Chapter 222
Brian found his father's cold tone odd, but without thinking much of it, he habitually opened his mouth to complain, "Dad, He Muzhi, he..."
"I know," Greyliff interrupted in a deep voice after only hearing the beginning.
Brian wasn't so agitated anymore. "I knew you wouldn't watch it, Dad..."
"Behave yourself." Greyliff's patience improved slightly, and he listened to a few more words, but not by much. "Don't provoke anyone under Qin Su's protection. I'm not just referring to He Muzhi, but anyone in Class 6)."
After finishing his sentence in one breath, Greyliff didn't care about Brian's expression at all and decisively ended the short video.
As for the mouths of those people in Class 6), unless Qin Su speaks up, they can make a big fuss about anything. The hot search is full of sarcastic remarks about all sorts of things that have happened to Brian since he was in the Fourth Military Academy. And none of these things are baseless rumors. It would be hard for him not to know before Brian speaks up.
If Brian were facing someone else this time, he would have followed his usual methods: simple, brutal, and forceful use of power.
Since it concerned Qin Su's favored Class 6, he was preoccupied with his own affairs and did not want Brian to make his situation worse. He could only deal with it by ignoring it and letting Brian cause less trouble, waiting for the storm to subside on its own.
"?"
Before Brian could react, his father's face disappeared from his sight—a treatment he had never received before.
"Damn it--"
He'd only uttered one swear word when his foot, which he'd kicked out in a fit of rage, was pulled, causing him to cry out in pain.
Hearing Brian's howling from inside through the door, the passing nurse glanced at him and quickened her pace.
Brian, this difficult young master who's quick to anger and prone to violence, isn't openly criticized, but he's not a masochist, so everyone silently disapproves.
Unless specifically assigned, anyone who wants to get involved can get involved.
After howling for a while and finding no one coming in, Brian glanced around the luxury ward, searched for a few seconds, saw the connection Passageway next to it, opened his Optical Brain, scanned it, and clicked on all the doctors listed.
While waiting after ordering, Brian felt unusual pain all over his body. He lifted his clothes and saw large patches of bruises, clearly without any signs of treatment.
"?"
He clearly remembered that when he secretly got people into the hospital before, the school doctor would come to pick them up and start treating the wounds the moment they arrived. What was going on with him?
Before long, Brian got the answer from a group of doctors who had arrived.
"Don't you dislike it when others touch your body without your permission?"
They went to great lengths to summon all the doctors, without considering the other patients. The lead doctor casually called a few people to put on the school doctor's uniform, rolled his eyes outside, and then, out of respect for Brian's father, smiled and offered an explanation when they entered the ward.
He'd seen countless students like Brian, all spoiled brats who wanted the best of everything, as if the world revolved around them. They were arrogant and didn't care what the 'lower class' looked like. He'd gotten so used to fooling them that he was practically an expert.
That was indeed the case. Brian was speechless for a moment, then realized he had fainted at the time and hadn't had a chance to speak, "Who said that?"
"He Muzhi."
To prevent injuries to doctors and nurses at the Fourth Military Academy's hospital, the academy had a strict order forbidding anyone from laying a hand on them, and the doctor spoke frankly about it without any attempt to conceal the truth.
Upon hearing those three words, Brian recalled his father's warning, and his face turned extremely ugly. He Muzhi hadn't done it on purpose, he would have taken his surname!
After a few seconds of hesitation, Brian, unable to lay a hand on the doctor, muttered curses and ordered them to serve him.
Even after being scolded, the doctor wasn't angry; he just smiled and gave a perfunctory "okay, okay."
Not long after, the routine patrol staff at the school hospital heard Brian's screams, one after another, coming from through the slightly ajar door.
"Ahhh, be gentle!"
"You're doing that on purpose, aren't you?!"
[As it turns out, you should never offend a doctor who can save your life.]
[You have to admit he's arrogant. He really thinks everyone is his parent and has to spoil him. It's also his fault that his whole family is busy making up for it by always giving in to his demands. He's been surrounded by butlers and servants since he was a child. He's used to being the boss, how could he possibly change?]
In the Brian incident, does He Muzhi count as having reached 1% of his "darkening" progress bar?
--
Three days later.
