After the Alpha left, the hospital room fell into complete silence.

Li Po sat on the bed with his knees drawn up, staring thoughtfully at the white walls. Over the past two days, he had sorted through his memories and was certain that during the holographic simulation, he had fired the gun—not just once, but three times.

But based on the results of his psychic power test, as an E-rank psychic user, how could he have successfully wielded a B-rank weapon?

Unless… his psychic power wasn’t actually E-rank.

As soon as that thought crossed his mind, Li Po’s eyes brightened, but the next second, that light quickly dimmed again. Everything that had happened during the simulation drill was clear in his memory, and he hadn’t forgotten the first two shots he fired. They hadn’t even made a sound, completely shattering the confidence he had just built up.

What on earth was going on?

Frustrated, Li Po scratched his head, unable to figure it out. He gave up and pulled the white blanket beside him over his head, deciding to sleep.

Just as he was about to drift off, the door to the room suddenly opened from the outside.

Bian Lu rushed in, looking slightly disheveled. He was about to speak, but paused when he saw the scene on the bed.

The words stuck in his throat, and Bian Lu stopped himself. The next moment, he gently lightened his footsteps, intending to quietly turn around and leave.

Li Po opened his eyes at that moment. He pulled the blanket off his face, glanced toward the door, and, recognizing Bian Lu, finally spoke, “Dr. Bian, is there something you need?”

“You’re awake? I thought you were asleep,” Bian Lu stopped in his tracks upon hearing Li Po’s voice. He released the door handle and turned back toward the bed.

Li Po shook his head. “I wanted to sleep but haven’t yet.”

Bian Lu smiled warmly. “It’s okay to sleep more. You’ve just recovered.”

“Okay,” Li Po replied obediently.

For some reason, over the past two days, the number of injured soldiers had skyrocketed, and the White Tower had reached an unprecedented peak in patient admissions. Bian Lu had been so busy that he barely had time to check on Li Po. Now that he finally had a break, he made time to visit him.

“If you feel like you’ve mostly recovered, you can go home. The White Tower is full of sickness, not the best place for an Omega to stay too long.”

Li Po tried to defend himself, “Doctor, Omegas aren’t as fragile as you think.”

Bian Lu frowned slightly at this. His usual gentle face hardened a little. “Li Po, do you think there’s no difference between you and those Alphas?”

Li Po nodded, his honesty clear.

“…” Bian Lu felt a bit exhausted. He leaned against the foot of the bed, rubbing his temples as he spoke, “The differences between Omegas and Alphas are natural facts—whether it’s physical strength, psychic power levels, or even the speed at which wounds heal, Omegas naturally fall short of Alphas.”

“Of course, I’m not saying this to make you feel inferior. I just want you to recognize the natural disadvantages of being an Omega so you can be more cautious and protect yourself. While the Alphas in S District do have some self-control, that doesn’t mean accidents can’t happen. Do you understand?”

Li Po, somewhat unsure, nodded. “Alright, I’ll try not to fight them.”

Bian Lu: “…”

He gave Li Po a bewildered glance, but when he saw the innocent clarity in Li Po’s eyes, he fell silent. After a long pause, he finally decided to be blunt. “Li Po, are you deliberately misunderstanding me?”

“…?” Li Po blinked in confusion.

Bian Lu sighed and clarified, “I’m talking about biting your gland, complete marking, and sexual behaviors.”

Li Po suddenly understood.

“Omegas have regular heat cycles and are extremely vulnerable during those times. If you’ve taken suppressants, it’s one thing, but if you haven’t…” Bian Lu paused before continuing, “Even the most controlled Alpha won’t be able to resist.”

“All Alphas are like that?” Li Po asked curiously.

“All the same,” Bian Lu replied, his expression serious and solemn.

To lighten the mood, Li Po attempted a joke, “Dr. Bian, you sound like you’ve had a lot of experience.”

The words hung in the air, and Bian Lu suddenly went quiet.

Seeing his reaction, Li Po’s ears perked up, sensing there might be some gossip to uncover.

Finally, Bian Lu spoke again, slowly, “Before I came to S District, I worked at a clinic in the lower city. Most of the staff there were Betas; I was one of the only Alphas. One day, an Omega came in for gland removal surgery. But the other Alpha made a mistake during the procedure, accidentally stimulating the Omega’s glands and triggering a false heat.”

A chill ran down Li Po’s spine. “And then?”

“And then?” Bian Lu’s eyes locked onto Li Po, his voice steady. “The Alpha lost control and forcibly marked the Omega. The Omega was covered in blood from the bites. And because their compatibility was too low, the Omega died shortly after being injected with pheromones.”

“…”

Holy crap, that’s terrifying.

Li Po instinctively touched the back of his neck, still feeling shaken. Then, something occurred to him, and he asked, “Wait, Omegas can get their glands removed?”

