His Match Is an Interstellar Monster

Chapter 02: Landis Winser

The following day.

Xiao Sa vaguely realized he was lying on a soft bed, with occasional sounds of people moving about, talking, and the occasional clinking of test tubes and vials.

As the sounds gradually faded and the smell of disinfectant reached his nose, Xiao Sa finally woke up completely.

His eyes met an iron-gray metal ceiling. He heard an unfamiliar voice say, "Medic, this guy is awake!"

Xiao Sa turned his head and saw a soldier with a gun calling over a medic to check on him. The medic leaned down to ask him a question. Xiao Sa blinked and said, "I don't understand you."

The medic frowned, surprised, and exchanged a few hurried words with the soldier, who then glanced at Xiao Sa before quickly leaving with the medic.

Quiet settled once again.

Ever since he was rescued from the pirate starship by a group of soldiers, Xiao Sa had barely managed to maintain a thread of alertness. He finally relaxed when he confirmed that the other party was genuinely treating him and hadn't discovered his "alien" identity. His "temporary plan" had worked.

Xiao Sa sat up. His bandages had obviously been re-dressed, and an IV was in his hand.

As an S-rank Alpha, his physical abilities were exceptionally strong. Injuries that would be considered severe by those in the star sea region felt much better after a night's sleep. He glanced at the IV bottle containing an unknown drug and casually removed the needle.

Xiao Sa found himself in a white isolation room. The room had a private bathroom, and the windows were covered by light-blocking panels, blocking his view of the outside. In a corner of the ceiling, there was an emergency light, with a faint red light flickering below it.

That was likely a camera, and someone behind the screen was probably watching him. Xiao Sa casually looked away, pretending not to notice.

At that moment, the door opened again. The soldier from before walked in with a long-tailed cat mental entity, holding a half-moon-shaped earpiece. He handed it to Xiao Sa, gesturing for him to put it on.

It appeared to be a temporary mechanical translator. Xiao Sa searched his language database for a while before finally finding a language that was somewhat similar.

However, this language was so ancient that it was nearly extinct, with many missing parts and mismatched meanings, resulting in significant ambiguity.

The soldier waited for him to adjust, then asked, "Can you understand?"

The translator AI clearly pronounced the machine translation: "Are you deaf?"

Xiao Sa: "..." That’s not how to talk!

Soldier: "Name?"

He understood this word: "Xiao Sa."

Soldier: "How did you get on that ship?"

Translation device: "How did you end up on that bed?"

Xiao Sa, puzzled, patted the edge of the bed. "Didn’t you capture me?"

The soldier solemnly extracted the keyword: "Captured."

They engaged in a bizarre exchange, resulting in a comical misunderstanding.

A white long-tailed cat squatted beside Xiao Sa, watching him curiously. This time, Xiao Sa did not emit aggressive pheromones, only a faint scent hanging in the air.

The aroma of tequila, with a hint of intoxication and a subtle sweetness, had a peculiar allure.

The little white cat quickly detected this unique scent, its tail shot up as it began rubbing against Xiao Sa’s legs, purring with its eyes half-closed. Xiao Sa couldn’t resist scratching its chin, making the kitten purr even louder.

Feeling the signals from his mental entity, the soldier gave Xiao Sa a surprised glance and quickly jotted down a few notes.

The soldier had someone bring water and food before leaving. In the end, Xiao Sa had no idea what the soldier had written down.

※※※

In an observation room near the isolation ward, the blonde general sat with his legs crossed in a leather chair, silently observing the live surveillance footage.

A lean man with chestnut hair stood by his side, General Landis’s trusted aide and chief of staff, Caro Lehman.

Caro pushed up his silver-rimmed glasses and opened a report. "This individual is named Xiao Sa," he said.

"Preliminary assessments suggest he is a traveler from a remote star system, captured by the Broken Peak pirate group following a ship accident."

"The pirate guarding him insists that Xiao Sa is a vicious terrorist who was not only uninjured but also escaped confinement and assaulted him."

Caro paused, then flipped to the interrogation notes. "The interrogator's mental entity ability involves lie detection and emotion sensing. According to his mental entity, this person is friendly and gentle, speaking truthfully and reliably, and being around him feels 'as comfortable as being in a father's embrace.'"

Landis: "..."

