Chapter 49

Chapter 49

After the banquet, bidding farewell to Albert's mother and sister, the trio headed back to school together.

Away from the live cameras, the three of them breathed a sigh of relief.

Yan Yan activated his holographic brain and handed it over, "Here are the mission letters and application reports. Check if there's anything that needs to be corrected."

Both Lin Fu and Albert winced, their ears burning as they lowered their heads to read.

They had completely forgotten about this matter; tomorrow was the deadline for report submission, only after which they could prepare for their appointments. Had Yan Yan not reminded them, they would have been stuck in the imperial capital star.

Yan Yan looked at them with a smile and shook his head helplessly, "You two will be busy after returning, so I took the liberty of preparing two extra copies. If there are no issues, I'll send them to you. Get ready to submit them."

The two thanked him as the car arrived at the gates of Artemis Military Academy.

The hovercar couldn't enter the school, so the trio got out at the gate, where Lin Fu immediately caught sight of the last person he wanted to see, his expression instantly falling.

Even Yan Yan was surprised by his reaction.

Lin Fu was not one to wear his emotions on his sleeve, especially not strong ones. This obvious annoyance was a first for him.

Under the big tree at the school gate, a faint shadow covered the upper half of the man's body. He seemed to have been waiting here immediately after leaving the banquet, still dressed in his evening attire, a pitch-black suit.

The exquisite craftsmanship highlighted his fine physique to the fullest, and besides his broad shoulders and long legs, there was an uncommon refined elegance about him, lending a gentlemanly air to whatever he did.

It was quite a different look from his usual military uniform.

He took two steps forward, stepping out of the shade of the tree, his face illuminated by the light, a smile adorning his visage.

"Captain Lin, I have something to discuss with you."

Lin Fu's temples throbbed as he heard the words "I have something to discuss with you." Any semblance of extinguished anger within him began to accumulate and intensify.

Albert and Yan Yan exchanged a glance, dropping a "Take your time talking" before quickly circumventing them and entering the school gates.

It was a scene they clearly had no part in.

Lin Fu stood rooted to the spot, his dark pupils fixated on Cheng Jiu. If he couldn't produce a convincing explanation tonight, he was bound to suffer a dire fate.

Cheng Jiu's gaze fell behind him. The school entrance had its share of passersby, not a place for conversation.

After a three-second standoff, Lin Fu grudgingly compromised and followed him into the car.

Cheng Jiu trailed half a step behind, his eyes casting a subtle smile.

Even though he had been tricked once before by him, he still followed him without hesitation. It was unclear whether the kid trusted him or simply didn't take him seriously.

"Speak now, whatever it is," Lin Fu said icily.

Cheng Jiu transmitted an application report to him: "After the end of the Wasteland Race, not only did you pass smoothly, earning the permission to enter the battlefield, but you also rose directly to the rank of Captain. The old fogeys in the council won't be pleased."

"Come to the Ninth Legion. This is the only legion the council can't reach. General Qi will soon retire, and I am about to take over the legion. With me here, no one can touch you."

Lin Fu declined without hesitation: "I'm going to the Fourth Legion."

Cheng Jiu's smile faded as he spoke slowly, "If it's about what happened tonight..."

Lin Fu cut him off before he could finish, "It's not. I decided to join the Fourth Legion back on the Wasteland. Not just me, but Albert, Tang Qian, and Zhong Si will also follow me there."

Cheng Jiu pressed down on Lin Fu's shoulder, looking him straight in the eye, "What's the problem with the Ninth Legion if it's the same battlefield?"

Lin Fu lifted his head, not avoiding Cheng Jiu's gaze: "I'm going to the frontlines not to be someone's subordinate for life." How exceptional was Cheng Jiu? The youngest major general in the empire's history, soon to be the youngest commander of a legion.

The moment he joined the Ninth Legion, he was doomed never to surpass Cheng Jiu, always overshadowed.

