In previous military academy leagues, the final championship match always garnered the most attention. This year, however, the viewership for the top-eight-to-top-five elimination round has already surpassed that of the previous finals.
It couldn't be helped; there were simply too many "accidents" along the way!
Whether it was the emergence of a cross-grade super-class mecha master, taking time out during a tense match to celebrate a teammate's birthday, or piloting a transforming mecha to help another squad secure their academy's bonus points button?
Every single one of these was an outrageous flex, and every single one was related to Qilin...
Furthermore, the starbeast tide that erupted midway through the competition tugged at the heartstrings of everyone in the Federation. Everyone prayed that these kids, who had just begun to show their brilliance, could return safely and soon.
They also hoped the starbeast tide would end quickly and that the soldiers would return safely.
Now, that wish was half-fulfilled. At the very least, every single one of the kids had returned, and they had successfully passed the scanning and quarantine protocols!
Therefore, today's interviews were destined to capture the attention of the entire Federation.
Given the current situation, Shen Jie, the chairman of the organizing committee, did not approve media entry into the camp, so they continued to use an online Q&A format.
Including the eliminated Yuying Military Academy, the six teams opened six separate livestreams.
The kids had been warned in advance that it was best not to mention the situation on the front lines. The rest was up to them and how much they wanted to answer.
Everyone knew this livestream would attract massive attention, so they all dressed neatly and properly. You couldn't tell at all that just last night, they had almost gotten into a fistfight over a steamed bun in the First Canteen.
The people from Valk even woke up extra early to do skincare routines, so they looked a bit paler and more radiant on camera than everyone else.
Hiranuma Yusho had resumed his arrogant expression, but the two teachers were asked so many questions that they almost broke down.
"Our Valk really doesn't have... that course. Please stop posting and leaving comments."
"Uh, if Qilin's students are willing to visit and study at Valk, we naturally welcome them..."
The livestream's comments instantly derailed:
"Does that mean you're willing to create this course specifically for Qilin!? Don't love them too much now!"
"Let me translate: 'We aren't worthy, but Sister Zebra is!'"
"I often feel out of place among you guys because I'm not pretentious enough."
"Valk and Qilin are shipped together forever, thank you."
"Qilin's official pairing is clearly the First Military Academy. A love-hate relationship!"
"Yesterday you ignored me, today you can't afford me, right? What a classic groveling trope!"
Over at the First Military Academy, when asked which team they considered a strong rival for the next match,
He Siyu answered without hesitation,
"Qilin Military Academy."
Wang Kaiyu was singled out and asked if he would intentionally go easy if he faced his biological sister.
"Saying yes might save some face, but it would truly be an insult to Qilin's hard work. We fully respect every opponent.
Whether it's the First Military Academy or Qilin, neither would allow such a thing to happen."
Lucas maintained a polite smile on his face, but inwardly he kept complaining. All the advanced mecha techniques he knew now were learned from Sister Zebra.
In the past, he might have worried about Wang Kaiyu going easy, but now he suspected it would be the other way around!
When asked about their thoughts on learning that Qilin's Wang Tianwei was a cross-grade super-class mecha master who had donated the design blueprints for a super-class transforming mecha to the Federation, all the students and teachers from every military academy gave the same answer:
They expressed immense admiration!
For an eighteen-year-old genius to make such a contribution to the Federation, no amount of praise was too much.
Especially since Wang Tianwei hadn't even mentioned it after donating the blueprints!
It was only after the students returned last night that the teachers of the various military academies found out their own students had already learned how to build transforming mechas from Wang Tianwei.
She had even been teaching them hand-in-hand how to smelt and assemble on the front lines for over half a month! How could they not admire her?
Since ancient times, craftsmen have always feared their skills leaking out. The saying "teaching the apprentice starves the master" didn't come from nowhere.
Which of the mecha masters out there didn't keep their core technologies tightly guarded?
Wang Tianwei hadn't even entered the military yet! And even if she did, intellectual property and patents were protected by the Federation.
Could she have kept it a secret from the students of the other four military academies? Absolutely!
But she didn't do that. Instead, she chose the fastest and most direct method: getting everyone involved together.
They had lived for so many years and had never seen a person like this...
Even Chao Hao and Fu Manli fell silent for a long time after hearing about it, not knowing whether they should praise her or scold her for being naive.
But Wang Tianwei didn't feel she had done anything wrong.
She was simply standing entirely on the side of humanity, casting personal interests aside.
In her eyes, what kind of time was this? Who had the time to care about technical patents? Crushing the starbeasts and the Zerg was the most important thing!
The two teachers pondered this all night... They weren't mecha masters, and even putting themselves in her shoes, they weren't sure if they could have done the same.
They only felt a bit relieved after learning that Huang Yan and Jian Jingyu had been helping to clean up the loose ends behind the scenes.
The children's parents were arriving this afternoon. As teachers, they decided it would be best to listen to the parents' thoughts first.
Over in Qilin's livestream, it was the usual fake smiles from the trio.
"No, this isn't a tactic.
It's just that the previous match was a rainforest survival game, so no one could see the mecha situation. Besides, there's no need to hide our teammate's excellence."
Huang Yan was speaking eloquently at the forefront,
"For any students who wish to apply to the Qilin Military Academy, please submit your applications as soon as possible and note the final deadline."
Hearing this, Wang Tianwei immediately raised hand-drawn promotional signs alongside her two teammates:
"A century-old brand, worthy of your trust."
"Come to Qilin and unlock infinite possibilities!"
"Qilin Military Academy is just that strong!"
Huang Yan glanced back, then turned forward again, trying his best to show a reliable smile.
"..."
Countless comments floated across the screen:
"If I go to Qilin, I can be the junior of 'Qilin's Greatest Threat'! Woohoo, here I come!"
"Rule Qilin with the Greatest Threat!!"
"Already admitted! From now on, when I go out, I'll tell everyone I'm Sister Zebra and the gang's junior!"
"I've got the Greatest Threat backing me up, who should I fear!?"
After reading this, Chao Hao instantly felt his vision go dark... He felt like he really was getting old. He seemed to have already foreseen a less-than-bright career path ahead.
With the infectious energy of those four, he felt exhausted even before reaching retirement...
Fu Manli looked thoughtfully at Zhang Lyra.
Thinking about it now, wasn't Lyra also a very introverted kid when she first enrolled?
"Excuse me, having stayed on the front lines for over twenty days, did you really see evolved Zerg? What is the evolutionary direction of the starbeasts?"
Faced with such tricky questions, Huang Yan remained perfectly at ease.
"Forgive us, but we cannot disclose military information. Please follow the official announcements and news from the Federation Military."
