Translator: ChuRen/ YuQiChen
A tremendous explosion thundered, shaking the heavens and the earth. Smoke surged wildly from outside, accompanied by a chorus of screams and cries. Massive skyscrapers toppled, trees and houses erupted in towering flames so bright they dazzled the eyes.
In the distance, a huge starship blocked the enemy outside the residential area. One small aircraft after another slid out from the starship, soaring towards the invaders, only to fall amid the gunfire — a tragic and heroic scene.
“Why? Why has the war reached here? This is the central region of the Empire’s controlled star system!”
“The Empire is doomed, the Empire is doomed.”
“Why didn’t the main planet warn us the war would reach here? Why didn’t His Majesty send troops? Has he abandoned us here on Aro Star?”
“Don’t go backward, run fast.”
“The starship is coming! Hurry, the Empire’s rescue starship is arriving.”
“It’s Prince Levi1I don’t want to hear the AOT jokes’s ship, near the Aro Fortress. Run!”
“Ahhh…”
Boom! Boom!
The war engulfed this planet, people running endlessly alongside wave after wave of animals — wolves, tigers, lions, and so on.
Su Shaobai’s mind was a chaotic mess; unable to comprehend what was happening, he simply ran with the crowd, constantly glancing back in fear of tigers or lions jumping on him.
After a while, the frail Su Shaobai stumbled, leaning forward. Just as he was about to fall, someone running beside him suddenly pushed him aside. His body tilted and his weak legs gave out, crashing hard into a nearby flower bush.
Suddenly, his chest ached painfully, almost suffocating.
“Hurts!” Su Shaobai gasped, barely catching his breath. Without resting, he scrambled to the edge and leaned against it, looking at the chaos filled with cries mingling with tiger roars and dog howls — a scene both chaotic and heartbreaking.
“These people really live in harmony with the animals,” Su Shaobai breathed heavily, his gaze shifting toward the distance.
Only seen in sci-fi movies, starships appeared vaguely among the clouds. Small fighters streaked rapidly across the sky while gigantic mechas freely changed shape, flying into the heavens and plunging underground.
“I’m either dreaming or I’ve transmigrated,” Su Shaobai murmured to himself.
As a model student from the 21st century, Su Shaobai usually stayed at school or at his home’s distillery, spending free time watching TV dramas and reading novels — all sorts of rebirth and transmigration stories included. He had accidentally slipped near the fermentation vat and fallen in. Not killed by the brew’s fumes, he seemed to fall endlessly. When he finally regained awareness, he was already amidst a fleeing crowd.
“Am I here to be cannon fodder or the protagonist?” Su Shaobai asked himself again.
No one gave him an answer. None of that mattered now—what mattered was escaping alive.
“Meow, meow, meow~”
Just as Su Shaobai was about to stand up, a weak meow sounded—it was a small kitten. Without hesitation, Su Shaobai crouched down and scanned the area. Under the bushes was a white kitten, about the size of his palm, lying on the ground. Upon noticing Su Shaobai’s presence, its sharp gaze emitted a cold aura, as if scrutinizing him.
Su Shaobai thought: …Damn, how could he see coldness and killing intent from such a tiny kitten’s eyes?
“Come here.” Su Shaobai reached out a hand, thinking that in wartime, such a small kitten couldn’t survive on its own.
“Awwooo~”
The kitten opened its small mouth and growled at Su Shaobai, baring tiny white teeth and a tender pink tongue—both cute and fierce.
“Don’t be afraid, I won’t hurt you.” Su Shaobai smiled warmly, his eyes crinkling like a friendly neighbor’s grandmother’s. “I’ll take you with me. You’ll live well, eating the good stuff, got it?”
The kitten’s fur bristled. Just as Su Shaobai reached to pet it, the kitten raised a paw to scratch—but then froze.
A faint scent of wine came from the boy’s fingers, strangely soothing the kitten’s trembling spirit for a fleeting moment.
What kind of wine is this? Why had it never smelled it before?
In that brief daze, the kitten’s neck was gently grasped, and before its raised paw could scratch, it was cradled in an embrace full of the wine’s aroma.
“Don’t be scared!” Su Shaobai softly coaxed the kitten in his arms, stroking it gently twice.
“Boom!”
Another thunderous explosion sounded in the distance; if they didn’t move now, it’d be too late.
Su Shaobai tucked the little white kitten into his arms and ran again with the crowd. They soon reached the famed Aro Fortress, where several giant ships were docked on the sea surface. The ships looked like Earth’s blue whales but were made of cold, hard material that shimmered with a cruel black light. It was extremely high-tech and impressive, leaving Su Shaobai silently amazed.
Aro Fortress had several ports. People and animals surged quickly upward. Along the passage stood two rows of soldiers dressed in black military uniforms, each over two meters tall. The soldiers carried gun-shaped weapons, standing straight and imposing with stern expressions that inspired awe.
“These are Prince Levi’s personal guards. His Highness, Prince Levi himself, came to pick us up. Our Empire’s most benevolent figure,” an old man nearby kindly explained, noticing Su Shaobai’s curious glances at the soldiers.
“Prince Levi?” Su Shaobai instinctively asked back.
“Tch, how do you not even know Prince Levi? He’s the Emperor’s cousin, the legitimate son of the Empire’s eldest princess, a war hero, beloved by the people—unlike that tyrant… haha, never mind.” The old man seemed to realize he’d said something he shouldn’t have, quickly waved his hand and urged Su Shaobai to keep moving.
