A Chemist's Interstellar Saga
Chapter 262: Quispe Exposed

Chapter 262: Quispe Exposed

"You’ve teamed up with insectoids?!" Someone from Eden’s mecha team yelled, his anger directed at the merman squad.

Blaze knew this wasn’t the mermen’s doing, but he wasn’t about to let facts get in the way.

"I never thought the Sirens would stoop so low," Elio added with a sneer.

The mecha teams from the Alliance knew the truth, too, but after the mermen’s earlier attack on Arix, they were more than happy to fan the flames.

"Are you seriously starting rumors right now? Insectoids never come alone!" Vlad snapped, rolling his eyes at the petty accusations.

His words cut through the noise, making everyone tense up. As much as they all hated to admit it, Vlad was right. Insectoids never showed up alone.

Sure enough, more insectoids began emerging from the shadows, surrounding the group from every direction.

"Ah, we meet again, little bugs," the insectoid prince, Hardy, sneered, his gaze locking onto Arix with unsettling intensity.

Drexel’s face darkened the moment he saw Hardy. He hadn’t forgotten how close this creature had come to taking Arix’s life.

"Go to hell!" Drexel roared, psychic energy crackling around him as it formed into a spear. He aimed it at Hardy, his entire being radiating deadly intent.

Perched confidently atop the other insectoids, Hardy smirked, clearly unfazed by Drexel’s threat.

"No need to pretend anymore. They’re trapped on this planet now anyway," Hardy muttered, more to himself than anyone else.

Drexel’s brow furrowed, trying to decipher Hardy’s cryptic words. But before he could make sense of it, a sharp pain pierced through his chest.

Blood sprayed from Drexel’s mouth as he staggered, clutching his chest in shock. He turned, disbelief etched on his face, trying to comprehend what had just happened.

"Drexel!" Arix’s scream tore through the chaos, her eyes blazing with fury as she rushed to her brother’s side.

"Quinnie, why?" Drexel choked out, blood slowly dripping from the corner of his mouth. His eyes were wide with shock as he stared at Quinnie, someone he never thought he’d need to guard against.

Arix’s gaze locked onto Quinnie too, a mix of confusion and burning hatred swirling inside her. She couldn’t believe that, someone who had always fought by their side, someone they trusted so much, turned on them like this and hurt Drexel.

The rest of the Alliance’s mecha team snapped into action, closing ranks around Drexel while casting suspicious and hostile glances at Quinnie. They couldn’t believe what they were seeing.

But Quinnie, now the focus of everyone’s anger, stayed silent. She just stared down at her bloodstained hands, the weight of her earlier hesitation hanging in the air.

However, that hesitation was gone now.

Without a word, Quinnie gave the Arix siblings one last, lingering look before she moved, leaping effortlessly to Hardy’s side.

"How could you all be so blind?!" Hardy’s laughter cut through the tension, dripping with mockery. "You never even suspected that your so-called ’trusted teammate’ was actually our crown prince all along!"

He sneered, his eyes full of contempt as he surveyed the Alliance’s mecha team, relishing in their shock.

In that moment, Quinnie’s appearance shifted. Her blond hair and red eyes were still there, but now they exuded an unmistakable arrogance. Her eyes, now fully insectoid, looked down coldly at the group.

The realization hit like a ton of bricks. The teammate they had fought beside, the one they had trusted implicitly, was none other than Quispe—the crown prince of the insectoids.

The situation had spiraled out of control. The country’s admiral finally grasped the severity of the insectoid invasion—it was worse than anyone had thought.

...

"President of the Empire of Eden, I expect a full explanation after this match!" Sykes demanded before swiftly turning on his heel and leaving.

Admirals from other nations weren’t far behind. They each fired off sharp, threatening words before storming out, making it clear that they weren’t sticking around for formalities.

That left only the president of the Empire of Eden, sitting there with a strained smile and muttering, "Gosh, what on earth is wrong?"

...

The moment he got back on the ship, Sykes rushed straight to the command room.

"Rear Admiral Kering, what’s the current situation?" Sykes asked, his expression so intense it looked like his eyebrows might fuse together.

What should’ve been a straightforward event had been thrown into chaos by the insectoid attack, and it was eating at him.

Kellan’s face mirrored the tension in the air as he worked furiously at the opticomputer. He paused when Sykes spoke, looking up with a grave expression.

"Sir, the Inferno is completely surrounded by insectoids. If we’re going to break through, it’ll take at least three days."

"Three days?! Those kids could be in serious danger by then!" Sykes shouted, unable to keep his frustration in check.

Kellan was feeling just as grim. He knew every second counted, and the risk to the students, including his own siblings, was rising fast. The insectoids had planned their attack well, and with someone on the inside helping them, their options were running thin.

