Chapter 181

Chapter 181

The first round of the Five-School League finally concluded. As anticipated, the First Empire Academy secured both the champion and runner-up titles, with only the third place being a minor upset, claimed by Capital People's University.

Despite such impressive results, the atmosphere within the First Empire Academy after the match carried a hint of... peculiarity.

No one dared to approach the Military Academy President, who sat in a corner lost in thought, nor did they dare to openly praise the champion's splendid victory in his presence.

Ah, when comrades end up fighting each other, it becomes so awkward—both sides are like choosing between family members. In the end, everyone tacitly shifted the topic to Qi Ying, who was nearby.

While Eve and Anthony vied for the championship, the two losers from the previous round, Qi Ying and Yan Ning, were also battling for the third-place title.

Both hailing from mercenary backgrounds with no noble lineage, Yan Ning was usually wary of others due to their family connections, fearing she might cause serious harm to the young masters and ladies. But when facing Qi Ying, she held back no reservations.

Neither of their Spiritual States directly aided in combat, and their fierce, blow-by-blow brawl had the audience gasping in shock. Qi Ying, after all, was a skill-based fighter, so her loss to Yan Ning was within expectations.

"What a pity. If Little Qi had reacted just a bit faster at the end, he wouldn’t have been hit by Yan Ning’s sweeping leg technique, would he?" Grace remarked, crossing her arms. "But even Mu Huanzhu lost to Yan Ning earlier, so Little Qi’s loss is understandable."

Qi Ying murmured in agreement. "Given Yan Ning’s abilities, making it to the top three isn’t surprising. If Chief Eve hadn’t stopped her, her skills would have actually countered Anthony’s."

"You mean," Mu Huanzhu narrowed her eyes and retorted, "no matter who he faces, His Highness the Crown Prince can only take second place?"

Qi Ying: "I didn’t say that. He also has the option to come in third."

Mu Huanzhu snapped angrily: "You!"

"Enough, Huanzhu, stop arguing," Anthony, who had been brooding in the corner, finally emerged from his inner world. He brushed aside the disheveled hair hanging over his forehead and said resignedly, "The first round is over. The First Empire achieved excellent results—that’s what matters. Now, everyone should focus on the second round’s group matches."

Mu Huanzhu pouted unwillingly and turned away. Anthony’s gaze swept around the room, and he asked curiously, "Where’s Eve? Why isn’t she here?"

"She has nothing to do in the second round, so the Chief went back first," Liz replied.

"How relaxed of her," Anthony massaged his forehead and steered the conversation back to the most pressing matter. "Never mind, let’s get back to discussing the second round of the league."

They were currently on the First Empire Academy’s starship. Announcements for the second round of the Five-School League had already been issued. The second round’s group matches would take place on a planet named Santa Star, a training planet dominated by grassland terrain and also one of the military’s Zerg cultivation bases. It housed a large number of low to mid-level Zerg, as well as a small number of Advanced Zerg. Accordingly, the second round would involve hunting Zerg.

Group matches allowed teams of three to five members, with each school able to field up to three teams. Scoring was not individual or school-based but team-based, with final rankings also determined by group. However, to accumulate as many points as possible, all schools would utilize all fifteen spots allowed by the rules.

The First Empire was no exception. Their first team featured Tachibana Maki from the Weapons Department and Jessica from the Mecha Department as main attackers, with Lu Qing from the Medical Department as secondary attacker. Scouting and auxiliary healing were handled by Lorca from the Recon Department and Cecil from the Command Department, respectively—a formidable combination. The remaining second and third teams were filled by each Department Chief selecting suitable deputies. The overall strategy was to form one exceptionally strong team and focus all efforts on supporting it. It was expected that the other four schools would likely adopt a similar arrangement.

As soon as Anthony finished announcing the arrangements, Cecil couldn’t help but question them.

Frowning, he pressed his curled fingers against the table edge. "Why am I, from the Command Department, assigned to a healing role, while Lu Qing, from the Medical Department, is assigned as a secondary attacker?"

This wasn’t what they had initially discussed.

"This adjustment was made by Senior Isabella from the military, but isn’t Chief Lu one of the rare high-combat-capability members of the Medical Department?" Anthony said gently. "Isabella’s idea is not to waste talent. Besides, Cecil, your Spiritual State is very suited for healing. Of course, once the match starts, you’re free to arrange things as you see fit. Any other objections?"

The Medical Chief, wearing a silver mask, lazily replied, "I have no objections~"

If even she, from the Medical Department, had no issue being assigned to an attack role, others certainly wouldn’t. Thus, this newly announced arrangement was quickly finalized.

