Chapter 1072: Luo Er's Aura
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
These youngsters were arrogant and were used to getting their way. Before, others were their stepping stones. They had never met the kind who did not back down before.
Dong Er must have been some nerve of Paars. He would not let up. Wang Zheng had been rather restrained. It was SIG soon, and he did not want trouble. But the other guy was too much, and he could not take it lying down. The method of teaching was to teach them pain. Wang Zheng definitely could, but he was not willing to use it frivolously.
"Di Maria, you had best watch your friend's mouth, or he might not be able to speak after this," Wang Zheng said.
"I don't care. If you don't say what your relationship to Dong Er is, there will be no end to you and I!"
Wang Zheng did not know whether to laugh or cry. Seemed like he had met a love rival. The trouble had started before the gossip had even spread. This was muddy waters now.
"Paars, calm down. You should ask Dong Er about this." Even Si Jiali felt that he was going overboard.
"I don't care. I'll get quick with anybody who opposes me!" Paars was close to a rage.
"When did Aslan fall to such appalling quality?" A voice rang out. Three people walked in.
Paars was boiling. Why were there so many brazen troublemakers today?
The one who spoke was a little loli of small stature, but not of reputation. Luo Er, Ai Xiaolu, and Snow Li had arrived.
"You're nothing. Don't think I won't beat you up just because you're a woman!" Paars leapt up.
At this moment, Di Maria knew he could not stay on the sidelines any longer. He openly held Paars back.
"Paars, cool it now." Turning his head, Di Maria gave a small smile. "Student Luo Er, my apologies. This guy has a temper."
"It's a good thing for a guy to have some fire, but to use it to hit women, that's a rare sight." Ai Xiaolu smiled back slightly.
"Who are you!?"
"I am Ai Xiaolu! Remember that!" Ai Xiaolu said.
Perhaps because Di Maria was using a lot of strength, Paars had finally calmed down a fraction. He did not know Luo Er, but he knew the Aishi Financial Group. Hail Cloud Alliance's Aishi Financial Group was well known in the Milky Way Alliance. And Di Maria had addressed Luo Er first, so she might be even more formidable than Ai Xiaolu.
At this moment, a high class girl walked out. A dress in crocus yellow, with long hair reaching her shoulders. She was not richly adorned, but that highlighted her extraordinary class all the more.
"Paars, you're being mean-spirited again. These are all Aslan's esteemed guests. How could you be so boorish?" The girl smiled. Her aura was something special.
"Ouyang… you must be in the know. What is going on?" Paars felt like he had found his savior.
Ouyang Ruoliu's smile was like a spring breeze, softening all that had just happened. At this moment, Wang Zheng could already tell that this girl was connected to Dong Er, which meant that they were already here.
In truth, whether out of manners, or respect for his teachers, he should have come. But he thought that a bunch of girls might simply treat this as amusement. Wang Zheng was not so petty, but he had no interest in chaperoning them to play house.
"Your case will wait." Ouyang Ruoliu approached and eyed Wang Zheng. They had been watching for a while, and had given their evaluations. This guy was not bad, although his manner was not that likeable. "Wang Zheng, is it? I am Ouyang Ruoliu, Dong Er's good friend. Dong Er is not feeling well today, and cannot come. She sent me to convey her apologies."
Wang Zheng was stood up. From the side, Ai Xiaolu and the other two inadvertently gasped. "Wang Zheng, you furtively came for matchmaking. My God, coming from you!"
Wang Zheng rubbed his nose. "Ai Xiaolu, don't make a fuss. What do you mean furtively? I'm out here in the open, aren't I?"
"Matchmaking!!!" Paars' stance conveyed that he was about to fly over and start a fight.
Dong…
Ouyang Ruoliu crashed a fist down on Paars' skull, then gave the blonde ponytail a violent yank. "Everyone, my apologies. This guy is a little daft."
Paars was squatting down holding his head. Ouyang Ruoliu had not gone easy.
Wang Zheng smiled slightly. At this moment, he roughly got the picture. This guy must like Dong Er. Everything else aside, his standing up had been a little stupid, but also a little brave. He would not quibble over things like this.
"If she feels unwell, then she needs to rest. I won't bother her." Wang Zheng smiled. "Snow, Xiaolu, Luo Er, what are your plans?"
"We wanted to try the high tea, but now we've lost interest. How about the three of us go on a date with you? We have a loli, an ice cold beauty, and this sexier one. You could choose all three." Ai Xiaolu smiled.
"I feel that's a good idea as well. Let's go somewhere else." It was rare for Snow to be so proactive.
Luo Er looked mildly at Ouyang Ruoliu. "There should be no need for anyone to babysit for the Menlo family. This time around, Wang Zheng is willing to let it go. If he chooses to keep this personality, there will be trouble sooner or later."
Ouyang Ruoliu smiled slightly. "Exactly as Student Luo Er says." But her eyes were bleak.
Wang Zheng and the rest left One Meter of Galaxy. His spirits lifted, Wang Zheng himself felt relieved. His mission was over. Whether Dong Er was pretending or not, it did not matter. This simply meant they were not destined, and he had fulfilled his bargain towards Mu Fengchun and Butcher.
"Aslan people aren't bad, they just take themselves too seriously," Luo Er said. "Why were you matchmade with Dong Er?"
"Can you all stop hanging onto the word 'matchmaking?' Softer, please. This was an introduction by Mentor Butcher and Mentor Mu Fengchun, so I had to come. And now the assignment's over."
Wang Zheng had to explain.
"Those two old geezers are really too free. You're not old, what's the rush?"
All three proclaimed their agreement vigorously.
Within One Meter of Galaxy, Paars was fairly grumpy. "Sister Ouyang, why did you hit me? That bastard…"
"Paars, it's SIG period. There are many important characters from all over. Your temper will ruin your family."
"Tch. This is Aslan. Can they even touch me?" Paars was uncowed.
Although Di Maria was competitive with Wang Zheng, and even on sour terms, he did not want this matter to blow up. It was childish and in poor taste. "Paars, they won't bite you, but you will be grounded by your family forever. That little one is Gemini Star's Luo Er, her father is the representative of the Milky Way Alliance."
"Eh? She's Ryan's daughter?" Paars was dazed. "How did a mug like Ryan give birth to such a beautiful daughter?"
Ping…
"Sister Ouyang, you hit me again. My brain must be addled because of you," Paars grumbled.
"You lot have the worst sense of timing, blundering into things. My plan is all ruined because of you," Ouyang Ruoliu said.
"Who let him date Dong Er!? Luckily, I was here!" Paars was still very pleased with himself, even smiling.
"You must be invalid. Clearly that Wang Zheng had no feelings either, and Dong Er was forced by her family. The two would meet, and act for a while, and things would be over. If not for your antics."
Ouyang Ruoliu had a sense of foreboding. She was afraid that this matter was not over. She had thought that Wang Zheng was just an ordinary talent from Genesis Coffee Club, who could get the approval of Dong Er's old man. But it looked like he was not such a simple person. Anyone so closely attended to by the likes of Ai Xiaolu and Luo Er was rare. Their talk of choosing all three had been a joke, but they were only half-jesting. That guy's looks were average, and quite a ways from what was handsome by Aslan standards. Given the taste of Ai Xiaolu and Luo Er…
The three who were hiding and watching had not expected things to reach this stage. Paars' interruption had thrown their plan asunder. They had wanted to resolve this matter "amiably", but now it had been ruined. But the way they saw it, it was resolved nevertheless.
"Dong Er, it's over now, although not perfectly." Huiyin smiled.
Dong Er nodded. "I felt like he had backbone, just like my dad. Capable, unafraid of strength, but also with a heart. It's not good for men to be too petty. That's childish. I like those who are a little more mature and forgiving."
Lin Huiyin started. "That guy has a bad temper. You would know that after knowing him for a while."
At that moment, Dong Er and Qian Xuedie turned to face Lin Huiyin. "Huiyin, why do I feel like something is fishy? Dong Er, have you noticed?" Xuedie said as she sucked on a gobstopper lollipop.
"I long suspected there was something fishy. She was listless and had no energy in this period. Suddenly, she���s glowing. Our esteemed Princess, is there something you wish to say?" Dong Er was no fool. The two quickly closed in on the helpless princess.
Chapter 1073: An Opponent's Judgement
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Ouyang Ruoliu still had to entertain Di Maria and the rest, who were outside. At this level, even if they were not of the same circle, they were also very familiar with each other. It was clear that no one wanted to offend Ouyang Ruoliu. It was best to stay at a far and respectful distance from those in the intelligence business. Although nothing bad might happen outright, being on her radar was no good news.
Di Maria and Aurora had clashed with Wang Zheng before, and had much to say.
"Is this Wang Zheng that good?" Si Jiali was curious.
"I don't believe it. You must be teasing me. Look at him, he doesn't look like an expert at all." Paars was not at all sold.
Di Maria looked at Paars. "He doesn't even need his hands to kill you. An Earth-rank warrior. Just one mental explosion and you're toast."
Aurora nodded. "I have never seen someone mature faster than Wang Zheng. He was still green at the last IG. When I see him now, there's a depth I have no measure of. Di Maria, you probably know him best."
Di Maria's aloof expression dissolved into a grimace. In front of others, he would hold his pride close. In front of his own friends, there was no need to act. Aslan people were not that shallow. "You know my talent. But I have never met an opponent that makes me despair as much."
