Bert held his sword in this stance for quite a while before finally moving. He leaned back a bit before launching the blade forward.
The sword shot out like a cannonball, crashing down near the forefront of the group by Dylan and Adrian.
The Grantz naturally shifted aside before it even hit the ground.
A deafening boom followed.
Secretary-General Lin had taken a step forward the moment Bert moved, as if he sensed what was about to happen. He could only stare helplessly as the sword flew through the air.
The plume of dust rising into the air made his heart sink. His Highness Bert had brought a more expensive sword today…
Still, he had a feeling Bert didn’t use much force since he seemed to be in a good mood. He’s learned a few things from being around the Grantz for so long. They threw this swords during battle or when they were angry to generate a stronger attack with a wider area of effect.
However, the Grantz also threw swords when they were excited or happy.
…Secretary-General Lin tried to make sense of it once and eventually concluded it was probably like people setting off fireworks to celebrate.
There were, of course, a handful of rarer cases. Sometimes the Grantz threw their swords purely to show off. Secretary-General Lin could only find one recorded instance, when Bert was courting the Empress. Let’s just say it didn’t go over too well.
The legion commanders snapped back to attention as the echo of the explosion faded. Ye Muo didn’t even bat an eye. He was busy studying the arm stretched protectively before him. Gu Yixiao withdrew his hand, cleared his throat, and stepped off to the side. As he did so, he shot a warning glance at Vera, whose lips were already quirking up.
He clearly saw her lean this way as well just now to protect His Little Highness. Gu Yixiao had just been a step quicker.
Ye Muo turned his attention to Bert. The man’s cloak fluttered in the wind. Even from behind, his silhouette felt reassuring.
However, he had still tricked Ye Muo.
[Look, Xavier’s sulking on the side again. Who’s that next to him? They look so cold and aloof.]
[No wonder Bert likes to tease him. I would too given the chance. Yeah, who’s that other kid? Never seen him around before. Maybe a friend since he’s been following Xavier around the whole time? I don’t mind some more eye candy.]
[You guys should be watching the Grantz instead. Wait, is Jacob trying to slack off again by hanging back? He hasn’t even drawn his sword. Sure enough, the insect density in the buffer zone is low.]
[This reminds me of Lakely’s trip to Grantz. The soldiers were complaining about there not being enough enemies to fight.]
Most of Bert’s interest had vanished the moment the sword left his hand. He idly surveyed the battlefield before tilting his head toward Xavier. The annoyed look on the child’s face prompted him to ask on purpose, “What’s wrong, Xavier? Who’s gone and upset our little lion?”
Ye Muo had been on the verge of calming down.
All his efforts went to waste the moment Bert opened his mouth. “I clearly had ten points.”
Bert didn’t even blink. “Exactly. Top students and leaders like me don’t need to work. You’re the only one I would treat this well, you know.”
[That’s so fake even Xavier won’t buy it.]
Ye Muo considered for a moment. “Fine. I’ll forgive you this time.”
Bert grinned. “Another 10 points then, in light of our Xavier’s magnanimity.”
Ye Muo grew a little embarrassed, murmuring, “Now I have too many points…”
[No, Xavier! Don’t fall for it! He’s up to his usual tricks! What use do these ‘points’ even have? They won’t get you any cupcakes.]
[Xavier’s the only one Bert would appease like this.]
“Too many what?”
Jacob hopped off his hoverboard, which instantly vanished. He tossed Bert back his sword.
Secretary-General Lin breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed to be intact with no visible damage. Looks like His Highness Bert had held back.
[I knew Jacob would be the first to return. It’s been obvious from the start that he really hates working.]
Ye Muo stepped forward a little. He watched as the other Grantz began to turn back.
Jacob, who had intended to head inside at first, ended up lingering beside him and watching as well.
Bert turned away, having lost all interest in this activity already. “That’s all for today, folks. Don’t forget to apply.”
Many present relaxed after the camera drones powered off. Others, like Ressa, were long used to it.
Secretary-General Lin checked the download frequency of the application at once. It was an unexpectedly optimistic figure, even after accounting for curious netizens who had no intentions of applying.
Perhaps they would be able to head back sooner than he had expected.
The other Grantz gradually filed in.
Helene grumbled as she glanced at the camera drones, “That’s it? I thought this was supposed to be a recruitment ad.”
Ano made a beeline for Ye Muo. He still remembered how Ye Muo had looked a bit upset when Bert ordered him to stay behind. He had pretended not to notice at the time, but unlike Bert, Ano felt an inkling of guilt. “How are you holding up, Xavier?”
Before Ye Muo could answer, Ano’s guilty conscience kicked in and he started rummaging in his mech storage space. “Want something to eat?”
