Huoding

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Huoding (霍钉)
Alias(es)	Little Ding / Little Dingzi; Dingzi; Boss Huo 23 40
Gender	Male 23
Affiliation	Seven Luminaries Academy — Training Department; collaborates with the Security Team during operations 23 37
Occupation/Role	Minister of Training; instructor and field-operation commander 23 36 37
First Appearance	Chapter 23

Background / History

Huoding holds the position of Minister of Training at Seven Luminaries Academy. He has military discipline and reacts immediately when addressed as “Little Dingzi” by General Mo, standing at attention and formally acknowledging the order. He also maintains a familiar professional connection with Gerard, whom he contacts to mobilize the Security Team. 23

Before the biochemical-base operation, Huoding personally monitored Knight and Pride’s classes because their military connections made any incident involving them sensitive. He noticed that Xilin consistently placed third in shooting practice and suspected that the student was concealing his real ability. 33

Personality

Huoding is stern, disciplined, and practical in training. He insists that cadets prove themselves through a preliminary selection rather than relying on reputation or background, eliminating candidates whose combat performance falls below the required threshold. 36

In the field, he adapts quickly when new evidence changes the threat assessment. Although initially cautious around Xilin’s unusual capabilities, he comes to trust Xilin’s reports and judgment during the black-rat crisis. 40 43

Huoding is visibly protective of personnel under his command. Once Xilin is found critically endangered by a tampered infusion bag, he abandons post-battle duties to investigate and reach the aircraft immediately. 46

Abilities & Skills

Training and Cadet Assessment

Huoding oversees combat training and determines which academy cadets may participate in live operations.

• Requires all prospective cadets, including Xilin, to complete preliminary selection before joining the biochemical-base mission. 36
• Uses a dark-environment shooting test with aggressive moving targets and protective-suit scoring to assess combat readiness. 36
• Removes candidates whose sensor scores fall below five points rather than allowing them to continue. 36
• Monitors students closely enough to notice Xilin’s deliberate third-place shooting performances. 33

Field Command

During the mutated black-rat outbreak, Huoding commands a large-scale deployment and revises plans according to battlefield intelligence.

• Briefs personnel on the escaped laboratory rat, the base disappearances, and the properties of the drug-filled ammunition. 37
• Divides 5,000 action personnel into ten brigades and assigns operational roles, including sweep, engineering-protection, and researcher-rescue duties. 37
• Halts the central-zone rescue and withdraws engineers after Xilin’s report establishes that stronger rats are present. 40
• Orders all underground personnel to evacuate when the Black Rat Leader’s approach causes the rats to converge underground. 42
• Relays and supports Xilin’s instruction not to fire on returning rat groups, prioritizing survival over immediate engagement. 43

Operational Judgment

Huoding evaluates evidence rather than dismissing warnings.

• Accepts Xilin’s instrument data and orders the preservation and collection of blood, flesh, and other black-rat specimens. 40
• Personally witnesses Xilin kill a stronger black rat with two shots, confirming the escalation of the threat. 40
• Recognizes Xilin’s antibody synthesis as a major contribution to the operation. 45

Relationships

• Xilin — Xilin’s class advisor and later an operational superior. Huoding notices Xilin’s hidden shooting ability, permits Mo Heng to take him away, and increasingly relies on his reports during the black-rat mission. 33 40 43
• Knight — Knight addresses him as “Uncle Huo.” Huoding supervises his training and personally leads Knight’s squad during the biochemical-base operation. 23 37
• Ji Pride — Oversees Pride’s selection and mission participation despite finding the prospect of managing him troublesome. 36 37
• Gerard — An old superior and Security Team leader. Huoding contacts him to respond to Xilin’s robbery report, coordinates the base operation with him, and later leaves him to handle postwar matters. 23 37 46
• Mo Heng — Huoding readily grants Mo Heng permission to take Xilin from class, but becomes extremely nervous when Mo Heng demands news after Xilin is injured. 33 46 47
• General Mo — A senior figure who addresses Huoding as “Little Dingzi”; Huoding responds in formal military posture. 23

Story Role / Major Arcs

Flying Skateboard Robbery

After receiving General Mo’s report of Xilin’s stolen backpack, Huoding immediately contacts Gerard and deploys the Security Team. He and Knight watch Xilin pursue the thieves from the Training Department, identifying Xilin through his Qiyao Card as “Daongs Xilin.” 23

Huoding is stunned by Xilin’s use of the flying-skateboard explosion to disable both flying cars with precisely timed strikes. He concludes that Xilin fights like an experienced veteran rather than an ordinary new student. 24

Xilin’s Academy Training

Huoding observes Xilin’s suspiciously consistent third-place shooting results. When Mo Heng catches Xilin skipping class, Huoding immediately authorizes Mo Heng to take him to the Mechanical Engineering Institute. 33

He later admits Xilin to the preliminary selection for the biochemical-base mission, insisting that Xilin meet the same operational standard as every other cadet. 36

Mutated Black Rat Operation

Huoding briefs the operation against the mutated rats and commands the deployment of 5,000 personnel across ten brigades. He personally leads Knight’s squad while Xilin is assigned to the Seventh Brigade. 37

After Xilin reports and proves the existence of stronger rats, Huoding abandons the waste-treatment-plant objective, recalls teams, and prioritizes evacuation. 40

When the Black Rat Leader draws the swarm underground, Huoding orders an immediate withdrawal. He later follows Xilin’s plan for surviving teams to avoid firing at the returning rats. 42 43

Post-Operation Attack on Xilin

Following the battle, Huoding learns that Xilin’s infusion bag was deliberately poisoned. He rushes to the aircraft, orders an investigation into the nurse involved, and reports the situation to Mo Heng. 46 47

Trivia

• Huoding is called “Uncle Huo” by Knight. 23
• Gerard calls him “Dingzi,” while General Mo calls him “Little Dingzi.” 23
• Shute refers to him as “Boss Huo.” 40