Immediately, everyone was silent. Ouyang Ruoliu was just listening on silently. She knew that Wang Zheng's Saruman Snake had won the Greatest King Competition, but what it really signified, she had no idea. Even a broadcast was not a live experience, and she could not understand. But hearing it from Di Maria's mouth was a different thing altogether. Di Maria was undoubtedly one of the best in the younger generation. His time ability was the highest class of Ability X. This spoke of his individual quality.
"He has mastered Ice, Fire, and Wood, three types of ability."
"Don't abilities become weaker the more one acquires them?" Ouyang Ruoliu asked.
Di Maria gave a bitter laugh. "Under normal circumstances, yes, but the problem is that his mastery of all three are at Earth-rank. At the same time, he specializes in hybrid techniques. A combination of Ice, Fire, and Wood. Under some circumstances, he can approach Heaven-rank territory."
At this moment, even an idiot like Paars knew how scary this person was. And he had been blustering in front of that guy. He had been running rounds within the arms of death without knowing it
"He's just 21? How…" Ouyang Ruoliu was suddenly full of curiosity. Because according to what she knew, he was a member of Genesis Coffee Club. Even Dong Er's father had praised him for both brains and brawn. It seemed like he had not had enough time since leaving his mother's womb to accomplish all that.
"If only that were all. The more genius one has, the more arrogant one gets. The more talented one is, the more obvious the weaknesses. But there's none of that with him."
"I got the same feeling. It was clear at IG. His ability to fight and react are supernatural. And in the crucial moments, his potential is incomparably limitless. In the last IG, he finished an S-rank mission alone and single-handedly carried the Solar System into the main competition. One person, one mech fighter killing tens of thousands of worms," Aurora said.
"Previously, there was an incident at Elite Academy X. He fell into another space in the abyss. No one had ever made it back alive, but he did, and he brought back important information. That was a place that entire armies had vanished into without a trace before." Di Maria winced. "If not for him, I would not be in such bad shape at Elite Academy X."
"That's not all. He has one more fearsome ability. Di Maria, have you noticed? Those around him might be of average ability, but after some time, they all develop at formidable rates. They turn from normal to exceptional," Aurora said.
"Yes, I felt like something was off. Those like Zhang Shan and Takumi are monsters now, and not so easy to deal with."
In the past, such people would have been an early end if they faced Di Maria. And now?
"I don't believe that he has no weaknesses. Everyone has weaknesses." Ouyang Ruoliu smiled. For someone to make a proud guy like Di Maria this jealous, this guy must have something.
"If you had to force the issue, that guy is too serious about his relationships," Di Maria said.
Ouyang Ruoliu had the same thought as Si Jiali. This was a weakness?
Without question, in terms of tactics. But what about in terms of a relationship?
Perhaps because the topic was too heavy, everyone changed to a different direction. After chatting for a while, Ouyang Ruoliu rose to leave. Paars was grateful. If it had not been for Ouyang Ruoliu's intervention, he would have been dealt a punishing lesson, even if Wang Zheng had decided not to kill him. If this matter reached his family, it would have escalated.
On the other side, Dong Er and Qian Xuedie had also just learnt about it. They had also heard about it previously. After all, Aina's actions had been extremely conspicuous, and in the end it had been hushed up to become gossip within royalty.
So this was the guy that Princess Aina liked. It was clear that given his status, Kashawen and the imperial family could not accept it. That was a hard line.
But there was no such problem with Dong Er's family. "Dong Er, this person seems not bad. Steady and open, not like that prettyboy Paars. He's too much of a coward."
"Not just not bad, he's extremely awesome. I have some news as well," Ouyang Ruoliu said as she walked in.
"Say it, say it. I love gossip," Qian Xuedie excitedly said. This was one nosy loli.
Ouyang Ruoliu repeated everything that Di Maria and Aurora had said. Besides Huiyin, the other two were flabbergasted.
"He's that good? I couldn't tell!"
"Anyone who basks in the light of Aina must be something special. If she won't take it, I will." Dong Er puckered her lips. Seeing the gazes of the other three, she hastily waved it off. "I'm kidding. You three have no sense of humor."
"I guess there'll be some interest in this SIG. Our family did an assessment before. Saruman Snake indeed deserves their place in the top 10, but if you take away Wang Zheng, they would be in the top 50 at most. But if he's thinking of turning the tables single-handedly this time around, it's impossible. SIG's competition is too strong this time," Ouyang Ruoliu said.
"Not necessarily. His specialty seems to be accomplishing the impossible," Huiyin said. "Alright, show's over, I'm headed back."
"Let's split then. Hopefully Dad is happy about this result." Dong Er stretched lazily. But all their eyes concealed some dangerous signals.
Wang Zheng was like a spark from another world, foreign yet full of mystery and danger. It was irresistible. They had to find out more.
And because the network of relations was complex, all four besties were unable to express this fully.
All four left One Meter of Galaxy, and were naturally whisked away by private cars.
"Miss, are you going home, or…?" the driver asked.
Dong Er thought about it. "To my dad's."
Perhaps she should really get to know this Wang Zheng. Given her dad's personality, he would never approve of someone average. There was no father who did not love his daughter in this world. Anyone who could pass her father was already something different.
Chapter 1074: Bliss and Regret
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
On the way back, Huiyin was also wrestling with complex emotions. She did not know what she should do. Should she avoid him? Inside, she felt longing, but also apprehension.
"Angela, what should a person do when they can't make up their mind?" Huiyin asked.
"Toss a coin," Angela joked. "I'm kidding. The person should ask themselves which one will make them feel blessed. Fortune and happiness are undoubtedly the most important."
"The problem is, I don't know which will bring me happiness. Advancing might not bring happiness, and neither might retreating. It's hard to I choose whether to fight or not." Huiyin was at a loss. Sometimes, the struggle lay in making the decision, not in the consequences.
"If that's the case, then a person should ask themselves if they will regret it if they lose it," Angela said.
Regret… if lost?
Huiyin felt like she could not breathe.
Seeing the way that Huiyin was, Angela smiled. "Your Highness, there's a phrase that goes 'let nature take its course.' Isn't that better? Don't fret about it."
"Angela, thank you." Huiyin gave her a beautiful smile.
"It is my greatest honor to receive the praise of the Princess," Angela said.
Angela was ike a sister, teacher, and mother to Lin Huiyin. Kashawen had no time to be a mother. She could only be the Prime Minister.
Dong Er came to Wang Zhenghong's laboratory. Wang Zhenghong broke out into a smile upon seeing his daughter. His daughter had taken her mother's surname. Although humanity had progressed this far, it was a hue concession by Aslan standards, because his wife had almost fallen out with her family over the issue. As a man, there were times when one had to back down. And at least he was very happy now. There was no tragedy like Romeo and Juliet. And now, the family had mentioned changing it back, but Wang Zhenghong saw no need. What was most important was that his family was happy.
"Little wench, why are you so free to find me here today?"
"Dad, why do you ask questions to which you already know the answers?" Dong Er accused.
"Oh? I don't know what you're talking about," Wang Zhenghong teased.
"It's that person of course! What's his origin? Why does he seem so mysterious?" Dong Er asked curiously.
"Did you all torment him today?" Wang Zhenghong asked.
"We didn't. But things did happen outside of our expectations." Dong Er laid out what happened, and that offended Wang Zhenghong.
"Paars, that scoundrel. Enter our house? No chance even in the next lifetime," Wang Zhenghong said adamantly.
"I don't like those cowardly types either. But it seems like Wang Zheng was forced to come. They might not like your precious daughter."
"Little wench, are you stirring the pot with your old man? I already said it. Just be friends. Let fate decide the future. I do feel like this kid isn't bad. Be friends with him, and maybe he can change your fickle personality," Wang Zhenghong said.
"What kind of father are you, to make it sound like no one wants your daughter? He isn't that great!" Dong Er said.
"I didn't say anything." Wang Zhenghong laughed. "This guy has very profound attainments in math and space physics. Some of the theories he raised have advanced humanity by 10 years. A pity that he has ambitions elsewhere, sigh."
Thinking about this, Wang Zhenghong felt a pang of regret. Although each had his own ambition, the way he saw it, exploring space's mysteries was a far more glorious undertaking than being a fighter.
Mu Fengchun, Gail, Butcher, all those who had met him before had given him the highest evaluation. That was rare in recent years.
Now, on the topic of theories, Wang Zhenghong was excited. He did not care if Dong Er understood or was interested. He launched into an in depth explanation, and his tone grew more wistful the more he said.
Dong Er was speechless. He was praised over the moon. The problem was that what she had just heard was a completely different kettle of fish. How could one guy accomplish so much?
Was he even human?
Suddenly, Dong Er thought of the way he had sat composedly by himself. That peaceful and contented manner.
What was he thinking of?
Perhaps, just as her father said, she should get to know this guy better. Perhaps she would find a different life with him.
In materially abundant Aslan, especially for royalty, the emotional world was most important.
As for the fallen "rich heirs," they were rare on Aslan. Aslan nobility set the highest standards for themselves, and imposed extra standards on the next generation of heirs. They were tested with competition and goals. From young, they were raised in a way that those with ability were still accorded the highest respect.
The capital of Aslan was not a place that you could see in a day. But it was apparent that the various members from all over the world were entertained. Of course, a few competitors had gone nowhere, hard at training, and slogging their guts out. A hurriedly polished gun would gleam, even if it was slow on the draw.
After three days, the various military school teams had all arrived, and the entire SIG competitor zone became lively. There were all kinds of people, and Mu Zhen did not stand out.
The Caucans, for example, had four hands. That was quite something. Of course, there were all kinds of fish in the sea. There were still many strict rules for SIG, which prevented provocation and conflict. With different customs, such fights could break out easily. This was something that SIG would not allow. All would be settled on the competition field.
