Chapter 42 Squad Meeting

Chapter 42: Team Meeting

After class, Ji Anzhi received a late message from Andrew. It turned out Andrew had gone into his rut this morning, which was why he had asked for the day off and missed class. He had only just remembered to message Ji Anzhi. Knowing Andrew was in his rut, Ji Anzhi replied telling him to rest well and not to worry about it.

After handling the message, Ji Anzhi went downstairs with Jian Fuxu to meet up with Qi Yanshen and Lu Yan. Ji Anzhi had already steeled himself and interacted with the three of them as usual.

Qi Yanshen felt inexplicably uncomfortable with Ji Anzhi's attitude, but the fact that Ji Anzhi hadn't refused outright upon meeting was the best news he could hope for. He couldn't demand more.

The four of them still ordered food on the third floor, with Lu Yan freeloading a meal as usual.

After ordering, they found a seat and sat down. Once settled, Ji Anzhi said to Qi Yanshen, "Regarding your proposal this morning, I don't have any thoughts on it yet. Honestly, I'm not even sure what I definitely want to do in the future. If you don't mind, let me decide when I'm about to graduate in my fourth year."

Hearing this, Qi Yanshen rarely showed a smile and said, "No problem. If you ever want to work in the military in the future, the Third Legion guarantees you can set your own terms."

Ji Anzhi nodded with his usual smile.

Beside them, Lu Yan had anticipated this answer from Ji Anzhi. After all, with no one or no power behind him to rely on, Ji Anzhi definitely wouldn't refuse Qi Yanshen directly.

But laying things out now had an advantage. Even if others extended olive branches to Ji Anzhi later, if he didn't want to go, he could use the Third Legion as a shield. This would, imperceptibly, brand Ji Anzhi with the Third Legion's label. Over time, others wanting to poach him would have to think twice. And if Ji Anzhi did want to go somewhere, he would subconsciously compare the benefits, atmosphere, and various conditions with the Third Legion. Qi Yanshen could also discover which organization appealed to Ji Anzhi and make targeted decisions accordingly.

So Qi Yanshen's move, which seemed like a straightforward pitch without any cunning, actually achieved the best effect and highest return in the shortest time.

Lu Yan secretly compared his own abilities with Qi Yanshen's in his heart, sighing inwardly. They were both S-rank alphas, so why was Qi Yanshen the one held up as the exemplary child even among S-rank alphas, while he was the classic underachiever?

Sigh~

Life isn't easy, even for a top-tier Alpha.

Jian Fuxu knew what Lu Yan was thinking with just one glance and rolled his eyes at him before continuing to look at the experimental data on his smart-device.

When it was time to eat, Ji Anzhi remembered the list Doctor Shenmu had given him today and spoke up, "Do any of you need anything? I can freely enter and leave the Military Academy Star now."

During the semester, except for off-campus missions and internships, leaving the Military Academy Star was strictly prohibited. Special circumstances required submitting an application for approval. Since Ji Anzhi could now come and go as he pleased, if they had anything they couldn't buy within the academy, like takeout, he could help bring it in.

Although the taste of the academy cafeteria was good, people always have a rebellious streak. Some might even think the air outside was fresher, carrying the scent of freedom.

Lu Yan was the first to speak up: "I do! The honey-sand baked bread from the Desha Cake Shop on Starry Sky Street on Scott Star! It's so good! Get one for me!"

It must be really delicious. An alpha's sense of taste is much more sensitive than a beta's, so alphas generally have pickier appetites, let alone an S-rank alpha.

Jian Fuxu and Qi Yanshen didn't need anything. The academy could provide most things, and for what wasn't available on campus, they could also buy it through the Star Network.

So apart from perishable food and academy-purchase-restricted items like alcohol and tobacco that weren't allowed to be purchased online, nothing else was needed. The three of them might occasionally have a small drink, but there was no need to go out to buy alcohol.

Noting down the specific location Lu Yan mentioned, Ji Anzhi planned to go out on odd-numbered days each month. Although he wouldn't seek soothing therapy from his blood relatives, since he had refused Doctor Shenmu, he still had to put on a full act. If he really couldn't hold on anymore, he could ask Na An'an for help. He could just treat himself as a sample for Na An'an to use as a live case study.

The following days were relatively monotonous. The four of them maintained their usual dynamic, but Qi Yanshen's feeling of being unable to enter Ji Anzhi's circle grew stronger.

Because it was announced this year that the end-of-term would involve going to a planet near the border for the first-year, first-semester practical training assessment, the three of them, except for Ji Anzhi, were all extremely busy with their studies. Qi Yanshen had even put aside the forum and that book in the corner for the time being. He definitely wouldn't remember them for a while.

Compared to the first month, Ji Anzhi's life was much calmer. He attended his Star Chart Department classes and electives as usual, sparing some time in between to explain problems to Andrew, bringing back the specific foods Lu Yan wanted every time he went out, and occasionally getting things for Qi Yanshen and Jian Fuxu as well.

