SCOM - Chapter 54
Chapter 54
Time was running out. Zuo Luohuan was about to lose, but she suddenly turned and ran towards the area where Ji Yuezhi and the others had been eliminated.
On the monitor, she moved like a black shadow, darting over the ruined walls with dazzling speed.
“Does Zuo Luohuan have a clue?” Luo Shaoyuan stared at the monitor in surprise. She had left the arena early, but hadn't seen where Ji Yuezhi hid the flash drive. In fact, from the moment they entered, after the flash drive was taken by Ji Yuezhi, no one had seen it again.
Ji Yuezhi watched the direction Zuo Luohuan was moving on the monitor, his fingertips curling involuntarily. She must have guessed where the flash drive was.
With one minute left in the exercise, Zuo Luohuan finally found the pile of Skeletal Armor fragments that Qian Mao had dismantled. Ignoring the countdown echoing from the broadcast, she strode towards the pile, squatted down, rummaged through it, and located the energy block compartment on the armor.
The final ten-second countdown begins: ten, nine, eight… three…
Zuo Luohuan pried open the casing, revealing the partially depleted energy block and a simple plastic flash drive. The moment she retrieved it, the exercise officially ended.
Inside the monitoring room, Qian Mao instinctively looked at Ji Yuezhi, asking in shock, “Captain, when did you put it in there?” He had assembled the Skeletal Armor himself. Although the Captain had found the energy block, Qian Mao had been the one to place it inside, completely unaware of the flash drive's presence.
The Skeletal Armor could hold multiple energy blocks, but they had only found one, leaving ample space inside after its placement.
“When you were placing the energy block,” Ji Yuezhi said calmly.
Jiang Hong suddenly realized, “I remember you turning around to talk to Guan Xue then, Qian Mao.”
Qian Mao thought hard for a moment before recalling that the Captain had suggested they eat something, prompting him to turn and look at Guan Xue, who was eating.
“You already suspected a spy then, Captain?” Qian Mao was practically prostrating himself before Ji Yuezhi in admiration.
“Just a precaution.” Ji Yuezhi hadn't known the third stage had already begun, but he had always felt something was off about Zuo Luohuan.
They hadn't had much opportunity to interact until this semester, when they spent more time together. Ji Yuezhi would replay every action and word of Zuo Luohuan in his mind.
Several times, even from the first stage of the exercise, Ji Yuezhi had felt Zuo Luohuan was acting strangely. However, it was his first formal competition with her, so he dismissed it. By the second stage, when she led the Northern Military Academy students to search for weapons, resulting in the elimination of two of them, he gradually realized something was amiss.
Initially, Ji Yuezhi assumed the organizers had arranged another group of people in Leye Town. But then he remembered Zuo Luohuan's words before the second stage, reminding them not to lose, distancing herself from the outcome. At the time, he thought she simply didn't care about the exercise.
Coupled with Luo Shaoyuan's subsequent elimination, Ji Yuezhi's suspicions about Zuo Luohuan's role in the competition solidified. The Northern Military Academy students were strong, but unlucky, leading to their elimination in the first stage. He reasoned they would be more cautious in the second. He didn't believe Luo Shaoyuan, whom even Zuo Dihong had praised, would fall prey to a sniper, especially since Ji Yuezhi hadn't detected An Yingjing's pheromones nearby.
Ji Yuezhi had no concrete evidence from beginning to end, only a gut feeling about Zuo Luohuan. Jiang Hong, having spent more time with her, should have been more aware of any anomalies. However, he was blinded by trust.
Trust was like a veil over his eyes, blurring the truth and causing him to overlook any inconsistencies.
“Alright, Zuo Luohuan's coming back. Let's go wait for her.” Luo Shaoyuan stood up, cracking her knuckles menacingly.
Qian Mao slumped back in his chair, looking up dejectedly. “Sigh, I finally understand how those seniors who were betrayed by Ren Pingbo felt.” He figured he'd have a psychological scar from seeing Zuo Luohuan again.