10 in the morning. The various teams' main members had gathered in the Saintly Light Great Hall for the formal announcement of SIG schedule and rules.
All participating students needed to wear their own school uniforms, with switches strictly prohibited.
There was no use trying to challenge these rules. No matter how good one felt, individuals were always miniscule in the eyes of a society.
The designated rules were not to emphasise anything, but simply to keep order.
At the same time, it came with a sense of pride. SIG was a battle for one's own planet and school.
Wang Zheng led Saruman Snake's core members in. Zhang Shan, Achilles, Lie Xin, Snow Li. The instant the doors opened, a hush fell over the hall. Everyone's eyes were on them.
"Elite Academy X – Saruman Snake battle team!"
Their school uniforms had a resplendent X emblazoned, with a Tita Star Saruman Snake motif on the side.
Wang Zheng could feel the heat in that instant. This was the attention of countless pros.
Because they were the Greatest King at Elite Academy X, and also the number 1 hot favorite on the leaderboards.
In a warrior's world, this was the height of glory.
"The one at the front is Wang Zheng."
"I heard that guy is hailed as first in the universe."
"That's too overboard. First in the universe? He must love to brag."
"Whether he's first or not, we'll only know if we face him. Beating him is the best way to overnight glory."
"Looks pretty ordinary. This blockhead can dominate Elite Academy X?"
"Don't be too caught up with Elite Academy X. They're just circlejerkers. When we face them we'll form our own judgement."
"I've seen his matches before. He's strong. Even if he's not the strongest, he's up there with the best. In the whole SIG, I'm afraid there are maybe only 10 or so who can be at that level."
After a short period of calm, countless discussions broke out. Now Wang Zheng and the rest had to learn to adapt to the reception for the strongest.
It did not matter what others said. What mattered was to be themselves.
Chapter 1075: Inside Scoop on the King
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
In the vast meeting hall, the first row was empty. Many strong teams had come, and those from the major superpowers were basically all present. But everyone knew that the first row was reserved for the seeded teams. It was fine to be confident, but without having first proven yourself, that would be not knowing your own strength.
Everyone stared at the Saruman Snake battle team. They were the most talked-about team after Elite Academy X's Greatest King battle, but the inside scoop on them was indeed sparse.
One-off success did not convince everybody. Instead, it only made even more people unconvinced, because succeeding once depended heavily on the element of luck. This was also why Arbiter was generally regarded as stronger than Aslan, because they had been through countless victories to prove themselves and get to where they were today.
Saruman Snake was a classic case of shallow roots. This was not the Saruman Snake battle team's fault. The tree that grew above the forest must face the harrying of the wind.
If their foundations were solid, they could withstand the wind and rain. If they were not, then they would fall in an instant.
Regardless of how you looked at it, Saruman Snake belonged to the latter. Many reckoned that Asura and Imperial Glory could go further than Saruman Snake. Their approach was more holistic and stable, whereas the Saruman Snake battle team was a classic rollercoaster of emotions that depended on risks. It was not that they were not capable, but it seemed unlikely they would withstand the rigors of the competition procedure.
The cruelest thing was that the SIG organisers purposely put Saruman Snake in the first place position. This was the ultimate revenge.
As a new team, and with the team members not being the traditional elites, the only reference score was the Greatest King Competition, and that was a self-given title within Elite Academy X. Teams like Aslan and Arbiter had won many championships in international competitions, although none were as fancy as Elite Academy X's.
At this time, if Saruman Snake had been placed seventh or eighth, no one would bat an eyelid. That would have been a good thing for Saruman Snake as well. At least they would have some peace. They were indeed qualified to be a seeded team, just not the first seed.
This was a rather overboard form of vengeance.
But whatever SIG thought, this had been decided, and Saruman Snake's best bet was to lie low.
Lying low could reduce some stress, and also conserve their energy. At least, many thought this way, and even Ai Xiaolu and the rest concurred. Besides, Wang Zheng had said that they were now going to be the biggest target. They just had to prove it on the battlefield, and lie low in all other aspects. That would be easiest.
This was undoubtedly the mark of the prudent.
F*cking as if.
Wang Zheng casually walked to the first row and sat in the middle seat.
Immediately, the whole place broke out in murmurs. At such a venue, every little action was magnified and analyzed.
"No wonder everyone says this guy is bold. I didn't believe it, but it seems like the truth."
"That's why it's going to be interesting. I want to see how Aslan, Arbiter, Manalasuo will react.
…..
Wang Zheng was sitting easy. It felt good, and the position was great. There was no one in front of him, and it was all refreshing.
Zhang Shan was cocky. He loved this feeling. As for what others said, Student Zhang Shan couldn't care less. He was a smart guy. Whether you sat at the front or back, there would always be haters. In that case, why not be comfortable while their balls ached?
Snow Li's cold manner did not really mind what others said. Even if she felt that it was brave to sit here, she would support Wang Zheng's decision.
Lie Xin did not care. The Lie family were "barbarians" who did not care anyway. Perhaps only Achilles felt that this was not too prudent. It was too challenging.
The murmurs behind grew, but was moderated at an intelligent level. After all, they occupied first place, and were qualified to sit there. They had the right to modestly decline or take it. As for their ability, that was decided in competition, not by themselves.
The first row already had five tall and handsome youngsters. They had sharp ears and their long robes were patterned with runes, signifying their status. They were the Sea Queen team from Atlantis. Leading them was their captain, Dina Atlas. True royalty from Atlantis. This was the first time that the rarely seen royalty would be battling.
In Atlantis, the monarchy meant intellect and fighting ability. This was different from humans, whose monarchy was an elaborate figure.
Dina was not the first royalty that Wang Zheng had met. Dina was looking at Wang Zheng as well. The handsome Atlanteans smiled, and Wang Zheng replied with his own.
Because he had not detected any hostility from them. When he thought about it, he had clashed with Atlantis quite a few times, beginning with IG. But Wang Zheng admired the character of the Atlanteans, and also respected their civilization. It was a strange sense of kinship. But he had met them more as opponents.
He had thought they were just greeting him, but Dina stood up and walked towards Wang Zheng. At such an occasion, showing off was very important. Unless they were extremely close, no one would proactively greet this way, unless they were inviting or challenging them. Otherwise, it might be regarded as a sign of weakness.
That was why all the big teams sat tight after they had found spaces. They were holding their ground for now.
Seeing the other walk over, Wang Zheng stood up as well. One person walked over, while the rest of Saruman Snake's members were unmoving.
"Captain Wang Zheng, greetings. I am Sea Queen battle team's Dina. Our prince, His Highness, has commanded me to convey his greetings to you. He wanted to come personally to watch your competition, but was delayed by some matters. He will definitely be here for the finals." Dina's words quietened the hall.
This Wang Zheng? Wasn't he a loser from Earth?
When had he gotten to know the prince of Atlantis? And become so familiar?
This… seemed off somehow.
"It has been a while since I saw Prince Hao Lin. Captain Dina is also a prince, right? The Sea Queen battle team must be gunning for the championship. The pressure is tremendous," Wang Zheng said lightly.
Dina also smiled. Both clasped hands. There was not much testing going on. Those of a lower level had many tricks and ways about them, but at this level, they were rather open. The Sea Queen battle team's foundations went without saying.
"Atlantis has nine major tribes. Only his Highness Hao Lin is a true prince. I am at best a tribal prince. If we meet this time, we will be looking for revenge," Dina said.
"Memory of that battle stands afresh in my mind. To be able to battle with the Sea Queen battle team would be our honor. We will give it our best."
Wang Zheng said. He could feel the respect of his opponent. He would not think any less of his opponent for it. Royalty leading a team. How fearsome would an unsealed Atlantean be? In truth, Wang Zheng had not thought of any good plan. Any weakness would have to be discovered in future battles. Weaknesses would be found. There was no perfect team.
Chapter 1076: Attitude of the Mighty
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
The same went for Dina. He could feel the calm in Wang Zheng, something that only the strong were capable of. Besides, he did feel a strange sense of kinship with Wang Zheng. Such a situation was rare. Among humans, they only felt it with Aslan's Princess Aina. Of course, Her Highness had felt the radiance from the temple and therefore was different.
The Atlanteans' proactive greeting had given much pressure to the teams, muttering among themselves. They felt like Saruman Snake had emerged from some fissure in the rock. They had not reached where they were in the span of a day.
At least Team Leader Wang Zheng was like that.
How the rest of the team was, Wang Zheng was disinclined to say. There were too many factors at play. If it were single challenge, at this level, there was not much that could stop him in this hall.
This was not arrogance, but confidence accumulated through numerous battles. If he had no confidence after surviving so many close shaves with death, then he was indeed not worthy of mention.
The reason why Earth, and even the Solar System, was unable to keep up with the pace of the great stellar universe was because a moderate path was not suited to the wild and frenzied pace.
Closely following, Aslan's leader, Lin Feng, brought the Sword Shield Rose Rider battle team in. This captain was composed. He did not much heed those around him. Given his age and maturity, he could not be like a child. SIG's level was considered low to him. He did not even feel like showing off.
Seeing the Saruman Snake battle team seated smack in the center, he did not comment, but sat down on one side.
Those who had expected the Sword Shield Rose battle team to start something were disappointed.
"Damn, I thought Aslan would make them give up those seats."
"You daft? This is Aslan's home ground. They're above such a dishonorable thing, it's too shallow."
"This is so boring. I miss that year's IG when things were heated."
