Monday's extra training session ultimately didn't go smoothly.
Because all the members of the QL's Major Threat team were called away by the Federal Investigation Bureau.
The four members of the Spider squad were dead...
Normally, this wouldn't have anything to do with them, but the problem was, the prosecution stated their time of death was five days ago!
In other words, before they even went to the Zero Realm to compete, they were already dead!
The Bureau investigators didn't reveal too much to them, only saying they needed to understand what they did during the time after their death.
Naturally, the investigation led to the Zero Realm Arena, and everyone who had contact with them that day was called in.
"Did you feel anything unusual during the match?"
"There was nothing wrong with the fight itself... it's just that they absolutely loved close combat and barely used firearms..."
Jian Jingyu said as he recalled the match.
Huang Yan pondered for a moment,
"I hacked into their communication channel, but there was no communication between their entire team. I thought it was a bit strange at the time..."
The two investigators exchanged a glance. At that time, they had been dead for three days; they certainly couldn't communicate anymore...
The four were asked several more questions, but considering they were still young and students of Qilin, they didn't seem suspicious.
After finally passing them through a full-body scanner, they let them go, only saying they might contact them again if there were any further issues.
If Huang Yan noticed any similar situations, he could also report it directly!
The group took a hovercraft back to school.
"This doesn't feel good... Sir Huang."
Jian Jingyu rubbed his arms up and down.
"Does this mean we fought a bunch of dead people? And won?? Hiss..."
Zhang Lyra frowned deeply.
"Could it be that they died first... and then resurrected?"
Jian Jingyu slowly turned his head to look at her.
"Can you not say something so scary..."
"I was just thinking, if that's true... where should we go to pray?"
The hovercraft was on autopilot. Wang Tianwei and Huang Yan searched on their optical computers for a long time.
"There's no news on the internet at all? The Zero Realm Arena was closed for rectification under the guise of 'safety hazards,' and the members of the Spider squad weren't even mentioned!?"
Huang Yan, on the other hand, was re-reading the recent reports of casualties among personnel from the two military districts. His eyes were glued to the line "Zerg evolved high-level intelligence."
"Why did the Bureau investigators make us go through the scanner at the end?"
"Afraid we caught some dirty spirits?"
Jian Jingyu immediately replied.
Wang Tianwei looked at the report on Huang Yan's optical computer.
"Do you think... it could be the Zerg?"
Jian Jingyu's eyes widened, leaning forward.
"What do you mean? Those people were killed by the Zerg? Are there Zerg lurking on the Shuomo Planet?"
Huang Yan recalled the dead silence in the Spider communication channel that day, yet the four of them fought without the slightest hesitation in their movements. Unfamiliar with firearms...
"I'm afraid it's worse than lurking..."
Still able to move after death... Wang Tianwei instantly thought of zombies from the apocalypse.
"The Zero Realm is closed too. We'd better go out less recently and focus on preparing for the competition at school... We don't need to worry about nutrient solutions, but maybe stock up on some water?"
Zhang Lyra grabbed the front seat.
"We should still find something to pray to, right? Although this kind of thing is only real if you believe in it... but having fought with people who had been dead for three days..."
Jian Jingyu shivered all over.
"Now that you mention it... I suddenly feel it's really bad luck."
Wang Tianwei gritted her teeth.
"Alright, let me think... It's too late today. Tomorrow after class, let's gather at the mecha practice room first!"
The principal and the guiding teachers all knew about the students being called away by the Bureau.
The next day, after asking the kids about the situation, they also felt it was quite bad.
What kind of people could still compete after dying!?
Although the contestants in the Zero Realm were allowed to wear hoods and use aliases, they still needed fingerprint identification when actually entering the lounge and the competition arena!
This proved that the people fighting that day were definitely them in person, absolutely not imposters!
Combined with what Huang Yan said about the opponents not communicating and not liking to use firearms, they couldn't help but think of the worst-case scenario...
"No matter how serious the problem is, we shouldn't let kids who haven't even graduated worry about it."
Fu Manli proposed her view.
"There are so many soldiers in the various military districts of the Federation, and at the very least, there are veterans like us... The specific situation hasn't been announced yet, so let's not scare ourselves first."
"I agree."
Chao Hao also looked at Gui Sizhe.
"Let the kids continue to focus on their studies and competition prep... If the fifth Military Academy League can still be held as usual, it means everything is under control."
Gui Sizhe nodded.
"That's exactly what I mean. The military has already taken action.
Everyone, reassure your students so they aren't afraid, and don't let this affect their daily lives and study progress.
No matter what happens, there are Federation soldiers and us adults to hold the sky up."
Receiving their orders, Chao Hao and Fu Manli decided to go talk to the students.
At this time, they should be at the mecha practice field, right?
They checked the reservation information, and sure enough!
However, as soon as they arrived at the practice field, the two of them were stunned by the sight inside...
Four black mechas were maintaining a posture of kneeling on both knees with their upper bodies bowed forward, and in front of them were four students in school uniforms, also kneeling on the ground.
Each person held three sticks of incense, and a heroic statue of Lord Guan was placed at the very front...
They had even properly prepared fruits and pastries.
Zhang Lyra held up her incense and asked the person next to her,
"Does Lord Guan handle this kind of thing too? How come I heard that you need crosses and stuff to deal with the living dead?"
Wang Tianwei said confidently,
"Don't worry, I checked!
Lord Guan is loyal and righteous! Not only can he ward off evil spirits and ensure safety, but he can also bless literary pursuits and fame! Most importantly, he's in charge of wealth too!
I specifically ordered this expedited delivery last night!"
Zhang Lyra immediately knelt a bit straighter and started muttering under her breath.
Jian Jingyu and Wang Tianwei were also quite devout; one prayed not to be tainted by anything unlucky and to smoothly become the strongest individual soldier in history!
The other sincerely hoped not to experience an apocalypse again! Enough was enough!
The three friends had unanimously approved this worshipping the gods activity, and even if Huang Yan was helpless, he could only follow along... This was what they had agreed on earlier, majority rules.
Whatever, praying wouldn't cost them anything anyway, as long as it blessed him to live smoothly for a few more years...
However, when the young man turned around and saw the unpredictable expressions of the two teachers, a crack finally appeared on his face.
"Teachers... listen to me..."
"I didn't expect that even worshipping a god required pursuing cost-effectiveness..."
Fu Manli simply couldn't believe her ears... Warding off evil, seeking fame, and even acting as the God of Wealth!
Tsk tsk tsk, you guys are quite greedy, aren't you?
Chao Hao grinned and widened his camera viewfinder.
"Don't mind us teachers, you guys carry on."
