Chapter 29: Chapter 29: Durant Begs to Become a Male Servant

"This..."

Shen Zueran’s matter-of-fact attitude stunned Yu Lan.

’Maybe it’s really not a big deal. I’m just overthinking it.’

While she was hesitating, Shen Zueran’s voice rang out:

"Of course, if you’re not willing, then we can forget about it."

"However, X11 is one of the core materials. It’s expensive and rare. Even an Advanced engineer has to submit a formal request and get it approved."

"And then there are the various materials from the R, H, and G series."

As Shen Zueran listed off the materials, Yu Lan grew more and more flustered.

These were precisely the materials she needed for her experiment. If she had to fill out a long series of request forms, there was no telling when her research would ever bear fruit. She hurriedly blurted out.

"I’m willing! I’m willing!"

"Director, I’m willing."

"I’ll conduct my data research in this lab from now on. Thank you, Director."

Yu Lan looked at Shen Zueran with utmost sincerity. Her amber eyes were bright and clear, more beautiful than the most expensive gem in an auction house.

Shen Zueran nodded slightly and hummed in agreement.

And just like that, it was settled that she would conduct her research in Shen Zueran’s lab.

「A few days later」

The experiment soon reached its most critical phase.

Seeing Durant sitting across from her, a trace of nervousness flashed across Yu Lan’s face. This was the first time she would personally test her research potion on a male beast.

The deep blue liquid glinted coldly in its glass container. Yu Lan pursed her lips, her expression hesitant.

The pretty little female’s expression was far too easy to read.

Durant, who had been a little nervous himself, couldn’t help but chuckle softly at the sight.

"It’s alright, Lanlan. This is why we exist—to find a way for males to be free from the torment of mating season. So we won’t have our spiritual power collapse and die just because we don’t have a female to soothe us."

"Like you said, even if we die, it should be for a worthy cause. I’m testing this for the freedom of all males in the Empire. I’m not afraid."

Durant’s words helped Yu Lan relax a little.

During this time, the severity of Durant’s spiritual power collapse had risen again.

It had gone up from 90% to 91%.

Even though it was only a 1% increase, within the spiritual sea invisible to the naked eye, the intense pain felt as if it had doubled.

But for some reason, Durant always felt that when he was near Yu Lan, the searing pain in his mind would ease for a moment.

’Perhaps this is the charm of a High-Level female.’

If Durant knew that Yu Lan was the infamous "waste" female, recently found and returned after having been lost, the one who had lost her Healing Power, he would probably be shocked speechless.

Yu Lan injected the deep blue liquid into Durant’s body, but the more urgent part came after.

Yu Lan was responsible for monitoring Durant’s condition at all times, and Durant would do his best to describe his physical sensations to her.

"How do you feel now?"

"Does it still hurt?"

"Do you feel any better?"

Yu Lan fired off one question after another.

Surprisingly, Durant gave a wonderfully unexpected reply.

"It’s okay. It doesn’t hurt as much. The pain is significantly lighter, and I feel a bit better."

Durant answered each of Yu Lan’s questions one by one.

"Really?"

Yu Lan’s eyes instantly lit up.

"Would it be alright if I took a blood sample now?"

The reports from the precision instruments wouldn’t lie.

Durant nodded, and Yu Lan hurriedly drew his blood for analysis.

「One hour later」

A huge shriek erupted from the lab.

"AHHH!!!"

"Durant, your spiritual power collapse level has dropped from 91% to 89%!"

"It dropped by a full two points!"

Two points might seem small, but this was a historic moment.

Once spiritual power collapse reaches 90%, it’s considered past the red line—incurable and irreversible.

The only thing left is to quietly await death and return to the embrace of the Beast God.

Now that Durant’s spiritual power collapse had dropped to 89%, didn’t this mean that if he could find a female to help soothe him, he would no longer be at risk of collapsing, losing his sanity, and turning into a Beastman?

Durant was completely stunned.

He hurriedly took the test report from Yu Lan’s hands.

"Is it really only 89%?"

"My spiritual power collapse is really only 89%!!!"

"Yes." Yu Lan was even happier than Durant.

She gazed ardently at the ecstatic male before her.

"According to the Mad Hero Institute’s admission requirements, as long as your spiritual power collapse level remains below 90% for the next seven days, you can apply for discharge."

This would be the first successful discharge case since the Mad Hero Institute was founded.

"Durant, our research direction is the right one."

A joyous light sparkled in Yu Lan’s eyes.

Her eyes curved into crescents, and the corners of her eyes and brows carried a faint smile, making her already outstandingly beautiful features even more stunning.

Durant was instantly captivated.

"Why?"

"Hm?" Yu Lan tilted her head, her expression puzzled.

Durant’s voice, full of confusion, filled the air.

"This is a matter concerning males, so why are you working so hard and so earnestly on it?"

One of the reasons Durant had been so cooperative with Yu Lan was that she was truly, earnestly dedicated to her research. Her words in the hallway of the Mad Hero Institute that day hadn’t just been empty talk.

Yu Lan blinked, looking confused.

"Does that need a reason?"

Then, she broke into a smile.

"I just feel that males shouldn’t have to face such a fate."

"Males are also a part of the Empire. You sacrifice so much to protect the Empire’s safety. You should be its heroes, not treated the way you are now."

"My own meager strength might not be able to change the current situation of one female to many males."

"But I think it would be better if males were given the freedom to choose."

"In my hometown, there’s a saying: ’Give me liberty, or give me death.’"

Durant couldn’t describe the shock that this moment left him with.

He thought in a daze, ’That smile on Yu Lan’s face... I’ll probably remember it for the rest of my life.’

"I wonder who will be lucky enough to become your male."

"Could I have the honor of becoming one of your Male Servants? Even if I could only gaze upon your splendor from afar each day."

Durant pleaded with extreme earnestness.

As he spoke, the handsome, mature man knelt on one knee before Yu Lan, bowing his head slightly in a gesture of submission.

If Yu Lan wished it, Lieutenant Durant of the First Legion would become one of her Male Servants.

A pearl covered in dust is still a pearl.

Even though she was currently unknown, she still unknowingly radiated a dazzling light, attracting the gazes of males from all around.

Durant shouldn’t have been so impulsive, but he simply couldn’t restrain himself. Even knowing he was unworthy, he still knelt before Yu Lan and asked, hoping the gentle, beautiful female would take pity on him.

"May I have the honor of addressing you as Female Master?"