Strangely enough, even though Ji Anzhi hadn't sought treatment for his spiritual force from anyone, he never lost consciousness again. Moreover, Doctor Shenmu had predicted that this secondary development of his wouldn't last too long, probably stopping on its own after about a month. But as finals approached, Ji Anzhi's spiritual force secondary development was still ongoing. Shenmu Yi looked at Ji Anzhi as if he were the most successful lab rat, making Ji Anzhi briefly consider dropping out.

Apart from that, business at the Bamboo Moon Shop in the Trade City was smooth sailing. Ji Anzhi listed three 3500-unit mecha energy storage tanks for sale each month, and they were all bought by "DawnDay" and his three companions. He had initially thought they couldn't handle that many, but they took the entire stock every month.

Of course, Ji Anzhi thought they might be reselling or that their team was really large, but in reality, they stored them all in their own private stash.

Funny! Why would they resell such good stuff? If the shop owner stopped selling them one day, these things would be hard to find. And with the Bug Swarm approaching, of course, the more, the better!

The relatively calm routine continued until the eve of the finals. The practical training required participation from all thirteen departments of the academy. Even if someone was in their rut or heat, they had to participate, and so did Ji Anzhi.

For this reason, fearing his physical stamina wouldn't keep up, Ji Anzhi set aside three to four hours every day for physical training during the month before finals. Whether it was due to the military academy atmosphere or his spiritual force secondary development, Ji Anzhi's physical fitness assessment reached B+, even showing a trend toward a potential A-grade breakthrough. This was undoubtedly good news for the end-of-term training!

...

"Xiaoxue! That's not a nest, it's my uniform! Get down!"

Ji Anzhi rarely roared at Xiaoxue, and for no other reason than that he had already changed uniforms twice because of Xiaoxue. If Xiaoxue tore this one up again, he would have to buy a uniform at his own expense!

You should know that buying a set of uniform costs 1000 points! Even if you have points, you shouldn't use them like that!

Sensing its owner's anger, Xiaoxue obediently left the uniform. Having grown to the size of a normal house cat, it obediently curled up beside the flower pot.

The seedling in the planter pot had now grown into a plant reaching up to the shin. The plant's initial seedling leaves were a vibrant, juicy-looking tender green. Later, for some reason, the tender green began to gradually fade and become transparent. Now the leaves resembled ice-type pale green jadeite. Xiaoxue must have sensed something, as it was sullen every day. For some reason, it kept pulling Ji Anzhi to stay by the plant. If he left, Xiaoxue would become agitated and restless.

Sometimes, when he really couldn't win against Xiaoxue's stubbornness during class, and it clung to his uniform and couldn't be pulled off, Ji Anzhi relented and took it out. But if he didn't bring the plant along, Xiaoxue would keep calling out non-stop, sometimes forcing Ji Anzhi to go to class carrying both the cat and the plant.

After giving in once or twice, he really couldn't stand the combined weight and inconvenience of the two. After that, Ji Anzhi never relented again, no matter how pitiful and mournful Xiaoxue's cries were. He remained unmoved.

Of course, as compensation, Ji Anzhi would spend the entire weekend with Xiaoxue and the plant. He also moved his time for purchasing supplies at the Trade City to free time between Monday and Saturday.

Ji Anzhi patted the fur off his uniform, took out a lint roller and worked diligently, trying to restore the uniform to its original state. After a few minutes, he finally finished. He then gave Xiaoxue, who had run over to act cute, a merciless flick on the forehead.

Ji Anzhi pretended to be angry: "Serves you right for being naughty. I'll throw you out tomorrow to fend for yourself."

Xiaoxue thought its owner was playing with it and happily pounced, clawing and biting playfully. Of course, it kept its claws and fangs retracted, not harming Ji Anzhi.

After playing with Xiaoxue for a while, Ji Anzhi took out dried meat for it to gnaw on and play with by itself and went downstairs for the meeting.

The end-of-term practical training assessment required forming teams as units, with no limit on the number of members per team. Ji Anzhi, of course, teamed up with the three from his dorm. As for other teammates, they were also mostly confirmed. The day after tomorrow, they would board a starship heading to the training planet, so today Qi Yanshen gathered everyone for a meeting in the dorm.

Since it was a break period, Ji Anzhi wasn't wearing his uniform. Instead, he wore clothes he had designed and made himself, all in relatively casual styles: a pure white cloud-patterned shirt paired with ink-black velvet-cotton suit pants. Because it was early winter, he also wore a cloud-ink colored knitted cardigan that reached just past his hips.

His hair, untrimmed, was almost waist-length. Ji Anzhi casually gathered it with a hair tie and let it hang down. Logically, it should be inconvenient, but perhaps due to a youthful complex, or because it was now winter and keeping it helped keep him warm, Ji Anzhi hadn't thought about cutting his hair.

When he went downstairs, only a few people had arrived. Qi Yanshen and Lu Yan were sitting there. Jian Fuxu was still in his room working on an experiment. The others included first-year Medical Department Chief Na An'an and her companion Chi Yan, an omega boy who was cute and quite shy—the type most alphas liked. There was also a beta and a B-rank alpha from the Logistics Management Department, and an A-rank alpha girl from the Mecha Design Department.

The others hadn't arrived yet; they might take another half hour.

