Chapter 3: Do You Think He Needs Saving?

Ji Laili: Can he choose not to understand?

At this very moment, in this kind of setting, Ji Laili truly felt the reality of being inside an HHH world.

He wiped his face, his usual cheerful puppy-like demeanor deflating. In the end, faced with Shen Yu’s cold threat—“Junior, if you’re unwilling, do you want to end up like him?”—he resigned himself to carrying the unconscious man away.

Ji Laili didn’t want to do this kind of dirty work, but he feared that if he didn’t, Shen Yu would descend even further into darkness.

Blushing, Ji Laili muttered an apology while fishing out a weapon from the unfortunate cannon fodder’s pocket. It was a vicious-looking object—fake in appearance, much like an imitation banana, but lethal nonetheless. With a single stab, the unconscious Alpha was jolted awake by searing pain, his agonized screams echoing through the air.

Ji Laili covered his ears, crouching to the side as he quietly washed his hands.

Don’t blame me. Blame yourself for seeking death.

Taking advantage of the moment, he called out to the system.

“System, are you there?”

【Host, I am here.】

Ji Laili had been a police academy student in his past life, never even getting the chance to work before dying in an unexpected accident.

At the moment of his death, a system had bound itself to him, offering him a deal: complete the mission of saving the protagonist, and he could be resurrected.

With great ambition, Ji Laili had arrived in this world. But now… His once vibrant chestnut curls seemed dull as he recalled Shen Yu’s cold, damp eyes and the ruthless way he had eliminated the cannon fodder.

He wrinkled his nose like a puzzled puppy. “Do you think he really needs saving?”

The guy was this strong—Ji Laili had almost ended up as collateral damage.

Good thing his rhinitis had saved his life!

【…Well.】 The system hesitated for a moment before finally responding. 【Host, for the sake of your resurrection, please figure it out yourself.】

Ji Laili: “…How about you just revive me right now?”

【? Host, are you speaking in riddles?】

“I was joking.”

Clearly, this AI didn’t get it. Ji Laili tried another approach. “Then how exactly do I succeed in saving him?”

【If the protagonist’s blackening value reaches zero, the mission is complete.】

A measurable value! That made things much simpler.

As the pitiful screams in the background gradually weakened and then disappeared, Ji Laili seriously analyzed the mission.

Even though this was a revenge story, Shen Yu had fought desperately against becoming a caged canary. In the end, his only option was betraying the Federation and siding with the Empire.

With nowhere left in the universe to belong, if he wasn’t a canary, he could only become a soaring eagle without a perch.

It could be said that his misfortunes all began the moment he started differentiating into an Omega.

Of course, Ji Laili didn’t think there was anything wrong with being an Omega. It was just that this damned HHH world had its own twisted logic—if any at all.

But the real question was, how could he stop Shen Yu from differentiating into an Omega?

He had no clue.

The screams from inside had completely ceased.

Once everything was silent, Ji Laili, suppressing his distaste, dumped the injured Alpha onto the training grounds. After finishing his task, he snuck back to the dormitory.

By then, curfew had long since passed.

Midnight at the Federation’s First Military Academy

Renowned for its discipline, strictness, and order, the academy adhered rigidly to time management.

Ji Laili had no idea how the original cannon fodder had managed to stake out Shen Yu under such tight security.

But then again, HHH world—zero logic.

While sneaking back, Ji Laili noticed numerous patrol teams, their uniforms marked with golden triangles.

The patrol teams were selected from top military students. Among them, Ji Laili spotted a familiar face—Shen Yu.

Just moments ago, he had been dealing with the aftermath of his pheromone crisis. But now, his demeanor was cold and composed, leading a team as if nothing had happened.

His ability to maintain this level of composure was… impressive.

Ji Laili recalled that Shen Yu was, indeed, a patrol squad member in the original setting. It seemed that everything today had gone exactly according to his plan.

Just as Ji Laili was deep in thought, Shen Yu’s gaze suddenly shifted—looking directly at his hiding spot.

Ji Laili held his breath, staying perfectly still behind a training apparatus. The black-and-gold military uniform blended seamlessly with the metal equipment, camouflaging him under the night’s shadows.

Their eyes met for a fleeting moment.

Before Ji Laili could react, Shen Yu’s voice rang out, deliberately blurred by distance.

“Sector A: No abnormalities. Change direction.”

“Yes, sir!”

The patrol team turned, their golden insignias disappearing into the night.

What a reliable teammate!

Ji Laili smirked slightly. Taking advantage of the moment, he sprinted toward the dormitory building.

With Shen Yu handling the patrol team, Ji Laili reached the dorms without issue. He stretched, lightly kicked off the wall, and effortlessly vaulted over.

And then…

He was caught the moment he landed.

Wait, what?

Why was there an ambush inside too?!

Faced with the lead instructor’s icy smirk and a group of similarly apprehended students—who looked both resigned and smug at having company—Ji Laili could only stare.

“…”

Brothers, why must we turn against each other?

---

The Interrogation Room

A group of tall, rebellious Alpha students knelt on the ground, necks restrained by suppression collars, their gazes sharp and defiant.

The oppressive atmosphere was thick, as if they could snap at any moment.

If one ignored the fact that they were all literally kneeling in submission, it might have been convincing.

“You little brats never learn!”

“Do you even remember Article 38, Page 5 of the Federation Code?!”

Instructor Aegor’s uniform was impeccable, his smirk full of disdain as he reprimanded them.

Getting Alphas to submit was impossible. Only the best of the best made it into the Federation’s First Military Academy, each student one-in-ten-thousand—rebellious and fiercely independent.

Ji Laili and the others were all freshmen, barely a week into training—prime troublemaking phase.

Breaking curfew? Climbing walls? That was just standard practice.

Bigger stunts? Aegor’s gaze landed on Ji Laili. His eyes narrowed, his smirk turning dangerous.

“You’ve got guts, kid. Sneaking back past curfew… covered in both Omega and Alpha pheromones? Had a good time messing around, huh?”

“Feeling bold? Why don’t you share your little adventure with the class?”

The moment he finished speaking, all the kneeling Alphas simultaneously turned to look at Ji Laili.

Because he had cooperated without resistance, he was the only one still standing.

Ji Laili: “…”

Just a minute ago, they had been giving him dirty looks for being the odd one out.

Now, because of the “punish the ringleader first” approach, their gazes screamed—“Brother, we misjudged you! Stay strong! Don’t give in!”

So touching.

Ji Laili put on his best model-student smile and, under their hopeful stares, swiftly admitted:

“Instructor, I was wrong.”

“I shouldn’t have stayed out past curfew. I shouldn’t have missed check-in. I shouldn’t have returned covered in Omega pheromones.”

“Punish me.”

Ji Laili declared righteously, “I am willing to take full responsibility for my actions!”

Holy sh—

Even the instructor froze.

His fierce expression stiffened, the cold smirk vanishing on the spot.

Aegor scrutinized Ji Laili once again.

And reached a new conclusion—

This kid was provoking him in a much subtler way.