Cannon fodder in the Interstellar

The Second Prince joined the entrance examination for the Xuan Gu First Military Academy midway through, so he missed the written test. However, he scored very high in the practical assessment, placing him among the top three thousand.

With his status as a beginner-level five warrior, the Second Prince is the highest-ranking among all students at the academy, surpassing even this year’s new students. If it weren’t for not meeting the academic standards, he could have graduated directly.

Thus, for the Second Prince, points do not reflect his true strength, and his position at the academy is certainly different from that of other new students.

It was unexpected that he would attend the first year with them and later join their special training team.

Although the special training team is officially for the top ten new students, no one questioned his legitimacy upon his late arrival.

Ruo Manni speculated that the Second Prince hadn’t participated in physical training earlier because such extreme training might not have appealed to him.

The upcoming mech training emphasizes teamwork, and no matter how capable the Second Prince is, he cannot fly alone, which is why he is here.

As Ruo Manni was thinking this, she saw Hebrew Adam salute Instructor Dudley and announce loudly, “Hebrew Adam reporting for duty.”

Instructor Dudley nodded and ordered, “Form ranks immediately.”

The mech training facility is on the second level of the battleship, standing nearly twenty meters high, with twenty training mechs towering inside.

After her rebirth, Ruo Manni had seen various mech designs online, but she had never actually operated a real mech. Seeing one in person filled her with longing.

Inside the mech training facility, there were two officers: one was Lieutenant Xiang, and the other was an unfamiliar level-five warrior.

Instructor Dudley briefly explained the mech operation they would learn today before dismissing the team: “Warriors will choose sensor-controlled mechs, while telekinetic users will select telekinetic-controlled mechs.”

Needless to say, Ruo Manni and Mina-Olli, as telekinetic users, would be managed by Lieutenant Xiang.

“Have you two operated a mech before?” he asked.

“Report, yes, three times,” Mina-Olli replied.

“Report, no,” Ruo Manni said.

“Ruo Manni, after you get into the mech, first familiarize yourself with its operation manual, then follow the procedures outlined,” Lieutenant Xiang instructed her.

“Yes!” Ruo Manni saluted.

“Olli, each mech has its own unique features, so be sure to read the operational instructions for your mech before training.”

Lieutenant Xiang nodded, “There are three telekinetic mechs here; choose one for yourselves.”

Under Lieutenant Xiang’s guidance, Ruo Manni entered the mech’s control room, sat in the pilot’s seat, and took about three minutes to memorize the lengthy operation manual.

Then, following the operational instructions, she put on the telekinetic control helmet and activated the mech. She found herself in a fascinating state, as if she had merged with the mech.

Ruo Manni tried to “raise” her right hand, and the mech’s right arm almost simultaneously lifted. When her “movement” stopped, the mech’s right arm also ceased to move.

During this process, Ruo Manni felt a resistance, which made the movements of the mech’s right arm slower than she intended, causing a discrepancy between her telekinetic commands and the mech’s actions.

She recalled some knowledge about this: it’s a common issue that pilots must overcome when operating mechs. Although the discrepancy was only 0.1 seconds, if not addressed, it could lead to mistakes during intense combat.

Ruo Manni repeatedly practiced various arm movements, slowly adapting to the resistance of the mech and the time delays caused by the telekinetic transmission.

She understood that this was a crucial first step that couldn’t be rushed, so she patiently performed various basic actions.

In contrast, her teammates were clearly more adept; after attempting some basic movements, they were already moving around, jogging, and even playfully sparring, displaying remarkable agility.

As a result, Ruo Manni’s mech seemed incredibly clumsy, cautiously moving its limbs, and during her first attempt to walk, she nearly stumbled.

“Are you not a level three mech engineer? How can you not even control a level one mech?” Dean Atchison’s surprised voice came through the team channel.

Without any shame, Ruo Manni replied, “Is it strange for a poor person like me, who specializes in mech manufacturing, not to have operated a mech in reality? This is the correct way to start; what’s so funny about it?”

“Since you’re already a level three mech engineer, why don’t you apply to the mech manufacturing department? Your level could easily make you the top freshman there. I heard this year’s top student in that department is only a level two engineer,” Sheila said, surprised.

Ruo Manni felt something strange about Sheila’s words; she didn’t believe Sheila genuinely didn’t know her situation.

Dean Atchison was well aware of the backstory. He recounted Ruo Manni’s awkwardness when she was forced to teleport to the mech combat department during the map assessment, making everyone enjoy her misfortune.

The previously silent second prince suddenly said arrogantly, “It’s her own stupidity. The military department issued a notice three months ago that any candidate with a cultivation potential above D level would automatically be required to enroll in the combat department. Her telekinetic potential of 3E is a genius not seen in the entire Gumeira Starfield for three hundred years; the empire wouldn’t let her waste her talent in the mech manufacturing department.”

They were practically strangers, so why did he choose to insult her as soon as he showed up today?

Ruo Manni sensed hostility from him and took advantage of the public setting, where others were busy greeting the prince, to deflect his words.

Now, with the prince confronting her directly, retreating would surely draw attention.

After some thought, she realized it was too suffocating to endure this; it went against her principles. She retorted, “It’s all because we third-tier stars are too backward. The central military department looks down on us. What can we do but suffer?”

Her tone was light, but the implication was a blatant mockery of the class inequality in the Gus Empire.

To Hua Deli and Dean Atchison, her words didn’t have much impact, but for the second prince, it was different. The clear social hierarchy was something the royal family had intentionally created.

Ruo Manni initially thought the second prince would be angry and assert his royal authority, but to her surprise, he held back and didn’t retaliate. Instead, he instructed everyone not to waste time and to focus on training.

From inside the mech, Ruo Manni couldn’t clearly see the prince’s expression, but she didn’t sense any intense anger, which made her heart tighten.