Runaway Guide

Chapter 45

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As the captain of the Royal Guard, Craig often asked for leave during this period of time, going out to do who knows what. His Majesty Trand was very confused about this, but Berg smiled and said, “You don’t need to bother about him, he’s probably infatuated with some omega. If you ask him about it, it might just mess things up, so you should just let him chase as his heart desires.”

His Majesty Trand was pretty shocked—he had introduced so many omegas to Craig before and he didn’t want them, so how come now he had suddenly become enlightened to matters of the heart?

Berg hadn’t told the whole truth. In fact, Craig and that omega even had children already; the eldest was fourteen, and there was a second one on the way. If the king and queen knew the truth, their mouths would probably fall open.

Craig still ran to see Randy every few days, and each time he brought a pile of gifts. He had stuffed the whole closet full of baby clothes, and even filled a box with different brands of milk powder for the baby to drink.

Randy really wanted to say: You’re buying so many things, it’d be enough for ten babies!

This alpha didn’t seem to know how to express his affection for his child, and so only thought of the most direct method: buying gifts.

When Craig brought over yet another box of clothes, it was the last straw. Randy smiled and said, “Children grow up very fast. With all the clothes you’re buying, he won’t be able to wear all of them. They’ll be too small in the blink of an eye.”

Craig nodded thoughtfully. “Oh.”

The next day, Craig came again, having bought clothes in bigger sizes. He said seriously, “These are clothes for one-year-olds, here are some for two-year-olds, here for three-year-olds...these clothes are in bigger sizes, so he can wear them as he grows up, right?”

Randy saw that Craig had gotten ahead of himself to the point of buying clothes for the child for when he was five years old, and got a splitting headache. He waved his hand and said, “You can put those down...thanks.”

He was being spoiled by this alpha to the point where he felt completely helpless.

What happened to Craig’s own house? He couldn’t be thinking of moving in, could he? But even if he didn’t move in, he came knocking practically every other day. In any case, the child in Randy’s belly was Craig’s own blood relation, so it was perfectly reasonable of him to buy gifts for him. Even if Randy wanted to drive him away, he didn’t have sufficient reason to do so. After all, this child couldn’t have been conceived without Craig’s help, and without him Aiden couldn’t be saved.

No matter what, Craig had stepped in and helped him at the critical moment, so arguing with him now wouldn’t be proper, would it? What if this baby wasn’t an omega? He’d have to have another one. If he were to fall out with this general now, it’d be hard to make things work later on.

Randy was still very rational. For the sake of his son, he could only tolerate Craig’s pestering.

Actually, Craig was a pretty good person. Other than how he always brought a bunch of random children’s supplies, he would also often bring delicious fruits and vegetables so that Randy could supplement his diet. He’d also sometimes go into the kitchen to personally cook him food. He very patiently took care of Randy.

Gradually, Randy got used to his care, and even began to think that being taken care of felt pretty good.

Especially how every morning, he found himself waking up in this alpha’s warm embrace. His whole body felt cozy, and waking up in his arms was very comfortable. With Craig sleeping at his side, during this period of time, even his nightmares grew rare.

Four months passed peacefully in this way, and the year soon neared its end.

At Ellen Academy, Xi Wei and Aiden were still attending classes on time as usual. Xi Wei, though, didn’t pay attention to the teacher’s lecturing, but spent most of his time communicating with his mecha Egret. Through Egret, he finished looking over the Underground Alliance members’ information in detail. After that, he studied the research that had been done on suppressants and their various uses.

Since he was communicating telepathically with his mecha every day, their mental connection grew stronger and stronger.

When Xi Wei could communicate with Egret without any impediments, Berg finally sent him a message, saying: “Xi Wei, the mission I have for you this time is very dangerous. You need to remember all the interstellar routes between the Andromeda Galaxy and the capital planet, as well as the locations of the military defense network stations, and the patrol times of the major corps around the capital planet. Find the right opportunity to sneak into the underground headquarters beneath Locke Castle, and deliver some packages there.”

The Underground Alliance headquarters at the capital planet was currently researching mecha AI. Berg had already revealed a little of the goings-on there to Xi Wei. The mecha they were researching this time was one with tremendously strong combat capability, sufficient to blast a small planet into pieces.

However, many of the materials for giant mechas couldn’t be openly transported under the eyes of the military patrol, especially the energy cores that served as their power source. The capital planet was under the supervision of the Mecha Association, so it was quite difficult to get access to energy cores. Here in the Andromeda Galaxy, few people used mechas, so the regulation of energy cores wasn’t as strict. Years ago, Berg had covertly hidden large quantities of energy cores underground here. So now, he wanted Xi Wei to take the opportunity to deliver the energy cores he had stored to the underground factory at Locke Castle, on the capital planet.

Berg warned him, “When you’re transporting the goods, the most important thing to keep in mind is to avoid the military patrols around the capital planet. Don’t let anyone discover you. It’d be best for you to set out in July, during summer break. At that time, all of the schools on the capital planet let out for the summer, and many children go out on vacation with their parents. There will be many spaceships and mechas flying to and fro, and you can easily mix in with them. During this time, you should familiarize yourself with a map of the interstellar routes. You have to be precise down to the exact coordinate, and you absolutely can’t have any errors.”

