After stuttering a few words, Long Yuxue left. She hadn't understood Arthur's assessment at all, let alone the rating; it was better to report it quickly.
"What did you two do in there?" the Lieutenant teased with a smile in her eyes. "I've rarely seen her so flustered."
"Maybe she was intimidated by my excellence." Arthur waved his hand. "She'll get used to it."
"Quite confident, aren't you." The Lieutenant began helping Arthur with a series of registrations and dormitory arrangements.
Halfway through the input, she couldn't help but cover her mouth. "This age... My god, you're so young?"
She murmured while sizing up Arthur, "This seems illegal. Should I persuade Xiao Xue to find someone else..."
"Find someone else for what?"
"No, nothing." She handed the dormitory key to Arthur, along with some military uniforms, daily necessities, and so on.
At this time, Long Yuxue returned after finishing her report. She looked at Arthur with a complex gaze. "Follow me. I'll give you a tour of the camp."
Arthur put the pile of daily necessities into his storage device and grinned at the Lieutenant. "Thanks, big sister!"
Only then did he follow Long Yuxue out of the office.
The door closed behind them, cutting off the Lieutenant's smiling gaze.
Long Yuxue walked slowly, seemingly organizing her words or perhaps still digesting what had happened during the assessment.
"First of all," she finally spoke, her voice a few degrees colder and harder than in the office, as if using this stiffness to mask something. "Remember which places are off-limits."
She raised her hand and pointed toward the most majestic and quiet spired building in the center of the camp. "Legion Headquarters. Unless there are clear orders or an emergency military situation, any unauthorized personnel approaching will be punished by military law."
Her finger moved to an area on the other side sealed by heavy alloy gates. "The Heavy Weapons Depot and the Mecha Maintenance Center. Similarly, entry is strictly prohibited without permission."
"This side is the ordinary barracks and the public training area." She turned toward an open area where faint shouts and the hum of machinery could be heard. "The one-month special training for recruits is held here. During the special training, you must participate in the entire process."
She paused, seemingly having made a great resolution before adding, "The special training... is my responsibility."
Arthur, holding his things, blinked. "That's great. It's easier to get things done with acquaintances. Remember to give me some extra help, Ma'am."
"Call me Officer!"
Long Yuxue's mouth twitched imperceptibly, and she continued walking. "Your temporary dormitory is in the Special Service Department's exclusive area. The conditions are better than the recruit camp. This is... the intention from above."
When she mentioned 'above,' her tone was a bit subtle.
But thinking about it, it made sense. The talent Arthur displayed and his terrifying background were just too Heaven-Defying... "Alright, that's about it." She turned to face Arthur. "Regarding your assessment rating, I'll notify you once the higher-ups have decided."
"Ma'am, you missed a place." Arthur gave a proper salute, then immediately switched back to his grinning expression. "Where is our cafeteria?"
As the saying goes, if you're not enthusiastic about eating, there's something wrong with your mindset.
Even though taking a breath was more effective for Arthur than eating, enjoying delicious food was one of life's great pleasures.
"The cafeteria? I did forget to mention that." Long Yuxue's face remained expressionless. "Recruits don't get food."
"Huh?" The smile on Arthur's face froze instantly, and he blinked.
When she mentioned it, he remembered; it seemed there was such a thing.
Incredible.
Even during Shrek Academy's most ridiculous period, they only went as far as not providing stools.
Long Yuxue glanced at him and continued walking, gesturing for him to keep up. "In the Blood God Legion, all resources are exchanged for Military Merits, including food. Recruits have no Military Merits, so naturally, they have no food."
Arthur took two quick steps to walk beside her, his expression exaggerated as he wiped away non-existent tears. "Is that so? Then I'll have to find trash to eat myself."
"Pity me, losing my parents at a young age. The only happiness I had was eating, but now..."
As Arthur spoke, he really looked the part. Combined with his handsome face and the slightly drooping ahoge on his head, he truly looked pitiable enough to make one's heart ache.
