I Married A Degraded Alpha
Chapter 142: [Bonus - ] Favoritism?

Chapter 142: [Bonus Chapter] Favoritism?

The online world was buzzing over the starstone affair. The matter of whether or not to trade Yuri for the starstone had people divided and arguing fiercely.

When the Empire announced they were willing to trade three SS-tier betas with the Space-sparkle pirates for the starstone, the citizens of the Alliance blew up once more.

"Dang, the Empire doesn’t value people at all, treating SS-tier betas like animals, trading them off just like that."

"Who knows, maybe they’re willing. Sacrifice one for the happiness of millions."

"That sounds so noble, why don’t you go?"

"Because I’m not an SSS-tier beta. They wouldn’t want me."

"Geez, what good are three SS-tier betas? Can three SS-tier betas sort out the Sea of Consciousness for fifteen hundred alphas on the brink of collapse in a single night?"

"No, they can’t. In fact, they can’t even handle one."

"What if it were three S-tier betas?"

"All this talk, you guys just want to trade Yuri away, right? Why should Yuri have to go? What does she owe you? She brought back a starstone and saved thousands of lives, achieving great merits. Even now, she’s saving fifteen hundred lives every night. You all want to trade her away so casually, wouldn’t that hurt you as a person?"

"Sacrifice one for the benefit of millions, isn’t that what she loves doing – saving people? Why not continue?"

"Benefit millions? More like benefit your family! I bet you have an SS-tier beta at home and you’re desperate for a starstone, so you can’t wait for the Alliance to trade Yuri."

"I bet that’s it too, why else would they be in such a hurry?"

"...."

The arguing on Interstellarnet went on and on.

"Track down those users who are suggesting to trade Yuri. See who’s behind them." Tuss’s eyes were filled with a brewing murderous intent.

"We can guess without looking. It’s probably those families who recently had children awaken as betas, especially the ones who became S-tier and SS-tier betas," Daleks said.

"It’s not just them," Ender shook his head, "Yuri’s become too prominent lately, there are plenty who want to pull her down."

"Then let’s track them down, let the evidence speak for itself," Kilana said.

"If I find out who’s behind this, well, just wait and see." Tyrone scoffed coldly.

"Yuri hasn’t logged onto Interstellarnet, right? If she sees those comments, she’d be heartbroken," Hoolin worried.

"She’s too busy." Tuss replied. Even if she sees it, she won’t care.

Tuss never asked, but he knew that Yuri only cares about a clear conscience, not people’s gratitude. She doesn’t care to establish emotional connections with others. So things like disappointment, sadness, and grief, she really wouldn’t feel.

While the online arguments raged on, the oblivious Yuri went about her daily routine.

Updates about the starstone affair kept coming online.

Half a month later, news came from the Empire. They traded three SS-tier betas for the starstone. The starstone now belonged to the Empire.

At first, people didn’t believe it, thinking the Empire was lying.

But on the day after the news came out, the Empire recalled Theodore, Herbert, and Jira, who were at Military Academy No. 1. Jira was the most gifted SS-tier beta in the Empire, and she had the highest probability of becoming an SSS-tier beta using the starstone.

The Empire recalling her at this time was undeniably for her to use the starstone.

At this point, the people of the Alliance finally accepted the truth: The Empire really did trade three SS-tier betas for the starstone.

The starstone really did belong to the Empire.

This sparked yet another heated debate among the Alliance citizens.

"Yuri, what are the chances of Jira reaching SSS-tier after using the starstone?" Daleks asked curiously.

Yuri thought for three seconds and replied, "A beta can only upgrade their level once using the starstone. Jira has probably used the starstone before. The last time she wasn’t successful, this time, her chances of success should be over ninety percent. After all, she’s not lacking in talent."

"That’s bad news." Hoolin’s face fell.

"I can’t stand it. That Jira is so awful." Daleks ground his teeth.

Tuss and Yuri exchanged a glance, both still calm.

"You guys aren’t worried at all?" Ender asked, surprised.

"Worrying won’t change anything," Tuss replied casually, "Even if she becomes an SSS-tier beta, she is no match for Yuri."

Ender looked at Yuri and Tuss seriously, "I feel like you’re hiding something from us."

"Is it possible that I’m a 4S, not an SSS-tier?" Yuri tentatively asked.

Her words silenced the room, everyone staring wide-eyed at her.

"Is... is that true?" Daleks asked excitedly, reaching out to grab Yuri’s hand before being stopped by Tuss’s death glare. He redirected his hand towards Kilana instead.

Everyone else stared at Yuri, forgetting even to breathe.

"According to Professor Gawk, in terms of energy level, I do exceed the SSS-tier range," Yuri explained.

Daleks and the others gasped in shock, unable to speak for a while.

After a long pause, they finally exhaled a sigh of relief.

"Well, who cares about a mere SSS-tier?"

The stir on Interstellarnet was still brewing. Although most people sided with Yuri, there was a small group that either didn’t get the starstone or were upset that Yuri had taken a piece of their pie. They took to the internet to hurl insults at Yuri, even dragging up her illegitimate birth.

As if the chaos on Interstellarnet wasn’t enough, one day when Yuri finished sorting the Sea of Consciousness, someone stood up and asked her, "It’s a hard job, and you can only sort out fifteen hundred alphas every day. Why don’t you go and trade yourself for the starstone with the pirates? If you volunteered, the Alliance could get many more SSS-tier betas and save more people. Why won’t you go?"

Yuri frowned.

Before she could answer, the soldier covered the man’s mouth and dragged him away.

That night, someone posted about it online.

Another argument broke out among people.

Meanwhile, Officer Lyao, who was in the Chaotic Galaxy, recorded a video. In it, Officer Lyao was stern, his sharp eyes seeming to pierce through the screen, attempting to clean the filth on the other side.

"The Alliance won’t trade any beta for the starstone, not even the lowest-level one."

"The Alliance will protect the life, freedom, and safety of each citizen. To those netizens who incessantly talk about trading people for starstone, maybe you should join the Empire instead."

"Additionally, the Alliance has also obtained a starstone this time. Any beta who uses the starstone, regardless of whether their level increases or not, will have to serve the Alliance for fifteen years, free of charge."

"Lastly, I solemnly declare, not to mention just one starstone, even ten SSS-tier betas are not as valuable as one Yuri."

After watching the video, people were stunned for a while.

"So, the Alliance has a starstone now?"

"Hell, ten SSS-tiers are not as valuable as one Yuri? Is Yuri Officer Lyao’s daughter or... HIS MOM?"

"Exactly my thoughts. Officer Lyao’s favoritism towards Yuri is just too blatant."

"Why doesn’t the First Commander do anything about this?"

"Not only did the First Commander do nothing, but the Second and the Third Commander also didn’t intervene. That’s strange."

"On second thoughts, could Yuri have another identity?"

"What other identity could she have? Could she be the First Commander?"

"Hahaha, you must be joking. Not even the First Commander would dare to say that they’re more important than ten SSS-tier betas."

"In any case, it’s clear there’s favoritism."

"....."