Chapter 1154 - 295 - 301

Chapter 295: Getting Ready For the Final Training

Translator: Abyssruler Editor: Lucas

Everyone's' attention was drawn over to the commotion. At this point in time, it would not be wise to display fear. In this group, it was necessary to have sufficient strength and capabilities in order to gain recognition.

"It looks like one is not enough. Since everyone wants some too, I will go down to catch another fish," Wang Zheng said.

"Heh heh, Wang Zheng is domineering indeed. We will be waiting for your fish for dinner then," Taros said.

Taros had always looked down on Wang Zheng. He was bewildered on how a small fry like him could be on par with the rest of them.

"Wang Zheng! Go for it!" Yuan Ye hollered.

"Wang Zheng's barbecuing skills are unparalleled and the Fanged Carp is a delicacy. If he manages to catch another, everyone will be in for a feast tonight." Zhang Shan kicked up a fuss.

Everyone was looking at Wang Zheng. No one had expected them to restart their rivalry once again. Their initial plan was to relax and enjoy this location. It appeared that now all Achilles wanted was to find someone to establish his power and prestige.

Actually, Wang Zheng could have declined, because the Fanged Carp could only be found in deep waters and it was extremely fast and ferocious. They had no idea how Achilles had done it, perhaps he had used his Ability X… this was really not something that could be imitated. Lie Xin and Lear had both chosen to keep quiet; it was evident that they could not perform this feat.

Based on overall capabilities, Wang Zheng had no chance of winning against Achilles.

Plop! Wang Zheng jumped into the water. As he dove downwards, the water pressure started to take its effect on him, and the Primordial Regression Technique was circulated.

He arrived at 200 meters underwater in a short amount of time. Then everyone's faces changed. Unless he had a special Ability X, it would not be possible for him to maintain this state.

However, Wang Zheng did not seem to be affected by the water pressure and continued to dive deeper. His original Five Elements were an unlimited source of energy. It had no limits, hence Wang Zheng would lose control whenever he used his Ability X. The current Cycle of Five Phases combined with the Primordial Regression Technique had certainly received some adjustments. Although he was not used to it, it appeared to lighten the load on his body. After pondering carefully, the current Primordial Regression Technique was more suitable for him to increase his power. However, it would be even better if he could utilize its full strength along with the Five Elements' limitless power.

If he had the chance to meet the Old Merchant again, it was a must to find out more about Wang Tong. It seemed like he had heard of Wang Tong before…

All the people on the shore were staring at the spot of light that represented Wang Zheng. This fellow was relentless. To think that he actually had such abilities.

Lear's eyes turned cold. He had calculated everything precisely for the plan on Earth, but he had not expected to give Wang Zheng an opportunity to shine. From the looks of it now, this was not merely a mistake. Wang Zheng's abilities were completely incredible and they covered a wide range inconspicuously. Especially when looking at the expressions of the people around him, it seemed like … he had a good relationship with the people from Mars. Those from the Moon did not detest him either, at least when compared to Lear himself.

Lear's heart skipped a beat. This was not looking good.

Achilles was interested too. After all, Wang Zheng had already made his way 300 meters underwater, and this was already out of the ordinary. He knew how Wang Zheng had managed to dive down; it could not be done without an extremely formidable Ability X. Furthermore, it was also necessary to break through a certain degree of power as well. Achilles was the only one in the Solar System who had done so before this… but Wang Zheng was able to do it as well…

The others had not come to realize, but Raston and some others had already felt it. The powers that Wang Zheng possessed were extremely strong and powerful.

How was it possible for an individual to gain such strong powers overnight?! Lie Xin also felt astonished. Wang Zheng's spot of light finally stopped moving.

There was a moment of suspense. What had happened?

It was not that easy to catch the fish. Although those from the Moon were surprised that Wang Zheng had the capability to dive so deeply, diving down and catching the Fanged Carp were two separate matters altogether.

Beneath the water with Wang Zheng as its center, rippling waves started to spread out. It was his spiritual fluctuations calling out. Creatures, especially underwater creatures, were extremely sensitive to such ripples.

Not long after, the fluctuations of the water flow had become more intense. Wang Zheng had intended to only catch one fish… but, what the heck! It seemed like he had attracted the nest of the Fanged Carps.

In the eyes of the masses, Wang Zheng's spot of light ascended at high speeds. It did not take him long to break through the water surface like a cannonball. He was shouting in mid-air, "Get out of the way!"

Chasing right behind Wang Zheng were a couple of Fanged Carps, and one nearly bit Wang Zheng's butt. The fishes had jumped on to shore and were thrashing around.

It was evident that two fishes would be insufficient, but these eight fishes were definitely enough to fill the stomachs of the masses. The masses were cheering.

It was the first day. The Mars military was indeed humane. They did not care much about the campfire. The masses were enjoying themselves; they sang, danced, and had a sumptuous feast.

The next day at 4: 30 AM.

Buzz buzz buzz ——-

A piercing siren sounded within the base.

Wake up and fall in!

Everyone was accustomed to all these practices. As they had rested yesterday, all of them rushed out of their accommodations energetically.

The intense Mars devilish training had officially begun.

This time, it was General Lie Wuqing who gave a lecture to the masses. He was accompanied by Colonel Duncan.

Lie Wuqing gave a military salute. He had a stern and serious expression.

In an instant, the already tense atmosphere became even more intense. Everyone felt that whatever General Lie was going to say next was definitely not going to be a light-hearted topic.

"Mars. This is the last stop for this IG training. Everyone has been performing well. But regrettably, although outstanding, there will be many of you who will be eliminated at this stop. But nonetheless I can assure all of you that regardless of being part of the IG main team or not, you will still receive focused training from the military. All of you here are without a doubt the future elites of the Solar System. Personally, I hope that all of you can learn many things here, not merely mastering the skills required in battle nor only for the sake of victory … Duncan, I'll hand the rest over to you!"

"Yes! General! I will definitely complete the mission!"

Colonel Duncan raised his right hand and waved downwards...

Rumble!

The ground suddenly began to shake.

On the parade square where the masses had gathered, secret doors started to open one by one. There was a surge of air flow with white steam. Then, one by one, the mecha rose up from these secret doors. Each secret door corresponded to one mech.

All the mecha came in different forms. Their commonality was that the engines were fully enclosed and were equipped with a turbine-type propulsion device at the back. This was a specially designed mech that was meant for underwater combat.

The Ghana Star was the most prosperous interplanetary hub in the Milky Way. At the same time, it was also the birthplace of the Naga. In the entire star, the deep oceans constituted 90% of the area, whilst the remaining 10% was land that was divided into several islands. There were no continents. The star was ten times the size of Earth and was extremely rich in mineral resources. It was considered to be at a medium degree of civilization.

The Naga people were the creators of the underwater civilization. Initially, when humans discovered the Ghana Star, they thought that the Naga were the legendary Atlanteans.

But after conquering Ghana, they realised that the Naga were just the indigenous people of Ghana. Surprisingly, these indigenous people had extremely good capabilities.

The Naga people had a body shape similar to humans. They possessed both arms and legs, but had webbed palms and soles. Their skin colour was turquoise blue and they had four rows of gills at the back of their necks. It allowed them to breathe underwater like amphibians.

After humans had conquered Ghana, the Naga people took three generations to completely assimilate and become part of the Milky Way Alliance. To be honest, in this age of human navigation, there were many non-human civilizations like the Naga people. Many ended up joining the Milky Way Alliance. However, not many were as successful as the Naga people.

All these civilizations shared a common characteristic, which was the fact that they had the body shape of humans and thus were called humanoid civilizations. The most important point was, they had nothing less than what humans had. Sometimes they had even greater learning capabilities than humans. With the development and expansion over time, they had already become one of the ten permanent member states in the Milky Way Alliance. This could be considered a form of revenge.

The Ghana Star was no longer the territory of the Naga people. On the other hand, it was a prosperous planet that housed people from different ethnicities and civilizations. Humans, the Naga people, together with the Caucans and Saurians, who also belonged to humanoid civilizations ... had formed the Ghana Alliance. Although there were other civilizations present as well, the main body of the alliance was primarily the union between humans and the Naga people.

The collision of the various civilizations had formed a powerful force, and at the same time, it represented the power of various civilizations fusing together. They held a relatively high standing within the Milky Way Alliance.

The Ghana Alliance had paid much attention to the IG competition as they were extremely passionate about things such as learning from, competing with, and interacting with one another. Humans learned in order to conquer, whereas the Naga people learned just because they wanted to learn. What happens after they become stronger was not of much importance to them.

Each ethnicity within the Ghana Alliance was actively preparing for battle. Their vying for the position of leader had still remained in an intense state of competition.

