C1 The Day Before He Was Reborn

In the luxurious confines of a hotel in Dawn City, the capital of the Dawn Empire, tempers flared.

"Zhao Hsing! How can Zhuge Yao, that waste with a Combat Strength Value under a hundred, be considered my equal?" Gongsun Ce bellowed at the man before him, his spit flying onto the man's face. Dissatisfied, he delivered a powerful kick to the man's chest, sending him flying several meters.

The recipient of the kick, seemingly unharmed and unfazed, quickly stood up and returned to his spot with a smile before responding, "His tendency to resort to violence over words is a disgrace. I can't stand him either. But the Zhuge family possesses the technology to upgrade Mechas, and he's a scientist. Both the military and the Empire Imperial Family hold him in high regard, which is why he was specially enlisted."

The moment the words left his mouth, the office's atmosphere chilled, with nearly every gaze turning to Zhao Hsing. Feeling the weight of over a hundred eyes on him, he felt a shiver down his spine. Without waiting for Gongsun Ce's reaction, Zhao Hsing quickly stepped forward and whispered in his ear, "The family's higher-ups have made their decision. That good-for-nothing won't end well."

The crowd cast disdainful glances at Zhao Hsing, treating his words as if they were some great secret, despite the fact that Gongsun Ce was the only one seemingly in the dark.

Upon hearing Zhao Hsing's words, Gongsun Ce's face lit up with a smug grin. He picked up a glass of wine from the table, strolled over to the window, and gazed out at the distant Century Music Building.

On the morning of August 1st, at precisely 9 AM in Dawn City, Zhuge Yao was in a modest hotel next to the Century Music Building, trying on his very first military uniform. The young man, freshly twenty, bore a determined look and carried himself with grace, more a gentleman than a soldier. Beside him stood a young woman of plain appearance, her most notable feature being the constant, gentle smile on her face.

"I must make this life count. The tragedies of the past will not be repeated!" Zhuge Yao vowed silently. In his previous life, he had upgraded his Mecha to Celestial God Level, but the cost had been too steep. This time, he was determined to live without regrets.

"Wenwen, do you think I look handsome in this outfit?" He adjusted his collar in the mirror, his expression serious.

Huang Wenwen took her time, giving Zhuge Yao and his uniform a thorough once-over before smiling and nodding in approval. She stepped forward to help him with his military cap.

The door was knocked. "Dong dong."

Before either could respond, a voice from outside announced, "Mr. Zhuge, the Dawn Empire's royal flying car awaits to escort you to the welcome ceremony."

Without delay, Zhuge Yao followed the messenger out of the hotel, only to be taken aback by the sight that greeted him. He didn't recall such opulence before, and it wasn't the grandeur of the flying cars that shocked him—it was the presence of Lee Daji, the first heir to the Dawn Kingdom.

In his past life, he had been conscripted with poor conditions. Now, having volunteered for service just as the Empire was ramping up a major recruitment drive, he was being treated to this lavish welcome.

Huang Wenwen's mood soured at the sight of Lee Daji, and seeing Zhuge Yao's reaction only deepened her gloom. She pinched his back sharply, eliciting a loud yelp from him in front of the assembled crowd.

The welcome at the site was awkward, to say the least, but the group proceeded without further conversation to the Century Music Building. The venue, a grand circular hall capable of hosting a thousand people, was decked out with the eye-catching Griffin and red flags, creating a stunning setting for the enlistment ceremony. Yet, amidst all the splendor, what captivated Zhuge Yao the most was the bronze statue of the ancient War God, Tang Long, instilling in him a profound sense of kinship.

"It's been over a century since we've seen such an elaborate welcoming ceremony. The Imperial Publicity Committee has specially revived it for you and Gongsun Ce. You two are indeed a pair without equal!" Lee Daji remarked offhandedly as she guided Zhuge Yao and the others towards the hall, while also seeking out the event coordinator.

Upon hearing that a once-renowned traitor was the topic of conversation, Zhuge Yao's interest was piqued, and he quickly inquired, "What's Gongsun Ce like these days? Do tell."

Before Lee Daji could respond, Huang Wenwen dismissively said, "He's a scoundrel from the Gongsun family in Myriad Beast City who's concocted a few genetic drugs. He's even boasting about creating Super Warriors."

Lee Daji chuckled and countered Huang Wenwen's comment, "Gongsun Ce isn't as terrible as you make him out to be. And of course, our Yao is no simple character either." She continued, "He's cured more than a dozen incurable diseases and has the ability to boost a soldier's Combat Strength Value from 100 to 300. Such a person is far from ordinary. With two such scientific luminaries enlisting in the empire, they're sure to inspire a wave of scientists to emulate them. The thought alone is exhilarating."

Zhuge Yao made a mental note of the individual, having initially hoped to defuse any tension between the two, but he hadn't anticipated the commotion inside the venue. The event coordinator was present, so he asked in polished courtly language, "Good day, sir. What's happening inside the venue that's causing such a commotion?"

The coordinator, taken aback by the refined imperial accent, paused and then looked to Lee Daji, seemingly awaiting her cue. This was, after all, the venue for the welcoming ceremony, and some matters were better handled discreetly to avoid any embarrassment.

Lee Daji shook her head and gave Zhuge Yao an apologetic smile. "There's a bit of a situation inside. I need to step away for a moment. Please wait here; the main event will be starting shortly."

Without waiting for a reply from Zhong Yao, Lee Daji quickly departed with the coordinator.

The venue was expansive. Zhuge Yao chose a secluded spot to sit and settled in to wait. Soldiers in uniform filed into the venue as the music began to play. The king and queen of the Dawn Empire made their timely entrance. Following the national anthem, everyone, including the monarchs, rose to their feet. At the entrance, a hostess led a young man into the hall.

"Is that Gongsun Ce?" Zhuge Yao whispered to Huang Wenwen, who was standing next to him.

Before Huang Wenwen could respond, the venue's spotlights converged on Zhuge Yao, drawing the gaze of the entire audience. Everyone was wondering who he was and why he wasn't following the usual script.

Despite the many eyes on him, Zhuge Yao remained unfazed. He straightened his military uniform and ascended the stage with confident strides. It wasn't until he reached the stage that he realized there was no seat for him. Irritated but mindful of the Zhuge family's reputation, he suppressed his anger. With no seat available, he stood upright and boldly in front of Gongsun Ce. The venue was filled with influential figures from the Dawn Empire, and with journalists from around the world present, the whole world was watching.

The audience was taken aback, wondering what was unfolding. Gongsun Ce, in particular, was seething with anger, but with so many eyes on him, he restrained himself, his face turning a deep shade of red.

The soldier hosting the welcome ceremony was quite a character, deftly diverting the crowd's attention away from the awkward scene. He began, "Regarding the current state and future developmental direction of the Empire..."

Once the host concluded, he invited Gongsun Ce to speak first. Gongsun Ce, pushing past Zhuge Yao, stepped up to the lectern. He addressed the crowd, vowing to serve the Empire loyally and to dedicate his efforts to the Empire Imperial Family.