After a two-hour warp jump, the fleet docked smoothly at the Second Defense Line spaceport.
This base was much larger than Base Zero. The massive alloy dome reflected the light of an artificial star, heavily guarded anti-aircraft artillery arrays stood in strict formation, and patrolling mech squadrons weaved through the air.
As soon as they stepped off the starship's ramp, Baal's optical computer began frantically popping up with various battle reports and dispatch requests. He strode ahead with long steps, listening to Gary's report while rapidly issuing commands.
Jiang Lijin followed behind, looking around this brand-new military fortress. Unlike Base Zero, this public military base was situated in a safer location that was easy to defend and hard to attack.
The Major General of the Logistics Department was a very perceptive middle-aged male. Facing three top figures fresh off the front lines, he quickly arranged three adjacent independent suites in the senior officers' quarters.
Jiang Lijin was very satisfied with her new room. It was slightly larger than Baal's previous room, and the bed was a double bed that was much softer.
After thoroughly washing away her exhaustion and changing into a clean silk nightgown, Jiang Lijin threw herself onto the bed, ready for a comfortable night's sleep.
Knock, knock, knock—
A knock sounded at the door.
Jiang Lijin struggled up from the bed, impatiently going to open the door. It was so late; could it be Gary bringing a midnight snack?
The door slid open, and Baal stood outside.
He had changed into a dark black silk nightshirt, the collar hanging open to reveal a large expanse of firm pectoral muscles. In his right hand, he clutched a white pillow.
Before Jiang Lijin could speak, Baal took a long stride, brushing right past her into the room.
"What are you doing?" Jiang Lijin glared at him.
Baal tossed the pillow onto one side of the double bed, turned around, and stated with absolute righteous conviction, "My berserk value is unstable."
Jiang Lijin let out a cold laugh.
"Commander-in-Chief Baal, do you take me for a fool? Just a few hours ago, you were slaughtering everything on the battlefield, your spiritual entity as lively as can be. And now you're telling me your berserk value is unstable?"
Baal didn't even blink. "Post-battle syndrome."
This man didn't even need to draft his lies.
Jiang Lijin leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed over her chest, making it clear she wasn't buying it.
Seeing her like this, Baal's eyes darkened slightly, and he suddenly walked toward her.
He leaned in extremely close, carrying the damp scent of a fresh shower.
Before Jiang Lijin could step back, Baal suddenly reached out, wrapped his arm around her waist, and pulled her entirely into his embrace.
With a thud, he slammed the door shut behind him with a backhand motion, making a soft clatter.
Only a single nightlight was left on in the room; once the door closed, the lighting grew even dimmer. Baal's breath fell against the side of her neck, scalding hot.
"You..." Just as Jiang Lijin tried to speak, her lips were sealed.
It was a fiercely possessive kiss. There was no hesitation, just a direct, deep invasion.
Baal's large hand cupped the back of her head, while his other hand tightly gripped her waist, pressing her entire body against his.
Jiang Lijin's mind instantly went blank.
The overwhelming scent of male pheromones engulfed her. Baal's kissing technique was completely unrefined, driven entirely by instinct, carrying a beast-like roughness and urgency.
Jiang Lijin finally snapped back to reality, and she bit down hard on his invading tongue.
The taste of blood instantly bloomed in their mouths. The man merely let out a muffled grunt, showing no intention of letting her go.
Kissed breathless, Jiang Lijin pushed hard against Baal's chest, but he wouldn't budge.
However, because of this push, her hand slipped right into his open collar. She had to admit, the man's pecs felt quite nice; unable to resist, she pinched them as if possessed.
Baal shuddered, his arms wrapping around her even tighter, and he used the momentum to press her down onto the soft, large bed.
The mattress sank deeply.
Baal knelt beside her, his arms braced above her head. His golden slitted pupils gleamed darkly in the dim light, contracting into thin lines from excitement.
His breathing was heavy, his chest heaving violently.
Jiang Lijin lay on the bed, her chest panting slightly. The strap of her nightgown had slipped down during the struggle, exposing a large expanse of pale skin.
Baal's gaze fell on her collarbone, the darkness in his eyes growing thicker.
When his hand touched her waist, Jiang Lijin's reason instantly returned.