The blonde general fell silent for a moment, then, frowning, said, "Instruct the interrogator to avoid such exaggerated descriptions in future reports."

Caro smiled. "Yes, Commander."

"Caro, what do you think of this person?"

The chief of staff put away his notes and said, "Our medics and interrogators are not lying, so we cannot trust the star pirate captive's words. He might be making things up to absolve himself, or he could be mentally unstable after being captured."

Landis' slender fingers lightly rapped the table, his gaze cold and unyielding. "Even if he is not associated with Broken Peak, this man named Xiao Sa remains highly suspicious."

On the surveillance footage, Xiao Sa had already entered the bathroom to clean up. Caro withdrew his gaze and asked, "What do you plan to do, Commander?"

Landis slowly stood up and said indifferently, "I'll go see for myself."

※※※

Inside the isolation room's bathroom, Xiao Sa took off his dirty clothes, avoiding the bandaged wounds. He washed his face and hair, finally freeing himself from the coal miner refugee look.

When he emerged in a white hospital gown, several strangers in the uniforms of the Dawn Empire were already waiting outside. They had been talking, but fell silent when the door opened.

When Xiao Sa had been brought aboard the super battleship, he had been covered in blood and filth. But now, cleaned up, he looked like a different person altogether.

The simple white shirt fit his well-defined frame, giving him a tall and athletic appearance. His neatly cut bangs framed a strikingly handsome face—deep features, sharp brows, and star-like eyes. At first glance, he seemed almost too perfect, like a meticulously crafted model from a popular holographic game.

Even Landis, who was usually indifferent to beautiful men and women, couldn't help but take another look.

Vice officer Caro and the soldiers beside him were momentarily speechless. Is there a race with such striking features in some unknown corner of the galaxy?

Xiao Sa did not seem surprised by the strangers in the room. He politely nodded at them before returning to the bed.

His skin appeared pale under the lights, with faint blue veins visible on the back of his hand. The bandages added to his appearance of fragility.

He looked at the golden-haired officer in the center and asked, "Are you the captain of this warship, sir?"

The sentence, translated by the machine, was mostly comprehensible.

Landis scrutinized him with a penetrating gaze. "Yes."

Xiao Sa smiled and nodded slightly. "I appreciate your rescue, sir. Otherwise, I would still be locked in a cage, awaiting death."

Although the guard acting as the interrogator only identified the words "thank" and "cage," he immediately revealed a sympathetic expression. Not daring to steal a glance at General Landis, he repeatedly signaled the deputy Caro with his eyes—

How could this gentle and courteous, sickly handsome man possibly be a ruthless star pirate? He must be a pitiful kidnapped victim!

However, Admiral Landis didn't think so. At his feet lay a completely black lion, its fur sleek and glossy, its thick mane majestic and imposing.

This S-class mental projection named "Black Flame" was not something the other guards dared to approach, except for its owner Landis and his trusted deputy Caro.

Unlike the interrogator's long-tailed cat, Black Flame's coldness and ferocity seemed inherent. Like its owner, it watched Xiao Sa warily, its sharp claws and cold, emotionless eyes ready to pounce.

Xiao Sa wasn't the least bit intimidated. Instead, he looked at the black lion with a bit of envy. It would be wonderful to have such an impressive battle pet.

"Broken Peak is an A-class imperial military criminal," Landis said, his voice low and cold as he stared into Xiao Sa's eyes. "You claim you were captured by the star pirates. Why did they capture you? Why didn't they just kill you instead?"

"What value do you still possess? What is your true purpose in sneaking onto this warship under the guise of a victim?"

Landis didn't give Xiao Sa any time to come up with an excuse, relentlessly questioning him. Even the guards behind him could sense the invisible pressure and didn't dare to breathe heavily.

"In front of me, you'd better not lie." His sharp gaze was fixed intently on Xiao Sa, searching for any sign of a flaw on his face.

Yet, as Xiao Sa watched his mouth open and close for half a minute, he didn't flinch.

In the awkward silence, Xiao Sa tapped his translator, which finally emitted an error sound: Beep—Object not found, please speak human.

Xiao Sa: "..." Is this translator messing with me?

He subtly observed the expression of the golden-haired officer. The man was expressionless, sitting upright with perfect posture, every hair meticulously slicked back with gel.

While not particularly friendly, the officer refrained from using violence against him. He seemed to belong to a disciplined official military force with undisputed strength. The earlier questioning was likely focused on his identity and purpose.

