IMAO Chapter 16

Qiu Jingming’s hand trembled as he gripped the communicator. Suppressing his fury, he took a deep breath before typing a reply to Jiang Yuan with quivering fingers: “Thank you, Gege. I love it.”

Soon after, he received Jiang Yuan’s response: “Glad you like it. Seems I chose well ^_^”

Seeing this, Qiu Jingming’s lips curled into a cold sneer, his eyes gleaming with an indescribable malice.

After showering, Jiang Yuan replied to Qiu Jingming’s message before setting aside his communicator.

School starts tomorrow. Though he possessed the original owner’s knowledge and could understand the text and some concepts, high school differed from university.

The original owner had always excelled academically, and Jiang Yuan didn’t want to tarnish that reputation.

He turned to examine the school-issued study device, a rectangular screen storing all this year’s textbooks. It served as a comprehensive academic resource, allowing note-taking and even advance study by purchasing next year’s materials.

The curriculum was extensive. Physics and mathematics were mandatory core subjects, while chemistry held less importance due to its limited application in mecha warfare. Chemical weapons were rarely used in mechas for their high lethality, irreversible environmental damage, and limited effectiveness against mechas themselves.

Beyond these, they studied specialized subjects. Unlike mecha engineering students, they only needed a basic understanding of principles. For instance, in mechanical design, they merely required the ability to diagnose issues and perform simple repairs on malfunctioning mechas.

These were all theoretical subjects; true mecha and spaceship proficiency could only be gained through practice and simulation.

Jiang Yuan casually browsed through the semester’s courses. With Alphonse’s aid, he could instantly memorize content after a single glance.

In Jiang Yuan’s world, technology was already highly advanced, and Alphonse was a groundbreaking invention with simulation and planning capabilities. While reading, it could run tens of thousands or even hundreds of millions of simulated experiments in Jiang Yuan’s mind, verifying concepts and even predicting the feasibility of hypotheses.

With Alphonse, learning theory was as easy as breathing for Jiang Yuan. He could even point out errors in the textbooks.

After the opening ceremony, the first class was a large lecture introducing mechas. Students from various departments, including Ji Yang and their three roommates, attended.

…

In the early days of the interstellar era, humans primarily used drones and robots for combat. However, some planets’ magnetic fields completely blocked communications, necessitating human exploration. As technology advanced, the first generation of mechas emerged.

Over the next two centuries, mechas rapidly replaced other weapons, dominating battlefields. A skilled mecha pilot could equal a small military unit, prompting nations to invest heavily in mecha development.

Well-utilized mechas could turn the tide of battle.

Twenty-seven years ago, during the war between the Federation and the Rick Empire, War God Ji Chong’s mecha destroyed the Rick Empire’s aircraft carrier, changing the course of the conflict.

The Rick Empire’s Prime Minister had promised to conquer the Federation within two years. However, after five years of failure, including the loss of their newly developed aircraft carrier, they faced consecutive defeats. Domestic unrest forced the Rick Empire to end their five-year invasion campaign.

In that war, the Rick Empire had mobilized its full might in a silent blitzkrieg. Had Ji Chong not destroyed their mothership, the Federation might have suffered devastating losses. This was the miracle wrought by mechas.

When discussing the marvels created by mechas, Ji Chong’s name inevitably arose. At the mention of the Federation’s youngest marshal, the entire classroom was filled with expressions of admiration. Students listened intently, even chiming in with details of the war and Ji Chong’s outstanding performances in various classic battles.

Ji Rong was among them. Though being called “Ji Chong’s son” made him uncomfortable, his admiration for his father matched, if not exceeded, that of his peers. He remained silent, his thoughts private, his expression a mix of amusement and indifference.

Students listened to the lecture while occasionally discussing among themselves, the content making them lose track of time.

The professor smiled, speaking in a measured tone, “Your admission to the First Military Academy proves your excellence. Some of you will join the military, others the Academy of Sciences. You’ll shape the future of the Federation, even humanity!”

The professor’s voice rose slightly, stirring the students’ blood. “I hope one day, when I’m teaching, your names will be in these textbooks!”

Jiang Yuan enjoyed this course, learning interesting stories and details while discussing the country’s history. He found himself growing fonder of this nation.

Many piloted mechas, with strong individuals in all 132 known interstellar nations. However, the undisputed leader in mecha manufacturing was the Hoyt Empire.

