Chapter 10
Prison Star was discovered by the Star Alliance’s exploration teams in the year 1220 of the Star Alliance Calendar, over 110 years ago.
At the time, it wasn’t designated as a prison planet but was simply classified as an ordinary planet and named “Terra Star.”
When it was first discovered, Terra Star didn’t have the dangerous and ominous red mist that now cloaked its surface. However, it was barren and desolate, with infertile soil. After conducting numerous tests, the exploration teams categorized it as an uninhabitable, non-resource planet.
In 1236, under proposals from member nations, the Star Alliance initiated the <Prison Star Project>, and Terra Star was shortlisted for evaluation. It ultimately stood out among several candidate planets, narrowly escaping being designated a waste disposal site.
Over the following seventy years, the Star Alliance built over thirty bases on the Prison Star, housing interstellar criminals from its various member nations. The inmate population eventually exceeded tens of thousands.
Throughout those decades, the Alliance’s research institutions made continuous efforts to modify Terra Star’s environment, hoping to establish agricultural bases to reduce food transport costs.
Unfortunately, despite the scientists’ tireless work, their progress was minimal.
Apart from significant advancements in soilless cultivation techniques, all attempts to improve the soil proved futile.
“Why?”
Su Ci, impatient with typing, sent a voice communication request instead.
Gu Qingchen hesitated momentarily before accepting the call and began explaining.
“The soil on Prison Star contains an unidentified blood-red component referred to as ‘pollutants.’ These pollutants make the soil unsuitable for planting and can even contaminate and assimilate regular soil brought from other planets.”
Having taken an interest in the subject, Gu Qingchen had done his research. Su Ci had indeed found the right person to ask.
“Scientists also experimented with greenhouse cultivation,” Gu Qingchen continued. “They tried isolating regular soil indoors to prevent contact with the red soil. Although the crops grew much slower than on other planets and were more prone to diseases, the results were at least somewhat promising.”
Prison Star housed over ten thousand interstellar criminals, all of whom were exceedingly dangerous and highly skilled individuals. A few were so powerful they could take on armies single-handedly.
Although their abilities were suppressed upon incarceration, the Star Alliance remained vigilant and stationed a significant military presence on the planet to maintain order.
This heavy military presence created substantial logistical challenges, especially concerning food. While nutrient solutions could provide essential nutrition and energy, they weren’t a viable long-term solution. Relying solely on these would lead to dental and digestive system degradation, eventually causing other health problems.
For soldiers undergoing daily intense training, poor meals were not an option. At one point, greenhouse-grown food had alleviated this issue, providing a critical supplement to their diets.
However, the relief was short-lived. Around 20 years ago, in Star Alliance Year 1307, mysterious red mist began to appear on Prison Star, eventually enveloping the entire planet.
“The red mist also contains pollutants,” Gu Qingchen explained during the call. “Scientists suspect that the mist is released from the soil itself. Once it appeared, greenhouse cultivation also failed.”
Su Ci nodded, understanding the implications.
Sure enough, Gu Qingchen continued, “It might seem like there’s no red mist around us, but the air we breathe constantly contains fine blood-red particles. Their concentration is low, which is why they’re invisible to the naked eye.”
Once the soil was contaminated by these particles, it underwent rapid degeneration, becoming incapable of producing crops.
Worse still, these particles were harmful to humans as well, though countermeasures had been developed over time.
Gu Qingchen sighed. “Even soilless cultivation techniques had to be painstakingly refined by top researchers over several years before they could reliably grow vegetables.”
These methods were limited to short-cycle crops that could be harvested quickly. As for planting flowers or grass? Without access to specialized soilless cultivation equipment and techniques, it was entirely out of the question.
Hearing Gu Qingchen’s tactful discouragement, Su Ci didn’t argue. Instead, he nodded. “Understood. Thank you, Dr. Gu, for the explanation.”
Gu Qingchen, thinking Su Ci had given up, was about to offer some words of comfort when Su Ci spoke again.
“Could you tell me where to get fertilizer?”
Gu Qingchen froze. Fertilizer? After all that, was he still planning to plant something? Hadn’t he listened?
