Alpha Academy's each student has their own individual "dormitory," all of which are standalone small villas with a small swimming pool behind the yard. In an era of great technological advancement, such amenities are nothing special.
Reno's dormitory is located in zone one of the student area, a large house with three floors and eight rooms. In addition to bedrooms, bathrooms, and kitchens, there's also a physical training room, a computer room, and five adaptable rooms that can change function as needed. Surrounding it are beautiful lawns, large sculpture fountains, and a quiet little forest—standing at the window of Reno's dormitory's second floor and looking towards the forest, one can often see pairs of "mandarin ducks" meeting inside.
This was his reward as the winner of the freshman welcoming ceremony. The room is the largest, most functional, and best located—about the last point, Reno suspects the seniors who made the rules might be peeping toms.
In addition, there's a terrace on the rooftop, the only one in the entire dormitory area, reportedly renovated by a daring student.
Starting construction under the nose of the academy, it was successful, which sounds somewhat unbelievable.
But the fact is, it happened, it exists.
Regardless, this terrace remained.
In the hot summer days, drinking beer and eating barbecue on the terrace is the life that students dream of.
This made Reno's residence once the most popular place among the students.
Despite the heavy workload squeezing the students' energy, the nature of young people always allows them to find opportunities for entertainment.
Afternoon tea, free reading, and evening rest are all good opportunities for future captains to relax.
They seize every opportunity to play football, cards, games, and court the girls they fancy.
After class today, Reno was about to return to his dormitory when Little Latchi ran over, "Hey, Reno!"
"What's up?" Reno continued walking, asking casually. From his expression, he actually knew the answer.
Sure enough.
Latchi said, "I want to ask if your terrace is free today?"
"It's been busy lately and told me it needs a rest," Reno replied dryly.
"Oh, no, don't say that, Reno." Latchi pleaded as he followed behind Reno with his two short legs, "Help me out, Reno. I just promised Kolya to bring her and her friends to your terrace for a party today."
"Kolya? The redhead with big waves?"
"No, it's the blue-haired one with big waves, I changed it up. The last one was named Feli, she's the brown-haired big-wave girl, and the one before that had red hair, of course they all had big waves."
"Okay." Reno surrendered helplessly. He was surprised by Latchi's boundless energy, "I guess you've already prepared yourself for not graduating, right?"
"Don't say that, Reno. You know, as long as you're a graduate of the Alpha Military Academy, even if you don't graduate, someone will want you."
"You've already prepared yourself for not graduating, haven't you?" Reno sighed.
"With a graduation rate of thirty percent, success is pride, and failure is not shameful." Latchi shrugged, "I say, help me out this time, okay?"
"Okay, but you have to promise me three conditions. One, don't disturb my studies. While you're up there having fun, I'll be downstairs studying, and no one should disturb each other," Reno warned.
"No problem!"
"Two, no lovemaking on the terrace."
"That's a bit hard, you know we're going for that...okay okay, agreed!" Latchi quickly changed his tune upon seeing Reno's displeased expression.
"Three, clean up my place before you leave. If I have to clean up after you, don't ever think of coming back."
"I swear on my manhood I'll do it!" Latchi promised excitedly, hugged Reno fiercely, then turned and ran off.
After thinking about it, he turned back and shouted, "As a thank you, I'll bring someone for you too!"
Reno angrily raised his finger, "The first condition, no disturbing my studies!"
But Latchi had already run off laughing, completely ignoring what he had said.
Reno knew that this kid probably would forget all three promises later.
When night fell, Latchi arrived.
He was driving a blue convertible flying car made by Laxingy Company, with a blue-haired girl sitting in the back, presumably Kolya as Latchi had said. She was holding snacks and wearing a pair of 3D imaging glasses, giggling incessantly into the air. When Latchi stopped the car at Reno's door, she took off her glasses, revealing thick eye makeup, as if she hadn't slept for three days and nights.
Reno approached, "Just you two? What about the others you mentioned?"
Latchi turned to the blue-haired girl, "Kolya, where are your friends? Haven't they arrived yet?"
Kolya made a gesture as if to say it's none of her business, took out a small mirror to touch up her makeup, and casually replied, "How would I know? They said they'd come when the time comes, they all know where the King's Apartment is."
The King's Apartment, that's the nickname for Reno's dormitory.
Hearing this, Reno frowned and looked at Latchi, "You don't know her friends?"
Latchi looked a little embarrassed, "Kolya said she wanted to bring friends over to play, so I..."
Reno glared at him fiercely.
If he had known Latchi was going to bring some strangers over, he would never have agreed.
Latchi also realized that he had gone too far and said awkwardly, "Kolya wouldn't bring unreliable friends over."
"Let's hope so," Reno said.The next moment, a distant rumble echoed through the sky.
A convoy flew in from the distance at high speed, and upon closer inspection, it turned out to be a fleet of Wanderer airboats. Sitting at the forefront was a man with two mustaches, his eyes dark and sinister – it was Matthieu.
After circling in the air, the Wanderers landed in front of Reno's house, and Matthieu stepped out of the vehicle.
"Matthieu?" Little Point couldn't believe his eyes as he looked at Matthieu. "What are you doing here?"
"Obviously, I've come by invitation, haven't I, my dear Colia?" Matthieu replied with a sinister grin, walking over to embrace Colia.
This scene crushed Latch's heart, and at that moment, he realized he had been fooled.
They used him!
"Colia, you... you..." Latch cursed vehemently. Before he could finish, Matthieu waved his hand, and a burly student stood in front of Little Point, towering over him.
Glancing at the sturdy student who towered over him, Latch finally fell silent.
Only then did Matthieu approach Reno. "Hey, nice to see you again."
Reno smiled. "I should be saying that to you. How's your face? All healed?"
Matthieu's face immediately turned as dark as liver.
The last time Reno shot him, Matthieu ended up looking like a pig's head. Even now, just hearing about it made him see red.
But today, he was here to reclaim his dignity.
With a snort, he said, "The wound may have healed, but the pain remains. Johnny Reno, thanks to your 'generosity,' I've become the laughingstock of the entire academy. So today, I've come to see just how good this King's Apartment you got by stepping on me really is."
With that, he pushed past Reno and headed for the dormitory.
"You can't go in!" Latch shouted.
"Shut up! We were invited to the party. Even if you report us to the disciplinary committee, it won't matter," a student replied loudly as they entered the dorm.
A group of second-year students entered Reno's room, driving Latch crazy.
He could already imagine what would happen next.
They would argue and make a mess of Reno's place under the guise of a party, destroying everything they could.
And Reno couldn't even accuse them because they were there for the party.
Chaos was inevitable at a party.
"No, no, you can't do this. The party's canceled, and you're not welcome here. Leave now!" Ignoring even the threat of the big guy, Latch barged in, yelling.
"What? I can't hear you!" Matthieu cocked his ear, then turned on the stereo, blasting deafening music throughout the room.
Then he laughed, "Relax, it's just a dance party."
Indeed, it was just a dance party.
The students began to dance recklessly in the room, some raiding Reno's fridge for food, others dancing on his sofa and bed, trampling and gyrating without restraint.
Standing in the center of the room, Matthieu shouted, "Dance, revel, enjoy the night, boys! The wonderful night has begun!"