Upon hearing this, Admiral Snop’s first reaction was that the Director of the Gene Research Institute must have mistaken Graces for someone else. Otherwise, how could he claim that Graces was a Gene Fusion Expert?

If Graces were really a Gene Fusion Expert, how could he be just a Colonel?

Snop had long lamented that Graces was held back simply because he wasn’t a Gene Fusion Expert.

"What? You didn’t know?" Hearing Admiral Snop’s reply, the Director of the Gene Research Institute also looked shocked. He couldn’t believe it. ’Did Graces really not mention such an important matter to his own superior?’

’Isn’t that a bit too low-key?’

It was completely unexpected. He had assumed that with the Empire’s reverence for Gene Fusion Experts, anyone who became one would want to announce it far and wide.

He thought the First Military District would have been in an uproar over Graces becoming a Gene Fusion Expert by now.

And yet, Admiral Snop didn’t even know.

Hearing the implication in the director’s words, Snop asked suspiciously, "Are you serious? You’re not mistaken?"

"How could I be mistaken? Colonel Grace’s identification information has probably already been updated. Not long ago, he and his Female Master came to the Gene Research Institute for a re-evaluation. The report shows that he is now a Gene Fusion Expert with a 78% fusion rate. And you really didn’t know? He didn’t tell you? My heavens, how could this be?"

For a moment, the Director of the Gene Research Institute seemed unable to control his emotions.

Admiral Snop was even more dumbfounded by his words. "How is that possible? Isn’t it said that after a failed gene fusion, it’s nearly impossible to become a Gene Fusion Expert? How could Graces be a Gene Fusion Expert?"

Even though the director of the Gene Research Institute had explained the situation, Admiral Snop still couldn’t believe what he was hearing.

He even stood up involuntarily, as if only by doing so could he alleviate his shock.

"Why would it be impossible? It’s more than possible! The reason I’m contacting you is because Colonel Grace’s situation is so special and holds immense research value. However, his Female Master has refused to let him sign the voluntary research participation agreement. I was hoping you could... persuade him. If we can use him to find a method for defective males to transform into Gene Fusion Experts, it would be an absolutely wonderful thing for the country and its people. As a soldier, I feel Colonel Grace should have a certain spirit of dedication, don’t you think?"

Admiral Snop finally understood why the Director of the Gene Research Institute was calling him so late. At first, his words sounded very reasonable. But upon closer analysis, wasn’t this just asking Graces to selflessly dedicate himself, sacrificing one for the good of all? ’But why should he?’

Setting aside how Graces became a Gene Fusion Expert, the man had finally achieved it after so much difficulty. His good days hadn’t even begun, and now he was expected to make a selfless contribution to the Empire’s gene fusion cause.

’What, has the Empire run out of people? Do they have to single out this one man to ruin?’

He was now starting to think that Graces’s Female Master, Duke Lu Xia, was actually pretty great. Not only had she not been fooled into signing some "voluntary research participation agreement," she had outright refused. It showed she had excellent character and was very smart.

He also understood that the Director of the Gene Research Institute had probably realized he couldn’t get anywhere with Duke Lu Xia, so he’d decided to try his luck with him instead. The director must have thought that as Graces’s superior and an officer of the Empire, Snop should logically be on their side.

Admiral Snop had now calmed down from his initial shock.

"I’d like to ask, this ’voluntary research participation,’ will it pose a threat to his life?"

"I can guarantee that we will prioritize Colonel Grace’s life and safety above all else. But as you know, all research involves sacrifices."

"I see. And will there be any physical harm?"

"There will be certain side effects, but we will do our best to control their severity."

"Then what guarantees and compensation can your institute offer Colonel Grace?"

"...Isn’t this about making a contribution to the Empire? Of course, if Colonel Grace requires anything, we will certainly do our best to accommodate him."

"So, in other words, you don’t want to offer anything, you just want to freeload. The research process will not only harm his body but could also endanger his life, yet all the credit for the results will go to you. So basically, you want to sacrifice Colonel Grace for the happiness of everyone else, is that it?"

Admiral Snop’s words were so direct that the director of the Gene Research Institute was left speechless.

After a long moment, he finally found his voice. "H-How can you say that? You’re a soldier! How can you lack the proper sense of duty? How..."

"Cut the goddamn bullshit! You’ve got such a sense of duty? Why don’t you go ’dedicate’ yourself? You’re a Gene Fusion Expert too, right? That means you have research value. As the Director of the Gene Research Institute, you don’t even have that much sense? What right do you have to be the director? Let me tell you something, and I’m laying it on the line right here: if you want to mess with my subordinate, you’d better have the balls for it. Otherwise, don’t blame me for what happens next!"

With that, Admiral Snop hung up without a shred of courtesy. In truth, there was no courtesy left to give.

What should have been a wonderful piece of news had been thoroughly soured by the Gene Research Institute director’s sleazy moves, leaving Snop utterly disgusted.

Unable to sleep in the middle of the night, he got up and issued an order to the First Military District: "Effective immediately, all personnel of the First Military District are forbidden from participating in any research conducted by the Gene Research Institute."

They might be soldiers who should dedicate themselves to the Empire, but that dedication should not be for the benefit of certain individuals!

He would never let his subordinates suffer such a fate!

The next morning, when Graces saw the message that had been posted late at night, he knew the people from the Gene Research Institute had probably gone to see Admiral Snop.

At the dining table, Lu Xia noticed Graces staring blankly at a message on his terminal and couldn’t help but ask, "What’s wrong?"

Graces didn’t hide anything and told her his suspicions.

Hearing this, Lu Xia was somewhat surprised. "I didn’t think the Gene Research Institute would be so impatient. Later, I’ll go with you to see Admiral Snop and thank him in person for looking out for you."

Graces looked at the young woman who always managed to exceed his expectations, his heart softening completely. He didn’t refuse or say much, simply saying, "Alright."

On the other side of the dining table, Smelian took in the entire scene, a trace of envy unconsciously appearing in his eyes.

He envied how Lu Xia could treat Graces with such genuine sincerity. He wondered when he, too, might be granted such an honor.

Yes, as he spent more time integrating into this home, Smelian found he could no longer maintain the detached perspective of an onlooker when it came to Lu Xia.

Because he had seen Lu Xia’s goodness with his own eyes, he, too, had started to become greedy.

He couldn’t help but think, ’Will there come a day when I, like Graces, can also win the favor of Duke Lu Xia?’