under the mask

Anyone, including cowards, can start a war, but the end of the war requires the consent of the victor————Salust

Da, da, da... The sound of leather boots knocking against the marble floor was getting closer, and then there were three very regular knocks on the door.

"Director, I am student No. 1, Levi Spar."

The man in military uniform sitting behind the large desk looked down at the paper in his hand and said, "Come in."

The boy in black military uniform opened the door, saluted the man, walked over, and sat down discreetly on the chair opposite the desk, with his knees slightly apart and his hands on his knees.

"Levi. Spar." The man leaned back in the comfortable leather swivel chair and read in a delicate tone to the information in his hand.

"Yes, Director." The boy straightened his back.

"Don't be so nervous..." The man in military uniform waved his hand casually at him, then turned half a circle to look at the huge light screen behind him, on which the three-dimensional bust image of the young man was rotating 360°, looking silly, "First of all, congratulations You successfully graduated with excellent grades, and the high elimination rate of Imperial High School’s final exams has always been the focus of citizens’ complaints to the education department.” He tapped the laser pointer in his hand on the right side of the light screen, and immediately listed from top to bottom A long list of data.

Li Wei saw his final exam results. Except for imperial history and politics, which failed to get A+, the rest were all very beautiful perfect marks, especially his battleship operation, space simulation battle, and basic maintenance of the hull were additionally awarded by the examiner. Personal comments, absolutely positive evaluation.The electronic file completely recorded the traces of the examiner's stylus. From this point of view, the other party was very excited.

He smiled, still satisfied with himself from the bottom of his heart.

The man carefully read the physical examination report given by the central hospital at the bottom, which contained various indicators of Li Wei's latest physical fitness, and then he turned back, clasped his hands on the table in front of him, and smiled at him. The boy said: "It's really... very good. As far as I can remember, there have only been two outstanding graduates from Imperial High School in the past 60 years, including you - the other one was sitting three years ago and you are sitting now s position."

Li Wei was a little curious, because he had never heard of this outstanding graduate three years ago during his school days.Three years...not a very long time.

He asked calmly: "It's a great honor for me to be praised by you, Director, but... the one three years ago... Which senior or sister is it?"

The man in the straight military uniform suddenly showed an embarrassing expression: "...you will see him." He coughed lightly, and continued to flip through the paper documents in his hand as if nothing had happened: "...please consider carefully the next question I will answer it later, because it is related to the direction of your further education after graduation, and of course it is directly linked to your future life path."

Li Wei raised his eyebrows.Avoiding answering... What kind of person does that senior have to make the director react like this?If you want to see... then it is only at the Imperial University, right?

"On your application form, you only filled in one school, Imperial University," the man looked up at him, "and you only ticked the Military Academy."

"Studying in the military academy is the best shortcut to enter the military department, Director." Li Wei thought for a while and added: "At least 80.00% of the students who came here today for counseling on entering the imperial university made the same choice as me."

This is definitely not an exaggeration.

The person sitting in front of him was the director of admissions at the Military Academy of Imperial University, and also an active military officer who held an important position in the military.Imperial University Military Academy is the most authoritative and best institution in the entire Garaiwans Empire.Although it is directly under the Imperial University, its semi-military management and importance to the empire make it completely independent and superior to the Imperial University—because the graduates of the Military Academy will be able to directly serve in the Imperial Army after passing the examination. And have the opportunity to participate in the colonization activities of Jialai Vance's outer star system. The children of the nobles can earn glory by virtue of their military achievements, and the common people can use this to become the upstart of the empire.

Interstellar wars, neat military uniforms, and supreme honors, so no matter for nobles or commoners, teenagers in peaceful times all look forward to this academy.The overwhelming number of applicants every year comes from this.

The man was noncommittal, looked at the information and asked: "I saw that you wrote in your graduation application that you hope to join the Golden Dragon Team of the Empire in the future? Have you not considered other options? After all, with your grades and family background, the future The road is much wider."

Li Wei shrugged his shoulders: "Sir, entering the Dragon Team is my lifelong wish. If it can't be realized, it doesn't make any difference to me to do any job."

The man in military uniform nodded: "Well... Well, in principle, filling in the application form is completely voluntary... Your teacher must have told you the disadvantages of doing so, so I won't say more." He looked at Li Wei, Seriously looked at him: "If you only consider your grades, then you will undoubtedly be admitted to our college - but as General Spal - your grandfather's former assistant officer, I suggest you think carefully It may not be a good thing for you to enter the Ministry."