"It was all spoiled kids then. It would be silly to quarrel now."
Many of the major teams continued to stream in. Each strong team's entrance would be greeted by turned heads and stares, as though it was an introduction before the main competition.
When the first row was filled, the venue inexplicably quietened. The awesome aura that the 10 seeded teams emanated was filled with a spiritual confidence. These 10 teams evidently needed to prove they were the best through battle, but had no need to prove they were in the top 10.
Arbiter's Soulless battle team leader, Aragorn, appeared unremarkable, with no special features. The entire Zero Degrees battle team was bland and boring. Even at such a relaxed situation, they all looked cut from the same cloth.
The Child of Light battle team indeed "gleamed". They were sparkling too much. The Mayans' recent international performance was commendable.
The Zero Degrees battle team from Hail Cloud Alliance. Ai Zhengyang's countenance did have some resemblance to Ai Xiaolu, but these similar-looking cousins' relationship was not that close.
The Darkness Empire's Dark Knight battle team looked mature. They were slightly older in years. Leader González had begun to build a name for himself in the military world. It looked like the Darkness Empire had ambitions as well.
Here, you could see how foundationally solid the teams were. Those like the Darkness Empire, Versailles Empire, Lya Sphinx had teams with older members. Everyone knew that before the age of 30, the older the stronger. They were headed for the peak, and were not on the decline.
But the strongest countries rarely wasted their energy worrying about these competitions, which again demonstrated their foundation.
On a closer look, Saruman Snake's average age was the lowest out of the top 10.
Because they had no overage or close-to-overage members. All four Elite Academy X teams were the same, at about 20 years old, give or take one or two years. Everything else aside, Elite Academy X was ahead of other schools in this regard.
It could be a point of discussion before the competition. On the battlefield, strength spoke loudest; otherwise, one would just be a braggart.
When all the members were present, Si Jiali walked up. As the student council chairperson of Aslan's Royal College, she was also the one who would receive all the attention. One has to know that the student council chairperson would without exception become a bridge in Aslan, although she might not seem so now.
"Greetings, everyone. I am Si Jiali, and I welcome all you military school elites from all over the universe to this iteration of SIG, organized by Aslan. Actually, I've been observing all of you sneakily from the start. There are a lot of hunks. Clearly, you could earn a living with your faces alone, but you decided to conquer the world instead," Si Jiali said. Immediately, there was laughter. The razor-sharp atmosphere in the room softened in a flash.
In such a gathering of might, the atmosphere was extremely stiff. But it did not have to be this way, since the competition had not even started yet.
Of course, Si Jiali also knew that this was not her stage, and she did not prolong the issue. "And now please welcome General Akerlof from the Milky Way Alliance Command Division to introduce the competition proceedings in detail."
Lieutenant General Akerlof walked to the middle of the podium and surveyed them. The general's expression was more solemn, and he had no intention of engaging in banter. "The preliminaries will be divided into five groups and carried out simultaneously. The groupings and matchups will be sent out to your Skylinks. Each group will have two seeded teams. The preliminaries are in an elimination format. The loser will be directly eliminated. Each of your teams carry with you the hopes of your country and school. I hope that everyone can do their best and have no regrets."
Lieutenant General Akerlof said no more. The entire process had been brief, with no mention of what was to come. It meant that if you could not pass the preliminaries, you could arrange passage back. The first phase was a filter, and very important to each team and individual.
What remained was for Si Jiali to introduce the competition period. The Royal College's reception for them, as well as the way to use the public facilities. Of course, a copy would be disseminated through the Skylink, but as the host, the Royal College would still give their best.
But a majority of the members were ignoring all this, because everyone was caught up with the groupings. Of course, the important thing was their first opponent.
Because there were many teams in the preliminaries, a simulated environment was used. Another reason was that the ability gap might be too fearsome in the preliminary stages, and unnecessary deaths could be avoided.
In the past, another reason SIG had no real value was because ability did not develop uniformly. This period was when one's ability underwent changes.
Although the 10 seeded teams were strong, none of the top 50 teams were no easy meat. Although the Asura battle team was not in the top 10, there were two Earth-rank warriors there – who would dare to call them weak?
And Arbiter, Manalasuo, and other teams from superpower countries. Matching against them would be one's luck.
It also depended on each team's state of mind. Those with a good attitude treated it as a learning experience. Facing against strong teams was not a bad experience, and to be able to stand on the same stage as them was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Those with a sour attitudes went without saying. Before too long, everyone's Skylinks were going off. The groupings were secondary. The key was the first match up, which was important to every team.
After it was over, some were celebrating, while others were commiserating.
Chapter 1077: Drumming Morale
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
The last two days had been adjustment. More than 300 countries, and 500 teams. There was not much point training at this time. More important was collecting information on their opponents. The core members were often ordered to ease up. Even those who still wanted to train were limited to moderate amounts.
The two Solar System teams left the other C-ranked nations red-eyed with envy. But on second look, it felt even. The Solar System was not playing any tricks this time around. Both teams were filled with real military students. Of course, there were two or three 30-year-olds who claimed to be research students, but compared to other countries, this was considered rather conservative.
It was not that the Solar System did not want to play tricks, but considered that those who had come out of the auditions might not necessarily achieve ideal results. Rather, why not give the youngsters a chance to toughen themselves? Sometimes, facing one's problems was better than covering it up.
The Solar System was adopting a healthy approach to this SIG. Reputation should be defended in moderation. If they fell behind, that was all right as well. What was important was to nurture the newcomers and next generation. Today, they were reserves. In a few years, perhaps more surprises like Wang Zheng and Zhang Shan would emerge. They had also first tasted sweetness at IG.
The two teams that the Solar System had sent were called Dragon War and Battling Tiger. The metaphorical meaning was deep. Warring Dragon, Battling Tiger. They hoped they could fight in the style of the Solar System, but their draw was quite unlucky. The Warring Dragon battle team was against Mia Empire battle team. They were officially C-rank, but privately, everyone regarded the Mia Empire battle team as a crane in a flock of chickens within the C-rank teams. They were formidable.
The Battling Tiger battle team was even worse off. They were directly matched up against one of the leaders in the B-rank, the Ghana Star battle team…
The two leaders in charge of drawing the lot were banging their heads against the wall. Cursed hands! They wanted to cut them off and feed them to the dogs. They had destroyed everyone's hopes. After all, facing a weaker opponent would give them a boost of hope. Since they had come, no one wanted to be eliminated in the first round.
Wang Zheng received Xiao Fei's message. Xiao Fei would definitely come for such an event, but she was more busy than in the past. As the principal, she could not possibly come to Aslan just for SIG. She had to secure even more resources and opportunities for Ares College. She had to be relentless.
In front of Wang Zheng, Xiao Fei hid nothing and used her witch skills. She skipped all the superficial niceties and went straight to extract what remaining usefulness Student Wang had. "Here's our recent project in the laboratory. Take a look and see if there's anything to add…"
"Teacher Xiao Fei, what little skill I have has long been eclipsed by you. Besides, Teacher, there are only two more days until the competition, won't you let me off?" Wang Zheng was immediately put off by the formatting. He could still say something about simple physics theories, but for such a large project with thousands of lab trials, looking through the data would take tens of hours. In truth, the more his physical strength waxed, the more his interest in this field waned.
"I knew you would need a break. That's why I gave you these to relax you." Xiao Fei's lips were plump and alluring as she faced Wang Zheng, her repertoire polished.
"I'll look at it…" Wang Zheng also knew Xiao Fei's intention. Smiling, he accepted the folder, and told himself he would.
"That's right. The two Solar System teams are made up of your cute juniors. If you have time, you can take some time to go watch. Give them some pointers and encouragement. In a while, their captain will contact you. There are only two days to the competition, so no need for anything formal. Have a meal and a chat. That will be fine." Xiao Fei's call came with a note of command. Even before fighting, these two teams' morale was extinguished. The training effect was completely gone.
One could lose, but not with their head bowed. In a competition, one fought until that last breath. It was fine to lag behind, but more importantly, if one lost the vigor, then one's entire life would be wasted.
After the Greatest King Competition, Wang Zheng, Zhang Shan, Achilles, Lie Xin, Lear, Luo Fei, and the rest had already become legitimate symbols of power within the Solar System military schools, and they were promoted as role models. Their experiences were used to galvanize students. The Solar System was not short on ability, but there had been no figure of leadership to utilize their potential. And in their generation, they were very fortunate. Many years of accumulation would come to bear in their generation!
The teams' mood was down. If their source of motivation, people like Wang Zheng and the rest, could appear and give them a pep talk about their Greatest King experience, and Wang Zheng could talk about the unique experience of being an Earth-rank pro, then such seeds could be motivated effectively.
Wang Zheng had heard about Warring Dragon and Battling Tiger's lots from Achilles. Even if Xiao Fei had not made that call, they would have thought of a way to contact them, and found an excuse to go watch them. And now that Mighty Xiao Fei had said it, things were even more straightforward.
"You might as well not go. If you go, you have to be serious. Ares College treats your name like gold now. If you lead them wrong, do you know…"
"I swear I will fulfil the mission properly!" Wang Zheng had no choice; he could only be the guarantee for Xiao Fei. He was resentful. Why was it that everytime he faced Xiao Fei, he was always the one suffering? A witch was a witch. Next time, maybe he should try turning the tables?
After hanging up with Xiao Fei, he found Zhang Shan, Achilles, and Lie Xin. Of course, no one would reject the alma mater's call. Vincent and Snow Li had been called to similar meetups as well.