Bian Lu’s face instantly froze. This Omega… how was he so hard to deal with?!

“Yes,” Bian Lu said, his tone warning as he stared at Li Po. “Why are you asking?”

Li Po smiled, his eyes curving. “Just curious.”

Knowing it was better to explain than to avoid, Bian Lu sighed. “Gland removal surgery is possible, but it’s extremely risky with only a 50% success rate. The procedure comes with many side effects, the most notable being accelerated aging and a shortened lifespan. Do you really think it’s worth it?”

…Well, that effectively shattered Li Po’s unrealistic ideas.

His head drooped as he softly replied, “I understand, Dr. Bian.”

Seeing Li Po’s downcast expression, Bian Lu couldn’t help but smile slightly. “Having glands isn’t all bad. When you’re a bit older, you’ll find an Alpha who’s right for you.”

Li Po’s attention perked up at the word “right.” “Right for me?”

Bian Lu nodded warmly. “Yes, after all, pheromone compatibility is important. Love alone isn’t enough; being able to create life together is what matters most.”

“…”

Just then, Bian Lu’s communicator beeped.

“I have to go. Take care of yourself,” he said before rushing out the door like a gust of wind, not forgetting to close the door behind him.

Once the room was quiet again, Li Po lay back on the bed heavily, pulling the blanket over himself as he rolled around in frustration.

Ugh, this is so annoying!

•

In the Alpha dormitory of S District.

The brown-haired guy’s eyes widened in shock as he stared at the bloody figure lying on the bed.

The reason for calling him a “figure” was because there wasn’t a single spot of uninjured skin left on his body. His wounds were still seeping blood, making him look like a puddle of living blood.

“H-Hong You?”

Hong You was the real name of the red-haired guy, though most people called him Red Hair. Rarely did anyone use his full name.

The person on the bed moved ever so slowly, their voice weak as a whisper. “Mm.”

“How did they beat you this badly?” The brown-haired guy was terrified, edging closer only to be hit by the overwhelming stench of blood. Hong You had been beaten and strung up for two days, and some of his flesh had begun to rot, releasing a horrible smell mixed with the metallic scent of blood. It was unbearable.

Hong You’s voice rasped out, “That Omega… is he brain-dead?”

The brown-haired guy suddenly fell silent.

After at least half a minute of dead silence, he finally spoke, his voice strained, “…No.”

“…No?” Hong You’s chest began to heave violently, causing more blood to seep from his wounds. “How… how can that be?!”

“I heard they saved him at the White Tower. He’s recovering and should be out in a few days.”

“…”

When Hong You spoke again, his voice was barely a breathy hiss, as cold and venomous as a snake’s. “So you’re telling me… he didn’t pay any price?”

The brown-haired guy knew what Hong You was thinking and quickly interrupted. “Hong You, I know you’re upset, but that Omega has connections. We can’t afford to mess with him. Look, you didn’t even do anything but send him into the simulation, and this is what you paid. If you try to trip him up again, you’ll only drag yourself down even more!”

Hearing this, Hong You finally calmed down a bit. Blood bubbled at the corner of his mouth, but with his arms injured, he couldn’t wipe it away. He could only let it dry there. “Yeah, I should’ve known… How can an ant compare to a canary, right?”

The brown-haired guy averted his gaze, unwilling to respond.

“I should’ve been born an Omega,” Hong You muttered bitterly, “I could’ve just sold my body and lived a cushy life… cough, cough…”

The brown-haired guy cut him off. “You’re too emotional right now. Focus on healing—getting better is what matters.”

“Are you scared?” Hong You turned his face with great effort, staring straight at him.

“What do you mean?”

“Don’t forget, you were the one who first messed with the Omega. If it weren’t for following your lead, would I be in this state now?” Hong You’s voice grew more agitated, and he began coughing violently, blood splattering onto the pillow.

“I never told you to mess with the holographic drill.” The brown-haired guy’s tone remained calm, but his palms were slick with cold sweat.

Hong You’s sickly yellow face pressed against the white pillow, his bloodstained lips curling into a sneer. “So, you’re starting to separate yourself from me now?”

“…” The brown-haired guy took a step back, suddenly feeling like Hong You was a stranger.

“I didn’t sell you out in the interrogation room, but now that I’m out, you’re in such a hurry to distance yourself from me… Ha, how amusing.” Hong You coughed as he spoke, his chest heaving like a broken bellows, wheezing with every breath.

A flicker of disgust crossed the brown-haired guy’s eyes. “I’m just trying to remind you not to go down the wrong path.”

“Whatever, I don’t blame you.” Hong You smiled faintly, but that smile was quickly filled with blood. “I was too stupid before, too blind to the people around me. That was my fault. But it won’t happen again.”

“Now get out.”