MRG Chapter 54: Farewell

Translator: Onlyfornovels

Editor: Agneya

The sky was faintly lit, hazy light filtering through the heavy curtains.

It was now 6:04 AM.

Mu Chen reached out from under the covers, fumbling twice for his terminal. Soft, shallow breathing echoed in his ears.

Turning his head toward the pillow beside him, he glanced at Light, who was still asleep. The man had his lips pressed into a thin line—even in sleep, he still gave off a strict and disciplined aura.

By noon today, Light would be leaving with the fleet, returning to the military base in Konaren. This was, in essence, the last time they’d be alone.

Logically, it would be a shame not to do something special on their final night.

But Light had been staying in the training room until late these past few days, and during the day, he was constantly occupied with various matters. Mu Chen couldn’t bring himself to tire him out any further.

Having gone to bed early last night, Mu Chen didn’t feel sleepy now. He turned over and idly scrolled through his terminal.

As usual, he opened his inbox for a quick glance. The conscription results from First Military Academy would be sent out via email. By now, the service notifications should have been issued—some of his university group members had already started receiving them.

However, so far, no one had received an invitation from the Mecha Corps.

Mu Chen wasn’t particularly worried about his result. Even though the assignment process wasn’t public, military academy rankings were transparent. Given his position as the top-ranked cadet, he believed there was no reason for the Mecha Corps to reject him.

Yet, his inbox remained as spotless as a freshly washed street—there were no emails from the academy, and none of his instructors had contacted him.

Feeling disinterested, Mu Chen skimmed through the latest news. Just as he was about to put his terminal down, a notification suddenly popped up on the screen.

The sender was Xavier.

They hadn’t been in contact for a long time—not since leaving First Military Academy.

Mu Chen tapped into the chat and sat up straight.

Xavier: [Did you receive the message?]

Mu Chen: [What message?]

Xavier: [The conscription results.]

Mu Chen: [No.]

Xavier: [I just got mine.]

Xavier: [They assigned me to the Mecha Corps.]

Mu Chen: [When did they notify you?]

Xavier: [A few hours ago, the email came in the middle of the night.]

Xavier: [Was this your first choice?]

Mu Chen: [Yes.]

Mu Chen: [What did the email say?]

Xavier: [Most of the content in the email is classified, so I can’t say much, but you should receive a notification. Both Jeffrey and I got ours.]

Xavier: [You’re the top-ranked cadet—they have no reason to reject you. Maybe they have some special assignment for you, something top-secret.]

Xavier: [But did His Highness the Crown Prince truly not give you any hints? My dad told me about it a few days ago.]

Mu Chen glanced sideways at the person still sleeping beside him, then replied: [No.]

Xavier: [Wow, His Highness is seriously strict. Just don’t mention my dad to him, or he’ll definitely have my head.]

Mu Chen: [Can you ask about me?]

Xavier: [Huh?]

Mu Chen: [Ask your dad—he should know the list, right?]

Mu Chen: [If you ask him, I won’t say anything.]

Xavier: […]

Xavier: [Fine.]

After finishing the chat with Xavier, Mu Chen idly played with his terminal for a while. Around 6:40 AM, a faint rustling sound came from beside him…

“You’re awake?”

“You’re up early today.”

The man’s voice was thick with sleep.

At this hour, Mu Chen would usually cling to him like a stubborn octopus, trying every trick in the book to make him stay in bed. This was the first time he was sitting quietly by his side—Light wasn’t used to it.

“I’m awake.” Mu Chen turned over and saw Light buttoning up his shirt. He took the initiative to help fasten the buttons. “Gege, you’re leaving today—I couldn’t sleep.”

From Light’s perspective, the mermaid’s silky silver hair slipped down his shoulders, and his long lashes cast a delicate shadow on the bridge of his straight nose. The scene looked surprisingly… virtuous.

Unable to resist, Light reached out to cup his face and said softly, “Wait for me to come back.”

Mu Chen lifted his eyes and studied him thoughtfully. “By the time you’re back, I’ll probably still be in service. What then? Will you come visit me?”

Light paused slightly. “…Mm.”

__

A gentle breeze swept through the port. The black mecha Falcon was docked at the center of the mothership, its towering steel frame standing out sharply. Surrounding warships had all assembled, the fleet poised and ready for departure.

As part of the send-off party, Mu Chen boarded the mothership with Light.

Wherever they passed, soldiers stood at rigid attention, saluting Light with solemn expressions.

This was Mu Chen’s first time experiencing such treatment. He glanced sideways at the man beside him, who was walking straight ahead without sparing a glance to either side. Beneath the sharp brim of his military cap, a defined jawline was visible—cold and unyielding, like an ice dagger.

This must be what Light was like when he was on duty.

Ahead on the deck, the Falcon’s hangar bay was open. The mecha’s limbs were suspended in place by numerous transparent cables, securing it to the ship’s mast. At the entrance of the cockpit, Lieutenant Li and several mecha engineers were waiting with reports to deliver to Light.

Mu Chen had no intention of joining the discussion. He found a quiet corner, leaned against the railing, and gazed at the endless sea stretching beyond the horizon. His mind drifted back to the matter of the conscription results…

If they weren’t assigning him to the Mecha Corps, then where else would they send him?

