I Married A Degraded Alpha
Chapter 210: The End

Chapter 210: The End

The day after Yuri’s family returned to Planet Alpha, both the their families came by for a visit. As Yuri and Tuss climbed the ranks in the military, the two families’ attitudes towards them shifted drastically. Initially, they were dismissive and contemptuous, then begrudging and displeased, but now they were respectful and even reverent.

The Cheng and Hiro families brought a plethora of expensive gifts for the eight children, evidently spending a significant amount of astracredits.

Yuri and Tuss didn’t decline the gifts. Over the years, both the Hiro and Cheng families had made much more money thanks to Yuri and Tuss. Thankfully, both families ran legitimate businesses, otherwise, Yuri and Tuss would’ve had to deal with them before the Alliance needed to intervene.

The two fathers breathed a sigh of relief when Yuri and Tuss accepted the presents. The two families didn’t even stay for a meal, leaving right after delivering the gifts.

Throughout the visit, they were both loving yet fearful when interacting with Yunki and the other children. They didn’t dare hug any of them before leaving the mansion.

After seeing off the Hiro and Cheng families, Yuri and Tuss took their kids and headed off to visit Officer Lyao.

"I’ve shortlisted a few elementary schools and kindergartens. You can check them out when you have time," Officer Lyao handed a list to Yuri.

Yuri took the list, thanking him, "You’re too kind."

"My godchildren, of course, I’m concerned," Officer Lyao stated matter-of-factly.

Yuri was no longer surprised by this. "In that case, why don’t you spend the day with them? Tuss and I will go check out the schools."

Tuss raised an eyebrow, not giving Officer Lyao a chance to refuse. He reminded Yunki, "Take good care of your little brothers and sisters, no mischief."

"And listen to your godfather," Yuri added.

"Yes, mom and dad," the children chorused.

Officer Lyao looked at the adorable kids, then at their carefree parents, and dismissed them with a wave, "Go on, I’ll keep them here for dinner, you can come back after sunset."

Yunki was starting elementary school, while the younger kids were going to kindergarten, the schools were less than a hundred meters apart. Tuss was responsible for pick-ups and drop-offs, while Yuri buried herself in the mecha workshop every day, occasionally attending mecha master meet-ups, and exchanging manufacturing experiences with others.

Life was calm and fulfilling.

However, barely a month into the new school year, Yuri’s peaceful life was disrupted.

Looking at the haggard face of Kinx on the screen, Yuri asked in surprise, "What happened?"

As far as she knew, Kinx was currently ruling the Empire, a time of supposed triumph.

Kinx’s eyes filled with resentment as he explained, "Your 4581 legion patrolled and killed countless insectoids on the border of the Alliance. Those insectoids who weren’t killed were scared off by you all, but now, they’ve all run over to our Empire. It wouldn’t be as bad if they were all low-level insectoids, but no, we’ve got all sorts. A month ago we had a batch of level-seven insectoids, and now, we have nine level-eight ones. Yuri, I’m the only SSS-tier alpha in the Empire right now."

As Kinx spoke his last sentence, his voice was filled with a sense of helplessness.

After hearing this, Yuri’s expression was complex. She hadn’t anticipated that their patrol had caused such an effect.

"So, why are you reaching out to me now?" Yuri asked straightforwardly.

"I need you and Tuss to help us kill the insectoids," Kinx stared at Yuri intently.

"One billion astracredits for each level-seven insectoid, ten billion for a level-eight," Yuri stated without hesitation.

"Deal," Kinx immediately agreed, afraid that Yuri might back out. He transferred ten billion astracredits to her as a down payment, saying, "This is a deposit."

Yuri felt a twinge of regret. Did I set the price too low?

It seemed Kinx knew what she was thinking, and quickly added, "You can’t go back on your word. As a commander of an army corps, you should honor your promise. And besides, I’ve already paid the deposit."

When Yuri relayed this to Officer Lyao, he didn’t object, simply stating, "You two should go alone, as private individuals."

That was Yuri’s plan too. "We’ll leave the kids in your care."

"I’ve already prepared rooms for them at my place. Their clothes and other essentials are all taken care of. You can leave without worry," Officer Lyao reassured. Since learning they were returning to Planet Alpha, he’d had everything prepared well in advance.

