Xie Guanning pushed the door open, only to find that the small office was far more crowded than he had imagined.
Standing in the very center was a slightly stout, middle-aged man—the school principal, whom Xie Guanning saw once a year at the opening ceremony. The principal was looking at him with a warm and enthusiastic gaze. Surrounding him was a group of people whose eyes literally glowed as they looked at the boy, giving Xie Guanning the distinct illusion that he had accidentally wandered into a pack of hungry wolves.
Since they were on Mingli High School’s turf, the visiting teachers exercised some restraint. The principal stepped forward with a beaming smile to greet him. “Student Xie! You truly are a ‘silent blockbuster’—not a peep until you stunned us all! Congratulations, congratulations!”
Xie Guanning shook his hand, offering a humble smile. “It was just good luck, Principal. You flatter me.”
“Nonsense,” the principal countered. “Luck is a part of one’s strength. This is well-deserved.”
After the pleasantries, Xie Guanning turned his gaze toward the circle of unfamiliar teachers who were looking at him expectantly. The principal introduced them: “This is Mr. Liu from the admissions team of the Imperial First Military Academy.”
The man across from him wore glasses and looked lean and scholarly, yet he stood with a back as straight as a spear, possessing a soldier’s decisiveness wrapped in a gentle exterior. He was the first to extend his hand. “Student Xie, I’ve heard much about you.”
The others looked on with envy, but they knew the etiquette of first-come-first-served and forced themselves to wait their turn.
“Mr. Liu,” Xie Guanning acknowledged, stepping forward.
The principal continued the introductions: “These are all admissions representatives from the major military academies. They’ve gathered here today because they are all eager to hear about your enrollment preferences.”
The Empire was divided into seven major Legions and five major military academies. Aside from the Imperial First Military Academy, schools like Keville and Hobson on other planets were also highly prestigious. Each academy was backed by at least one Legion, creating a virtuous cycle where graduates were prioritized for recruitment into those specific military wings.
When the news broke that Xie Guanning intended to join the military, the academies went into a frenzy. Every top school wanted this elite talent. For some reason, his phone had been unreachable yesterday, so they had no choice but to contact Mingli’s administration, leading to this morning’s standoff.
Xie Guanning scanned the room. Almost every major military academy was represented. He felt a sense of certainty settle in his heart.
Having finished the introductions, the principal added a final word of advice: “Since you are determined to join the military, I won’t stop you. However, each academy has its own unique strengths. Since so many teachers are here, listen to what they have to offer and ask questions. This is a decision that will affect your entire life; choose wisely.”
Xie Guanning nodded seriously and thanked him.
As soon as they finished, Mr. Liu from the Imperial Academy spoke up: “After our chat yesterday, I consulted urgently with our Dean. If you choose the Imperial First Military Academy, standard benefits like scholarships go without saying, you will be placed on the highest possible tier. Furthermore, the Dean and I have agreed that if you have a specific mentor in mind, we can arrange it. As long as you gain that mentor’s approval, we can make an exception and allow you to study under them even during your undergraduate years.”
Mr. Liu pushed up his glasses, his smile modest yet proud. “We don’t have many professors at the Institute of Mecha Design—just the likes of Professor Zhou Mubai, Professor Fei Jian, and Professor Horace. Oh, and of course, our Dean, Professor Yu Zhengyan.”
As soon as he finished, not only did the other teachers look disgruntled, but even the principal looked shocked.
Names like Zhou Mubai and Fei Jian were legendary even to those outside the field. As for Dean Yu Zhengyan, he was a rare “Grandmaster” who had taken on very few disciples over the years. If Xie Guanning could truly earn his favor, his future would be virtually guaranteed.
Seeing that Xie Guanning was visibly moved, the representative from Keville Military Academy jumped in. “Mr. Liu is right, but a student should look at all sides. At Keville, our faculty is just as strong as the Imperial Academy’s. More importantly, our location is superior! Our planet’s mining districts contain a vast variety of raw materials needed for mechas plentiful and cheap. Furthermore, the school vigorously supports student designs; if you need rare materials, we approve them instantly!”
The representative from Tate Military Academy scoffed. “You make it sound like we’re all lacking a few rocks. If we’re being honest, our planet is the true cradle of mecha designers. The creative atmosphere there is much more conducive to learning and invention.”
Though everyone maintained polite smiles, their words were sharp and confrontational. The small office threatened to turn into an all-out shouting match.
The homeroom teacher stood to the side, unsure of how to intervene. He looked at the school leaders, who were sipping tea and watching the drama with great interest, and then at the protagonist of the day, who remained perfectly calm.
Just as the argument reached a fever pitch, Mr. Liu let out a well-timed cough. “Everyone, choosing a university is a major life event. Shouldn’t we consider the thoughts of the person actually making the choice?”
The atmosphere immediately grew heavy. The other teachers glared at Mr. Liu, silently cursing him for being a “crafty old fox.” Xie Guanning had already made his preference for the Imperial Academy clear yesterday; Mr. Liu was clearly speaking from a position of smug security.
All eyes turned back to the youth. Xie Guanning remained composed and offered a slight smile. “I thank all of you for your appreciation. However, I have grown up on the Capital Star, and I have no intention of leaving the area for my studies.”
The other teachers were visibly disappointed. The Hobson representative smiled. “It’s hard to leave one’s homeland; we understand. But young people should go out and see the world! You can always come back after graduation. With interstellar travel being so convenient, Planet Hobson is practically a stone’s throw away from the Capital Star.”
Getting him there was one thing whether they could keep him there once he arrived was another matter entirely.
“If you have any requirements, we will meet them!” the teachers urged. “Our Mecha Design program has the longest history and an unparalleled academic atmosphere…”
As the offers grew more extravagant, even Mr. Liu began to lose his composure. In the war for top students, the conditions offered were often the deciding factor. While he believed his school’s offer was excellent, the other academies were clearly ready to bleed themselves dry to secure this win.
Just as he was about to speak again, a teacher rushed into the office and whispered something into the principal’s ear. The principal stood up immediately, his face flushed with excitement as he hurried toward the door to welcome a guest.
While Mr. Liu was still wondering what was happening, a tall figure stepped into the office, silhouetted against the light. As the man drew closer, Mr. Liu’s heart skipped a beat.
“Marshal Jiang!” the principal stammered. “If we had known you were coming, we would have prepared a proper welcome.”
Despite his words, the principal already had a hunch as to why the man was here.
Sure enough, Jiang Yan’s gaze swept across the room before landing squarely on Xie Guanning. Xie Guanning could keenly sense the undisguised amusement in the man’s eyes.
“I heard this year’s top scholar is interested in the military,” Jiang Yan said. “I just came to see the excitement.”
He walked further into the room and waved a hand dismissively. “Carry on. Don’t mind me.”
He sat down with natural poise. Though he didn’t say another word, his presence was impossible to ignore.
How could we not mind you?!
Mr. Liu looked around. The other teachers were staring at him with identical expressions: Despicable! Shameless!
It’s just a student, did you really have to call in your Marshal?! Are you just bullying us because our Marshals aren’t here?!