Cecil smirked faintly, not even bothering to offer a cold smile. He had long known that Lu Qing and Eve were the same person, and Isabella was usually very thorough—she wouldn’t announce a so-called new arrangement just before the match. The decision to transfer Lu Qing to the first team seemed more like something Luo Wenqing had deliberately orchestrated.

"You just finished the first round not long ago. How’s your recovery?" In a corner of the conference room, Lorca whispered to Eve. "You disappeared for several days after competing against Yan Ning. If you haven’t fully recovered, take it easy this round. With one championship already secured, you’ll definitely make it to the grand league."

"I’m fine, not as fragile as you think. Besides, Anthony’s match wasn’t that taxing to win," Eve chuckled softly, her voice barely audible. "And I've got it under control."

Lorca: "......"

He could believe the first part, but the latter sounded highly unreliable.

Just as he was about to say more, Eve interrupted him: "Oh, by the way, thanks to Yan Ning last round, the restraints on my back have loosened quite a bit, and I can use my spiritual power again. This round, you don’t need to leave the Wall-Imprisoned Serpent with me—keep it with you."

Lorca’s heart tightened immediately. "Loosened a bit doesn’t mean fully removed. There’s still a safety risk around you. You should keep it."

"Danger is always present; it can’t be completely avoided," Eve shook her head. "And honestly, my ability to protect myself is higher than yours now. You should focus on taking care of yourself."

She glanced at Lorca’s downcast look and couldn’t help but laugh. "Why do you look so upset? Are you underestimating me?"

"No......" Lorca murmured softly, unsure whether to feel happy about Eve’s recovering strength or disappointed about no longer being able to openly have his Spiritual State accompany her.

After wrestling with it for a while, he reluctantly said, "You shouldn’t use such risky methods to stimulate spiritual power recovery. Not everyone will hold back like Yan Ning did. It’s dangerous. It’s fine if you don’t carry my Spiritual State with you, but you can’t take such risks again or use your body as experimental material."

"Alright, I understand," Eve replied. "It was a last resort at the time. I know I was wrong, and I won’t do it again."

But Yan Ning’s punch had been incredibly powerful. Just thinking about it, Eve could still recall the immense pain of her insides being rearranged, making her teeth ache slightly.

Seeing the lingering fear in her eyes, Lorca felt she finally showed some remorse and grumbled, "As long as you keep your word."

Santa Star was quite far from Saijiate Star, requiring two spatial jumps before the starship finally arrived. Viewed from orbit, the planet’s surface was a mottled mix of yellow and green, like painted ceramic.

The scarcity of blue areas indicated a lack of rivers, lakes, or oceans. If even drinking water couldn’t be supplied, then survival would likely be an issue during the five-day competition, in addition to accumulating as many points as possible.

Eve guessed that if food and water couldn’t be obtained independently, they would probably have to be bought with points. She wondered though: while maliciously injuring others or stealing points was prohibited this round, would stealing items others exchanged for points be considered against the rules?

Meanwhile, in the eyes of other students, the Medical Department’s Chief Lu stood with her hands behind her back, staring thoughtfully out the viewport at the planet. Her serene, profound demeanor, coupled with her identity as an alchemist, evoked a sense of inexplicable reverence.

Although Chief Lu often skipped training and was distracted during pre-match meetings, it must be because the path of Alchemy occupied so much of her mind that she had no choice, right?

Look at her posture now—so wise, so inscrutable, radiating the aura of a lofty expert detached from worldly affairs.

They had no idea that, even before the match began, a thousand mischievous ideas were already flashing through Eve’s mind.

The military had a dedicated base on Santa Star. During the competition, teachers and students not participating would stay in the base building, watching the matches in real-time via drones and body cameras, with live broadcasts also available on the Starnet.

Since the First Empire Academy was again the earliest to arrive, base staff led them to settle their luggage after the starship landed.

"The competition will begin at noon two days from now. Participants will be randomly dropped at marked locations in groups half an hour prior," the staff member explained while guiding them. "All marked locations are fully developed zones, safe and controlled. Although the entire planet is selected as the venue, everyone can only move within the marked areas."

This was probably mentioned specifically due to the incident during the First Empire Academy’s military training.

As the Military Academy President, Anthony walked at the front, patiently listening to all the precautions before politely thanking the staff.

His every move was impeccably courteous, as if he were addressing not a mere staff member but a respected dignitary. By the time they reached their rooms, the staff member’s favor for this handsome, polite crown prince had peaked. He enthusiastically offered, "Let me know if you need anything," before reluctantly leaving.