When they contacted the two Solar System team captains, the other person was extremely moved. They had set the time at 7 PM, and the venue was Aslan's Food Street, at an eatery called Delicacies from the Sky.
The only one in the team without an appointment was Mu Zhen, so he would come along as well. Wang Zheng, Zhang Shan, Lie Xin, and Achilles came to the appointed place. From afar, they could see the two Solar System teams.
The teams stood neatly at the entrance of the food street. It was too ostentatious.
But in a flash, the formation scattered. They had seen Wang Zheng and the rest!
Too bad. A blockhead like Mu Zhen could not avoid attention!
"Autographs and pictures!"
In a rush, their discipline crumbled after seeing their elite idols, and they crowded over.
Before they came, they had not thought much about seeing their juniors. Perhaps just a chat, and they would impart some small experience about battling. But in this instant, seeing the members mob him, Wang Zheng was moved.
At Elite Academy X, no matter how many people hollered, he did not feel much. But now, only tens of juniors were present, but he felt emotional. Especially after seeing a few in the school uniform of Ares College, his own blood was fired.
The Aslan people passing by and other tourists let them by with a smile. No one would say anything about this scene.
Of course, this was just noisy on impression. Everyone was still disciplined. It was squeezy, but on the whole, they kept themselves orderly on the street.
Seven people had come from Ares College, and they surrounded Wang Zheng and Zhang Shan. They had already discussed this. They would introduce themselves one by one, and then get their autographs and pictures one by one. Very orderly.
And those from Mars went to find Lie Xin. No discussion needed, line up in order of ability. They spoke to Lie Xin one by one.
Achilles smiled and nodded to his juniors from Moonlight College. After mentioning a few of the teachers there, the distance closed quickly. In an instant, they felt that Achilles was not as aloof as in the rumors, and had a normal side to him.
Student Mu Zhen… surrounded by tourists and Aslan people. Titatitan Star person? So tall! Could they get a picture?
Although he did not like being corralled, Mu Zhen generously agreed. He was understanding the humans better each day. They had their warlike side, but also a peaceable side.
"Woah, you speak the common language so well!"
Hegel had gotten Lie Xin and Wang Zheng's autographs, then stood at the side. As a Martian, he had no interest in Achilles from the Moon. The Martians idolized the strong, but there had to be an alignment of interests. Wang Zheng was worthy of their attention.
Warring Dragon leader Long Ya was just about to head to the restaurant to confirm their place. After all, an extra Mu Zhen had come along. Although the doorframe of the place was big enough, there might not be enough space to accommodate the giant inside. He had to go and greet the shop owner first.
But in a flash, he saw Hegel standing with a satisfied expression. Long Ya smiled. "Got all your autographs?"
"Mm."
"Perfect. Help me go to the restaurant to confirm the seats." Long Ya wanted autographs as well, but as a leader, he could not be the first to rush up.
Hegel nodded and turned to run off, when his vision turned black. PAM!
He had collided with someone! At the same time, he stumbled, and stepped on the other person's leg, and not lightly.
"You blind!?"
Hegel was about to back off when he felt a sharp pain in his shoulder. He had been violently pushed off balance by the person he ran into.
No normal person!
Long Ya felt a chill in his heart. He moved forward to catch Hegel. He felt the brunt of the impact and absorbed the power. The opponent had dealt a nasty blow.
Hegel took a breath and lifted his head to see a two-meter-tall giant, staring at him full of fury.
As he fell to the ground, Hegel's temper was rising as well. His collision had not been serious, but the other guy had pushed him down very heavily. "Friend, it's true that I ran into you. But wasn't your blow just a little overboard?"
"You're talking back to me?"
Forgan was very angry. Beside him were two Aslan girls, laughing prettily. He had just managed to successfully talk them out, and was boasting to the Aslan beauties that he was the main shield of the Ghana Star SIG team. He had been in full flow when the little shrimp had broken in.
Of course, there was an underlying reason. The Ghana people had come here first, and wanted to eat at the Delicacies from the Sky Aslan eatery, but they had said they were full, and the Solar System guys had already booked the place. They had just walked over and seen those Solar System bums. That was fine, but now he had been hit!
Then he was not going to hold back! Since they had made the first move, he could not be blamed for retaliating, right?
Forgan's blow had been calculated to escalate the situation.
Chapter 1078: Had Enough
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Hegel had a classic Martian temper, but Long Ya had him in a death grip. He had seen the emblem on the other guy's clothes. He was from Ghana Star battle team, and also Battling Tiger's first opponent.
If Hegel made the first move, the matter would escalate. It was probable that both Solar System teams would be immediately disqualified.
"Friend, what you're doing is not very chivalrous. But it is indeed our mistake for colliding into you. I apologize on his behalf."
Forgan's eyes flashed, and he pointed down at his shoes. "If apologies are useful, how about I beat you to death, and then you apologize? It's simple. Kneel down and lick my shoe clean. Then scram as far as you can."
On his side, Wang Zheng had also noticed that something was wrong. He had just walked over with the rest when he heard that utterance. Instantly, the whole Solar System side exploded!
Especially the Martians. Their tempers were like a loose cannon, and exploded at the slightest touch. "What did you say?!"
"Say that again."
"Oh, is it about numbers?" Looking at the tens of people swarming over, Forgan did not display the slightest indication of backing down. With a clatter, the Ghana Team members who had been watching the show from the side stood up. Although they only had half the numbers, they looked much more intimidating than the Solar System side. Caucans and Ghanans had that aura about them.
Forgan gave a taunting laugh. "The weak always look the same. Scram, don't just stand there!"
Forgan was no fool. Firstly, he knew that this place was too damned crowded. He also knew that this was their first opponent. If they could already intimidate them now, then the official competition would be a breeze. Because the Solar System was just too weak. This was something that the whole Milky Way Alliance knew.
As expected, the two Solar System teams were starting to get cold feed. Hegel and Long Ya's expressions were stiff. They looked at the ferocious and savage Ghanans. They could neither fight nor back down. If they slinked away now, they would be shamed.
Achilles frowned. He was not good at handling such matters. Just as Lie Xin was about to go over, Wang Zheng pulled her back.
Seeing Wang Zheng and the rest come over, the Solar System side dispersed for them. Achilles had stopped Lie Xin as well. Lie Xin's fiery temper was not too suited for handling such things.
The moment Wang Zheng appeared, the atmosphere immediately shifted. Although the Ghanans still had their swagger, their aura had somehow lessened.
Wang Zheng walked over smiling cheekily. He came right up to Forgan, and stomped heavily on his foot. He raised his head slightly to look at Forgan. "I very carefully stepped on you. What do you want to do about it?"
The two of them faced off up close. Wang Zheng was not as tall as the other guy, but he continued to look at Forgan with his foot on him.
Forgan's eyeballs were popping out now. The other Ghanas were staring at Wang Zheng hatefully as well. But the swaggering Ghanans, known for their savagery, made not a single sound.
They did not dare to attack.
This person had not made any big moves, but he had already locked down all of their members. A complete mental suppression. Ghana Star was a cruel place where the strong ate the weak. They were extremely sensitive to danger.
Within the human world, there were no absolute rules. Obviously, the competition would not allow fights, but friction?
That was impossible. Differences in customs, in developmental attitude, necessarily led to frictions. And the result?
On one point, Forgan was right. At a place like SIG, where bloodthirst ran rampant, the strong should be respected.
Wang Zheng patted Forgan. "The weak should act accordingly. Scram!"
A bunch of angry Ghanans stood in confrontation for a few moments. Forgan abruptly turned, and they left without a backward glance.
It was not that Forgan did not want to fight, but he had calculated the odds. The consequences would be worse if he attacked. The more experienced one was in battle, the less one fought mindless battles for pride.
Wang Zheng had counted on this as well. A place like Ghana Star accepted that the strong would bully the weak. Of course, if they had dared to attack, he would not mind teaching them a lesson. But in such a place, if they had backed down, they would be bullied everywhere.
Seeing the Ghana savages leaving, the Solar System members whooped. Long Ya and Hegel swelled up as well. Damn, this was domination!
This was ownage!
This was awesome!
Responding to Wang Zheng's signal, they quieted down. Each person gazed at Wang Zheng with reverence. Wang Zheng was indeed a legend within the Solar System, with countless fans in the military schools, but these people felt that the real thing was cool beyond belief!
"I think that your mentors must have warned you before you left that all of you represent the image of the Solar System outside. Adhere by the rules. Don't cause trouble. Is that right?" Wang Zheng asked.
All of them nodded. They did not know where Wang Zheng was going. They did not want to start anything.
"The mentors are definitely right. But it does not mean that you should still bow your head to anybody that insults the Solar System. Sometimes you have to fight. When you're challenged, what else can you do!"
Wang Zheng's voice was calm. When the phrase "what else can you do" landed, it was like a lock broke.
When you could take no more, you would take no more!
Hegel raised a fist savagely. He felt like his blood was boiling. If they had bowed their heads just now, and taken it lying down, he would have died of his own anger.
"This is SIG. Everyone here is the finest warrior from their nation. It is the world of the strong. Only strength can prove glory and earn respect. I hope that everyone will charge forward in the upcoming battle. Die on your feet, rather than live lying down!"
Wang Zheng said. Immediately, all of them lost their heads. Even a few Aslan girls were looking on with shining eyes.
"Who is this? He's so cool."
"Damn, you don't know him? He's Saruman Snake's captain, Wang Zheng, Elite Academy X's Greatest King!"
"He's that Earthling? Damn, what a terrifying Earthling. Haven't seen the like in centuries."