Long Yuxue paused, her brow furrowing tighter. A subtle emotion arose in her heart because of his act of playing piteous. "Recruits usually borrow food expenses from veterans or superiors and repay them with future Military Merits."
"Really? Then could you transfer me... I mean, lend me some money for a few meals, sister?"
"Call me Officer!"
"So, will you lend it?"
She paused, seemingly struggling for a moment, before sighing. "Sigh, I really can't do anything with you."
She transferred some Military Merits to Arthur.
Arthur instantly dropped his miserable look and grinned. "Xiao Xue, I knew you wouldn't have the heart to watch me eat trash!"
Xiao Xue, sister, Ma'am... he just wouldn't call her Officer.
Long Yuxue was left speechless by his speed of changing faces and said crossly, "Fine, now scram and go eat your food!"
"I don't know the way yet. Let's go together, and I'll treat you to a meal while we're at it." Arthur said generously, "I just came into a small fortune, no need to be polite."
Long Yuxue: "?"
"Using my money to treat me to a meal?"
"Is this even human speech?"
...They soon reached the cafeteria.
The huge space was bustling with noise, a sea of white military uniforms.
Arthur looked around curiously. His gaze swept over the numbers above the serving windows and the uniform thick mush and hard biscuits on the officers' trays, and the smile on his face slowly collapsed.
"The smaller the number, the better the food, and the more Military Merits required." Long Yuxue explained succinctly, leading him toward Window No. 6, where the most people were.
Just then, a bright and laughing voice cut in. "Yuxue! Has the sun risen from the west? You're actually personally bringing someone to the cafeteria?"
Arthur turned and saw a beautiful female Second Lieutenant with a ponytail and a bright smile walking over quickly. When her gaze swept over Arthur, she was instantly stunned.
Simply because Arthur was too incredibly handsome.
The proportion of handsome guys in the Blood God Legion was definitely the highest among all armies, and she was used to it.
But precisely because she was used to it, Arthur, a peak of beauty in a completely different style, was a true dimensional reduction strike.
Plus, with the deep connection to the Douluo Plane, even a dog would find Arthur friendly.
"Qiyue." Long Yuxue nodded, turning slightly to block part of her view. "A recruit, Arthur. I'm showing him the ropes."
"Oh~ Brother Su Qiu~" Jiang Qiyue drawled, snapping back to her senses instantly, the curiosity and mischief in her eyes almost overflowing.
She bypassed Long Yuxue and leaned in front of Arthur, looking him up and down carefully while clicking her tongue. "Incredible, truly incredible. Yuxue, where did you pick up such a treasure? This look, tsk tsk..."
Jiang Qiyue acted like a female rogue. "Little handsome guy, you just got here. Do you have Military Merits for food? Do you want big sister to lend you some?"
"As for the interest..."
Halfway through, she seemed to think of something and said in realization, "I almost forgot Yuxue is here. Yuxue, you wouldn't have gone soft again and given someone a special loan, would you?"
Long Yuxue's face stiffened. "I didn't!"
"Is that so?" Jiang Qiyue smiled and leaned closer to Long Yuxue, lowering her voice, but just loud enough for Arthur nearby to hear. "I remember the last time someone asked to borrow from you, you charged a thirty percent monthly interest. Those guys in the Logistics Department talked about it for a long time, saying you broke the rules. Since this one is so handsome, how much are you planning to charge? Twenty percent? Or even lower?"
Long Yuxue: "..."
Interest?
Long Yuxue hadn't mentioned it at all.
Arthur blinked, looking at Long Yuxue's slightly reddened profile and then at the mischievous Jiang Qiyue, deciding it was best to stay quiet.
Long Yuxue glared fiercely at Jiang Qiyue.
"Brother Su Qiu, actually, I can lend to you at low interest too, as long as you accompany me for a few meals in the future."
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