"Is there really no other way?" Sykes asked, his voice heavy with defeat.

Kellan hesitated, clearly torn about something.

"Out with it! Don’t hold back!" Sykes snapped, sensing something was up.

Kellan clenched his fists and finally forced out, "There is...one option. But it involves piloting the level-eight mecha..."

"That’s enough. I get it. You don’t need to say more," Sykes interrupted, already knowing where this was headed. He quickly grabbed the Space Button from his chest and turned to leave without hesitation.

"Sir! You can’t go alone! It’s too dangerous!" Kellan tried to stop him.

Sykes pushed him aside, determined to keep moving towards the deck.

"Admiral, there are countless insectoids out there. Even with the level-eight mecha, there’s no guarantee you’ll make it back..."

Kellan started, but Sykes cut him off again.

"Rear Admiral Kering, all the countries are under attack. The other four level-eight mechas of the Alliance are stuck on the front lines. I’m the only one left who can do this."

Sykes paused at the door to the command room, turning to look at Kellan with a serious expression.

"While I’m gone, everything else falls to you. And Kellan, make sure those kids get out safely."

With that, Sykes vanished from the command room.

Kellan stood there, the weight of the moment sinking in. Finally, he closed his eyes, raised his hand in a solemn salute, and whispered, "Admiral Sykes, may you fight bravely and return safely."

Meanwhile, on Inferno...

The moment the Alliance’s mecha team realized they had traitors in their midst, their anger was palpable.

Teeth clenched and fists tightened, they fought the urge to tear Quispe and Hardy apart right then and there.

Despite the hostile stares, Hardy had the audacity to smirk at Quispe. "Why’d you just injure him earlier? With your skills, you could’ve taken him out with ease."

Quispe shot him a cold glare. "What I do is none of your business."

"Sure, sure," Hardy replied, waving off the tension. "But remember, our target was never him. Just don’t screw up the next part. The Empress won’t forgive you if you do."

Quispe stayed silent for a moment before asking, "Hardy, do you really think what we’re doing is right?"

"Have you lost it, Quispe?" Hardy’s eyes widened in disbelief. "Are you actually questioning the Empress?"

"Hardy, don’t forget—our people were once humanoid too. But since the Empress rose to power, they’ve been devolving into insects." Quispe’s gaze drifted over the surrounding insectoids, his eyes clouded with a sorrowful nostalgia.

In the past, the insectoid Empire was different. It wasn’t just the royal family that could take human form.

Back then, though their numbers were small, they were simply divided into male and female.

Once hatched, as long as they spent time in the ancestral lands, they could transform into humans.

But everything changed when the Empress came to power; now only the royal family retained that ability.

For once, Hardy was silent, but after a beat, he let out a bitter laugh. "Quispe, whether what we’re doing is right or wrong, what does it matter to us? We may have royal blood, but to the Empress, we’re nothing more than tools—easily crushed whenever she feels like it."

Some truths are hard to accept, and Hardy knew this all too well.

A bitter smile played on his lips as he recalled a truth he’d once overheard. All the insectoids, himself and Quispe included, were just tools in the Empress’s grand scheme. But if they succeeded in their mission, there might still be hope for the insectoids to return to what they once were.

Hardy’s gaze sharpened as he watched Quispe. "You’re not getting soft on the humans, are you?"

Quispe didn’t answer, but his shoulders slumped slightly.

Living among humans had changed him. He had made friends, found comrades, and even... someone he cared about.

Memories of a passionate kiss flashed through his mind, making his resolve waver.

Seeing the distant look in Quispe’s eyes, Hardy’s concern grew. Before it could consume him, he shouted, "Quispe, don’t forget why you’re here! Killing Arix is our only shot at reclaiming what we’ve lost. It’s the only way we have a chance at survival. Even if you don’t care about yourself, think about our people! They don’t deserve to live like this, trapped and bred like maggots, stripped of their dignity!"

Hardy’s words seemed to cut through Quispe’s internal struggle, a wave of sorrow sweeping over him. But that sorrow brought clarity, sharpening his focus.

Yes, he was more than just an insectoid. He carried the weight of his people’s hopes. If it meant sacrificing himself, so be it.

As for Arix...

He’d have to apologize later.

Quispe closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and when he opened them, his gaze was cold and resolute. "Hardy, let’s begin."

A satisfied grin spread across Hardy’s face. He pulled out a crystal and tossed it into the air.

The crystal shattered, and a terrifying black hole appeared in the sky, slowly expanding.

Hardy and Quispe dropped to one knee, their heads bowed in reverence. In unison, they declared, "Welcome, Your Majesty the Queen!"