"Who would have thought the battle royale had such a secret hidden in it. Great Marshal Yun actually deceived us for so many years." One officer scratched at the table begrudgingly. Back in his time, if he had known that a headquarters could be moved elsewhere, his headquarters would not have been taken down by another military academy.
Great Marshal Yun, full name Yun Chongtian, was the most well known Great Marshal in history. At the same time, he was also the one who created the Grand Mecha Tournament. In the beginning, Yun Chongtian had deliberately created a bunch of rules and restrictions that clouded one's logical thinking, and this had made everyone think that a headquarters' location was to be set in stone. However, they didn't expect that they were all played by Great marshal Yun.
"Did everyone forget the final words of Great Marshal Yun? In the battle royale, there is no difference in strength. As long as you put in an effort, anything is possible!" Ling Xiao plainly reminded everyone. The rules and regulations created by Great Marshal Yun at the beginning were all meant to mislead everyone; it was all a cover for his final statement. It was just that everyone, including Ling Xiao himself, had mistakenly thought that Yun Chongtian's final statement represented his hope in the cadets. They didn't expect that this was the real rule that Yun Chongtian had set for the battle royale.
At that moment, the cadets who were still in the battle royale had received a location for them to gather up. Everyone headed there.
By the time Ling Lan had led Qiao Ting and the others to the gathering point, the officers and staff members who had been watching the battle royale had arrived there much earlier. Upon seeing the members of the First Men's Military Academy arrive, they all clapped their hands in applause.Ling Lan descended from her mecha and was instantly dumbfounded at this scene. She saw Ling Xiao standing before her with Lan Luofeng behind him. Compared to Lan Luofeng clapping excitedly, Ling Xiao was much calmer. His lips showed a smile and he clapped slowly, but the pride and approval hidden in his eyes were clearly felt by Ling Lan, and she suddenly felt warm. It seemed that her performance hadn't disappointed her father.
Seeing Ling Lan and the others walk towards them, the vice president quickly walked up. He held Ling Lan's right hand with a sincere attitude and said, "Ling Lan, right? Your performance was phenomenal. Congratulations on getting first place in the battle royale and at the same time, first place in the overall ranking for this year's Grand Mecha Tournament."
The vice president didn't feel the hidden killing intent behind him in Ling Xiao's eyes… "Tthis old fart actually dares to take advantage of my daughter!"
Ling Lan gave a salute and pulled her hand out of his clutches. "Thank you very much, Mr. Vice President!" Her cold expression paired with her cold tone caused the smile on the vice president's face to freeze. "This Ling Lan is really calm and collected. Shouldn't he be excited?"
Afterwards, Ling Lan decisively walked in front of Ling Xiao and saluted him, saying, "Thank you, General, for coming down here yourself." This suddenly calmed down Daddy Ling Xiao's frustrated heart.
"This kid actually ignored me!" The vice president was secretly frustrated. He believed that Ling Lan only wanted to please Ling Xiao while ignoring him.
Qiao Ting knew about Ling Xiao and Ling Lan's relationship. He knew that the situation was bad when he saw the expression on the vice president's face; thus, he saluted and said, "Mr. Vice President, you coming here yourself terrifies me." Qiao Ting's honestly terrified expression made the vice president's mood change for the better. The First Men's Military Academy didn't just have one Ling Lan. This Qiao Ting was even more exceptional and was the first candidate they were going to rope in. Having locked onto his target, the vice president tossed Ling Lan into the back of his mind.As a government organization, the president and vice president didn't really have much power. With everyone enlisted in the army, the military was the ruling power. Everything that the government did was to serve the army. No one wanted to be the major-domo. As the highest power of the government, they also wanted to hold actual power, but in order to do that, they would need to hold military power. As luck would have it, however, the army and government were two different organizations, making it so they were unable to meddle.
In order to achieve their goals, they had no choice but to secretly rope in individuals from all divisions who had potential and were younger. They hoped that after a few years passed, these people would hold military power over most of the middle to lower tier army forces and in the end, be used by them. This was the real reason why the vice president didn't care about the long-distance traveling and came to the Grand Mecha Tournament. It was because the Grand Mecha Tournament could allow cadets to show off for a short amount of time. They would definitely become pillars that would hold up large army divisions in the future, and these were the individuals that they needed to desperately rope in.
Seeing that the First Men's Military Academy had the vice president and General Ling Xiao greet them personally, the other military academies couldn't help but be envious and jealous. However, when they thought about the new score that was publicized, of the First Men's Military Academy breaking the record with a terrifying new historical achievement, the other military academies were soon in no mood to do anything… They had shown their strength and their treatment from the higher-ups was owed to the true combat they had undergone. The other military academies didn't have the right to be jealous of them.
After returning to Planet Qiming, they had another award ceremony for both the battle royale and the overall score. The First Men's Military Academy was without a doubt first place. In second place was the First Co-ed Military Academy, and in third place was the Third Men's Military Academy.
The previous year's first place, the Second Men's Military Academy, did not get any points because they were eliminated prior to the end of that battle royale. Counting only their points from before, their overall score had dropped to below the 20th rank. This made Jiang Shaoyu not have the dignity to come out and receive their award. He simply called in sick and in the end, let their strategist Zhuge Jingming lead their team to the podium.
The awards were quickly distributed. The First Men's Military Academy's team that Ling Lan had led became the most exceptional team. Based on the successful change of headquarters and Ling Lan's exceptional performance in the matter, she was considered to be the most outstanding commander. Qiao Ting was awarded the most outstanding mecha operator and battle team leader. The most outstanding logistics team was also awarded to the First Men's Military Academy. In the battle royale, no matter if it was modifications or transporting of supplies, the logistics division that Lin Zhong-qing was responsible for had performed exceptionally and was acknowledged by most of the referees.
