As Jiang Yuan and Ji Rong left, Lu Yi and Lu Yan’s imagined confession scene never materialized. Instead, the younger Lu Yi stood dazed for a few seconds. “Damn, so they really weren’t here to hit on you!”
Lu Yan: “…” Keep it down, have some dignity.
When they left the banquet venue, night had fallen. Light shone from a building within the Silver Palace.
Water sounds echoed in the room. Steam filled the bathroom as Ji Rong brushed water from his hair tips with his arm. The water traced down his muscle lines. His muscles were not exaggerated but just right. His perfect figure was enviable.
…
Jiang Yuan slept through until early the next morning, until he was woken by his biological clock. After freshening up, he walked next door but found Ji Rong’s room still closed. It was slightly odd. He usually ran into Ji Rong around this time.
He knocked twice.
Seeing no response, Jiang Yuan assumed Ji Rong was still sleeping. Just as he was about to leave, the door opened from inside. Ji Rong stepped out quickly, saying, “Let’s go downstairs for breakfast.”
Jiang Yuan nodded, glancing at Ji Rong. “I thought you were asleep.”
“Mm.” Ji Rong nodded. In fact, he was not sleeping. He just lost track of time sitting on the couch, lost in thought.
At 8:30, breakfast time, everyone was seated except for one empty chair.
The students weren’t sure whether to start eating without its occupant present.
Alfonso glanced at Ji Chong’s seat, then said calmly, “Let’s eat.”
His calm exterior masked the storm raging within.
This morning, when he went to invite Ji Chong to breakfast, he found the door wide open. He assumed Ji Chong had gone down early, but now it was clear. Ji Chong didn’t return last night at all!
Jiang Yuan was unbothered and ate quietly.
Just then, Gu Bai, who was sitting beside him, knocked his leg under the table, gesturing at his communicator.
Their seven-person group chat already had over ten messages.
Jiang Yuan scrolled to the top.
Liu Shan: Why isn’t the War God down yet?
Cyril: Just passed by, Marshal Ji’s room door was open [smile]
Gu Bai: Didn’t come back last night?
Cyril: Probably not.
…
Liu Shan: Could it be… you know what? [smirk]
Gu Bai: Get lost, Liu Shan. You think everyone’s like you? Yesterday, you were eyeing Omega like a starving wolf, with green eyes!
Cyril: Exactly, the Marshal isn’t that type. They just met. It wouldn’t be that fast.
Ji Rong: You’re overthinking. From what I know, it’s absolutely impossible.
Cyril agreed: That Omega yesterday probably wasn’t bad-looking, but who is the War God? He’s seen all kinds of Omegas. It’s not a big deal.
Liu Shan: Not to argue, but I have to defend myself. I’m not a pervert, I’m just tired of looking at you Alphas all day!
Gu Bai: You’re just a hungry pervert Alpha, no need to explain!
Gu Bai: What do you think, Jiang Yuan?
Gu Bai: Jiang Yuan?
Gu Bai: …So focused on eating.
Jiang Yuan: I don’t think so either.
Just as Jiang Yuan sent his message, the door suddenly opened.
Ji Chong gripped the door handle, pulling it open. His suit jacket from yesterday had vanished, leaving only a white dress shirt with rolled-up sleeves that revealed his long arms and defined muscles. It was obvious that he had just returned.
When Ji Chong entered, everyone instinctively turned to look, frozen like wooden chickens1呆若木鸡 (dāi ruò mù jī) – lit. dumb as a wooden chicken (idiom); fig. dumbstruck.
Ji Chong’s shirt was obviously from yesterday, looking like it had been pulled from a pickle jar, and his neck bore visible kiss marks.
Alfonso: “…”
Alfonso: “?”
Everyone: ?
Ji Rong also slowly drew a mental ‘?’.
…
The next day.
Today was the group drawing day. Led by He Chuan, Jiang Yuan’s group arrived at the mecha competition venue prepared by Hoyt.
Just as they arrived, a team quickly approached them.