“Come on, let’s go.” Guan Xue pulled him up.
Ji Yuezhi was the last to leave. Before exiting, he glanced back at Zuo Luohuan on the monitor, reaching up to touch his scent gland on the back of his neck. He could almost still feel the cool temperature of her palm from that day.
…
With the exercise concluded, Zuo Luohuan was naturally brought back, but she received a decidedly frosty reception. Even the Federal First Military Academy students wore complex expressions as they looked at her. Jiang Hong patted his chest, sighing in relief, “Thankfully, I was eliminated early enough to avoid being taken down by you.”
Zuo Luohuan glanced at him. “So much for your big talk.”
“Zuo Luohuan!” Luo Shaoyuan lunged forward, ready to strike. “You treacherous little…”
Zuo Luohuan dodged her punch, replying nonchalantly, “I was just completing my mission. There will be plenty of betrayals in the Group Army later on. Feel free to chase after them and fight them all… if you’re still alive, that is.”
Luo Shaoyuan was momentarily speechless, but quickly resumed her attack. “That’s later! Right now, the competition is over, and I just want to beat you up!”
The instructors didn't intervene. The two fought near the aircraft. Luo Shaoyuan fought dirty, landing a few blows on Zuo Luohuan. Zuo Luohuan, no longer holding back, flipped her to the ground.
“Come on, let’s go again. I’ll break your hand first.” Zuo Luohuan nudged Luo Shaoyuan’s wrist with the toe of her boot.
Luo Shaoyuan slapped her foot away. “Get lost!”
“Alright, everyone gather around!” Kang Guang called out, summoning everyone nearby.
Zuo Luohuan walked forward with the others, spotting Ji Yuezhi. She smiled at him. “Captain, I found your flash drive.”
Ji Yuezhi looked up at Zuo Luohuan. Despite the smile on her face, he could tell she was upset. He had sensed it the moment she stepped off the aircraft.
“What’s wrong?” Zuo Luohuan walked beside Ji Yuezhi, turning to look at him. “I haven’t had the chance to ask when our Captain realized something was amiss.”
Ji Yuezhi didn't answer her question, instead focusing on her hand. “Why didn't you use your medicine?” She clearly had medicine, yet hadn't used it these past few days. Since that perfunctory bandaging, she hadn't bothered with it.
Zuo Luohuan raised her palm, raising an eyebrow as she drawled, “I was busy looking for the flash drive. Too lazy to waste time, especially since the Captain hid it so well.”
Ji Yuezhi pursed his lips and walked quickly ahead. Zuo Luohuan followed, her gaze fixed on him. The palm of her lowered hand throbbed faintly, bringing her back to reality.
…
“The month-long exercise has finally come to an end.” Jia Hailan, representing the instructors, stood at the front, scanning the cadets from the four military academies. “I know many of you are still confused. Let me explain the situation: One person in each team randomly drew a mission card from their backpack. From the moment that card was drawn, the third stage began.”
“That person needed to help the Blue Team complete their mission without being discovered. Success would earn them an individual award.” Jia Hailan continued, “Unfortunately, Zuo Luohuan was discovered, so the third stage was won by Ji Yuezhi from the Federal First Military Academy. Additionally, in the second stage, although the Blue Team was… entirely eliminated, Zuo Luohuan was actually part of the Blue Team. She retrieved the flash drive, therefore the Blue Team won the second stage.”
The two Blue Team captains below showed no signs of joy. Cha Lili raised his hand. “Instructor Jia, I’d like to ask which academy receives the points for winning the second stage, and how are they distributed?”
“Well…” Jia Hailan chuckled. “Naturally, the academy whose member secured the flash drive receives the points.”
Damn! The cadets cursed inwardly. After all that, all the points went to the Federal First Military Academy.
