The metal gangway behind the boarding gate connected to the warship.

They walked to the hatch, where Qian Song’s terminal was scanned by a sensor. A middle-aged man’s voice, with a heavy accent, sounded in their ears.

“Identity verified.”

Qian Song spoke to the sensor, “The two behind me are new interns. Please register their information.”

“Understood.”

He turned to Rong Shi and Song Yu, explaining, “This is Guan Gong, our legion’s warship AI. You need to scan your terminals here, otherwise, you won’t be able to move freely on the warship.”

“…Guan Gong?” Rong Shi waved his hand over the sensor, and 01’s voice echoed in his mind.

“Infiltrated. I’m taking little brother to familiarize himself with the little brothers here.”

Qian Song led them inside, proudly saying, “Guan Yu is a legendary God of War! The commander loves listening to his stories, especially the Peach Garden Oath. Even I can recite it.”

“I know Liu Bei sold straw sandals, Guan Yu sold mung beans, and Zhang Fei sold pork,” Song Yu’s gaze subtly swept across the warship, casually remarking, “A bunch of crude fellows.”

Qian Song: “…”

Rong Shi: “One would think this was a pirate gang.”

Qian Song: “…”

This is called being down-to-earth!

They walked all the way to the command center, where Commander Jin Dazhao was listening to his subordinates report on the current reclamation plan.

“Commander,” Qian Song saluted him, introducing, “These two children are the military academy students accompanying the army this time, Rong Shi and Song Yu.”

Jin Dazhao’s temples were streaked with white, and his brows were furrowed even when expressionless, making him look somewhat stern.

He was almost 70 years old, which wasn’t considered very old in an Empire where the average age was over 150, but years of operating on the front lines of war had led to excessive toil, making him appear older than his actual age.

He raised his hand to interrupt his subordinate’s report, his eyes sizing up Rong Shi.

“What is Rong Guang to you?” Without any pleasantries, Jin Dazhao asked directly.

Asking about his father right away, did he know his father?

Rong Shi had this thought, but dismissed it as unlikely.

In his previous life, he had very little contact with Jin Dazhao. Firstly, both were legion commanders, either on the front lines or on their way to the front lines. Secondly, Jin Dazhao didn’t like gifted prodigies, as he himself wasn’t one of them.

His father’s achievements in the military academy and the military were top-notch, so he shouldn’t have been in Jin Dazhao’s social circle.

“He’s my father,” Rong Shi replied indifferently.

Upon hearing this answer, Jin Dazhao didn’t seem too surprised, scoffed coldly, and muttered, “No wonder you look so much alike.”

Rong Shi narrowed his eyes slightly, not responding further.

This reaction… did he have a grudge with his father?

Jin Dazhao then looked at Song Yu.

He couldn’t access the upper echelons, but he knew a little about the royal family.

In his opinion, both princes were useless.

If the Empire fell into their hands, it wouldn’t be far from collapse.

Thinking this, his expression was more than a little disdainful.

Song Yu subtly glanced at him, in a good mood and didn’t bother arguing with this old fart.

“You know Rong Shi’s father, Commander—” Qian Song smiled, but halfway through his sentence, he noticed his commander’s cold reaction and immediately, with good sense, changed the subject. “Where do you think it’s suitable to assign them?”

Jin Dazhao leaned against his chair, his expression unreadable.

“Assign them as before. Such small matters don’t need my consultation.”

Qian Song’s eyes flickered, and he respectfully responded, “Then perhaps I could assign them to—”

“Let them come to me.”

Halfway through, he was interrupted by the beta standing next to Jin Dazhao.

Jin Dazhao looked over, “To you?”

The beta’s gaze subtly swept over Rong Shi and Song Yu, nodding, “This exploration mission is very arduous and requires more manpower. Moreover, for newcomers, being able to directly follow the team to an uncultivated planet will allow them to learn more than staying on the warship.”

Noticing Jin Dazhao’s considering expression from the corner of his eye, Qian Song anxiously said, “It’s a Level 4 danger zone after all. I think it’s better to arrange administrative work for them. I want to assign them to the main control room of the mech unit—”

“They haven’t even studied mechs. How much can they absorb?” the beta interrupted him again.

Qian Song: “But it’s too risky to have them land with the vanguard exploration team right after they arrive!”

“Going to war always has risks,” the beta retorted, observing Jin Dazhao’s reaction from the corner of his eye, and said, “They are the top students of this year’s military academy, with outstanding abilities in all aspects. There’s no need to worry too much.”

Qian Song: “But—”

The two went back and forth, neither willing to back down.

