Top Warzone Analyst Chapter 77

When it comes to dealing with psychos, Cheng Feng was basically an old hand at it.

Shen Dan waved her hand dismissively. “Forget about him. He’ll be a senior next term -fourth year – so he’ll be off doing pre-placement training. We won’t really run into him. Besides, everyone’s style is different, there’s nothing much to learn from him anyway.”

Cheng Feng pondered for a moment, closed the interface, and reopened her own course materials.

The next day, she happened to have one of Mr. Luo’s major classes.

Even though most of the questions were beyond the expected level, he still went through the entire test paper in detail during class, listing out the key points first-year students were supposed to score on.

He stated that with the two-week winter break, as students of UFU, they should at the very least preview the first two units of next semester’s courses. So anyone who scored below 36 was already teetering on the edge of being eliminated – and he hoped they’d take that seriously.

The students listening were on the verge of tears.

“Turn your heads and look around – see? The people next to you are all pretty cunning,” he said, stirring things up in a rather devious tone. “You think they’re all eating, drinking, and having fun? In reality, they’re secretly studying, waiting to amaze everyone.”

“Time is running out! In your second year, you’ll need to sign up for competitions. With skills at this half-baked level, do you think anyone would even want to recruit you? If you can’t even latch onto a competition in second year, then by third year, teams at your level will be looking for experienced members – you still won’t make the cut! If you can’t secure a position in the big competitions, your CV will be completely blank. And what happens after fourth year? Are you going to compete for jobs with those guys next door who do hand exercises?”

Cheng Feng looked dazed after hearing all that, as if she’d been stabbed twice in quick succession.

Shen Dan’s expression was numb as he quietly sent her a message: “…I’ve been hearing this speech from kindergarten all the way to the college entrance exams. So if you’ve got talent, you’re supposed to start working hard from the embryo stage.”

Cheng Feng: “…”

Mr. Luo talked himself hoarse for a full ten minutes before the bell finally rang.

The students stood up wearily, picking up their optical computers, ready to study hard for the sake of their future, three years down the line. Mr. Luo took a sip of water and waved his hand. “Cheng Feng, stay a moment. Come here.”

Cheng Feng followed him to an empty corner. The screen on her device was still paused on a breakdown explanation of a certain model; while waiting for him to speak, she glanced down and skimmed it a couple more times.

Mr. Luo lowered his gaze to look at her, took a moment to choose his words, and then eased into the topic tactfully. “Your results this time weren’t great. You’ve seen the gap between you and the top students, right?”

Cheng Feng nodded.

Mr. Luo asked, “What do you think the reason is?”

Cheng Feng answered honestly, “I haven’t read enough.”

Mr. Luo opened his mouth, but no words came out. Seeing the dark circles under her eyes and the pallor of her face, all the remarks he’d prepared beforehand vanished.

This wasn’t about whether she had read enough, or whether she was working hard enough.

He had originally intended to use this opportunity to knock her down a peg, to keep her from being overly proud of her talent. But now, he instead had the urge to grab her by the shoulders and tell her plainly: this is a problem of unequal distribution of educational resources! The post-war systems don’t have access to the cutting edge of technical disciplines!

Mr. Luo pressed down on her optical computer, forcing her to lift her head. But when their eyes met, he found himself unsure of what to say. In the end, he stuck to the main point. “Actually, this test was meant to recruit trainees for a technical intensive program.”

“Where is the training held?” Cheng Feng asked calmly. “How long does it last? How many people? What level? What does it cover?”

For some reason, Mr. Luo felt like the momentum had shifted and he was the one being put on the back foot. He replied, “At a base in the suburbs. Several military universities have coordinated with the people in charge and arranged to bring in professional data analysts and training instructors, forming a team of 150 people for closed training. UFU has 30 slots – 26 will go to third-year students based on their results, and two each for first- and second-years. As for the content, we don’t know yet; it may not align with the university curriculum. But if you’re planning to go into the military in the future, this kind of training will definitely be very useful.”

Cheng Feng nodded. “Alright.”

Seeing how indifferent her reaction was, Mr. Luo felt oddly uncomfortable.

Cheng Feng had recently been taking a side course in social etiquette, and she vaguely sensed his displeasure. After a moment’s hesitation, she forced a smile, showing her white teeth, and said, “Thank you.”

Mr. Luo pinched her cheek and said sternly, “Don’t ever use that kind of expression to provoke your instructors, got it?”

