ALSACW – Chapter 55

Three days later, Tang Jianxi and Yun Chuji stood outside an apartment door.

Inside was Winona.

Tang Jianxi had gathered all the information on the alpha who bought Helen the day before. As expected, he was a very low-rank alpha.

In the Empire, the classification system for AO ranks didn’t exist from the very beginning—that suicidal, mad scientist had left a great deal of work for future generations. About eighty years after the Empire’s founding, increasingly frequent AO interactions led people to discover the differences within the alpha and omega populations. Thus, under the research of the Imperial Academy of Sciences, a complete AO ranking system was established.

Alphas and omegas were divided into five ranks: S, A, B, C, and D. Most AOs were B-rank. Both S-rank and D-rank individuals each constituted only about one percent of the total population—S-rank at the top, of course, and D-rank at the bottom.

However, the factors that determined these ranks differed between alphas and omegas.

The higher an alpha’s rank, the higher the quality of their pheromones and the more effective they were at soothing an omega’s heat. Conversely, the lower an alpha’s rank, the poorer the quality of their pheromones. For example, if a C-rank alpha were to soothe their B-rank omega partner, a single heat cycle might leave the omega’s gland bitten to shreds, and the alpha would be weakened for a day or two afterward.

If it were an S-rank alpha, a single bite could last for an entire day. This was why many low-rank AO partners didn’t rely solely on alpha pheromones to get through a heat; they usually kept a supply of omega inhibitors at home.

At the same time, rigid standards for omega courtship emerged in the Empire: first was pheromone rank, second was pheromone compatibility, and last was pheromone scent.

An omega’s rank, however, was determined not just by their pheromones, but also by their need for pheromones.

The lower an omega’s rank, the more pheromones they required during their heat. Of course, if the quality was high enough, the quantity could be reduced. For high-rank omegas like Tang Jianxi, an S-rank, the amount of pheromones needed during a heat was significantly less. That was how Tang Jianxi had managed to rely on inhibitors to hold out until the age of twenty-five, in an Empire where the average age of marriage was nineteen.

If she hadn’t developed a tolerance to the inhibitors, she could have held out for several more years and wouldn’t have been schemed against by the original Yun Chuji.

Her A-rank brother, however, hadn’t had it so easy. Compounded by his sexual orientation, his situation was even more difficult. The reason he had been able to hold out for so long without finding an alpha “tool,” like many other OO couples did, was likely related to his lover, Tang Jianxi guessed. The royal family had inherited a great deal of top-secret, high-end technology from the pre-Empire era, and since that person had always advocated for using the power of science to solve problems, their relationship had remained unusually “clean” for four years. At least, Tang Jianxi had never smelled an alpha’s scent on Tang Jianshen.

To return to the topic, based on these conditions, a logical AO pairing would be S-rank with D-rank, A-rank with C-rank, and B-rank with B-rank.

However, the ranking issue wasn’t the only problem the mad scientist had left for the ABO world he created. There were two other “bugs.”

First was the alpha’s rut. Although the intensity of a rut was roughly the same for all alphas, regardless of rank, the pheromones of a high-rank omega did make the rut easier to endure.

The second, and most important, was the conception rate.

These two words were practically the core of this entire twisted physiological system. Everything—pheromones, heats—all of it pushed alphas and omegas down the path of procreation. This was especially true for omegas; only by becoming pregnant could their endless, torturous heats be paused for a year, giving them time to breathe. This also led many lower-class omegas, who couldn’t afford inhibitors and whose alphas were of an insufficient rank, to choose pregnancy as their only means of finding peace.

But then, another problem arose.

Although the conception rate for alphas and omegas was far higher than for betas, this was only true if their pheromone compatibility rate met a certain standard. If an AO couple’s compatibility was less than thirty percent, their conception rate was even lower than that of betas. The main factor affecting pheromone compatibility was the difference in their ranks—the greater the gap, the lower the compatibility.

What was worse, it also affected the quality of their offspring. A union between an S-rank and a D-rank would never produce an S-rank child; it was far more likely they would have a C-rank or D-rank child.

For the future of the Empire, the Senate had passed a special law: any AO marriage required proof of a compatibility rate of forty-five percent or higher.

This forced many low-rank omegas and alphas into a continuous, generational decline within this deeply unfair physiological system. Alphas had it better; they weren’t as constrained. Even a D-rank alpha could, through their own efforts in society, use wealth and status to find an excellent partner.

But omegas, especially those from the lower classes, had only two ways to cope with their heats: inhibitors or pregnancy. The former cost money, while the latter consumed time and energy, effectively locking them out of any path to social advancement and forcing them into the tragic role of birthing machines.

The alpha who had bought Helen was a D-rank alpha.

