The Number One Star in the Interstellar Era [BL]

Astrid chuckled and gently took Nicol from Wulfric, since the latter looked like he was on the verge of wanting to spank the kid. "Why are you calling him a big bad wolf? Do you know who he is?"

"I don't know his name, but Uncle Casey said he's a big bad wolf trying to eat Brother Aster," Nicol said, shooting a glare at Wulfric. He then hugged Astrid's waist tightly. "Brother Aster, don't let that bad guy deceive you."

Wulfric felt a vein throbbing on his forehead at the brat's words. He couldn't decide who to be more annoyed with—Cassius Grimaldi, who had been filling his nephew's head with nonsense, or this brat for clinging to Aster like a sticky koala.

Before he could decide what to do, he heard Aster speak. What Aster said instantly melted away all his negative emotions.

"Nikki, it's not right to judge someone quickly based on hearsay," Astrid gently explained. "And Uncle Casey shouldn't have told you such things, so I'll have a word with him later. This man here is a great general who protects our Empire from the real bad guys. Speaking about him like that is disrespectful. Do you understand?"

Nicol's face flushed with a mix of guilt and reluctance. His grip on his brother's waist tightened as he glanced up at him, eyes wide and hesitant. He didn't like Wulfric, but he knew he couldn't say that out loud now.

Although his words were influenced by what Uncle Casey had told him, Nicol's instant dislike for the man reinforced his belief that his uncle must be right. The moment he saw this bad guy, he felt an automatic aversion, convincing him that Uncle Casey's warnings were justified.

He looked over at Wulfric. The other had a smug smile as if saying, 'See? Your Brother Aster likes me. What will you do now?' Which only made him even more unwilling to admit his mistake. But if he didn't, Brother Aster might dislike him. At the end, he could only bite his lip and surrender.

"I'm sorry," he mumbled, his gaze dropping to the floor.

It was a bit petty, but Wulfric couldn't help but enjoy the downcast expression of the arrogant brat. It would have been perfect if the kid would just let go of Aster. As he contemplated ways to separate them, he noticed Aster looking at him with an expression that clearly urged him to accept the brat's apology.

He cleared his throat to stifle the sigh that almost escaped. Then, adopting a mature tone, he said, "As long as you understand."

With this incident behind them, the four of them proceeded to the cockpit.

Unlike the cramped quarters of an airplane cockpit, this spaceship's command center was incredibly spacious. It was large enough to comfortably accommodate around fifteen people, allowing them to move around freely without any sense of confinement.

The wide panoramic windows offered a clear view of the quiet spaceport outside, and the refined design was filled with advanced controls and displays that showcased the ship's cutting-edge technology.

And there, Wulfric's three captains were waiting. Or rather, they were doing their own thing.

The red-haired captain, Slade, was lounging in a chair reclined so far back it was nearly horizontal. With his eyes closed, he appeared to be fast asleep.

Edmund, his hair now back to normal length, was engrossed in a game, his furrowed brow and frustrated expression revealing he wasn't doing well. He frequently glanced over his shoulder, seeking advice from the person behind him. Hildred, standing behind Edmund, would lean in closer to assist him, their proximity making it appear as though he was hugging Edmund from behind each time he offered help.

Actually, it didn't just seem like it. With how close their bodies were, the only thing missing was Hildred completely encircling Edmund in his arms. Yet Edmund seemed oblivious to the situation, smiling like a silly golden retriever every time Hildred helped him.

Hildred's amber eyes sparkled with mirth whenever Edmund smiled gratefully at him, clearly enjoying the situation. The expression on his face, a blend of amusement and greed, was at odds with his otherwise youthful appearance.

Astrid raised an eyebrow as he observed the scene. It was like watching a predator stalking its prey in real-time. Even though he knew nothing about Edmund, he suddenly felt a pang of sympathy for the guy. It was clear that Hildred had locked onto him, and there was probably no way he was letting go.

"Where are the Grimaldis?"

Wulfric's question instantly drew the attention of the three captains. Slade opened his eyes and lazily sat up straight. Edmund quickly stopped playing the game he was playing, looking like a kid who was caught doing something he shouldn't. While Hildred just turned around, looking at them with interest.

"They're probably in the lounge area," Slade answered.

Hildred suddenly stepped in front of Astrid with a bright smile. "Hello, Astrid! I'm a huge fan. Could I get your autograph?"

Astrid studied the man standing before him. Despite the smile, he could tell Hildred was lying. If he couldn't even pick up on that, he might as well give up his qualification as an actor. However, sensing no malice, he figured it was just an attempt to start a conversation.

"Thank you. I'll make sure to give you one later."

"Really? I'm so happy!"

Astrid smiled, doing his best to hide his skepticism. If he hadn't witnessed Hildred's behavior with Edmund earlier, he wouldn't have been able to connect the man before him with that scene. If Hildred wasn't in the military, he would undoubtedly have a promising future in the entertainment industry.

"Brother Aster, let's go to the lounge area," Nicol said, interrupting the conversation. Then he turned to Reas and said reluctantly. "Brother Andreas should come too."

Reas chuckled to himself. Should he be grateful that the kid was at least calling him 'brother' now?