Cheng Feng: “…”

She brushed his hand away and turned to leave coldly.

Shen Dan also received a notice about the training program. She packed her things together with Cheng Feng and waited for the department to assemble them.

The department temporarily granted them a week’s leave. Cheng Feng thought the training would only last that long, but Mr. Luo leisurely added, “If you don’t get kicked out halfway, the duration will be extended.”

Cheng Feng asked, “What would get someone kicked out?”

Mr. Luo gave a subtle warning, “If you can’t keep up with the coursework, you’re likely to be kicked out. If you can’t keep up and still have a bad attitude, you’ll definitely be kicked out. Once you’re kicked out, your extracurricular practice credits for this semester will drop to zero.”

Cheng Feng and Shen Dan both gave a casual “oh,” not really taking in the rest of what he said.

It clearly had nothing to do with them anyway – they were both exceptionally humble and obedient.

The training was scheduled to begin on a Saturday in early March, with the base arranging transport to pick them up.

The two of them arrived early at the gates with their backpacks, waiting.

Around them were all their seniors. The upperclassmen from their university were very friendly – pushing them to the front of the group, taking the initiative to chat with them, and explaining the rules of the base.

The pre-finals training camp for the league was also held at that suburban base. However, in the past, it was mostly students from the single-soldier track who attended; for those in the command track, opportunities like this were relatively rare.

“Anyway… I’ve heard it’s pretty brutal – you get a glimpse of what the gates of hell look like.” The senior with the buzz cut rubbed his short hair and grinned smugly. “I went and cut my hair short on purpose. If it’s too long, they might just shave it all off.”

Cheng Feng’s eyes widened as she let out a startled, “Huh?!”

The senior burst out laughing. “Probably not for girls. And your hair isn’t that long anyway!”

While they were chatting, the transport arrived.

The instructor in charge stepped down from the vehicle in full military uniform. Before letting everyone board, he required the students to take out their luggage for inspection. Anything deemed unnecessary had to be discarded.

“Unnecessary” here included non-essential clothing, extra shoes and socks, skincare products, and all food.

Cheng Feng had really wanted to bring the little owl, but didn’t dare to. In the end, what she packed was just a few toiletries, her optical computer, and the matching charging equipment – fully in line with the instructor’s standards.

Their devices were then collected by the instructor, to be returned only when communication was necessary.

The instructor didn’t conduct a particularly strict search of their belongings – it was largely based on honesty. Once everyone raised their hands to indicate they were ready, he simply waved and signaled for them to board.

After an hour and a half of driving, they arrived at the base. Passing through a gate sealed with iron fencing and traveling about a kilometer along a wide, straight, empty road, they saw a massive training building with a square, imposing exterior.

The leading instructor brought them to a large map at the entrance and, in just a few brief sentences, explained the layout of the building floors and the areas they were allowed to access. He then sent them off to the supply room to collect their uniforms and activate their dorm permissions, instructing them to change within half an hour and assemble in the activity hall on the second floor.

The instructor kept a cold expression the entire time, speaking without much emotion and at a rapid-fire pace, as if rushing through a checklist:

“There’s no navigation here. You’re all command department students – I don’t accept people who can’t find their way. The base is large, but if anyone is late because they got lost, I suggest you switch careers early.”

No one dared to respond. The moment he barked “Dismissed,” everyone immediately broke into a run to collect their uniforms.

When it came to running, Cheng Feng and Shen Dan had always been outstanding. The two of them shot forward like a gust of wind, swiped their cards to pick up their gear, and then dashed off just as quickly to find their dorm.

Their luck wasn’t great – their assigned dorm happened to be on the far side of the building. By the time they changed and rushed to the activity hall, there were only five minutes left.

Students from the United Military University had arrived a bit earlier and were already lined up, gathered on the left side of the hall.

“I can tell you responsibly – training at this base is nothing like the gentle, tickle-like greetings you get at your school. If you can’t handle it, you’re free to leave anytime. We won’t keep you!”

Cheng Feng tilted her head slightly, listening to the other group’s instructor delivering a harsh lecture.

“Don’t think physical fitness is useless – it effectively extends your professional lifespan. One of the key focuses of this training is physical conditioning. Your major courses are all scheduled for the afternoon and evening. If you can’t pass the fitness requirements, don’t even bother attending your academic classes!”

A trace of tension showed on everyone’s faces.

Cheng Feng was still observing when a sharp shout came from the doorway, “What are you all standing around for? Form up!”