A Chemist's Interstellar Saga
Chapter 260: Captain Vlad

Chapter 260: Captain Vlad

Holding the sample with a hint of satisfaction, Arix spoke over the mecha channel, "This sample will do. We can start working on the antidote right here."

"Got it," Drexel replied without missing a beat.

He then directed the team, "Let’s set up camp here. Everyone, follow my lead."

"Yes, sir!" The Alliance team members responded, a mix of exhaustion and excitement in their voices.

After pushing so hard, they were finally getting a moment to catch their breath.

They worked together to set up their temporary camp, making sure Arix’s research tent was up first before handling their own shelters.

Once inside the tent, Arix and Varden wasted no time. They set up their pharmaceutical equipment and immediately began the race against the clock to develop the antidote.

Drexel had just given the order for everyone to rest when the Empire of Eden’s mecha team appeared on the horizon.

The moment the Alliance team spotted them, they snapped into high alert.

On the battlefield, there was no room for kindness, and they knew that their rivals would be anything less than dangerous.

Blaze, the captain of the Eden team, took a moment to observe the Alliance group. His eyes briefly lingered on the Fallen Beast they had restrained, before he turned to Drexel with a smile.

"Captain Drexel, mind if we rest our team next to yours for a bit?" he asked, his tone smooth and courteous.

Drexel returned the smile, though his guard was up. "The ground isn’t mine to claim, so go ahead, Captain Blaze," he replied politely. It wasn’t the time to spark unnecessary conflict.

"Much appreciated." Blaze nodded, signaling his team to set up camp nearby, just close enough to keep an eye on the Alliance team.

Among Blaze’s team, a blond, blue-eyed young man couldn’t hide his concern. "Blaze, it looks like the Alliance team is already working on the virus. With Arix on their side, our chances aren’t looking great."

Blaze remained unfazed. "Don’t worry," he said, his voice calm and reassuring. "If this were any other virus, maybe we’d be at a disadvantage. But remember, Inferno originated in the Empire of Eden. We’ve been on this case since the outbreak. Our antidote might only be halfway done, but it’s still miles ahead of what anyone else has."

Blaze’s confidence was unmistakable, his eyes reflecting the certainty of someone who knew he had the upper hand.

The blond young man seemed to realize this, too, and the worry on his face quickly faded, replaced by the same confidence Blaze exuded.

Some people are born with a head start in life, and others must claw their way forward. From the moment this competition began, the Eden mecha team had already crossed the starting line far ahead of the rest.

...

The merman mecha team quickly pieced together the Eden team’s strategy.

When they arrived at the city center and saw both the Alliance and Eden teams already set up, they didn’t immediately zero in on the Alliance group. Instead, their gazes darkened as they sized up the Eden team from a distance.

"Captain, I bet the Eden team already has the virus antidote. And if not, they probably have something close," the merman team’s strategist whispered to their captain.

Vlad, the merman captain, let a mischievous smile play on his lips. "Sounds about right. In that case, they’ll be our first target."

With their plan set, the merman team boldly ignored the disdainful glances from the Eden team and began setting up camp right next to them, with a casualness that was almost insulting.

"Captain Vlad, there’s plenty of space around here. Don’t you think it’d be better to move a bit further away?" said Basell, the blond member of the Eden team. His polite smile failed to mask his irritation.

Vlad grinned as if he didn’t catch the underlying tension. "Come on, now. We’re all from allied nations, aren’t we? Being close by gives a sense of security, don’t you think?"

"You!" Basell’s patience snapped as his eyes flared with anger, and he was ready to make a move when Blaze, the Eden team captain, stopped him with a calm hand.

"Basell, hold on." Blaze’s voice was smooth as he turned to Vlad, his demeanor still polite. "You’re right, Captain Vlad. We’re allies, after all. Feel free to get comfortable."

Vlad nodded in mock satisfaction, but when his eyes lingered on Blaze’s face, something flickered in his expression.

Blaze was not just skilled; he was also strikingly handsome.

’Isn’t he an Omega? Omegas could have children...’ Vlad’s thoughts got noticed by the towering Alphas on the Eden team, who immediately bristled with hostility.

’This damned merman! How dare he eye our captain like that?’

Feeling the lethal stares from the Eden team, Vlad sighed. Blaze was good-looking and capable of bearing children—if only he wasn’t male.

Vlad had always preferred curvy ladies over flat-chested young men.

The only female Alpha present had a figure that perfectly matched his tastes. But alas, female Alphas couldn’t bear children—they were the ones who made others do it.

Vlad sighed again. ’Life’s never easy.’

As the tension between the merman and Eden teams grew thick, the Alliance team watched the whole spectacle from the sidelines, clearly entertained.

"Hey, Drexel, what’s going on over there? Looks like things are heating up," Elio said, casually munching on a pear as he observed the brewing conflict between the other two teams.

Drexel, taking a bite of his own apple, glanced over and shrugged. "Looks like that fish has a thing for one of the Alphas on the Eden team. Must’ve caught a crush."

Elio nearly choked on his food, laughing at the absurdity of the situation. The drama among their competitors was turning out to be more interesting than they’d anticipated.

"Oh, come on, seriously? Crossing gender lines is one thing, but species too? The Empire of Merman must not be very picky. I’m starting to feel sorry for the lizards back in their country," Elio muttered, shuddering at the mental image that popped into his head.

Drexel, still chewing on his apple, shot Elio a sidelong glance. "Actually, you might want to worry about yourself. With that sweet face of yours, you’re pretty popular in certain circles."

Elio’s face darkened instantly. Without missing a beat, he chucked his half-eaten pear at Drexel, practically roaring, "Drexel! Are you trying to get yourself killed?!"

Drexel dodged the pear with ease, his expression shifting to mock hurt. "Hey, no need to get so worked up. I’m just looking out for you, man. You know your old man Lasair would flip out if you decided to swing that way."

"Get lost! Even if you did, there’s no chance I would," Elio shot back, glaring at Drexel like he was the most annoying thing he’d ever seen. Fuming, he turned on his heel and stomped off, clearly done with the conversation.

Drexel raised an eyebrow in amusement, resisting the urge to push further. ’Dramatical Denial is a form of admission,’ he thought, but kept the comment to himself. He wasn’t about to tempt fate, especially knowing Elio had that monstrous two-million-astrocredit blade at his disposal.

With a satisfied click of his tongue, Drexel finished off the last bite of his apple.

Then, pulling out another one, he leaned back, ready to watch the drama continue to unfold across from them.

The show was just getting started.

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