“Alright!” Hearing the words “top students,” Jin Dazhao’s expression became impatient, and he shouted, “Zheng Long, they’re yours to lead.”

The beta named Zheng Long looked provocatively at Qian Song, nodding in agreement.

Damn it, so annoying!

Qian Song gritted his teeth, swallowing his anger.

Rong Shi had no interest in what kind of work they would do, but Jin Dazhao’s attitude bothered him a little.

Leaving the command room, Qian Song was about to take them to rest when Zheng Long’s voice suddenly sounded behind them.

“Rest tonight. Be at the vanguard exploration team’s activity area at 7 AM sharp tomorrow.”

After saying that, he walked away without waiting for them to respond.

“What a pompous jerk, what a piece of work,” Qian Song cursed under his breath, glaring at his retreating back. As he led them to the rest cabin, he explained, “You can indeed learn a lot in the exploration team, but you have to always be careful. That guy surnamed Zheng isn’t a good person; you need to be vigilant.”

Half of the focus of reclamation was on exploration.

If it was a planet that had been previously inhabited, they needed to check the operation of artificial atmospheric devices, the retention rate of urban buildings, the mutation degree of wild beasts, and the conditions of soil and water.

If it was a planet that had never been inhabited, they also needed to detect areas suitable for installing artificial atmospheric devices.

A medium-sized planet required at least ten or more exploratory reclamations before a construction plan could be finalized and the next phase of construction work could begin.

In exploration work, depending on the exploration purpose, it would be divided into many small groups.

The vanguard team was generally assigned the task of inspecting artificial atmospheric devices.

Inspecting these in a Level 4 danger zone, which was full of mutated animals and plants, was extremely dangerous.

“Thank you, we will,” Rong Shi nodded slightly.

After explaining a few more things and telling them about functional areas like the cafeteria and showers, Qian Song grumbled and left.

“You really do attract envy wherever you go, don’t you?”

The cabin door closed, and Song Yu teased.

“Blame me for being too outstanding,” Rong Shi took his backpack and placed it on the floor between the two beds. “But this time, it might not be directed at me.”

Song Yu hooked his arm over Rong Shi’s shoulder, laughing, “Blame me for being too outstanding, right?”

Rong Shi poured two cups of water, handed one to him, and sat on a chair, thinking about what had just happened. He said softly, “The legion is a mixed bag; there are all sorts of people. Endure if you can, fight if you can’t.”

Song Yu drank half a cup in one gulp and put the cup aside, “The Second Legion can’t even manage its discipline. I’m so disappointed.”

The soldiers he had seen in the palace were all disciplined and serious, completely different from here.

“Every legion is pretty much the same,” Rong Shi said indifferently. “It depends on the commander’s personality and work style. If they control strictly, the people below will be slightly more restrained, but it’s just a difference of more or less.”

There were no omegas in the army. A group of hot-blooded alphas staying together for a long time would inevitably feel suppressed. Plus, during wartime, people might get injured or die every day. In such an environment, many commanders, for the sake of the overall situation, would intentionally relax some discipline to allow their subordinates to find opportunities to vent.

A string pulled too tightly is prone to breaking.

“No wonder you agreed,” Song Yu raised an eyebrow. “Being underestimated will lead to a lot of trouble.”

As long as one’s strength was high enough, even if one acted tyrannically, they would still be revered. Those with low strength deserved to be bullied wherever they went.

This trend was already visible in the military academy, and it was even more severe in the legions.

Rong Shi: “Mm, nothing works; it’s all about speaking with your fists.”

Song Yu: “How barbaric.”

Rong Shi curved his lips into a shallow smile: “Wait until you come to reform it.”

Song Yu was stunned, then laughed: “Wrong, it’s us together.”

The warship was fully loaded, and the legion officially departed for V99.

With nothing to do, the two walked around the warship.

As they walked, Rong Shi explained things to Song Yu.

“Have you been in the army before? How do you know everything?” Song Yu pinched his face and gently pulled it outwards. “You’re not an old man with a biological mask, are you?”

Rong Shi felt a little guilty: “…”

Not an old man, but not young either.

He pulled his hand off his face, held it, and continued walking, “My father is a military officer, so I know a bit.”

When they walked to the cafeteria, it was mealtime, so they went in to eat.

“Oh, these two new ones are really good-looking.”

As soon as they walked in, someone whistled and cheered at them.

“Little brothers, come eat with big brother.”

“The left one for you, the right one for me to play with.”

“So pretty, even if he’s an alpha, I’m fine with it.”

Some people were making suggestive remarks, their expressions and tones unfriendly.

