Top Warzone Analyst Chapter 12

In the meeting room, the manual operations teacher stared intently at the screen.

Amidst a murmur of whispers, he let out a heavy sigh.

Everyone thought he had come to terms with reality and decided to give up, feeling a tinge of pity for him. Then they heard this burly man, standing 1.8 meters tall, utter with immense emotion, “What a fine prospect for a solo soldier. He has leadership, decisiveness – just like Xiang Yunjian – and is very suited to be a team leader. UFU’s educational philosophy has always held that a good solo soldier must not only harness their own strength but also inspire those around them to develop together. Right?”

The crowd: “…” Did you learn your shamelessness from the Command Department?

The middle-aged man continued unabashedly, “After the last generation of innovations, the technology for manually operated mechs has achieved a separation between the cockpit and the mech itself – something sensory mechs cannot accomplish. Whether in terms of safety or flexibility, I believe manually operated mechs have boundless potential. What they urgently need now is a decisive figure to showcase their true advantages.”

When he was discussing the earlier topic, he was still relatively serious, and everyone agreed with his point. Even the head of the command department didn’t argue with him.

For the command department, Cheng Feng was merely the icing on the cake. Each commander has a unique combat style, and there is no absolute right or wrong. The most important task of data analysis is to provide support from the sidelines. If she joined the command department, she would still face competition from her peers and would have to start by learning to adapt.

But for manually operated mechs, she was likely the long-awaited drop of dew after years of drought. No one else would suffice.

By the end, the manual mech instructor shamelessly added, “My requirements for students are actually not that high. I understand the limitations of human capabilities. But if a versatile talent comes along, we are confident in guiding them. Just because someone can do other things doesn’t mean they aren’t suited for manually operated mechs. I’ll treat everyone equally and embrace them.”

The command department instructor couldn’t stand it any longer and waved his hand dismissively, saying, “Let’s focus on the match. Xiang Yunjian’s three-person squad is still intact, and they hold the highest number of eliminations. It’s still too early to talk about victory or defeat.”

The manual mech instructor, pretending to be magnanimous, said, “They’re just kids. Stumbling a little is no big deal, right? Don’t place too much importance on winning or losing.”

…

Xiang Yunjian patrolled half a stretch along the abandoned street, vaguely sensing something amiss. He called out over the channel, “Yan Shen, have you pulled out? Do you need backup?”

Silence.

Xiang Yunjian frowned. “Yan Shen?”

Jiang Linxia chimed in, “Yan Shen?”

Xin Kuang: “…You son of a gun?”

No response.

“Looks like he’s been eliminated. Cut the signal.” Xiang Yunjian made a quick decision and then asked, “Cheng Feng, are you still there?”

Cheng Feng replied slowly, “I’m here.”

Xiang Yunjian asked, “What about Yan Shen? What happened?”

Cheng Feng remained as concise as ever, with zero enthusiasm. “No idea.”

Jiang Linxia clicked his tongue. “No way? What’s up with these rabbits? Their kicks pack a punch after all? Yan Shen didn’t even leave a last word – just dropped like that?”

Cheng Feng mumbled vaguely, “Probably underestimated the enemy?”

Jiang Linxia asked sincerely, “But did the other side even have any room to be overestimated?”

That stung, but it seemed to be the truth.

Until Cheng Feng joined.

The times have changed, humanity!

The area where Xiang Yunjian currently was located was an urban ruin.

Most of the high-rise buildings in the city center had collapsed during the war, leaving behind only a few short remnants. However, several towering, structurally unsound buildings still stood, serving as natural hiding spots and greatly increasing the variability of the battlefield.

The group repeatedly swept through the midline area, preventing the opposing students from gathering into a significant force.

Xiang Yunjian stood by the roadside with his gun, carefully checking behind doors and windows across the way for any hidden figures, while distracted, he asked, “Be careful not to blow your cover. Want to come over and regroup with us? If you’re scared, we can come get you.”

“No need,” Cheng Feng said. “We’re currently discussing how to take you out.”

Jiang Linxia cut in quickly, “No need to tip us off. Let it be a surprise, alright?”

Cheng Feng considerately replied, “Alright.”

“See you later, bro.” Jiang Linxia, sensing from Cheng Feng’s evasive and detached attitude that she had likely already switched sides, said with a grin, “Hope you have fun. My advice: don’t underestimate your seniors, or you might end up taking a big hit.”