“Hello, I’m Nolan. We’re here from the United States of Chris for the competition. We’ve met before!” The young man extended his hand to Jiang Yuan, his bright smile putting others at ease.
Worried Jiang Yuan might have forgotten, Nolan quickly added, “We asked you for directions that day, remember? We’ve wanted to thank you but were afraid of getting lost again, so we didn’t come find you.”
“I remember. Hello.” Jiang Yuan shook his hand and said, “It was nothing, no need for thanks.”
Nolan blurted out, “No, we must thank you. If you hadn’t given us directions, we would’ve had to call our instructor. I’m terrified of that Big Beard!”
Like the Federation, the United States of Chris was a peace-loving nation. The two countries had always maintained good relations.
Because of their previous brief encounter, the Chris team clearly got along better with the Federation members. They chatted while walking, soon arriving at the mecha bay below the competition venue.
Upon entering the mecha bay, these usually composed elite students erupted in a chorus of exclamations.
“Wow—”
“My god, it’s the White Blade2芒” (mánɡ) has multiple meanings, but I think the most likely in this context is tip (of the blade). But I don’t think White Tip is a cool name for a mecha, I used White Blade.! The special model only found in Leia!”
“Look here, holy… it’s the Deep Sea Titan! They even have this?”
“Ahh, the Blood Sword…”
He Chuan, as their representative, had gone to participate in the group drawing. The competition divided all participating teams into eight groups of twelve teams each. They would compete in best-of-three matches within their groups, earning one point per win. The top two teams from each group would advance to the top sixteen.
The students were led by a Hoyt military officer to tour the competition venue and examine the various types of mecha.
“They probably have every mecha in the world here, right?” Nolan remarked sheepishly, their initial excitement now numbed from seeing so many machines.
The Hoyt officer proudly replied, “Naturally. Except for each country’s classified models, we have every mecha here. This is just a small portion. All the mechas used by each country are ready. After your instructors finish drawing groups, we’ll take you to inspect them.”
“Other countries require students to bring their own mechas, but not at Hoyt.”
The officer spoke with unconcealed pride. This was Hoyt. While other countries needed to bring their own mechas, at Hoyt, you could find any mecha you needed!
This was Hoyt’s strength.
As the instructors finished drawing lots, the tour came to a pause.
Nolan saw they were in Group 2, which didn’t have particularly strong countries. Their luck seemed good. Reaching the top two should be stable. Given their country’s strength, they usually made the top sixteen, and with a little more luck, they could barely make it to the top eight.
The Federation and the United States of Chris had similar results. They consistently made the top sixteen and occasionally the top eight. They should be about the same level.
Making the top sixteen would satisfy their school’s requirements. Of course, he’d be happy to do better, but from past experience, top four was basically impossible, and championship was completely out of the question.
Pleased with their favorable draw, Nolan exchanged a few words with his teammates before hurrying over to Jiang Yuan and Ji Rong. “Jiang Yuan, which group are you in?”
Jiang Yuan: “Group 5.”
Nolan froze, immediately looking at the published group list. After finding the Federation in Group 5, what kind of death group was this?!
Deyo3Uses the character for Germany, Ella4Uses the character for Italy, plus the Federation. Both Deyo and Ella were formidable, consistently reaching the top eight every year.
Being grouped with these two countries meant the Federation basically had no chance of advancing!
What terrible luck!
“This… this, your luck is really bad…” Nolan said helplessly.
Hearing Nolan’s words, Jiang Yuan understood his meaning. Seeing Nolan’s concern for the Federation, he thought this boy from Chris was genuinely nice.
Rick drew Group 3, which had weaker teams. Their advancement was practically guaranteed.
Everyone was checking the group displays on the screen. Those not in Group 5 felt incredibly relieved.
Seeing the Federation’s name, they all gave sympathetic looks: How could the Federation’s luck be so bad? Did their instructor forget to wash their face this morning? Such terrible luck? Drawing Group 5 meant they couldn’t even make the top sixteen.
