Chapter 36: Watching the Match

Chapter 36: Watching the Match

A month's time passed quickly, in the blink of an eye.

During this time, Xiao Sa and Landis were almost practically inseparable every night. Xiao Sa always felt that there were some subtle changes in Landis, though he couldn’t quite pinpoint what they were.

The most notable change was that Landis had become more controlling, to the extent that guards had to report whenever Xiao Sa went anywhere.

However, Xiao Sa’s daily routine was simple, just going between school and home. He never participated in activities such as shopping, attending banquets, tea parties, or watching operas, which the nobility loved.

The two husbands were quite the contrast. One was overly protective and increasingly controlling, while the other was a homebody. He had little interest in the extravagant lifestyle of the nobility, except for his keen interest in mechs and arena battles.

For the most part, in their honeymoon phase, the two were relatively harmonious.

Xiao Sa attributed Landis’s various actions to a kind of separation anxiety commonly seen in pseudo-omegas and thought little more of it.

Following the primary duty of a perfect alpha, he would put in extra effort at night to soothe Landis. Once Landis was fully satisfied and exhausted, he wouldn’t feel uneasy about his partner’s absence during the day.

Finally, the day of the Capital Mech Academy’s annual grade combat assessment arrived.

What was usually an ordinary monthly exam suddenly became a highly secured event. The arena was filled with strict security personnel, and even the security checks had become more complex.

The usually sparsely populated spectator stands were fully occupied today, with many faces typically seen only in Stellar Network broadcasts making an appearance here.

“Brother Xiao!” Bayer exclaimed as he ran over. “Have you heard? The third prince is actually attending the match today! He’s a rare guest! Thanks to His Highness, it is said that members of parliament and high-ranking nobles are also here to watch!”

Kaman pressed his forehead. Ever since the spoiled rich kids from Class A had started to put in effort, this news had spread like wildfire in the capital’s noble circles. It wasn’t surprising that people were interested, but how many were here to watch the spectacle was anyone’s guess.

But what he hadn’t expected was that even the third prince would show up. Were the royals truly that free?

“There are also big shots from the military here,” Bayer said with a lively expression. "Guess who?"

Xiao Sa raised an eyebrow; there was no need for him to guess.

He had specifically asked Landis about it the previous night. Landis had only given a cryptic reply, saying that the military was very busy.

Haha, for all his high-and-mighty talk, he was quite honest in coming here. However, it was unexpected that Landis would use his position for personal reasons, coming here under the pretense of 'inspection.'

“General Landis has arrived in person, along with Deputy General Lord Eg of the Exploration Legion,” Bayer continued. "It’s said they’re here to select talents for the next expansion and fill vacancies."

Xiao Sa casually looked from the entrance of the arena toward the stands, where the VIP spectators had already taken their seats. Landis, dressed in his black military uniform, stood out prominently among the crowd.

The wide brim of his military cap cast a shadow over his eyes as he sat steadfastly. Few people dared to approach him except for his adjutant and the Third Prince seated next to him.

"Long time no see, Lord Landis," said Third Prince Moyang, dressed in elegant noble attire, gently stroking the snow leopard in his arms.

Landis nodded in greeting, responding coolly, "What brings you here today, Third Prince, to watch the Mech Academy competition?"

A sleek black lion appeared by his side, raising its head high, its thick tail swishing back and forth. Its sharp golden eyes stared fixedly at the person opposite him.

The third prince smiled. "The Capital Mech Academy is one of Central Star's four major academies. Most of the officers in the military are selected from here. It's only natural that I show some concern, wouldn't you agree?"

"I heard that some alien creatures broke through the atmosphere near the capital star recently, inflicting heavy casualties on the legion stationed nearby. They urgently need to replenish officers and soldiers. What are your thoughts on this matter, Lord Landis?"

Landis had been busy investigating the invasion by alien creatures of Central Star, but all traces had been wiped clean, as though it were a simple accident, and the alien creatures had appeared out of nowhere.

Landis frowned. "I've submitted a report to His Majesty concerning this matter. I suspect there might be a hidden nest of alien creatures near Central Star that we haven't discovered yet."

The third prince nodded. "That's indeed a reasonable guess. Should that be the case, then it's quite terrifying."

Landis's response was airtight. "Please rest assured, Third Prince. The military should not be underestimated. We will ensure the safety of Central Star."

"That reassures me," the third prince said with a smile, then suddenly changed the subject. "I heard that your companion, Mr. Xiao Sa, will also be participating in the competition this time? To secure a spot in the Exploration Legion?"

Landis gave him a knowing look. "It seems that Your Highness has a special interest in Mr. Xiao Sa."