His name was Johnsen Kerry. He was a well-known nouveau riche on Azure Star who had made his fortune from a Blue Cherry Steel mine he had accidentally purchased in his youth. Like all newly rich, after buying up a great deal of property, he married the omega son of a high-ranking official in Azure Star’s G-District. This omega was plain-looking, and even though his B-rank pheromones gave him a wide range of potential mates, he wasn’t considered popular in G-District’s high society.

So, Johnsen racked his brains to pursue this omega for half a year, finally winning the approval of both him and his alpha mother. Even though their pheromone compatibility rate was dangerously close to the legal minimum set by the Empire, they married in the name of so-called love.

With his mother-in-law’s help, Mr. Kerry’s Blue Cherry Steel business flourished. And because his business depended on his mother-in-law, he didn’t dare do what many alphas in low-compatibility marriages did: tie their omega to the bed and mark them day and night to induce pregnancy.

To prevent his husband from suffering too much during his heats, he was even progressive enough to proactively buy him many expensive inhibitors. As a result, after three years of marriage, Johnsen’s husband had yet to conceive a child, but Johnsen himself had earned a reputation for being deeply devoted.

However, the “devoted” Johnsen clearly had other plans. Once his business in G-District was on track, this model husband began to seek out suitable omegas for himself through Glory’s channels.

He bought three omegas in total.

Helen was the second.

Through Johnsen’s efforts, the first two omegas both became pregnant. Half a month ago, he bought a third omega. This one was a B-rank, extremely expensive, and had a very low compatibility rate with him. As a birthing machine, her cost-effectiveness was abysmal, but she was perfectly suited to be a plaything.

In any case, with the help of the Empire’s biological sciences, the lack of pleasure caused by low compatibility could be fully compensated for with aphrodisiacs.

It was worth noting that all the omegas Johnsen bought were female, which indirectly proved just how much water was in his so-called devotion.

But Johnsen was a smart man. He knew what he was doing was illegal and would certainly displease his husband and mother-in-law, so he hid the three omegas extremely well, locking them all in a large villa. Besides them, there wasn’t a single other living creature in the house.

Even when they were pregnant, to avoid leaving any DNA traces, he didn’t take them to a proper hospital. Instead, he used small private clinics for their check-ups and paid to have the medical records erased afterward.

Tang Jianxi had guessed as much. From the moment she discovered traces of Helen in G-District, she had dispatched professional investigators to stake out the various private clinics. The videos they obtained made it clear that these alphas were definitely not buying omegas to raise as partners; most of them had motives that violated both morality and humanity.

And whether Helen was injured or pregnant, she would have to visit a clinic eventually.

In the end, when her grim suspicions were confirmed and yielded results, Tang Jianxi was so disgusted she couldn’t sleep all night.

The combined assault of exhaustion and negative emotions left her mind reeling. Tang Jianxi leaned slightly against Yun Chuji, drawing a little strength from her.

It was just enough to give her the courage to tell that poor omega what had truly happened to her lover.

The door opened before them. Tang Jianxi seemed startled, her body trembling slightly. Yun Chuji instinctively raised a hand and steadied her by the shoulder.

Winona stood in the doorway. The bandages were gone, and her complexion looked much better. Although her demeanor was still incredibly gloomy, she no longer gave off the feeling that she was about to die.

She gave Tang Jianxi a slight bow, then glanced at Yun Chuji. Without a word, she nodded and walked back into the living room, leaving the door open and two pairs of slippers placed neatly for them.

After they were seated, Winona asked cautiously, “Miss Tang, do you have any news about Helen?”

Tang Jianxi straightened her posture, gritted her teeth, and finally said it. “I found Helen, and I know where she is. But her situation isn’t very good.”

“She was sold to an alpha, and she’s pregnant with his child.”

Tang Jianxi had expected Winona to be heartbroken by this news, but instead, an expression of relief washed over her face. Seeing Tang Jianxi’s confusion, Winona explained softly, “I thought she might have ended up like me. From the sound of it, she must be doing well—at least better than in the Thirteenth Ring. The alpha who bought her must have some money. I don’t have to worry about her future anymore.”

Tang Jianxi said in disbelief, “Aren’t you going to go find her?”

Winona shook her head and smiled faintly. “It’s enough for me to know that she’s doing okay.”

“How could that possibly be considered ‘doing okay’!” Tang Jianxi retorted, her eyes turning red. “She’s being held captive, unable to go anywhere, forced to bear one child after another for that alpha! She’ll have to live her whole life like that, and you actually think she’s doing well!?”

Sensing Tang Jianxi’s anger, Winona grew anxious. Tang Jianxi was both her benefactor and someone she couldn’t afford to offend. But that was truly what Winona thought, and she couldn’t lie to her benefactor. If Tang Jianxi couldn’t understand, then she would just have to explain it more clearly.