Xi Wei nodded seriously. “I know, uncle!”

When his uncle gave him Egret, the main reason was so that he could connect the different regional branches of the Underground Alliance. The suppressants the Alliance manufactured at their Ellen Academy headquarters had to be secretly transported to various galaxies, and during the process of delivery, the couriers had to avoid inspection at interstellar security checkpoints. If the delivery were to be entrusted to unreliable people, and they happened to be caught, that would be a huge problem.

This was the first time his uncle was letting him carry out a mission, so Xi Wei prepared for it diligently.

At the same time, Carlo and Klaire were still madly going over schoolwork. Every day, the two alphas went as a team to the library. They’d already become permanent features of the landscape there. Reading books became the two boys’ most important mission. Under this intense studying, their grades advanced by leaps and bounds, and they could now easily deal with the first-year homework and tests. They began to study the contents of the upper-year courses, and gradually touched upon the topics of the military school entrance exam.

Time flew by, and a few months later, Randy’s stomach had a noticeable bulge. When he walked around, he was no longer as lively as before, and instead inched forward step by step. It looked quite laborious. This omega, though, had a temperament different from that of ordinary people. He didn’t know how to take it easy, but held up his stomach and went around restlessly every day. Sometimes he’d water the garden, sometimes he’d feed the animals, and sometimes he’d sit in the yard and design some handmade goods to sell.

When Craig saw him running around, he felt constantly on edge, for fear that Randy would accidentally fall and injure himself and the baby.

Randy went about nonchalantly, and found ways to keep himself busy.

One day at noon, when Craig came to see him, he found that Randy was bent over picking something up from the ground, almost squashing his stomach flat. Craig frowned and went over to help him up, and while he was at it, he helped him pick up the thing on the ground. It turned out to be a stone—Randy had been using different-colored stones to piece together a sculpture.

When he saw this familiar alpha bending over to help him pick up the stone, Randy smiled and said, “Thank you, General.”

When he smiled, his eyes curved, and he looked particularly good-looking. Craig stared for a few moments, then coughed awkwardly and said, “You, you should be a bit more careful.”

“It’s fine.” Randy turned and was just about to sit down when his face suddenly paled, and his hands went white-knuckled. “Ah...”

A sound of pain spilled from his mouth, and Craig’s heart almost leapt into his throat. He immediately went over and supported Randy, gently held his hand and asked, “What’s wrong? You feel uncomfortable? Do you want to go to the hospital? I’ll take you to the hospital.”

With a face full of worry, as soon as he finished talking, Craig reached out and took Randy up in a princess carry.

With the added weight of the baby in his stomach, Randy was more than a little heavy. But Craig flew across the room, and in the blink of an eye he was at the door.

Randy: “...”

A bit speechless, he pulled at Craig’s collar, inhaled, and said, “Let me down, I’m fine.”

Craig frowned. “Don’t try to be brave. You’re pregnant right now, it’s no joke if there’s a problem with your health.”

Randy laughingly said, “I’m really fine, he kicked me just now, that’s all.”

Craig looked confounded. “Who?”

Randy pointed to his stomach and said, “This child is really restless, he kicked just now.”

Embarrassed, Craig finally put him down.

Randy took Craig’s hand and gently put it on his stomach. He smiled and said, “Do you feel it?”

As if he were saying hello, the baby in Randy’s belly really did kick again. Craig felt the soft kick against his palm, and his heart felt so soft it almost melted. He stroked Randy’s belly with the utmost care, and said, “Is he greeting me?”

Randy said, “That’s just a normal reaction for the baby to have.”

Craig didn’t care about any scientific explanations. In any case, he just felt that the little fellow was greeting him. He couldn’t help but press his ear against Randy’s belly as well, and listen carefully for any sign of the baby’s activity.

Randy really had no way to deal with this simple-minded alpha. Even if he wanted to push him away, he couldn’t manage it. In the end, he could only stand still and let Craig hug him. One moment he’d stroke Randy’s belly, the next he’d put his head next to it to listen, as if he’d discovered some magical new world.

After a long while, the baby kicked again, and Craig was finally satisfied. He said with pleasure, “This child will definitely be a lively one. Oh, that’s right. Have you come up with a name yet?”

Randy said, “Not yet.”

Craig said, “How about Adrian?”

Randy thought it over and said, “Yes, that’s a pretty good name. It sounds right for Aiden’s little brother.”

Craig was in a wonderful mood. Being able to give his own child a name was really a rare piece of happiness!

Under Craig’s devoted care, Randy plumped up into a sphere during his pregnancy. His whole person rounded out.

Life continued on in this manner until June of the following summer, when Craig and Randy’s second child was finally born.

This baby really was very energetic and healthy, unlike his older brother Aiden, whose body had been weak since he was small. This baby started crying loud and clear as soon as he was born, and his little legs were kicking everywhere. No wonder he had been so restless in his dad’s belly, turning this way and rolling that way until Randy couldn’t sleep well at night.

