At eleven o’clock noon in Aslan Star City, inside the underground mecha training ground of the Golden Sun Wheel Building.
The observation seats were filled to capacity, occupied by soldiers and officers of the Golden Sun Wheel, their faces flushed with excitement, and shouts echoed back and forth.
“Good!——”
“Hey, that move just now was beautiful!”
“Keep going, do it, beat him!”
Looking down from the observation seats, there were three mechas in the arena. The two mechas in combat were both M-Split Wind 09, a C-class mecha interwoven with white and brown colors, the standard model used by the Golden Sun Wheel mecha soldiers.
In the military, fighting and brawling would lead to punishment, and the only “reasonable way to challenge” was to come to the training ground for mecha battles.
It’s usually only when the experts “challenge” that the observation seats become lively.
But today was obviously different. The mecha on the left was aggressive and fierce, each strike and spin was noteworthy, but there was still a hint of greenness in the movements of a new recruit.
The mecha on the right was more defensive than offensive, cautious in every step, and its movements were clearly a level smoother than its opponent. To the discerning eye, it was obvious that this was a case of feeding moves to the pilot of the left mecha.
(TL: Feeding moves is a method in which a coach or a partner purposefully feeds a practitioner movements based on certain offensive and defensive requirements, combined with a sense of actual combat, or helps the practitioner practice with the help of auxiliary equipment such as hand targets and foot targets.)
Feeding moves, this was a teaching battle, not a challenge.
Generally speaking, this wouldn’t be very interesting, nor would it gather so many people.
What was special was the third mecha standing in the arena, completely white and aesthetically pleasing, the model S-Snow Dove.
The cockpit was open, and sitting on the body was a young black-haired, black-eyed officer, with a handsome and delicate appearance. At that moment, he targeted the gap between the two mechas and clapped his hands.
“Alright, take a break.”
As soon as he spoke, the shouting from the observation seats suddenly rose an octave.
When Jiang Jianming helplessly swept a cool glance over the seats, the strange shouts grew louder.
Since the turmoil before the New Year was quelled, Jiang Jianming, as the temporary inspector, suddenly rose to fame.
It was also a coincidence that at the time, when civilians and the non crystal race were fighting for their rights, it was Jiang Jianming, who possessed both identities, who repeatedly made military achievements, suddenly adding a legendary color to his reputation.
In this high-tech era, the speed of information dissemination was fast, and in just over half a month, he had inexplicably gained a group of admirers.
In addition to those who follow the crowd for the excitement, those who look down on the disabled and come to pick his faults, and those who secretly see him as a competitor, observing this strong enemy…..all in all, just within the Golden Sun Wheel, there were enough people to fill a mecha training ground. The cockpit of the M-Split Wind 09 opened, and the female pilot with soft chestnut short hair was panting non-stop, her cheeks flushed with an attractive redness.
She propped herself up with her hands and leaped out of the cockpit—when she landed, there was a clanging sound of metal collision. Her right leg was actually a prosthetic, an iron-colored military prosthetic made of hard alloy.
The pilot opposite also got out of the mecha. Major Zheng Yue wiped the sweat from his forehead and said with a hearty smile, “Miss Bei, you’ve improved quickly.”
Bei Man’er smiled sweetly, her gaze falling on her own legs. “It’s still not enough. I’ve already fallen behind so much. If I want to return to the army, I have to put in a hundred percent effort when others are working very hard.”
Zheng Yue said, “With your current level, there should be no problem getting into the Golden Sun Wheel.”
Bei Man’er shook her head. “I still want to go back to the Silver Big Dipper. I fell there, so I have to get up from there. It’s just troublesome for Major Zheng to always accompany me, a half-baked person.”
“Hey, don’t be polite, it’s my honor to practice with a beauty,” Zheng Yue said with a curved eyebrow smile. “Besides, Little Excelency’s health is not good, and Prince Ryann doesn’t allow him to get on the mecha, so I have to step in, right?”
Jiang Jianming had Seth maneuver the Snow Dove over and timely said, “Old Zheng, don’t get carried away. With Man’er’s rate of improvement, you won’t be able to play the instructor in a year or two.”
His voice was light and gentle, and before he finished speaking, the observation seats erupted.
“Inspector, have a match!”
“Little Excellency is amazing, let Little Excellency have a match!”
Especially the young people, they were uproariously encouraging.