“Miss Tang, we’re not like you. As omegas born in the outermost ring, this was always our fate. Even if Helen hadn’t sold herself, the truth is, back home, her life would have been the same after she got married. Where we’re from, you won’t see a single omega on the streets after four in the afternoon.”

“As long as they don’t inject Helen with David’s Secret Potion, don’t force her to sell her body to make money, and don’t harm her, and she can live without worrying about food or clothing, then that’s good enough. I shouldn’t cause trouble in her life. I’m an omega, and a glandless one with not much time left. I can’t take responsibility for her future, and I don’t want my future to become her burden.”

“Besides, mark removal surgery is very painful. Helen is a girl who’s afraid of pain.”

Tang Jianxi was speechless. After a long moment, she said in a voice so soft it was almost inaudible, “But she doesn’t love that alpha. She loves you.”

At those words, Winona lowered her eyelids, hiding the turbulent emotions in her green eyes. Her pale lips trembled for a moment before she pressed them together resolutely. Finally, she gave a bitter smile. “Miss Tang, we’re not you. We don’t have the right to pursue love. For us, love is like a hovercar—a luxury item that would never appear in the outermost ring.”

“For us, just staying alive is hard enough.”

Tang Jianxi didn’t understand why Winona thought this way. She had been willing to risk her life to find Helen, yet now she was content just knowing that Helen was living a much better life than she was.

Was this also love? If so, love was far too heartbreaking.

Just then, Yun Chuji, who had been sitting silently to the side, suddenly spoke. “But you’re not the person you used to be. How do you know you can’t do it?”

“The David’s Secret Potion in your system has been removed by Dr. Xie. Although losing your gland will harm your health, with this era’s medical technology, it’s not impossible for you to live a good life if you want to.”

“We’re not in the outermost ring now. You successfully escaped. You met Jianxi, and she’s willing to help you. You don’t have to live the way you did before. You can pursue better things. Miss Winona, why don’t you give it a try?”

Yun Chuji’s words jolted Tang Jianxi. She immediately followed up with a promise. “I will help you both. If you’re willing—no, even if you’re not, I’ll still make a trip to Azure Star and ask Helen for her opinion. If she wants to leave, I will help her leave.”

Winona’s head shot up. She stammered, “You… you’re going to see Helen in person?”

“Yes.” Tang Jianxi stared intently into Winona’s eyes, trying to convey her sincerity. “The place where Helen and the others are living is heavily guarded. My people could get them out, but not without alerting the enemy. They also don’t have a way to bring Helen back from Azure Star without alarming the omega traffickers. So, I’m going to make the trip myself in a few days.”

“If Helen wants to come back then, I will bring her back.”

At this, Tang Jianxi’s jaw tightened, and a note of determination entered her voice. “Even if she thinks this life is good, I will do my best to persuade her to come back, appealing to both her heart and her reason. I know what a truly good life is, and being locked in a house, constantly bearing children for a stranger, is clearly not it.”

The atmosphere grew a little tense. Winona sighed and looked around the apartment. These past few days had been the most comfortable time of her entire life, even better than her life before she presented. Back then, she had to work in the shop every day, spending her youth and sweat among various metals and wires, eating unappetizing meals, and saving up star coins one by one for her and Helen’s wedding.

But these past few days, despite her serious injuries, she had escaped that busy life for the first time. The fully automated smart home warmly adjusted the lighting to the perfect intensity, the bed to the most comfortable curvature, and the room to the gentlest fragrance. A housekeeping robot delivered exquisite, nutritious meals to her on time every day.

Although she couldn’t use a light brain, Tang Jianxi had left her an offline reader and a movie player. Winona had read some books on electronics and mechanics—knowledge she never had the leisure to learn in the outermost ring. She had also watched movies, something she hadn’t done in a long time. As she recalled, she had only ever seen one movie, and that was because Helen had dragged her there.

It was after that movie that Helen had confessed her feelings.

Winona had blushed and accepted. They had hugged for less than three minutes before her mother called her back to work in the shop.

This was indeed an exceptionally wonderful life. Such beauty could not be born from the black smoke spewing from the trucks and factories of the outermost ring. Even in her dreams, Winona had never imagined a life like this.

Miss Tang was truly resourceful. Winona touched the clothes she was wearing and thought, She’s also incredibly kind. Perhaps it’s this beautiful environment that nurtured her kindness.

“But what do you stand to gain from this?” Winona asked with great earnestness. The cautious, timid expression on her face vanished. She looked like a child in school asking a difficult question—her face sincere, her posture bold.

But Tang Jianxi, like the best of teachers, answered her question carefully and sincerely. “I don’t stand to gain anything. I just can’t stand that we are all human, yet omegas are sold, oppressed, and exploited. I find these things utterly disgusting. I can’t bear them. They make me feel afraid and ashamed.”

