“Don’t get too cocky. You’re just from a trash planet, do you really think you can make a name for yourself?”
These were Shang Pingying’s words, fueled by jealousy of Meng Huai’s breakout performance in the test. Before Meng Huai could respond, someone came looking for him.
The newcomer was Teacher Wang, the instructor for Class One of the Solo Combat department. Teacher Wang had just witnessed Meng Huai’s combat prowess and her control over the mecha. He felt it was a waste for such a promising talent like Meng Huai to be stuck in the Logistics department. Moreover, this year, the academy had no SSS-level students. For the upcoming academy league, there was an open spot in the Solo Combat team, and they would have to select from students with SS-level qualifications.
It was a case of choosing the best among the less capable. However, Teacher Wang’s class comprised the best-qualified students in the entire Imperial Military Academy, yet there wasn’t a single one he deemed fit to participate in the academy league.
One of the students who participated in the previous year had already graduated, leaving a vacant position in the Solo Combat unit. The pressure was entirely on Teacher Wang, and his hair had turned white from worry. But upon seeing Meng Huai battling the SSS-level Fierce Tiger Star Beast, he knew the vacancy had been filled.
However, what about Meng Huai’s perception?
The perception tests for freshmen were self-observed. There was no reason for any issues! Teacher Wang mused as he saw Meng Huai about to board the Logistics department’s aircraft. He hurried over.
As Teacher Wang approached, other students gave him a wide berth. They had been at the academy for some time and had heard about Teacher Wang’s strictness. Therefore, they kept as far away from him as possible.
The students who had moved away were still chattering, “What is Teacher Wang doing here? The aircraft are about to take off. Shouldn’t he be with his Solo Combat department, taking attendance? Why is he over here in the Logistics department?”
“Who knows?”
But soon, some people who hadn’t gone far heard Teacher Wang say, “Student Meng, I wonder if you would be interested in transferring to our Solo Combat department? Our Class One welcomes you!”
If any students who had previously been lectured and criticized by Teacher Wang had witnessed his amiable smile and gentle tone at this moment, they would have been utterly astonished!
However, the students in the Logistics department who heard and saw Teacher Wang’s demeanor were beyond shocked. Even more so, there was a cry of, “Ouch!”
“What happened?”
“I twisted my ankle!”
A student, too engrossed in watching Teacher Wang and listening to Meng Huai’s reply, hadn’t paid attention to the path ahead. He tripped on a stone and sprained his ankle.
However, he still strained his ears, wanting to hear Meng Huai’s answer.
The accompanying teacher for the Logistics department, who was organizing the record-keeping, found the situation peculiar but not entirely unexpected. She didn’t want to get involved, merely signaling with her eyes for everyone to hurry onto the aircraft. As for shouting at the students, she dared not at this moment.
Meng Huai looked at Teacher Wang and heard his words. Meng Huai had no interest. “Teacher Wang, I’m doing fine in the Logistics department.”
Teacher Wang was greatly surprised by Meng Huai’s response. Who at the military academy wouldn’t aspire to join the Solo Combat department? He hadn’t expected Meng Huai to be unwilling to join his class.
Teacher Wang noticed a familiar face beside Meng Huai – Li Wei.
Teacher Wang had been following the results of the tests over the past few days. When he first saw Li Wei, he found him quite familiar. After much thought, he remembered that this student was the one who had claimed he had secured a spot in Class One of the Solo Combat department, but due to a supposed network error, there were no longer any spots. In the end, this person had gone to the Logistics department.
Teacher Wang had paid special attention to Li Wei afterward, feeling that the student’s strength and potential were better than those in his own class. Why hadn’t he secured a spot back then? It was a year’s delay, but thankfully, the young man knew how to strive and was making an effort in the Logistics department.
Teacher Wang greeted Li Wei as well, saying, “Student Li Wei, you’re here too? Come and try for Class One next year! Teacher welcomes you in advance!”
From these words, it was evident that Teacher Wang held Meng Huai in high regard. It seemed he intended to break the Imperial Military Academy’s rule, the one about not being able to transfer departments for a year.
However, Li Wei also said, “Hello, Teacher Wang. Um… I also think the Logistics department is quite good, and I’ll consider it!”
Meng Huai felt that when he had free time, he could still spar with people in the Logistics department. He thought it was no worse than being in the Solo Combat department? The students in the Solo Combat department were too ordinary. How could he improve if sparring with them offered no challenge?
Teacher Wang hadn’t expected to be rebuffed by Meng Huai, but he also didn’t expect Li Wei, who had originally wanted to join the Solo Combat department, to also be unwilling!
“Teacher Wang, please, the students need to board the aircraft now. We’re preparing to fly back to the military academy. If there’s anything, we can discuss it at the academy?”
The accompanying teacher for the Logistics department cautiously asked Teacher Wang. Teacher Wang turned and looked around; there were almost no people left on the field, and everyone had boarded the aircraft.
Teacher Wang’s communicator also rang. After answering, he was asked, “Teacher Wang, where are you? The aircraft is about to take off.”
Teacher Wang had no choice but to give up, thinking he would discuss it back at the academy. After all, he had plenty of time.
“Then, Student Meng, we’ll talk again at the academy. And you, young man!”
Teacher Wang spoke to Meng Huai in a tone he had never used before, a gentle tone. Then, he turned and changed his demeanor, pointing at Li Wei as he uttered the latter half of his sentence. However, he wasn’t angry with Li Wei, as he still held him in high regard.
These successive rejections left Teacher Wang feeling somewhat dejected, but he returned to his aircraft first. After all, there was a group of students waiting for him to take charge.
Upon returning to the aircraft for Class One of the Solo Combat department, Teacher Wang reverted to his usual attitude towards his students. He flew into a rage first and berated these students.
“You are truly a bunch of trash! If I were you, I wouldn’t even dare to board the aircraft and would walk back to the academy! You let students from the Logistics department surpass you and take first and third place, and the Command department took second! Are you not ashamed?”
All the students on the aircraft lowered their heads, accepting the criticism. Some guiltily picked at their fingernails, while others wiped away beads of sweat. But Teacher Wang’s words were clearly just beginning: “You eat more than anyone, and I thought you had no brains. Not only that, but you can’t even win in your strong suit, martial arts, compared to others. Is that not shameful!”
“You are truly the worst batch. Even the Logistics department students are stronger than you! Look at that A-level girl from the Logistics department; her ranking has surpassed more than half of you! How shameful! And you have the nerve to be chatting and laughing here, thinking you did well in your tests?!”
The students of Class One were all S-level or above. Since their perception was tested from a young age, they had been treated like stars. To be told that they were inferior to an A-level person one day naturally caused some dissatisfaction.
Some even grumbled, “That A-level person is just trash! How can she be compared to us? She must have cheated using those weapons!”