Chapter 74: The Prestigious S-Class Female

Having received confirmation from his commanding officer at the Law Enforcement Center, the young man put away his communicator. He bent over and extended his right arm. "Miss, are you able to stand?"

Yu Zhizhi was shivering uncontrollably from the cold. She looked up, her vision blurred by the wind and snow.

Trembling, she grabbed his arm and tried to stand, only to feel a dull ache from her sprained left leg.

"Pardon the intrusion."

The young man from the Law Enforcement Team wasted no more time. After saying this, he scooped the Rabbit Clan female directly into his arms.

He leaped away at incredible speed.

In a flash, a line of deep footprints was left behind in the snow.

A vintage steam-powered vehicle was parked in the distance.

He opened the door, and a blast of hot air washed over them. Yu Zhizhi warmed up so instantly that her rabbit ears perked up.

He placed her in the passenger seat.

The steam-powered helicopter gradually lifted off the ground and flew off into the distance.

A frosty mist coated the glass window. Through it, she could vaguely make out the vast, snow-covered valley below, and in the distance, an avalanche that looked like a tidal wave.

’I’m saved...’

Yu Zhizhi sighed in relief.

Now that she had a moment to spare, she couldn’t help but turn to look at the young Beastman piloting the aircraft. He was wearing a dark brown uniform, his eyes focused on the path ahead.

Sensing the Rabbit Clan female’s gaze, he spoke in a measured voice:

"We’re heading to the Paradise Command Center. It won’t be affected by the avalanche."

"Okay."

Yu Zhizhi sat up properly, clutching her seatbelt with both hands, careful not to disturb him again.

The steam-powered vehicle landed on a high platform.

The guards conducted a routine inspection.

At the entrance, Yu Zhizhi clutched her red backpack tightly. She watched as the young man scanned his fingerprint and was waved through.

As for her—

She scanned her fingerprint, but the machine remained silent.

The guard vice-captain looked up at her, his expression faltering for a moment, but he maintained his stern demeanor, pen in hand. "Please present your identification."

’Identification...’

"I... I don’t have it with me."

Yu Zhizhi couldn’t remember ever having such a thing.

The guard glanced at the young man from the Law Enforcement Team who had brought her, his look a clear question: ’Why did you bring back such a suspicious female?’

The young man from the Law Enforcement Team stood silently to the side.

The guards at the entrance all stared at the unfamiliar Rabbit Clan female.

She was so underdressed—

Though she had a brown jacket draped over her, her legs were bare, and she was trembling violently.

"I’m sorry, but according to regulations, you cannot enter."

The guard announced his decision, his tone uncompromising.

"Then... can I just wait by the entrance?" Yu Zhizhi asked timidly.

’If they kick me out now, the avalanche will swallow me whole, won’t it?’

The guard vice-captain responded coldly, "No. Please leave immediately."

Nearby, a younger guard had a look of pity on his face. ’This Rabbit Clan female is so beautiful and cute. If she had identification, the Guard Team would surely welcome her as an honored guest.’

’What a pity...’

’With the Beast World Planet currently plagued by constant warfare, there’s no telling if she’s a spy from another Empire.’

Yu Zhizhi froze.

She hugged her red backpack even tighter. Suddenly, an idea struck her. She frantically unzipped the bag and pulled out a badge.

"This!"

She raised her hand, hoping the one-point-nine-meter-tall guard standing before her could clearly see the object in her hand.

"This can prove who I am!"

Clutched in the girl’s hand was an exquisite, light blue badge bearing the insignia of the Valoran Empire.

The Moon Rising Empire and the Valoran Empire had a relatively peaceful relationship and were currently in an alliance.

But—

They would never allow a Beastman from the Valoran Empire to infiltrate their territory.

The guard stared at the badge, making no move to take it.

The younger guard at his side whispered, "Vice-captain, why don’t we let her take shelter inside for now while we investigate her identity? It’s the Valoran Empire, after all..."

’They’re practically allies.’

Yu Zhizhi was terrified of being turned away.

Just as she was wracking her brain for a way to persuade them, the young man from the Law Enforcement Team who had brought her suddenly stepped closer.

He took the light blue badge from Yu Zhizhi’s hand and examined it closely.

Suddenly, his eyes widened.

"...S-Class?"

On the back of the light blue badge, a golden ’S’ was engraved.

It was small, but perfectly clear.

Every guard present was stunned.

Hearing his question, Yu Zhizhi gave a small nod. "Mm-hm."

’This...’

’She knew she received special treatment in the Valoran Empire, but would that status work here?’

The youngest guard was so shocked that the communicator slipped from his grasp and clattered to the floor.

He stared blankly at the newly arrived Rabbit Clan female—

"For real?"

’How could an S-Class female just show up out of nowhere!’

’In any Empire, S-Class females are a top priority for protection. Even if they were just traveling, the Empire’s high command would be contacted in advance to arrange a security detail within the territory.’

’But they hadn’t received any notice about a visit from an S-Class female of the Valoran Empire, had they?’

’Did something go wrong somewhere?’

Although her identity was still in question, the guards’ attitudes changed noticeably.

The young man from the Law Enforcement Team bowed to her for the first time. "Honored Rabbit Clan Lady, please wait a moment. I need to consult my commanding officer again."

He glanced at the one-point-nine-meter-tall guard vice-captain. "She’s coming inside with me."

Although the guard vice-captain found it hard to believe that a ’wild’ S-Class female could get lost and just so happen to stumble upon the Moon Rising Empire’s Paradise—

He gave a stiff nod. "Understood."

’Even if there was only a one-in-ten-thousand chance she was real, he couldn’t afford to be disrespectful to a potential S-Class female.’

’That was the law of the Moon Rising Empire.’

’Any S-Class female, regardless of their empire of origin, must be received with the highest honors upon arriving in the Moon Rising Empire.’

’Their safety must be guaranteed, and their every need must be met.’

The guards finally granted them entry.

Yu Zhizhi followed the young man from the Law Enforcement Team into the secure area.

As they walked, he explained, "Honored lady, to confirm your identity, we will need to re-administer an ability assessment. I hope you understand."

"Of course."

Yu Zhizhi wasn’t afraid of the assessment.

Her status as an S-Class female was the real deal.

Back at the entrance, the guard vice-captain ordered, "You, go inside and see if she’s actually S-Class. If not, expel her immediately."

The youngest guard immediately snapped a military salute. "Yes, Vice-Captain!"

...

「Valoran Empire.」

On the evening of the day Yu Zhizhi left, two posts exploded in popularity on the Imperial Forum.

The title of the first read—

[DUKE BOLAN HAS OFFSPRING FOR THE FIRST TIME! SIX SNAKE PUPS BORN!]

The moment this news was posted, it shot to the top of the trending charts!

Duke Bolan was immensely popular in the Valoran Empire, and any little stir at the Duke Mansion would immediately spread across the web.

From the day news of Ms. Zhi Zhi’s pregnancy was leaked, the forums had been flooded with endless posts about her and the Duke. Some Beastmen even created the Snake Rabbit Alliance to make it easier to ship the couple.

Then, at the stroke of midnight, another post quickly dominated the charts!

[DON LOCKE K!—HELD FOR THREE YEARS AND FOUR MONTHS, RELEASED TONIGHT! THE EMPIRE’S ULTIMATE WEAPON SEES THE LIGHT OF DAY ONCE MORE!!]