Louis delivered the baby secretly in a private operating room. Randy wasn’t married, so if this child’s mysterious origins became known to others, it would be difficult to explain.

Louis retrieved a DNA-testing machine, and performed a genetic test on the child’s blood serum.

The test’s result was—alpha.

When this piece of information fell from Louis’s mouth, Randy’s face clearly changed. His once rosy lips turned pale in an instant, and his hands, holding on to his child, were trembling. “You’re sure, you’re sure he’s an alpha?”

Louis had no choice but to nod. “I’m sure.”

Randy held on to the mischievous child who was squirming around in his lap, and lowered his head in sadness. This child was his own flesh and blood, so regardless of whether he was an alpha, of course Randy would love him dearly. But because he was an alpha, there was no way to use the blood from his umbilical cord to save his older brother. Aiden was getting closer and closer to eighteen, and there wasn’t much time left. Randy was truly afraid that in the end, he wouldn’t be able to save his son.

When Craig saw this scene of Randy holding on to their child, sitting in silence with a lowered head, his heart felt as if something had pricked it with a needle.

The usually indifferent general had eyes filled with sorrow. He reached out and held Randy and the lively little baby in his arms.

“It’s alright.” Craig gently stroked Randy’s soft hair and said quietly, “There’s still time. Don’t worry, we’ll find a way.”

Randy was silent for a long time before he tentatively reached out, and tightly embraced the alpha before him.

He didn’t know why, but when Craig had gently hugged him and the baby, his mind had suddenly calmed down. Craig’s familiar alpha scent filled his nose. These familiar alpha pheromones might just be the best comfort for an omega on the verge of mental collapse.

So he involuntarily reached out and returned Craig’s hug, because he knew that this alpha would continue to stay by his side. That kind of feeling put Randy’s heart at ease.

When he felt the other’s response, Craig was so excited that his fingertips began to tremble. This feeling of finally achieving success was just amazing!

Randy took the initiative to return his hug—although this action couldn’t prove much, just this one gesture was enough to make Craig happy for several days.

Craig couldn’t help but tighten his embrace, carefully sheltering his wife and his newborn son in his arms.

Outside of the delivery room, Louis and Berg stood side by side and looked through the window at this scene. Louis scratched his head in confusion and said, “Boss, to tell the truth, the overall birth rate of omegas is far below that of alphas. Right now, at the underground factory beneath Ellen Academy, aren’t we developing a drug to increase the probability of omega births? If taken before heat, it may increase the chance of conceiving an omega. Should we tell Randy about this?”

Berg calmly shook his head. “Let’s not tell him for now. The effects of that drug haven’t been thoroughly studied, and no clinical participants have tried using it yet. What if, when the time comes, the baby’s born with health problems or a birth defect? If we added on an unhealthy baby to Aiden’s existing illness, wouldn’t we be making things even worse for Randy?”

Louis thought it over and found it made sense. After all, it was the failure of his experimental suppressants for long-term use that had made Randy’s heat come early that year, causing him to meet Craig and later give birth to Aiden. Louis had always felt guilty about this. He couldn’t use Randy to test out new drugs again.

He looked up into the room, at the warm scene of the three of them embracing as a family. He couldn’t help but say, “It’s a good thing Craig, this alpha, is pretty trustworthy, otherwise just the details of Randy’s history and background would bring forth a whole bunch of problems... That he’s willing to help Randy, and also to refrain from asking about his past, is a quality that’s pretty hard to come by.”

Berg gazed into the room, smiled and said, “Perhaps your failure that year had the unintended result of bringing together a couple that were meant for each other.”

Louis said doubtfully, “You think so?”

Berg nodded and said, “I’ve known Craig for so many years, and he usually always has a poker face on. This is the first time I’ve seen him show such a distressed expression. Isn’t it obvious that he’s fallen in love with Randy?”

Louis looked carefully, and sure enough, the alpha inside the room was currently holding Randy close with a troubled expression, his hand ceaselessly stroking Randy’s back. Although his movements were a little clumsy, it was hard to hide the tenderness in them.

Berg patted Louis’s shoulder and said, “Let’s go. Randy has Craig here to watch over him, and nothing will happen for the time being. We still have to make preparations to support Xi Wei.”

Louis immediately nodded and followed behind Berg. He lowered his voice and asked, “When will Xi Wei get here?”

Berg said in a low voice as he walked, “The time I set for Xi Wei was around July 20th. I have to see what plans the capital star has arranged before I give him the specifics. In July, the Morningstar Corps will be transferred back to the capital planet. General Byron has a rigorous way of doing things. If Xi Wei were to sneak into the capital planet in front of General Byron’s eyes, it wouldn’t be easy by any means.”

Berg paused slightly, and the corner of his mouth rose. He said, “But I believe that Xi Wei won’t let me down.”

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9 hours and 9 minutes for 3,154 words, so about 2:54 for each 1K. Increase in rate by about 8 minutes... 😅

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