His Match Is an Interstellar Monster

Chapter 16: Landis's Dilemma

Xiao Sa whispered softly, but with keen hearing, Landis still heard him.

Landis gazed at him intently, his eyes gradually warming with a gentle glow.

Could he actually like it?

The scar dated back several years, when he nearly had his heart ripped out by that King-class alien. The fact that the scar was still so deep after all these years was a testament to the dangers of the battlefield.

The Third Legion led by Landis had the highest casualty and contamination rates in the imperial military, and they also had the lowest success rate in mind-marriage matching, overseen by Haino.

The warriors had an average lifespan of less than forty years. They either never found a partner or their spouses were indirectly affected by the contamination, making them less desirable in the marriage market, a common occurrence.

A soldier’s scar is both a symbol of honor and a sign of danger and misfortune.

It was the first time Landis had heard someone say they liked his scars.

Caro had advised him to show his strengths to the other party, and he also didn’t want to hide the risks of the marriage from him.

Unexpectedly, not only did Xiao Sa not mind, but he also understood Landis.

Landis felt a rare sense of relief and surprise.

"So, what do you think about my proposal?" Landis sat upright, his eyes fixed intently on the other.

Still single at the age of thirty, this was the first time he had proposed to anyone, and the other person was a much younger man.

Landis’s fingers fidgeted lightly on his knee. Even someone as composed as he was couldn’t help but feel a bit nervous at this moment.

Xiao Sa suddenly snapped back to reality. His mental energy was still strong, but he felt a slight headache, as if his brain had been overworked.

This is quite troublesome...

Xiao Sa looked at the man across from him. Landis, as always, remained dignified and waited silently for his answer.

He was genuinely proposing to him.

Having been single for twenty-four years, this was the first time Xiao Sa had been proposed to. He had no experience to draw from and really didn’t know how to respond.

Ah, it seems that this General has really fallen in love at first sight with me, but this is too sudden.

But we are ultimately of different races, and there could be reproductive barriers.

Xiao Sa rubbed his nose, originally intending to refuse directly, but looking into the other man's eyes, it was hard to say hurtful words face-to-face, so he tactfully said, "This is too sudden. I need a few days to think about it, and right now, I don't have any thoughts of getting married."

Landis was silent for a moment, then nodded, "I understand. I was too quick. You don't need to feel burdened, and there's no need to rush to refuse. I will prove my sincerity."

Sincerity?

Xiao Sa's eyes couldn't help but glance downward slightly.

No, no, no, he had already clearly felt it.

Landis seemed to want to say something more, but suddenly paused, looking down at his vibrating terminal, and apologetically said to Xiao Sa, "Sorry, there's something at the military headquarters. I need to leave now."

He put on his military jacket again, buttoning it up one by one, and adjusted his military cap back on his head, "I'll contact you in a few days."

Without waiting for a response, he strode out quickly.

Xiao Sa was stunned. Was that it?

When he came out of the virtual pod, he stretched lazily, lay down on the bed. His body was exhausted from not sleeping for a day and a night, but his brain was still in an excited state.

Strangely enough, even though he had only sat in the café for less than two hours, he felt more drained than after battling mecha in the Ascension Arena.

"Xiao Sa, how was the 100% match?"

Haino's projection appeared beside the bed, arms crossed, raising an eyebrow in a very human-like manner, wearing a teasing smile.

Xiao Sa glanced at him, clicking his tongue, "I didn't summon you, and yet you showed up. Can't you even act like it?"

Haino shrugged, his deep voice sighed, "You don't know how long it's been since I've spoken to a living person."

Xiao Sa sat up, curled one leg, casually resting his elbow on his knee, narrowing his eyes as he examined him, "Actually, you were fibbing about not being able to change your appearance, weren't you?"

Haino's eyes flickered.

Xiao Sa rubbed his chin, sticking to his preference, "I still prefer the panda. Could you become a panda again?"

Haino: "..."

The old man sighed dramatically, and under Xiao Sa's expectant gaze, his projected image changed, just as expected.

Black, furry, chubby hands and short legs, a round, fluffy white belly, and—an uncle’s head with half-long black hair and stubble.

Xiao Sa: "..."

What is this?

Haino looked at him pitifully, "You humans have your own unique bodies, but all I have is a cold, hard core. But I want to be human too."

Xiao Sa was speechless. It turned out that Haino not only had self-awareness but also a very strong one.

He could no longer see Haino as just a mechanical AI, "Forget it, just change back."

"Sure thing." Haino straightened his clothes and steered the conversation back, "Why didn't you accept General Landis's proposal? A perfect match, one in a hundred million, isn’t that amazing?"

Xiao Sa was silent for a moment.

Although they were not of the same race, he might have already marked him. Besides, Landis was an imperial admiral. If he agreed now, he might be able to enter the imperial palace in the future.

After much thought, Xiao Sa ultimately shook his head, "I don’t love General Landis. If I married him just to use his status, that would be too despicable. It doesn’t align with my principles."

Haino’s black eyes flickered with a stream of data, "According to the analysis data, General Landis is the only unmarried S-rank over thirty."

"Based on typical military casualty and contamination patterns, if he doesn’t marry within the next three months or receive advanced healing treatment from a spiritual healer, the risk of contamination and mutation will be 78%."

"The highest rank in the Royal Spiritual Healers’ Association is 3A. The risk of treating mental contamination for an S-rank is 89%."

Xiao Sa slowly furrowed his brows, "Are you saying he might end up like Broken Peak, with his legs becoming beast-like?"

Haino shook his head, "Not just his legs. In the final stages of contamination, the entire person will be consumed by the mental entity, reduced to a beast that only knows killing."

Xiao Sa looked at him in surprise, it’s that serious!

Why didn't Landis explain this to him just now? Was it because he didn't want to gain sympathy using his situation?

From what little Xiao Sa knew about Landis, it was quite possible.

He sat cross-legged on the bed, falling into deep thought.

※※※

Meanwhile, after Landis logged off, he convened a military video conference in the study while instructing several personal secretaries to organize the assets in his name.

After the meeting ended, Caro brought in two large boxes of contracts.

"Commander, I didn’t get to ask you earlier, how did the matchmaking session go?"

Landis finished signing the last document, put down his pen, and told him about the entire encounter with Xiao Sa during the matchmaking: "Do you think he’ll agree?"

Caro listened to the whole story and almost choked on his drink.

His boss had certainly done something bizarre again. However, the good news was that the person from the matchmaking, Xiao Sa, had just as unusual a way of thinking.

He didn’t outright reject and walk out—truly someone who had respectfully accepted even the Commander’s mental energy utilization notes.

Looking worried, Caro said, "I’ve already applied for a royal healer for you, given your condition. But when they learned it was an S-rank, none of them agreed."

Landis wasn’t surprised at all: "I see."

Noticing that Landis didn’t seem to care, Caro wanted to try to persuade him further, but his optical brain, which looked like glasses, suddenly received a message.

Startled and delighted, Caro said, "Commander, the man you’ve been looking for, Xiao Sa, has been found!"