“You still want to grow flowers?” Gu Qingchen took a deep breath. Did this new caretaker not grasp the situation?
“You don’t have the equipment for soilless cultivation. Even if you have fertilizer, anything you plant in your dormitory is bound to fail,” he said, more bluntly this time.
But the caretaker, whose voice remained warm and courteous, was unyielding. “How would I know if I don’t try?”
He already knew it wouldn’t work because he’d tried! Gu Qingchen thought, frustrated.
Pushing up his glasses, he said coldly, “Fine, then. You can trade for fertilizer using points at the logistics department. But don’t say I didn’t warn you—it’s expensive, and you might not have enough points.”
Su Ci recalled Shi Yijiang mentioning points earlier and asked Gu Qingchen what they were.
Gu Qingchen explained casually.
In simple terms, points were the hard currency of Prison Star.
While staff on Prison Star received monthly wages and benefits according to their contracts, they were also allocated a set number of points based on their rank and position.
Points could be used to trade for materials at the logistics department, access services and equipment open to base members, and generally make life on the base more convenient.
That said, basic necessities were still provided without the need for points. However, living without points meant scraping by at a bare minimum.
“You’re a trainee caretaker, so you get 100 points a month. Once you’re officially employed, it’ll likely increase a bit,” Gu Qingchen said earnestly. “Points are incredibly valuable on the base, so use them wisely.”
Although the administration didn’t officially allow the exchange of points for universal currency, it didn’t prohibit private transactions between base members.
The going rate was 1 point = 100 universal credits. Market fluctuations occasionally caused minor variations, but it rarely dipped below this value. Effectively, on top of their trainee salary, workers could earn an additional 10,000 credits monthly.
This level of income was considered high even across the interstellar territories.
Su Ci mentally filed away the information and thanked Gu Qingchen before ending the voice call.
He glanced at the can filled with soil on the coffee table. With him in this dormitory, the red mist would remain outside the barrier, so he wasn’t concerned about the soil being corrupted or losing its vitality.
With that thought, he poured a little water into the can, then stretched lazily. Leaving the light brain beside the can, he rose and walked slowly back to the bedroom.
Though many issues still needed solving, there was no point in rushing. His weakened body also required sleep to replenish his depleted spiritual energy.
Work-life balance—Su Ci understood the importance of that principle well.
At the bedside, he removed the communicator from his wrist and placed it on the nightstand. Pulling back the covers, he slid into bed.
Beside him, the child was curled up in a ball, his small body tucked into the corner. His breathing was steady, showing he hadn’t been disturbed by Su Ci’s movements.
Su Ci glanced at him and reached out, pulling the boy into his arms.
Freshly bathed, the little one smelled of fragrant shampoo. Having lain in the warm bed for a while, his body was pleasantly toasty.
Aside from being too thin and slightly bony, he made a decent cuddle pillow.
The child frowned deeply in his sleep, as if plagued by a troubling dream. His malnourished, sunken face looked even more pitiful.
Su Ci considered for a moment before gently brushing the child’s bangs aside. Leaning down, he pressed his forehead to the boy’s warm skin. Where their brows touched, a faint golden glow emerged.
In the silent, dim room, the soft light resembled a fragile firefly, yet it was enough to dispel the darkness.
When the glow faded, Su Ci withdrew. The tension in the boy’s expression eased, replaced by a serene calm. Instinctively, the child snuggled closer to Su Ci, his small face rubbing gently against the young man’s chest.
Su Ci blinked. In his countless millennia of existence, it was the first time he had been this close to another living being. It felt novel, and a little unsettling.
But…
Remembering that this was a newborn spirit of the same nature as himself, Su Ci found his mood improving.
He ruffled the child’s fluffy hair, then closed his eyes.
Thud-thud-thud—
“Ahhhhhh—”
Crash! Clang! Bang!
Despite the floor and walls providing decent soundproofing, as soon as Su Ci closed his eyes, the racket from two rooms upstairs reached his ears.
On the fifth floor, two adjoining rooms were the only ones still lit, though their lack of windows kept outsiders from seeing in.
In one room, a child was standing on a bed, jumping vigorously while swinging a stick and striking the metal bedframe in rhythmic beats.