This was a floating castle. In Ghana, land space was scarce. Hence, such floating castles were built in the skies above each island. Using Ghana's magnetic fields, the castles were kept floating semi-permanently in mid-air to provide more living space for the people. All sorts of aircrafts could be seen everywhere, even enormous space cargo ships were flying in and out of Ghana. Under the sea, on the sea's surface, above the sea, the Ghana civilization was extremely attractive to human travelers and was also one of tourists' favorite destinations.

This castle was the designated training camp for IG.

A real battle had just ended over here and a few team members were being carried out on stretchers. Blood was trickling down from the stretchers, and those who were sent out had already lost their chance to qualify for the actual IG match..

On the training ground, there were 51 people left. Amongst them were 15 humans, 11 Naga people, and the rest of the humanoid civilizations each had around one or two representatives left. All of them were the strongest elites of the younger generation from their respective ethnicities. The Ghana Star had preserved the slavery system, and of course they had taken into account the Milky Way Alliance Convention to a certain extent. The reason why the Milky Way Alliance could exist was its high levels of compatibility. After all, they had different cultural backgrounds and systems. From the perspective of Ghana, a gamble could determine one's fate, hence, when travellers came over, it was important for them to not joke around for they could become slaves if they were not careful.

Having a relatively 'backward' system had also made them fearless and dauntless, and of course, glory was even more prevalent.

On the whole, 51 people were divided into three teams and were competing with one another for the one and only position of leader.

"If it goes on like this, we will not get any conclusive results. The three of us are on par in terms of abilities and powers."

One of the Naga people, Leandre, blinked his eyes, and said in a mellow tone. The Naga people had pupils that were akin to that of snakes, giving off a devilish vibe.

Chapter 296: Only the Best will Survive

Translator: Abyssruler Editor: Lucas

The leader of the humans was a rough African-American. He had muscles that were full of explosive power and had eyes that shone brightly. He was Adams, the strongest Ability X user amongst the younger generation in the Ghana Alliance.

This was the advantage that the humans had. Only humans were equipped with the unique Ability X. Even the people of Atlantis, who possessed the "mighty" spiritual power, had similarly originated from Earth, but even they did not have Ability X.

Adams laughed. "Leandre, you have lost confidence. The next one to be eliminated… it might be you."

Leandre cracked open his purple-black lips and showed his sharp teeth. "Really? Adams, how about I assist you? It depends if you have the guts or not."

"I have never rejected others. Gracholas, what is your take on this?"

Gracholas was a Caucan, a humanoid race that had a large body build. The Caucans had two feet. However, they had four arms. Their facial features were similar to that of humans, but they had insect-like compound eyes instead.

Compared to the Naga people, the fate of the Caucans was not that great. Before humans had discovered them, their progenitor star had already been completely destroyed in an insane internal strife. The humans had come to conquer and save the Caucans at the same time. Since then, the Caucans had become a vassal ethnicity of the humans. Although they were not large in numbers, they were visible in the various professions in the human world. They had experienced a fair share of ethnicity discrimination in the past and it was only in recent years that they were in a relatively better position.

"I support Adams." Gracholas possessed both the wild and destructive side of the Caucans, but at the same time, he had the stubbornness of the Caucans to reciprocate and return favors from others.

This stubbornness was a power that was passed down through their genes. Gracholas knew clearly that although he had great abilities, as a Caucan, there would a lot of obstacles that would need to be overcome if he wanted to represent Ghana. After all, the main body of the Ghana Alliance was the union between the Naga people and humans; the Caucans were a minority.

Leandre hissed and showed his teeth. This was the Naga people's way of expressing anger. However, he calmed down quickly. "Adams, as long as you make a single mistake, I will take you down any time."

The strength of the Naga people was to stay calm. At any time, even if they were extremely enraged, they were able to remain unbelievably calm.

Adams had a smiling expression. "I don't need this kind of submission. Come…let us continue the battle."

Sparks were flying out between Leandre's and Gracholas's eyes. Roar…

The three factions had clashed once again. Honestly, the chances of elimination over here were much higher than that of the Solar System; it was simply cruel.

The IG elite matches was progressing in full swing. All the galaxies and states were having their respective stringent selections.

The IG internal evaluation organization was also conducting their in-depth evaluations as well.

Roland Garros had chartered an office especially for the IG.

Inside the office, all sorts of preparation works for the IG match were going on while at the same time providing support for the IG pre-selection of the major galaxy powers.

Intelligence was being collected, exchanged, and transmitted over here.

"The final results for the Arbiter Republic are out."

When the information was announced, the entire office stopped momentarily. Some of the staff stared intently. "Isn't this a little too fast? The competition within Arbiter was the greatest in our initial assessments; how could it be out so quickly?"

"We are currently connecting with the people from Arbiter to verify. Connecting signal through the wormhole, three, two, one, connect."

The main screen within the office flashed. They had managed to set up a live connection with the Arbiter Republic's military.

"This is the IG name list from my side. Please receive it according to the confidentiality agreement." The soldier from the Arbiter Republic gave off chills that seeped deeply into one's bones. Even though they were in separate spaces, just by looking at the screen, it was as though the office had turned colder by a few degrees.

It was especially so since he had with him a group of villains that were giving off a beast-like and dangerous atmosphere …

They were definitely ruthless villains. The murderous looks from their eyes were as though they were devils who had crawled out of hell. Anyone would have known that this was definitely the truth.

Everyone in the IG office had their eyes focused on an individual among the group of villains. Olivios, the strongest contender amongst the younger generation in the Arbiter Republic. He was also known as the "Death God". There were two big rumors with regards to him. The first rumour was that he would tattoo on his body the name of the opponents he had killed.

The second rumor was that he had killed over a thousand people and was worthy of the title 'The Executioner'.

Basically, the bunch of villains from the Arbiter Republic had had their hands stained with blood before. At the very least, they had taken dozens of lives in order for them to possess such icy-cold murderous looks. In their perspective, the contenders in other places were merely kids, and, honestly speaking, the past competitions had proven this point. The Arbiter Republic firmly believed that the strongest warriors could only emerge through fire and bloodshed… Although, from the perspective of others, they were only creating killing machines.

After confirming their identities and entering the necessary information, communications with the Arbiter Republic were cut off and the atmosphere of the IG office became slightly warmer.

"The style of the Arbiter Republic is a little ..."

"Be mindful of your words. Get back to work."

"Hmm? How come Nikolsky is not in the list of names that were entered?"

Nikolsky was the second best within the younger generation of the Arbiter Republic. Based on his capabilities, he was on par with Olivios, but he could not compare in terms of the number of lives he had ended.

"You all don't know how terrifying the Arbiter Republic is. Nikolsky is already dead," one of the staff members that was in charge of the Arbiter Republic said while he sighed.

What?

The room had just gotten a little warmer earlier, but it seemed like the temperature had lowered once again and it was chilly.

Nikolsky was one of the strongest individuals in the entire Milky Way for his age. In terms of strength, he was not any weaker than Olivios, and in fact, he was better that him in certain aspects, so how could the Arbiter Republic let him die just like that?

"Was it an accident or?" Someone raised the question in a cold tone and had a terrifying thought of what could have possibly happened.

"You probably guessed it. This is Arbiter's tradition. There is only one player who remains and there can only be one that emerges from the battle of life and death. Olivios is the one who survived."

"Ahem, let's not talk about this. The results for the Aslan Empire are already out. But it may take some time to login and enter the information into the database."

"Oh? Who is the one leading this time? Sword Saint Aurora or Oz, who is known as the Sword Magician?

"It should be the Sword Saint. He is a noble after all."

Speaking of Aslan, everyone was enthusiastic. Compared to Arbiter, Aslan was pleasant to deal with, just like the spring breeze. When talking about things related to Arbiter, it was necessary to talk about Aslan in order to make themselves feel better.

Far away on the Atlantis Star, there were unique towering buildings and flying aircrafts that were moving in an orderly fashion regardless of day and night. This was one of the nine big cities of Atlantis – Anfels City.

24 Atlantis teenagers were split into two teams and were battling against each other. It was rare to see that Atlantis was taking things seriously for this IG match.

The battle of the Atlantis people was like nature's interpretation, where bizarre powers clashed with one another. The clashes were dazzling like magic, but it was not magic. Instead, it was substantial and real power.

The two teams came out even in their battles, and the clash between the two was particularly attention-grabbing. Each time they made their move, it directly influenced the environment.

In the distance was a viewing platform situated on high ground. It had sculpture carvings that were exclusive to Atlantis. It had bizarre textures, giving off a guarded sense of power. Hao Lin had stopped and stood on his feet, watching the exciting battle that was happening below.

Behind him were six attendants who stood respectfully.

"Between Bordia and Azhas, who do you think would be more suitable?"

"Your Highness, in terms of combat capabilities, Azhas would be a better choice."

The leader of the imperial bodyguards lowered his head and gave his opinion.

"Is that true? Then what merits does Bordia have?"