Not far behind, Eve overheard Tachibana Maki whispering to Luo Wenzhou, "He’s really good at faking it."

Luo Wenzhou nervously whispered back, "Keep your voice down."

The previous military training incident was traced back to the Fourth Army’s meddling. Although the crown prince had quickly distanced himself from it, everyone knew that the Cavendish family had been the actual decision-makers of the Fourth Army before the Fourth Princess took over. With their young master nearly killed, it was impossible for the Luo clan not to harbor some resentment.

Tachibana Maki’s frequent disruptions and talking back during Five-School League training were likely due to this reason. At least, based on how he had defied Agnes’s threats to rescue her, Eve didn’t think he was a bad person.

She withdrew her attention from the two and pushed open the door to her room.

Later, the other four schools arrived one after another. Surprisingly, Capital People’s University was the last to show up, a full day late. After disembarking, the school’s representative approached the base director with an awkward smile. Eve leaned against her room’s window, watching the students come out one by one but not spotting Yan Ning among them.

She wondered if Capital People’s University’s delay had anything to do with Yan Ning.

The second round of the league allows the use of personal mechas and qualified alchemical tools. Eve doesn’t have many alchemical tools on her—earrings engraved with communication and support-enhancing inscriptions are among the permitted items, but the "Mirage," being a Four-Star alchemical tool, exceeds the allowed grade limit and must be left at the base.

There were no restrictions on mechas, however. Among these Celestial Dragon kids, many possessed Mythological Mecha—so many, in fact, that having one was almost the norm. The organizing committee simply gave a blanket approval for them all.

During the inspection process, Eve suddenly realized that Hecate, as her personal Mythological Mecha, was no longer a secret. Even if she brought it in under the identity of Lu Qing, she couldn’t use it openly in front of everyone.

She glanced around at her classmates: Anthony, top-tier Mythological Mecha; Cecil, top-tier Mythological Mecha; Lorraine, Jessica, Lorca, Tachibana Maki, and others—almost everyone had one.

"......"

Suddenly, she felt a sense of isolation. What was going on?

"Xiao Qing," Lorca, who had arrived early and cleared the check quickly, stood outside the inspection room and motioned discreetly to Eve. "Come here for a moment."

"What is it?"

Eve stepped out, puzzled. As soon as she stopped, a hard, ring-shaped object with a diamond-shaped protrusion—like a ring—was placed into her palm.

Her eyes widened in surprise. She opened her hand and confirmed it was indeed a Mythological Mecha’s Space Button.

"Why are you giving this to me all of a sudden?" Eve was momentarily stunned but quickly snapped back to attention. "Are you lending it to me for the competition?"

In truth, it was meant as a gift—an engagement present prepared for the night he visited the Medici family to discuss their marriage alliance. Unfortunately, he hadn’t been able to give it to her then.

Lorca sensed that if he said it was a gift, Eve would refuse. She might seem greedy, but she had principles. Something as valuable as a Mythological Mecha wouldn’t be accepted without good reason.

Though regretful, Lorca pressed his lips together and gently replied, "Yes, I'm lending it to you temporarily. After all, you can’t use your original Mythological Mecha now, right? Since you’re still tied to the Oliver Family’s reputation, it would look bad if people thought we were stingy if you can’t even produce a decent mecha."

Despite his explanation, Eve still felt something was off.

She rolled the ring-shaped Space Button between her fingers, not rushing to put it on, and asked thoughtfully, "What’s this mecha called?"

"Isis," Lorca replied. "It’s crafted from biological materials and can repair its own damage."

Eve: "......"

If she remembered correctly, the Isis mecha was among the top-tier Mythological Mecha owned by the Oliver Family—even better than her original Hecate, in the same league as Cecil’s Apollo and Lorraine’s Aphrodite.

Knowing that Lorca’s sudden offer of Isis couldn’t be a spur-of-the-moment decision to help her—it was likely planned long ago—Eve sighed and accepted it.

"I’ll return it after the league ends," she nodded slightly. "I owe you and the Oliver Family a favor. If there’s anything you need help with, as long as I can do it, feel free to ask."

Lorca’s eyes flickered. "So formal. I’ll carefully consider what request to make to ensure I get my payback from you, Eve."

...Reward? What reward? What did he need from her in return?

It was supposed to be an engagement gift. Now that he’d finally gotten it into her hands, did she really think he’d take it back?

He bit his tongue, restraining himself from blurting out, "Marry me."

He had always been patient, after all.