“The exercise is just a competition.” Jia Hailan’s expression turned serious. “I hope that in the future, you won’t have to face this kind of betrayal. But regrettably, such things happen. You never know when a trusted friend or colleague might stab you in the back. Be observant, pay attention to all the details. Your skills should extend beyond just combat techniques.”
“Ren Pingbo’s betrayal of the Federation years ago resulted in the loss of multiple border territories and countless casualties.” Jia Hailan looked at the cadets. “It wasn’t just because he was powerful, or because the Gashro Empire’s second-generation robot dogs were formidable. It was also because several high-ranking Federation officials placed too much trust in him. Working together, daring to trust your comrades with your back, doesn’t mean turning a blind eye and deaf ear to subtle inconsistencies. This is what the instructors hope you’ve learned from this exercise.”
After deliberation, the instructors from the four academies had decided to make the third stage about identifying the betrayer, inspired by Ren Pingbo's betrayal of the Federation.
In a way, Zuo Luohuan, who drew the betrayer card, was quite similar to Ren Pingbo. Both were attention-grabbing students of the Federal First Military Academy, and both enjoyed the deep trust of their teammates.
Initially, seeing the entire Blue Team eliminated puzzled many instructors. When the Red Team was also eliminated, they assumed no one would uncover the truth by the end of the exercise. It wasn't until Zuo Luohuan couldn't find the flash drive that they realized Ji Yuezhi had already discovered the betrayal and discreetly hidden the drive.
The award ceremony was subdued, even the winning team from the Federal First Military Academy showed little joy.
“You won, so stop moping.” Luo Shaoyuan quipped. “What, don’t you want it? Give it to us then.”
“This trophy looks heavy. Why don’t I hold it for you?” An Yingjing chimed in.
“No thanks.” Qian Mao clutched the trophy tightly. “We worked hard for this.”
“Stingy.” An Yingjing sighed. “I hid my pheromones for so long, only to have them be useful in the first stage.”
Cha Lili turned to him. “If you hadn’t used them then, you might not have had another chance.”
An Yingjing looked at Luo Shaoyuan, suddenly grinning. “True. At least I single-handedly eliminated the entire Northern Military Academy once.”
Luo Shaoyuan: “Ha.”
The group was transported back to the Federal First Military Academy by aircraft, arriving in the evening. Everyone returned to their dorms. Security at the academy had been tightened considerably, especially around the accommodations for visiting students.
…
After returning and showering, Ji Yuezhi didn't rest. He sat on the edge of his bed for a while, then got up, retrieved a medical kit, and headed towards the Alpha dormitory building.
Aside from a few additional alarms and a full squad patrolling, the Alpha building was unchanged. When Ji Yuezhi arrived, the Alphas downstairs assumed it was a surprise inspection, but the Head of the Disciplinary Committee paid them no mind.
Ji Yuezhi reached Zuo Luohuan's door and knocked. There was no response.
“Captain, are you looking for Luohuan?” Jiang Hong, clad in pajamas, shuffled over from the next room. “She’s not here. I’ve been knocking for ages.”
Ji Yuezhi looked at Jiang Hong, frowning slightly. “You’re next door to her?” He didn’t recall that being the case.
“No, I brought some snacks over to see Luohuan.” Jiang Hong gestured towards the neighboring room. “She wasn’t there, so the guy next door snagged them.”
“Did she… go home?” Ji Yuezhi asked.
Jiang Hong yawned. “I doubt it. Aunt Yi isn’t home these days, so what would Luohuan be doing there? Captain, I’m going back to sleep.”
Ji Yuezhi stepped aside, lingering at Zuo Luohuan’s door for a moment. Then, as if remembering something, he went downstairs, got into his car, and drove away from the academy, heading towards a specific destination.
…
Zuo Luohuan lay on the sofa, staring at the ceiling. After a while, she raised a hand to her forehead, and as she turned her head, she noticed the chair on the balcony. A faint scent of iris reached her nose.