“Where are we going?” Su Shaobai’s biggest worry.
“No idea. Just follow the ships. There’s news ahead that the enemy dropped radioactive bombs here—the planet’s no longer safe to stay on,” the old man said, carrying a small backpack filled hastily with his belongings, leaving the planet with no idea when he might return.
The two kept silent, moving forward with the crowd. The closer they got to the boarding ladder of the spaceship, the more nervous Su Shaobai grew. He felt uneasy. The titles “Emperor” and “Prince” sounded ancient, but all he saw told him this was a high-tech, technologically advanced world ruled by royalty. Would the ship’s advanced systems detect him when he boarded? Filled with anxiety, Su Shaobai kept his head low, following the crowd and instinctively stroking the little kitten he’d just picked up, seeking comfort.
The wine scent aroused the kitten, who had barely slept in hundreds of years. Awakened by Su Shaobai’s touch, its anger surged, raising sharp claws to scratch.
“Hiss!”
Su Shaobai gasped, three claw marks clear on the back of his hand. He lowered his head and met the kitten’s black eyes, now flashing a warning. Then the kitten turned its head, nuzzled close against his chest, folded its paws, tilted its head, and fell asleep.
Su Shaobai: …
“Hurry, it’s our turn,” said the old man, walking beside Su Shaobai. He spotted the kitten in Su Shaobai’s arms and asked, “Your younger brother?”
Su Shaobai: … I suspect he’s mocking me.
The soldiers didn’t check Su Shaobai’s identity and he boarded the ship safely. Following the crowd, he found a seat by the window, and the old man sat next to him. Refugees kept arriving, all carrying large bundles. No animals appeared anymore—presumably taken elsewhere, since people couldn’t stay with animals.
The Empire’s people cared greatly for animals; even during war, they evacuated with them.
Su Shaobai sighed again, stroking the kitten against his chest, prompting a muffled “meow” of protest. His heart melted completely, lowering his gaze to the tiny kitten curled into a fist-sized white ball. His thoughts bubbled with pink hearts—he wanted to cuddle it so badly.
The ship filled slowly. Below, a sea of people packed tightly. Soldiers began turning crowds away from boarding, directing them to other ships. Suddenly, a gray fighter shaped like an eagle flew overhead, circling twice before soaring into the sky.
The crowd erupted into cheers, waving at the aircraft.
Who’s the big shot?
Su Shaobai wondered silently.
“That’s His Highness Levi’s personal aircraft.”
“Oh my God, it really is His Highness Prince Levi. He saved us. Luckily, he was here; otherwise, I would have died here.”
“His Highness Prince Levi came to rescue us.”
“Prince Levi is the one who truly loves us, completely different from that warmongering tyrant. Why wasn’t it Prince Levi who ascended the throne back then?”
“God, please shut up. What if someone hears us and we get in trouble?”
“I’m just stating the facts!”
“Right, I think so too. Prince Levi is the incarnation of the Golden Dragon. He should have been the one to ascend.”
“Who doesn’t know His Highness Levi’s throne was stolen? That patricidal and matricidal tyrant took it. Sooner or later, Prince Levi will take back the throne.”
“Oh God, please stop spreading rumors.”
“This is Prince Levi’s ship, what’s there to fear? Besides, we’re not wrong.”
“Yes, Prince Levi’s reputation is higher than His Majesty’s. That’s a fact.”
Inside the ship, a group chatted noisily. Su Shaobai listened quietly, trying to gather more information. Half an hour passed before the ship broadcast the imminent takeoff. Soldiers started patrolling, and the group finally quieted down. Amid his astonishment, Su Shaobai pieced together where he had arrived.
It was now the Star Era, 6,832 years passed since humanity left the Milky Way. The current ruling royal family was surnamed Zongzheng2you’re asking me why they have Western names with Chinese surnames. I DON’T KNOW EITHER. The emperor was a warmongering, treacherous tyrant—violent and paranoid. Years ago, he had seized the throne by force, killed his half-brother, and hung the body on the imperial city gates for three days and nights. From that day, the Empire’s people knew a tyrant had risen. Nearly a century had passed since his ascension, yet he remained young.
Indeed, the average human lifespan was now 350 years, with exceptionally spirited individuals living up to 500.
Su Shaobai: …
That was quite an overload of information. Su Shaobai felt he needed a moment. His hand instinctively touched his chest—only to find it empty. Looking down, he saw the kitten had sat up like a little infant, straightening its back. Its front paws hung naturally and its small head stood erect, eyes staring into the void.
Cold and aloof, utterly arrogant.
Su Shaobai: Why do I always feel it’s so human-like?
“Tuanzi, are you thinking?” Su Shaobai couldn’t help but ask.
The kitten snapped back to focus, lifting its small head. Their eyes met—his and the kitten’s deep black pupils reflecting each other.
One dark and mysterious, the other gentle and warm.
No reuploading anywhere else.
Support the author 书一 by buying chapters on jjwxc!!
Your ko-fi donations would be greatly appreciated.
If you don’t know what to read next you can try these out
After leaving the entertainment industry, the Ge’er became famous for his embroidery skills
[Quick Transmigration] The Paranoid Villain is Coveting the Beautiful Cat Again
I’m currently translating these novels as well~
Ko-fi goals? Extra chapter release once we reach our goal!!