Except for the four classes that went on missions, all other classes have left the Fourth Military Academy and traveled to different destinations with the Spaceship. According to regulations, the four classes from the four graduating classes that remained at the academy will continue to conduct daily training led by their Class Monitor while other graduating classes and classes of the Military Academy students are away on missions.
The Fourth Military Academy was already quite large, and the shortest distance between each area using the school's convenient transportation was ten minutes, while the longest distance was about an hour.
The four classes that stayed on campus belonged to four different cohorts, and their dormitories were not arranged in the same area. Since the training and course focuses were different for each cohort, and the locations for classes were scattered in various areas, the probability of them overlapping was extremely low. Unless they deliberately bumped into each other when changing Training Ground, it was impossible for the four classes to meet.
Looking at the school that had suddenly become exceptionally empty, the students of the Class of 27 cohort who stayed on campus felt empty inside and were plagued by paranoia. In addition, the sense of security that came with thinking of Qin Su made them feel that only Qin Su could 'fill' their hearts in this empty environment, and they unanimously decided to go to the vicinity of the training location of Class 6).
Some students in the two classes of the 24th and Class of 25 had this thought, while others, with their own thoughts, made the same choice as the students of the Class of 27 within a few days.
The course schedule of Class 6) was basically no secret at the Fourth Military Academy. When the Class of 27 saw that the two classes from the previous year were also in the same area, they skillfully and silently retreated to the area furthest away from Class 6) and watched longingly.
"Sigh, when will we be able to stand close to Class 6? I really don't understand what some people in those two classes are thinking. Their eyes are clearly full of envy and jealousy towards Class 6, yet they still want to get close. Isn't that self-torture?"
"What we can't have is what we crave the most, and that's why we unconsciously get closer to it. Let's be more honest with ourselves since we're from later. But even though we're so far apart, seeing the seniors from Class 6 makes me feel much better."
"That's true, but don't you think the seniors from Class 6 are acting a bit strange? Why aren't they saying anything? The silence is a bit oppressive."
"Could it be that after He Muzhi beat up Brian, he went back and Qin Su the entire Class 6? After all, Brian's father is Greyliff, and the God Su gives Greyliff some face?"
"Heh, what are you thinking? You don't even put the Federation's God Su in your eyes, so what are you thinking with Greyliff?"
"Sigh, another day without seeing God Su. God Su is becoming more and more elusive. I heard that some people deliberately camped out between God Su's dormitory and the training ground, but they never managed to catch a glimpse of God Su. I'm starting to doubt whether God Su is even actually at the training ground."
Amidst the chatter of students from different classes in small groups, the figures of the Class 6 disappeared from sight before they reluctantly entered the nearby training ground.
If it weren't for the fact that Class 6) had been conducting closed training for a long time and had not allowed visitors, they wouldn't have chosen other Training Ground.
--
Inside the training field.
He Muzhi's words made Class 6) feel as if they were facing a question that was 'beyond the syllabus'. Class 6) collectively experienced a bug of confusion. 'The host kept popping up a buzzing sound' and issued a warning of CPU overload. However, under Qin Su's cold and unyielding commands, the body's processes were still able to maintain normal operation.
Since the incident between Brian and He Muzhi ended, Qin Su has clearly felt that the students in Class 6 have become much more silent when facing him, and have secretly cast different glances at him several times.
Qin Su pretended not to know the reason and continued to force the knowledge of weapons for Modified Humans into the memory of every student in Class 6 through a tight schedule.
While everyone was getting familiar with the weapons, Qin Su made suitable arrangements for the students' "holiday internships" based on their "hometowns".
Over the past period, he took advantage of the opportunity that important figures in various positions on different planets of the Federation, whom he had previously paid special attention to, had to leave due to illness. He made preparations in advance and used any means necessary, including overt and covert coercion and enticement, to push his 'favorite' people into the vacant positions one by one.
Now, it is enough to arrange the students of Class 6) in a suitable place so that they can adapt to everything in the shortest time and not disgrace the students of Class 6) who carry the 'Qin Su label'.
Only...
Qin Su glanced at the overly quiet students, feeling both guilty and self-righteous as he manually increased the difficulty level for them:
One person assigned all the students in Class 6 to the "opposite family" with whom they had some degree of estrangement from themselves or their families.