"He understands humans better."

Hao Lin laughed. "Choose his team then."

"As you command. Do we announce the dissolution?"

"Why? I haven't seen enough yet." Hao Lin laughed. "Although you said Azhas is better, I think Bordia will win this match. Let's make a bet with a hundred energy gemstones."

"Ahem….. Your Highness, this … isn't a good idea."

The leader of the imperial bodyguards shook his head awkwardly. Ever since His Highness made a trip down to the human world, he was not as innocent as before. Occasionally, all sorts of weird habits that humans practiced had clearly influenced His Highness.

Hao Lin smiled playfully; however, in his heart, a shadowy figure had flashed past and it was the figure that had the eyes and feel of God ... and that peculiar feeling happened to come from a human being. It was indeed inexplicable.

If he could meet him again, would things become more interesting?

Back on Mars…

Fighting in an underwater environment was not an everyday thing. With regards to the research and development of a water combat mecha, the Solar System was already lagging behind. However, in the context of the Milky Way Alliance, it did not hamper military purchases, especially when the Solar System was deemed as a special existence. They had a certain advantage in this aspect.

"On the whole, across the entire Milky Way, this is not a main area of focus when it comes to research and development. However, it is a project that cannot be ignored either. Hence, for the IG underwater battle, you will pick the most suitable one from the few types of mecha that we have imported... Mainly it is one from Aslan —— the Trident Series. It is a fairly steady and mature water combat mech, equipped with a composite particle propulsion device. For close combat weapons, it uses the alpha water splitting spear, and for long distances, the main weapons are the water splitting gun and the tracking torpedo ..."

Colonel Duncan's detailed introduction of the mech was not done textbook-style but rather by bringing everyone to the Trident mech garage and letting them take turns to sit inside the mech to get a feel for it. In the Solar System, such mecha were generally not in use, but they still had to choose a few of the strongest ones. This was the case for the other galaxies as well.

"You all can feel it for yourselves and choose the most suitable one. Feel the connection between the mech and the pilot."

Duncan's words were a little dangerous, but everyone agreed with him inside their hearts. From the entire Solar System, they were the ones who were selected from billions of people. They certainly were the strongest in terms of capabilities. Actually, the model of the mech could not restrict their use of techniques and skills. However, everyone had their own special connection with a "mech". When using a certain model of mech, one's overall skills would rise significantly by several levels. To attribute it to the mech's performance would be a mistake. The key was its compatibility with the individual.

Chapter 297: Introduction to Underwater Combat Mecha

Translator: Abyssruler Editor: Lucas

This stop at Mars was the final stage of the IG training camp, and it was also the most important. Everyone seemed unusually serious, especially the people from the Moon, whom were being pushed into a desperate situation. On the Moon, their home ground, Achilles had lost one vote of confidence and Mars was Lie Xin's home ground. With Lie Xin's explosive fighting spirit, one could imagine the tremendous pressure over at Mars.

As for the others, this also felt different from their previous trainings. If Achilles or Lie Xin managed to secure this vote on Mars, then their votes would decide who would get selected as the Solar System IG Leader!

The feeling of participation amongst the normal individuals was even stronger as there was the possibility that they would determine who would be the final leader standing. All this while, it had been a battle between the strongest players. Now it was their turn. This feeling, to be honest, was extremely wonderful.

But this was on the pretext that they could not be eliminated …

Those who were eliminated obviously did not have the right to vote.

Wang Zheng was also being serious. The mech from Aina's country, no matter how one looked at it, felt incredibly great.

The pursuit of perfection and elegance had been incorporated into the design of the Trident mech. It was said that Atlantis was also involved in this development of these mecha.

"Time's up! Okay, time to introduce the next type of mech, the Imprisoned Dragon Series from the Leviathan Empire. There are three models in total. Type A can be used for combat in shallow waters, Type B can be used for combat in water depths ranging from 500 to 2,500 meters, and Type C can be used for combat in deep waters beyond 2,500 meters…"

As Duncan was introducing the respective mecha, he led everyone deeper into the mech warehouse. Soon, a batch of strange-looking mecha appeared in front of their eyes.

Although the mecha belonged to the same series, they differed greatly in terms of their forms and appearance. The Model A mech looked a little hideous, like a monster with spikes all over its body, but on the overall, it was still in the form of a human.

As for the Imprisoned Dragon Type B, its appearance was just like a water droplet that had arms and legs. It was a simple circular design, round, and did not seem to pose any threat of destruction.

The most exaggerated model was Imprisoned Dragon Type C. It had a flat appearance, and there were many sharp needles on top. It looked like a sea urchin that had been squished.

"This is also called a mech?"

Zhang Shan exclaimed whilst staring at the Imprisoned Dragon Type C.

Wang Zheng laughed. "Don't look down on this form, it should have a great advantage when engaging in deep sea combat. Perhaps this might be the mech you have the deepest connection with."

"Hmph, it's so ugly. One look and you can tell it does not have what it takes to be the mech of a true hero. How can this be the mech that resonates with me …" Zhang Shan shrugged his shoulders. In his mind, his natal mech should be one that was bright and cool-looking. At a glance, it would be looking so cool that girls would be screaming crazily over it. As for these mecha that belonged to the 'wretched' category, he could only give a 'he he' laugh in response.

Wang Zheng sat in the three types of mecha respectively. Although he did not start the mech up, he had gotten a feel for them. It was mainly to see what the operating system was like and some other minor details. The Imprisoned Dragon was actually a very exquisite mech, and in terms of details, it was even better than the Trident Series from Aslan. As for its appearance … it was not a factor for consideration and had never crossed Wang Zheng's mind.

Ten minutes later, Zhang Runan patted the Imprisoned Dragon Type B. "This is it."

Wang Zheng smiled and said, "The Type B is not bad. It might not be so powerful in shallow water, but once it enters deep water, it can possibly be one that is extremely threatening."

Zhang Runan nodded her head, but Zhang Shan said while touching his chin, "Hey, Brother, I've got to say this: this mech really matches you well. I support you."

Boom.

Zhang Runan punched Zhang Shan's shoulder without any hesitation.

"Hey, Brother Nan, please go easy on me .….."

Zhang Shan's shout was a little attention-grabbing ...

Zhang Runan's face had turned black, and she gave Zhang Shan another heavy punch with twice the strength.

As for the others, they had made their respective decisions. After all, they were all elites, and there were not many who made their decisions based on appearances like Zhang Shan. The advanced systems in the mech from the Leviathan Empire was able to make one feel at ease and comfortable operating it. Thus, many people chose the Imprisoned Dragon Series. This was true for everyone except for those from the Moon. They, on the other hand, seemed to feel more strongly towards the mech from Aslan.

Duncan coughed. "Okay, let's go and see the next type of mech, the Monster Soul Series from the Naga people. The Monster Soul Series has a total of 16 models. We have only purchased the two most recent models, which are the light blue and dark blue models respectively. Its weapons system is similar to the Aslan's Trident Series. It is equipped with a water splitter gun and an automatic tracking torpedo.

After the Naga people assimilated with human civilization, they managed to forge a path of their own. Although there were differences in their aesthetic viewpoints, their race and by extension their mecha were still forces to be reckoned with.

After all, theirs was a world dominated by water and they had a better understanding of the ocean.

Wang Zheng sat inside the cockpit of the dark blue model, excitedly exploring with a curious mind. It felt a little moist. When the mech was activated in combat, the cockpit would be flooded with special liquid oxygen. It would be slightly unnerving, but the feel of its operations and controls were brilliant.

"I think this might be my natal mech," Yuan Ye said excitedly after he tried out the mech. He did not have Ability X. The Naga's Monster Soul mech seemed as if it were custom-made for people like him, whom were not equipped with Ability X.

Wang Zheng smiled. "It's not too bad. Although the dark blue model was introduced to be used for combat in deeper waters, it is actually quite strong in shallow waters and close range combat. "

"The light blue model can also engage in deep sea combat, but it would cause the pilot additional strain on the body. There is nothing wrong with the mech's own abilities." Meng Tian added. As long as it was regarding mecha, she could provide the detailed specifications as she was familiar with them.

"Wang Zheng, have you decided which mech model to use?"

"I don't know, I feel that the Trident isn't too bad." Wang Zheng felt that other than novelty and curiosity, there was nothing else special about it. The mech felt just okay.

Duncan continued leading the group in a different direction within the mech warehouse. "The next type comes from the Arbiter Republic, Devil's Iron Water Combat Mech."

The Devil's Iron mech was one of the iconic series from the Arbiter Republic. There were over 20 mech models that were sorted into different categories, including land, air, space, water, and urban warfare. The greatest advantage of this type of mech was that its parts were interchangeable across the different types of combat. Some parts of the land combat mech could be used on the air and space combat mech. It was perfectly compatible, and this was an advantage if maintenance was required during combat. By putting together a few mecha that were beyond repair, it was possible to come up with one or two new Devil's Iron mecha using all the different parts.