Even if that person was Cheng Jiu, he would not submit, not be content!

Cheng Jiu was about to speak further, but Lin Fu gave him a nonchalant glance.

"I won't change my initial intention for anything, and you should be clear about that."

He was single-minded in his pursuit to join the front lines. How much effort did he expend for this purpose?

Every drop of blood he spat, every wound he endured, every obstacle he faced, was all for this singular goal.

Cheng Jiu looked at him, a fire seemingly blazing in his bright eyes, the dense ink of his pupils reflecting his own visage.

After a long pause, he sighed softly, "I understand now."

He turned off his brain-computer interface, massaged his brow, and murmured, "What can I do if you put it that way?" His tone laced with a hint of grievance.

Lin Fu doubted his own ears.

With a slight furrow of his brows, he asked, "Besides this matter, is there anything else? If not, I'll take my leave."

Cheng Jiu parted his lips, "At the banquet today, I..."

Lin Fu clenched his fist, "If you're going to talk about the garden incident, I advise you to keep quiet."

And so, Cheng Jiu fell silent.

Lin Fu exited the car with a displeased expression, slamming the door so fiercely it seemed to echo through the air as if it were Cheng Jiu being slammed.

Inside the car, Cheng Jiu could only ruefully touch the tip of his nose.

*

The Crown Prince's public declaration of love, coupled with Lin Fu's rejection, topped the headlines on various platforms that evening, maintaining its high popularity.

The Crown Prince entered the Emperor's chamber and was immediately struck by a flying cup, shattering against his forehead and causing crimson blood to trail down his face.

The Emperor, in a furious roar, bellowed, "Look at the mess you've made! Now the entire star network is talking about you, talking about the royal family! Do you have any idea how much face the royal family has lost because of you!? Is this the 'foolproof' plan you spoke of? Is this your 'definite'?"

Simon Constans wiped the blood trailing toward the corner of his eye, gazing down at the red on his fingertips with a gloomy look, indifferent to the Emperor's roaring.

After venting his anger, the Emperor accepted a cup of tea from a maid, "This is the trouble you've caused. You've come here presumably with a solution in mind?"

In his view, there were only two possible solutions.

One was to persuade Lin Fu to agree, to marry into the royal family, which would resolve these issues smoothly.

The other was to eliminate Lin Fu.

As the root of the problem, as long as he parades in the public eye for even a day, there will come a day when someone will remember this incident and use it to mock the royal family. By eliminating him, as time fades, this person will be forgotten, and those foolish citizens will naturally forget the incident as well.

Simon Constans bowed, his left hand across his abdomen, "Your Majesty, your son wishes to continue pursuing Lin Fu."

"What did you say!?" The Emperor surged to his feet, his blood boiling with rage at his son's words.

He grabbed an object before him, prepared to hurl it and knock some sense into his rebellious son.

Simon Constans remained undaunted, his tone steady, "Has Your Majesty seen the public's comments on the star network? Do you know whether they side more with the royal family or with Lin Fu?"

The Emperor had no interest in his rebuttal, regarding him coldly, "You only need to present a solution, and then implement it."

Simon Constans bowed even lower, his expression hidden in the shadows, "My solution is to continue pursuing Lin Fu. Once he leaves the Imperial Capital star, out of the public's sight, they will gradually forget his once glorious image. As I remain steadfast in the public eye, towards whom will the people's favor lean, I wonder?"

"Since you are resolved, proceed as you wish. But be prepared to face the consequences."

Simon Constans's lips curled into a smile as he bowed and exited the palace, facing the light head-on. His smile broadened as he strode away.

Inside the palace, the Emperor spoke in a subdued tone, "Come out."

A figure suddenly emerged from behind the curtain, "Your Majesty, your orders?"

The Emperor slowly sipped his tea, his earlier rage nowhere to be seen, his eyes glinting with murderous intent, "Simon's method is indeed good, but he is too young to understand that such people must be eradicated root and branch, leaving no room for uncertainty. Lin Fu must die en route to his posting, understood?"