“Oh, if you’re asking what I stand to gain, then perhaps it’s that by helping you, I can prove to myself that I can change all this. That if I try hard enough, some of the suffering will disappear.”

Winona looked deeply at this omega. She was like a princess from a fairy tale, possessing not only a beautiful appearance but also a beautiful heart. Winona could barely stop herself from wanting to follow her. At the same time, a ridiculous thought surfaced in her mind: if all the suffering she had endured was the price for meeting Miss Tang, then perhaps that suffering had some value—not including Helen’s sacrifice, of course.

And so, she impulsively overturned the philosophy of life she had built in the Thirteenth Ring. “Miss Tang, if you’re going, can you take me with you?”

After a pause, Winona smiled and said softly, “I think I can help you persuade her.”

Tang Jianxi and Yun Chuji exchanged a look, and a great weight seemed to lift from her heart. She nodded emphatically. “Of course you can!”

Then, Winona turned to look at Yun Chuji. She was still wary of the alphas in this world—it was a psychological barrier she might never overcome in her lifetime—but for Tang Jianxi’s alpha, she was willing to set aside her prejudice.

Besides, from their first meeting until now, this alpha named Yun had demonstrated a moral standard far beyond that of an ordinary alpha. Winona had almost mistaken it for the kindness that came from an affluent, high-society upbringing, but then she remembered that the people who bought and sold Helen were also powerful and wealthy. So, she could only conclude, with even greater reverence, that this was simply Miss Yun’s own excellent character.

As expected of Miss Tang’s alpha, she thought.

Winona stood up, bowed deeply, and said solemnly, “Miss Yun, I’ve owed you an apology. I’m very sorry for hurting you back then. After this is all over, I will do my best to compensate you.”

“And thank you… for saving my life.”

Yun Chuji was extremely flustered. She wanted to help Winona up, but remembering her current gender and Winona’s past experiences, her hands hovered awkwardly in mid-air. She looked pleadingly at Tang Jianxi while saying, “I don’t blame you. You were just terrified back then. I understand.”

“After what you went through, it’s only right to be on guard. Oh, please, get up. I wasn’t really hurt, and saving you was the right thing to do.”

Watching her flustered state, Tang Jianxi felt an inopportune thought surface in her mind—Ah, she’s so cute. Clearing her throat, Tang Jianxi quickly composed herself and helped Winona up. “She’s different from other alphas. She doesn’t hold grudges.”

“Mhm!” Yun Chuji agreed emphatically.

Winona looked at the two of them, a rare smile appearing in her green eyes. “Miss Tang, when you two get married, if you don’t mind, I hope you’ll send an invitation to me and Helen.”

Hearing this, Tang Jianxi’s face flushed slightly. Her gaze drifted as she replied, “Ah, of course we will.”

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But careless words have consequences, as Tang Jianxi was now keenly aware.

After leaving Winona’s place, Yun Chuji would steal a very conspicuous glance at her every five seconds, her face a picture of someone wanting to speak but holding back. And Tang Jianxi knew exactly what she wanted to say.

After fifteen minutes of this, she couldn’t take it anymore.

Tang Jianxi turned her head and met Yun Chuji’s gaze directly. “Why do you keep looking at me?”

“I… I have something I can’t figure out.” The tips of Yun Chuji’s ears were bright red, and her eyes darted away. “Are we… if we’re just putting on an act, does it have to go as far as marriage?”

Yun Chuji felt it was impossible, yet she couldn’t find any reason for Tang Jianxi to lie to Winona.

Tang Jianxi’s face reddened as well. She turned her head away, not answering directly. “What do you think?”

Yun Chuji stared at the texture of the seat and said hesitantly, “I think marriage is a serious matter. It shouldn’t be treated as a game.”

Although she had already begun to doubt and deeply reflect on her past education, it had still left an indelible mark on her. For instance, something like marriage was always linked to concepts like lifelong devotion.

But how could that be possible? Miss Tang disliked alphas, and she herself wasn’t fond of women. If the two of them were to marry just for the sake of an act, it would only be a waste of each other’s time.

Tang Jianxi still didn’t answer directly. Instead, she changed the subject abruptly. “Why did you say what you did to Winona just now?”

“Hm?” Yun Chuji couldn’t quite follow Tang Jianxi’s train of thought. How did they get onto this topic? Weren’t they talking about—marriage?

“I mean, what made you think of persuading Winona to accept my help like that?”

Yun Chuji was still confused, but she answered obediently, “Because that’s how you helped me, Jianxi. It’s because of you that I’m so much happier now than I was before.”

“Oh—” Tang Jianxi nodded sagely, a smile in her eyes. “Then I think it’s very possible our act will go as far as marriage.”

“Look, aren’t I taking you to meet my parents right now?”

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