Magic-Energy Computer Development, Phase Two (Bonus Chapter Thanks to Alliance Leader Tietie Pure Love Warrior)

Jia Xiu received the first medal of his life.

Not bad—it had quite a sense of design.

Its main body was a silver circle, engraved with a pattern of a two-headed dragon coiling around a sword and shield. A ruby sat at the center of the shield, said to symbolize a warrior's blood. The medal's outer edge was ringed with gilded thorn patterns, signifying that one had to overcome layer upon layer of hardship to earn it.

Arnold had personally explained all of that. From the starry look in the muscular man's eyes, so at odds with his brawny build, it was not hard to tell that he truly wanted this medal.

Naturally, the Marshal had also awarded medals to the Wolf Pack Squad. Everyone received one, including the spellcasters who had provided auxiliary support, though theirs seemed to be of a lower grade than Jia Xiu's.

In Arnold's words, this was the first medal of this kind he had ever seen awarded to a living person.

It could be said that Jia Xiu's contribution had received immense importance and recognition.

Jia Xiu himself, however, did not feel much about it.

He understood that within the Ukmak Empire's value system, this was undoubtedly an honor beyond measure. But he was not part of the Empire's system, so to him, this honor really was nothing more than an honor.

And the Imperial Marshal had given him only the medal, with nothing else to show for it. It felt like receiving a scholarship certificate without the scholarship.

Jia Xiu had originally thought the Empire intended to recruit him, but it did not. From start to finish, no behavior remotely resembling recruitment had occurred. It seemed they simply wanted to commend a researcher who had contributed to the war against the Devil Race.