All the while, the image of the Solar System had been too soft. That was why they had been bullied everywhere. In the past, Wang Zheng had not paid too much attention, because those beside him were resistant. But just now, he had seen that the problem was serious. They had been about to step on their head and take a sh*t. Endure?
Forget what the rules said. Even if there would be consequences, one had to fight back when one had to. Otherwise, there was no point to life. What battle power could a team hope to have if they backed down even under such circumstances?
The two Solar System teams were incensed to howls. It seemed like they had no problems with impressing now. If they were weaker, there was nothing they could do. But if they had cringed before the battle started, that was the real shame.
"This boy is really good at rousing them up." Lie Xin sighed with relief as well. If it had been her, she would have just beaten up the opponent, but would not have been able to achieve such a result. Wang Zheng had galvanized each member's will and dignity.
One had to live with dignity.
"In that regard, Wang Zheng is stronger than both of us." Achilles smiled slightly. This was a natural quality, something that could not be nurtured. The same approach would not have the same effect with anyone else. But Wang Zheng could pull it off. He emanated this aura from his bones.
"Hopefully, this bunch of punks can have more backbone."
Chapter 1079: Pride
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Saruman Snake was in group C of the five main groups. Out of the seeded teams, Maya Empire's Child of Light battle team was also in group C. And Wang Zheng's familiar "old friend," Student Lear, was also in this group.
Although there were many qualified teams, and they should not meet under normal circumstances, who would not prepare for the off-chance? It almost seemed like enemies on a narrow road.
Saruman Snake battle team's first opponent was Mossi Republic. This was a federation near Aslan. They basically survived because of their proximity to Aslan. Thanks to their geographical position, coupled with the positive influence of the great Aslan financial circle, this country was rather well-off. Of course, to the citizens of Mossi Republic, an Aslan citizenship was their dream. Basically more than half of their citizens aimed towards this goal. They also often regarded themselves as little Aslan people.
After all, they lived close, and had a good relationship.
Mossi Republic's leader was Sabi. He was genuinely a military student, and had already tendered his application to be a research student at the Royal College. This leader Sabi was the classic stereotype who wanted to be part of Aslan. His situation was rather unique. He had already attained the acceptance notification, and being able to take part in SIG this time was another feather in his cap. This filled Sabi with anticipation. These few days at the Royal College seemed like the start of his new life as an Aslan person.
"Oh, you're saying Wang Zheng has some conflict with Aslan nobility?" Leader Sabi was excited to hear this.
"Yeah, without question. I heard that practically all the upper echelons in Aslan hate this guy. Di Maria, Aurora, etc. They all say he's arrogant. Captain, if we can give them a severe whooping, Aslan will definitely have a great impression of us."
Sabi smiled. He was elated. "But they're the Greatest King of Elite Academy X. Do you think we can win?"
"They're a bunch of Solar System punks. I don't reckon they're that good. But I did watch their footage – that Wang Zheng guy seems like a capable one."
"Keke, Fleiz, that's why we should give them a chance to show their potential, shouldn't we?" Sabi's face slowly creased in a cold smile.
"Our leader is wise. I've already found out where they're staying. Be assured about the rest. Not a soul will know of it. There will be no leaks." Fleiz laughed arrogantly. They had done this many times, and this would be nothing new.
"They are all experts. Be extremely careful. Judge the time well, and don't let it come back to bite us."
"Captain, I'm on it. Don't worry." Fleiz smiled brilliantly. There were many ways to achieve victory. This was an era where only results mattered, and many wanted to see Saruman Snake brought low.
Wang Zheng was the most terrifying one on the Saruman Snake battle team. As long as Wang Zheng was not in good condition, Saruman Snake was a second-rate team. If Wang Zheng insisted on competing, that would be even better. If he competed while feeling poorly… if he won, he would be a martyr; if he lost, he would be a fool. A good sign.
In this world, those who worshipped martial strength often failed the fastest, because they did not use their brains much.
The Mossi Republic battle team had no intentions of achieving a great result, but all they needed to do was finish off the Saruman Snake battle team, and they would be famous overnight. Even if Wang Zheng went to cry and complain after the competition, it would be no use. The competition would not break the rules just because of one team. And the important thing was, he would leave no evidence behind.
Some people had an unremarkable Ability X, but they were actually extremely practical, such as his.
Fleiz was not a core member, but a reserve. He never competed, but no matter where they went to battle, everyone in the team knew that Leader Sabi would bring him along. Some teased that he was like a team mascot, and some said that he and Leader Sabi were getting it on. None of this was important. Identity was fluid, and utility was key.
The Dynasty battle team were also making their own preparations. Luo Fei felt unlucky. Damn, why did they have to be in the same group as the Saruman Snake battle team?
"Say, Boss, do you think we'll meet Wang Zheng along the way?" Fatty had no love for things like battle and glory.
Lear smiled slightly. "What are you trying to say?"
"Nothing. Seems like there are quite a few newcomers in our team. I don't know them." These were all last-minute additions, and nondescript fellows. But the school would not care. Besides, they were reserves. But Fatty felt like they were trouble.
"These few people are quite capable. They should be pleasant surprises. It's a good thing if we meet Wang Zheng." Lear was in a good mood. Ability was the hardest logic. In truth, Lear also wanted to get a good result in this SIG. Taking the championship was his greatest wish, but he was also aware of the difficulty. It was virtually impossible. Given Dynasty's ability, they should be thanking their lucky stars if they could enter the top eight. But those few strong reinforcements had given Lear new hope.
In the end, he still believed that only the intimidating ones were the truly mighty. He was unconvinced!
He acknowledged that Wang Zheng was strong, but he was not convinced that the Saruman Snake battle team was undefeatable!
He had tested out Zhou Yun and the other two. They were indeed extraordinary. Saruman Snake was strong not because of Lie Xin or Achilles, but because of their ancient arts transmitted through the generations. But they were not the end of it. Zhou Yun's ferocity was no less than Lie Xin's, and his fighting technique was better.
At the same time, this spoke of another issue. The saint had been rather satisfied with his performance at Maklou; otherwise, he would not have been supported thus as well.
The saint was mysterious. Lear already felt their unfathomable power and foundation. Ever since he had come into contact, Lear had become very clear of how oblivious he had been, and how clear his mastery currently was.
His target was not just a simple matter of making his name. This SIG included, it was all to prove that he was the most suitable saint, in terms of intellect, talent, and ability. Perhaps he was not the strongest in terms of single challenge, but he must be the most holistically outstanding.
Saint was such a big organization. It definitely did not need a fighter who only knew how to charge. To understand power, intellect was the key.
At Maklou, he had had no indications. Through his judgements and clues, he had single-handedly reached that far. Although he had not completed the Easter Project, he had at least saved himself.
Under normal circumstances, the saint would definitely see the completion of the mission as the goal. But his circumstances were different. He was not a charging pawn. Under any circumstances, preserving himself and making progress was the first duty.
He had done it. Even if the cursed Wang Zheng had taken half. But this was the difference. Wang Zheng might be congratulating himself, a kid who had been given some money. One look and you knew he was a peasant. But he had gained even more.
From the start, he and Wang Zheng had come from different viewpoints. No matter how much Wang Zheng did, no matter how much he gained, all would be ashes and dust at the end.
It was just one Tita Star, one Maklou, one rotten chamber of commerce. Not worthy of mention.
Lear's heart was filled with calm anticipation. He did hope they would not meet Saruman Snake. Crushing him before the main tournament would be no fun.
Chapter 1080: Still Not Swayed
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
The construction of the route was even more complex than imagined. Titatitan Star was a new planet, so everything was a blank slate. No matter what they did, they had to start from scratch. The imminent challenge for Yan Xiaosu and the rest was far more complex than they had imagined.
They had indeed acquired the permit from the Milky Way Alliance authorities. But this did not mean that the transport route could begin construction immediately. There were many more intermediary processes to cross, and there was no way around them. The regulations and formalities regarding a transport route was no simple matter of drawing a line on a planetary map. They had to follow the rules.
It did not mean that the Milky Way Alliance's permission meant a free pass on legality issues. No matter where the route passed, if it infringed on local planetary rights or there was a possibility for collision with other routes, then confirmation and negotiations needed to occur.
Everything was good in their minds. The new transport route's profits should have been smooth and unobstructed!
But in real operations, they would soon discover that inconveniences and profits often came hand in hand. Not every country along the route was interested. Some were conservative planets, and were worried that the new transport route would disrupt their orderly lives. Throughout the history of humanity's development, there was much that could not be judged by the common value system of humanity. On a closer look, there were still many who were satisfied with what they had and resisted change.
Very quickly, Yan Xiaosu was coming to realize that such matters required a professional and experienced export company to manage matters. If he did it himself, one planet alone would be enough to worry them silly. And this was a planet which was interested in the new transport route. All kinds of requests and tactics would be employed to eat all his profits. If there was any disagreement, at least a few months of negotiations would be required before proceeding.
Many export countries had come knocking on their door, but they were unsuited. Either they were hungry lions treating Yan Xiaosu and the rest like inept idiots, or they were amateurs without the appropriate resources.
Find a problem, solve a problem. Yan Xiaosu did not throw his weight around. With Jasper, Laurel, and Gabre, they reflected on their actions. It had been his miss to not arrange with an export company. Their blind arrogance had overestimated the attractiveness of the new trade route. Sometimes, benefits did not mean unobstructed access. Most of the time, it was a trap instead.