Next door, another child was lifting a table and repeatedly smashing it against the metal wall, accompanied by sharp, grating screams.
Back in Room 303, Su Ci opened his eyes, his golden irises flashing briefly.
A moment later, two muffled thuds echoed from Rooms 501 and 502.
The child smashing the table lost their grip, letting it crash to the floor as they collapsed onto the ground. Meanwhile, the child bouncing on the bed suddenly shut their eyes and fell flat on the mattress.
Shortly after, the doors to both rooms opened.
Nanny robots floated inside, inspecting the children. Once confirming no issues, the robots tidied up—tucking one child into bed and moving the other back to the mattress.
Their tasks complete, the robots left, restoring peace to the fostering center.
Satisfied, Su Ci closed his eyes again. Pulling the small child in his arms closer, he drifted off to sleep.
*
Morning
The dense red mist lingering in the sky gradually dispersed, allowing faint light to penetrate the clouds and illuminate the ground, banishing the eerie gloom of the night.
Buzz—buzz—buzz—
The communicator on the nightstand lit up and vibrated, its sound breaking the morning silence.
Awakened by the noise, Number One’s lashes fluttered as he slowly opened his eyes. His awareness returned, and the first thing he saw was Su Ci’s face, just inches away.
Surrounded by the young man’s warm presence, the child’s black-red pupils contracted sharply. Sleep fled him in an instant, leaving him fully alert.
The room was serene.
The night heater had turned off, and the early morning air carried a crisp chill. Yet Number One still felt warm, because—
He was nestled in the caretaker’s bed, his head resting on the same pillow as Su Ci’s.
The handsome, delicate young man lay beside him, half of his face buried in the soft pillow. Completely unguarded, he was curled on his side, facing the child.
One of Su Ci’s slender, pale hands lightly embraced the boy, his warm palm resting protectively against the child’s back. It radiated steady warmth, as though it were a quiet promise of safety.
The warmth enveloping Number One seemed to dull the ever-present pain that tormented him.
His small body stiffened slightly, and his gaze naturally fell on the young man’s face.
Ivory-white skin, thick, delicately curled eyelashes, a straight nose, full rosy lips… even the black hair clip adorned with a red floral design on the side of his hair was incredibly beautiful.
Number One couldn’t look away. For the first time, his mind began to form a concept of “beauty.”
He stared blankly at the caretaker’s peaceful sleeping face. Even when the communicator on the nightstand buzzed incessantly before falling silent due to the lack of response, the boy didn’t notice.
After watching for a while, curiosity got the better of him. Number One cautiously extended a small finger and gently poked the caretaker’s cheek.
The flesh was so soft that the lightest touch created a little dimple.
The smooth and tender sensation against his fingertip widened the boy’s black-red eyes. In the soft morning light, they glimmered with a hint of wonder.
He raised his other hand to touch his own cheek, feeling rough, dry skin beneath his finger. Pressing harder, all he encountered was the unyielding hardness of bone.
Buzz—buzz—buzz—
The communicator on the nightstand began vibrating again, its noise breaking the tranquil silence of the room.
The young man’s brows furrowed, and he opened his eyes, displeased.
Number One froze as the icy, pale-gold gaze met his, their breaths close enough to mingle.
His finger, still resting on Su Ci’s cheek, stiffened.
Though cocooned in warmth under the blankets, Number One felt as though he’d been plunged into the bitter cold of a snowy corridor, surrounded by blood-red mist.
He instinctively withdrew his hand, gazing at Su Ci with a hint of trepidation. However, despite the frosty aura emanating from the caretaker, he didn’t harm him.
Su Ci turned his attention to the communicator, still buzzing noisily on the nightstand. With a wave of his hand, the small device flew into his palm. A moment later, his arm flicked outward.
Thud! The communicator hit the metal wall and fell to the ground, silenced.
The room returned to peace.
Number One stayed utterly still, cold sweat forming on his back.
Closing his eyes tightly, he envisioned himself being tossed aside by the caretaker, his mind flashing to the scene of the nanny robot, 4583, reduced to a pile of parts yesterday afternoon. He could almost picture himself shattered against the wall, broken into pieces.
His small body began trembling.
