Chapter 520: 520
Ling Lan had brought back enough glory for the First Men's Military Academy, and this made her name and the Lingtian Mecha Clan become the hot topic for conversation—Ling Lan was even considered an idol by the younger cadets . In the First Men's Military Academy, Ling Lan became the next idol after Qiao Ting to be worshiped by the academy; however, she always lived alone and in addition to her coldness she brought about, people didn't dare to get too close to her . The idolizing didn't affect Ling Lan's lifestyle too much .
When Qiao Ting and the other fifth-year cadets left because of their internships in an army division, the other weakened mecha clans would not be confident enough to go against the Lingtian Mecha Clan, who had reached the top; they all began to be more low key . Ling Lan's outstanding performance in the Grand Mecha Tournament made them clearly understand that without the capabilities of an ace operator, they wouldn't be able to go against her . Everyone all came to a mutual agreement and didn't cause any more trouble . The First Men's Military Academy had once again returned to a time of peace and tranquility .
Very soon, another two months passed and the fifth-years who were successful in their applications for their internships in a large army division were finally going to leave the First Men's Military Academy… all the mecha clans were emotional at this; they all went to the spaceport and sent off their seniors .
On the spaceport, 23 warships formed a straight line . They were the 23 divisions of the Federation . Although some divisions only had a few people from the First Men's Military Academy successfully get in, in order to show that they valued the First Men's Military Academy's cadets, they didn't hesitate to send a standard warship to welcome them .
Ling Lan saw that other than the numbering on the warships and the totem markings, everything else was the same as standard warships . She suspected that this may have been the result of the divisions going against one another .
However, it didn't matter . The ones who benefited from all this was the First Men's Military Academy's cadets . Compared to normal passenger ships, warships were incomparably more comfortable and safe on many levels .
Ling Lan wasn't the only one who came to send them off; the entire Lingtian Mecha Clan had all come out to the docking area of the 23 warships to send off their seniors . Perhaps it was because 70-80% of the cadets were first and second-years, who were curious about the army divisions and wanted to see it for themselves . In the end, they all came and were surprisingly enthusiastic .
Ling Lan's head trembled and hurt as she looked at the crowd of Lingtian Clan members . She could almost see in her mind the empty classrooms that all the instructors were looking at, as well as the angry and frustrated look they would have on their faces .
Ling Lan sighed internally . Today was a good day, so she shouldn't get angry! Thus, Ling Lan decided to ignore these members . She was looking forward to whether or not they would be reprimanded and punished by the instructors when they got back .
This time, Lingtian Mecha Clan was sending off three people, and they were Li Lanfeng, Zhao Jun and Li Shiyu .
It couldn't be helped, as the Lingtian Mecha Clan had just been founded . Other than the three of them who had decided to join the year before, Lingtian didn't have any achievements that were enough to attract other senior cadets to join . After Ling Lan and the others returned in glory, the fifth-years who were focusing fully on evaluations didn't have the time or the state of mind to join a new mecha clan .
Quality over quantity . Although Lingtian only had three fifth years apply for army divisions, these three fifth-year cadets were the most outstanding in their own field . Li Shiyu had graduated at the top of his class in military medicine . Right when his application was sent to the 23rd Division, Ling Xiao wrote him off instantly and gave him the no extra exam treatment, and this had made everyone else become green with envy .
Zhao Jun and Li Lanfeng had both advanced to ace level during the at the end of the Grand Mecha Tournament . Although Li Lanfeng's ace operator level wasn't stable, no one denied it . As long as Li Lanfeng was given time, he would definitely easily advance into ace level . No matter which military division they went to, ace operators were all welcomed .
However, compared to Zhao Jun's smooth sailing during examinations, Li Lanfeng had tripped on some of the steps . Although Li Lanfeng's mecha operating talent had moved the examiners of the 23rd Division, his poor physical constitution had the examiners worried . Li Lanfeng used all of his strength to operate the mecha and could only hold on for 10 minutes . This was his biggest issue and made the examiners very hesitant . With this kind of physical condition, even if his operating was top notch, he would still be throwing his life away on the battlefield . They really wanted to give up on him… After all, the number of people they could take in was limited and considered to be valuable, so they couldn't afford to waste a slot .
Although it was cruel, they had to be responsible for their own division . While examining the capabilities of a cadet, they would also think about whether they would undergo growth in the future or not… and living a long life was the most important point . Even when it came to the strongest and most aberrant talents, if they couldn't live long, it would then all be for naught .
However, they couldn't let Li Lanfeng go because they saw another possibility in Li Lanfeng . He was able to advance during battle while under pressure, which would allow Li Lanfeng to have hope of living a long life . The examiners could not come to a consensus and neither could they convince the others on their opinions . Instead, they sent Li Lanfeng to the staff officer department of the 23rd Division to determine his fate . They wanted the staff officer department to decide whether they would take him or not .
In reality, Li Lanfeng's fate wasn't certain, and Ling Lan knew that very clearly . When Zhao Jun and Li Lanfeng were going through their assessments, Little Four, who was curious about the details, had sneakily broadcasted their assessments live .
Ling Lan didn't stop him . Although Ling Lan had many ways to help Li Lanfeng get into the 23rd Division smoothly, Ling Lan believed that this was Li Lanfeng's own path . No matter if it was smooth sailing or full of hardships, he had to experience it himself .