The Devil's Iron Water Combat Mech did not have any special features; it was well developed in all aspects. Its outer appearance was just like Arbiter's usual style, evil and terrifying, revealing its fierce fighting spirit.

This mech model unexpectedly matched the style of the people from Mars very well. It looked brave and fierce, and the people from Mars did not lose out to the Milky Way in any aspect.

Wang Zheng had a rather good feeling ... but to claim it as his natal mech, it felt a little lacking.

The time for contact was up, and Duncan brought everyone to the deepest end of the mech warehouse. "The last type comes from Atlantis."

As he spoke, the expression in everyone's eyes changed.

A beautiful Atlantis mech stood in front of everyone. It was a beautiful model with perfect proportions. It was obviously a mech, yet it portrayed the form of human beauty. Between the gaps of the armor, there was a faint fluorescent light changing its colors. On the mech's body, there were a few lines of unknown material, and it was filled with a mysterious atmosphere. Everyone knew that this was the power of runes that could only be used by the people of Atlantis, allowing the mech to burst out its incredible power.

It was a well-known fact that the greatest feature of the Atlantis mech was not its powerful force and capabilities. Instead, it was the fact that only the people of Atlantis or mixed-blood individuals with Atlantis bloodline were able to use the Atlantis mech. Humans were not able to even power up the device to kick-start the mech.

Obviously, the Atlantis mech, which was introduced last, was not an option for everyone to choose, but for them to understand the mech better. This was because once they participated in the IG, it would be inevitable to face off with the people from Atlantis. It was good to know more about it and have a chance to get a feel of the power of the Atlantis mech in a simulated environment.

Sure enough, Colonel Duncan gently waved his hand and a screen appeared in front of everyone. On the screen, it showed the Atlantis mech engaging in battle in the water...

Light flashed and strong attacks were delivered before the mech disappeared in an instant. All of a sudden, it reappeared and advanced aggressively…

One by one, the scenes left everyone dumbfounded. This mech was too overpowered! Achilles and the others were not too surprised by this. In the past, when humans were facing off against the Atlantis warriors, they could only emerge victorious with strength in numbers. However, with the appearance of Ability X, humans were able to even the odds.

"This is the basic performance of the Atlantis mech during water combat, and next, the goal of your training is to try every means to go beyond this level!"

Duncan laughed. "Now the training begins! Go and pick your favorite mech. Your training area, Ithanlis Lake!"

Rumble…

Everyone swung into action, after seeing the performance of the Atlantis mech in water, everyone was itching to go, especially after hearing from Duncan, to go rise above this standard.

Roar!

Everyone was full of energy.

Wang Zheng chose the Trident mech. Among the four types of mecha, the Trident was the most balanced. Its capabilities were average, but it had the highest tactical potential. This was the characteristic of an Aslan mech. On a personal level… this was an Aslan mech…

The other three series of mecha, more or less, were a little different from the rest. They might be able to work wonders in a solo battle, but from another perspective, this would make them vulnerable to being targeted by others. From a tactical point of view, they might be a little lacking.

Zhang Shan had also chosen the Trident mech, Aslan's style. Needless to say, its outer appearance got 90 points … If it wasn't compared to the Atlantis mech, this would've definitely been 100 points out of 100!

Meng Tian's choice was a little unique. It was the Monster Soul Light Blue Model from the Naga people, and she seemed to have something planned out.

Zhang Runan really chose the Imprisoned Dragon Type B. Although it looked bloated on the outside, it was much faster than what one would expect when moving on the ground.

On the other side, Lie Xin had chosen the Devil's Iron mech from the Arbiter Republic. Among those from Mars, other than Lie Guang, who had chosen the Trident Series, all the others had chosen the Devil's Iron as well.

As for those from the Moon, all of them had chosen the Trident mech. The aesthetic viewpoint of the people from the Moon was that if practicality was not compromised, all of them would choose the Aslan mech as their first choice.

Of course, the Aslan mech was formidable enough, and the same could be said about the people from the Moon. They believed that the Trident was the result of the most advanced research. As a result, they picked the Trident.

Having chosen their respective mecha, the traction channels opened from the mech warehouse, and in the distance was Ithanlis Lake.

Lie's team jumped right into the lake and started descending into the water. The mecha's engine were totally silent. This was one of the main features of water combat mecha, their silent engines. In deep waters, there would not be any light rays emitted. In darkness, infrared rays could be used to widen one's field of vision in close combat. If the distance was further, they could only rely on radar signals to get hold of their surroundings and the location of their targets. In the water, even the slightest sound would give one's location away.

Chapter 298: Wang Zheng's Cute Side

Translator: Abyssruler Editor: Lucas

Wang Zheng had intended to familiarize himself with a few moves, but suddenly, the communication display on the side of the mech lit up. The connection popped up and on the screen it showed a lady who appeared to be about thirty years old.

"Hello, I am Kyle Ram, your instructor-in-charge. I hope we will have a pleasant cooperation."

Kyle Ram said and gave a military salute.

Wang Zheng quickly saluted back. "Thank you, Instructor Kyle. Please advise me."

Kyle Ram nodded her head, looking satisfied, and asked, "Do you have any experience in mech combat underwater?"

Wang Zheng shook his head. "No, Instructor."

"Very good. We will begin with the basic tests. Let me see your performance…"

"Yes, Instructor."

On the other side…

Everyone was in contact with their respective instructors. It was obvious that this training did not allow everyone to train aimlessly on their own. Each person was paired up with an instructor and had to undergo one-on-one mission coaching.

In an instant, the mecha split up in the water. Under the guidance of the instructors, they completed one training after another in the form of missions.

On the surface, it seemed like the training was made easier this way. But in reality, the training became even more arduous.

These instructors-in-charge had undergone professional instructor training. They had not taken on this role because they were merely powerful or experienced, it was because they had a keen sense of duty that could squeeze out every last bit of potential out of the trainees. Want to rest? You feel that you have reached your limit already? Sorry, I don't care about what you 'feel' or 'think', just obey the orders!

Almost everyone was being pushed to their limits …

Except for… Lie Xin, Achilles, and Wang Zheng.

The instructors-in-charge felt scared and had initiated a halt to their training.

The training was split into two components: practical exercises and simulated battles. The latter involved interaction with even more mecha. With regards to water combat, the main strategy of the Solar System was still a defensive one. After all, land and space combat were more important.

Dragging their tired bodies, everyone finally managed to pilot their respective mecha back to the mech warehouse. When they came out of the mech cockpits, most of them were so tired that even panting felt exhausting for them. The resistance underwater was high, especially after experiencing a rather relaxed and enjoyable space combat where one could perform all sorts of moves freely with no resistance. However, in the water, playing around like that would put their lives in danger.

Zhang Shan sat on the ground without a care about his image. "Is there anyone who can support me?"

On one side, Yuan Ye .….. had lied down on the ground without a care for his image. It was as though he was suffering under the summer heat.

Mars… was there a need to be so brutal and ruthless? In any case, they should have left them with some strength to walk… no, leave them with at least some strength to crawl back!

Duncan walked over. The unique sound of the military boots stepping on the ground sounded like the breathing of the devil in the ears of the masses.

"Medics!"

Rumble. A group of female nurses rushed in. They laughed a clear, ringing laugh, and with the use of stretchers, they carried out the individuals who were unable to move.

Such a cruel training definitely had its corresponding measures. The female nurses were not just known for their hearty laughter, they were professionals in all forms of recovery massages. After such a strenuous training session, having a recovery massage would have an effect on the growth of one's strength.

This was something they did not think of. To enjoy such treatment when they were all tired from the intensive training, it was incredible.

Wang Zheng was also intending to rest, but he was asked to stay behind by Duncan. "Wang Zheng, it seems like you're having it easy. You can go and clean the mecha before tomorrow. You're the temporary leader, you should lead by example."

Once he turned his head, everyone had left.

Wang Zheng let out a breath. "Yes."

"Very good. Go back after you're done cleaning up."

Duncan nodded his head, turned, and left. The mech warehouse was huge, and it felt a little chilly.

Duncan returned back to the base's command hall, and General Lie Wuqing was sitting on the commander's seat.

"General."

With a crack, Duncan stood still and gave his salute.

Lie Wuqing smiled while he said, "Heh heh, let us see what the mentality of this leader-to-be is like."

Meng Ao and Drachmach's holographic images were also present. Following the confirmation of the other regions' IG slots, they had received quite a bit of information from all areas, and it was definitely stressful. If they had followed their usual rules and guidelines, they would probably not have any conclusive results. Hence the three of them had to discuss if they should have something more firm and ruthless.

Lie Xin had already been ruled out of the race. This was suggested by Lie Wuqing. And after seeing the intel from the other regions, they were certain that Lie Xin would not make the cut for the leader's position.