Xiao Sa thought for a moment, then put on a sincere expression. "Respected Captain, my gemstone necklace might have been taken by the pirates. If you find it on that ship, please return it to me, sir."

Fearing the translator might fail again, Xiao Sa held out a hand toward Admiral Landis, emphasizing the key words. "Please, sir, return the necklace."

The translator indeed ignored the earlier lengthy sentence and precisely captured the last part. The AI voice's machine translation was emphatic: "Please, sir, be my lover!"

"..."

For a moment, the entire room was engulfed in stunned silence. Even the usually inscrutable General Landis looked visibly taken aback.

The black lion at his feet suddenly lifted its large, furry head, its round eyes wide open, bluntly conveying its master's bewilderment. The formidable aura instantly dissipated, making it look rather ridiculous.

Everyone sucked in a sharp breath. Vice Officer Caro gaped, staring at Xiao Sa, afraid to meet their superior's gaze.

"Heavens," Vice Officer Caro thought. Their commander was notoriously strong-willed, cold-hearted, and ruthless in the imperial military, having earned his thirty years of bachelorhood through sheer force of will. Yet this man dared to declare his love publicly upon first meeting General Landis?!

What incredible courage and audacity!

The atmosphere became awkward. Xiao Sa raised an eyebrow in confusion. Did he say something wrong?

Landis's face quickly reverted to its usual impassive expression. He rose slowly, his military boots thudding heavily on the floor as he took deliberate steps toward Xiao Sa. The brim of his cap cast a cold, stern shadow over his face.

His S-rank spirit beast, Black Flame, followed closely, its eyes glinting menacingly.

Xiao Sa sat on the edge of the bed, looking up at the tall, handsome general before him.

The man was well-built, with long, straight legs. His black and gold military uniform was perfectly pressed, without a single wrinkle. The military buttons were fastened tightly to the top, outlining a solid, muscular chest covered in numerous medals.

He looked down at Xiao Sa, his icy blue eyes tinged with anger. Light poured from above, casting a shadow that loomed over Xiao Sa, filled with oppressive force.

"Are you playing with me?"

Xiao Sa: '...?'

Chapter 02: Landis Winser

The following day.

Xiao Sa vaguely realized he was lying on a soft bed, with occasional sounds of people moving about, talking, and the occasional clinking of test tubes and vials.

As the sounds gradually faded and the smell of disinfectant reached his nose, Xiao Sa finally woke up completely.

His eyes met an iron-gray metal ceiling. He heard an unfamiliar voice say, "Medic, this guy is awake!"

Xiao Sa turned his head and saw a soldier with a gun calling over a medic to check on him. The medic leaned down to ask him a question. Xiao Sa blinked and said, "I don't understand you."

The medic frowned, surprised, and exchanged a few hurried words with the soldier, who then glanced at Xiao Sa before quickly leaving with the medic.

Quiet settled once again.

Ever since he was rescued from the pirate starship by a group of soldiers, Xiao Sa had barely managed to maintain a thread of alertness. He finally relaxed when he confirmed that the other party was genuinely treating him and hadn't discovered his "alien" identity. His "temporary plan" had worked.

Xiao Sa sat up. His bandages had obviously been re-dressed, and an IV was in his hand.

As an S-rank Alpha, his physical abilities were exceptionally strong. Injuries that would be considered severe by those in the star sea region felt much better after a night's sleep. He glanced at the IV bottle containing an unknown drug and casually removed the needle.

Xiao Sa found himself in a white isolation room. The room had a private bathroom, and the windows were covered by light-blocking panels, blocking his view of the outside. In a corner of the ceiling, there was an emergency light, with a faint red light flickering below it.

That was likely a camera, and someone behind the screen was probably watching him. Xiao Sa casually looked away, pretending not to notice.

At that moment, the door opened again. The soldier from before walked in with a long-tailed cat mental entity, holding a half-moon-shaped earpiece. He handed it to Xiao Sa, gesturing for him to put it on.

It appeared to be a temporary mechanical translator. Xiao Sa searched his language database for a while before finally finding a language that was somewhat similar.

However, this language was so ancient that it was nearly extinct, with many missing parts and mismatched meanings, resulting in significant ambiguity.

The soldier waited for him to adjust, then asked, "Can you understand?"