She grabbed Baal's hand.
"No."
Her voice was exceptionally clear in the quiet room.
Baal's movements instantly froze. He looked at her, the surging lust in his eyes not yet fully faded, mixed with astonishment and grievance.
Taking advantage of his stiffness, Jiang Lijin quickly sat up, pulling her slipped collar tight.
"I'm tired. I just want to sleep right now." She turned her face away, her heart pounding like a drum, forcing herself not to look into his eyes.
The air seemed to stop for a second.
Baal stared at her for a full half-minute. Ultimately, he said nothing, rolled off the bed, and strode into the bathroom.
The sound of running water echoed.
Jiang Lijin leaned against the headboard, letting out a long sigh of relief.
In her mind, Xiao Yi's aggrieved voice popped up.
[Host... I was just researching something crucial! Suddenly I got blocked. Locked out completely, I couldn't see or hear a thing!]
Jiang Lijin coughed lightly. [Did you find anything?]
[No.] Xiao Yi sniffled. [Insufficient permissions. But Host, why did you push Baal away just now? What a great opportunity!]
Jiang Lijin pulled the blanket over herself. [Great how? He's just after my purification ability.]
Baal treating her well, and even displaying such strong possessiveness, was ultimately just because he coveted her purification ability.
In this interstellar era where one could die from skyrocketing berserk values, a 3S-rank female was the ultimate prize in the eyes of all high-ranking males.
Whoever possessed her held the bargaining chip for survival.
[Host, you're wrong.]
[What do you mean?]
[This is the interstellar beast world.] Xiao Yi explained earnestly. [In this world, females are precious treasures. Males would throw their lives away just to fight for mating rights with a female.]
[Baal is a 3S-rank male; the beastly nature in his bones is stronger than anyone else's. The possessiveness he showed you just now was driven by instinct.]
[In this world, it's never about males wanting to sleep with females.] Xiao Yi paused, emphasizing its tone. [It's males desperately yearning to be favored by a female.]
[He showed up at your door in the middle of the night hugging a pillow because he wanted to beg for an official status! He was holding back so hard just now that his eyes turned red, but the moment you said stop, he immediately stopped no matter how miserable he felt. Because in the laws of the beast world, a male absolutely dares not force a female.]
Jiang Lijin lay on the bed, listening to the splashing water from the bathroom, her emotions becoming extremely complicated.
She had always been judging the people of this world using Earth's way of thinking.
She thought Baal was the type of domineering CEO used to controlling everything, wanting to use male dominance to possess and exploit her.
After all that, it turned out he was hugging a pillow to ask her to take him in?
Thinking carefully about the details just now, Baal's movements had been rough, but he had never truly hurt her. When she called a stop, his eyes were full of reluctance, yet he still chose restraint.
A powerful figure holding the Federation's military might, after being rejected by her, had no choice but to slink off to the bathroom for a cold shower...
Jiang Lijin's mind raced as realization suddenly dawned on her.
She was the one truly holding the decision-making power now.
Although the Mastermind assigned mates, females could demand a divorce anytime and anywhere, and males were forbidden from raising any objections. Furthermore, if a male wanted to secure an official status, he had to get on his knees and beg for the female's signed approval.
With this thought, Jiang Lijin's previously tense mood suddenly became incredibly relaxed, and she even felt a sudden sense of clarity.
After all, as the saying goes, behind every successful woman, there must be ten or twenty men silently working behind the scenes. This interstellar harem master script didn't seem too bad, did it?
...
Half an hour later.
The sound of water in the bathroom finally stopped.
Baal walked out, bringing a chill with him. His hair was still dripping wet, and his sleepwear hung casually open. Water droplets slid down the firm lines of his muscles, disappearing into the waistband of his pants.
He glanced at the large bed.
Jiang Lijin was already lying down with her back to him. Her breathing was steady; she was fast asleep.
Baal stood by the bed, quietly watching her for a long time.
He didn't get into bed. Instead, he walked over to the sofa nearby and sat down, his long legs crossed, his gaze never leaving her back.
The night was deep.
In this perilous universe, the cold and ruthless commander willingly retracted all his claws and fangs, just to guard his one and only goddess.