Lear, Achilles, and Wang Zheng had their own merits. Lear was not firm enough, Achilles was not ruthless enough, and sometimes he took things for granted. As for Wang Zheng, it was a little difficult to see through him. He was calm in all aspects of his performances, and especially since his Ability X had been awakened, it satisfied the demands of everyone.

More importantly, Wang Zheng was calm and composed when faced with danger, and this had caught the trio's attention. Wang Zheng had left a deep impression on the three generals by displaying a smile even when he was up against the Zerg. This was a state of mind that was usually displayed by one who had been through many battles, and in the future IG battles, he was the preferred choice. This was because their opponents were no longer considered students, but soldiers, or even … killing machines.

Regardless of how Wang Zheng dealt with it, at least he had a calm state of mind when surrounded by danger.

"Even though he has agreed, will he be convinced? Everyone has gone out to enjoy, and he has to work hard alone," Drachmach said. This had been arranged intentionally. The Solar System Federation's lineup was not that weak, and the role of the leader was particularly important.

Meng Ao did not express his views. At this point, action was greater than words. Although he had initially supported Lear more, honestly speaking, if Lear were to take on the position, he would possibly get more support from the people. However, from experience, although Lear was good at strategizing and planning the overall arrangements, they were afraid that there was no time and opportunity to put such capabilities to good use in the Milky Way Alliance IG.

The mech warehouse …

It seemed like an unfair treatment from Duncan's point of view. But from Wang Zheng's viewpoint …

"Cool. Just one word, and I will only say it once... Devil's Iron mech, tsk, it turns out that there is a delicate side to its rough interior..."

Wang Zheng had cleaned the mecha very seriously, and he had been extremely professional about it. In the words of Luomu, caring for one's mech was actually the best way of communicating with the mech. As long as you cared for it, it would protect you at the crucial moment.

When alone, it was even easier to ponder over the different aspects of these mecha. One could better understand some of their features and have a different kind of understanding.

Of course, there were only a handful of people who were able to do so, and they had to be equipped with professional skills.

The three generals had worked their way from the bottom. Even Drachmach had started by enlisting as a recruit. There were no issues with their judgment. Just by looking at how Wang Zheng had begun cleaning the mecha, they knew that he was a professional.

And with regards to his attitude, the trio was more than satisfied. Actually, it was already good enough for Wang Zheng to perform this task seriously, but not only was he serious, he was professional. He could even enjoy it with a relaxed state of mind, and this was something that ordinary people could not have done.

"Meng Ao, your Earth has produced a gem! Having such a disposition is really amazing. Drachmach, you sure he doesn't have any problems in terms of space combat?" Lie Wuqing asked.

"I've looked through the data carefully. Although initially there were some problems in adapting, the performance in the later part was superb. The scores do not represent one's capabilities."

The scoring was a system, but it was not everything. Being a leader, one would naturally have a higher level of judgment.

The contradiction between Lear and Achilles was a problem; the two of them were too diametrically opposed. This had resulted in the three generals putting Wang Zheng into consideration for the leader position and eventually arriving at such a decision.

Unwittingly, the last mech was cleaned. Three hours had passed. It was difficult to imagine that Wang Zheng still had such levels of concentration after a day of intensive and strenuous training.

Wang Zheng had cleaned for three hours, and the three generals had chatted while observing him all this while. It had not felt that long. It was evident that Wang Zheng had a good understanding about the mecha, and he had a deep understanding with regards to the mecha's features.

Well, Wang Zheng was a mech enthusiast. Just like how if a man loved a beautiful lady, he would not find it tiring thing to bathe and apply sunblock for her.

Watching him till the end was to ensure that Wang Zheng did not slip up. There was no room for mistakes. They also wanted to see whether Wang Zheng's passion was only temporary or otherwise. The trio, including Meng Ao, were satisfied judging by how they looked into the eyes of one another.

"If there are no problems in the final actual battle, let's just choose him," Lie Wuqing said. The people from Mars were more direct, and Wang Zheng's character suited his taste. After all, he was not very fond of someone like Achilles.

"Agreed." Drachmach nodded his head. If they had chosen Lear, he would have opposed the selection as Lear was only good with small tricks. Although the end justifies the means, these methods and tricks had their restrictions, and they were not applicable in every situation. From his point of view, Lear was an expert in manipulating the group he was in but would falter against stronger external opponents.

Meng Ao laughed. "It's rare that the two of you are so unanimous. I'm a little embarrassed, but let's just hope that this young chap doesn't disappoint us. There's still some time left before the start of the match, and we have to think of ways to enhance and improve his Ability X."

Although the attacking power of the awakened Ability X was not strong enough, there was no shortage of trainees that were tyrannical in their attacks. On the contrary, it was not that important. As long as Wang Zheng had the ability to see the big picture and make proper judgments, everything would be okay.

What they were most worried about initially was the lack of Ability X. It would result in an inaccurate evaluation of the opponent's capabilities as the individual would not truly understand what Ability X could do. This would in turn cause wrong judgments to be made. This was detrimental to being a leader, and it was dangerous even to become a member of the team. However, with Ability X, it made a huge difference. It would be good if one had great capabilities, but even if one had average capabilities, it would not affect the commander's understanding or judgment of the situation.

Honestly speaking, choosing Wang Zheng was a form of compromise. It was just the best choice out of the limited choices available. After all, everyone wished for an all-rounded powerful and capable leader.

At this moment, Wang Zheng lifted his head. In the distance was that Atlantis mech …

As expected, this mech was the most handsome-looking. The little prince that he had met previously was also very interesting. The entire mech was extremely streamlined, just like it was full of vitality. It was weird, but all the people from Earth had shown interest in the Atlantis civilization. If Wang Zheng had the chance, he would also like to know more about this lost civilization.

Wang Zheng was interested in the mech and started looking around. He had even climbed into the cockpit to check it out. In terms of its specifications, its operating system was similar to that of the mecha used by humans. However, besides all this, there were many Atlantis components that could not be understood. It was said that these components were used to receive 'thoughts'. There was a belief that the Atlantis mech did not require a pilot, it could activate and operate based on thoughts and could even go into battle.

From some of the Atlantis combat videos, it was evident that one could activate and perform basic operations based on one's thoughts. It was said that these pattern-like things were combat runes that could relay the thoughts of the people of Atlantis directly to operate the mech, almost like an extension of one's body. It was extremely cool, but it was a pity that humans, even those with Ability X, were unable to attain such controls.

Wang Zheng imitated the people from Atlantis as shown in the video and coolly reached out his hand. "Activate!"

Chapter 299: Acting Cool

Translator: Abyssruler Editor: Lucas

The mech did not budge, as though it was mocking Wang Zheng's childishness.

The three generals were also amused… this chap still had such a childish side to him.

Wang Zheng was a little embarrassed. Luckily, no one had seen him. After all, everyone wanted to act cool at least once.

It was a little dumb, yet exhilarating. From elementary school to high school, he was fond of Atlantis mecha. During his elementary school days, he did the same thing with an Atlantis mech toy model and even played the mecha games with Yan Xiaosu in the past.

Such fond memories.

Growl —— His stomach was protesting.

Crap, he had forgotten to eat, dinner ~~~~~~~~~~~~

Zhang Shan did not call for him, most probably because the nurses who were massaging him were too hot ...

Rumble. The huge doors of the mech warehouse closed, and the entire warehouse plunged into darkness.

"Meng Ao, I didn't expect your kids from Earth to be so childlike…" Lie Wuqing joked.

Suddenly, a fluorescent light appeared in the mech warehouse. The runes of the Atlantis mech had started to shine and a ray of light shone from the mech's eyes.

The three generals in the observation room were stunned...

Today's training was indeed tiring and difficult for everyone, as it was both physically and mentally draining. They still had to look through various combat data and video clips during their breaks, and there were professional analysts explaining to them the merits of the mech.

All these things were merely technical analysis. The master taught the trade, but the apprentice's skills were self-made. How much one could apply what they learned and how they absorbed information was also based on the individual. Although the concepts being taught were relatively basic, they were still insightful. At least Wang Zheng and Zhang Shan were somewhat interested and were continuously absorbing information just like sponges.

It was clear that those from the Moon were a little absent-minded, or rather disdained such education. With regards to such things where they had self-acclaimed to have mastered, they felt that this kind of teaching was a bit of a drag.

The phrase 'practice makes perfect' was evidently not applicable to those from the Moon. Their ability to absorb and understand was very strong. Once they understood something, they believed that they fully understood it and were not willing to waste more time and energy on it. To them, it was reducing their efficiency.

The competition was rather intense, the scores of the teams were very close, and Lie Xin was currently in the lead. Of course, everyone knew that they did adaptation training during the summer break. It was targeted training to give them an advantage.

