Preparation

At the Interstellar Military Academy, the cadets who should have been coming and going had all stopped in their tracks, staring in shock at the scene before them.

A male cadet was steadily carrying a female cadet on his back.

Normally, this would not have been unusual. Most of the cadets here were adults, and dating was perfectly normal. Guys carrying girls on their backs was a common sight as well.

But the problem was that the guy was Lin Fan, and the girl was Emma.

After their initial shock, the surrounding cadets who had stopped to watch were filled with resentment, though it was mixed with immense envy.

The female cadets said, "Lin, how could you be seduced away by that vixen Emma?"

The male cadets said, "Wasn't Emma supposed to be everyone's goddess? How could she fall for him just like that?"

Well, neither Lin Fan nor Emma cared in the slightest about what the surrounding cadets were thinking.

One was thinking, This girl really has an incredible figure, while the other was a mess of thoughts, her face flushed as she did not dare raise her head.

"Emma, I'm graduating tomorrow. The dean has already arranged for my graduation assessment to take place tomorrow!"

Emma, who had been burying her head and letting her imagination run wild, was instantly jolted awake by Lin Fan's words.

Tomorrow? Graduation? Leaving?

Those three words kept repeating in her mind. Emma did not know what was wrong with her, but her chest suddenly felt tight, and she felt terribly upset.

Feeling Emma tremble slightly on his back after hearing his words, Lin Fan's lips curled faintly upward.

This girl really was terrible at being honest.

"After graduation, I'll probably join Mars Base. When you graduate next year, come find me at Mars Base!"

"Okay!"

This time, Emma answered Lin Fan. Though her voice was as soft as a mosquito's buzz, Lin Fan heard it clearly.

Before long, Lin Fan carried Emma to the infirmary. After handing her over to the medical officer, he left.

Naturally, Emma would not throw a tantrum at a time like this.

Besides, she thought that since Lin Fan's graduation assessment was tomorrow, he would definitely need to return and make some preparations today.

Although Emma's guess was somewhat off, she was generally right.

Lin Fan did indeed need to make preparations. After all, his opponent in tomorrow's simulated battle assessment would be Liang Xingchen, a legend throughout the entire Federation.

Based on Lin Fan's estimation, most of Liang Xingchen's command abilities were likely at A rank, with some individual abilities reaching S rank.

Within the Human Federation, Liang Xingchen's abilities absolutely qualified him as a god of war.

But Lin Fan still wanted to see just how far he could go!

"System, arrange an encounter battle training session for me. Level 5."

"The virtual battlefield has been activated. A Level 5 opponent has been created. The simulation mode is an encounter battle. Entry will be available in 10 seconds. Please prepare yourself, Host."

Level 5 meant an opponent with all abilities at A rank in the system.

Lin Fan believed that if he wanted Liang Xingchen to acknowledge him in tomorrow's simulated battle, he had to demonstrate sufficient ability.

After all, this concerned his system mission. Only by performing brilliantly enough could he meet the mission requirements more quickly.

After hearing the system prompt, Lin Fan lay directly on his bed and closed his eyes. Before long, everything went black, and he lost consciousness.

When Lin Fan regained consciousness and opened his eyes, he was already standing on the bridge of a warship.

Lin Fan skillfully operated the equipment at the captain's station and checked on his fleet. It was another 100-versus-100 battle, something he had long grown accustomed to.

"Report! Enemy fleet detected, distance: fifty million kilometers."

Over the course of that day and night, Lin Fan had lost count of how many times he had been utterly crushed.

After all, time in virtual space passed at a ratio of ten to one compared with reality.

In other words, after fifteen hours of system training, Lin Fan had actually spent a full one hundred and fifty hours in virtual space, fighting twenty-nine battles in total.

"As expected, a Level 5 opponent is still too much for my current level."

At dawn, Lin Fan opened his eyes on the bed and spoke helplessly.

Still, a night of getting thrashed had not been without results. In the final virtual battle, even though Lin Fan was defeated, he had destroyed nearly forty of the enemy's warships.

"Ding! Congratulations, Host. Your Formation Command ability has improved and is now A rank. Reward granted: 2% Brain Development."

The next moment, Lin Fan once again felt his thoughts become clearer.

"Open the status panel!"

Host: Lin Fan

IQ: 380

Brain Development: 20% (18% before the reward)

Command Abilities: Artillery Command (B), Evasion Command (C), Formation Command (A), Mech Command (C)

Mission 1: Become a true Fleet Commander and command at least ten warships. (Reward upon completion: Warp Engine Technology)

Mission 2: Raise military rank to Colonel. (Reward upon completion: Genetic Enhancement Serum, and unlock the Physical Attributes panel)

"Mm, not bad. When it comes to fleet formation command, I should already be considered master-level among humans."

Lin Fan silently assessed his newest ability level, then raised his hand to check the time on his tactical wristband. It was already past seven. Time to get moving.

He took out a can of Nutrient Solution from the system space and drained it in one gulp. It was a reward from an earlier mission. Just one can a day could replenish all the energy a human needed for an entire day, making it extremely convenient.

After putting on his cadet uniform properly, Lin Fan left his dormitory and headed for the academy's simulated battle building.

The moment he left the academy residential area, he saw a beautiful figure standing there. It was Emma.

"Why are you here?"

"As your competitor, I think it's necessary for me to observe your graduation assessment."

Why had this girl returned to her tsundere act after just one night? Sure enough, she could not go a day without being put in her place.

"The examiner for my graduation assessment this time has a rather special status. I'm afraid observation won't be possible."

"Isn't it just General Liang Xingchen? I already spoke with Dean Li Fulai, and he agreed to let me observe it in person."

"Uh..."

What else could Lin Fan say? She truly was the young lady of the Campbell Family.

After all, Emma's grandfather, Horn Campbell, was currently the Vice Commander of the Federal Fleet. Li Fulai really could not refuse to give him that consideration.

Moreover, Li Fulai had heard yesterday about Lin Fan carrying Emma to the infirmary. Then Emma had come to him afterward, asking to observe Lin Fan's graduation assessment.

As someone with experience, how could Li Fulai fail to understand what was going on? He could only sigh that being young was wonderful.

Before long, the two arrived at the academy's simulated battle building. Li Fulai and Liang Xingchen were already there.

"Reporting! Cadet Lin Fan of the 55th Command Department class of the Federal Interstellar Military Academy has arrived under orders to undergo the graduation assessment. Please give your instructions!"

Lin Fan immediately assumed an incomparably standard, practically flawless military posture and saluted Liang Xingchen.

Li Fulai had already witnessed this yesterday, so he did not feel much.

But Emma, standing beside him, was dumbfounded. Was this really Lin Fan?