The third prince said slowly, "I wonder, you recently repelled alien creatures, and your state wasn't very good. But now, your psychic energy fluctuations appear very stable. I just find it curious—Mr. Xiao Sa is only a C-rank and doesn't even have a mental entity, yet he can stabilize you to this extent. It seems that a 100% psychic match is truly miraculous. No wonder everyone yearns for it."

Landis felt there was something hidden in the third prince's words. Being eyed like this over his partner made him uncomfortable.

He replied coldly, "If Your Highness is envious, you could also apply to Mr. Haino. Perhaps you'll find a 100% match too."

It's best not to keep thinking about other people's partners.

The third prince chuckled meaningfully but said nothing.

He was genuinely curious. If one day in the future, Landis discovered that his prided 100% match wasn't unique, would he still be able to laugh then?

He had specifically consulted the spiritual healer of the Royal Association. Given the severity of Landis's mental contamination, the only way to recover so quickly would be to treat his partner as a consumable, drawing on him without restraint.

He leisurely turned his head and looked toward the entrance of the arena, feeling a secret sense of pity in his heart. It's truly pitiful. I wonder how much longer Xiao Sa has to live? If it were me, I at least wouldn't be so rough.

Over there, all the contestants from the classes were in position, and the match host announced the official start of the battles.

The grade-level battles were divided into two rounds. The first round was an individual battle, with participants randomly drawn for one-on-one matches. Each win earned a point for the class.

Xiao Sa was extremely lucky in the draw, ending up against a B-level psychic energy opponent. This contestant was originally at the bottom of the rankings and was only there for a first-round elimination. When he drew Xiao Sa, he was genuinely quite conflicted.

He knew that Xiao Sa was General Landis's significant other, who was watching from the stands. If he won, wouldn't it be losing face for the General? But with his skill level, the only person he could probably beat was Xiao Sa, who was a C-level.

Unexpectedly, before he could decide whether he should win or not, Xiao Sa had already maneuvered his mech, kicked him down, and delivered a swift and brutal beating using techniques taught by Landis.

The match barely lasted ten minutes before the system referee declared Xiao Sa the winner.

A cheer immediately went up from Class A. In the spectator seats, the third prince looked at Xiao Sa in surprise and then turned his head to speak to Landis. "Did you arrange for this opponent, Your Excellency?"

Landis calmly and unhurriedly shook his head. "No."

The third prince seemed somewhat surprised. "Could it be that Xiao Sa learned this from you? But he's only a C-level?"

Landis coldly pursed his lips. "On the battlefield, rank has always been secondary. Xiao Sa's learning ability far surpasses many others."

He paused, and upon reconsidering, he felt a pang of regret about Xiao Sa's level. However, he thought, "If the sky were to fall, the tall ones would be there to hold it up. It was also good for Xiao Sa to be like this," not having to face any dangerous situations on the battlefield.

After undergoing intense training, Kaman and Bayer finally managed to bring out eighty percent of their potential, securing solid victories against opponents they had never dreamed of defeating before.

Almost half of Class A won their matches in the individual tournament, which was already beyond Xiao Sa's expectations, considering they had barely participated in grade battles before.

Even so, their total score remained quite low. While they were no longer in last place, being in second-to-last was not the result Xiao Sa wanted.

The only way to pull their total score above the average was to win first place in the second round, which was the team battle.

No one was optimistic about this, including Kaman, who had always admired Xiao Sa without reserve. He looked at Xiao Sa sheepishly, thinking Xiao Sa was upset about not securing a spot in the Exploration Legion.

He couldn't help but console him, "This is only the first assessment. There will be other opportunities. In half a year, with our strength, we’ll definitely secure a spot."

"No." Xiao Sa, without lifting his head, calculated something on the holographic display in front of him.

Without looking up, he declared firmly, "I will take you guys to first place today."

Having secretly come over from the B class rest area, Feng Yu couldn't help but say, "Don't push yourself too hard. Class A has indeed worked hard recently, but we're still a step behind the other classes. It's unrealistic to try and catch up in such a short time. We all know you're strong, but even you can't make up for that gap by yourself. Why the hurry?"

Xiao Sa had a serious expression and shook his head. He didn't want to waste time in the military academy; he had more important things to do.

Kaman said coldly, "Feng Yu, are you a spy? What are you here for? Eavesdropping on our strategy?"

Feng Yu gave a cold, derisive smile. "With your abilities, there's no need for that."

"That's enough," Xiao Sa raised his hand to stop their argument. "Feng Yu, go back first. Everyone else, listen up. When the team battle starts, everyone follows my command."

Kaman and the others looked at Xiao Sa suspiciously, wondering what he was scheming. Could there be some trick to turn the tables in this situation?

They couldn't help but secretly glance at General Landis on the viewing platform. Could it be that Xiao Sa had asked his partner to get the system referee to help them cheat?

With the referee system in position, teams entered the arena from their respective passages.

