The back-and-forth media campaigns between the Empire and the Federation drew even those uninterested in the joint exercise into following its updates in real-time. The already buzzing event skyrocketed into a national talking point. In casual chats, people tossed out, "Did you watch the first joint exercise?"
Perhaps because the participants were military cadets, not active soldiers, most treated the topic with a touch of entertainment.
Only a handful of Federals voiced unease about the outcome. Cadets were the future soldier reserves—their strength foreshadowed the military's future.
Losing this badly now, what hope was there moving forward?
"Let's face reality: this is war. Losing the exercise means losing our leverage in future talks with the Empire!"
"What does passive diplomacy bring? Long-term risks in politics, security, and military affairs!"
Some decried the Empire's wolfish ambitions, claiming they'd eventually annex the Federation—a theory few bought. The Ares Empire's ways were well-known: they were too busy slaying star insects and expanding their cosmic frontier. Their territory already dwarfed the Federation's, with more habitable systems. Despite years of tense relations, the two powers mostly engaged in "minor skirmishes." Local conflicts flared but fizzled out before escalating. Over time, people grew accustomed to this dynamic.
Still, the sting of humiliation and disappointment was real.
The Federal team cadets bore the heaviest pressure.
Unlike real wars, with thousands of soldiers where blame fell on the military or frontline generals, the joint exercise was livestreamed. All eyes were on these few cadets, and one misstep thrust them into the public's crosshairs. Take Dai Sheng: after the first exercise, he locked himself in his room and hadn't emerged since.
With their commander in such a state, what could the other teammates do? They threw themselves into grueling training to ease their nerves.
During the competition, the Federal team bunked together in one building. At 6:30 p.m., post-dinner, the lounge was nearly empty, while the gym, shooting range, and holographic training rooms were packed beyond capacity.
In this tense, heavy silence, a few stood out starkly.
Zhou Ye, Zhou Ying, Yan Jingyi, and Ya Ning Kelly sat around a lounge table, playing the trending digital card game Holy Spirit Summon.
All four wore lazy expressions, but a closer look revealed blank faces or fingers pausing on the light-screen, lost in thought.
"Can you guys play seriously?" Zhou Ying snapped, his long black hair tied back, glossy as satin but with a few frizzy strands at the tips. "I was about to work on blueprints, but you dragged me into this to 'do something.' Now you're half-assing it?"
"…The game's fun, but I'm not in the mood," Ya Ning said, rubbing his vibrant red hair, his emerald eyes tinged with worry. "Fine, I'll fold. Happy?"
"Fold what?" Yan Jingyi scowled, partnered with Ya Ning and tied to his score. "Play properly, or we're done."
Zhou Ye: "How about I fold and let you win?"
"No way," Zhou Ying snorted, shutting it down. "Bro, if you don't want to play, hand me your cards. I'll solo."
The game dragged on.
Suddenly, crisp footsteps echoed. A team of six or seven, dressed in military uniforms, passed by.
The four kept playing, but their eyes tracked the group's intent.
Ya Ning shifted his light-screen to shield his face, leaning toward his teammates. "Looks like they're headed for Dai Sheng's room."
The team's rooms connected to the lounge hall—anyone entering had to pass them.
"You guys are worldly—any idea who they are?" Ya Ning asked the Zhou brothers.
Zhou Ye shook his head slightly. Zhou Ying pondered, then said, "Judging by their shoulder patches, probably military disciplinary officers."
What good could come from disciplinary officers?
The four exchanged glances, understanding: Dai Sheng was in trouble.
Likely over his exercise performance. He'd used the MechSync System but hadn't activated its AI command as planned. The higher-ups coming for him was inevitable, though a few days' delay was slow.
"So, should we…" Ya Ning gestured subtly toward the rooms.
"Bai Sha already pulled strings for him. The military won't do much—maybe dock his rank after graduation and ship him to the frontier," Zhou Ying said calmly, not looking up. "No need to plead for him."
As for Dai Sheng's current punishment, that was beyond their say.
"I think we should check," Ya Ning whispered. "Don't forget, he still holds the MechSync System's activation rights, and the military hasn't replaced him as commander."
The group froze, their expressions hardening.
Zhou Ying snapped the light-screen off, abandoning the game, and strode toward Dai Sheng's room.
Ya Ning: "You're just going like that?"
"What else?" Zhou Ying adjusted his collar coolly, turning to Zhou Ye. "Bro, can you step it up? Our only uncle's the current military governor. Those noble families act like their eyes grow on their foreheads, but with our background, it'd be weird not to throw our weight around."
Yan Jingyi laughed. "Didn't you and Ning Hongxue fall out?"
"Estranged or not, we're still his nephews," Zhou Ying said matter-of-factly. "Why else would the higher-ups let us rebels run wild?"
Zhou Ye and Zhou Ying were prime candidates to lead the system, but both refused. Ya Ning declined the commander role. Yan Jingyi even rallied strong mech pilots to reject linking to the military's MechSync System.
Obedience was a soldier's duty. As cadets, they weren't fully bound by military law, but school rules alone could've punished them harshly. Yet the military endured it, relegating them to grunt work on the team's fringes—a leniency rooted in their special backgrounds.
"Let's go."
Zhou Ying led, his haughty demeanor intimidating, like a spoiled noble backed by power.
Zhou Ye, Ya Ning, Jingyi: "…"
At Dai Sheng's door, it swung open just as they arrived. Dai Sheng emerged, hands cuffed behind him, escorted out.