Li Wei was stunned.Why didn't the butler tell him that the director of the admissions office was actually a former subordinate of his old man?

"I don't quite understand what you mean, Director," he also said seriously, "I thought my grandfather wanted me to restore the glory of the family... You know that I am the only one left in the direct line of the Spal family, and I want to establish For meritorious service, entering the Ministry is undoubtedly the fastest way."

The man paused, clasped his hands and leaned back in the chair.

"I can understand your thoughts...Maybe there are some things that I shouldn't say in my position, but Li Wei," he frowned, as if he was considering how to say it: "Speaking in a small way, since you know you are the only If you are the only remaining heir, you should understand that the army department is likely to encounter various obvious or potential crises. If you go to the battlefield, in case something happens to you-the Spal family will face the embarrassment of having no heir situation."

"More broadly, I believe you must be aware of the current status of the empire. Your Majesty has banned the use of genetic technology to modify the human body and repair genes. Today, severed limbs can be regenerated, but 60 years old cannot be as young as 20 years old. Vitality... The biggest advantage of nobles is that we have been genetically repaired at birth, and our next generation will be better than ordinary people, because this is the only way to maintain the glory of the family - the empire can always be under the rule of the nobles. As a Si The last member of the Parr family, if you die, your family will disappear completely. Even if you save your genes, there is no condition to create the heir of Spalr now. This will be nothing to His Majesty the Emperor and the empire recovered losses."

"This is something we absolutely want to avoid," he concluded.

The room suddenly fell silent.

After a while, Li Wei said calmly: "Excuse me, does "we" refer to the military department, or the empire...or is it just a former subordinate of a grandfather like you?"

The man in military uniform smiled wryly: "Of course, I personally, as an elder, don't want you to risk your life to earn military merit... But the most important thing is His Majesty's intention. I am recruiting students on behalf of the military department and the empire."

"I understand what you mean." Li Wei nodded, his short black hair curled up softly: "But if I insist on going to the academy, will you use your authority to stop me?"

He looked at the man in military uniform with a kind of peace beyond his age in his green eyes.But it is also oppressive.

"I see." The man said, and his voice returned to the original business: "Since this is your choice..." He lowered his head and ticked the input light screen at hand, and then the huge light screen behind him A bright red tick also appeared on Li Wei's photo. At the same time, he stamped and signed the paper document, and put Li Wei's information into the file bag.

"In previous years, the school started in October, just to avoid the hottest three months on the planet." After doing everything, he finally raised his head and said to Li Wei: "This year's notice will be sent out in mid-September, and we will reach you two weeks earlier. In addition, the routine physical examination and basic physical fitness test will be carried out before the final week of enrollment...the notice will include it, and you have prepared in your heart."

Li Wei looked away from the red tick, and nodded politely: "It means you can't relax during the holidays, right? Thank you."

The man in military uniform looked at the boy and shook his head: "It's nothing, we all hope to do more for you...you know..."

He took a deep breath, lowered his head again and took out another paper document: "You can go out now... the next one!"

Li Wei raised his eyebrows, stood up from his seat and walked out the door.

"I hope we can meet again at the military headquarters in a few years." A man's voice sounded from behind, and at the same time another slightly trembling voice came from outside the door.

"Student... Student No. 2 reports!"

He opened the door and passed the boy behind him.The door of the inquiry room was gently closed behind him, and the bustling voices of people exploded in his ears.Looking around, a huge platform of more than 6000 square meters, which is almost wider than a standard playground, is full of long queues. All the teenagers are wearing the same black military uniform as him. The only difference is that the girls are wearing Knee-length black uniform skirt.

The platform is at a height of more than 60 meters, and the top of the head is completely covered with transparent hardened materials, as are the surrounding walls-in this way, they seem to be standing in mid-air, except for the cold stone floor under their feet.

"Li Wei is out!" The first dozen or so students were all in the same class as Li Wei, and when they saw him come out, they gathered around.

"How is it? What kind of questions does the director ask? Is it difficult?" Kashgar approached him and asked, "Have you answered it? Have you been admitted?"

Li Wei looked at the big face on the same table in front of him, frowned and slapped him away: "Stay away from me, what do you eat that smells like garlic?"

puff--

A girl next to him let out a blank expression, and quickly covered her mouth and turned her head away.

"Love, Emilia!" Kashi muttered in embarrassment, "I just ate some garlic buns..."

Li Wei took this opportunity to squeeze through the team, and soon lost his companions' voices.If there is no accident, both Kashi and Amelia should be able to be admitted. Although they chose different majors, I heard that there will be many public courses in the first year of the college.