Look at Rick, though; such good luck. Group 3 was full of weaklings. As long as the Rick Empire kept their heads straight, making the top sixteen was a sure thing!
Poor Federation, such awful luck this year.
This is why people with bad luck shouldn’t be instructors!
“The Federation is so unlucky, meeting both Ella and Deyo,” a North Mali student whispered.
A nearby Ella student smiled, “Don’t say that. What if the Federation is especially strong this year?”
“The Federation only made the top four six years ago when they had Ye Nanfeng. They can’t possibly have another Ye Nanfeng this year, right?” someone else added.
Hearing the surrounding comments, Nolan looked helplessly at the Federation team and said quietly, “Don’t mind them. Although your draw was unlucky, but… but you still have a chance!”
Gu Bai: “You’re wrong there. It’s not just a chance. We’ll definitely advance! And take the championship!”
“Championship? Heh, did you ask if Hoyt’s team agrees?” An Ella student sneered, giving Gu Bai a dismissive look, obviously despising his delusion.
Hoyt had won five consecutive championships. A sixth wouldn’t surprise anyone.
As for the Federation, they appeared yearly in the top sixteen, occasionally in the top eight, and once in the top four, but never in finals, let alone the championship!
As Gu Bai tried to argue, Ji Rong held him back, his cold eyes sweeping over the Ella student. His presence immediately subdued the student as he said coolly to Gu Bai, “Don’t waste words on them.”
As team captain, Ji Rong’s words carried weight. Combined with his natural commanding presence, everyone who’d been about to speak closed their mouths.
In the moment Ji Rong spoke, they even started believing the Federation might win this year.
Only after Jiang Yuan’s group left did the Ella student angrily say, “Tch, they really think they can win? Aren’t they afraid to eat their words?! Championship? What a joke!”
“Better hope Hoyt’s people didn’t hear that. They’d laugh their head off!”
“Hoyt won five straight championships. This year will be their sixth…”
“If Federation wins the championship this year, I’ll do a handstand while having diarrhea!”
“Hahaha, guess you’ll never have to worry about that!”
The Rick team glanced at the person who’d mentioned the “handstand diarrhea,” falling silent. While impossible before, this year’s Federation might actually pull it off…
After returning that day, they looked up those two people and discovered they were indeed students, not instructors, and Federation freshmen at that.
Two Federation First Military Academy freshmen who could take down the Falcon Squad weren’t ordinary people. Their mecha operation skills must be formidable. It was hard to say how strong they were.
Usually, Rick would mock the Federation in such situations, but knowing about Jiang Yuan and Ji Rong, they chose to stay quiet.
After grouping, matches would rotate, ensuring fairness. They just needed to compete against all twelve teams in their group.
Typically, competitors used their own country’s mechas, rarely using foreign ones. Winning with another country’s mecha was considered inappropriate.
After all mechas were confirmed and tested, Hoyt released the competition schedule.
“We’re against North Mali, that’s not bad…” A boy checked the schedule, pausing at Federation’s match. “Federation’s luck is terrible.”
“What is it?” His companion asked, grabbing the schedule. “Holy shit, no way, Federation against Ella?”
“Tomorrow’s gonna be interesting!”
“I’m definitely watching tomorrow morning’s match! I was planning to just watch the group stages from home, but now I’m going to see it in person!”
Ella also discovered Federation was their first opponent.
“Hahaha, the Federation’s really unlucky!” The Ella team laughed. What perfect timing!
They would crush the Federation 3-0 tomorrow. Federation’s expressions would be priceless!
Just thinking about it, the Ella team couldn’t wait for tomorrow’s match.
The Chris team exchanged glances. What kind of bad luck had the Federation run into? Fighting Ella right away? After today’s argument, tomorrow, they’d face Ella…
This…
Sigh…
He just asked around and heard Ella was particularly strong this year. Supposedly, they were guaranteed the top four and were aiming for the top two!
Sigh.
Nolan sighed. He was genuinely worried for the Federation. Setting aside their help with directions, Federation’s people were all quite approachable and interesting. He truly liked these peers from the Federation.
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