The team battle involves randomly selecting a holographic simulation map. Each class had its own initial camp, with a flag in the center symbolizing their central command post. Capturing an opponent's flag would earn ten points, and any team that lost their flag before the match ended was eliminated. The last remaining team would be the winner.

With the ringing of the bell, a one-hour countdown began. Five teams, each with twenty members, totaling one hundred participants, were simultaneously placed in their camps.

The battlefield was neither too big nor too small, with terrain features like forests, hills, and rivers separating the various camps.

All participants used uniform two-meter-tall mini exoskeleton mechs, which could only fly at low altitudes, preventing aerial observation of other camps. A special magnetic field interfered with the mech radars, restricting their range.

In the camp, Kaman and the others looked over at Xiao Sa. They had never participated in a team battle before.

They looked at him in confusion. "Bro Xiao, what do we do now? Should we go out and fight them head-on?"

Xiao Sa shook his head immediately. "In matches like this, the key is to play it safe in the early stages, absolutely no sticking our necks out."

Kaman said, "The others will think the same. We can't stay hidden here forever. If someone finds us, they'll capture our flag without a doubt."

Xiao Sa offered a mysterious smile. "I have my ways."

The moment the match began, an invisible mental domain expanded fully without reserve, covering the entire battlefield with maximum range.

Even with Xiao Sa's S-class level, maintaining such a vast mental domain could only be maintained for half an hour.

Within his domain, he could clearly detect the movements and directions of the other teams.

Xiao Sa chose a few people to accompany him and instructed the rest to stay in the camp without moving a muscle.

A moment later, Kaman and Bayer followed Xiao Sa through a small forest and stealthily approached the nearest B class camp.

These guys used the same tactic, splitting half of their team to guard the camp while the other half went out for reconnaissance. But Xiao Sa had gotten ahead of everyone.

Bayer exclaimed, "Xiao Sa, how did you know they were here?"

Xiao Sa didn’t answer, only asked, "Kaman, do you see that guy?"

He pointed, and the visor of his light brain zoomed in, locking onto Joan, who was talking loudly at the periphery of the camp.

Kaman rubbed his hands together and said with a grin, "Should we take him down?"

Xiao Sa nodded and said, "Go alone and lure him over by yourself."

Kaman was stunned for a moment and quickly nodded. He circled around from the other side of the enemy camp and then boldly appeared at the entrance, even making an obscene gesture. "Joan, you defeated loser, come out and die!"

Everyone was stunned, and upon seeing Kaman, the camp erupted into chaos.

"It's Kaman from A class! Is he crazy? Daring to come here alone, is there some kind of ambush?"

Joan laughed. His radar on his mech indicated just three people nearby. He had been waiting for a chance to avenge his earlier defeat against Kaman.

There were ten people left in the camp. Joan quickly selected a team of five and charged toward Kaman—this was a perfect opportunity to eliminate the lone stragglers. The remaining ones wouldn’t be a threat.

Five mechs rushed forward, their laser particle cannons firing in a dazzling display of lights, quite a sight to behold.

In the spectator stands, Duke Lot watched as his second son was being overwhelmed and couldn’t help but frown. "Five against one, resorting to numbers, how dishonorable."

Landis said calmly, "Storming an enemy camp alone isn’t a wise move."

Kaman’s mech was hit several times, and the energy shield frantically blared. The team chat channel crackled with Xiao Sa’s calm voice:

"Head due south 30 degrees. Rush over as fast as you can."

Kaman immediately turned to the south, and before long, he saw the C class camp, just across a small river.

Xiao Sa said, "Good, jump into the river. I’ll take care of the rest."

Kaman, though feeling bewildered, followed Xiao Sa's orders and dove straight into the river.

The pursuing five-man squad led by Joan also spotted the C-class camp across the way. Joan sneered, "So, that's the plan, huh? Do you think we'd fall for it so easily?"

The remaining C-class team simultaneously noticed Joan's group and immediately went on full alert, rushing out with their mental entities.

Joan shouted, "We're chasing Kaman from A-class. He's by himself. Let's take him out first..."

Before he could finish speaking, Xiao Sa emerged from the small forest and greeted them, "Hi, good afternoon."

Joan laughed, "You came to back up Kaman? By yourself? You'll be finished here." He then led his five-man squad towards Xiao Sa.

In the viewing stands, Landis frowned, "Instead of going for the flag right in front of them, they're resorting to ganging up on an opponent of a lower level. It's not befitting of a soldier."

Duke Lot pursed his lips and silently thought, "You weren't saying that earlier."

As Joan's five-man team closed in on Xiao Sa, they suddenly realized their mental entities were out of control. They turned collectively towards the C-class camp and charged, one of them biting a mutated porcupine!

Simultaneously, Xiao Sa changed direction and followed their mental entities into the C-class camp, shouting loudly over the full channel, "As we agreed, I'll help you take this camp this time, and next time, you'll help me."