"By the way, that child from the Harvey family, he's quite close to Lin Fu, isn't he?"

"Your Majesty, they applied together for the Fourth Legion. The head of the Harvey family requested a captain's rank from the council."

Hearing this news, the Emperor's mood brightened, "Since they are such good friends, let's make it a heartfelt farewell. Let them die together. What kind of family allows a milk-faced child to take charge?"

"Yes," the figure replied, departing as silently as they had appeared.

*

After submitting the application, the orders were issued swiftly. By the third day, every military academy student had received their orders, preparing to head to the battlefield.

Lin Fu had nothing to pack, no belongings to sort out; after all, his few possessions were already stored in his storage device.

Before leaving, he went to see Shang Jiarui for one last time.

It had been quite a while since they last saw each other; they would chat occasionally when they both found the time.

Unlike Lin Fu's increasingly deviant growth, Shang Jiarui perfectly embodied all the traits of a "Guide."

Just like his spirit entity, he was harmless yet lively, like a little squirrel.

Having witnessed Lin Fu's valor in the wilderness race, Shang Jiarui no longer worried as he once did. Instead, he had immense confidence in Lin Fu and patted his shoulder, "Do well, my future lifelong affairs are in your hands!"

Lin Fu rubbed his forehead in resignation.

Shifting the conversation, he asked, "Speaking of which, I heard your spiritual power has recovered. What's your spirit entity like? Let me have a look."

Bringing up the topic, Lin Fu shook his head, "I don't have a spirit entity."

Shang Jiarui was astonished, "How can you not have a spirit entity?"

Lin Fu vaguely replied, "I'm not sure, perhaps the past impact was too severe. Although I've recovered, it might have caused lasting damage to my spiritual power."

"I see..." Shang Jiarui grimaced, "Then when you fight the Bug Race, won't you have to be even more cautious than others? Without a spirit entity, you'll have to be vigilant against psychic attacks, which also weakens your combat strength."

Lin Fu assured him, "It's not a significant impact. I don't have to worry about psychic disturbances; instead, I can fight more freely."

Spiritual power is always an unavoidable topic when discussing combat against the Bug Race.

Humans must imbue their weapons with spiritual power to penetrate the Bug Race's defenses during an attack. This is why, despite technological advancements, humans still need to pilot mechas for close combat.

Whether or not his spirit entity could recover, and when, Lin Fu himself had no certainty.

After bidding farewell to Shang Jiarui, it would likely be several years before they saw each other again.

In the early morning, when the sky was suffused with a faint light, and a thin veil of grey mist shrouded the heavens, the military port was already filled with people, the distinct uniforms of different military academies clearly demarcated.

The enormous silver insignia of the Fourth Legion, a cross of sword and halberd, exuded a cold, murderous aura on the dark hull of the ship.

Nearby, several other warships were docked, each in different colors, adorned with symbols representing their respective legions.

At the entrance to the warship stood new recruits, queuing up in neat rows to board the ship, their military boots clanking on the floor in an imposing rhythm.

Compared to the queues of new recruits from other legions, the Fourth Legion's line was pitifully sparse.

Lin Fu glanced over and saw that the Ninth and Sixth Legions had particularly large numbers of new recruits.

No wonder Albert didn't even mention the name of the Fourth Legion when he introduced it.

The entire new recruit cohort of the Fourth Legion probably doesn't even make up a quarter of the Ninth Legion's numbers.

Albert whispered to recapture Lin Fu's attention, "It's almost our turn."

A few minutes later, the line advanced. Lin Fu stepped forward briskly to verify his identity with a fingerprint and iris scan, and his details flashed on the small screen.

The sentry in charge of verification was taken aback, fixating on the word "Captain" as if unable to snap back to reality: "You, you're one of the victors of the Wilderness Race?"

Lin Fu nodded: "Is there a problem?"