Translated by Eve

　　Edited by Cat, juurensha, serefina

　　After the attack on Max and Dima, the struggle between the army and the government became even more intense. They were basically tearing at each other's throats. Of course, the ma.s.ses were still kept in the dark. On the other hand, despite being mermen who had little to do with such affairs, Sui Yuan and Ya could perceive the approaching conflict.

　　Ya continued to design his clothing and expand his endeavour. Moreover, under Max's design, he and Dima continued to "devotedly love one another." As for Sui Yuan, in front of others, he acted as if he was nothing but a set piece. Behind people's backs, however, he lived the simple, quiet life of being harra.s.sed by Max.

　　This continued on until the next plot point arrived.

　　Since Ya had came to this world with a golden finger, he very quickly went from an obscure merman to an A-list fas.h.i.+on designer. Furthermore, it wasn't clear whether it was due to his unique ident.i.ty as a merman or if it was because he was Max's mate, but in brief, within two years, he was invited to attend the Fas.h.i.+on Design a.s.sociation's most prestigious award ceremony. Those who won the grand prize would be considered true fas.h.i.+on design masters and not just one praised by empty words.

　　When the judge panel announced that Ya had received a nomination, it naturally piqued the interest of the ma.s.ses. From the mermen, who were supposedly only useful for "giving birth", came someone as prominent as Ya. Furthermore, his fame was not just a sensational topic brought about by the mermen's extremely sought-after status that could soon be forgotten. On the contrary, he became more and more famous. With regards to Ya's success, many people considered it to be the start of the rise of the mermen. There were many differing opinions, both positive and negative.

　　Some people encouraged the mermen, who had been domesticated since long ago, to follow Ya's example in contributing to society. At the same time, there were people who were firmly against the mermen becoming independent from their owners. They were worried that after the mermen gained self-awareness, they would become more and more dissatisfied with being treated as birthing machines and eventually revolt.

　　Regardless of this seemingly incessant debate between other people, Ya himself was just overjoyed to receive this invite. As a protagonist who struggled for the sake of his career, how could he not win an award after his success in his career?

　　Even though Ya had also thought about guiding the mermen to become independent to a certain degree, correcting the idea that both the mermen and their mates had attached to them and thereby granting them freedom. Until now, it had seemed too distant of a goal. It was only when he had truly gained a foothold in society, and his words had power, would he be able to slowly accomplish his dream.

　　The invite had only been addressed to Ya and his mate, Max, but, as Ya's exclusive model, Sui Yuan was naturally pestered by Ya until he had no choice but to nod his head and agree to go with him to the award ceremony banquet.

　　Ya wanted Sui Yuan to attend because the invited designers could show off their most remarkable design during the banquet, and Ya had realized that it was only upon Sui Yuan's body that his designs could truly exhibit their charm.

　　As Sui Yuan's mate and Max's deputy, as well as Ya's good friend, Dima also could not escape. Of course, Dima himself hadn't wanted to escape anyways. He and Ya had cooperated for so long, helping him transform from a noisy n.o.body into the current most sought-after fas.h.i.+on designer. Dima was more eager than anyone else to see him dazzlingly stand on the podium and obtain his well-deserved glory.

　　On the s.p.a.cecraft, Sui Yuan sat by himself, dozing off, and occasionally glanced nervously at Max, who was engrossed in operating his smart computer.

　　He heard Dima explaining to Ya the issues that needed to be paid attention to with regards to interstellar travel. Very quickly, the topic of their conversation moved from the vast universe to that of the award ceremony. Obviously, no matter if it was interstellar travel, or if it was the upcoming banquet, nothing could help Ya calm down. He urgently wanted to find a rational way to vent his feelings, and the gentle and patient Dima naturally was the most ideal target.

　　Towards this Ya who was br.i.m.m.i.n.g with excitement and hope for the future, Sui Yuan especially wanted to burn a stick of incense for him. This was because, very soon, he would not be able to be happy.

　　This trip was unfortunate, not fortuitous. What was to come next was a hijacking by an extremist anti-merman-independence group who had been incited by Max's political enemy, who wanted to use this opportunity to eliminate Max. The hijackers wanted to prevent Ya from attending the award ceremony banquet and ensure that the merman would not be given any opportunity to s.h.i.+ne. Mermen should obediently let themselves be locked up at home and give birth!

　　In order to ascertain the safety of the other innocent pa.s.sengers, Max had no choice but to allow himself to be helplessly captured. Then, Ya, who held deep feelings of friends.h.i.+p and a vague feeling of love towards Max, would refuse to let Max be captured on his own.Together, they would righteously allow themselves to be captured, holding no thoughts of backing down.

　　Fortunately, the mermen were valuable beings to be treasured and pampered. Even if Ya was Max's merman, the kidnappers only had the idea to sell him for a high price or to keep him for their own enjoyment. They didn't plan to make things too difficult for him.

　　If it was an ordinary merman, then in this sort of circ.u.mstance they would be of no use. However, Ya obviously had the courage and wisdom ordinary mermen lacked. Under the kidnappers contemptuous yet lazy watch, Ya and Max would act together to successfully escape, bringing forth the plot's final climax.

　　Of course, what was most important was that the two people's feelings advanced by leaps and bounds after pa.s.sing this crisis. Max realized he already held feelings for Ya and Ya also came to understand his own intentions towards Max. He would no longer deny his own feelings.

　　If……everything were to go according to the plot, then it would end up like this. However, Sui Yuan knew that Max absolutely would not act according to the plot.

　　Besides, if they were to talk about the plot, he and Dima would not have been able to go with Ya and Max to begin with. He would have just needed to obediently sit at home and wait for the two people to return after having encountered a mishap. It was completely unlike his present situation, in which he found himself in the middle of the situation.

　　—-How will Max mess things up next? Sui Yuan threw aside the already unredeemable plot, as he was painfully vexed.

　　Upon seeing the universe for the first time, Sui Yuan and Ya both found it to be a novel experience. However, neither of them were in a good frame of mind to marvel at this shockingly beautiful view. Sui Yuan devoted all of his attention to observing their surroundings and watching Max's every move. It was just a pity that no matter if he were to hint at it, or even if he were to explicitly state his mind, Max wouldn't bother to share his plans.

　　Max more or less knew that Sui Yuan was strongly attached to the plot and was afraid of even the smallest divergence. Sui Yuan would try to grab hold of any loophole and try to force the plot back on track. So, to straightforwardly let Sui Yuan agonise himself to death was simply deranged to the point of making one's hair stand up on end.

　　Only, even if Max didn't say anything, Sui Yuan was also able to see the discrepancy between the situation at present and the original plot.

　　Aside from the fact that Max and Ya, these two people, had been changed into four people, Max had also brought with him many guards, using the excuse that the current conflict between the military and government was too intense and so he wanted to be careful. Could it be that Max planned to straightforwardly render this time's plot device into something that wasn't even worth mentioning? Did he plan to kill the kidnappers and allow Ya to safely attend the award ceremony banquet?

　　Although he could not say that this wasn't a possibility, Sui Yuan also felt that there was no way Max would not painstakingly do such a "benevolent" thing.

　　"There's a problem! Quickly stand guard!" While Sui Yuan's head was in the clouds, Max had suddenly set down the computer, and issued a command in a loud voice. With one hand, he seamlessly separated Sui Yuan and Ya. With his other hand, he pulled out the gun that was holstered to his waist.

　　At the same time, all the guards that Max and Dima had brought along also came to attention. A small fraction of them attempted to appease the frightened pa.s.sengers that had received the evacuation notice. The majority of them, however, sprinted out of the s.p.a.cecraft's cabin.