Jasper and the rest were feeling abashed. The way they looked at it, Brother Yan was faultless. Brother Yan had already handled the most difficult Milky Way Alliance permit. What more could they ask of him? The company belonged to everyone, and the profits were fairly split. The sum that Brother Yan had given them had far exceeded the number they had expected.
These were small things which they should be able to handle. If everything had to be brought to Brother Yan, then what were they for? In the past, they could still say that they had investors and investments. Did Brother Yan lack for these things now?
When they thought about it seriously, it was quite a scary thing. If they did not prove their own value further, then how could they stand in Brother Yan's inner circle? In the Titan chamber of commerce, there were others who did their best to cosy up to Yan Xiaosu. Those who were capable and also fawners were too many to count.
For the sake of friendship? For old times?
Brother Yan did value his relations deeply, but their emotional link would dry up. They had to earn their own dignity, not have it handed to them on a plate.
But such a matter was indeed not something that could be solved in an hour and a half.
The average shipping company did not have the capability to make a transport route. But the huge shipping companies capable of the work would skew the negotiations. It was a long-term balance. In the short-term, there would be little that could change.
But the transport route would wait for nobody. And this was not just Titatitan Star's problem. Maklou's side was pushing for progress as well, and some "good news" was trickling in. This was welcome, and everyone was glad that the construction of the route was progressing in some ways. But their own side was stalling, and it was painful to hear every time.
Yan Xiaosu was actually also completely at a loss. He had started this too fast. Besides Titatitan Star and the old Solar System home, there was no real human network. Besides, Wang Zheng was pushing so fast that it was difficult to keep up even if one flew.
But exactly at these times, he had to be calmer than the rest, and look as though he was in control.
But the more he appeared composed, the more Jasper and the rest wanted to perform.
Laurel looked at Yan Xiaosu. Actually, given her background and networks, there definitely was a way. But as a woman, she was not as simple-minded as Jasper and Gabre.
But no matter how she looked at it, she could not tell if Yan Xiaosu actually had a trump card.
If needed, she would play her cards. She would not pass up on the profits from a transport route. But now was the crucial time. If they succeeded, they would be rolling in the money. Not only her, but her entire family would be red-eyed with passion.
Laurel smiled and said, "Difficult or not, I feel like we have to go proactive."
"It's not that I don't want to. But people from these major shipping groups are like body parts on a dragon. Within the company, all of them are mouthpieces with no real decision-making power."
Gabre shook his head. In these two days, he and Jasper had gone looking. The problem was that they could not find anybody. They could only wait for news.
They were also very clear that the opponent had caught them in a painful spot. They had purposely trapped them, and they felt obvious resistance.
Laurel looked at Yan Xiaosu again, and still kept her gentle smile. She did not hesitate, but pulled out a prepared invitation. "In a few days, there is a special government meeting in the capital of Lya Sphinx. If everything goes according to plan, a few chairpersons of some major shipping companies will be present. I'm a little familiar with the chairperson of New Time Shipping Company. I could introduce everyone at that time. Hopefully things turn for the better."
New Time Shipping Company! Lya Sphinx's largest shipping company, with profound experience in developing shipping. Their networks were far-reaching, and also one of the companies that Jasper and Gabre would dearly love to speak with. After all, this transport route needed a superpower as a backer. It was naive to think that Genesis Coffee Club alone would suffice.
In the end, everyone looked towards Yan Xiaosu. Go or not? His decision.
Yan Xiaosu felt like their ship had fortuitously straightened at the river bend. He nodded. "Another option is always welcome. Laurel, we're counting on you this time."
"Keke, Brother Yan is very serious. We're in the same boat, and I can't just stand by."
"Keke, good. I like it!"
Yan Xiaosu nodded decisively. He looked at the invitation. He knew that this invitation was an important one, but… Laurel was still hiding things from them. To think that she already had this solution prepared but had kept her mouth shut all the while.
In truth, Tyrant Su did not like this way of doing things. It was fine if people were bragging. But to steal business from him was not welcome. KO Group's leadership and authority was not something he could give up. Jasper and Gabre were already under his thumb, but Laurel, honestly, was more worldly, and this much was insufficient to convince her.
Yan Xiaosu had no intentions of kicking Laurel out, because KO Group needed such strong allies if it wanted to take off. And for those capable ones like Laurel, it was only to be expected if she was not fully on board yet.
If she was not swayed, then he would find a way to sway her!
Chapter 1081: Bag of Tricks
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
"The truth is that from the perspective of a warrior, Wang Zheng is someone that deserves respect." Aurora had given a verdict in the end. Wang Zheng's performance during IG was something that he had to concede to when he recalled it.
Yan Xiaosu's character growth was not impaired. Although he had begun from a lowly status of selling sanitary towels, this second generation heir was not unreasonable and arrogant. On the contrary, he was even more grounded. Old Yan was a classic businessman. He had made his living through a small business, and economical acumen. He understood business relations, and Yan Xiaosu had picked those up too. But Yan Xiaosu was, after all, a student of Ares College. His worldview was different, and his ability to learn was uncommon. He had learned much from Ye Zisu and Ye Bingwen. Many ways of acting were learnt on the job.
A different world, and a different route. But the results were not bad. The important thing was that Yan Xiaosu had captured hearts.
The two brothers had rather different personalities. If Wang Zheng had been left with the business, his temperament could not have taken it, but Yan Xiaosu could hold it in.
But on the battlefield, Yan Xiaosu would be dead before the gunshot was even heard.
SIG had tens of thousands of viewers, but after the competition started, the distinction was very clear. Normal matches had a very small viewership, with a majority of the attention focused on the famous teams. The seeded competitors were a given, but there was also a group of excellent teams, such as the ones from the superpower countries. Although they were not seeded teams, their ability was clear.
Saruman Snake battle team was definitely hot, a red hot favorite. Who had let them take the alpha spot of first seed? Many wanted to see their skill level.
There was clearly no need to conceal in SIG. Each of the militaries had their own reports, and were paying attention to their own countries' fights.
The first day was also very important to the Solar System. Saruman Snake battle team, Dynasty battle team, as well as the two internal teams of the Solar System, were all battling.
The four small beauties, Lin Huiyin, Dong Er, Ouyang Ruoliu, and Qian Xuedie, were excitedly gathered. Given their status, it was not appropriate for them to show up live. The preliminaries had huge crowds, and was completely public. If they turned up in numbers to watch a team, it would attract all sorts of speculation. It was better to sequester themselves at home. Although they were at home, the conditions were unbelievably good. Ouyang Ruoliu's house – it was not as exaggerated to the point where she monitored the whole Milky Way Alliance, but whatever she wished to see did not pose any problem.
As for the few Aslan teams, they… had not the slightest interest. They would definitely win. There was no suspense. More importantly, there was no one there they cared about. After the last incident, all the girls' interest had been hooked. Especially since it was the guy that Aina liked. There had been a persistent rumor that during the last IG, the Princess had actively bestowed a kiss. In the end, it had been quashed into silence, but nothing slipped past Ouyang Ruoliu. At the start, she had thought it was gossip, and had been too lazy to pursue it. But now it looked real.
This man had attracted Aslan's goddess. Ouyang Ruoliu did not see herself as inferior to anyone, but she held nothing but respect for Aina. Aina was Aslan's symbol and future.
Dong Er had initially felt that the guy was just like that, but now it was a completely different matter.
"Why hasn't Wang Zheng appeared yet? Is the opponent strong? I hope they're not too weak. That would be meaningless." Qian Xuedie had already prepared the snacks, and was ready for a good show.
"Mossi Republic is okay. They're heavily influenced by Aslan, they shouldn't be that weak."
"Wang Zheng won't show, right? Seems like the rest have already arrived."
"I've basically seen all of Saruman Snake battle team's battle footage in the past. They're completely dependent on Wang Zheng holding it solo. When he's around, this team is seed-tier. When he's not, it's C-tier." Ouyang Ruoliu laughed.
It was not just them that thought this way. Everyone did. This Saruman Snake battle team was like a broken car, carried thus far by Wang Zheng alone. In the past battles, everyone saw Wang Zheng's overwhelming power, and nothing else mattered.
They had been outshined. Achilles, Lie Xin, and the rest – their skill level did not seem so important anymore.
The truth?
Actually, Wang Zheng had diarrhea since morning. He had already been to the toilet more than 10 times, and the doctor had come as well. He said it might have been the lack of acclimatization…
Wang Zheng was in disbelief. Acclimatization? Damn, he had no problems even in the abyss, let alone anywhere else. Wang Zheng was very confident in his own body's tenacity, and this was off.
He must have been targeted. Wang Zheng's digestive and adaptive ability had no problems. He was too busy to wonder who had set him up now, because Saruman Snake's first battle was about to start.
Damn, all he wanted to do was be a good cheerleader. Was that so difficult?
That's right. From the start, Wang Zheng had not intended to fight. The opponent was just some third-rate team. It was no exaggeration. They had made it here, but did the opponent really think that a team like Saruman Snake would fight at full power?
Ai Xiaolu had already collected all the information on their opponent. Leader Sabi was a strength-type. He was not bad, but his skill level was considered average at Elite Academy X. Wang Zheng had gone through all kinds of major trials, and this battle was a good time for the reserves to get their hand in. Of course, a few of the core needed to guarantee the win.
That was why he wanted to be a good cheerleader.
"Wang Zheng, what's wrong? Not recovered yet?" Luo Er laughed. "You wouldn't be nervous, would you?"
Wang Zheng grimaced. "I'm really nervous. I'm seeing things."
A joke that no one believed. Even Luo Er did not buy it. This was not even a thing.
