Chapter 18

Chapter 18

Lin Fu realized he hadn't concealed his expression well.

He composed himself: "No problem."

Having spent over half a year at the school, the instructors, familiar with Lin Fu's character, didn't probe further. They briefly explained the training mode set for the class until graduation.

Lin Fu's eyelashes veiled his eyes, which held a flicker of astonishment.

Inside the space of the ring, there was unexpectedly a mech.

He wondered if Cheng Jiu had simply forgotten about it or just didn't care.

He caressed the ring, his fingertips lightly touching the platinum edges set into the black band.

After training, he asked Tang Qian for Cheng Jiu's light-brain number.

Tang Qian was surprised: "I don't have it. Why are you asking me?"

Lin Fu explained, "I've taken something by mistake and plan to return it. Didn't he promise to settle your family on Emperor Star and leave a number?"

Tang Qian thought for a moment, then sent a message to his parents: "He should have left his adjutant's number with my parents, wait a moment while I ask."

Lin Fu nodded. After obtaining the light-brain number, he sent a friend request. The other party was busy and might not see his request right away. He casually turned off his light-brain and went to the simulation training pod to engage in mech battles with those in need of mental conditioning.

Tang Qian was long accustomed to Lin Fu's diligence. After adjusting his own schedule, he followed him for joint battle training.

The simulation pods could link psychic energy, similar to mech piloting, but without physical harm. Training wouldn't reflect on the physical body but would form battle instincts in the mind and accumulate combat experience.

However, for Lin Fu, it was enough. As long as it could connect to psychic energy, it was all the same to him.

When the two emerged from the simulation pod, Lin Fu noticed several messages on his light-brain. Opening them, he saw they were from the adjutant, who had already accepted his friend request, inquiring if there was something he needed.

The phrasing and word choice were remarkably polite for an ordinary military academy student.

Lin Fu: "Your major's mech was left in my possession. We should arrange a time for its return."

Adjutant: "…?"

Adjutant: "???"

In a brief moment, the adjutant's mind raced with unsavory thoughts. But catching a glimpse of his superior's gaze drifting his way, he swiftly purged these thoughts and replied politely, "Please wait a moment, I need to consult with the major."

He adjusted his expression, speaking respectfully and earnestly, "Major, Cadet Lin Fu has reported that your mech is with him and is asking when you would like to retrieve it."

Cheng Jiu extended his hand.

At first, the adjutant was perplexed, but noticing Cheng Jiu’s gaze fixed on his wrist, he promptly passed over the light-brain.

Cheng Jiu initiated a video call using the adjutant's wrist, which was promptly answered by the other party.

The youthful face of a boy leaped out from the blue screen of the light-brain, so clear it seemed to be right before him. Squinting slightly, he adjusted the position of his wristband, ensuring the virtual screen wasn't disturbed by the setting sun.

A soft golden light brushed over the tips of his hair and the contours of his ears, casting a pale golden sheen and making the finest fuzz on the side of his face and ears starkly visible.

—It made one yearn to touch and feel its texture with their fingertips.

Cheng Jiu’s smile was radiant as he casually lifted his hand, seemingly unintentionally brushing across the virtual screen, and greeted Lin Fu: “Long time no see?”

“Cadet Lin, after your initial 'goodbye,' why the sudden eagerness to see me?”

Lin Fu’s expression was unfazed, not a wrinkle on his brow, but Tang Qian beside him frowned slightly at this flippant tone.

A major acting so frivolously toward a guide?

Lin Fu: “I was seeking to speak with Adjutant Jing.”

Cheng Jiu feigned surprise as if just realizing: “Then it seems I am mistaken.”

Lin Fu tugged the corner of his mouth in a mirthless smile: “You seem prone to forgetfulness, not even noticing the loss of your mech. But then again, you do forget quite a bit. Perhaps it would be normal for you to remember after half a year.”

The adjutant witnessed his superior being cheekily confronted, yet the superior seemed to revel in it, angling his head away as if he wished he could twist his neck off to avoid the sight.

Cheng Jiu's fingers tapped against the tabletop before he decisively declared, "Consider it a gift; no need to return it. My life is far more valuable than a mere storage device, and as it happens, you’re short a mech."

Before Lin Fu could object, he airily added, "The Havi family is quite preoccupied; he won’t have time to assist you for now. Do you plan to keep using the academy's standard-issue mechs indefinitely? Overreliance on such low-grade mechs can dull your combat sharpness."

Cheng Jiu struck right at Lin Fu's most sensitive issue, akin to aiming for the snake's vital seven inches.

The next moment, Cheng Jiu proposed, "Of course, there's one condition. Add me on your light-brain?"