But Lie Guang was a bit of a show-off. During one of the training sessions, the mech had hit a stone wall underwater and had some mechanical problems after it came out.

Currently, it was a close race between Wang Zheng, Lie Xin, Achilles, and Lear, while Lie Guang seemed to be falling behind.

Lie Xin was anxious, but she could not show that she was losing her calm. They only had an hour of lunch break and she still had to eat. After all, she was from the Lie Family, and this was her home ground. Duncan immediately called for a service technician, but for this type of mech, ordinary service technicians would not be able to solve the issue. They could only deploy another mech from another base to replace his. However, it was evident that it could not arrive in an hour's time, and this would mean that Lie Guang would be getting a zero for his score this afternoon.

The reason behind Wang Zheng's defeat on the Moon was due to time delays. The battle in the Mars region was the most intense as everyone was neck and neck, and not performing to standards at this crucial time was a fatal mistake.

Lear was gloating a little and Achilles had heaved a sigh of relief secretly. This battle was too critical for him.

"Why not let me try? You all can go and have your meals," Wang Zheng said.

Duncan was stunned. "Wang Zheng, don't mess around with this, let the others do what they should do. I won't let you all off so easily for this afternoon's training."

"Wang Zheng, you're really an all-rounder. Don't tell me you're thinking of swapping mecha with Lie Guang." Taros laughed.

With one word, he tried to provoke the people from Mars. Wang Zheng's scores were excellent, and if Lie Xin's rank went down, it would mean that Wang Zheng would have risen in the rankings.

Zheng Yu, the service technician at the base, also laughed as the tone of this young chap seemed almost arrogant.

"Could it be that the system that regulates the internal balance of the mech was shaken up? If so, you could try changing it to the Lanpur system. It shouldn't affect the mech's piloting significantly as there isn't much of a difference from the conventional mech's system."

Wang Zheng said, and Zheng Yu could not laugh anymore. How could a pilot know about the terminologies that only the technicians would understand?

"I don't think so, it is shock resistant," Zheng Yu said as he frowned.

"From my analysis, it could be that Lie Guang executed a forceful maneuver after the impact and charged right at the wall yet again."

Everyone immediately looked towards Lie Guang. Lie Guang shrugged his shoulders, feeling helpless. "You know, I hate things that are blocking my way, so I just went for it ... Who would have known that this mech was so useless and that Aslan had produced such a defective product."

Lie Xin rolled her eyes. This b*stard was still doing such an absurd thing at this crucial moment.

"The design of water combat mecha and land combat mecha is different. How can you do such a thing?" Zheng Yu was speechless. "But honestly speaking, I cannot repair this."

"Let me try." Wang Zheng had already taken over the tools and started to open the mech's cover skillfully.

No one went to have their meals, as it was an enjoyment watching Wang Zheng's movements. They were very skillful, and he was rather precise in finding the areas where the mech's internal systems were located. This was not unfamiliar to him.

Half an hour later, the mech was restored to its initial state …

The audience gave a resounding round of applause, and Zhang Shan shouted at the top of his lungs. This was insane, so he just had to shout out!

Taros and Lear looked at each other. Never in their dreams would they have thought that Wang Zheng had such capabilities. It was as though he had done Lie Xin a big favor, especially when Lie Xin had looked at them with unfriendly eyes. It was evident that everyone was rather disgusted by such an act of provocation.

One week of underwater training had ended successfully.

All the participating trainees had passed the inspection. And from the results, there were a few notable ones, like Stoker from Lear's team. His underwater abilities were indeed outstanding, but what left him speechless was that he did not come in first place in the underwater combat training which he was extremely confident in.

First place went to Wang Zheng. His natural movement in the water and his grasp of underwater special combat skills were swift and violent. In second place was Stoker and in third place was Achilles. The Sun God's performance was perfect as always. He was outstanding in every aspect, it was just that his scores were just a little behind Wang Zheng's.

In fourth place was Lear, in fifth place was Lie Xin, and in the sixth place was Luo Fei.

Although it was a home ground battle, Lie Xin did not get the home ground advantage. With regards to the underwater mech training, they had already trained hard for it during the summer break, but other than getting a little advantage initially, they were overtaken very quickly.

Especially by Wang Zheng. He did not give off the feel of a genius and did not look like one. But he was like a monster when in control of a mech.

The results of the simulated battle were also unbelievable. The key was to gain an advantage in the use of water resistance, buoyancy, and to also have a higher level of understanding with regards to the mech.

Wang Zheng was not only a pilot, but also a service technician. He could analyze the ways to use the mech from different perspectives, and during the training process, he even provided feedback to others.

Repairing Lie Guang's mech had let everyone see that this was Wang Zheng's personality and not because he had other motives. He was the reserve leader, and it was possible that he would end up becoming the actual leader. Everyone wanted to be a leader, but only Wang Zheng exuded the natural charisma of one.

Everyone could feel it as well. Unwittingly, everyone had accepted Wang Zheng. Wang Zheng could not give them any direct benefits, but it just felt appropriate for him to be the one. He was worthy of their trust.

Towards the end, whoever had faced difficulties in the operation of the mech or even had some glitches would look for Wang Zheng directly. It would be more convenient and direct than looking for a technician.

Such recognition was gradual, and unwittingly, everyone had established trust in Wang Zheng.

Compared to the arrogance of those from the Moon and Lear's gloominess, Wang Zheng was a little better. Although Lie Xin was not bad, it felt like she was still lacking something.

Based on the trend, everyone had suddenly realized that Wang Zheng had a very high chance of becoming the leader.

Duncan gathered everyone to set up the arrangements for the next mission.

The star chart opened up. "Look here. This comet belt is located at the border of the Solar System and it is not within a fixed route. However, once you pass through this comet belt, there is a group of interplanetary pirates who have been entrenched and are constantly fleeing around. For many years, they have committed many crimes, but these guys are sly and cunning. The Interplanetary Inspection Team have tried multiple times to encircle and suppress them, but they failed. But this time, our undercover agents have managed to infiltrate them successfully, and now is the time for us to destroy them."

Duncan looked at everyone, and everyone seemed extremely eager and excited about it.

Having such a feeling was not good, because this kind of excitement would mean that they were underestimating their enemies.

"First and foremost, this is not a drill. If you fail, only death awaits," Duncan said indifferently.

"These pirates are nicknamed and known as the Routers. Raston, Taros, this should be familiar to the two of you."

For those from the central planets, they would not pay much attention to these hooligans, but for the Space City or the planets at the borders of the Solar System, it was different.

The two of them nodded. "These guys have committed several crimes. The Federation has offered high rewards, but no one has come forward to take on the mission."

Everyone was on alert. The pirates would flee when a big troop came, and if it was a small troop, they would just kill them off. If they were up against the special forces, they would also flee and run off before coming back again. Indeed, they were difficult to deal with. Besides, the leader of the Router pirate group was always on his toes, so it was quite difficult to infiltrate them. No one knew how this was done.

"This time, all of you are going to disguise as students from the Montgomery Finance College and head towards the Immortal Fairy Galaxy to attend a networking event."

"Ahh, that affluent second generation college. They could probably rob a huge fortune out of it." Lie Guang laughed.

Actually, he was also considered part of the affluent second generation class. To be exact, he was the most senior when it came to the affluent second generation.

Montgomery Finance College was located on the Moon. It provided a holistic finance education for the children from rich families. It was indeed formidable, and the students were mostly sons and daughters from the new generation of wealthy families. In the college, all the students had similar backgrounds and could form new friendship circles and relationships at the same time. The selling point was clear, and hence it had been very popular over the past few years.

If these precious children were out on a trip, and it would be normal for them to be targeted.

"You all will be replacing them. A merchant ship will be provided. Once surrounded, the ship's leader will choose to surrender. What you all have to do is, when docking with the pirates' command ship, seize overall control quickly. Then you'll have to work together, both inside and outside, and hold on until the Federation's Inspection Team arrives."

Duncan instructed the team.

This was their first time executing such a mission, and it was a clash with pirates. Some of them were excited, and some were worried ...

Chapter 300: Acting like the Nouveau Riche

Translator: Abyssruler Editor: Lucas

"This mission comes with great risk. We are not sure if the command ship of the Federation will arrive in time. If not, then you all might be in danger of getting destroyed. Of course, there is still an 80% chance of the former happening. The skill level of this bunch of pirates isn't too bad; from past experiences, it seems there is an ace level pilot amongst the pirates, hence you all must be fast, accurate, and ruthless. All of you must work as a team. Once conquered, hold your ground for an hour and try your best to delay the negotiations to allow the Federation to encircle the pirates. All of you must know, this opportunity did not come easy. The Federation requests that we get rid of the entire Router pirate group.

From Duncan's serious expression, it seemed like things weren't going to be that easy.

"Instructor, if that's the case, why don't we send the Special Forces undercover. Wouldn't the chances of winning be higher?" Milo asked.

