Chapter 138: [Volunteer Soldier]

While feeling a mixture of joy and relief, Luo Chen was also troubled by another matter: the beast tide was raging, making it temporarily impossible to venture outside for hunting. Over the past few weeks, he had managed to save up a bit of money. If he spent sparingly, he could easily get by for another month or two. By then, barring any accidents, the beast tide should have subsided.

However, being unable to hunt meant he could no longer indulge in the paid training grounds for the time being. Luo Chen had originally planned to make some more money before trying out the gravity rooms, but that plan now had to be put on hold. Thinking of this, Luo Chen fell into a gloomy mood once again.

Money wasn't everything, but without money, life was truly impossible!

Gathering in the classroom, after the homeroom teacher Potter delivered his routine speech, he announced, "I am sure everyone has heard about the beast tide. During this period, unless absolutely necessary, it is best that no one leaves Miracle City, even on weekends, to prevent any accidents!"

Concerned about his face and reputation, Potter exceptionally refrained from pausing halfway through for the students to applaud, as a beast tide was hardly a topic worthy of applause.

When the speech concluded and class was dismissed, Luo Chen was just about to leave when Potter called out to him, "Luo Chen, don't go to your regular class just yet. Come with me to the administrative office!"

"The administrative office?" Luo Chen asked in confusion. "Does the academy need something from me?"

"Mhm. There's a matter. A good thing, presumably..."

"A good thing?" Upon hearing that it was something good, Luo Chen instantly perked up. Could it be that his recent stellar performance in the academy had caught their attention, and they were planning to award him a scholarship?

Swept away by his daydream of striking it rich, Luo Chen completely overlooked Potter's hesitant tone. If it were truly a scholarship, the teacher wouldn't have used the word "presumably"; it certainly would have been an unadulterated piece of good news.

Luo Chen trotted enthusiastically toward the administrative office, only to find a crowd already gathered in the first-floor lobby. The group was divided into three distinct batches, which could be identified by their school crests as being organized by grade level.

The freshmen group was the smallest, and among them were several familiar faces: Ai Feijie and Joanna were both prominently present, along with Kevin. For the most part, the rest were students from classes one and two—individuals Luo Chen recognized by reputation as the top-tier, elite performers of the advanced classes.

Could it really be about handing out scholarships? Why else would only the outstanding students be summoned?

This thought improved Luo Chen's mood even further. He had just been fretting over not being able to hunt outside during the beast tide, and now money was practically delivering itself to his doorstep. How wonderful!

"Captain!" Zhu Yuqing's sharp eyes spotted Luo Chen immediately, and she walked over with a cheerful greeting. The others nearby looked on with strange expressions. What on earth was the relationship between Zhu Yuqing and Luo Chen?

"Oh, you're here too?" Luo Chen asked. "Right, Zhu Yuqing, were you alright yesterday? Afterward, did you feel any physical discomfort or abnormalities?"

Since Zhu Yuqing had also fallen under the malignant spell of the eyeball monster, Luo Chen was simply wondering if her mental power had similarly increased, prompting his question. However, he was completely oblivious to the fact that his phrasing easily lent itself to misinterpretation, and many who overheard him jumped to wild conclusions.

After that day, physical discomfort and abnormalities? Could it be that the two of them had actually taken things all the way? Weren't women supposed to experience some discomfort or unusual feelings after losing their virginity?

What a beast! Has the absolute campus belle of our academy really been plucked by this punk Luo Chen? Everyone felt a deep sense of sorrow and injustice, thinking: Our backgrounds and qualifications are so much better than Luo Chen's, so why did Zhu Yuqing single him out with such favor? Such a delicate and charming flower, stubbornly determined to be stuck in a pile of stinking cow dung.

Zhu Yuqing's roommate, the boy-crazy Lulu, was standing right beside her. Hearing the exchange, she thought to herself: No wonder! When Yuqing returned to the dorm yesterday, she looked completely absent-minded. So it was because of the aftereffects!

Yuqing must have truly lost her mind. Of all people to pick, why choose this Luo Chen? If it were me, I definitely would have chosen Kevin without a second thought. He is every girl's Prince Charming—so handsome and full of poise! And look at Luo Chen by comparison; he doesn't have a single redeeming quality!