She sat up, realizing after a moment that it wasn't her imagination.
It dawned on her then. Since Ji Yuezhi's temporary marking had passed, she hadn't had the place cleaned, and she had even forgotten to activate the air purification cycle before leaving.
She got up and walked to the control panel by the entrance, intending to activate the purification system. Her finger hovered over the button for a long moment before she pulled it away.
Facing the wall, Zuo Luohuan lowered her hand, then abruptly raised it again, pressing the button decisively. The ventilation and circulation system throughout the living room and bedroom whirred to life, purging the lingering pheromones.
Leaning her head against the cool wall, Zuo Luohuan closed her eyes, a self-deprecating chuckle escaping her lips.
Just then, the doorbell rang.
Zuo Luohuan snapped back to attention, turning to the video screen beside the door. She saw a familiar face.
Startled, she strode over and opened the door, her usual nonchalant smile already in place. “Captain, to what do I owe the pleasure?”
Ji Yuezhi’s gaze fell on Zuo Luohuan. It had been over two hours since she returned, yet she was still in her dirty clothes, the ragged cloth wrapped around her palm stained with dirt and grime.
He asked coldly, “Zuo Luohuan, are you self-harming?”
Zuo Luohuan’s smile faltered, but she quickly regained her casual demeanor, even deliberately moving closer to him. “I’m just exhausted. Unless… Captain wants to help me clean up?”
She assumed Ji Yuezhi would recoil from the dirt, stepping back as she approached. But he didn’t even blink, replying directly, “Alright.”
Zuo Luohuan froze, then laughed awkwardly. “I was just kidding. I wouldn’t dare trouble the Captain.”
“Do you intend to keep me standing out here?” Ji Yuezhi looked directly into Zuo Luohuan’s eyes. “I’m thirsty.”
The way he looked at her was reminiscent of those Omegas whose world revolved solely around their Alpha.
Almost instinctively, Zuo Luohuan took a step back, allowing Ji Yuezhi inside. She turned to pour him a glass of water.
Her hands were dirty, leaving a smudge on the glass. She tossed it in the trash, then washed one hand clean before refilling the glass and offering it to him.
Ji Yuezhi didn’t drink. He stood across the counter, looking at Zuo Luohuan. “Your hand.”
“What?”
“The one you used to block the nail for me.” Ji Yuezhi placed the medical kit he had brought onto the counter and extended his hand towards her.
“It’s just a small injury,” Zuo Luohuan said with a smile. “It’s our honor as teammates to protect Captain Ji.”
Ji Yuezhi stared intently at Zuo Luohuan. “You were trying to eliminate me. You didn’t have to protect me.”
The smile gradually faded from Zuo Luohuan’s face, revealing something closer to her true self. She spoke indifferently, “If I hadn’t blocked it, that nail would have injured your scent gland. It’s just an exercise, not worth such a high price.”
When she saw the nail, Zuo Luohuan reacted without thinking, falling with Ji Yuezhi and shielding the back of his neck with her hand. Even as the nail pierced her palm, her fingers remained gentle, unwilling to apply any pressure to his sensitive skin.
“The nail was rusty. The wound needs to be treated promptly.” Ji Yuezhi rounded the counter, approaching Zuo Luohuan. “Since you were injured for me, I’ll bandage it for you.”
“My hand is dirty.” Zuo Luohuan tried to refuse.
Ji Yuezhi simply took her hand and led her to the sink. He unwrapped the filthy cloth, revealing a festering wound. It wasn’t large, but it was deep and gruesome.
His lips pressed into a thin line as he discarded the cloth. He turned on the faucet, dipping his fingers in the water and gently washing away the dirt and dried blood.
Zuo Luohuan’s gaze traveled from Ji Yuezhi’s slender, clean neck to his profile. Perhaps the warm lighting was playing tricks on her.
For a fleeting moment, she thought the Omega beside her actually belonged to her.
Comments
Post a Comment