Bolent wanted to win Li Qi over, and Berry wanted to do the same.
Li Qi didn't think he was this popular. Everyone wanted to pull him over to their side.
Although he had tremendous talent in magic, in this era, magical talent wasn't important.
The future of this world belonged to the age of technology.
And during this tense period for all the nations, what mattered to the kingdom's upper echelons was their view of the war situation and their ability to formulate tactics.
But Li Qi wasn't good at those things.
If he had to lead a squad and pierce into enemy territory like a sharp blade, Li Qi was sure he could do it.
But if he had to formulate tactics or strategies, Li Qi could only stare blankly.
He had no talent in that area. Even after studying at the Military Academy for so long, he could only say that he was barely as capable as an ordinary person, not a genius in that field.
Especially compared to his magical talent, the difference was like heaven and earth.
Li Qi couldn't think of anything about himself that would be worth others vying for.
The only thing he could think of was the medal he carried.
That honor he had earned after fighting desperately on the front line and nearly dying might be the reason these people were scrambling to win him over.
"...Commander Bolent came to see me."
Li Qi suddenly spoke.
Berry's brows furrowed slightly as she asked:
"That man... He wants to win you over too?"
"Commander Bolent's offer was to give me the credentials to study at Inglis Academy of Magic for three years."
Li Qi told her what Bolent had offered him.
Although Li Qi always seemed to dislike Berry, the two of them actually had a fairly good relationship. Berry was also one of the few people Li Qi could trust.
After all, Berry had indeed saved him several times during the early period after Li Qi went to the front line.
That was why Li Qi was willing to tell her all this.
Berry's brows furrowed even more deeply. Her beautiful brown eyes shifted constantly, as if she were thinking about something.
Only after a long while did she say:
"Inglis...? Inglis... Could that man be trying to protect you...?"
"What do you mean?" Li Qi's pupils narrowed slightly.
Protect him? Why would Berry say that?
Berry parted her lips slightly and looked around. She pulled open the curtain dividing the infirmary's cubicles and peered outside. After confirming that no one was there, she sat back down and spoke softly to Li Qi:
"You might not know this, but I only found out recently myself. I heard... the war seems to be about to begin again."
"???"
Upon hearing this, Li Qi's eyes widened.
The war with Falor had only ended recently, and now they were going to fight again?!
Why?!
What was the reason!?
Who were they fighting!?
Li Qi's mind was filled with questions.
"I don't know the specific details either..." Berry said hesitantly. "But... I heard that an important figure in Falor was killed. The person who killed him was..."
Berry paused before saying solemnly, "...an assassin sent by our country."
"This..."
Hearing this, Li Qi didn't know what to say.
Hadn't the two sides already agreed to a ceasefire?
If so, why had the Duchy of Uno sent an assassin to kill an important member of the Kingdom of Falor?
It made no sense!
Li Qi didn't believe the country's leaders were unaware of what the war had done to the national economy over the past few years. They had probably been the ones to propose signing the ceasefire agreement in the first place.
Yet they had signed a ceasefire agreement with one hand and assassinated an important official of the other kingdom with the other. They couldn't possibly have changed faces that quickly!
And what were they even trying to achieve?
Li Qi couldn't understand it. Berry continued speaking to him:
"It's precisely because our relationship with Falor has become even more tense that I wanted to come over and ask you to join the Medical Department. You should understand that if the war begins again, as a war hero, you'll definitely be sent to the front line..."
It was inevitable.
If the war had ended, keeping Li Qi on the front line would inevitably invite criticism.
Li Qi might have been able to remain safely in the rear and enjoy his ordinary life.
But if the war continued, then no matter what, the country wouldn't leave such a powerful combatant unused.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that if Li Qi were on the front line, his contribution alone would be greater than that of an ordinary Assault Squadron!
After all, no ordinary Assault Squadron could wipe out a Title Rank expert like Mad Axe in a close-quarters encounter!
That was precisely why Berry had come to talk to Li Qi. She wanted to place him in the Medical Department.
At the very least, no matter what happened, even on the front line, the Medical Department was one of the safest positions.
To put it bluntly, even if the front line fell, the Medical Department's Mage Masters would definitely be among the first to retreat.
An ordinary Mage Master was easy to train, but a high-level medical Mage Master was something that could only be found by chance.
As Li Qi pondered all this, he suddenly felt that something was wrong.
He looked at Berry and asked:
"Commander Bolent... Does he have some unusual preferences?"
"Hm?" The sudden change of topic left Berry confused about why Li Qi was asking. She blinked and asked in return, "What do you mean?"
"Could it be that... he likes boys like me...?"
Li Qi struggled for a long time before finally asking.
Honestly, Li Qi didn't want to make such a guess about his commander. But according to Berry, the war was about to begin, while Bolent wanted to send him abroad and away from the fighting.
For Li Qi to be treated this way, either he was Bolent's biological son, or Bolent wanted to pursue him. Other than that, Li Qi couldn't think of any reason Bolent would be so "kind" to him.
After all, given Li Qi's strength, he could play a far greater role by staying in the country than by going abroad.
Especially during wartime.
Upon hearing Li Qi's question, Berry immediately understood. She couldn't hold back her laughter:
"Pfft... Little Brother Li Qi, you really do dare to imagine things. But don't worry. Although that man has a bad reputation in some areas, his reputation in this regard is actually pretty good."
"Then why does Commander Bolent...?"
"Who knows? Maybe he really admires you. Maybe he has some other purpose. In any case, he definitely doesn't want to send you to Inglis simply to protect you. Everything that man does has a purpose of his own."
Berry was completely certain.
She held Bolent in high regard. Even though her tone made it clear that she disliked him, she still greatly acknowledged his abilities.
At the end, Berry turned back to Li Qi and said:
"But if he really wants to send you abroad, my advice is to agree. Compared with staying in the Medical Department, going to the safer Inglis might be the better choice."
Berry was entirely on Li Qi's side. She was thinking only of his safety.
So after learning that Li Qi might have a safer destination, Berry simply cast aside her own intentions and instead advised Li Qi to go abroad to avoid the war.
"...I'll think about it." Li Qi nodded, then said, "Thank you, Big Sister Berry."
Berry had come to see him today and revealed quite a few things that Li Qi's current position had prevented him from knowing.
At the very least, now that he knew the war was about to begin again, Li Qi could make preparations before it arrived.
Otherwise, if the war truly began again and Li Qi was dragged to the front line without any preparation, he would really be left wanting to cry but unable to shed tears.
But just after Li Qi thanked her, he began to regret it.
Because he clearly saw an unkind smile appear on Berry's face:
"I told you so much, Big Brother, and you want to dismiss me with a single thank-you?"
Li Qi immediately grew alert. He scooted his chair two steps backward and asked Berry:
"...What do you want to do?"
"It's nothing much. Today should be your day off, right? I want to invite you out shopping. You wouldn't refuse, would you, Little Brother Li Qi?"
Just shopping?
Hearing Berry say this, Li Qi relaxed.
Accompanying a woman while she shopped was nothing more than tiring at worst.
And with Li Qi's physical fitness and magic level, that bit of fatigue was nothing to him.
So—
"If it's just shopping... fine."
Li Qi agreed to accompany Berry shopping.
Before you continue