Chapter 87

Ch87 – From Head to Foot, these Bugs are Treasures

"It's time for dinner? Has the military supplies arrived? Has those damned Valens finally given up?" When the soldiers received a notice from their superiors asking them to gather for dinner immediately, they were all excited. You have to know that they've been eating very little for a week. They had been given a nutrient solution the day before yesterday, and they still had to fight against the massive horde of Zergs every day. It was very taxing to both the body and the mind. Ordinary Carbon-based humans would have starved long ago. Their genetically modified genes had supported them up to this point, but they were almost reaching the limit. If the new military supplies weren't available, they wouldn't have to worry about dying at the hands of the Zergs, they would die of starvation.

However, when they arrived at the meeting place that they saw not a box of nutrient solutions, but a ground strewn with Zerg carcasses.

These pesky insectss should have been mechanically cleaned up. How could they be piled up here like this? To save evergy, were they going to ask them to deal with these on their way to get their nutrient solutions?

"Adjutant Li, where is the nutrient solution? Are we supposed to clean up the Zergs here?" The crowd looked at Li Kai doubtfully.

"There are no nutrient solutions, and these worms do not need to be cleaned up."

"No nutrient solutions? Wasn't there a notice saying we'd be eating?" The crowd became more and more surprised. They didn't feel that Li Kai was joking with them. After all, the situation was so grave now, and no one would be joking with the lives of millions of soldiers.

"Well, these Zergs are the food. They're edible. Everyone, pick one up and start eating." Li Kai said as though he were offering meat buns for everyone to eat as much as they wanted.

When everyone looked at the thoroughly roasted insects littering the ground, and their faces crumbled.

"Adjutant Li, are you … are you kidding me?" A petty officer who was familiar with Li Kai could not help but asked in a whisper.

Li Kai stared at him with an iron-clad look. "Who would joke around with you about this kind of thing? This is the marshal's order! These bugs really are edible."

But the soldiers were still resistant. , and there was absolutely no way these bugs could be eaten.

What a joke, these Zerg were so disgusting … who would treat them as food?

At this time, He Yun Chen walked slowly towards the crowd. Everyone immediately stood upright and saluted him, "Marshal!"

He Yun Chen nodded his head slightly, bent over and picked up a bug. In front of this crowd, he removed the wings, feet and tail. He put it in his mouth, chewed it and swallowed.

"It can be eaten." Although He Yun Chen only said four words, his behavior of eating the Zergs without a change in his expression has completely awed everyone.

Li Kai also picked up a bug and imitating He Yun Chen's actions, also eat the bug. He didn't forget to tell them, "You need to remove the feet, wings and tail before eating it."

Seeing that everyone was still hesitating, He Yun Chen put down the bug meat and said lightly, "Are you hungry?"

The crowd immediately said, "Hungry!"

He picked up another Zerg corpse and brought it close to the noses of the soldiers. Because it had already cooled off a bit, the burnt smell had basically disappeared, leaving the slight smell of meat. He Yun Chen said, "Does it smell good?"

"…" Everyone looked at each other. Although the expression on their faces was still reluctant, they involuntarily began to salivate. They were so hungry they were starting to hallucinate.

He Yun Chen asked again, "Does it smell good?"

Everyone was silent, and it took a while before someone choked out, "It smells good …"

"If it smells good, then why don't you eat it?" He Yun Chen bent down, picked up another carcass, removed the feet, wings and tail, put it in his mouth, and ate it slowly. He had been so hungry for a long time. He ate it one after the other, looking as though he was enjoying a truly delicious delicacy.

A low sob sounded amongst the soldiers. They were outraged and desperate. Were these Zergs invincible? Has the empire abandoned them?

But at the same time, their desire for life has never been stronger.

They wanted to live and eat. So what if these were Zergs? So what if it's unpalatable or poisonous? Even if they don't eat, wouldn't they still die? Eat, and at least there was hope!

Some of the more daring soldiers gritted their teeth and despite the nausea they felt, bent over and picked up the bugs. The roasted worms exuded a faint smell of meat, and when they got close, they even smelled good.

With one bite, the expressions on everyone's faces changed instantly.

It's delicious!!! !!

Completely at odds with its ugly appearance, these bugs tasted a bit savory-sweet. Although there was no seasoning and they were simply roasted with fire, the bugs tasted clear and sweet. Though the shell was slightly burnt, this just gave it a slightly smoky flavor. It was crispy and had a distinct flavor.

The soldiers who were still hesitating finally couldn't help themselves as they watched their companions eat bug after bug.

Regardless of whether or not you could accept eating these things, anyway, just close your eyes and stuff your mouth full with tears streaming down you face. There's hope for life!

After a while, the entire open space was filled only with the quiet sound of chewing. At first, everyone was convinced they were about to die from eating these, the next, they were already captivated by the bugs' delicious taste.

The Zergs on the ground were quickly picked clean.

It was a pity that the number of Zergs was almost too small compared to the population of their base. Most soldiers only got to eat two or three, some who were slower to react could only get one.

