Chapter 398: Chapter 173 Special Recruitment Turmoil
When the clock struck six, Li Xiaoxi rubbed his eyes as he emerged from the bedroom, only to find that the electronic screen on Mu Fan’s and White Hair’s door already indicated that no one was there.
So early!?
He certainly wasn’t aware that the two of them, after undergoing a month of special training, had already developed a biological clock that wakes them up every day at 4:30 AM.
After a two-hour morning run along the road next to the apartment complex, Mu Fan made it a point to eat regularly in the cafeteria.
Finally, he looked at the orientation manual with considerable interest.
Today was the first day of regular classes, which was also the day that military training was scheduled.
Military training?
He took a bite of the chewy bun, wondering if it would be the same kind of special training they had the previous month.
The Mecha Academy had a total of 2,734 students, and Mu Fan’s number was 906. No classes were divided; each student only needed to complete the credits required for themselves within a semester.
These were fixed credits, a completely different concept from those extra expendable credits.
As Dingchuan Academy’s largest major, with its own independent activity area, the Mecha Academy had always been the focus of government and school training.
Mu Fan looked at his electronic wristband; he was supposed to go to the A106 amphitheater classroom for pre-training education and also to meet his future classmates.
Along the way, Mu Fan saw many… Uh, good-looking girls.
It could be said that so far, as long as he went out, besides wearing training suits, he would wear the luxurious, high-end handmade clothes that Wang Nuonuo had given him.
The fiery glances from some girls made Mu Fan’s head snap down as he quickened his pace.
He always felt those young ladies seemed a tad dangerous!
Why?
Something was off about their eyes.
Then, amidst the giggling laughter of several girls, when Mu Fan looked up again, he had already arrived.
In the massive amphitheater classroom, Mu Fan found that there were already dozens of people inside, with many warmly and amicably engaging in first-time interactions.
Mu Fan looked towards the back, where it was less crowded, quiet.
He immediately chose that spot.
After a while, when Mu Fan was starting to feel a bit bored, he finally saw a room full of classmates and the belated instructor.
A trim thirty-something man with a crew cut walked up slowly.
He was dressed in a light blue training uniform.
That color at least allowed him to stand out at a glance from the grey outfits of the students.
When the instructor appeared on the podium below, the room gradually fell silent.
The instructor swept his gaze over everyone, nodded slightly, and then started with a gentle voice, “Hello, everyone. First of all, welcome to Dingchuan Academy. All of you seated here are the best of the best, though I’m sure that goes without saying.”
This well-intentioned joke caused a small wave of laughter in the room; the instructor’s lack of a high-and-mighty opening immediately increased their fondness for him.
Mu Fan from the back, who was trying hard to listen, however, couldn’t help but unconsciously compare the scene with that of their special training participation.
The result was an entirely different attitude.
His face immediately showed a sign of distress.
“What’s up, brother, got constipation?” The guy next to him, wearing a headband, nudged Mu Fan.
“…” Mu Fan wore his signature indifferent expression, and the guy immediately retracted like a turtle shrinking into its shell.
“Brother, full of dragon’s strength and tiger’s vigor, indeed, you possess robust vitality.”
Looking at his peer who had redirected his gaze forward, Mu Fan suddenly felt that this guy bore a striking resemblance to White Hair in temperament.
“I am your instructor—Xu Jiang, and at the same time, a Level 2 Instructor for mecha actual combat training. I hope that in the days to come, we can make progress together.”
The man on the stage nodded gently. His sincere tone genuinely won the audience’s favor, and Mu Fan clapped along, particularly liking this unpretentious attitude.
“Next, I have an announcement to make. Naturally, it concerns the most important task at hand, which is—military training. The two hundred people present today are assigned academy numbers 801-1000, meaning you will participate in military training as a group. As students of the Mecha Academy, piloting mechas to confront others, and even engaging in real battles and skirmishes is routine. Every year, many graduates choose to join the armed forces. Therefore, I hope you take this military training, as a beginning, seriously.”
“Your military training uniforms are already prepared at the entrance. You may collect them by swiping your cards when you leave. Now I will call out a few names, please stand up when you hear yours.”
Instructor Xu Jiang looked down at his curved lecture table, then raised his head with a smile and said.
“Qing Jiang, Chibman, Mu Fan, would these three students please stand up to indicate themselves.”
Mu Fan was somewhat surprised to hear his name, but he stood up to acknowledge it nonetheless.
The other two students also stood up, and when Mu Fan saw their profiles, he immediately realized.
These were the students specially recruited into the Army Reserve!
They were simply from different Administrative Star Regions, whom he didn’t know well nor had spoken with, but that did not prevent Mu Fan from quickly searching his memory to match their faces with their features.
Over a hundred pairs of eyes were on them, yet the three didn’t speak or make any superfluous movements.
“Very well, you three will not need to participate in the freshman military training. The academy has other arrangements for you.”
As these words were spoken, the whole audience was in an uproar.
“Why don’t they have to do military training!”
“Why? Is this some kind of special treatment?”
“Give us an explanation.”
Xu Jiang quietly listened to these complaints, then gently spoke: “Are you all done?”
His words caused everyone to quiet down.
“These three are specially recruited students for the Army Reserve. Before your arrival, they have already undergone a month of intense training, which is two levels higher than the training you are about to undertake.”
Xu Jiang slowly continued, causing a brief pause in the classroom.
“Army Reserve special recruitment?”
“It’s that incredibly fierce special recruitment exam to select students.”
“Oh, I see now. So what are they going to do? Watch us train?”
At that moment, a young man stood up, giving Mu Fan, who was nearest to him, a sideways glance, and pointed at Mu Fan’s figure as he spoke loudly: “Instructor, I understand what you mean, but I want to ask, since he’s come to the Mecha Academy, has he participated in the Mecha Academy’s special examination? We may not have applied for the Army Reserve special recruitment, but that doesn’t mean we are weak. Instead of a life confined and restrained, I’d rather freely choose Ding Chuan Mecha Academy!”
This forceful statement immediately resonated with the students.
Right. Just because they’ve been through training, they don’t have to train anymore?
Xu Jiang looked up slightly at the young man standing in the back and said, “Before you speak, state your name.”
“Li Chongyu!”
The young man’s head lifted proudly. As a regular training participant, he entered Ding Chuan Academy ranking 15th in comprehensive knowledge and practical drill scores for the entire Blue Capital Star.
He dared speak this way because he, too, had come purely for the mechas. Those who merely relied on brute strength to qualify should have been going to the Fighting Department, shouldn’t they! Why should they enjoy such privileges upon first arrival at Ding Chuan?
When Xu Jiang heard the name “Li Chongyu,” he nodded: “An outstanding student, Li Chongyu, I know who you are. As a privilege of the excelling, I can answer your question.”
“Due to the nature of the specially recruited students, they will be undergoing separate training arranged by the academy and have no special privileges when it comes to the mecha specialty. Are you satisfied with this response?”
“Thank you, Instructor!” Li Chongyu smiled and nodded, his speech successfully capturing everyone’s attention, accomplishing his initial objective.