SCOM - Chapter 83
Chapter 83
“Stop causing trouble in my class.” Instructor Kang Guang warned the students, his gaze finally landing on Guan Yuan, who was sprawled on the ground. “Skeletal Armor is meant for fighting the Gashro Empire, not for brawling with your classmates.”
Pointing at Zuo Luohuan, Guan Yuan angrily retorted, “Instructor, she kicked me first!”
“You took off your Skeletal Armor after the run, so why are you wearing it again?” Kang Guang questioned. “Do you think I’m blind? If you don’t want to attend class properly, go run another twenty laps.”
Guan Yuan was speechless. Kicked for nothing, he could only glare at Zuo Luohuan. He didn’t dare retaliate, so he just climbed to his feet and stood to the side.
Zuo Luohuan ignored him and turned to Ji Yuezhi. “Do you have another class after this?”
Ji Yuezhi nodded. “Weapons Research.”
As if remembering something, Zuo Luohuan chuckled. “With Instructor Bai Feng?”
His three main instructors were an Alpha, an Omega, and a Beta. Jiang Hong said he had OCD.
Ji Yuezhi didn’t understand why she was laughing. He simply looked at her intently.
“Don’t look at me like that,” Zuo Luohuan whispered, stepping closer.
If they were alone, she would have covered his eyes, not letting him look—and perhaps done a few other things as well. Unfortunately, they were in class.
Ji Yuezhi’s eyes crinkled slightly in a smile. He obeyed, averting his gaze.
After everyone finished their twenty laps, Kang Guang checked the time and addressed the sweating cadets. “You can keep your Skeletal Armor with you for now. Train with it when you have time. But if any instructor catches you using it to pick fights, the school will not only confiscate it but also give you demerits. Understood?”
“Understood!” the cadets shouted.
“Dismissed.”
…
The first class was just running laps, but Kang Guang had already collected data on the two hundred cadets’ running speeds. That evening, he passed the data to Jia Hailan.
“These cadets have good physical qualities. Their speeds were slower than usual, but for many, their pace actually increased towards the end of the twenty laps,” Jia Hailan observed, carefully comparing the data. “They’re adapting quickly to the weight of the Skeletal Armor. It shouldn’t be long before they can start training with combat maneuvers.”
“It’s time to start matching them with weapons,” Kang Guang said, sitting in a chair. His usual smile was gone, and the scar at the corner of his mouth looked terrifying.
“I’ve already spoken with the Weapons Department instructors. There was a cadet in the previous war games, Qian Mao, who’s quite talented with weapons,” Jia Hailan said. “The school has decided to have Weapons Department students work with these cadets.”
“The Weapons Department instructors are going to design weapons for the army groups?” Kang Guang quickly caught on.
Jia Hailan nodded. “The army groups have already handed over their stockpiled Robot Dog materials. They want them all made into Skeletal Armor. The next step is designing suitable weapons.”
Currently, the two strongest army groups were the Winter Army and the Seventeenth Army. But the Skeletal Armor represented new possibilities. Whichever group could leverage this project first would significantly improve their standing within the Military Council.
To gain an advantage, they needed to seize the initiative, acquire the Skeletal Armor and matching weapons early, and begin training.
“I don’t care about the army groups’ affairs,” Kang Guang said, leaning back heavily in his chair. “I’m only responsible for these cadets.”
Jia Hailan reassured him, “You’re not a Weapons Department instructor. You don’t need to get involved with the army groups.”
…
While the Federation appeared calm on the surface, undercurrents were already stirring. In the capital alone, the Seventeenth Army and the Twenty-Sixth Army had clashed several times behind the scenes. The Seventeenth Army possessed a significant amount of material, all earned through their battles against the Gashro Empire. However, the commander of the Twenty-Sixth Army argued at the Military Council that, as fellow Federation members, the Seventeenth Army should share their materials with the weaker groups. This way, everyone could become stronger and better defend the Federation.
“Then Ji Xixiu presented data showing that the Twenty-Sixth Army had been privately acquiring discarded Robot Dogs and Silver-Green materials from smaller army groups for years, accumulating far more than they officially reported. Ji Xixiu asked how much the Twenty-Sixth Army would contribute, and the Seventeenth would match it,” Jiang Hong recounted, sitting in Zuo Luohuan’s dorm room. “I heard Guan Mei’s face turned green on the spot.”
Zuo Luohuan wasn’t surprised by Ji Xixiu’s tactics. She was more puzzled by something else. “Why is the Guan family getting so bold?”
“They’re getting cocky,” Jiang Hong replied. “Their business ventures have been successful these past few years, boosting their reputation. The Twenty-Sixth Army has also recruited many new members. They probably think they’re powerful now.”
“Any other news?” Zuo Luohuan asked.
“No progress on Ji Yuezhi’s situation yet. We almost got caught by the Ji family,” Jiang Hong said. “Oh, the Winter Army has already received the first batch of Skeletal Armor. Ji Xixiu approved it.”
The Zuo and Ji families had been at odds for years, so the Winter Army and the Seventeenth Army were naturally rivals. However, Zuo Luohuan didn’t know how the Military Council had negotiated the deal, but the first army group to receive the Skeletal Armor was the Winter Army. As far as Jiang Hong knew, Zuo Dihong was at the Northern border and hadn’t even been able to attend the Military Council’s video conference.
“Not the Purifier Corps?” Zuo Luohuan asked.
Jiang Hong was taken aback. “Why would the Purifier Corps need Skeletal Armor? They’re not an army group.”