As soon as Ji Anzhi came downstairs, Na An'an excitedly patted the reserved spot beside her: "Anzhi! Over here! You're finally here! I missed you so much~"

Ji Anzhi smiled and sat down, replying warmly: "I missed you too, even though it's only been four days."

Chi Yan, who was hiding beside Na An'an, wasn't as outgoing as Na An'an. His voice was shy, not daring to be too loud: "Hello, Chief Ji, I... I missed you too..."

Ji Anzhi almost didn't hear the last few words, but he still patted Chi Yan's fluffy little black head: "I missed Chi Yan too. But Chi Yan's voice was too soft; I almost didn't hear it just now."

Hearing this, Chi Yan immediately said loudly: "C-Chief Ji, I missed you a lot too!"

Ji Anzhi said approvingly: "That's right. Be more confident. No one here will bully you. Even if someone does, An'an and I will help you get back at them."

Chi Yan blushed, lowering his head and nodding sheepishly.

Chi Yan was also a pitiful child. Even though his family conditions were considered middle-class in the Federation, he was assaulted by the brother his stepmother brought when he was twelve. Later, his father, stepmother, and their entire family were sentenced to death, and all inheritance went to Chi Yan. But it still left him with trauma. Even though his uncle provided timely counseling, it made him deeply insecure and psychologically afraid of alphas.

Chi Yan had exceptional talent in surgical micro-manipulation, even better than Na An'an's. So when Chi Yan, who was close to Na An'an, expressed a desire to join their team, Qi Yanshen agreed without hesitation.

Completely excluded from the trio's atmosphere, the four alphas felt a heavy, jealous pressure. Mainly because right in front of them were two soft, adorable omegas. Before Ji Anzhi came down, one was aloof and the other was fearful. After he came down, they both became passionately warm. This blatant favoritism was practically grinding their self-esteem into the dirt...

Just as he was about to step up and act chivalrous, Chi Yan was spooked by Lu Yan getting close and hid behind Na An'an, trembling slightly. Lu Yan's pursuit was dead in the water before it started, so he slumped back into his seat, utterly defeated.

Now, seeing Chi Yan—who had just been trembling with fear—boldly say "I miss you so much" to Ji Anzhi, the jealousy was eating him up inside...

People trickled in over the next ten minutes or so. Once they'd confirmed everyone was there, Lu Yan went upstairs to bring Jian Fuxu down, while Qi Yanshen reminded the alphas present to check their Pheromone Isolation Rings and apply neutralizing spray.

With Jian Fuxu in place, the end-of-term practical training meeting officially began.

First, self-introductions.

Qi Yanshen started: "Chief of the Command Department, Qi Yanshen, S-class alpha, physical fitness assessment: SS."

Lu Yan followed: "Command Department, Lu Yan, S-class alpha, physical fitness assessment: S."

Jian Fuxu: "Chief of the Energy Department, Jian Fuxu, S-class alpha, physical fitness assessment: S-."

Ji Anzhi continued: "Chief of the Star Chart Department, Ji Anzhi, beta, physical fitness assessment: B+."

Na An'an: "Chief of the Medical Department, Na An'an, S-class omega, physical fitness assessment: B."

Sitting beside Na An'an, Chi Yan murmured timidly: "Medical Department, Chi... Chi Yan, A-class omega, physical fitness assessment: B-."

Next to Chi Yan sat the third omega present, who had a gentle, easygoing air much like Ji Anzhi's, and said casually: "Pharmacy Department, Rong Bai, S-class omega, physical fitness assessment: A."

A tall and imposing male alpha standing behind the sofa added: "Mecha Combat Department, Lilette White, S-class alpha, physical fitness assessment: SS."

Beside Lilette stood a beta guy just as tall but lankier: "Mecha Combat Department, Luo Hai, beta, physical fitness assessment: S+."

The curvy alpha girl who had arrived earlier and was sitting on the sofa said: "Mecha Design Department, Zheng Mingyuan, S-class alpha, physical fitness assessment: S-."

A bookish male alpha sitting close to Zheng Mingyuan said: "Starship Combat Department, Wen Jue, A-class alpha, physical fitness assessment: SS."

Beside Wen Jue, a slightly shorter male alpha who shared about seventy percent resemblance with him said: "Starship Design Department, Wen Run, S-class alpha, physical fitness assessment: S+."

A male beta in a school uniform who appeared very rigid said: "Materials Department, Bai Shaowen, beta, physical fitness assessment: A."

Next to Bai Shaowen, a sunny and cheerful-looking male alpha said: "Biology Department, Harley Watson, A-class alpha, physical fitness assessment: A+."

A male alpha who gave off a gloomy, hard-to-approach vibe said: "Information Engineering Department, Zhao Qianlang, A-class alpha, physical fitness assessment: B+."

The average-looking beta boy who had arrived first and was sitting on the sofa said: "Logistics Management Department, Ke Haocheng, beta, physical fitness assessment: B."

Finally, the alpha boy sitting next to Ke Haocheng said: "Logistics Management Department, Hua Zhongzi, B-class alpha, physical fitness assessment: A+."

With that, all seventeen people present had introduced themselves.