Of course, she had no idea that Zhu Yuqing had merely been trapped in the nightmare's mental lock and was left feeling slightly dazed afterward, which had nothing whatsoever to do with what she was imagining.

Zhu Yuqing smiled and replied, "No, I'm fine. Captain, how about you?"

Luo Chen mused that since Zhu Yuqing showed no abnormalities, his own increase in mental power must have had nothing to do with the eyeball monster's sorcery, but rather was the handiwork of the chubby little bird.

"I'm doing great too. By the way, are we being summoned today to receive scholarships?"

"I'm not sure. Our homeroom teacher didn't drop any hints, but I doubt it. If it were scholarships, there wouldn't be any need for secrecy."

Zhu Yuqing was cleverer after all. Prompted by her words, Luo Chen suddenly recalled that Potter's tone when summoning him to the office hadn't been particularly joyous. Was it not for a scholarship? At this realization, Luo Chen couldn't help feeling a bit disappointed, though he quickly consoled himself: "You never know! Maybe the homeroom teacher wants to give us a surprise!"

"Idiot, stop letting your head be filled solely with money!" Joanna appeared from somewhere nearby. "I went and asked the senior student discipline committee members. We aren't being summoned by the academy for scholarships; we're being drafted into a volunteer force to resist the beast tide!"

Zhu Yuqing asked with curiosity, "Joanna, could you be more specific? What kind of volunteers?"

"Actually, our duties will be pretty much the same as regular soldiers: guarding cities and villages. But we won't be on active, full-time duty; we're just being temporarily mobilized and acting as auxiliary troops under special circumstances!"

Ai Feijie added, "When a beast tide strikes, cities often issue paid calls for volunteers from various backgrounds, such as mercenaries. Once the daily mission ends, these volunteer units—"

Luo Chen nodded in understanding. "Oh, I see! Wait, Ai Feijie, did you just say 'paid'?"

Joanna and the other girls thought simultaneously: Figures. This guy gets exceptionally sensitive the moment money is mentioned.

"That's right. While serving in the volunteer force, we will receive a salary. It sounds like we'll be treated as privates!"

Luo Chen clapped his hands together and grinned. "Hehe, fantastic! I was just worrying about running out of food supplies since I couldn't go hunting during the beast tide!"

Joanna felt a surge of exasperation. "Luo Chen, can't your mind be a bit more noble? Can't you contribute your share of effort out of a sense of duty to protect this city and the people within it?"

"Of course I can!" Luo Chen scratched his head. "Though getting a salary is naturally even better. Besides, it's not like I'm extorting it; the city is willing to pay it. Would I really turn free money down?"

Joanna was left speechless. "You—forget it. I'm wasting my breath trying to reason with a hopeless miser like you. You're driving me crazy..."

Ai Feijie smiled and said, "Alright, Joanna. The fact that Luo Chen is willing to join the volunteer force at all means his thinking is already noble enough. According to the laws of the Eternal Alliance, citizens who are not enlisted professional soldiers cannot be forcibly conscripted into the military. Of course, unless the severity of the beast tide poses an extreme threat to the city and reaches a state of high alert!"

"Ah, you beastly punk, you're here too?" Shi Feng strolled lazily into the administrative hall. He looked thoroughly surprised upon seeing Luo Chen, then added, "And the beauties too! Were you all summoned by your instructors as well? What on earth is going on?"

Luo Chen repeated what Joanna had told him, and Shi Feng finally understood. "So it's about that, huh? Well, that's fine. I was getting sick of staying cooped up in the city anyway; time to go outside and have some fun."

Shi Feng's tone was as casual as if he were heading out for a leisurely picnic. Brother Stud always maintained this breezy, carefree attitude, even if the sky were falling.

"Besides, we might even run into some pretty female soldiers. Hehe, an Amazon flower wouldn't be bad either. I've never tried that flavor before!"

Joanna glared at him. "You stud, are you going out there to pick up girls or to protect the city?"

Shi Feng laughed heartily. "What's the difference? Combining entertainment with combat—you can manage both at the same time!"

The girls were completely lost for words. One was obsessed with money, and the other with romance. Sending these two onto the battlefield—who knew whether it would turn out to be a blessing or a curse?