Yet, instead of throwing him, Su Ci lay back down and pulled the trembling boy into his arms.
Tucking him snugly against his chest, Su Ci placed a warm palm on the back of his head, gently pressing his face against his chest.
“Stop fidgeting. Go back to sleep,” Su Ci said softly, his deep voice carrying an undeniable authority.
With that, Su Ci closed his eyes again. The terrifying aura that had filled the room ebbed away as he drifted back into sleep.
Resting his head on Su Ci’s chest, Number One blinked in surprise. He hadn’t been thrown out—instead, the caretaker had embraced him.
Listening to the steady, strong rhythm of Su Ci’s heartbeat, the oppressive danger dissipated. Gradually, his small body relaxed, and his breathing returned to normal.
Tentatively, he raised his head, catching a glimpse of Su Ci’s delicate jawline and the slender, snow-white neck peeking from his collar—so fragile, it seemed it could break easily.
Yet the memory of those golden eyes flashed in his mind.
The coldness within them was more terrifying than the monsters lurking in the red mist.
Such a contradiction.
Lowering his gaze, Number One quietly lay against Su Ci’s chest.
As he listened to the rhythmic heartbeat and felt the warm, protective aura surrounding him, he realized…
Even so, he liked this caretaker.
No matter how stern or intimidating, he wanted to stay by Su Ci’s side, cradled in his arms like this.
Sleepiness gradually crept over him.
He raised a tiny fist to rub his eyes, and in the end, just as Su Ci had commanded, obediently closed them and fell back asleep.
After all, it wasn’t him who had been scolded…
In the bedroom of Room 303, tranquility returned. The only sounds were the soft, steady breaths of its two occupants, marking just how deeply and peacefully they slept.
When Su Ci woke up, the sunlight outside was already bright.
He glanced down at the “pillow” in his arms, released his hold, and slowly sat up. Looking around at the unfamiliar yet oddly familiar environment, his expression seemed a bit dazed.
It took about ten minutes for Su Ci’s eyes to regain full clarity.
Number One, who had already woken up, sat quietly beside him, observing him in secret. When Su Ci turned to look his way, his dark eyes, now calm and gentle, caused the child to exhale a sigh of relief.
Su Ci, in turn, studied Number One.
Overnight, nourished by his soul energy, the boy’s complexion had gained a faint flush, no longer paper-pale. His once-sunken cheeks appeared slightly fuller.
Most notably, the dead and hollow black-red eyes now sparkled with life. The ominous red veins had faded considerably, thanks to a good night’s rest.
Nodding in satisfaction, Su Ci reached out to pat the boy’s fluffy head. Then, with a stretch and a yawn, he got out of bed.
Noticing the empty nightstand, Su Ci blinked and glanced at the communicator lying on the floor. Turning back to Number One, he asked, “Did you throw that?”
???
Number One stared back with wide, confused eyes and shook his head vigorously.
Su Ci had only asked casually. He walked over, picked up the communicator, and examined it.
The screen was dark, but it powered back on without issue after a quick reset. The holographic interface reappeared, fully functional.
That’s when Su Ci noticed three missed voice messages from 4586. The timestamps were 5:10, 5:12, and 5:14—all unanswered.
Frowning in thought, Su Ci recalled 4586 mentioning yesterday that he needed to wake up at 5:00 AM to prepare breakfast for the fosterlings.
He checked the current time: 8:10 AM.
It had been two to three hours since the agreed-upon time.
Su Ci tilted his head slightly. Since 4586 hadn’t followed up, it likely meant the situation was under control.
With that, Su Ci casually strapped the communicator back onto his wrist. Turning around, he saw Number One sitting on the bed, staring at him with bright, wide eyes.
“Not going back to sleep?” Su Ci asked.
The boy shook his head quickly.
“Then come with me.” With that, Su Ci turned and left the bedroom.
Watching Su Ci’s retreating back, Number One felt a bit panicked. Struggling to escape the soft confines of the quilt, he finally managed to crawl out. Just as he took a step forward, his figure vanished from the bed.
The next moment, he appeared clinging to Su Ci’s leg, wrapping his small arms tightly around it.