At that moment, a familiar voice suddenly sounded from behind.

“Hey, Mu Chen?”

“Did you get your notification?”

Mu Chen turned around and saw his university roommates, Xavier and Jeffrey, walking toward him.

He paused slightly. “No, I’m here to see off—”

Just as he was about to say Gege, he swallowed the word back.

“Light.”

“Oh.” Xavier, dressed in a military uniform, had a silver insignia on his shoulder that shimmered under the sunlight. His hands were in his pockets, and he looked thoughtful. “I thought you’d be leaving with us.”

Mu Chen’s gaze landed on Xavier’s shoulder insignia, his brows raising in surprise. “Where to?”

Xavier, “The outpost. Isn’t it—”

Mu Chen cut him off. “Konaren?”

“You guys are serving in Konaren? Departing with the fleet?”

Xavier, “Yeah, didn’t you know that—”

Halfway through his sentence, both Xavier and Jeffrey suddenly looked into the distance, their expressions freezing. Xavier abruptly realized something was off and immediately shut his mouth.

Mu Chen persisted, “Know what?”

Behind him, the firm sound of military boots striking the ground echoed. Mu Chen turned back to see John Natt giving him a respectful salute.

“Your Highness, Mu Chen.”

At that moment, John shot Xavier a sharp glare, clearly displeased by his lack of decorum.

Xavier instantly straightened his posture, stepping away from Mu Chen.

Jeffrey also belatedly caught on and adjusted his stance.

Mu Chen gave John Natt a slight nod.

John looked at him and said, “Your Highness, the fleet will be departing soon. His Highness Light is currently in the Falcon’s cockpit. If you have anything to say to him, now is the best time before the hatch closes.”

The implication was clear—once Mu Chen said his goodbyes to his fiancé, he should leave.

At this moment, in their eyes, he was not a member of the military but merely a family member who needed to remain uninvolved.

“I understand. Thank you, Marshal Natt.”

Mu Chen gave him a polite smile before turning to leave.

__

Inside the rigorously controlled and solemn cockpit, Light was leaning back in his seat, conducting his final pre-departure checks.

Mu Chen hadn’t been here since he was fourteen, when Light first brought him to see the Falcon.

Now, he suddenly realized that the cockpit, which had seemed grand and spacious in his memory, wasn’t actually that big. He even had to lower his head slightly to avoid hitting the ceiling.

Noticing the movement beside him, Light put down his headset and saw Mu Chen sitting lightly on the edge of the control panel, silent and unmoving—completely devoid of his usual clinginess.

Something felt off.

“What’s wrong?”

Light asked.

Mu Chen lifted his gaze. “I just ran into Xavier and the others.”

Light paused for a moment.

Mu Chen continued, “He is Marshal Natt’s son…”

“Gege, take a guess.”

Mu Chen pressed his lips together. “They all got into the Imperial Mecha Corps.”

Light’s long eyelashes trembled slightly. He turned his head away, avoiding Mu Chen’s gaze.

The latter leaned in closer. “Normally, they’d go to the old port’s mecha base for training. Why are they being sent directly to the outpost this time?”

Light, “It changes every year.”

Mu Chen, “Oh.”

Light noticed the tight line of Mu Chen’s jaw and asked, “Are you angry?”

Mu Chen raised an eyebrow. “Angry about what?”

Light, “Not getting into the Imperial Mecha Corps.”

“I wouldn’t be angry over that…” Mu Chen got up from the control panel, stepping toward Light. “Of course, that’s assuming the selection process is fair and reasonable—that they didn’t choose me because they found a better candidate, and not for any other reason.”

As he spoke, he leaned down, closing the distance between them, his silver hair cascading over Light’s shoulder. “What do you think, Gege? Was I excluded because my personality isn’t suitable?”

Light was silent for a moment. “I don’t know.”

Mu Chen pressed his lips together. “Is this some kind of classified document that even the highest commander can’t access?”

Light parted his lips, searching for the right words, but Mu Chen cut him off first. “Or is it that, as the base’s admiral, Gege is just that impartial—never using his privileges for anyone, hmm?”

Light, “I…”

The rest of his words were swallowed as Mu Chen abruptly sat down and sealed his lips.

The mermaid, whose presence usually carried the gentle, cool scent of the ocean breeze, now felt sharp and forceful—like a predator radiating aggression.

Light passively accepted everything, and by the time he came to his senses, his collar had already been tugged askew.

Redness flushed the lips of the person in front of him. He blinked his long, narrow blue eyes. “I want to do it here. Can I?”

The words were phrased as a question, yet the tone was firm—like he wasn’t really asking for permission.

Light froze for a moment, his heartbeat accelerating. He had never been able to refuse the mermaid before, and now, with their impending separation and uncertainty of when they’d meet again, it was even more impossible.

Not rejecting was tacit consent.

And tacit consent was indulgence.

The moment Light hesitated, Mu Chen’s hand had already reached for the cold, rigid clasp.

“Click!” The lock was undone.

Light kissed Mu Chen’s chin, soothing his restlessness, like an indulgent older brother spoiling a younger sibling’s bad temper.

But in the very next second—

Mu Chen suddenly twisted his arms behind his back, pinning them in front of him, as if restraining a prisoner. “I want to do it from behind…”

“Can I, Gege?”