Both sides ruthlessly ended the communication.

Jiang Linxia wanted to kick Cheng Feng out of the channel but found that the other party had acted faster than him and had already voluntarily left.

Jiang Linxia withdrew his hand regretfully and sighed, “Yan Shen really got outwitted this time, sold out like that. How is that kid Cheng Feng so easy to fool? He’s only been there for a short while, and he’s already been turned. What kind of benefits did the other side promise him?”

The ultimate purpose of this exercise was always just assessment. Everyone relied on their own abilities and played to their strengths. Whatever dramatic developments occurred, Xiang Yunjian wouldn’t find them strange.

Xin Kuang chuckled, “Don’t try to guess the mind of a robot.”

…

After ending the communication, the robot returned to the group. The resting youths lifted their heads one after another, instinctively seeking her opinion.

Humans’ reliance on the strong is truly instinctual.

“Tech support, what’s our next move on the map? Based on the intel from the public channel, those three senior students’ teamwork is terrifying. Their reconnaissance and counter-reconnaissance skills are way better than ours. They move through that area of the map like slippery loaches – impossible to guard against.”

The captain curled his lips and smiled brightly. “Can you draw a map of the city?”

“I can draw it,” Cheng Feng said. “But you wouldn’t be able to understand it or remember it.”

The captain let out a disappointed sigh.

The buzz-cut guy sidled up to her and asked, “So, boss, what do we do now? Should we gather more strength from the masses first?”

Cheng Feng thought for a moment and said, “The method is still the same.”

“Use the same method as we did against the sniper? That definitely won’t work!” The captain’s face was full of worry. “The city map isn’t as clear-cut as the wild forest. Even if we know their positions, they could duck into another place in the blink of an eye. Besides, those three’s movements are too unpredictable. With too few people, we can’t slow them down. With just a dozen or so of us, at best, we’ll make a slightly bigger splash.”

Cheng Feng nodded and said, “Their tactics are very versatile. You can’t pinpoint their positions, and even if you do, you can’t keep up or defeat them, right?”

The captain muttered softly, “Yeah.”

Cheng Feng asked, “And why is that?”

The captain’s scalp tingled just hearing her say those words.

The buzz-cut guy had already shed all psychological burdens and humbly sought advice. “Go on, boss, explain.”

“Because a sniper needs to conceal themselves and lie in ambush – they are static. But their team excels at avoiding the strong and attacking the weak – they are dynamic,” Cheng Feng said. “You clearly can’t outrun them, yet you insist on chasing. Of course, the initiative is in their hands. Guerrilla tactics are best for defeating a larger force with a smaller one and wearing down the enemy’s combat strength. Having more people is useless.”

If the essence of guerrilla warfare lies in exploiting strengths and avoiding weaknesses, then the biggest problem now was that even their opponents’ “weaknesses” far exceeded their own “strengths.”

The captain felt too embarrassed to state this fact out loud.

“Turning passivity into initiative – that should be your direction for the assault.” Cheng Feng specifically reminded the captain, “You applied the wrong formula earlier.”

The captain: “…”

Cheng Feng had spoken a lot today, more tiring than planting cabbage.

She stuffed her hands into her pockets and reminded them, “There’s actually an unfair aspect to this exercise. Your goal is to ‘eliminate’ them, but their goal is simply to assess you. So, unless absolutely necessary, they will go easy on you.”

Everyone was startled, hardly daring to believe it.

“Really?!”

“Since when do straight guys show mercy?”

“Do we look like the type to inspire pity?”

“Tech support, maybe you don’t fully grasp how harsh this world can be.”

Cheng Feng nodded calmly and said, “They do.”

After all, none of you exactly come across as particularly bright.

Cheng Feng continued, “Making good use of their leniency is your key to victory.”

A young man nearby pondered this for a moment and muttered, “…Sounds kind of shameless.”

Cheng Feng turned her head to look at him and said, “Then you can try another method.”

The young man’s eyes lit up. “What is it?”

Cheng Feng pressed her palms together in front of her chest, her expression serene, and said, “Pray.”

You can’t do anything right, but you’re champions at daydreaming.

The only thing you’ve got going for you is wishful thinking.