He froze, spotting the four blocking the way.
"Where are you taking him?" Yan Jingyi asked coldly.
Her glance put the officers on edge.
Two exchanged looks. One frowned, flashing his badge. "Disciplinary officers on duty. This doesn't concern you."
"He's just a cadet—what business do disciplinary officers have with him?" Yan Jingyi pressed. "Did you notify the academy? Got an arrest warrant?"
The Federal Central Military Academy wouldn't let their students be taken so easily.
The officer's patience thinned. "No warrant—just cooperating with an investigation."
"Cooperating requires this show? You've got him in cuffs," Zhou Ying said, his gaze sweeping the officers, noting no lethal weapons. He stepped forward subtly. "Leave him. Come back with a warrant. Or I'll shout and make this a spectacle."
A tall officer's brow furrowed, a faint killing intent flashing, reaching for his sidearm—only to be stopped by the leader.
"Zhou Ying, you may be a Zhou and Ning's nephew, but that doesn't mean you can meddle in everything," the lead officer warned. "If you've got complaints, take it up with Governor Ning. Why hassle us?"
"And if I demand the warrant?" Zhou Ye spoke, his gaze steady, like frost on ancient pines, making the officers' demeanor stiffen.
Zhou Ye held a captain's rank, earned through frontline merits surpassing their combined records, despite his youth barring promotion.
"Same answer," the lead officer said, meeting Zhou Ye's eyes. "We're following orders. Don't make this hard."
"…"
As the standoff tensed, Zhou Ye's wrist-device pinged with a comm request.
Ning Hongxue.
Zhou Ye frowned but accepted.
"Ye, Ying, been a while," Ning Hongxue greeted with a smile.
Outside rare circumstances, Ning was always warm with his nephews.
"Uncle," Zhou Ying said, stepping forward as Zhou Ye stayed silent. "Why are disciplinary officers taking Dai Sheng?"
"Easy now… just routine questioning and some counseling," Ning Hongxue said, his face unruffled.
The group saw through the lie.
Counseling? More like brainwashing or implanting a control chip to make Dai Sheng a puppet!
"I know what you're thinking," Ning said, seeing their defiance. "But this is a necessary call. We lost the exercise to the Empire—badly. And you lot, you didn't exactly give your all, did you?"
"…"
"So what right do you have to stop them from taking Dai Sheng?"
Zhou Ye looked up, his gaze piercing the screen toward Ning. "A victory like that is meaningless."
"Meaning's irrelevant," Ning said bluntly. "We need a 'win.'"
Zhou Ye: "…Next round, we'll win."
"Oh?" Ning smiled, unshaken. "So sure? I thought you'd hold back."
The words silenced the four.
Ning's concern wasn't baseless. Deep down, would they really go all-out against Bai Sha?
"We'll give it everything," Yan Jingyi cut in. "Because we're Federal citizens—we will give it everything."
Ning nodded slightly. "I look forward to it. But Ye, can you swear… you won't go easy on the enemy?"
Zhou Ye's lips tightened, about to speak, when Zhou Ying interjected: "Uncle, why only ask my brother?"
Ning and Zhou Ye turned to Zhou Ying.
He said casually, "Aren't you curious if I'd hold back?"
Ning/Zhou Ye: "…"
Ning's rhythm faltered, genuinely thrown. He rubbed his temples, muttering, "Ying, don't stir trouble."
"Stirring what?" Zhou Ying flashed a smile. "Empire-Federation marriages aren't unheard of, historically. Sounds like a fine direction to me."
Zhou Ye's patience snapped. "Ying, what are you on about?"
Zhou Ying's grin held. "Exactly what you think—"
"No way!" Yan Jingyi burst out, glaring at Zhou Ying like he was a boar eyeing her cabbage. "I knew you were shady, but you're actually scheming that? Drop it—you two don't match."
Zhou Ying: "I don't match? But my brother does?"
Yan Jingyi: "You lot, every single one, stay away from Sha Sha!" The Zhou twins' backgrounds made them unfit for marriage!
Ya Ning jumped in: "Bit off-topic, but I don't support you either… As a commander, it's clear you're incompatible."
The four erupted into a chaotic argument.
Ning Hongxue, on-screen: "…"
Dai Sheng, hands bound: "…" End it! The Federation's doomed! That Bai Sha Roning is poison!
The bickering raged for minutes, fiercer than their standoff with the officers. Ning, fearing it'd derail the upcoming team match, roared, "Enough!"
The four, still raring to argue: "…"
"Fine," Ning said, throwing in the towel. "I'll order them to release Dai Sheng. But there's a condition. Your original fifth teammate was injured in the exercise and hasn't recovered, so we've assigned a new one. Work with them. Win the team match, and we're square."
Winning every round against the Empire was unrealistic, but one victory was doable, right?
"I won't force you to link with the MechSync System. That thing's only good for fooling regulars—it's useless for you," Ning said, noting their softened stance. "Your new teammate's waiting outside. Accept the new team or stay quiet—your choice."
Ning sent the new teammate's profile.
The four cautiously opened the file.
A girl with a cold, sharp gaze.
Unknown to the team or academy but listed as a registered student at the Federal Central Military Academy. Her record was sparse, like Zhou Ye's, built on frontline merits.
She looked unremarkable…
But her eyes, inorganic and chilling, gleamed like mercury-soaked scythes.