His tone was eerily similar to a man in Lin Fu's world asking a beautiful woman for her phone number, which made Lin Fu's head throb, feeling that Cheng Jiu always had a knack for provoking his irritation.

Lin Fu responded offhandedly and abruptly ended the video call.

The world suddenly felt more pleasant.

It was only after the call ended that Tang Qian remarked, “Why does Major Cheng speak to you so...”

His brow furrowed in displeasure.

Half a year at the military academy, no one had dared to even entertain frivolous thoughts about Lin Fu, let alone voice them.

This wasn't just due to Lin Fu's capabilities, but also because Tang Qian and Albert would deal with such individuals harshly, both overtly and covertly.

Now, this man had appeared out of the blue, blatantly disrespecting Lin Fu, making Tang Qian feel he hadn’t been protective enough.

Lin Fu, however, didn’t mind it.

The brief interaction was enough for him to understand that Cheng Jiu was just someone with a loose tongue.

It was merely a matter of poking fun at each other, a contest of who had the sharper wit.

*

After ending the video call, Cheng Jiu released the adjutant’s wrist.

Jing Cun cautiously inquired, "Should I encrypt the communication channel between you and Young Master Lin Fu?"

Cheng Jiu: "No need. Give him my number."

Jing Cun: "Understood."

*

Lin Fu gazed intently at the messages on his light-brain, leaning against a tree trunk near the school entrance, arms crossed, awaiting visiting students from other schools.

Not long after his and Tang Qian's return to the academy, the celebration games of the five major military schools were set to commence.

These five military academies were originally called the Imperial Star Quintet, but after relocating to other planets, only the Royal Military Academy and Artemis Institute remained on the Imperial Capital Star, necessitating a name change.

The celebration games, held every five years, are meant to commemorate humanity's esteemed status in the interstellar community and to instill a sense of crisis in the younger generation.

Of course, that's the official reasoning.

In reality, it's also an opportune time for the five major military schools to vie for their rankings and curry favor with the public.

The games are traditionally hosted in turn by each of the five schools, and this time, it's the Royal Military Academy's turn.

Teams of cadets from the participating schools and spectators alike flooded into the Imperial Capital Star, significantly increasing the planet's foot traffic.

The hosting duties were inevitably part of the process.

Although it's not Artemis Institute's turn to host the event, as one of the two remaining original schools on the Imperial Capital Star, it couldn't escape the fate of being observed and evaluated by other military schools.

Accompanying Lin Fu were two others: one was a fellow classmate from Class A1, an S+ ranked Sentinel named Zhong Si, and the other was a senior, also an S+ ranked Sentinel, named Yan Yan.

This task was originally Tang Qian's, but an unexpected matter arose requiring his attention, leaving Lin Fu to take his place.

According to the time displayed on the light-brain, half an hour had passed since the agreed-upon meeting time.

Observing Lin Fu's actions, Yan Yan explained, "They're trying to assert dominance. If we leave now, they'll have even more reason to criticize us."

Zhong Si, discontented, retorted, "They're late. What reason do they have to find fault with us?"

Yan Yan sighed, "The visitors are all students, at most accompanied by one teacher. Excuses are easy to find: unfamiliarity with the Imperial Capital Star causing delays, or even getting lost. If there's any issue, as long as the teacher doesn't intervene, it can be dismissed as minor student squabbles, nothing serious."

Zhong Si had never seen such cunning; even a simple school visit could become so complicated.

"Senior, aren't we also students?" he questioned.

Before Yan Yan could respond, Lin Fu suddenly straightened up and looked towards the school gate, stating, "They're here."

Following his gaze, the two of them indeed saw several hovercars parked outside the school gates. The doors opened and out stepped youths, all dressed in crisply tailored military-style uniforms, varying in color, with the school crest adorned on their sleeves or collars.

From the foremost hovercar descended a group uniformly clad in crimson uniforms, the collars embroidered with an imposing golden lion whose mane seemed to flow freely in the light.

Leading them was a female sentinel, her knee-high military boots and tightly cinched waist belt accentuating her impressive figure. Standing tall among her peers, she donned the crimson uniform with an air of overwhelming authority, her beauty sharp and dazzling.

After disembarking, she waited on the spot for the representatives from the remaining three military academies, her comrades standing firmly behind her, awaiting her lead.

They were from Hui Lion Academy.

Behind them, the royal military academy wore platinum uniforms, purple for Saint Mountain Academy, and the rearmost in grey-blue were from McCarton Academy.

The representatives from the four military academies congregated, with the leaders of the Royal and Hui Lion academies taking the most central positions, evidently enjoying a cordial relationship.

Artemis Military Academy seemed to be left out.

Yan Yan, observing them, answered Zhong Si's earlier question, "Because our academy is ostracized. We can't win against four."

Zhong Si: "…"