Ye Mo rifled through the basket Ano had arranged but restrained himself. “Just a little bit of chocolate then.”
He took a single piece and even offered half to Theodore.
Ano hadn’t put the basket away yet. “I also brought cupcakes. Want one?”
Ye Muo’s eyes were glued to the basket. He shook his head despite being clearly tempted. “I have to have dinner with Father tonight.”
……
Lakely spent half the day watching educational videos in the hallway that day.
After a prolonged deliberation, he decided to neither continue sitting in on classes or hanging out with the legions anymore.
Lakely felt like he needed a moment to process things. His original plan was to pick up a few combat skills from attending classes, but now he was worried the instructors might take the students on a field trip to an insect hive.
Lakely still hadn’t decided on anything by the time Derek came by the next morning, so he decided to go for a stroll with the man.
He sighed for the umpteenth time, “All the greenery here is amazing. The air tastes so fresh. My home planet is way too densely populated to experience this.”
[Same here.]
A vehicle happened to pass by as he spoke. Lakely glanced at it. Cars here usually travelled along routes in the sky rather than surface routes.
The vehicle looked large and was emblazoned with several emblems.
It stopped a short distance after passing them. There seemed to be some sort of problem. Two people got out to inspect something.
They were both in combat uniforms that looked official. Lakely couldn’t help but glance over again.
Derek looked over as well. “That’s a transport vehicle with special authorization. The emblem looks like that of the zoo. It’s most likely supplies for the central zoo.”
Lakely blurted out a moment later, “Doesn’t that one look like ice cream?”
He turned to Derek. “I haven’t had Grantz ice cream yet.”
Derek nodded. “Understood. Wait here for a few minutes.”
Lakely had no intentions of wandering around.
[After all he’s done to improve international relations, I thought Lakely would be busy attending banquets and meetings and rubbing shoulders with big shots to further that end. Instead, he’s going back to elementary school, tricking elementary schoolers into calling him big brother, and bumming ice cream off Derek.]
Lakely eventually got bored of examining the vehicle and started engaging with chat again.
He scanned the comments. [What’s with you guys today? Before it was all, ‘you should buy a lottery ticket’ and people trying to get me to buy stuff on their behalf. Now everyone’s asking me about public safety.]
[Are you all for real? Why’s everyone so serious today?]
[Because Grantz looks like a reliable, transparent country with tempting local specialties. My parents actually agreed to me travelling there because they can check in on me the entire time.]
[But there are only so many Grantz. You can’t expect them to guard the technicians 24/7. You’ll be left to your own devices sooner or later over there. I advise you to reconsider.]
[I couldn’t get a permit. Can someone bring back a lion plushie for me? The same one Xavier has.]
Lakely scratched his head. “I can only talk about what I, and most of you, have seen in the imperial capital these days. Firearms are restricted and only used in emergencies. The military patrol around on a strict schedule, but there’s no need for them to intervene most of the time.”
[…Wait! Run, Lakely!]
[Look up, Lakely! There’s a bear in front of you!]
By the time Lakely belatedly looked up, the back doors of the vehicle had swung open. A massive bear charged straight at him.
The bear had to be genetically modified based on sheer size alone. Lakely could almost feel the ground shaking with every step it took.
At this point, it was close enough for him to see the saliva leaking from its mouth.
Lakely froze.
The next second, a figure darted in front of him from the side.
It was a woman dressed like an office worker. With briefcase still in hand, she leapt up and kicked the bear right in the head.
The kick had a real oomph to it. The bear lurched as its head snapped to the right.
Stumbling to a stop, it shook its head in a bit of a daze.
The other passersby had enough time to react. They surrounded the bear.
The two people from the vehicle finally noticed the situation and sprinted over with guns in hand.
Lakely was still processing when the office lady turned to him while smoothing her hair out. She sternly told him, “It’s dangerous to zone out like that outside. The security robots on the streets are spaced far apart.”
She pointed to the robots hurrying this way in the distance.
Lakely first thanked her sincerely before confessing, “I don’t think I would’ve been able to get out of the way even if I was paying attention. Thank you so much.”
The office lady stared at him for a few seconds before sighing, “Then at least carry a taser for self-defence. I don’t understand why kids these days are so reluctant to do so.”
“You know what? I’m going to file a complaint with the zoo. How could they mess up like this? They should at least ensure wild animals like this one are fully sedated.”
She lectured Lakely a bit more before storming off towards the transport vehicle.
The viewers stared blankly at her as she left.
[She’s even wearing high heels.]
[Am I the only one looking at the bear? It’s knocked out cold.]
Lakley said earnestly a few seconds later, “I think it’s pretty safe around here. The military usually doesn’t need to step in because the locals just handle problems themselves.”