Before long, as no more students were entering the hall, several instructors stepped out.

One of the instructors walked up to the raised platform at the front of the hall and spoke: "Hello, students. I am Instructor Mario. I suppose all of you have heard the news about the beast tide. This outbreak originated about forty kilometers to the north and has spread all the way to the regions near our Miracle City. The coverage area is vast, and many suburban satellite towns have already fallen victim to the tide's assault!"

"As citizens of Miracle City, everyone has a duty to contribute to the city. We students of the Blue Empire Academy should lead the charge, applying what we've learned to serve the Alliance and its people. Therefore, today we have selected a batch of the most outstanding students from each grade level to serve as volunteers, preparing to head to the front lines and guard our homes!"

Mario's words were met with a wave of enthusiastic applause. He then continued, "According to assessments, the beast tide spreading to the vicinity of Miracle City is merely the shockwave, rated around Grade C. Experts estimate it will last for about half a month. During this period, students performing military service will enjoy the treatment and subsidies of a private, and upon mission completion, you will be awarded a fifth-class merit! Genuine soldiers do not earn merits easily; this is a measure enacted by the Alliance to encourage everyone's enthusiasm. It's a rare opportunity!"

At this point, Mario's tone shifted. "The severity of this beast tide has not yet reached the point of forcibly conscripting ordinary citizens, so the academy will not force any student to participate. This is an optional internship mission—you may choose to accept it or decline it. Those who decline will not face any disciplinary action from the academy, while those who accept will receive internship credits as well as a fifth-class merit from the Alliance. Anyone wishing to withdraw may submit their application now!"

A murmur broke out among the crowd. A beast tide was, after all, a terrifying event that made people pale; who wouldn't feel afraid? Yet if someone truly chose to withdraw, although the academy wouldn't say anything official, they would inevitably leave an impression of cowardice in the eyes of their instructors and peers. In the end, not a single person stepped out of the hall.

Just then, someone suddenly raised a hand. All eyes turned toward the motion, only to discover that it was none other than Luo Chen.

The crowd instantly filled with contempt. This guy really was a coward! Back during the martial arts internship mission at Weston Academy, he had abandoned his partner Ai Feijie. Now, hearing that a beast tide was approaching, he must have been scared out of his wits, lacking the courage to head to the front lines.

Even Ai Feijie frowned. Luo Chen's action truly seemed a bit too selfish, while Joanna stomped her foot and began scolding, "That damned bastard Luo Chen! We wasted our time tutoring him. I'm never paying attention to that coward again!"

Mario's expression darkened. Although the internship mission was voluntary, he genuinely didn't want to see any student back out, so he said with displeasure, "Very well, student. You may leave now."

"No, Instructor," Luo Chen said loudly. "I don't plan on giving up the internship mission. I just wanted to ask you a question."

Mario's expression eased slightly. "Oh? What question? Please go ahead."

Luo Chen asked, "During our military service, are the beast crystals we harvest required to be turned over to the authorities, or do they belong to the volunteers who collected them?"

As soon as those words left his mouth, everyone felt like passing out. At a time like this, Luo Chen wasn't thinking about how dangerous the beast tide might be, but rather whether he could make a bit more money. This guy's train of thought was truly extraordinary. People who loved money were a dime a dozen, but nobody had ever loved it to this absurd degree!

Hearing this, Ai Feijie finally smoothed out her furrowed brow, while Joanna muttered under her breath, "Look at the timing! His head is filled with nothing but money, money, money. When the time comes, don't go losing your precious life just for the sake of a single crystal!"

Mario was left between laughter and tears, but he still answered Luo Chen's question: "They do not need to be turned in. They belong to the individuals or the small cooperative combat units that acquire them. As for how to distribute them, you can privately negotiate with your squad members... Student, do you have any other questions?"

Luo Chen shook his head and said happily, "No, that's all."

Not having to turn them in was fantastic! With so many ferocious beasts swarming about in a beast tide, if they actually got into the thick of it, they were bound to drop a good number of crystals, right?

"If everyone agrees to join the volunteer force and has no further questions, then it is settled!" Mario added a final reminder, "Within the next two days, the military will issue orders at any moment. When that happens, we will depart the academy immediately. Please make thorough psychological preparations and bring along concealed weapons to handle emergencies!"

