In the end, Reno borrowed some money from his classmates.
It wasn't for the inheritance tax but for arranging a funeral for Dandy Bag.
Cortman was willing to provide the money — this matter had greatly affected his image, and he urgently needed to restore his reputation.
But Reno refused.
Cortman had to pay the price for his actions, so now he officially became the dean who pressured an instructor to death at the beginning of his tenure.
This made Cortman very annoyed.
On the day of the funeral, fine rain fell from the sky.
The climate regulator of Central Star was diligently at work, providing a precipitation amount of three millimeters for the day.
Standing in front of the slightly muddy grave, Reno listened expressionlessly as the priest recited the eulogy.
The priest was somewhat old, and his eulogy was muddled.
After the eulogy, four students lifted the coffin containing Dandy Bag's body and placed it in a drifting capsule. Then the capsule was sent into a spaceship, which would carry the drifting capsule into the depths of space and then launch it.
This was the funeral for an old soldier.
In the space war, every veteran who fell in battle would be buried in this manner.
This was also the funeral Dandy Bag had longed for the most.
Watching the spaceship disappear from view, Reno turned and left.
"Hey, Johnny," Tiny caught up from behind. "I mean, have you really made up your mind?"
"What?" Reno asked.
"Come on, Johnny, you know what I'm talking about. Are you really planning to participate in mecha battles?" Tiny asked in a lowered voice, glancing around. "Do you need any help?"
"Not mentioning those words anymore is the biggest help to me," Reno replied.
"Okay, if that's the case, can I help in other ways? What about Shigewani? I mean, are you really planning to strike it rich there? Where are you going to get mechas... oh no, I mean, those tin cans?" Tiny continued to follow Reno persistently.
"That's my business," Reno ignored him and continued walking forward.
"Hey, Johnny, don't be like this, I just want to help you. Why won't you take me with you? I mean, maybe you'll need a friend's help," Tiny said.
Reno stopped and looked at Tiny. "Are you sure you want to come with me?"
"Of course," Tiny replied confidently.
After a moment's thought, he added, "Maybe it's not just me."
He looked back.
In the distance, Claire and Nora were standing under a tree, watching him.
...
Two weeks later, the vacation arrived.
Reno began to pack up, preparing to go to Shigewani.
Joining him were Tiny, Spilferd, Lee Jong-han, as well as Claire and Nora. Hankes had wanted to go too, but unfortunately, he was entangled by another pair of sisters.
That day, the six of them arrived at Shigewani, at the Belgarde Mech Repair Factory.
Belgarde was still as dilapidated as ever, and Old Bel was busy on a worn-out mecha.
Reno walked in from outside, and Old Bel saw him, emitting a happy laugh. "Alexander, Imogen, look who's here!"
He didn't call Ike David; this apprentice who was always dissatisfied with the status quo had left last year. He didn't manage to become a mecha repairman in the end. Instead, the somewhat foolish Alexander Rademore passed the assessment this year and became an official repair technician.
What Gad said was true — love and persistence were the foundation of success.
Jumping down from the mecha, Old Bel walked over with open arms. "Reno, good kid, finally seeing you again, you came earlier than I expected."
Then he looked at Claire and the others. "Are they your classmates?"
"Yes, Mr. Belgarde," Reno replied.
"It seems you won't stay here to repair mechas like you did in previous times." Belgarde turned and walked toward the factory.
"How did you know?" Reno and his classmates followed.
"Don't underestimate an old man's wisdom; I see concerns on your faces. Speak up, Reno, what do you need my help with?"
"Um... well, there's something I need your help with."
"What is it?"
"I want to borrow the Silver Wing Angel."
The old man's steps halted.
He turned back, looking at Reno sternly. "You want to borrow the Angel? What do you want to do?"
Before Reno could answer, Tiny quickly replied, "What else could it be? Of course, it's to participate in mecha competitions."
"Damn it, Rachi, I didn't ask you to speak. You'd better shut up," Reno said urgently.
Sure enough, the old man's expression changed.
He looked at Reno. "Reno, you promised me you wouldn't participate in mecha competitions."
"Let me explain, Mr. Belgarde," Reno called out.
The old man had already turned and walked away, this time he walked quickly. "What other explanation is there? It's all for money! You've disappointed me too much, Reno. I've admonished you to keep your soul pure, not to fight for money!"
"I've never forgotten your teachings!" Reno replied loudly.
The old man stopped, turned around, and looked at Reno.
Reno walked over and recounted everything that had happened in the past.
He stood there, telling everything that had happened. He wasn't good at words and phrases, his language wasn't elegant, but he spoke earnestly and sincerely, every word full of emotion.
He didn't notice that, during his narration, Alexander Rademore and Imogen Gad had gathered around, too.
They stood beside Reno, quietly listening to everything he said.
"Dandy's gone, and that house is his only legacy. I don't want to let him down; I need to keep it," Reno said earnestly. "Participating in the mecha competition is my only hope, Mr. Belgarde, please help me!"
Old Belgarde took a deep breath. He looked at Reno, then at his classmates, observing their serious expressions. Belgarde understood.
He nodded and said, "I misunderstood you, kid, I apologize."
"So, does that mean you're willing to lend me the Silver Wing Angel?" Reno asked excitedly.
But Old Belgarde shook his head. "Even if I lend it to you, it won't help. Do you really think you can get the money just by entering the mecha competition? It's a million, not just any competition can give you that much prize money. Combat competitions require medical expenses, and mecha races have maintenance costs as well. After each match, the mecha requires significant repairs. Where will you get the repair money? If you can't secure a good position, you won't even be able to afford the maintenance. To profit from a match, you need a lot of preparation. You need to understand the various events in Shigewani, your opponents, their mechas, the rules of the events, and most importantly, your own mecha... Do you have all these conditions? You have none of them, yet you come running to compete, hoping to make a million in two months, pure profit! Do you think competitions are charity funds?"
As the old man spoke, his voice grew louder, leaving everyone feeling embarrassed.
Even Reno was stunned.
Honestly, the only problem he had worried about before was the system issue of the Silver Wing Angel. Since he could only reduce control to twenty-one neurons now, he needed to modify the Silver Wing Angel to use it.
But now, it seemed that the trouble he faced was far more than just a Silver Wing Angel.
"You need a team, Reno," Old Belgarde said. "To get a million, you need to join good leagues, secure good positions, and you need meticulous planning. You can't do it alone, and relying solely on them isn't enough. But if you have me, and..."
He looked back and said, "And Imogen and Alexander, maybe then."
Reno smiled. "That's exactly what I've been dreaming of."
"But you'll have to listen to me," Old Belgarde said, pointing to himself with his thumb. "I'm the head of this team, no negotiations."