecting his awakening.
The door and the pod opened simultaneously. Norton strode in and came to Ye Muo’s side.
Ye Muo barely had time to instinctively raise his head before Norton cupped his cheeks.
Norton examined Ye Muo throughly from head to toe several times before releasing him.
Ye Muo continued to look up at him, a little dazed. “Father…”
Norton made a sound of acknowledgement. He lowered the hand that rose to tidy Ye Muo’s hand out of habit and averted his gaze.
But Ye Muo soon said, “Dad.”
Norton turned back. He paused for several seconds before giving another quiet sound of acknowledgement. The same sound was somehow warmer this time.
It seemed as if the distance between father and son had closed a bit.
Norton was no longer as tense. He stroked Ye Muo’s still-damp hair. “Are you hungry?”
The suspension fluid in treatment pods would automatically dry the user’s clothes as it evaporated, but not fully due to its viscous nature.
“Go wash up and get changed first.” Norton reminded.
He stated out of habit, “Your clothes are in the closet outside your bathroom. I’ll have Adlet prepare some food.”
Ye Muo’s faint sound of acknowledgement gave him pause. The child was much calmer and quieter than his younger self.
Ye Muo hesitated before calling out to the departing man. “I want the gold ball Adlet made before, Dad.”
He was referring to a dessert Adlet had made by hand. ‘Gold ball’ was the nickname Ye Muo had given it during his cocooning period. Adlet rarely made it because of how sweet it was.
Norton turned back. He hesitated for a few seconds before kissing Ye Muo on the forehead. “I’ll make sure to tell him.”
Ye Muo took the initiative to hug Norton in response. “Dad.”
Ye Muo closed his eyes and remained still. The lightheaded, dissociative feelings brought on by the mixing of memories dissipated with the embrace. It brought him back to reality.
Norton remained just as still.
