The Tyrant Legion had only just been established, and the Star Federation was still struggling to regain its footing. Both factions were desperate for new recruits, and every existing legion saw this as a prime opportunity to plant undercover agents within the two burgeoning forces.
There were no full-scale confrontations, just sporadic disruptions—and that was quite enough to keep everyone running ragged.
Amidst the chaos of the Star Federation splitting in two, only one person was idle: Bobo.
Like Zi Ye, Bobo had been absent for three years. He returned to Lings University in his fourth year, met everywhere by stares filled with shock, astonishment, and confusion.
During that year of absence, he had endured countless hardships.
He had personally kidnapped a friend, sparking a war; he had then stood against his own father to support Bai Lanxue; upon learning the truth, he had fled, only to be held hostage for several months. It was, frankly, a history written in blood and tears.
It was precisely because he had weathered so many storms that his arrogance had been completely worn away, leaving behind only a profound sense of calm indifference.
Upon returning to school, Bobo contacted Ling Yin.
Ling Yin hadn't had an easy year either.
She felt a constant, gnawing guilt over the kidnapping of Bobo, constantly fearing she had hurt him. Fortunately, the Teuton Mercenary Group was honorable and hadn't laid a single hair on him.
Ling Yin, being a straightforward person, understood that despite any lingering affection she held for him, she and Bobo were ultimately not traveling the same road; they were destined for different paths. Especially after Caru’s dazzling act of betrayal, she deeply felt that a future with Bobo would be precarious.
When Bobo came to find her this time, she decided to treat him simply as an old friend and promptly invited Zi Ye to join them.
Zi Ye received the message and headed out with Little Sprout in tow.
An Junlie also wanted to go along, but Zi Ye considered that Caru and An Junlie were sworn enemies, and Bobo’s relationship with An Junlie was likely just as strained. If the two met, neither would look pleased. She firmly forbade An Junlie from leaving, assigning him homework instead: “Hey, I’ve prepared ten sets of specialized training materials for Little Black and the others. Since you know them well, go up there and help me add some content.”
An Junlie walked to her side, gently rubbing her head: “It’s dangerous out there. Come back early.”
Zi Ye’s forehead knotted in amusement: “Dangerous?”
An Junlie said seriously, “If anyone tries to rob you or worse, remember to notify me.”
Zi Ye: “…” Even the noble Angel CEO could tell bad jokes.
The meeting place was set at the Beautiful Flower House.
When Zi Ye arrived, Ling Yin and Bobo were already there.
The two sat facing each other. Ling Yin had activated a Holo-Screen, playing some game, while Bobo sat opposite her, dejected and silent.
Zi Ye had no desire to get involved in their private affairs and instantly felt the urge to retreat.
However, just as she turned to leave, Ling Yin spotted her: “Hey, Zi Ye, over here!”
The dejection instantly vanished from Bobo’s face, replaced by his usual calm demeanor. He stood up and waved at Zi Ye with a smile.
Zi Ye sighed internally but had no choice but to walk over and sit next to Ling Yin.
With Zi Ye present for moral support, Ling Yin felt much more confident. She hooked her arm through Zi Ye’s, adopting an ‘absolutely not leaving’ stance: “What do you want to drink? My treat.”
Zi Ye ordered a cup of tea, then turned to Bobo: “Bobo, congratulations on returning to school safely.”
She and Bobo had never been enemies, yet they couldn’t be close friends either. Meeting again, they were merely acquaintances who knew each other’s depths.
The smile on Bobo’s face dropped. He sighed: “The kidnapping specialist you hired was incredible. They took down the Star Federation personnel in three moves.”
Zi Ye shrugged: “You know, I’m too weak to pull off something as complicated as a kidnapping. I had to call in professionals.”
Bobo nodded: “You’re right. I asked you out today to thank you. If you hadn't helped, getting away cleanly wouldn't have been so easy this time.”
Zi Ye instantly understood.
When Bobo orchestrated his own kidnapping, Zi Ye hadn't grasped his true motive. It was only after Caru became the leader of the Tyrant Legion that Zi Ye suddenly realized the implications. If Bobo had fallen into Bai Lanxue’s hands, Caru’s path to betraying the Star Federation would have been infinitely more difficult.
The kidnapping by the Teuton Mercenary Group removed Caru’s worries entirely.
That was why Caru paid the mercenaries that hundred billion without a hint of reluctance or duress.
Zi Ye, having pocketed 99.3 billion of that sum, also felt immensely relieved. She waved her hand and smiled: “It was nothing, just a small favor.”
Bobo pulled out a Gold Card from his pocket and pushed it across the table to Zi Ye: “This is the three million deposit you put down to return to me.”
Zi Ye: “…”
This three million was a bit hard to accept!
Zi Ye pushed it back, but before she could refuse, Bobo pushed it forward again.
Zi Ye considered it: since she had taken 99.3 billion, taking another three million wouldn't matter much. She accepted the card, intending to pass it to Ling Yin, but decided that might embarrass Ling Yin. So, she kept it, planning to use it later for recruitment funds or distribute it as bonuses to the personnel in the Strategic Weapons Department. One hundred people—that was 30,000 each.
Seeing her accept it, Bobo visibly relaxed. He brightened up and shifted the conversation back to campus life: “We only have one year left here. What are your plans?”
Bringing up this topic brought a wave of emotion over all three of them.