Their hungry stomachs that hadn't had food for a long time started to wriggle awake. This desire to eat was passed to their brain, so that the soldiers who had been hungry for a long time suddenly felt insatiable hunger. Unconsciously, they began to look at those bugs beyond the protective barrier with a strange gleam in their eyes.

Seeing them like this, He Yun Chen revealed a little smile on his face. He pointed at the Zergs outside the protective barrier and said loudly, "Do you see those beetles? They taste even better."

********

Capital Star, Military Department.

"What's the news from the frontline?" He Wei Ye asked his aide.

"Report to the Supreme Commander, Marshal He has incinerated millions of Zergs according to your instructions. Their current food shortage has been resolved, but their energy shortage needs to be resolved as soon as possible."

He Wei Ye frowned upon hearing these words. Those sneaky Valens, who come and go like shadows, seemed to be determined to fight with them, lurking on the route they needed to take to transport supplies to Celtic Star. Whenever the Empire's transport ship passed, they would intercept their ships at all cost. The supplies needed by their frontline soldiers, the Valens would take to supply their own forces.

The Celtic Star's position was special. It was very close to Rutes' Capital star and two of their important resource planets. Once Celtic Star falls, the Zergs would be pushing right into the heart of the Rutes' territory. The Rutes' Capital Star would be defenseless and their destruction would only be a matter of time. This must not be allowed to happen!

"How's the research into the use of the Zerg carapace going?"

Ruan Tang last proposed that the beetle's incomparably tough carapace could be added to the mechs as a special material, and that a mech specifically targeted at the Zergs could be used for battle. He Wei Ye felt that this matter was very feasible. The beetle's carapace was not only tough but it could also resist the Zergs' corrosive fluid. This was probably so that they would not accidentally injure members of their own race. Once their mechs had the same property, it will not only greatly enhance their combat effectiveness, but they could also get resources from their enemies! It might reverse this entire situation!

These bugs were true treasures. Their meat could fill their stomachs, and their shells could be used as new materials. He Wei Ye breathed a sigh of relief. Regardless, at least, they could now see the dawn of hope.

"Reporting to the Supreme Commander, the team led by President He and Miss Xia Mi have been studying the Zergs all night and have made initial progress. No further news to report."

He Wei Ye nodded. He also knew that the research on this new material could not be rushed. At present, the most important thing was to annihilate those abominable Valen assault troops and send supplies over to their soldiers.

"How goes the preparations of the transport ships?"

"It's ready to go. The Third Army's Mech troops have also been assembled."

"Okay, contact Lord Gilbert and prepare to set out."

"Yes!"

Their new plan was to lure the snake out of its hole. The transport ships would set off in two batches. The first batch carried only a small amount of the old nutrient solutions and was escorted by the Mech troops of the Third Army. When the time comes, the Valens would be lured by the transport ships, but the supplies, as before, would be transported by the mechs themselves. Gilbert's mech troops will also cooperate with the operation. After the Valens come out, the transport ship personnel will immediately abandon ship and flee. The mech teams will secretly follow the Valens to ferret out their hideout and then they will immediately destroy it!

Later, carrying a full load of supplies such as the new version of the nutrient solutions, and even some ready-to-eat meals, the transport ships can quickly pass through before the Valens have assembled a new sneak attack force. They would be able to successfully send this batch of life-saving supplies to the frontline.

Although the Rutes' planet was rich in rare metals such as black steel and their industries were relatively developed, other resources were relatively scarce. Today the Rutes were in the same food shortage predicament as the Imperial army on the frontline. Therefore, they urgently needed this batch of supplies.

It would be best if they could repel the Valens completely and keep the transport ships, but these Valens were complete lunatics. They had already destroyed three transport ships by suicide attack. If this time they still failed to send supplies … They would like to ask his Majesty Gilbert to please have a bug feast.

He Wei Ye put a smile on his face and asked, "How is the research on canning?"

"The production plant and assembly line have been established. Production of canned fruits, canned vegetables, and various canned meats have begun. The equipment for making canned Zerg meat has also been successfully tested. As long as it is manufactured according to the plans, mass production can be carried out." At the mention of this, the adjutant's voice was unconsciously tinged with amazement and admiration.

This Mr. Ruan was truly magical. Anything that passes through his hands could be turned into gold. If he hadn't found that Zergs could be eaten, millions of their frontline soldiers wouldn't have been able to last until now. Before, they all thought that he was just an ordinary chef. At most, he could cook well and the only reason he could be considered a consultant of the military was also purely because of his friendship with He Yun Chen. It was only now that they realized, that one amazing chef, could influence the tide of the war this much!

"Ask them to send the design plans to Gilbert immediately. Ask him to set up a cannery on the Rutes' planets as soon as possible." The Rutes' industries were well developed. It would be very easy for them to build a cannery. In this way, those Zergs whom they saw as great scourges, would instead turn into steady streams of food.