48: Chapter 48: Doubts 48: Chapter 48: Doubts Seeing that he had quieted everyone down, Luo Ken quickly continued speaking.
“Please be patient, everyone.
All the examinees are in the same situation, so there’s no difference.
Also, I’ve prepared free meal boxes for everyone as a small gesture.
Have something to eat to fill your stomachs and wait patiently.”
No sooner had Luo Ken finished speaking than Teacher Tang Yan and the others carried over boxes of meal boxes.
Seeing this, many parents felt it would be inappropriate to continue berating Luo Ken.
After all, it’s hard to justify hitting a smiling face, so they one by one went to grab some meal boxes to fill their stomachs.
…
Military Interstellar Airport – Fish Pig Command Center.
General Ames sat steadily in his command chair, the index finger of his left hand tapping lightly on the armrest, a serious expression on his face as he watched the square images on the screen.
Xia An then reported to General Ames.
“General, the latest neural connection pods have been delivered to each examination site.”
“Good, very good.”
“However, there’s something I need to tell you.”
“Speak,” Ames said indifferently.
“Now, many students are protesting.
They say that they’ve just finished their exams, are in poor condition, hungry, and in no shape to take the supplementary exam,” Xia An hesitated to say.
Hearing this, Ames turned his head to look at Xia An, his tone cold as he replied.
“I ask you, on the battlefield, does the enemy care if we’ve eaten?
Do they let us rest before we fight?
Tell them, those willing to take the test should take it; those who are not should get lost!”
“General, that’s true, and there’s no problem with doing that.
But will it cause trouble?
If we push this too hard, today’s city exam results might plummet, and Imperial Court Academy might not get enough students,” Xia An voiced his concern.
“If we can’t get enough, then we can’t get enough.
It’s better than admitting a bunch of rotten fish and shrimp.
Do you know how many people Imperial Court Academy expels each year?
A full third; that means one-third of the people can’t even keep up with the most basic courses!
Tell me, how did this third get admitted?”
“Don’t tell me they had a moment of enlightenment during the exam?”
“Also, in recent years, how many subpar officers have graduated from the Imperial Court Academy, especially from the hot Mecha and Command departments?
Do you know how many Advanced Mechas are ruined by those subpar officers each year?
Do you know how precious those Advanced Mechas are, how complicated it is to craft them?
Production can barely keep up, each one rushed out with overtime work, and the materials used in their construction are mined by countless soldiers with their lives and blood!
What about the Command department?
How many soldiers die each year due to their foolish commands?” Ames said with overwhelming anger.
Xia An fell silent after hearing Ames’ words.
Ames calmed his emotions slightly and said sternly to Xia An.
“If these people had not gone too far, do you really think we would have stepped in?
Every year, Imperial Court Academy has a projection for the number of officers it expects to produce, but less than half of the actual output is usable!
How laughable is that?
How embarrassing?
It’s practically becoming a joke.”
“And now, you should be clearer than anyone how unstable the situation is, especially with the Second Ace Legion – Remnant Light – being weakened and in dire need of elite reinforcements!
The lower-tier elite soldiers can still be managed, just pulled from various battlefields; there are always plenty with the large conscription every year.
But it’s tough to replenish the officer level.
How long does it take for them to study and serve independently?
How much resources does it consume?”
“You’re right,” Xia An replied with a heavy heart.
…
Inside Mint Middle School.
Su Ming sat quietly in his chair, waiting for the second round of the exam to begin.
He found this city exam to be increasingly interesting.
Just then, a soldier walked in, whispered a few words to Ray’ao, who then nodded and addressed all the examinees.
“All examinees, leave all examination materials behind and line up empty-handed to follow me!”
Su Ming and the others, although they didn’t know what Ray’ao was up to, obediently complied and lined up to leave the classroom one after another.
Ray’ao took the lead, with the other soldiers watching over them from the sides.
Many students even had the illusion that they were being escorted like prisoners.
However, they soon felt balanced again, as they saw other students being treated in the same way.
They were quickly led to the spacious playground where they were greeted with a very shocking scene: a brand new type of simulation pod that they had never seen before being unloaded.
“Wow, are these training pods?
They look so advanced.”
“Yeah, it really puts our old antiques to shame, the ones from school really should be thrown away.”
…
Many students excitedly discussed among themselves.
Su Ming looked at these new mechanical pods and was a bit surprised.
Then, he felt something was off.
These pods were meant for the Mecha and Command subjects, but there were limited numbers of those students.
The number of pods delivered was excessive to the point that there was one for every student.
At that moment, Ray’ao said to Su Ming and the others.
“Each person, one simulation pod!”
“Wait, officer, my supplementary subject is maintenance, do I also need a simulation pod?” a boy asked in surprise.
“Use!
Regardless of your supplementary subject, everyone needs to use one,” Ray’ao replied without any courtesy.
“Ah, but we’ve never used these before?”
“Yeah, how do we use this?”
…
Many students were in an uproar, completely at a loss.
“Quiet, shut your mouths!” Ray’ao barked angrily.
The noisy scene immediately quieted down, and Ray’ao spoke again in a domineering tone.
“Take it or leave it, don’t take the test and you get zero!”
For a moment, everyone, no matter how aggrieved, kept silent.
Su Ming stroked his chin, feeling even more that something was wrong.
Simulation pods were expensive, especially these new models.
He simply couldn’t believe that the old Federation would spend so much money to let all the students use simulation pods without some ulterior motive.
But sadly, there was no way to find out anything from the officers’ mouths at the moment.
“Alright, I won’t waste words with you.
Everyone, get into the pods and start the exam, enjoy it!” Ray’ao waved broadly, signaling everyone to immediately enter the simulation pods to prepare for the exam.
Everyone walked towards the simulation pods with uneasy hearts, and even Su Ming himself felt completely uncertain.
He hadn’t touched this kind of simulation pod before now and had no idea what the exam would be like.
Honestly, he felt like a duck being rushed onto a perch.
Sadly, he had no other option but to go along with it, steel himself, and get into the pod.
Su Ming approached the simulation pod, observing it closely.
The simulation pod consisted of two parts, a black metallic base and a transparent cover.
The base material was particularly high quality, with the black metal shining with a fine gloss that could even reflect his own image.