The Hoyt Empire’s technological development represented the cutting edge of this world.

From Jiang Yuan’s understanding, the Hoyt Empire was indeed impressive, comparable to his original world’s technology from fifty years ago. However, after the invention of the Alphonse supercomputer, his original world entered a golden age of technological explosion.

Before dismissing the class, the passionate professor encouraged the mecha engineering students, “I believe you’ll create mechas surpassing those of Hoyt!”

Ji Yang clenched his fist excitedly, his expression eager.

Seeing Ji Yang’s reaction, Jiang Yuan understood why the school chose this teacher for the first lecture. He was not only engaging but also adept at stirring emotions.

As class ended, the room buzzed with activity. Jiang Yuan, chin propped on one hand, scrolled through his communicator. He saw a message from Liu Zheng, the senior who had sent him money yesterday. The gift had been sent and the money spent, but Jiang Yuan hadn’t yet fulfilled his part of the deal.

Liu Zheng: Xuedi¹学弟 (xué dì) – junior or younger male schoolmate, are you free tonight? I’ve adjusted the mecha and want you to test it.

Jiang Yuan thought for a moment before replying: Sure, where should I meet you?

Liu Zheng quickly responded: Mecha Engineering Department, Lab 14. Message me when you arrive, I’ll meet you at the entrance.

Jiang Yuan: Alright, I’ll come after dinner.

Liu Zheng: Thanks, if I can’t graduate this year, I’ll go crazy!

Even through the screen, Jiang Yuan could sense the senior’s desperation.

This senior was truly unfortunate. From what Jiang Yuan had learned from Adelman, Liu Zheng wasn’t a poor student, but rather a top performer.

The reason he couldn’t graduate was due to bad luck in drawing his graduation project topic. He’d been assigned one of the most challenging tasks: improving a mecha. How difficult was that?

Even experts from the Federation’s Academy of Sciences might struggle to improve a mecha. Each mecha’s production involves numerous specialists from various fields. How could a student claim to surpass these experts’ technical prowess?

Liu Zheng’s group was truly unfortunate, to the extreme!

As Jiang Yuan received Liu Zheng’s message, a cheerful voice piped up beside him, “Jiang Yuan, what are you looking at?”

Ji Yang was always a cheerful person. While speaking, he put a hand on Jiang Yuan’s shoulder and asked with a smile on his face.

Jiang Yuan glanced at Ji Yang, smiling slightly as he replied, “Senior Liu Zheng asked if I’m free tonight to help test his mecha.”

Ji Yang’s eyes lit up instantly. He grabbed Jiang Yuan, asking, “Can I come too?”

“We should ask the senior,” Jiang Yuan replied, not wanting to agree outright. He messaged Liu Zheng, who generously said anyone who wanted to come was welcome. So, their entire dorm planned to go. Just as they finished discussing, Jiang Yuan heard a voice from his left.

Ji Rong said, “I’d like to go too.”

Jiang Yuan didn’t think much of it. Although mechas had existed for two hundred years, not everyone had seen one in person. They were, after all, weapons of war. Even most mecha enthusiasts who could recite mecha specifications by heart had never seen one up close. So Ji Rong’s desire to join was natural.

Whether one person went or two, Jiang Yuan had no reason to refuse Ji Rong.

As they talked, Jiang Yuan felt someone watching him. He glanced back, meeting the gaze of Arlo, who sat two rows behind. Upon eye contact, Arlo awkwardly averted his gaze, seemingly trying to avoid embarrassment by striking up a conversation with a nearby classmate.

Jiang Yuan wore a thoughtful expression. He had apologized yesterday, so why did Arlo so obviously avoid him each time they saw each other?

Ji Rong asked, “What’s wrong?”

Jiang Yuan rubbed his nose, saying, “Arlo is a little strange. He appears uncomfortable whenever he sees me.”

Ji Rong: …

Ji Rong, whose gaze had barely left Jiang Yuan, had naturally noticed the interaction between Jiang Yuan and Arlo. Hearing Jiang Yuan’s words, his mouth twitched slightly.

This Arlo, who claimed he’d “keep his distance” from Jiang Yuan, was deliberately using such methods to attract Jiang Yuan’s attention.

What a shameless Alpha!

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  学弟 (xué dì) – junior or younger male schoolmate