"It's Levi..."

"The number one in ten thousand years..."

"It's him..."

There were constant whispers around him, and the eyes of envy or jealousy almost turned into reality and projected on Li Wei.But although it can't be seen from the outside, he is a person who does his own thing and is easily distracted. When doing things or thinking, he will habitually reject all external disturbances--the kind of person who can only focus on one thing. .So at this moment, he has not received any strange eyes from others at all. In other words, he has been looked at with this kind of eyes for more than ten years, and it is difficult for him not to get used to it.

He looked down at the strap-shaped communicator in his hand, and rows of harmonized symbols flashed quickly on the small light screen projected above. It was obvious that Kashi had reacted and was swearing.Speaking of this, Li Wei found it very interesting.

Before he was reborn, he was just an ordinary urban white-collar worker under the red banner, the kind who hides in air-conditioned offices all year round and spends years in front of computers, resulting in trifold belly, pale skin and fluffy limbs at a young age. The little man whose skeleton is actually empty inside - and who also likes to pretend to be a man in the game, full of foul words.But now, as Levi.The reborn Spal himself was born in a veritable generational noble family.

Forced to start a transformation from his own flesh and blood in just a dozen years, he almost didn't recognize himself, except for the "past" that he stubbornly refused to forget in his heart.

In this case, Kashi, who is a commoner, has become the only example of him secretly nostalgic for his past life. When he swears, he dances and drools. If it is almost completely muted in TV dramas, it will be full of funny effects.Compared with the kind of family friends who always take the accent, Kashgar is more like his former buddies.

With a smirk, he connected to Kashgar.

"You %￥%#*&——"

"Are you still coming home tonight?" Li Wei said slowly, "You won't be able to touch Grandpa's mech after school starts."

"..."

Li Wei suppressed a smile, and when he heard someone let Kashi into the interrogation room, he guessed that the interrogation of the last student had just ended.

"Okay, let's invite Ai Mi to come to my house tonight. We can try Ai Mi's modification plan a few days ago. I have gathered all the materials."

Kashi's silly laughter came from the communicator, and then the call was cut off.

Soon Ai Mi's message also came.

[Seven o'clock in the evening, matcha cake. ]

Li Wei replied casually, I got it, and turned off the communicator.Amy likes his desserts, as long as there is meat in Kashgar.

These two were the only friends he had ever had in his life, at least so far.Both he and Aimi were born in aristocrats, but Kashgar is a commoner, but he himself is a soul from another world, naturally it does not matter class, Aimi is worthy of admiration.After all, in a specific social environment, it is not easy to break through the deep-rooted class differences and let go of the modesty and arrogance of the nobility.

The tool connecting the building and the ground is called a ladder, which is very similar to the elevator in his world.The cloud ladder is located on the northernmost side of the platform. It is a row of transparent boxes independent of the platform, connected only by glass passages.Levi squeezed through the last row of people, and stepped on the glass floor of the channel with black boots. If you look down, there is only air, and the sea looks far away. The sea waves hit the main body of the building, and then brought The white foam recedes into the sea, revealing black reefs from time to time.This is the ocean located on the west side of the empire, which occupies a considerable area of ​​the empire, but the continuous rising of buildings has solved this trivial problem.

Although it still looks very dangerous.

Li Wei walked over as if nothing had happened, and when he got close to the ladder, the glass doors on both sides quickly moved away. Once you enter this thing, you will find yourself as if you have been far away from the solid ground, and you are completely exposed to the high altitude with no support among.Of course, many people like this design. Taking a cloud ladder is no less than walking on the clouds or playing a roller coaster in a virtual paradise, but there are also quite a few people who are afraid of heights.

Like him.

"Target, floor." The voice of the electronic flight attendant came out mechanically.

Li Wei stood still and said, "The square on the first floor."

"Hold on, please, to the handrail."

Help your sister!Li Wei's face turned pale, what an empty armrest of a glass box, let him hold onto it!Cursing in his heart, he had no choice but to stretch out his hand to hold onto the smooth and transparent wall. As soon as he held onto it, he felt his body suddenly fly upwards, followed by a strong sense of weightlessness.A few seconds later, Li Wei closed his eyes and felt a shock in his body. The ladder had descended from a height of more than 60 meters to the first floor, and he heard the noisy voices outside.

"I want to complain...there is no safe exit..." He stood up straight with slightly trembling legs, and then strode out amidst the silent protest of the ladder.People with fear of heights can't afford to live in this kind of city... If there is a safe exit, he would rather climb the stairs every day than take this stupid roller coaster! !