Following that, the academy distributed a volunteer declaration form. As long as anyone signed their name on it, any accidents encountered during the beast tide mission would no longer be the responsibility of the academy or the military. However, in the event of a genuine tragedy resulting in disability or death, they would enjoy the same pensions as regular soldiers—the disabled could collect it themselves, while in the case of death, the beneficiaries would be designated others.

In the beneficiary section, Luo Chen wrote down Shi Feng's name. Although he didn't plan on getting himself killed, it was best to take precautions just in case. If he were truly that unlucky, he would treat this pension as a small token of repayment for his good friend's selfless help over the years. Even though that guy had never lacked money, Luo Chen couldn't think of anyone closer to him than Shi Feng.

Once the assembly was dismissed, Brother Stud walked over. "Haha, you beast, I actually wrote your name down as my pension beneficiary. Of course, I hope you never get to collect a single cent of it!"

To Luo Chen's surprise, this punk had been thinking the exact same thing. Why didn't he list his own family members?

Sensing what Luo Chen was thinking, Shi Feng waved a hand. "Relax, my family lacks everything except money. Ahahaha."

Noticing Luo Chen's peculiar expression, Brother Stud paused. "Hey, punk, the beneficiary you wrote down wouldn't happen to be me, would it?"

Luo Chen nodded with utmost seriousness. Suddenly remembering something, Shi Feng asked, "Wait, just in case both of us kick the bucket, who gets the money?"

"You dead stud, you really can't spit out any ivory from that dog mouth of yours." Joanna, who had overheard their conversation, walked over and scolded, "Can you two stop talking about such jinxed things?"

Shi Feng chuckled. "Just in case, just in case..."

Ai Feijie offered a factual explanation: "You guys didn't read the regulations carefully. If even the designated beneficiaries meet with misfortune, the Alliance investigates the student's personal files and grants the pension to other relatives or family members. If there aren't any relatives left at all, the money gets donated to a charity fund!"

Joanna snorted, "Hmph, why are you even explaining that? These two are like indestructible cockroaches; they're annoying as hell, but their lifespans are too long!"

Zhu Yuqing laughed. "I didn't fill in anything—donating it to a charity fund actually sounds like a pretty good choice."

Ai Feijie asked in surprise, "Yuqing, you... don't you have any family?"

"None," Zhu Yuqing replied without a moment's hesitation. Those old immortals couldn't really be considered her family; although they had raised her, both sides were at best in a researcher-and-test-subject relationship.

Besides, would those old fogies ever need to worry about money? As long as the Saint Martial Hall claimed it was for research needs, the Alliance's finance department would obediently hand over vast sums of money on a silver platter.

Hearing Zhu Yuqing's answer, Joanna and Ai Feijie felt a pang of sympathy. They had originally assumed that this proud campus belle who carried herself like a little princess must have had an illustrious background and been doted on by thousands, never imagining she was actually an orphan. Women's sympathy tended to run deep, and the two girls immediately grew much closer to Zhu Yuqing.

"Alright, stop talking about unlucky things!" Zhu Yuqing pointed at Luo Chen and Shi Feng. "Just like Joanna said, the captain and Shi Feng are cockroaches—even the Grim Reaper wouldn't dare take them."

Then she pointed at herself, Ai Feijie, and Joanna. "And as for us, we're gorgeous, beloved by everyone, blooming wherever we go, turning heads on every street. His Almighty God wouldn't have the heart to summon us right now, right?"

"Yuqing is right," Joanna said, extending her hand. "Every single one of us will definitely come back safely!"

Ai Feijie nodded. "That's right, our youth has only just begun; how could it end here?"

Zhu Yuqing added, "I haven't enjoyed my life of freedom nearly enough yet!"

Shi Feng grinned. "The whole forest is waiting for me, and I've barely logged a few trees. I'm certainly not willing to leave yet!"

Luo Chen concluded, "Until I've slept on a bed piled high with gold coins, I am absolutely not going to kick the bucket. Ahahaha!"

Five hands stacked atop one another. These five young people were about to embark on the collective adventure of their lifetimes. Perhaps a turbulent journey awaited them, but who cared right now? Because behind the adventure lay an infinite tide of youthful blood and passion!