Soon, a reporter caught a whiff of the gunpowder in the air and came over.
"The competition hasn't even started, and there's already tension between the two military academies! May I ask if you students knew each other beforehand?"
The people on both sides glanced at each other and turned their heads away in unison.
"No!!"
"No!"
The reporter thought, Ha! Here comes the scoop!
"Then may I ask if Valck is confident they can defeat Qilin this year?"
The freckled guy flipped his hair again and shamelessly boasted,
"Valck's rival has always been the First Military Academy! As for Qilin, I'm sure they have their own goals."
The leading teachers of both teams were either being interviewed by other media, didn't see what was happening, or couldn't make it over in time even if they did... They had no idea what their students were saying.
"Oh!?"
The reporter, eager to stir the pot, grabbed a passing team of students in white uniforms and asked,
"What do you think about Valck Military Academy saying their only rival is the First Military Academy?"
Elk was about to return to his dorm but was grabbed. He looked closely and saw Wang Tianwei and Huang Yan were actually here too! Right next to them were the people from Valck.
"...There are no exceptions where the First Military Academy is concerned. As always, we will take the final championship."
The reporter immediately shoved the microphone back under the freckled guy's nose.
Hearing this response, the freckled guy couldn't help but grit his teeth.
"Competition first, friendship second... Let's wait and see!"
Another reporter targeted the Qilin students.
"It seems neither military academy takes Qilin seriously. Do you students have anything to say to them?"
Wang Tianwei naturally heard that the reporter was fanning the flames, but her attention was entirely elsewhere... Little Freckles from Valck, I've remembered you!
Huang Yan took two steps forward.
"Let them keep talking big. We're going to win the championship."
After saying that, he dragged a few team members away.
This little interlude added some different colors to today's opening ceremony, and the Federation's netizens thoroughly enjoyed watching it.
"Valck still has their usual arrogant style."
"That line from the First Military Academy was so cool! What kind of confidence is that!!!"
"Qilin is the real deal!! Hahaha, so pretentious! I love it!"
"Did Qilin change their style this year? Didn't they always just say 'we'll do our best' in the past?"
"These contestants are freshmen, right? The kids are still young, exactly at the age where they can't hold back their words!"
"Competition first!? Hahaha. Friendship and all that can take a back seat!"
"Where is Fu Xingyuan?! Where did our No. 1 assaulter go!?"
"Not in this live stream!..."
Wang Tianwei and the others returned to their dorms and busily organized their space buttons. The doors to all four rooms were wide open, making it easy to shout to each other.
"No food is allowed. Sister Ma, clear everything out on your end!"
"Yes, Sir!"
"Seven days of the survival match... Medicine, scent blockers, insect repellent..."
"Ready!"
"Goldfish, bring both of your knives..."
"I've got the fuel and accelerant. Lyra, you're a demi-human, so just in case, don't forget to bring your purification mask."
"Okay!"
Chao Hao and Fu Manli briefly accepted a few interviews and came right back. The other three squads also began checking their respective equipment.
"Before the match, the organizing committee will confiscate your optical computers. You're only allowed to communicate using the walkie-talkies they provide.
If your squads don't run into each other, don't be too obsessed with finding one another. Try to get as many points as possible and protect yourselves.
Don't panic if you meet opponents. Hide if you can't beat them. As long as you aren't eliminated, you can enter the next round, got it!?"
"Got it, teacher!"
"Good! You've all watched the live broadcast of the previous freshmen. Although Wang Tianwei and the others' methods were a bit cowardly, they worked! Did you all bring your scent blockers?"
"Rest assured, teacher! We're all ready!"
"Mhm, make sure to pay attention to weather changes. Unless absolutely necessary, do not go into the water..."
The two teachers gave a ton of instructions. By the time they finished, it was only 1 PM, leaving one hour until assembly time.
Wang Tianwei grabbed Chao Hao.
"Teacher, we're about to enter the arena..."
"Hmm???"
Huang Yan looked at the anticipation on the faces of the three people beside him and immediately understood.
"Teacher... we're going to the cafeteria to get something to eat."
"...Be on time for assembly."
"Yes!!"
The huge cafeteria was completely empty.
Out of the ten military academies, you couldn't find a single team like Wang Tianwei's that still had the mind to eat and drink right before the big competition!
Wang Tianwei carefully considered her order. She couldn't eat too much, but she absolutely had to satisfy her cravings! For the next seven days, they would only be able to eat roast meat and boiled food...
Drinking two more packs of nutrient solution before leaving would provide enough energy for the day!
A passing reporter saw them and also found it unbelievable, snapping several photos in their direction before finally leaving!
When assembly time arrived, the ten military academies lined up to pass through security checks, while hundreds of miniature cameras broadcasted live simultaneously from the air.
Chao Hao's brow twitched when he spotted the few kids returning to the team. He walked over in two steps.
"Wang Tianwei... wipe your mouth clean."
"Huh?"
Only then did Wang Tianwei realize! She had been eating a grilled sausage on the way, and there was still grease on the corner of her mouth!
Her space button had already been handed over for the security check, and she didn't have any tissues on her... Seeing the little bee cameras flying over in the air, Wang Tianwei didn't say a word and grabbed Chao Hao's sleeve to wipe her mouth...
The Qilin students lurking in the live stream were all shocked.
"What did I just see??"
"Our junior is so brave!!!"
"Hiss! Wiping her mouth on Yama Chao's clothes! Is our junior ever coming back to school!?"
"Since entering the school, this is the first time I've seen a hint of mom vibes on Yama Chao..."
"Did you see that, comrades!? Work hard! Once we can participate in the competition too, we can use Yama Chao's clothes to wipe our mouths!!"
Feng Yi's eyes almost popped out. Awesome! A true master!
Chao Hao was so shocked that he even forgot to pull his sleeve back! It wasn't until Wang Tianwei wiped her mouth clean,
"Why didn't you use your own clothes to wipe it!?"
"Teacher! I'm on a live stream! My image can't be ruined!!"
"!? Aren't you about to enter the deep mountains and old forests!?"
So his image wasn't important, was it?
Wait, since when did you have an image!?
The focus of the bullet comments was equally peculiar.
"Be good, junior. We don't care about things you've never had..."
"Image!? King of Involution, since when did you secretly start caring about your image behind our backs?"
"That part just now shouldn't have spread, right?? Sneaking food before the match and all..."
"Uh... I'm from the First Military Academy."
"Greenfield Military Academy sends its regards."
"Hello, I'm from Santorini. I just wanted to see who this person was that got into a conflict with our school's contestant at the gate yesterday? But it's fine now..."
"It's already spread to Valck."
"Now to Asahi."
"..."