The translator AI clearly pronounced the machine translation: "Are you deaf?"

Xiao Sa: "..." That’s not how to talk!

Soldier: "Name?"

He understood this word: "Xiao Sa."

Soldier: "How did you get on that ship?"

Translation device: "How did you end up on that bed?"

Xiao Sa, puzzled, patted the edge of the bed. "Didn’t you capture me?"

The soldier solemnly extracted the keyword: "Captured."

They engaged in a bizarre exchange, resulting in a comical misunderstanding.

A white long-tailed cat squatted beside Xiao Sa, watching him curiously. This time, Xiao Sa did not emit aggressive pheromones, only a faint scent hanging in the air.

The aroma of tequila, with a hint of intoxication and a subtle sweetness, had a peculiar allure.

The little white cat quickly detected this unique scent, its tail shot up as it began rubbing against Xiao Sa’s legs, purring with its eyes half-closed. Xiao Sa couldn’t resist scratching its chin, making the kitten purr even louder.

Feeling the signals from his mental entity, the soldier gave Xiao Sa a surprised glance and quickly jotted down a few notes.

The soldier had someone bring water and food before leaving. In the end, Xiao Sa had no idea what the soldier had written down.

※※※

In an observation room near the isolation ward, the blonde general sat with his legs crossed in a leather chair, silently observing the live surveillance footage.

A lean man with chestnut hair stood by his side, General Landis’s trusted aide and chief of staff, Caro Lehman.

Caro pushed up his silver-rimmed glasses and opened a report. "This individual is named Xiao Sa," he said.

"Preliminary assessments suggest he is a traveler from a remote star system, captured by the Broken Peak pirate group following a ship accident."

"The pirate guarding him insists that Xiao Sa is a vicious terrorist who was not only uninjured but also escaped confinement and assaulted him."

Caro paused, then flipped to the interrogation notes. "The interrogator's mental entity ability involves lie detection and emotion sensing. According to his mental entity, this person is friendly and gentle, speaking truthfully and reliably, and being around him feels 'as comfortable as being in a father's embrace.'"

Landis: "..."

The blonde general fell silent for a moment, then, frowning, said, "Instruct the interrogator to avoid such exaggerated descriptions in future reports."

Caro smiled. "Yes, Commander."

"Caro, what do you think of this person?"

The chief of staff put away his notes and said, "Our medics and interrogators are not lying, so we cannot trust the star pirate captive's words. He might be making things up to absolve himself, or he could be mentally unstable after being captured."

Landis' slender fingers lightly rapped the table, his gaze cold and unyielding. "Even if he is not associated with Broken Peak, this man named Xiao Sa remains highly suspicious."

On the surveillance footage, Xiao Sa had already entered the bathroom to clean up. Caro withdrew his gaze and asked, "What do you plan to do, Commander?"

Landis slowly stood up and said indifferently, "I'll go see for myself."

※※※

Inside the isolation room's bathroom, Xiao Sa took off his dirty clothes, avoiding the bandaged wounds. He washed his face and hair, finally freeing himself from the coal miner refugee look.

When he emerged in a white hospital gown, several strangers in the uniforms of the Dawn Empire were already waiting outside. They had been talking, but fell silent when the door opened.

When Xiao Sa had been brought aboard the super battleship, he had been covered in blood and filth. But now, cleaned up, he looked like a different person altogether.

The simple white shirt fit his well-defined frame, giving him a tall and athletic appearance. His neatly cut bangs framed a strikingly handsome face—deep features, sharp brows, and star-like eyes. At first glance, he seemed almost too perfect, like a meticulously crafted model from a popular holographic game.

Even Landis, who was usually indifferent to beautiful men and women, couldn't help but take another look.

Vice officer Caro and the soldiers beside him were momentarily speechless. Is there a race with such striking features in some unknown corner of the galaxy?

Xiao Sa did not seem surprised by the strangers in the room. He politely nodded at them before returning to the bed.

His skin appeared pale under the lights, with faint blue veins visible on the back of his hand. The bandages added to his appearance of fragility.

He looked at the golden-haired officer in the center and asked, "Are you the captain of this warship, sir?"

The sentence, translated by the machine, was mostly comprehensible.

Landis scrutinized him with a penetrating gaze. "Yes."