Su Ci stopped mid-step, looking down at the child now attached to his leg, his expression inquisitive.
Number One was equally stunned.
He glanced back at the bedroom, then at the caretaker he was now clinging to, his round eyes filled with confusion.
Wasn’t he still on the bed? How had he suddenly ended up here?
Seeing the boy’s bewildered expression, Su Ci quickly deduced what had happened. He smiled faintly, patting the boy’s head.
“You’re learning fast,” he said, pleased. “You managed to use teleportation already.”
Su Ci’s tone carried a note of encouragement, but he also added, “You’ll need to practice more so you can control it properly.”
Still dazed, Number One nodded. Realizing he was still clutching Su Ci’s leg, the memory of those icy golden eyes surfaced in his mind, prompting him to quickly let go and step back.
He glanced up at Su Ci, cautiously observing his reaction. To his surprise, the caretaker’s expression remained gentle, his lips curved in a faint smile.
Once freed, Su Ci turned and continued toward the bathroom.
Number One stood rooted to the spot, watching Su Ci’s retreating figure. A vague thought began to take shape in his mind—perhaps the caretaker had been so stern earlier because he was annoyed at being woken up?
If that were the case, then he mustn’t disturb Su Ci’s sleep in the future.
He wanted the caretaker to smile at him again and to pat his head like before.
*
Su Ci entered the bathroom and retrieved an unopened toothbrush and toothpaste from his spatial storage.
Ten thousand years ago, he hadn’t been so particular about personal hygiene. However, the knowledge now surfacing in his mind made him pay attention to such things. It didn’t take much time, so he decided to follow these modern practices.
Just as he was about to begin brushing his teeth, his peripheral vision caught sight of a small figure peeking in from the doorway.
Pausing, Su Ci set down his toothbrush, stepped outside, and brought in a chair. He lifted the boy onto it so that he could stand at a proper height.
“Hold this.” Standing side by side in front of the mirror, Su Ci applied toothpaste to another toothbrush and handed it to the boy.
“Brush your teeth.”
Number One held the adult-sized toothbrush and watched as Su Ci rinsed his mouth and began brushing in earnest. Imitating his actions, the boy started cleaning his own teeth.
The toothpaste tasted fresh, cool, and faintly sweet.
Number One liked it a lot.
As his mouth filled with white foam, he found it amusing. Observing how Su Ci spat out the foam and rinsed his mouth, he followed suit.
The boy picked up the skill quickly. Without much instruction, he had already mastered the steps. He also managed not to spill foam on himself or dirty his clothes, which made Su Ci quite pleased.
After all, who wouldn’t like an intelligent and obedient child?
When they finished brushing their teeth, Su Ci lifted Number One off the chair and set him down, then turned to prepare his own breakfast.
4586 wasn’t wrong about one thing—breakfast was the most important meal of the day and should be satisfying and nutritious.
From his spatial storage, Su Ci retrieved a sachet of nutrient powder and mixed a glass of mulberry berry-flavored solution. He downed it in one gulp.
Then came a second, third, and fourth glass of nutrient solution. Only after drinking these did he let out a contented sigh.
Next, he retrieved two cans of beef from his storage. As he turned his head, he caught sight of the boy standing not far from the counter, staring at him with wide, hopeful eyes.
Su Ci paused mid-motion and asked tentatively, “Are you hungry?”
Noticing that Su Ci didn’t seem inclined to help him, Number One’s shoulders slumped. He lowered his head, shaking it in quiet disappointment. However, the next moment—
Grumble—grumble—
The loud sound of his stomach betrayed him, and he froze. Flustered, he clutched his belly with both hands.
Su Ci sighed, then rummaged through his dwindling stock of nutrient powder and pulled out the last packet of mixed vegetable flavor. After preparing it, he placed the drink across the counter.
“Come and drink.”
The boy’s eyes lit up. Taking a step forward, he instantly appeared on the chair by the counter.
With his newfound teleportation experience, he wasn’t surprised this time. His small hands eagerly wrapped around the glass as he took a sip.
Seeing the bright sparkle of joy in the boy’s eyes, Su Ci nodded inwardly.
Good. Cubs shouldn’t be picky eaters.
