It takes ten hours by starship to travel from Planet Tianshu to Planet Kashgar. All contestants are required to gather at the docking apron at 7:00 PM.
Each squad has four hours left to pack and organize. Those wanting to modify their mechas during this time can only race against the clock, and how much they can change depends entirely on their skills.
Of course, everyone must go through security again before boarding the starship and entering the competition.
Wang Tianwei blocked the security inspector, asking relentlessly,
"So we still can't bring hot pot base into the arena this time? The energy content is too high? We already have nutrient solutions, why would anyone care about that tiny bit of energy!?"
Huang Yan sent Zhang Lyra to drag her back.
"Let's go, pack up first. Remember to bring our special training equipment..."
Wang Tianwei was feeling dejected after being ruthlessly rejected. She took out the hot pot base she had bought online from her spatial button.
"They still won't let us bring it... Then how about we cook the hot pot in a bit? And bring some steamed buns onto the starship tonight?"
"...Whatever you say."
Chao Hao and Fu Manli accompanied them as they sorted their belongings. Wang Tianwei spent over two hours in the mecha room, and then had a spicy, piping hot pot for dinner! Only then did she board the starship, deeply satisfied, carrying a large bag of steamed buns.
The two teachers' nervousness was completely washed away by the forty-something large steamed buns...
They had initially advised the students to buy less food, but somehow ended up joining the ranks of those feeding them.
"Make Jian Jingyu eat less sweets from now on. He's starting to break out on his forehead."
Fu Manli watched their retreating backs... Why did she have more and more things to worry about!?
Chao Hao's mouth twitched.
"Weren't you the one who stuffed that red bean bun into his hands?"
Fu Manli stiffened...
"Let's head back first. Tonight is the last full night of sleep we'll get. Tomorrow we have to start camping the live streams again."
"If you put it that way, I'm going to go buy a few more buns."
"..."
The teams from the six military academies had never taken a starship together before.
During the last competition, everyone was blindfolded and dropped off by aircraft at their destinations.
This time, they actually had the chance to introduce themselves and cautiously probe each other out.
As a result, no one was in a hurry to return to their cabins to rest. Everyone chatted casually, trying to pry information from the other teams. Even the usually arrogant Valk was no exception.
That was until the smell of steamed buns wafted over from the Qilin team...
"I heard you guys love to eat, but I didn't expect... Aren't you nervous at all?"
Lucas was dumbfounded.
Wang Kaiyu, however, naturally asked his sister for two large steamed buns.
"I want a red bean one too."
"So demanding!"
Wang Tianwei picked out one with a red dot and handed it to her brother.
There was no helping it. The kid didn't even have nutrient solutions for the match. This might be the last decent meal he'd eat before the competition ended...
As his older sister, she might as well yield to him!
Wang Kaiyu took a bite of the red bean bun and nodded. It really was good!
"Not going to give me one?"
Lucas waited for a long time, but Wang Kaiyu showed no sign of sharing. This kid had no tact!
Wang Kaiyu glanced at him and took a bite of the meat bun as well.
"Go buy your own when you get back. My sister gave this to me."
"...Bullying me because I don't have a sister, huh!? I want to eat it!!"
"Get lost!"
Ye Yingxuan rested her chin on her hand, deep in thought. Could this be Qilin's unique way of relieving stress? She heard they had run off to the first cafeteria for a massive feast right before the opening match too.
"It seems the supplies this time are exactly to your liking?"
Elizabeth smiled, her gaze fixed straight on Qilin's commander.
"Shouldn't you thank me then?"
Hearing this, Huang Yan raised the meat bun in his hand.
"Want one?"
"...No need, thank you."
"I haven't congratulated you on advancing to S-rank yet, Huang Yan."
He Siyu leaned forward.
"And you too, Zhang Lyra."
"Thanks."
Zhang Lyra had just been competing with Wang Tianwei to see who could bite off more of a bun. Seeing Huang Yan express his thanks, she followed suit and nodded.
"Mmhmm."
Everyone knew that two of Qilin's contestants had leveled up, but by unspoken agreement, no one had brought it up.
Currently, among the teams present, aside from Qilin and Beichen which had three S-ranks, the rest all had four S-ranks!
In comparison, Beichen's problem wasn't too big since their commander was A-rank! But things were different on Qilin's side. Leola walked over to Wang Tianwei.
"Aren't you afraid? What will you do if their mechas break down later?"
Wang Tianwei picked up a bean bun.
"They won't."
"Why wouldn't they?"
"Hehe... I'm not telling."
Never mind that! She was about to start her salty-sweet perpetual eating machine!
Valk's Wu Fangyu retracted her gaze. It really was hard to gather intelligence from a bunch of foodies!
Hiranuma Yusho spent the entire time looking out the window, not communicating with anyone.
The demi-human Mika, however, was very curious about Zhang Lyra.
"You're from the Bear Tribe, is that why you have so much strength?"
"Probably... You're from the Leopard Tribe?"
Zhang Lyra saw the pair of leopard ears on her head and instantly felt something was wrong!
Turning her head abruptly, she saw Wang Tianwei staring intently at the other girl's leopard ears and tail, her face full of eagerness to touch them!
Such small ears! And she has a tail!?
The little bear's tail had never been exposed; she wondered if she'd ever get the chance...
"What are you looking at?"
"!!?"
Wang Tianwei shuddered.
"Nothing! Just checking if your belt is fastened properly!"
Emm... The little bear looked so cold. Did she just roll her eyes at her!?
"Looking forward to fighting you."
Mika couldn't understand the silent exchange between the two, so she left a remark and walked away.
Although the Bear Tribe was fast, they definitely couldn't catch up to the speed of her mecha. There were ways to counter brute strength too. If they really fought... that would be the moment Zhang Lyra got eliminated!
After congratulating the two from Qilin, He Siyu leaned back in her chair and continued flipping through the physical book in her hands.
Everyone present was smart. Letting them know she was acquainted with Huang Yan was enough.
Planet Kashgar's terrain was advantageous to Qilin. As long as their mechas held up, their odds of winning were definitely higher than Beichen and Yuying's. It was highly likely they might need their help.
Huang Yan was generally aware of the convoluted schemes in the others' minds, but he didn't need to care about all that right now.
Once these people actually witnessed their mechas, they would definitely make a move. For now, all they had to do was play dumb, gather as many points as possible before being found out, and locate the academy's bonus point button.
And so, the Qilin team listened to the verbal sparring of the other military cadets while devouring over thirty large steamed buns! They even specifically saved a few for tomorrow's breakfast!
Then, before ten o'clock, they headed back to their bunks to rest!
"Is your sister... always this relaxed!?"
Lucas found it unbelievable!
Was this the attitude the team's only A-rank mecha mechanic should have!? If he were Wang Tianwei, he probably wouldn't be able to sleep!
Wang Kaiyu also stood up.
"Relaxed or not, we're entering the arena tomorrow anyway. You should drink more nutrient solutions. Remember to drink some tomorrow morning too, otherwise, once we're in the arena, who knows when our first meal will be."
This was exactly what his sister had just told him!