Time was a brutal butcher; three years of university had flashed by. On campus, no matter how dark things got, it wasn’t even one percent as bad as the outside world; no matter how much competition existed, it couldn’t compare to the outside cruelty.
After a year of upheaval, they finally recognized the value of their time at school. No matter what, they had to make this final year count.
Ling Yin took a sip of her juice: “I’ll work hard to find my direction.” She paused, then added, “If I can’t find one, I’ll stick with Zi Ye. Wolf’s Den seems pretty fun.”
Bobo started to say, ‘My path is much more exciting,’ but he stopped himself, rolling the words back with his tongue, and instead asked, “What are your specific plans?”
Ling Yin thought for a moment: “Maybe I’ll do some volunteer work.”
Bobo: “…Zi Ye, what about you?”
Zi Ye replied, “I’ve applied to be a teaching assistant for Mecha Repair. I haven’t properly been a student these past few years; I hope to regain some of that feeling this time. What about you?”
Bobo spread his hands: “I formed a band last year; maybe I’ll keep playing this year. After graduation, I have to go home.”
After graduation, I have to go home.
The words sounded melancholic. In reality, having gone through so much, the mere fact that they could sit together in the Beautiful Flower House was a rare blessing. Zi Ye couldn't help but think of the first group of friends she had made—Shapini, April, Aina, the Twins, and others. It was time to reconnect.
As soon as Zi Ye mentioned this to Ling Yin, the decisive Ling Yin sprang into action. She bid farewell to Bobo, arranged to gather a group of girls for an all-out shopping spree until their legs gave out.
Zi Ye’s assistant professorship was approved quickly. She would be teaching Mecha Repair Class One—the very class Tang Wan was in.
Since Zi Ye became famous, the number of students enrolling in Mecha Repair had steadily increased, doubling by this year’s freshman intake to a total of four classes. The Mecha Repair department also received significantly more educational funding—a direct result of being perceived as a disadvantaged group.
Zi Ye arrived at the landing pad above the classroom just as she ran into Tang Wan. Tang Wan was so thrilled she nearly lost her bearings, grabbing Zi Ye’s arm: “This is wonderful, we’re in the same class!”
Zi Ye couldn't help but smile faintly.
Fate, or Yuan Fen, simply couldn't be stopped.
Zi Ye lowered her voice: “That’s great. Keep an eye on the people in the class, see whose major skills are most impressive, and tell me, okay?”
Tang Wan pouted: “What are you trying to do?”
Zi Ye chuckled slyly: “Recruit talent, of course.”
The freshman year was the prime time for scouting talent; if you waited, someone else would snatch them up. The Strategic Weapons Department would eventually be divided into three Academies and six Divisions: Robotics Research Institute, Mecha Research Institute, Battleship Research Institute, Design Division, Metallurgy Division, Systems Division, Accounting Division, Inspection Division, and Assembly Division—no matter how many people they recruited, it wouldn’t be enough to fill all the positions.
While they could find suitable talent at the Pilot Training Base, it took too long. Developing people through the Legion wouldn't be fast enough. This was their only option.
The clever Tang Wan shot back: “If I see someone good, I’ll poach them for the Tang Clan. Let’s see what you do then!”
Zi Ye laughed: “No problem, I’ll just poach you instead.”
The response she received was a sharp pinch on the arm.
Beyond scouting talent, Zi Ye had another objective for taking the assistant role: learning how to manage people effectively. For the Strategic Weapons Department to truly thrive, simply recruiting staff wasn't enough; they needed to integrate and collaborate perfectly. Currently, the department consisted of two 'Grandmaster' figures from the Silver Rune, ten youths from the Garbage Planets, ten soldiers seconded from the Snow Leopard Squadron, and the rest were robots or general-purpose staff.
Fifty people she had tried to recruit from Kaga before the term started were all snatched up by other departments because she had been too slow. Consequently, the overall professional competency of the Strategic Weapons Department staff still had significant room for improvement. Over this year at school, besides supplementing her own professional knowledge, Zi Ye needed to learn how to systematically impart that knowledge to them, turning them into the backbone of the Strategic Weapons Department.
Zi Ye entered the freshman classroom to an enthusiastic welcome. The first session was an open Q&A. New students always brought a host of wildly imaginative questions covering everything from daily life to specialization, relationships, and future direction. But the most common query concerned their major.
Mecha Repair, as the name implied, was about fixing mechas. Freshmen enrolled based on reputation—Mecha Repair had recently gained a strong reputation, attracting many applicants, but very few truly understood the field. Upon seeing the course schedule, confusion bloomed on their faces: “Does Mecha Repair only mean fixing mechas now? Aren’t mechas about to become obsolete? Is there still any use for what we’re learning?”
Zi Ye shook her head: “In the past, Mecha Repair meant fixing mechas. But the ‘Mecha’ today doesn’t just refer to mechas; it encompasses armored components, auxiliary plating, and other structures. Whether it’s a battleship or a combat mech, these components are indispensable. Mecha Repair is no longer just simple mech fixing. However, the mecha remains the foundation of the battleship.”
“Currently, battleships dominate space, but mechas still play a vital role. Battleships are too massive to land effectively on a planet; mechas are compact yet powerful, serving as the key weapon for planetary development. Moreover, with current technological advancements, the inherent weaknesses of mechas have been greatly mitigated…”
Zi Ye abruptly stopped speaking.
Mecha weaknesses?
A spark ignited in her mind. Zi Ye eagerly queried from her consciousness: “Bean Bean, what would happen if we improved the energy plates on the mechas?”