Chapter 65: Be Yourself (1)
"It’s due to stress. Remember to keep her from getting too startled in the future."
The doctor’s words echoed in Kenji’s mind. Turning off the shower, Kenji shook his hair, letting the warm droplets glide down the muscles of his back. His black exoskeleton, contrasting starkly with his flesh tone, flexed as he reached for a towel. He casually dried his hair as he exited the bathroom.
The opticomputer’s communication alert rang urgently. Kenji, quick to dress, sat at the table, answering the call before the second ring.
The face of the General Fleet Admiral appeared on the screen, leisurely sipping tea. "Kenji," he inquired, "I heard Yuka fainted earlier?"
Kenji, aware of the Alliance Army’s spies within the UUA, nodded, "Yes."
"Nothing serious, I hope?" continued the Admiral.
After a brief pause, Kenji replied, "The doctor said she was extremely frightened."
"Really?" The Admiral sounded puzzled. "The simulation you set up was of the frontline battles from back then. Are you suggesting she’s afraid of insectoids? She didn’t seem scared when she killed a soldier insectoid last time. Could there be a mistake?"
Kenji had considered this, but Yuka’s reaction had been too genuine to fake. He’d prefer her to feign weakness than to see her truly in pain. "No," he answered firmly. "The doctor advised against any further stress for her."
The Admiral pondered before speaking, "Let it be for now, but keep an eye on her. By the way, Kenji, I remember telling you about the suspected links between the royal family and pirates decades ago. They never met in person in all these years."
Without insiders deep in the royal palace, the Alliance Army lacked proof of their dealings. "Recently, our agents spotted the second-in-command of the space pirates in the palace, suggesting a deal between them, possibly involving Alex."