Of course, if Li Lanfeng had failed the assessment, he would have had to wait until his sixth year to continue to apply . Even if he failed in his sixth year, it didn't mean that he had no hope of getting into the 23rd Division . But if that happened, Li Lanfeng's path in the future would be even more difficult . Firstly, he would need to apply like any average citizen for soldier tryouts in the 23rd Division . He would have to spend many years and slowly climb up from the lowest rank . Right, it wasn't like this . If he got into the 23rd Division right now, he would have the rank of lieutenant…
However, some things could not be done by just thinking about it . A few days later, Ling Lan received a phone call from her father's first staff officer, He Xuyang .
"Young Master Lan, long time no see, right?" Ling Lan's forehead couldn't help but twitch a few times after seeing He Xuyang's smiling face appear in the virtual video call . She first suspected that perhaps her father had laid some sort of trick for her .
He Xuyang seemed to perceive what Ling Lan was thinking and immediately spoke up for his general . "Young Master Lan, contacting you today has nothing to do with the general . "
"Oh?" Ling Lan looked at him slyly . She really didn't know what other connection she shared with this first staff officer aside from her father .
He Xuyang smiled awkwardly . When he had previously contacted Young Master Lan, he was actually sending the general's regards to him . The general was very busy but was scared that he had neglected his only child; thus, he made He Xuyang contact Ling Lan from time to time and make sure he was safe .
However, He Xuyang was still Ling Xiao's first staff officer . His skin was trained enough to be very thick and so he quickly said without a care in the world, "Young Master Lan, the situation's like this . We received the newest assessment results of an applicant from the First Men's Military Academy . The examiners from below could not come to a consensus regarding this applicant . In the end, the application was sent to us and we were told make the decision instead . "
Ling Lan thought about it . She knew that this applicant was definitely Li Lanfeng . He was the only one who would make the examiners want to give up and fail him, yet still be reluctant in doing so . His physique was always being worked to its limit, and he was able to break through into ace level during his fifth year . Li Lanfeng's mecha operating talent was undoubtedly monstrous, which was why he was able to continuously break past his body's limits and successfully break through time and time again .
"Who is it?" Ling Lan's tone was very plain as if she didn't know what the situation was about .
He Xuyang knowingly smiled and said, "Li Lanfeng!"
Ling Lan coldly looked at the image of He Xuyang and waited for what he was going to say next .
"I know Li Lanfeng was in your mecha clan and could also have been in your battle team," He Xuyang continued . Although Ling Lan's team's team member list wasn't told to the public, He Xuyang had reached a verdict . Even if he hadn't seen the real list of names, he would be able to determine it from Ling Lan's arrangements in the battle royale .
"Yes!" Ling Lan naturally knew about this and admitted to it outright .
"You should know Li Lanfeng very well . I just want to ask, do you think Li Lanfeng has a chance?" He Xuyang didn't beat around the bush and asked the question he was concerned about .
Ling Lan knew He Xuyang wanted to ask whether Li Lanfeng had a chance to continue to break through in the future . The army divisions accepted applicants from military academies not only to increase their military strength, but also to choose the exceptional seeds that could be nurtured to become a backbone in the division . Officers who were the backbones were 80-90% nurtured by the divisions as their own "inside men" . Only these officers would be loyal to their own division and would be able to hold the division together .
In the Federation, the longest legacy was the first, second and third divisions . Their appointed division commander would always become one of the three Great Marshals . This was the legacy . However, because every great marshal was developed by these three divisions, this made the three divisions always become the three strongest divisions in the Federation .
However, nurturing a general would use up countless resources, and this was also why army divisions attached so much importance to every military academy's evaluations . These applicants were their future pillars, and thus they couldn't be sloppy with any of the slots reserved for the cadets . They had to take every detail into consideration, afraid that their negligence would result in taking in a piece of trash . This would waste not only waste a spot, but also waste countless resources of the division .
Ling Lan frowned and asked, "Why ask me? Isn't this something the 23rd Division should be dealing with?"
"Actually, Li Lanfeng was logically going to be given up on," He Xuyang said . "However, he's one of yours, so that made me hesitate a bit . "
Ling Lan's hands made a fist, her eyes becoming more colder than before . "What, he's different because he's one of my men?"
"Yes!" He Xuyang's words caused the anger in Ling Lan to rise . She felt that she and Li Lanfeng were being humiliated . Perhaps it was because she was Ling Xiao's "son"? That was why she had special privileges? Was Li Lanfeng someone that would accept this kind of gracious handout because he was one of her men?
"Heh . Young Master Lan, did you think that I was going to give Li Lanfeng a special privilege?" He Xuyang smiled . He had sensed Ling Lan's unhappiness from the coldness between her brows .
"You're saying that's not the case?" He Xuyang words instantly made Ling Lan calm down and the placidness returned to her eyes again . She shouldn't have been concerned; He Xuyang was a very moral person and would definitely not give the general's "son" a backdoor of sorts in order to get on the general's good side .
He Xuyang's eyes showed a hint of approval . Ling Lan's cold and heartless appearance actually showed that she was very emotional—she cared deeply for those around her and didn't allow anyone to look down on them . However, Ling Lan wasn't someone to be controlled by emotions . When she needed to be calm, she would be calmer than anyone .
"Of course not . " He Xuyang smiled, and then his expression became serious . "Young Master Lan, I understand you . The people that you set your eyes upon are all remarkable individuals . Li Shiyu is one of them and Zhao Jun is the same . Then I must assume that this Li Lanfeng is the same as well . Although it seems like he doesn't have a future now, being able to become your subordinate, he definitely must have had enough exceptional talent to attract you, and I just want to know what he is exceptional in and whether that is valuable enough for the 23rd Division to invest and nurture him . "
Ling Lan went silent for a moment, then slowly said, "Why should I tell you?"
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