Chapter 20: Huo Zhanting's Disappearance

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Shen Zhuoran could only shake his head with a bitter smile.

“We haven’t even managed to invent a drug that can substitute for the presence of females to soothe them.”

“Soothing agents merely suppress the mating season forcibly, but afterward, there will be an even fiercer outbreak.”

“Expecting to suddenly develop a medicine that restores beasts to rationality is unrealistic.”

“So,” Shen Zhuoran shrugged, “the males detained here are those who, according to machine tests, have over a 90% mental collapse due to the absence of female soothing.”

Yu Lan’s heart tightened.

Her gaze swept over the men before her.

In other words, all these men still retained some rationality.

They were facing their fates with clear minds.

Waiting for the day when they would completely lose themselves to madness.

It was unbearably cruel.

“Since they haven’t gone completely insane, then we can’t—”

Yu Lan’s words stopped abruptly under Shen Zhuoran’s piercing gaze.

No, we can’t.

Survival of the fittest.

Only the strong endure.

If they have failed to gain the favor of females while still mentally sound,

then all the more so when they lose their minds.

Cruel.

Utterly cruel.

Especially when Yu Lan’s eyes fell on the man closest to her, whose body bore fresh wounds barely bandaged.

They were warriors who had fought alongside Marshal Huo Zhanting on the Dark Planet in the Thirteenth District.

Heroes of the Empire.

Their fate should never be to quietly perish in this dark prison.

Yu Lan yearned to do something.

“I want to develop a new medicine, may I?”

She looked at Shen Zhuoran, her eyes pleading.

He understood her meaning immediately.

Yu Lan herself was a senior researcher; if she wished to set up an independent project team right now to develop it, it was possible.

Shen Zhuoran nodded. “You may. I agree.”

“But you currently lack experience in personnel management and leading a team. Before the project yields results, the research institute will provide much less funding.”

“I understand,” Yu Lan nodded repeatedly.

No benevolent investor would blindly fund a project without results.

She knew this well.

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Having obtained Shen Zhuoran’s approval, Yu Lan’s gaze turned to the males huddled behind one iron cage after another, their faces numb and hollow.

Her clear voice echoed down the corridor.

“Everyone, my name is Yu Lan.”

“I am a senior researcher at the institute. I wish to establish a project dedicated to studying a substitute for female healing power—something that can help males through their mating season and alleviate mental collapse.”

“I already have a preliminary research plan. Now, I want to know if anyone is willing to help me complete this study.”

After she finished speaking,

the place fell into a deathly silence.

Not a single male responded.

Shen Zhuoran frowned slightly.

Cooperating with the research institute required no consultation with these males.

They could simply send the guards to fetch whoever was needed.

Though Shen Zhuoran was briefly pleased by Yu Lan’s polite and equal approach,

he knew none of the males present would agree willingly—they did not want to be test subjects.

Just as he was about to speak,

from a corner,

a male raised his hands, his voice hoarse from long disuse.

“I don’t know if your research can be realized.”

“Maybe it never will.”

“But it doesn’t matter. You’re the first beautiful and gentle female I’ve ever seen. I don’t have much clear time left, but I’m willing to cooperate with your research in my limited time.”

“I like the word you just said—‘help.’”

Yu Lan’s eyes instantly brightened.

Even in this dark prison, Shen Zhuoran could clearly see the amber flames of faith burning in her gaze.

“We will make it happen.”

Yu Lan clenched her fist.

* * *

“What’s your prototype?”

“A bear?”

“How are you feeling now? Any headaches?”

In a bright and tidy office, a few flowerpots with beautiful buds swayed gently on a windowsill not far away.

Sunlight streamed through the glass, bathing the beautiful and gentle female before him in a golden glow.

Durant was momentarily dazed.

He was the male who had agreed to participate in Yu Lan’s experiments in the Mad Male Ward.

The moment he entered the ward, he already knew his fate.

Either cooperate with the institute’s research in the dwindling days of clarity.

Or, if the research no longer needed him, count down the remaining time and leave his final words.

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They could freely choose to live on as beasts after losing all sanity,

or have the guard shoot them with a single bullet.

But that definitely did not include

moments as blissful and comfortable as this.

The beautiful and gentle female carried a faint fragrance, her gaze warm as she looked at him, holding a form and gently asking questions.

As if he were still a normal male, not one on the brink of total mental collapse with a 90% chance of going mad at any moment.

This made Durant happy.

Even the constant pain in his brain eased somewhat.

“All basic questions are done.”

“Next, we need to draw a blood sample for related tests. Is that okay?”

The female before him was so beautiful and gentle.

Durant was dazed again and nodded repeatedly, agreeing to Yu Lan’s request.

* * *

Six o’clock in the evening.

After a full day’s work, Yu Lan left the research institute punctually.

Sitting in the hovering car on her way home, the screen onboard broadcast the host’s sorrowful voice.

“According to reports, Marshal Huo Zhanting led the First Legion to successfully defeat the terror forces of the Dark Planet and saved the people of the Thirteenth District, but he mysteriously disappeared on the battlefield. Major General Su Xingye is currently handling aftermath matters in the Thirteenth District and searching for Marshal Huo’s whereabouts. He is expected to arrive at the Central Star soon.”

Huo Zhanting was missing?

Yu Lan’s gaze faltered.

She recalled the golden eyes she had met suddenly when she first arrived—defiant, fierce.

The man was strong, handsome, and formidable.

How could he be missing?

Could it be some undisclosed tactical secret?

Yu Lan shook her head, thought only briefly, and quickly dismissed the matter.

Thinking about it wouldn’t change anything.

When she returned home, the entire villa was empty.

Yu Lan simply couldn’t afford to pay so many servants’ wages; each extra day added ten thousand star coins.

At noon, she had successfully reached a peaceful separation agreement with the butler.

Now, the villa was silent.

Yu Lan pushed open the door, her back to the stairs, groping in memory for the light switch.

Unnoticed,

atop the stairs, a pair of golden eyes quietly watched her.

So fragrant, so fragrant, so fragrant!