"First of all, this is our first time executing this plan. Furthermore, our opponents are extremely cunning. They would definitely send their informants onboard into the spaceships. If they see that those onboard aren't ordinary students, they will definitely not make their move. Besides, if their informants cannot slip in, they will not carry out their plan. This is also why this bunch of pirates who have acted so atrociously have yet to be caught. This is a rare opportunity, and there are no excuses for failure!"

Duncan shouted, "This is the last test for all of you. Do you understand?!"

"Yes, Colonel!"

"Very good. In consideration of the earlier results, we have decided to appoint Wang Zheng as the temporary leader. Although it is temporary, within this period, everyone must follow his orders. I emphasize once again: this is not a drill, and every single one of you must observe strict discipline. Any mistake can cause the entire team to be destroyed. Not only all of you, even our undercover agents can possibly lose their lives because of this!"

Everyone's gazes turned towards Wang Zheng. Everyone knew that he was acknowledged through his performance. The outcome was unexpected, yet reasonable. Wang Zheng served as a compromise. Whether it was Achilles, Lear, or Lie Xin, they were able to accept it.

Wang Zheng stood up and saluted. "I guarantee that I will complete this mission!"

"That's good. Next we have tactical analyst Major Emma to brief you about the tactics and deployment arrangements."

Finally, it was time for the real battle. Honestly speaking, the military did not plan to let them take part initially. However, after Meng Ao and the rest had found out about the training situation of other countries, they were a little worried. With the lack of a real physical battle, especially when it concerned life and death, they might not be able to go far.

The Solar System Federation had been too gentle and mild, whether it was with the outside world, or within their internal training. These soldiers had already lost their bloodlust.

Also, from an overall point of view, this group of people was a better choice.

Furthermore, even acting as a bait, ordinary students could not do it. There was no one more suitable than them, and it was even better if they did not have to escort them with actual soldiers.

As for acting like they were nouveau riche... there were many of them that were genuinely born with a silver spoon in their mouths. There was no need to pretend at all.

This time around, no one asked if they were willing, or if they had decided to pull out. This was what they had been training for… unless they were afraid of death.

If that was the case, they should have gone back home, as this was a fundamental requirement of a soldier, to not fear death.

Regardless of which family they came from, these youngsters were not afraid of death.

To Lear, Achilles, and the rest, this was nothing.

Achilles had a certain level of understanding towards this group of pirates. After all, he shared good relations with the mercenaries. During their summer holiday training, they talked about it leisurely and naturally.

The Router pirate group was the slyest group entrenched around the Solar System currently. Their leader was extremely mysterious and ruthless, and he would choose to give up at the slightest signs of trouble. Also, he would make sure there were no mistakes once he had fixed his eyes on the target. There were rumors that he did not recruit from within the Solar System, but from other planet systems, just to ensure that there were no infiltrators.

Furthermore, once a traitor had been captured by the pirates, regardless of gender, he or she would probably regret ever being born.

After listening to Achilles' understanding of the current situation, the masses had a better picture of what was happening. This battle had no room for failure. The moment they failed, committing suicide would perhaps be a better option than being captured.

Don't expect the pirates to treat you according to the Milky Way Alliance prisoner treaty. It would be good even if you were raped before getting killed. The worst thing that could possibly happen would be the pirates not letting you die even if you wished to.

Although Taros wasn't on the same path as Achilles, this was something Taros had experience with as this was a common occurrence over at the Hades Republic.

It was not that Taros had a gloomy disposition, but rather he did not get along easily with these people that came from such an orderly world. The place he was from was chaotic and full of strife. It was as though they belonged to two different worlds. Thus, he would rather exchange benefits with people like Lear, because benefits were the most practical.

Honestly speaking, he did not view this mission positively. It was not because the team lacked the potential, but within this bunch of rookies, how many of them were actually fit for real battle?

Besides, Wang Zheng was the leader, a rookie who had never fought in a battle before.

Did the military get shot in their heads and had brain damage or something?

In the Solar System, a Galileo flagship, a type of luxury spaceship, was moving in the vast space.

This particular type of ship was a symbol of luxury. It could not hold many individuals, but each person had their own room and there were luxurious entertainment facilities. It had a swimming pool and a billiard room. If they were willing, they could even play a game of space golf.

It was exhilarating to hit the peculiar golf ball in artificial gravity towards the vast space.

Yet such a grand and luxurious ship was only serving a little over 30 students. Although it was a spaceship, its entertainment and comfort were first class.

If you had seen their school badge, Montgomery Finance College, anyone from the Solar System would know why. It was an academy for the children who came from noble families. Their funds come from the school's shareholders, who were also the parents of these children. They invested in the school through sponsorships, hence in Montgomery Finance College, their last concern would be not having enough funds.

Especially when travelling to other countries, they paid even more attention to their appearance.

The students gathered in groups inside the entertainment room. It was obvious that they were quite interested in this trip.

There were more than fifty service personnel on board, and they were professionals that were specially selected. However, the informant of the Router pirate group was definitely within the service crew.

The leader of the Router pirate group was extremely clever indeed. None of his informants were actual pirates, and they were rewarded for obtaining information for him. Reducing the risk of these spies to the bare minimum was the reason why this group of people was willing to work with him, taking zero risk yet obtaining high returns.

That being said, it was obvious that there was a large group of informants.

Everything was normal as the ship passed through the spaceports one after another. There were no particular stringent checks, but there was also no slack on their part either.

These students, indeed, were young punks that were not easy to serve. At such a young age, they were already able to enjoy such luxurious lifestyles. On what grounds did they deserve it?

In the shadows, there was a pair of eyes that looked extremely unsatisfied. There were four girls. Other than one who did not catch the attention of others, the remaining three were mouth-wateringly beautiful. If they had a chance to hit up with these ladies just once, they would have not lived for nothing.

Perhaps they could negotiate terms with the pirates this time, and maybe it would be fine not to be rewarded.

Milo, Meng Tian, and Lie Xin were passively engaged in a contest of beauty. One was as gentle as the moonlight, one was cold like an ice mountain, and the other was as passionate as fire. They had different styles, yet they were all beautiful. As for the odd one out, being self-aware of her looks, she went to one side and started drawing, facing the starry sky.

Her family had so much money, why did she not go for plastic surgery? Her drawings were exceptional, and the rich were fond of this, doing all sorts of things known as art.

Whether one was was rich or not, there was an aura that could not be faked. There was even a boy who seemed to exude sunshine, giving off a domineering aura with his every move. On his finger sat a ring with a huge red gemstone that was highly valued.

Looking at the accessories of the three ladies, although seemingly inconspicuous, each one could easily cost one's salary for the entire year.

Travelling often involved relax and play. For Wang Zheng… nobility was something that could not be faked, but acting like he was a nouveau riche was possible.

At the very least, he could imitate the presence of the nouveau riche Yan Xiaosu.

It seemed like the nouveau riche who came from Earth was competing with the Moon's aristocrats for the favor of the girls.

The two of them were having a fierce fight, while the others were just enjoying the show.

Wang Zheng's skills at billiard were not too bad. Each time he knocked a ball into the hole, evoked cheers from the onlooking crowd. Lie Xin was wearing an exaggerated outfit, showcasing her long legs and capturing the eyes of many with her every movement.

Both Meng Tian and Milo had their own charms, but it was extremely difficult for guys to resist such sexy charm.

"Achilles, you must work harder. If not, I'll be accompanying him tonight" Lie Xin said as she laid on top of Wang Zheng. Her T-shirt had a large opening, and her snow white breasts were vaguely visible. Probably only the people from Mars were this fierce and direct. Wang Zheng could feel a terrifying elasticity on his back.

F**k, Lie Xin, do you really want to go to such an extreme?

"Be careful! You said this yourself. I will take him down. When we reach our destination, whatever you want to buy, just take your pick. I will buy it!"

Wang Zheng said with his lustful eyes.

"My dear, this is what you said, don't regret it."

"Hey, nouveau riche Wang, did you bring enough money? Don't play dumb," Achilles said.

"I lack everything except for money. Furthermore, my brothers are around too. Am I right!?" Wang Zheng said to Lear.

Lear shrugged his shoulders. "Unless you let me have a share, I won't help you a single bit."

The masses were stunned and started a commotion. Were they referring to the legendary threesome?

Lie Xin scanned the scene briefly with her eyes before moving even more closely and grabbing Wang Zheng tightly. "Aiya, I don't like people who are stingy. Meng Tian, how about we both serve Wang Zheng together?"

Lie Xin asked provokingly.

Wang Zheng felt shivers down his spine. Oh, my, was there a need to be so immersed in the act?

Actually, it was Wang Zheng who did not understand the Montgomery Finance College. It was even more messy and complicated inside. A bunch of wealthy princes or deviant rich beauties, what else could they do other than seek excitement?

