C6 Entering the Dragon Knight Army Camp

Zhuge Yao and Lei Xun, aboard their luxurious Thunderbolt No. 8 Mecha, were approaching the military camp's gate when they were stopped just thirty meters from the perimeter by a guard. The gate was guarded by eight Enhancement Level No. 73 Mechas—this camp was clearly no ordinary place.

Mecha classifications span seven levels: Common, Enhancement, Heaven Awakening, Army Breaking, Martial Might, Super Power, and Heavenly God. An Enhancement Mecha already ranked high among the standard issue for soldiers.

Zhuge Yao wasn't too fazed; he had previous dealings with this elite army in his past life and was aware of their status as the empire's ace. Lei Xun, on the other hand, was taken aback. He was worldly, but the lavishness of the camp's defenses seemed excessive.

The guards, stern-faced, meticulously checked the documents Zhuge Yao and Lei Xun provided. After thorough verification, they were allowed entry. An Enhancement Level No. 73 Mecha led them to another checkpoint.

This checkpoint opened up to a square brimming with a variety of parked Mechas. Following the guards' instructions, Zhuge Yao and Lei Xun parked their Mechas and headed to a registration area in the square, marked by a few tables, chairs, and a tent, where several female soldiers were assisting with registrations.

"Isn't this Mr. Yao? What brings you here so early? I didn't expect you to be an early riser," Gongsun Ce said with a beaming smile upon spotting Zhuge Yao. Internally, he seethed, vowing retribution for the loss of his men at Zhuge Yao's hands.

Zhuge Yao, recognizing the sarcastic tone, felt a twinge of unease and turned to see who it was. Seeing Gongsun Ce, the traitor, his spirits dampened. Nonetheless, he maintained his composure and returned the greeting with a forced smile, "Ah, Brother Ce, I was just mobbed by a crowd of beauties clamoring for autographs as soon as I left my quarters, hence my delay."

The two exchanged pleasantries for a while until a female soldier responsible for registration called Gongsun Ce over, marking the end of their reluctant parting. Zhuge Yao noted that the female soldiers all wore "Training Team" emblems, which gave him a rough idea of the process. New recruits would first undergo training with the Training Team before being assigned to their respective units.

In his previous life, the conflict between the Dawn Empire and the Dusk Empire had escalated to a state of emergency, bypassing the usual Recruit Company stage. Now, the standard procedure was in place. Zhuge Yao also observed that new recruits were required to fill out personal information before entering the barracks, after which they received a number plate. He surmised that this was a way of selecting individuals, serving as an initial screening.

As soon as Gongsun Ce received his number plate, a wave of astonishment rippled through the crowd, as if witnessing something extraordinary.

"Look at that, he got an S-grade number plate. He's going to turn the world upside down!" one spectator gasped.

"Indeed, I've heard that only battle prodigies receive the S-grade plates," another chimed in with amazement.

Basking in the adulation, Gongsun Ce strutted over to Zhuge Yao, flaunting his S4 number plate with a smug expression. "Sorry to brag, but I'm off to join Battalion One Company One," he said, enunciating 'one' with such emphasis it seemed he feared it might go unnoticed, resulting in an awkward tone.

"Zhuge Yao, who is Zhuge Yao? Come forward to complete your personal information and receive your number plate," called out a female soldier, her voice dripping with nonchalance.

"Congratulations in advance, Gongsun Ce. I wish you swift victories and a quick ascent to the elite teams," Zhuge Yao replied indifferently, heading towards the registration desk with a dismissive glance.

"Take care, no need to see me off," Lei Xun muttered listlessly, turning on his heel to leave, his demeanor just shy of outright rudeness.

Gongsun Ce was visibly annoyed by their reactions, but he maintained a facade of calm, aware of the many eyes on him. Yet, his resentment towards Zhuge Yao grew even stronger.

At the registration area, soldiers' life information was simply verified. Zhuge Yao quickly scanned the details, nodded in confirmation of their accuracy, and a female soldier handed him a D1 number plate.

"Your skills in Mecha repair are quite good. With some physical training, joining the team and securing a role as a mechanic should be no issue," the female soldier stated flatly, her face betraying her impatience. The Empire had long possessed the technology for mechanical repairs, rendering mechanics merely a backup option. Consequently, their status in the military was quite low.

"Haha, this guy is just too weak. He's nothing but trash," one of the onlookers jeered.

"Absolutely, it's hilarious that such garbage even thought to enlist," chimed in another spectator.

Zhuge Yao simply smiled, unfazed. Being a mechanic was fine by him; soon enough, he'd show them what it meant to dismantle something completely.

"Alright, next up, Lei Xun, come here," called the female soldier, disregarding Zhuge Yao and eagerly summoning the next candidate.

"Little sister, that's me. What's up?" Lei Xun said, eyeing the female soldier with a lecherous gaze that was just shy of salivating.

The female soldier, unbothered by the fatty's lewd behavior, responded with a smile, "One look at you and it's clear you're a warrior. You're bound to be a hero on the battlefield." She then handed him a number plate marked S2, placing it gently in his hand.

"Wow!" The crowd erupted in surprise. No one could have guessed the hefty Lei Xun was so formidable. What shocked them even more was Lei Xun tossing the number plate back nonchalantly, saying, "Give me a D2 plate. My repair skills are impressive too."

Now, even the female soldiers handling the registration were confused. What was this about? Could this man be a coward? Yet his file clearly indicated he had just been awarded the title of Empire's Warrior.

What they didn't realize was that Zhuge Yao was the one truly deserving of the Empire's Warrior title. He had single-handedly defeated four werewolves the day before, earning high praise from the military. They had intended to commend him, but an old marshal, not wanting his beloved grandson to attract too much attention and for safety reasons, had surreptitiously manipulated the situation.

Despite the fact that this hefty man was a martial arts expert with a strength rating of 100 points without the aid of a Mecha, he was a natural coward with a penchant for lechery. To avoid combat, he had deliberately mastered maintenance skills.

Lei Xun had managed to infuriate the female soldier to no end. With gritted teeth, she snatched back the S2 card and, in a huff, tossed a D10 card at Lei Xun. Unfazed, Lei Xun cheerfully waved the card in front of Zhuge Yao, showing off.

"Well done, big guy. Let's head inside and not stoop to their level," Zhuge Yao said, before turning and striding into the barracks with an air of nonchalance. Lei Xun blew a mocking kiss to the female soldier before spinning on his heel and following Zhuge Yao inside.

With a loud "thwack," the female soldier punched the table, her eyes seething as she watched Zhuge Yao and Lei Xun's figures recede.

"Sister Xinru, please, take a breath. There's no need to engage with such scoundrels. I'll make sure they get their comeuppance in the future and make it up to you," another female soldier offered in consolation.

"No need for your intervention. I'll handle it myself," Lee Xinru declared, her anger unabated as she set her sights on the two men.