A warm feeling swept over Yuri. "If they misbehave, don’t hesitate to scold or even punish them."

Officer Lyao rolled his eyes at her, "I’ve dared to scold you two, you think I’ll hesitate with them?"

Yuri shook her head, "No, but I’m afraid you might spoil them."

Officer Lyao: "...I won’t."

His tone wasn’t entirely convincing.

News of Yuri and Tuss heading to the Empire’s battlefield was no secret. On the contrary, fearing they might back out, Kinx went out of his way to publicize it. As a result, not only did the Empire’s citizens know, but the citizens of the Alliance also found out.

Opinions among the Empire’s populace varied. Some were cynical, believing that it was Yuri who had killed all of the Empire’s SSS-tier alphas, leaving them unable to deal with the insectoids themselves. Others felt that life had become better, more democratic and equal, after the fall of the royal family. They paid nearly half as much in taxes as they had when the royal family was still in power. Free from the burden of supporting the excessively extravagant royals, they felt a weight lifted from their chest. These people were grateful to Yuri for overthrowing the monarchy. When they heard that Yuri and Tuss were headed to the battlefield, their gratitude only deepened.

A billion for a level-seven insectoid and ten billion for a level-eight were practically a steal.

Yuri and Tuss’s journey to the Empire’s battlefield drew massive attention, with countless people glued to their screens. And the pair did not disappoint. On the second day of their arrival, they annihilated all the level-eight insectoids. They began mopping up the level-seven insectoids on the third day, level-six on the fourth, and by the fifth day, Yuri ran out of patience. Using her psychic power, she crushed waves of the lower-level insectoids. Within a few hours, hundreds of thousands of mid to low-level insectoids were wiped out, none spared.

With this, the conflict was brought to an end.

People watching them hadn’t even caught their breath when the live broadcast from the battlefield came to a close.

"I hope we’re not too late." The woman hurried towards the school gates.

"Don’t rush, we still have time," the man said as he packed away his mecha.

"Please register your information," the gatekeeper said to them.

Yuri waved her hand dismissively, "No need, I’ll just scan my opticomputer."

Before the gatekeeper could respond, a soft chime sounded, and a gentle, electronic voice said, "Welcome back to your alma mater, Yuri Hiro."

The gatekeeper was stunned at the mention of the name Yuri. Another chime sounded, "Welcome back to your alma mater, Tuss Hiro."

Even after Yuri and Tuss had walked away, the gatekeeper muttered, "Have those two been preserved in formaldehyde or something? They look even younger than the current students."

When Yuri and Tuss arrived at the auditorium, the graduation ceremony had already begun, and their handsome son was giving a speech on stage.

Yunki instantly spotted the two figures at the door, so striking, so familiar.

He paused, sped up his speech, finishing in two minutes what should have taken ten. He handed off the microphone to the student next to him and, in the next second, leapt off the stage. Like a blur, he rushed towards the door.

Gasps echoed through the room, the students confused about what was happening. As everyone turned to look, they saw the notoriously aloof Yunki fling himself into the arms of a young woman.

"Who is that girl?"

"She’s so beautiful."

"Her skin is so smooth, and she looks quite young, is she a junior?"

"Yunki has a girlfriend now, my heart is broken, waaa..."

"Don’t you guys think the girl looks familiar?"

"You think every pretty girl looks familiar."

"No, I’m serious this time, she does look familiar."

Before the student could recall where he’d seen that face before, they heard eight synchronized voices.

"Mom. Dad."

Then eight figures rushed towards the door.

The people in the hall were taken aback as if they’d witnessed something incredible.

"The eight are Yunki’s siblings, then their mom and dad are—"

"Damn, I knew she looked familiar, that’s Yuri."

"My God, why does she look the same as she did twenty years ago?"

"And it’s not just her, Tuss hasn’t changed at all either."

"...."

In order for the graduation ceremony to proceed smoothly, Yuri and Tuss left the auditorium with their nine children.

"Mom, Dad, are you staying for good this time?"

"We’re staying for now. We haven’t seen you in five years, your mother and I want to spend some time with you," they assured.

"Only for a while?" Yunki sounded dissatisfied.

"Yes. Once your siblings graduate, we will leave Planet Alpha together."

"Are you going on another patrol?"

"No, this time, we’re going to explore the Insectoid Domain."