Quota

Imperial Court Academy was the highest-level military school in the Old Federation. It was divided into the Inner Academy and the Outer Academy and had an extremely long history. It was said to have existed even before the Federation was founded, so its admission requirements were incredibly strict.

Tang Yan knocked on the desk and said with an exasperated look.

"Have some confidence. This year, the Imperial Court Academy's Inner Academy has given our Thirteenth District a full ten slots, while the Outer Academy has a thousand."

"Teacher, there are three million examinees in the Thirteenth District this year. With so few slots, it'll be incredibly difficult."

"Yeah. I guess only the top students in the school have a chance."

The students in the classroom all sighed dejectedly.

"If you can't get into the Inner Academy, then try for the Outer Academy! If that doesn't work, get into an ordinary academy! I know it's difficult, but I'm not making things hard for you—I'm worried about your future! If you get into the Inner Academy of the Imperial Court Academy, you'll become senior officers as soon as you graduate. You'll also be key candidates for development. Every one of you will be a precious talent with a limitless future!"

"Of course, even if you don't get into the Inner Academy, getting into the Outer Academy would still be excellent. You'll be assigned decent positions after graduation, and your future will still be bright. If you really can't get into either one, you have to find a way to get into a higher academy. That way, even if you enter the Military Department after graduating, you can at least become a lance corporal or sergeant, greatly increasing your chances of survival."

Tang Yan earnestly urged them.

"Teacher, what do we do if none of us get in?"

The blond-haired boy asked helplessly.

"If none of you get in, you'll have no choice but to draw the Red-Black Lottery and become reserve soldiers—commonly known as cannon fodder! Don't think I'm joking. Once you become cannon-fodder soldiers, you'll be sent to serve in the most dangerous places."

Tang Yan warned them solemnly.

Su Ming's brows furrowed even more when he heard this. The Old Federation's military service system worked like this.

If you attended a higher academy, you could postpone it for four years. Otherwise, you had to participate in military service and draw the Red-Black Lottery. Those who drew the winning lot had to serve, while those who didn't did not. The odds were fifty-fifty.

Those who drew the winning lot became reserve soldiers and were sent to various battlefield zones for training. Their mortality rate was extremely high, and there was little difference between them and cannon fodder.

Therefore, to everyone, this was a nightmare.

However, students who graduated from the Imperial Court Academy became officers the moment they graduated. They were also key development candidates and would absolutely not be casually used as cannon fodder.

Of course, drawing the losing lot and avoiding military service did not mean everything was fine. You had to find a legitimate job and could not become unemployed. Otherwise, you would have to keep participating in the lottery the following year until ten years had passed, when you would no longer need to serve.

This showed just how desperately short the Old Federation was of military forces.

"Ah, can't we skip the Red-Black Lottery?"

The students complained with miserable expressions.

"Impossible, unless your physical condition doesn't allow it. But I advise you not to entertain any crooked ideas. The assessment is extremely strict. Don't think about deliberately injuring yourselves to escape, either. The examiners aren't fools. Once it's proven that you did it deliberately, you'll be spending the rest of your life behind bars."

Tang Yan warned them sternly.

In fact, the reason Su Yuan and his wife had allowed Su Ming to grow so fat was not entirely out of indulgence. To some extent, it had been deliberate, so that things would be easier to arrange once Su Ming came of age.

"Ugh, got it."

The students said dejectedly, their heads hanging low.

"All right, we're done talking about the bad news. Let me tell you something good. After the City Exam ends, you'll have a full year of vacation. It's called Freedom Day, and you can have as much fun as you want! There are welfare subsidies, too."

Tang Yan smiled at all the students.

"Woohoo!"

The blond-haired boy and the others immediately cheered excitedly.

Freedom Day was essentially a vacation for everyone to rest, have fun, and enjoy life.

Therefore, the City Exam results would not be announced immediately. They would be released after the vacation ended, and the Red-Black Lottery would begin then as well.

Tang Yan raised his hand to signal for everyone to quiet down. Then he coughed and cleared his throat.

"All right, that's everything about the City Exam. Now we'll start reviewing in earnest. Also, there are no classes this afternoon or tomorrow morning, so review on your own and don't slack off. And remember to prepare yourselves. Tomorrow afternoon, our class is going to Computer Room No. 3 for mecha simulation combat training."

"Understood."

The students answered one after another.

Su Ming's eyes flickered when he heard this. In fact, they had already been divided into different subjects and classes.

The City Exam scores were divided into two parts. One part was the basic cultural-subject score, which everyone had to take and which used the same test paper for all students.

The other part was the additional score, which differed according to the subject chosen. The options included the Command Department, mecha, combat aircraft, Ground Combat, chemistry, physics, biology, and so on. Of these, the Command Department and mecha were the most popular subjects.

Of course, these secondary subjects also determined what students would study after entering a higher academy. For example, students who chose the Command Department as their secondary subject would study command at a higher academy and would most likely become command officers after graduation. Those who studied mecha would be assigned to the Mecha Legion after graduating.

As for physics, chemistry, biology, and the like, those subjects led toward careers as researchers and technical workers.

Although they were called secondary subjects, they accounted for an extremely high proportion of the City Exam score, no less than the basic subjects.

At that moment, Tang Yan picked up his lesson plans and began explaining some key points to everyone.

"Turn to Lesson Sixteen. Let's review the key concepts of linear functions."

Su Ming opened his textbook to the material Tang Yan was reviewing. Looking at the densely packed diagrams and numbers, he raised his brows slightly.

These concepts were all so unfamiliar. He had never encountered them before.

Fortunately, that kid had usually studied fairly hard. His foundation was average, but at least it was passable. On a 150-point exam, he should have no problem scoring eighty or ninety.

There was still a month left. If he worked desperately to make up for what he lacked, perhaps he still had a chance.

With that thought, Su Ming focused completely on Tang Yan's lecture.

Around noon.

Su Ming walked out of the classroom while reading his book.

"Did you see that? That dead fatty is actually reading while walking. Has he undergone a personality change?"

"That's strange. Whatever, leave him alone. Maybe he wants to amaze everyone."

"With his half-baked grades? Forget it. I'll say something unpleasant: Lin Chuyu's basic-subject scores hover around 145 out of 150."

"True."

Su Ming kept flipping through the book, rapidly imprinting its contents in his mind and filling in the gaps in his memories.

Not long afterward, Su Ming returned to the dormitory from memory. He found his bed, took out some clothes, then went into the bathroom to wash up and change into something looser.

After finishing all that, Su Ming pulled open his drawer and took out his Library Card and a synthetic chocolate bar.

That chocolate bar was his lunch.