Someone who couldn’t stand it spoke up to dissuade them—

“That’s enough, you guys. They’re a perfectly good couple. What business is it of yours?”

“Always thinking about these things.”

“You’re getting worse with age, truly tasteless.”

Song Yu’s face darkened.

For any alpha, being teased by a member of the same sex was an insult.

Within a single day, his appearance had been mocked by these military ruffians so many times; it had reached his limit.

Song Yu broke free from Rong Shi’s hand and walked towards the table where the loudest and most enthusiastic voices came from.

“Oh, he’s coming, he’s coming! Such a figure! This must be satisfying—”

The alpha who was speaking suddenly saw a blur in front of his eyes, and a sharp pain shot through the back of his hand.

The chopsticks he had been holding in his hand suddenly pierced through the back of his hand, impaling it.

“Ah—! Hiss—aaaahhh!” The alpha screamed, clutching his bleeding hand, as another chopstick was pressed against the carotid artery in his neck.

“How does it taste?” Song Yu pushed the chopstick forward, the tip sinking in, and smiled coldly, “Satisfying?”

“You motherf—ah! My hand!” The alpha couldn’t bother cursing, writhing in his seat from the pain, struggling to attack Song Yu.

The others at his table slammed their hands on the table and stood up, surrounding Song Yu.

“This isn’t your place to act wild!”

“Apologize immediately!”

“Act wild?” Song Yu scoffed, grabbing the alpha’s hair and pressing his head hard into the meal tray. “What if I kill someone?”

“Ah—! Let go!” The alpha swung his hands, trying to break free from Song Yu’s grip, but after a long struggle, not only could he not retaliate, but his face was firmly stuck to the meal tray and he couldn’t move at all!

Newcomers, students at that, daring to openly provoke them?

Beat them to death!

Song Yu used one hand to hold down the alpha’s head, subtly shifted his body to avoid a swinging fist, and kicked the incoming person in the abdomen.

“Damn!” The person stumbled back several steps, disbelief on his face.

So fast!

He knew the opponent was going to kick him and had tried to dodge, but there was simply no time.

Four against one, and Song Yu was still controlling an alpha, yet he was at ease, handling it with ease.

The soldiers eating and those who had just entered the cafeteria were stunned.

Are these new recruits so powerful?!

During the fight, one person kicked at Song Yu.

Song Yu grabbed the alpha’s hair, bringing his head towards that person’s knee.

The attacker realized and began to pull back his strength, but it was too late.

A direct knee strike slammed into the alpha’s face, and blood instantly spurted out.

“Aaaahhhhh—!” The alpha was covered in blood, screaming and writhing frantically, but he simply couldn’t break free.

“Let him go!”

Someone clenched his fist and swung it.

Song Yu again lifted the alpha’s head in his hand to meet this punch.

“No, no—ugh!”

The person who threw the punch couldn’t hold back his strength and watched helplessly as his full-force punch landed on his teammate’s face.

Song Yu, with a smile, shook the alpha in his hand, who was already on the verge of passing out from the beating: “How does it taste now?”

“Let, let go—” The alpha’s face was in excruciating pain, his head swimming, consciousness about to slip away at any moment.

Song Yu again forced back an attacking alpha, picked up a chopstick from the table, and flung it at the person.

That person only felt a sharp, burning pain on his face. When he wiped it, he found that the chopstick had created a five or six-centimeter long wound!

“What, you’re giving up just as we’re starting to have fun?” Song Yu smiled, violently pulled the chopstick out of the alpha’s hand, and stabbed it back in. “Is it fun playing with me?”

“Aaaahhhh—! Help me!” The alpha’s face was covered in soup and meat bits, mixed with blood from half his face, screaming so loudly that the veins on his neck and face bulged, looking utterly pathetic.

Rong Shi stood there, enjoying Little Song Cat’s brawl, and finally nodded.

Every detail of his movements was well-executed, sharp, decisive, and very aesthetic.

Compared to the beginning of the semester, Little Song Cat had improved a lot.

Before Song Yu could render the person completely useless, Rong Shi unhurriedly walked over to stop him.

He quickly put the few provoking military ruffians on the ground.

Rong Shi took the cloth from Song Yu’s hand to wipe his hands, then turned his head to look at the ones on the ground: “I don’t care how you usually act, but for these few months we’re in the legion, you’d better behave, otherwise—I don’t mind you being my companion’s punching bags.”

The soldiers who had been watching the brawl exchanged glances.

This couple was even more ruthless than the other!

Too arrogant!

---

Author’s Note:

Rong Bunny: My wife looks so good fighting.

Everyone: Don’t look, if you keep looking, they’ll be gone!