“If the army groups have Skeletal Armor, the Purifier Corps needs it too,” Zuo Luohuan said, tapping her fingers on the table and glancing up casually. “Otherwise, how are they supposed to keep the army groups in check?”
“That’s…true,” Jiang Hong said, glancing at Zuo Luohuan. He used to think she would join the Winter Army after graduation and take over Zuo Dihong’s position. Now, she seemed more concerned about the Purifier Corps.
“Anything else?” Zuo Luohuan asked.
“No,” Jiang Hong said, waving his hands. He hesitated for a moment, then asked, “Which army group will you join after graduation?”
Zuo Luohuan gave him a sidelong glance. “Naturally, whichever one offers the best deal.”
Jiang Hong understood the hidden meaning behind her words. “You haven’t decided whether to join the Winter Army?”
“Graduation is still a long way off. It’s not something I’m considering right now.” Zuo Luohuan opened her optical computer, wondering if he was asleep.
“You can lie to others, but do you think I’ll believe that?” Jiang Hong scoffed. “Ji Yuezhi will definitely join the Seventeenth Army.”
Zuo Luohuan didn’t reply. She sent Ji Yuezhi a message: Is anyone from your family picking you up tomorrow?
Jiang Hong knew who she was messaging just by looking at her. After all, Zuo Luohuan only softened her demeanor like this when she was interacting with Ji Yuezhi.
Tsk tsk, lovebirds!
Jiang Hong shook his head. “If there’s nothing else, I’m going back to sleep. Want to go out to eat tomorrow? It’s Saturday.”
“No,” Zuo Luohuan said, looking up as she received a reply. “I’m taking him home tomorrow.”
Jiang Hong was taken aback. “Doesn’t the Ji family send someone to pick Ji Yuezhi up every week? Why do you need to?”
“They’re not coming tomorrow.” Zuo Luohuan showed him the message from Ji Yuezhi.
The driver has something to do. He won’t be coming tomorrow.
Jiang Hong was speechless.
Zuo Luohuan typed back: I’ll take you home tomorrow.
“Bye, see you later,” Jiang Hong said, slamming the door behind him. These two were usually so shrewd, seeing through every scheme and plot, but now they were acting like fools.
The Ji family driver has something to do? What a lame excuse. One dares to say it, and the other actually believes it! As expected, there’s no logic between lovers!
Shaking his head, Jiang Hong fumed at their foolishness.
The couple in question didn’t care what others thought. The next day, Zuo Luohuan waited near the Omega dormitory for Ji Yuezhi.
Saturday was a time for most cadets to relax. Many were surprised to see Zuo Luohuan. The news of their relationship had spread since the start of school, but no one had seen them act any differently. Many were starting to think the rumors were baseless.
The Omegas and Betas who were about to leave campus slowed down, eager to see what Zuo Luohuan was doing there.
Soon enough, their wait was rewarded! Ji Yuezhi came downstairs and walked straight towards Zuo Luohuan.
Gasps rippled through the onlookers. Was this confirmation?!
Zuo Luohuan reached out and took Ji Yuezhi’s hand. “When are you coming back to school?”
“Sunday afternoon,” Ji Yuezhi replied, walking slightly behind her so she could lead him.
“Should I pick you up?”
“Okay.”
Their voices were soft, but the cadets straining their ears heard everything clearly! If this wasn’t proof they were together, then what was?!
Under everyone’s watchful eyes, the two walked to the parking lot, got into the same car, and drove away from the Federal First Military Academy.
…
Zuo Luohuan simply wanted to spend more time with Ji Yuezhi. She planned to drop him off at the Ji residence and leave, but after parking, the Ji family butler was already waiting. After Ji Yuezhi got out of the car, the butler approached the driver’s side and knocked on the window, inviting her to stay for lunch.
Needless to say, this was Ji Xixiu’s arrangement.
Zuo Luohuan handed the car keys to the butler and followed Ji Yuezhi inside.
“You’re here,” Ji Xixiu greeted her coolly from the living room. He had known Zuo Luohuan would be bringing his son home when Ji Yuezhi suddenly said he didn’t need a ride last night. He scoffed inwardly, but when his wife heard, she suggested inviting Zuo Luohuan for lunch.
Yan Jinqiu emerged from the kitchen with a plate of fruit. “Xiao Zuo, you’ve arrived. Have a seat. I made soup today. I hope it suits your taste.”
“She’s not picky,” Ji Xixiu said, turning a page in his book.
Ji Yuezhi stepped forward, about to address his father, but Zuo Luohuan held his hand.
“Uncle Ji is right. I’m not picky,” Zuo Luohuan said with a smile. “Thank you, Aunt Yan, for the soup.”
“I don’t have much time to come home with the research institute being so busy,” Yan Jinqiu said to Zuo Luohuan. “It’s rare for me to prepare a meal. Please forgive me if it’s not very good, Xiao Zuo.”
After some small talk in the living room, Ji Yuezhi led Zuo Luohuan upstairs to his room. Although she had explored the entire room the night of his coming-of-age ceremony, she didn’t look around this time.
Even so, when Ji Yuezhi pulled out a chair for her at the desk, her eyes fell on the object on the table, and she froze.
“I’ve kept the gift you gave me safe all along,” Ji Yuezhi said, emerging after changing his clothes. He saw her staring at the object on the table, a faint smile in his eyes.
It was Zuo Luohuan’s coming-of-age gift to Ji Yuezhi—a handmade neck lock.
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