First Battlefield Commander! - Chapter 72

Chapter 72: Distribution

The questioning student was left speechless and lowered his head.

The crowd shifted their gaze, waiting for the professor to speak.

The professor had remained silent from the beginning, eyes closed as if deep in thought.

Was this such a difficult decision to make? Or was the answer so hard to determine?

After a long silence, the professor finally spoke: "I acknowledge the validity of your answer."

The surrounding students erupted in murmurs. They shifted in their seats and looked down to re-examine the question on their screens.

Meng Jiangwu gave Lian Sheng a shove, grinning at her.

"However," the professor opened his eyes, "this doesn't mean your strategy was correct. I merely acknowledge your combat style."

He turned and walked toward the podium, enunciating each word clearly: "Regardless of your stance, I hope you all can examine your mistakes. After the war ends."

Reaching the lectern, the professor looked at Lian Sheng: "You've read Edwin's autobiography, but it doesn't contain the complete record. As commander-in-chief of the Gelen United Army, the battle he most wanted to document was one that occurred in Kafa, a city in the 16th District. What began as a resource dispute escalated into full-scale war after accidental casualties made reconciliation impossible."

"It was Kafa City's final battle." The professor's voice remained deep and steady, yet Lian Sheng detected profound weariness in his tone. He looked down, organizing his materials as he continued: "Kafa was an ordinary city built around resource extraction. The civilians had wanted peace, but local politicians kept resisting. After Edwin's forces made their final negotiation attempt and were rebuffed, they decided to launch a full assault."

The professor's lips twisted in a sarcastic smile: "Truthfully, Kafa City had no functional mechs left for resistance, nor any offensive weapons—only defensive high-voltage nets. The civilians were rebelling violently, and the local government was paralyzed."

"When the politicians learned of Edwin's impending assault and faced the civilians' uprising, they made the extreme decision to detonate the underground defense systems. Edwin only saw the ceasefire request transmitted by the city's hackers after the battle ended. By then it was far too late." The professor tucked his optical computer under his arm: "The entire city was engulfed in flames and explosions. Over a million innocent civilians perished. The fires consumed the entire region. After this tragedy, no one dared extract the underground resources again, and the entire planet was sealed off."

"The 16th District is now Alliance territory. They had wanted to reconcile with Edwin's Gelen United Army, but this incident became an unhealable wound. When news spread, public outrage left the government no choice but to renounce national sovereignty rather than remain aligned with Gelen. The conflict has continued burning to this day without resolution."

"This became Edwin's lifelong regret. He refused all honors and medals, believing he should carry this indelible sin to his grave. Yet after his death, Gelen erased all records of the legendary war god's final campaign, denying its very existence."

The professor's gaze swept across the students: "History is only what people remember. But how should Kafa confront this distorted history? Think carefully—if you ever fight for the Alliance, what would they want most?"

He recounted this tragedy with clinical detachment.

The Alliance and Gelen forces had been locked in hostility for years without resolution. Certain events seemed to force them into this intractable situation.

The students listened in astonishment.

This battle was rarely mentioned, and even then only in passing. They'd heard rumors but knew few details. After all, there were no noteworthy tactics to analyze, it happened over a century ago, and seemed irrelevant to them.

To prevent unnecessary panic, the Alliance had never publicized what truly occurred.

Meng Jiangwu whispered: "I heard the professor's parents were originally from the 16th District. Even though it's under Alliance jurisdiction now, they probably can't forget what happened."

Lian Sheng sat back in her chair, nodding: "Ah, that explains why he looks... so distinctive."

Meng Jiangwu blinked: "What's distinctive about him?"

Blond hair, blue eyes, sharp features—wasn't that the standard 16th District appearance? Just far more handsome than average.

The professor said: "Lian Sheng. You've passed this course. From now on, you may choose whether or not to attend lectures."

Lian Sheng stood and bowed: "Thank you."

The professor returned to his lesson plan as if nothing had happened.

After that heavy interlude, his lectures remained as... sleep-inducing as ever.

Lian Sheng propped her chin on one hand, mechanically taking notes.

After morning classes ended, Lian Sheng continued her midterm attendance marathon.

Zheng Lei and the others accompanied her between classrooms.

"That course used to be really hard to pass, and he actually exempted you from exams!" Zheng Lei clicked his tongue enviously. "You're so lucky."

Shen Yu said: "You could do it too—just memorize Edwin's memoirs. Maybe not the whole book, since the professor only checks if you can speak knowledgeably."

Zheng Lei: "...Let's not. That's not something humans do."

Meng Jiangwu said: "But even with one course exempted, your credits still aren't enough, Lian Sheng. It's not just one major course. Can you pass the others?"

Lian Sheng said: "Not necessarily. There's still time."

Fortunately, subsequent professors lacked the sharp eyes of her major professor—they just called roll and moved on without scrutiny. Unfortunately, she still couldn't understand most lectures.

But some classes were comprehensible. As long as they avoided specialized terminology, theories, and principles, she could force her brain to keep up.

The next day, Alliance University officially opened registration for the new tournament. Students crowded the computer lab early.

Though she held little hope, Lian Sheng pressed the registration button with due reverence.

As expected, she was skipped in the lottery. Meng Jiangwu and the other three all got in.

Receiving the news, they sighed in relief despite knowing this outcome was normal. Somehow they'd feared Lian Sheng might defy probability again.

Thankfully, the world hadn't gone completely mad.

They huddled together to discuss, covering their mouths to stifle giggles.

A major battle without Lian Sheng... sounded like paradise. The mere thought warmed their hearts.

Lian Sheng examined the point rankings of selected participants and sighed in disappointment.

Her short-term goal was to reach a fraction of the top scorer's points.

As she stood to leave, Meng Jiangwu called out: "Where are you going?"

Lian Sheng turned back: "Since I don't need points now, I'm going back to the arena." To console her lonely heart.

Meng Jiangwu: "..." Who said she didn't need points? Had she forgotten about next time?

"Wait, the arena?" Meng Jiangwu suddenly realized and moved closer, whispering: "Is Piaoqi Great General really you?!"

Lian Sheng: "Mmm?"

"Holy—!" Zheng Lei and Shen Yu overheard and crowded in. All other concerns forgotten, they blurted out their burning question: "Piaoqi Great General? Why did you pick Qixing?!"

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