"Did someone do something?"
The competition security was rather tight. They key was that these students were all pros, and drugging was not an easy task. Besides, it was extremely easy to check.
Unless… someone's Ability X was in this aspect.
And who would have the incentive?
Even someone with ass for brains would know it had to be the Mossi team. Anyone who understood him would not use this trick on him at this time.
"I'm going to the toilet."
"Go, go. The battle's about to start." Ai Xiaolu smiled exasperatedly.
The members fighting for the Saruman Snake battle team were Achilles, Zhang Shan, Snow Li, Takumi, and Vincent.
Zhang Shan was on scout, Achilles on free fighter. Vincent, offensive fighter. Takumi tank, and Snow Li on sniper.
Although Wang Zheng was missing, this lineup was still very strong. Of course, this was Saruman Snake's own assessment, which the audience did not share.
Only after Wang Zheng had attained countless achievements did the public feel that this Earthling was "special." This meant that besides him, the other Solar System people were trash.
Saruman Snake was not the first fight. On another field, the Ghana battle team and the Solar System's Battling Tiger battle team had already begun.
The enthusiastic spectators from the Solar System's military schools were already silent. That expression was…
The Ghanans were crushing…
That Caucan tank was single-handedly beating the Battling Tiger battle team to a pulp. Only the Caucans could wield the Four-Tusk Flying Demon Mech. It had four arms and a compound vision system with no blind spots. It was aggressive in nature, and used an attack style that humans were completely not used to dealing with. In an instant, the Battling Tiger battle team was crumbling.
Only their sniper was being chased by the Ghana scout like a mangy dog, and finished off last.
It was not news that the Ghanans liked to taunt their opponents. The Ghana people's character had always been low within the Milky Way Alliance moral spectrum. Although they were not a grey area, they were not much better. Conscience? How many dollars for a gram? They would deal with losers however they liked.
If they were on Ghana Star, the losers would be treated like slaves. Who would deny them their fun?
Forgan had not showed. They did not need him for such a weak opponent, so weak that it gave one goosebumps. This had won him back all the pride he had lost two days ago.
Posturing without ability? Asking to die!
It seemed like not many people were watching this fight. Besides the countries of the competitors, not many had come to watch. The rest were SIG official observers and reporters.
It was clear that this fight was extremely disappointing. They were on a completely different level. It was not even a matter of tactics. They simply could not withstand their opponents.
In the other group, the Warring Dragon battle team was the same. Of course, their opponent was not as formidable, and they were not getting trashed. But the outcome did not change.
After the first round for the Solar System's two teams, the Solar System would definitely become a laughing stock. They had chosen a name that was normally in the domain of the strong teams, and they had been too weak.
A bark worse than their bite.
In the post-match interview, Ghana sent their leader, Forgan, because the Caucans were not interested.
"Captain Forgan, as the victor, can you give the Battling Tiger battle team some pointers for improvement?"
Chapter 1082: Crushed
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
The reporter's question was also very interesting, but it was mainly because the difference had been too stark. Ghana and Tiger's battle had been one of the larger disparities so far.
"This bunch of trash should not have even come," Forgan spat out aggressively.
International relations?
Sorry, Ghanans were Ghanans. They had never cared, nor was it within their considerations. As long as a Ghanan had the opportunity for revenge, they would take it with no qualms.
At Saruman Snake's side, Mossi's leader, Sabi, very boldly put out his pre-battle message – they could defeat the Saruman Snake battle team!
Wang Zheng was not actually going to the toilet this time. If it was Ability X, it could not be untraceable. Who could it be?
His mental energy reached out, and Wang Zheng indeed found a trace.
Because that sliver of feeling was in the toilet.
Fleiz gritted his teeth and swallowed two more. He had to continue his own diarrhea. If Wang Zheng dared to go up, he would see him release his bowels on the battlefield.
His Ability X was reflection. He made a mental rune on his target, and then if he had diarrhea, his target would feel the same. Of course, the effectiveness depended on the target.
Such a mental mark was light. Minds were complex, and emotions were susceptible to change. To the person being targeted, they might merely sneeze suddenly, or shiver. It might be no more serious reaction than this.
This was the drawback of his skill. Of course, he had to suffer as well.
The reflection ability was limited. It did not mean that hacking himself would damage them as well. Firstly, he was not so stupid. Secondly, it would be ineffectual. Only diarrhea seemed to work particularly well.
Wang Zheng's understanding of mental energy, especially his perception skills, completely outclassed his opponent. This was also an unexpected failure. Who knew that such a strange ability existed in this world?
The Mossi battle team people were really a bunch of fools. He had not planned to participate from the start, but he had been inflicted with diarrhea… All he could do was purge himself.
Fleiz felt a little strange. He had eaten two, and his stomach was already churning furiously. But there seemed to be no feedback?
Unfortunately, this Wang Zheng's constitution seemed to be prodigious. This was a crucial matter. Fleiz gritted his teeth. If he did not commit, he might not be able to topple him.
Even if he entered the hospital, he would be the team martyr. Others had flashy Ability Xs, but his would never be seen, or it would be useless. He was not convinced, which was why he had begged Leader Sabi this time around. But in his heart, he was clear that if this failed, he would be deemed useless.
He gritted his teeth and swallowed the entire bottle of laxatives.
After a few seconds, splat, splat, splat…
Fleiz felt like his own intestines were about to drop out as well, but there was a beatific smile on his face. Even if the opponent was made of steel, he would cave to this one.
But he felt like he could not hold on much longer. He was done for now, he had to make an emergency call.
Damn, he forgot to bring his Skylink. He had orchestrated this beautifully from start to end, and brought nothing, in case others wanted to find clues on his person. After the competition ended, everything would be covered up.
Perfect.
The problem was, now he could hold on no longer, and the door… Why would it not open??
Fleiz panicked, and gave it a violent jerk. The door did not budge, but his legs gave way and he fell to the floor. And then… splat, splat, splat, it all came out.
Student Wang had already finished washing his hands. He was in a clear state of mind, and was about to go see the competition. It felt good, the purge.
But Student Wang had still used quite a lot of time. When he returned to the battle, things were already almost wrapped up.
Wang Zheng not only did not participate, but he had not even been present. Such a blatant "snub" of the opponent. Just when it seemed like the Saruman Snake battle team would fall to their hubris, Achilles brought the Saruman Snake battle team to victory in a manner that was beautiful beyond criticism.
Reviewing footage often made one feel that the opponent was only so-so. Only after facing them for real did they understand the difference.
All five positions had been beaten thoroughly. Saruman Snake's fight had been smooth, and even easier than their internal practice. They easily thrashed their opponent.
"You're only here now? Is your stomach better?" Ai Xiaolu asked. "You're about to be destroyed by word and pen. Everyone says you're arrogant."
"That's libel for sure. I had diarrhea. Isn't that reasonable?" Wang Zheng was speechless.
"Hehe, who asked you to be popular and incite grudges?" Luo Er said. She had also discovered that teasing Wang Zheng was a very enjoyable pastime.
"When did I invite grudges?"
"Even before the competition, the leader, Sabi, expressed intense dissatisfaction towards you. 1. Condescending. 2. Unworldly. 3. Cavalier." Ai Xiaolu could not resist adding.
Wang Zheng shrugged irritably. "Well, someone paid attention in vocabulary class."
The two girls laughed uncontrollably. Wang Zheng was fun to tease. As they chatted, the competition had already come to an end. Perhaps it did not mean much to Wang Zheng, but Takumi, Vincent, and Snow Li had been a little nervous. After all, they did not have much experience in major competitions. These three were classic student soldiers. As for Achilles, he was experienced, and Zhang Shan went without saying – he was not a normal person.
Walking out from the simulation room, Sabi and his team were pale in the face. They had set a new terrifying record.
The opponent's shields… were undamaged.
They had either dodged or blocked everything.
The moment there was a zero damage record, the system would confer a special prize, a "Perfect" symbol.
The thing was, Sabi had confidently declared the Saruman Snake battle team crushed, and had criticized Wang Zheng from head to toe, because he knew that Wang Zheng could not participate.
He was right about one part, but not the other. Saruman Snake, half-fielded with their reserves, had still shut down their opponent. This was not a battle, this was a stomp.
In truth, besides those who were just here for the show, not many other strong teams were around.
At this level, the real opponents all knew that a puny team like Mossi was of no use, and not worth watching. Anything they saw would be of little value as well.
Sabi led his team away without a backward glance. He did not wish to stay here, afraid that others would mark him. It might even affect his exchange to the Royal College…
Ping…
He had not even finished turning when he collided into a full hug with someone covered in… Was that sh*t?
"Captain, I've been set up. My ability was completely useless against him…" This was Fleiz, who had crawled up with much difficulty.
Sabi had already sent a slap flying. "Shut your mouth. What are you talking about?!"
At this moment, they could not escape notice if they wanted to.
"What on earth happened?" Zhang Shan walked over in high spirits. His performance had been not bad. No matter who the opponent, a win from the get go felt good. "Why does this guy look like he fell in a latrine?"
"Not looks like, he did." Wang Zheng laughed as well. He could not be bothered with how this would be handled, but this incident was indeed a reminder. There were many outsiders at SIG, and dirty hands would definitely be played.
This time around, the opponent was weak, but if his opponent was strong, he would still face interference. Seemed like this had been a good thing.
Wang Zheng's largess did not mean that Ai Xiaolu would let it go. She was the manager of Saruman Snake, and was present for dealing with matters like this. Sabi, that name indeed sounded like a fool's.