The remaining C-class team was furious, "Joan, you're pulling a sneak attack like this! Are you playing fair?"

Joan and his squad were momentarily stunned, wondering what was happening with their mental entities.

Of course, at this moment, no one would believe anything other than that it was a joint conspiracy between A-class and B-class.

Meanwhile, Kaman, acting on Xiao Sa's instructions, surfaced from the river and joined the fray.

In an instant, the three teams were inexplicably locked in a melee. Joan had no choice but to join the fray. Amidst the chaos, someone in the camp suddenly shouted, "The flag's been grabbed!"

When everyone turned around, they saw that Xiao Sa had already yanked out the flag.

Before they could react, Xiao Sa nonchalantly tossed the flag to Joan, saying, "Don't forget to hand over D-class's flag as promised."

With that, he and Kaman ran off without looking back, disappearing from everyone's radar once again.

Joan felt like his CPU was about to fry. The flag in his hand felt like a hot potato, too hot to hold but impossible to drop.

The remaining teams went crazy and attacked them, constantly broadcasting in the team channel that B-class's Joan, the despicable traitor, had teamed up with the enemy to steal their flag!

Outside, another scouting team of ten men learned about this and immediately joined forces with Class D, deciding to jointly confront the "despicable" Class B team.

The Class B scouting team, which was competing with Class E for the flag, fell into a brief moment of confusion upon hearing this from their team channel.

As the captain, Feng Yu instantly guessed that this must be Xiao Sa's scheme!

However, he couldn't explain it—everyone knew that he had been training with members of Class A for a long time, and no matter how much he tried to explain, it wouldn't be clear.

For now, his only option was to go along with it and pretend that they were truly allied with Class A.

After pulling out Class E's flag, Feng Yu immediately ordered everyone to return to the camp via the team channel.

In the viewing stands, as everyone watched the chaos unfold on the battlefield, their attention was involuntarily drawn to the instigator behind it all, Xiao Sa.

The third prince Moyang smiled and said, "Just now, Xiao Sa deliberately threw the flag to the opponent. Lord Landis, what do you think?"

Landis remained expressionless: "All is fair in war."

Duke Lot glanced at him speechlessly—wasn't it just you complaining about the lack of military honor?

During their conversation, the chaos among the five teams had fully escalated. The outnumbered Class B team suffered heavy casualties, leaving them with less than half of their members, while the other teams also suffered injuries.

Seeing this situation, Feng Yu, assessing the circumstances, immediately gave the two flags he had obtained to Class D, which had the strongest effective forces.

"Here, take it as a gift. We're not competing with you anymore."

This move was undeniably timely and correct, immediately stopping the chaos.

At this moment, everyone was shocked to realize that the team that was the most intact was Class A, with all twenty members still present.

Class B had only seven members left, Class C had eight, Class D had twelve, and Class E had ten, totaling just over thirty people.

"Everyone, listen to me," Feng Yu said in the full channel, "Class A's goal has already been achieved. We are fighting amongst ourselves while they are taking advantage of the situation. So now, we should unite and eliminate Class A first. No matter what, we can't let the notorious last-place Class A claim first place in this team competition!"

The other teams looked at one another. Although they still had doubts about Class B, they had to admit that his words were correct.

After all, no one wanted to let the gilded nobility class have the upper hand over them. That would be too humiliating.

To show their sincerity, Class B took the lead in pulling out their own flag: "Let's go to Class A's camp, pull out their flag, and eliminate them first, then decide the ownership of the remaining flags' positions."

Excluding their own camp flag, Class D now held two flags, and with Class C and Class E having lost their numerical superiority, they raised no objections. Thus, the remaining 30 or so people joined forces and sprinted towards the Class A camp location that had been scouted.

Upon arrival, they found the Class A camp empty, with no one left to guard it. The last flag was also missing, leaving only a cluster of abandoned mechs on the ground.

The Class A team seemed to have lost their senses. They left their mechs behind and disappeared. Did they know they couldn't win and decided to surrender?

"What's the situation?"

"Where did the Class A team go?"

After reaching out to the rest of their team, the last remaining member of the Class D squad suddenly appeared in the team channel, sobbing, "Captain! Our camp has been overrun by Class A! They’ve taken our flag."

"What?" All five flags had been captured. While the B, C, and E flags remained with them, the other two were in Class A's hands.

They didn't have time to think about it. No matter how hard they tried to figure it out, they couldn't understand how Class A could move around the map without being detected, as if they had full-map radar.

Soon after, a laid-back voice rang out from behind them. Xiao Sa, alone in his mech, stood on the hill overlooking them, broadcasting on an all-channel broadcast in a slow, deliberate tone, "You are all surrounded by us. Remain calm!"

The group: "???"