The thought of his classmates leaving him in the future, only to find that there was no real hardship outside, and that all the troubles were brought on by him, Qin Su: "..."
'No wonder people have always preferred to retire gracefully after achieving success; if they don't, given the hatred they've accumulated, the risk of being reduced to ashes is too great.'
In the blink of an eye, Qin Su remembered that he had specially arranged for his classmates to stay in their hometowns; surely that showed some kindness?
Although not many.
Qin Su: "..."
'Forget it, I don't want to think about it anymore. I'll just abandon my personal integrity and enjoy this immoral life.'
--
In an eerie atmosphere, two weeks later, all the Fourth Army students who had gone out returned to school.
During this time, Raymond, who used to chirp at even the passing traffic Electronic Eye, remained silent and 'deeply melancholy'. This caused none of the students from the three classes of 2027, 2025, Class of 24 who stayed at school to approach and talk to the students of Class 6). They had sensed that familiar oppressive atmosphere from He Muzhi before, and were afraid that if there was a disagreement in Class 6), someone would imitate He Muzhi.
The return of students from their final exams brought renewed activity to the previously quiet Fourth Military Academy.
However, the increased popularity did not make the atmosphere at the Fourth Military Academy more lively; on the contrary, it became even more dull than before.
Those unlucky enough to be assigned to different classes for actual combat all lost some students to varying degrees. While the number of casualties in a single class might not seem large, the total casualties were alarming.
The Fourth Military Academy compiled and published a list of names on the Optical Brain terminals of every student in the Fourth Military Academy. The list was so long that it weighed heavily on the hearts of countless students who saw the names, whether familiar or unfamiliar.
Two days later, the newly enrolled Class of 27 class saw that all the belongings left behind by their classmates who had tragically died during this trip at the Fourth Military Academy had been cleaned up by school staff on their first day back at school, along with a considerable sum of money, and left the Fourth Military Academy through various means. They realized that no one would stay for long because of anyone's death, and their feelings were filled with mixed emotions.
A small number of students from the Class of 27, having witnessed the cruelty of war and the horrors of death, voluntarily applied to withdraw from the school shortly after returning, leaving along with other students who were advised to leave.
Watching the departing figures, someone in the group responsible for seeing off these students sighed, "Now I understand more and more how valuable it is that every time Qin Su leads a team on a mission, everyone survives safely. It's a pity that fate doesn't favor everyone."
This year, the Class of 27 graduating class saw an exceptionally high number of deaths and departures, the highest number ever recorded.
"Your words are a bit morally manipulative. However, the Class of 27 was really unlucky. No class or class has ever been like Class of 27 'Class 75'. They were assigned to moving corpses and transporting supplies on their first mission after leaving the newbie village. They were also unlucky enough to encounter a fully armed Modified Humans ambush team. Almost the entire class was wiped out. Who can beat Modified Humans in the newbie village?"
"The most unfortunate ones are the Military Academy classes that had the same mission as our school's Class 75 of 27 the 2027 cohort. I heard that three classes were completely wiped out. Our Class 75... still has at least 173 students left."
"Enough, are you trying to outdo me in being the worst?"
"Sorry, I didn't mean that, but... according to the surviving students, in the mysterious ambush team composed entirely of Modified Humans, there was a guy called the deputy commander whose body was covered in white, scale-like patterns, and the part of his head that was exposed was golden. His personal characteristics were too obvious. Which Military District developed him? Have you made any progress?"
"I didn't, and I don't know about others, but don't get your hopes up about this. Only someone with a screw loose would admit it."
With no clue about the Modified Humans, as the group left after the Hyperspace Jump, their conversation drifted to Qin Su as they walked away.
"Speaking of which, after you returned, did you see any of Qin Su's people?"
"No, I asked Aiseboer, and he hadn't seen him either. According to the students who stayed on campus, they basically hadn't seen Qin Su during their stay, but Class 6's training never stopped. It seems Qin Su only appears in front of the people in Class 6."
"... I'm even more jealous now, but then I realize that the semester is over, Qin Su should have already left the Fourth Military Academy."
"If you guessed correctly, Qin Su isn't here, so why is Class 6) still here...?"