However, the title of most outstanding strategist was somehow given to someone else. Zhuge Jingming from the Second Men's Military Academy had received the award. Han Jijyun and Li Lanfeng had both actually performed very well; however, Zhuge Jingming's last move in Area G2 was too good and was life-threatening to the First Men's Military Academy. If Ling Lan hadn't successfully moved their headquarters, the First Men's Military Academy would definitely have been eliminated. The referees believed that their arrangement was a god-like move and was too amazing. That was why Li Lanfeng and Han Jijyun lost to him.
Seeing the looks on Li Lanfeng and Han Jijyun's faces turn depressed, Ling Lan coldly said, "It's only one loss. There will be many chances in the future to regain what you have lost today."
Ling Lan's words shook Han Jijyun and Li Lanfeng, and their expressions quickly returned to normal; however, there was killing intent hidden in their eyes as they looked at Zhuge Jingming.
Zhuge Jingming's most outstanding strategist award comforted the now hurt Second Men's Military Academy. However, it made Jiang Shaoyu jealous and hate him. A crack instantly formed in the relationship between Zhuge Jingming and Jiang Shaoyu.
Facing all of this, Zhuge Jingming was still as calm as always, and it was his friend who felt very worried instead. After all, they were all fifth-year cadets and were about to sign up for a division. For the Second Men's Military Academy, they would usually cooperate with the Second Division, Ninth Division and Seventeenth Division. These divisions were all under orders of the Second Great Marshal. The Second Division was the head of the three divisions and Jiang Shaoyu was already going to the Second Division by default. If Jiang Shaoyu caused him trouble, it would be disadvantageous to his growth in the future no matter which division Zhuge Jingming entered.
"I'm not going to apply for divisions this year." Zhuge Jingming finally told everyone his decision.
"Why?" his friend asked in surprise.
"The most outstanding strategist? Haha!" Zhuge Jingming laughed bitterly. Getting this award made him doubt himself. Ling Lan, the one who got the most outstanding commander, was the actual person who should have gotten his award as well. He knew clearly that, all of his plans in the battle royale had been seen through by the other party. He lost to the opposition and didn't have anything to blame it on.
"I need to go back and activate the N-mindspace," Zhuge Jingming said sternly.
"You've gone mad!" his friend yelled out. He was also part of the Zhuge family and understood what the N-mindspace meant—that was something that could easily kill someone and only had success rate of only 30%. If it wasn't completely necessary, the people from the Zhuge family would not activate the N-mindspace.
"If I don't activate it, I will definitely not be able to win against him." Zhuge Jingming's expression showed a hint of his own ambition. As the future God Machine, he wouldn't let himself lose to anyone in terms of strategy.
Seeing that Zhuge Jingming had made up his mind, his friend couldn't do anything. Worried, he prepared to go back home to deliver this news to the family head and have him stop Zhuge Jingming from having such idiotic thoughts.
The ending of the award ceremony also meant the end of the Grand Mecha Tournament. All the military academies needed to continue to rest on planet Qiming for a few more days. However, the audience that came to watch had begun to leave, including Ling Xiao. 15 days of staying there was already the limit; the 23rd Division still needed him to call the shots. The staff officers he had left in the 23rd Division had already asked him numerous times since the end of the battle royale. If he didn't leave now, those staff officers would probably all go on strike and leave the division.
Ling Lan led her small team and came to the dock exclusively for Ling Xiao's warship. There were many people here to send Ling Xiao off, people from every military academy. After all, Ling Xiao was an idol for all military academy cadets. Since their idol was leaving, they would naturally come to the dock and send him off.
Ling Xiao led Lan Luofeng through the VIP tunnel to the warship, where he saw Ling Lan standing in the innermost row and felt dismayed. Whenever he spent time with his daughter, he felt that it wasn't enough. He hoped that his daughter could stay by his side and that he could see her every day.
Ling Xiao regretted it the more he thought about it. If he had gone back home first to get a grasp on the situation, perhaps he wouldn't have done something so stupid. Unfortunately, the ship had sailed and no amount of regret from Ling Xiao would change the facts.
"Salute!" Suddenly, a cold voice rang out from on the dock. This voice pierced through the cheering of the crowd on the dock and went straight into Ling Xiao's ear.
Ling Lan and her friends presented him with a cool and handsome salute. It was as though she was telling him that she was enjoying this kind of life, that he needn't worry about her.
Ling Lan's action made all the other military academy cadets on the dock follow suit. A series of salutes could be heard as all of the military academy cadets paid homage to Ling Xiao. They used all of the respect in their hearts to send off their idol, who was an anchor holding down the Federation.
The loud chattering on the dock suddenly became silent. The respect of the military academy cadets coming from their hearts excited Ling Xiao. He sternly gave a salute to everyone on the dock.
"Dad, have a safe flight!" Ling Lan mouthed silently. Ling Xiao almost burst out into tears at this—his daughter had finally called him dad.
Ling Xiao took a deep breath, held down the excitement inside of him and lowered the hand he used to salute. He quickly turned around and led Lan Luofeng into the warship. He had to turn around because he was afraid that if he stayed there any longer, his tears would start falling.
"Lan'er, just wait two more years. After two years, you'll be free," Ling Xiao thought to himself. Ling Xiao's plan was very perfect, but he didn't know that sometimes changes could happen before a plan was set into motion. When Ling Lan joined the 23rd Division, he wouldn't be able to hide her for any longer.
