Doubt

Chapter 48: Doubt

Seeing that he had subdued everyone, Roken quickly continued.

"Everyone, please wait patiently. All examinees are the same, so there's no difference. Also, I've prepared free boxed meals for everyone. It's just a small token of my appreciation. Please eat something to fill your stomachs and wait patiently."

As soon as Roken finished speaking, Teacher Tang Yan and the others arrived carrying boxes of boxed meals.

Seeing this, the many parents found it difficult to continue getting angry at Roken. After all, one doesn't hit a smiling face. So, they each went to get a boxed meal to fill their stomachs.

Military Interstellar Airport - Command Center of the "Fish Dolphin."

General Ams sat calmly in the command chair, his left index finger lightly tapping the armrest as he stared seriously at the grid-like images on the screen.

At this moment, Xia An reported to Ams.

"General, the latest neural connection pods have been delivered to each examination venue."

"Hmm, very good."

"However, there's something I need to tell you."

"Speak."

Ams replied indifferently.

"Many students are protesting now. They say they just finished their exams, are in bad shape, and haven't eaten. They're starving and can't possibly take their elective subjects right now."

Xia An said after some hesitation.

Upon hearing this, Ams turned to look at Xia An and replied with a cold tone.

"I ask you, on the battlefield, will the enemy care if we've eaten? Will they let us rest well before fighting? Tell them, those who want to take the exam can, and those who don't can get lost!"

"General, that logic is sound, and doing so is not problematic. But if we handle it this way, could something go wrong? The City Exam results today might plummet, and Imperial Court Academy might not be able to enroll enough students."

Xia An voiced his greatest concern.

"If we can't enroll enough, so be it. It's better than letting a bunch of trash get in. Do you know how many people Imperial Court Academy expels every year? A full third. That means a third of the students can't even keep up with the most basic courses! Tell me, how did those people get in?"

"Don't tell me it was a flash of inspiration during the exam?"

"Also, in recent years, how much 'watered-down' talent has graduated from Imperial Court Academy? Especially in the two popular fields: Mecha and Command Department! Do you know how many high-level Mechas are destroyed by those incompetent graduates every year? Do you know how precious those high-level Mechas are? How complex their manufacturing process is? Production capacity is already insufficient, and each unit is rushed out with overtime work. And the materials used for manufacturing were dug out with the lives and blood of countless soldiers! As for the Command Department, how many soldiers die every year because of their foolish commands?"

Ams said with immense rage.

After hearing Ams's words, Xia An also fell silent.

Ams calmed down slightly and said to Xia An in a deep voice.

"If it weren't for these people going too far, do you really think we would have intervened? Imperial Court Academy has a set number of officers it expects to produce each year, yet less than half of those actually produced are usable! Do you find that ridiculous? Disgraceful? It's almost become a joke."

"Moreover, you know better than anyone how bad the current situation is. Especially with the Second Ace Legion, 'Lingering Light,' being damaged and urgently needing reinforcements! It's easier to replenish elite soldiers at the lower ranks; we can just pull them from various battlefields, and with the large number of recruits each year, there will always be some. However, it's difficult to supplement officers. Calculate how long it takes for them to go from school to being able to serve independently. How much of our resources does it consume?"

"You are right."

Xia An replied with a heavy heart.

Mient Junior Academy.

Su Ming sat quietly in his chair, waiting for the second exam to begin. He felt that this City Exam was becoming more and more interesting.

Just then, a soldier walked in and whispered a few words into Leo's ear.

Leo nodded slightly and then said to all the examinees.

"All examinees, leave your examination items behind and follow me in single file!"

Although Su Ming and the others didn't know what Leo was up to, they obediently cooperated, each getting up and forming a line to leave the classroom.

Leo walked at the front, leading them, while other soldiers watched them from the sides. Many students even had the illusion that they were being escorted like prisoners.

However, their feelings soon balanced out, as they saw other students being treated the same way.

Soon, they were led to a spacious field, where they were greeted by a shocking sight: brand-new simulation pods of models they had never seen before were being unloaded.

"Wow, are these training pods? They look so advanced."

"Yeah, it really makes you feel like comparing them makes you want to throw away the old relics at school."

The students discussed excitedly.

Su Ming looked at these new mechanical pods with some surprise, but then he felt something was wrong. The elective subjects that required simulation pods were mainly Mecha and Command subjects. However, the number of examinees for these two categories was limited. The quantity delivered was too large, enough for one per person.

At this moment, Leo said to Su Ming and the others.

"One simulation pod per person!"

"Wait, officer, my elective is Maintenance. Do I also need to use a simulation pod?"

A male student asked curiously.

"Yes! Regardless of your elective subject, you will all use them."

Leo replied unceremoniously.

"Ah, but we've never used them before?"

"Yeah, how do we use them?"

Many students erupted in an uproar, completely at a loss.

"Quiet, shut your mouths!"

Leo roared furiously.

The noisy scene instantly fell silent, and Leo rudely spoke again.

"Whether you take the test or not is up to you, but if you don't, you get zero!"

For a moment, everyone, no matter how wronged they felt, kept quiet.

Su Ming rubbed his chin, feeling increasingly that something was off. Simulation Pods were expensive, especially these new models he'd never seen before.

The Old Federation was spending so much funding to have all students use Simulation Pods; if there wasn't something fishy going on, he wouldn't believe it even if he were beaten to death. It was a shame he couldn't get anything out of these officers right now.

"Alright, I'm not wasting any more words with you. Get into the pods and start the exam. Enjoy yourselves!"

Leo waved his hand, ordering everyone to immediately enter the Simulation Pods and prepare for the exam.

With uneasy hearts, everyone walked towards the Simulation Pods. Even Su Ming himself felt completely unsure.

He hadn't even touched this type of Simulation Pod so far and had no idea how he would perform. To be honest, he felt like he was being forced into it.

Unfortunately, he had no other choice and could only brace himself.

Su Ming walked up to a Simulation Pod and examined it closely from a short distance.

The Simulation Pod was composed of two parts: a black metal base and a transparent lid. The material used for the main body was exceptionally good, with the black metal emitting a fine luster that could even reflect his appearance.