Wang Zheng was afraid that Meng Tian would not catch up, and just as he was preparing to oppose, Meng Tian looked at Lie Xin in the eyes.

"It was not bad the last time, we can try it again."

Wang Zheng nearly fell down in shock. What a fierce comeback! Meng Tian was equally formidable after all.

These women were born with the potential to win an Oscar.

"Hey, you, yes, you, go and open another ten bottles of Latour. It must have been aged for at least 20 years. Bill it under my name. You must be kidding, this tastes horrible."

Zhang Shan exclaimed. He was in the midst of gaming, and he raged as he played. Although he wanted to pretend to be a noble, he eventually pretended to be a nouveau riche together with Wang Zheng.

Actually, being a nouveau riche… felt pretty good.

Chapter 301: Making the First Move

Translator: Abyssruler Editor: Lucas

The waiter quickly nodded his head and respectfully rushed out. However, at the moment of closing the door, there was a vicious gleam in his eyes.

His Skylink was connected and a message was sent out containing only the letter 'O'.

It was a signal that there were no problems, everything was going according to plan. The reason why the Router pirate group was always successful in their plans was because of their intelligence-gathering processes. Even if their intelligence was leaked, the military would not possibly let the rich heirs become the bait. They did not have the guts to do so, as this raid would jeopardize their lives

Hence, the crux of this was to determine whether this bunch of people were really the heirs to rich families.

This could be seen from the details, especially their tastes towards certain things. It was easy to act like a nouveau riche, but it was impossible to act like an aristocrat. At least half of them were aristocrats, so the cargo on this spaceship definitely had no problems.

There was a big box lying in the hangar containing some goods. To be honest, it was just to impress others. The Solar System Federation was generous, and they liked exchanging gifts to show off. This was all done in an attempt to get others to respect them.

When dealing with the outside world, it was of utmost important for one to have a sense of pride and self-respect.

Hence, everyone was willing to learn from the students from Montgomery Finance College.

This would definitely bring about a tidy sum.

Although Zhang Runan was drawing, she was actually observing carefully. It was not convenient for others to do so, and she was playing the role of an isolated individual. It was even better for her to be more detailed in her observations.

It was inevitable to say that it was difficult for many to look past one's appearances, even for spies. Zhang Runan appeared to be fierce, yet she was elegant and classy when drawing. However, as a result of her appearance, others were unwilling to even take another glance at her.

Zhang Runan had noticed the shifty behaviour of a particular waiter who had a mustache. It was his eyes. When others were staring at Lie Xin and the girls, he was looking around, his eyes burning with desire.

The other waiters did not dare to do this.

Everything went as per normal and eventually, Wang Zheng, the nouveau riche, succeeded in getting the ladies to his side. On his left was the icy-cold Meng Tian. Many were interested in knowing if she possessed a passionate inner self beneath her icy cold appearance. On his right was Lie Xin, who was sexy and hot, extremely mesmerizing. With both ice and fire right by his side, it was as though he had the best of both worlds, and even he could not resist the temptation.

While everyone else was feeling jealous and envious, Wang Zheng brought the ladies back to enjoy the beautiful night.

Luckily, Achilles was not left alone, he still had Milo.

The others could only sigh. Both Wang Zheng and Achilles were the two contenders among the nouveau riche, no one else was able to fight with them.

The rest of them went back to their rooms to rest after playing for a little while. In space, there was no day and night, but it was best to abide by the rules of having a fixed resting times instead of playing continuously.

When the door closed, Wang Zheng heaved a big sigh of relief. For him to kill two birds with one stone like this was almost a fantasy. However, this happening in reality was impossible.

There was approximately an hour before the spaceship would enter the designated point of attack, which was the most favorable space domain for an ambush. The Federation's quick response team was already on standby, but they had to delay their actions slightly to lower the pirates' guard. In the hanger were space mecha they specialised in, all primed and ready to go.

"Lie Xin, Meng Tian, inform everyone that we will begin in half an hour."

The show was already over, but the two of them….

Meng Tian and Lie Xin were still leaning on Wang Zheng, and this was when he realised that something was not right with the two of them.

"Wang Zheng, my head is spinning, this doesn't seem right."

Meng Tian was the first to collapse. Lie Xin's face was juicy red, and her lips were about to bleed. "There's a problem with the wine, I…."

Lie Xin had practiced the Lie Flame Technique, hence her body's constitution was different from others'. Meng Tian was already on the verge of collapsing. Although she could still hang on a little longer, she had completely lost her will to fight.

Wang Zheng then realized the severity of this problem. While their performance was applaudable, they had neglected the fact that their opponents would strike before them.

In the words of the pirates, precious goods could not be damaged.

His Skylink sent an emergency signal out, but there was no response over at the other end. In each of the rooms, Zhang Shan and the rest had all collapsed, and a few others had already fallen even before they reached their rooms.

Their opponent had taken action immediately after they confirmed the situation, and in the near distance, three merchant ships were approaching, but… from the direction of the ships, it was obvious that something was wrong.

At this moment, the three merchant ships suddenly accelerated, and Wang Zheng sent a signal for help.

Duncan had received the signal, looking somber. He did not expect to be disadvantaged from the start. "Dispatch all spaceships immediately!"

Upon his orders, twelve Clovis Light Assault ships immediately changed their direction, heading towards their destination at full speed.

However, the three pirate ships would arrive here within ten minutes.

Meng Tian was already completely unconscious, and although Lie Xin was barely hanging on, she had lost her will to fight.

"Psychoactive drugs. Bring me some water!" Lie Xin said as she bit her teeth.

After pouring a bottle of water on herself, Lie Xin was feeling slightly better. Meng Tian woke up, but she was still feeling very weak.

"Give me some time, I think it is possible to recover!" Lie Xin knew they were being too imprudent. Knowing that there were spies around, they still dared to indulge in eating and drinking, and they had never expected their opponents to have the nerve to do such a thing.

The Lie Flame Technique was already in operation.

"You take care of Meng Tian, I have to prepare for battle now!" Wang Zheng said. Every minute gained now was equivalent to another minute of being safe.

It was crucial for them to get into their mecha. If not, they would all end up getting killed, just like fishes on a chopping board.

Just as Wang Zheng thought he would be fighting this battle alone, he received two replies.

They came from Lear and Achilles!

"Gather at the hangar!"

Lear and Achilles were actually heading towards the hangar already. They possessed the same judgement that in such a situation, it was crucial to get their weapons first before proceeding further.

The pirates' fighter ships were charging at them at high speeds, preparing to ransack the goods and moving off before destroying the ship.

Although this ship was valuable, in this star domain, such a merchant ship would only slow down their team. Hence they did not need it anymore. Furthermore, what was valuable were the hostages.

Liao Pin looked at his masterpiece cheerfully. After he set his target, he immediately knocked out everyone with HT9, the most powerful tranquilizer on the black market. It was so strong that it could even knock out a cow. One could regain consciousness from this drug by pouring water over oneself, but they would feel fatigue for about an hour, allowing the opponents to do whatever they wanted in the meantime.

This was a big bunch of people. He had suffered for many years, all for the sake of this large catch. Once it was completed, he could go for plastic surgery, change his identity, and lead a good life.

However, there was still time. He had lingering thoughts about the three beautiful ladies. He still had another ten minutes, so it was still possible for him to do something, to enjoy himself. If the girls ended up in the hands of the pirates, he would get nothing for himself.

Liao Pin's heart was on fire at the thought of it, Looked like this was the place…

Once he looked up, he saw a shadow heading in his direction. Wasn't this the nouveau riche? How did he….

Wang Zheng had also noticed Liao Pin. The opposing party did not have any intention to run away and took out a knife. Although weapons were not allowed in there, such tools could be easily found in the kitchen.

A rich playboy, that was what the opponent had thought of Wang Zheng. Wang Zheng sped up and charged over, grabbing the knife in an instant and disarming Liao Pin. It was like dealing with a baby. He was trussed up and taken along.

In the hangar, Lear and Achilles had already unlocked the mecha.

The two of them were completely fine. Lear did not trust anyone, hence he did not eat or drink. Although Achilles had eaten and drank, he was the Sun God. His ability overcame the effects of the psychoactive drugs.

Maybe it was Achilles' Ability X.

When Wang Zheng met up with them, the trussed up Liao Pin was dumbfounded. He had added a stronger dosage of the drug to their food and drink. Out of which, he had witnessed both Wang Zheng and Achilles consuming it right before his eyes. How could this be….

"You guys better release me. If not, you'll regret it later!"

Liao Pin laughed.

Papapapa….

Lear knocked out a few of Liao Pin's teeth the moment he went up to him. As he pinched Liao Pin's mouth, he said viciously, "You'd better have a solution to delay the attack from the pirates. If not, you will not live past tomorrow!"