A is in StarCraft, just disembarked from the Zerg Prince spaceship.

***************

......

"What other tests haven't been completed?" Commander-in-Chief Qi asked Researcher A as he turned around.

Female researcher A flipped through the process sheet to confirm.

"Only the psychological test is left."

Psychological testing is placed after pheromone extraction because alphas fall into a weakened state after pheromone extraction, and psychological testing is more likely to detect their true state at this time.

"How did Major General Gao Tian get here today?"

Researcher A was taken aback: "It seems... they came in a spacecraft."

"Did he come by himself?"

"I didn't see anyone else."

"When he goes back, arrange for someone to send him back. Don't let him go back on his own," Commander-in-Chief Qi instructed.

Otherwise, in this state, there could be a plane crash or something at any time.

Why didn't Major General Gao Tian come with the Zerg's crown prince?

If all else fails, you can bring one of your men with you.

After Commander-in-Chief Qi finished speaking, he tucked the report under his arm and turned to walk towards the exit. He had many things to do later and couldn't linger here for too long.

"Understood. Mr. Qi, are you heading back?"

"I'll be going now. Once Major General Gao Tian's blood and pheromone test results are available, send them directly to my office."

"Yes," the female alpha researcher replied, bowing as she saw him off.

Commander-in-Chief Qi nodded and walked out.

......

Commander-in-Chief Qi walked through the long corridor again.

Deep underground, all was silent.

Walking here feels like entering a no-man's land, evoking a sense of loneliness as if you were the only survivor of an apocalypse.

He walked steadily, seemingly unaffected by the unpleasant feeling, swiped the elevator button, entered, stood still, and with a "ding," the elevator began to ascend.

Back on the ground, the elevator doors opened, and a burst of bright light from the outside flooded in.

An ordinary person would have been unable to open their eyes under such circumstances, but Commander-in-Chief Qi seemed to have no reaction at all.

He rarely reacts to the outside world.

Outside the empty hall, the wind whipped up the dry dust of Beijing's winter.

Commander-in-Chief Qi stood on the edge of the shadowy spot where he had just emerged from the underground elevator, as serene as a sculpture just unearthed from the ground.

He walked to the door and picked up the coat he had taken off when he came in from the coat rack.

He unfolded his military overcoat, the thick fabric billowing briefly in the wind, and then deftly put it on, fastening each brass button before stuffing Gao Tian's medical examination report into his inner pocket.

The fabric clung to the body again, and the national emblem and gold star on the epaulets reflected a dazzling golden light in the sunlight.

He held the rank of Marshal, and a Marshal's shoulder insignia only had a national emblem and a star.

There is only one Marshal rank, and the only one in the Federation of Humanity.

Finally, he picked up the military cap that was placed on the small platform next to him.

His military cap had a crisp brim, with a bright silver national emblem inlaid in the center.

Commander-in-Chief Qi lifted it steadily with both hands, his movements solemn and almost ritualistic.

Then, Dai Zheng.

The shadow cast by the brim of his hat instantly obscured his pale forehead and unfathomable eyes, leaving only his well-defined nose and hard jawline visible.

In the distance, beyond the towering walls of the research institute and the low hills further away, the skyscrapers of human cities reach to the sky, connecting with the horizon.

The wind blew from that direction, bringing with it a faint, almost imperceptible scent of human life.

Commander-in-Chief Qi's gaze pierced through the shadow of his hat brim, landing on the distant city skyline, where it lingered for a few seconds.

His expression remained unchanged; he said nothing and showed no extra emotion.

There are 260 billion people on Earth, and nearly 100 billion families.

As a leader, my goal is to ensure the happiness of every family in the Federation of Humanity.

The happiness of the people...

That is his happiness.

Turning his gaze away, Commander-in-Chief Qi strode forward again toward the military vehicle parked outside.

The military boots clattered clearly and steadily on the hard ground in front of the research institute.

He is an unshakeable coordinate, firmly rooted in human land, becoming the night watchman in this vast and silent time.

Sunlight danced on the gold stars on his epaulets, reflecting a light that was almost like that of real stars.

Beside the vehicle, a soldier in uniform stood at attention, waiting. When he approached, the soldier snapped to attention and saluted.

"Commander-in-Chief."

"Back to the military region."

"yes!"

The orderly opened the car door for him.

The car door closed, shutting out the sunlight and dust from outside.

The car started smoothly, its wheels rolling over the cold, dry ground in December, kicking up fine dust, and drove away from this pure white, unnamed cluster of buildings.

The institute’s massive, unmarked white cubic floors shrank rapidly in the rearview mirror until they were out of sight.

The road stretched ahead, straight and silent, leading to the human sky.

Commander-in-Chief Qi leaned back in his seat, his hat brim still pulled low.

Gao Tian's thin medical examination report, with its stiff, angular cover pressed against his ribs through the fabric of the inner pocket of his military uniform.

Commander-in-Chief Qi pulled it out again.

Gao Tian's existence is like this medical report—it's very important, but it also causes him pain at any moment.

...Gao Xing is really unreliable.

At a time that should have been sad, he surprisingly and silently curled the corners of his lips, as if he were smiling.

It was just a slight, unintentional twitch of the muscle, yet it was clearly frozen there as if carved by a knife.

Light and darkness clashed briefly on his face, leaving behind only a chilling silence in the blink of an eye.

He remained seated in silence, like a solidified stone monument standing tall in the deep darkness.

Gao Xing has been dead for twenty years.

Even if something is true, everything should melt away, peel away, and dissipate little by little, like the thin mist eroded by the evening breeze.

But he still smiles when he thinks of Gao Xing.

......

graduate School.

A room deep underground.

Gao Tian lay there for a long time before he felt a little better.

The staff helped him up, and the psychological assessor had already arrived.

Gao Tian stood up, his movements regained their stability, though his face was still somewhat pale.

Damage to glands is a severe blow to AO.

"Hang in there a little longer, this is the last item, Major General Gao Tian."

The researcher led him to a relatively softly decorated space in the room, with a comfortable sofa, green plants, and even tea on a small table next to it.

Across from me on the sofa sat a middle-aged male beta wearing a white lab coat and thin-rimmed glasses. He had a gentle demeanor, but his eyes held the profound insight of a psychologist.

Gao Tian sat down, the soft, enveloping feel of the sofa slightly easing his tense nerves. He took a sip of hot tea, the bitter taste making him feel a little better.

The psychologist reassured him, "Major General Gao, these are just a few routine questions, it'll be over soon."

"Okay," Gao Tian replied.

The psychologist opened the record board and began asking, "How has your sleep been lately?"

"I think it's great."

Do you have recurring dreams?

"No." The answer was quick and decisive.

The assessor looked up at him, his gaze calm behind his glasses: "Have you been experiencing anxiety or difficulty controlling your emotions? When was the last time?"

Gao Tian thought for a moment: "It seems not, my emotions have always been very stable."