Before the speaker could finish, seeing familiar faces carrying large and small bags and passing through the Inspection in the distance, the words in his throat changed to. "Isn't that Class 6)? What are they doing? Why are they even carrying luggage? Why are they acting like those dropouts from the Class of 27 that we sent away before?"
"How would we know? Just ask!"
The teachers who witnessed the same scene quickly walked toward the direction of Class 6) as they spoke.
"He Muzhi, what are you doing? Why are you all carrying luggage?" Upon arriving in front of the students of Class 6), the leading teacher hurriedly asked He Muzhi, who always held a high position in Class 6).
"It's a holiday internship," He Muzhi said calmly.
If he hadn't said anything, no one would have known that when he and every student in Class 6) received Qin Su's notification not long ago, the look of surprise in their eyes was exactly the same as that of the teachers in front of them.
"Ha?"
When did our school's rules change?
Normally, the Fourth Military Academy only arranges for graduating students to undergo a period of 'internship' in different Military District on various planets during their final year. This is an internship for the students, but a probationary period for the Military Academy.
During this period, if you perform well, you will be directly admitted to the Military District after graduation. If you do not pass the exam and want to enter your preferred Military District, you will have to rely on private efforts or be Forced Assignment to a Military District according to the school's allocation. Generally speaking, good Military District have priority in selection, which is incomparable to Military District that are Forced Assignment.
(Class 6. The teachers present looked at each other and saw confusion in each other's eyes. Only then did they realize that none of them knew about this, and they secretly felt relieved.
"No," He Muzhi explained, "The school rules haven't changed."
Watching the backs of his classmates walking past him, He Muzhi's voice held a hint of confusion. "It's the Class Monitor."
Withdrawing his gaze, his expression returned to calm. Thinking that Qin Su hadn't asked Class 6) to keep it a secret, which meant it could be discussed, He Muzhi continued, "The Class Monitor arranged for us to intern in different departments on different planets."
It's not just the Military District.
Like Raymond, he joined the Federation Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
He had assumed that all of them (Class 6) would graduate and go to Military District on different planets.
Of course, he himself was in Military District, but not one related to the He Family Military District. Instead, his Class Monitor assigned him to Military District with some... grudges against the He Family.
Not to mention his classmates, even he himself was stunned when he saw the arrangement. Although he didn't understand it, he still firmly believed that the Class Monitor's arrangement was the best and decided to go to the destination according to the Class Monitor's arrangement.
Even now, he still can't understand how Qin Su agreed to let the Military District take him in.
The only thing that made He Muzhi feel fortunate that he wasn't targeted by Qin Su was that almost everyone in Class 6) was assigned to the 'opponent' just like him, including Raymond.
"Ah?"
Having received the answer, the teachers' bewilderment deepened.
Seeing that most of his classmates had quickly left, He Muzhi didn't linger. He said goodbye to the teachers, "Sorry, I have to go now. Goodbye, teachers."
He Muzhi nodded to the teachers and quickly left.
"I see. Qin Su gave them preferential treatment. Jealousy has twisted my face. If I were a few decades younger, I wonder if I would have had such an honor?"
"Is that the key point? Didn't He Muzhi say the key point is that it involves different planets and different departments, not just a single Military District! We need to start paving the way for them now. Do you know what that means?"
"That's not what I'm concerned about. What I'm concerned about is how Qin Su managed to get different departments on different planets to agree to accept students from Class 6)?"
"No, Qin Su's reach is already so far, he could easily sit in any seat he wants, why waste his energy playing with Class 6) here? What right does Class 6) have!"
Watching He Muzhi's departing figure, a series of soft voices rang out. Everyone was talking to themselves, with few caring what others were saying. They only said what they wanted to say and asked what they wanted to ask.
Baby 1 happiness is priceless.
[Based on Class 6's obedience]
[Doesn't anyone think Qin Su is forcing things to grow too quickly? It's like he's about to die, afraid he won't have time to do what he wants before he dies, so he has to hurry up and do it.]
[?]
[This appears to be He Wenyuan's dying fantasy: "Even if you die a hundred times, our Su King won't die!"]
[Heh, you're kidding me. What's the difference between Qin Su's internship arrangement that sends them to their deaths and the King of Hell calling roll? Let's wait until everyone in Class 6 survives before we talk about it. Let's see if you can still praise Qin Su then.]