Xiao Sa smiled and nodded slightly. "I appreciate your rescue, sir. Otherwise, I would still be locked in a cage, awaiting death."

Although the guard acting as the interrogator only identified the words "thank" and "cage," he immediately revealed a sympathetic expression. Not daring to steal a glance at General Landis, he repeatedly signaled the deputy Caro with his eyes—

How could this gentle and courteous, sickly handsome man possibly be a ruthless star pirate? He must be a pitiful kidnapped victim!

However, Admiral Landis didn't think so. At his feet lay a completely black lion, its fur sleek and glossy, its thick mane majestic and imposing.

This S-class mental projection named "Black Flame" was not something the other guards dared to approach, except for its owner Landis and his trusted deputy Caro.

Unlike the interrogator's long-tailed cat, Black Flame's coldness and ferocity seemed inherent. Like its owner, it watched Xiao Sa warily, its sharp claws and cold, emotionless eyes ready to pounce.

Xiao Sa wasn't the least bit intimidated. Instead, he looked at the black lion with a bit of envy. It would be wonderful to have such an impressive battle pet.

"Broken Peak is an A-class imperial military criminal," Landis said, his voice low and cold as he stared into Xiao Sa's eyes. "You claim you were captured by the star pirates. Why did they capture you? Why didn't they just kill you instead?"

"What value do you still possess? What is your true purpose in sneaking onto this warship under the guise of a victim?"

Landis didn't give Xiao Sa any time to come up with an excuse, relentlessly questioning him. Even the guards behind him could sense the invisible pressure and didn't dare to breathe heavily.

"In front of me, you'd better not lie." His sharp gaze was fixed intently on Xiao Sa, searching for any sign of a flaw on his face.

Yet, as Xiao Sa watched his mouth open and close for half a minute, he didn't flinch.

In the awkward silence, Xiao Sa tapped his translator, which finally emitted an error sound: Beep—Object not found, please speak human.

Xiao Sa: "..." Is this translator messing with me?

He subtly observed the expression of the golden-haired officer. The man was expressionless, sitting upright with perfect posture, every hair meticulously slicked back with gel.

While not particularly friendly, the officer refrained from using violence against him. He seemed to belong to a disciplined official military force with undisputed strength. The earlier questioning was likely focused on his identity and purpose.

Xiao Sa thought for a moment, then put on a sincere expression. "Respected Captain, my gemstone necklace might have been taken by the pirates. If you find it on that ship, please return it to me, sir."

Fearing the translator might fail again, Xiao Sa held out a hand toward Admiral Landis, emphasizing the key words. "Please, sir, return the necklace."

The translator indeed ignored the earlier lengthy sentence and precisely captured the last part. The AI voice's machine translation was emphatic: "Please, sir, be my lover!"

"..."

For a moment, the entire room was engulfed in stunned silence. Even the usually inscrutable General Landis looked visibly taken aback.

The black lion at his feet suddenly lifted its large, furry head, its round eyes wide open, bluntly conveying its master's bewilderment. The formidable aura instantly dissipated, making it look rather ridiculous.

Everyone sucked in a sharp breath. Vice Officer Caro gaped, staring at Xiao Sa, afraid to meet their superior's gaze.

"Heavens," Vice Officer Caro thought. Their commander was notoriously strong-willed, cold-hearted, and ruthless in the imperial military, having earned his thirty years of bachelorhood through sheer force of will. Yet this man dared to declare his love publicly upon first meeting General Landis?!

What incredible courage and audacity!

The atmosphere became awkward. Xiao Sa raised an eyebrow in confusion. Did he say something wrong?

Landis's face quickly reverted to its usual impassive expression. He rose slowly, his military boots thudding heavily on the floor as he took deliberate steps toward Xiao Sa. The brim of his cap cast a cold, stern shadow over his face.

His S-rank spirit beast, Black Flame, followed closely, its eyes glinting menacingly.

Xiao Sa sat on the edge of the bed, looking up at the tall, handsome general before him.

The man was well-built, with long, straight legs. His black and gold military uniform was perfectly pressed, without a single wrinkle. The military buttons were fastened tightly to the top, outlining a solid, muscular chest covered in numerous medals.

He looked down at Xiao Sa, his icy blue eyes tinged with anger. Light poured from above, casting a shadow that loomed over Xiao Sa, filled with oppressive force.

"Are you playing with me?"

Xiao Sa: '...?'