“These guys,” Zheng Yue cursed with a laugh, “They’re targeting the fact that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and His Excellency Lance are not here today, trying to stir you up.”
Jiang Jianming just smiled it off, but couldn’t help feeling a bit itchy to join in.
Ever since his chronic crystal disorder was exposed, Garcia had been keeping a very tight watch on him…not to mention getting on a mecha, even his eating and sleeping schedule had been arranged.
But today, Garcia was still in the White Jade Palace.
Since he had made up his mind to become the Crown Prince, there were always many things that needed to be crammed in at the last minute. The current Little Highness was even more tired than the candidates rushing for exams.
There were also countless occasions where this resurrected heir to the throne needed to make public appearances. He was not accustomed to the political scene and could only rely on the previous night’s preparation and improvisation…It’s quite pitiable, and Jiang Jianming sincerely pitied him.
Pity aside, at least today he is free.
“Old Zheng,” Jiang Jianming raised an eyebrow, “how about we have a little fun?”
Zheng Yue’s eyes lit up. “Yo, Little Excellency is in such high spirits today, come on…”
The joking jeers from the observation seats suddenly turned into a wave of excitement. When Jiang Jianming signaled Bei Man’er to come down and rest, and he himself sat in the cockpit of the Split Wind, the wave reached its peak.
“Holy crap, holy crap, can’t believe our luck today!!”
“Is the Inspector really getting on the mecha!?”
“Quick, someone in front start recording!”
There were also those who indifferently joked about their excited comrades. “Don’t get too excited, guys. No matter how strong a disabled person is, they’re only strong among the disabled. Don’t cry when the filter shatters later.”
But a minute later, those who wanted to see a joke couldn’t laugh anymore.
The M-Split Wind 09 roared and maneuvered, its mechanical arm smashing down with sparks flying. Just a second ago, Zheng Yue had locked Jiang Jianming’s mecha, and the next second, he was overpowered and pinned to the ground.
The exchange of moves was rapid and ever-changing, and the gap between this battle and the previous one was immediately apparent.
“So amazing…”
Bei Man’er, standing by the side, felt inferior while intently observing and memorizing.
Neither of them was using their full strength, they were indeed just “having a little fun.” But even so, it was already a spectacular mecha battle.
The observation seats were filled with exclamations. “Major Zheng is awesome too, his operation is comparable to some generals, right?”
“A civilian major in his early thirties, who has reached this position without fawning or flattery, obviously doesn’t need to speak of his ability.”
As they spoke, the two mechas in the arena collided fiercely, and the recoil force bounced them back. Just as they were adjusting their postures to attack again—
With a loud bang, the training ground’s door was forcefully pushed open.
The entire place fell silent.
The bright light from outside flashed and then disappeared as His Royal Highness the Crown Prince stepped in, his curly hair tied back with a black silk ribbon, cascading over his crimson and gold embroidered long robe.
His Highness had a cold expression, his face familiar to the imperial citizens as perfect as it was three years ago, but his emerald eyes carried a chill, like a predator eyeing it’s prey, which landed on Snow Dove in the arena—
Bei Man’er, who was sitting next to Snow Dove drinking energy water and resting, suddenly choked on her water and shivered from head to toe.
She stiffly showed a smile, her finger unambiguously pointing towards the M-Split Wind 09 that Jiang Jianming was riding.
Jiang Jianming: “…Ah.”
Zheng Yue’s face turned ashen. “We’re done for.”
The observation seats fell silent, yet the excitement in many people’s eyes strangely intensified.
They covered their mouths, trying to hide the upward curve of their lips.
Under everyone’s watchful eyes, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince walked up to the mechas.
At that moment, the two Split Winds were frozen as if a pause button had been pressed, an effect not even the mecha interference waves of those reactionary forces could achieve.
When Garcia slowly looked up from below, Jiang Jianming, sitting in the cockpit, was momentarily lost in a daze.
That was indeed Garcia, but now he had become Ryann.
It had only been a dozen days since this person decided to become Ryann—or in his words, let Ryann become him—His Highness’s aura already possessed the elegant and dignified bearing befitting a crown prince.
Hmm, he learns quickly, very good at pretending.
“Jiang, come out.”
Garcia… or perhaps he should be called Ryann, said indifferently. He glanced at Zheng Yue, “You get out too.”
Zheng Yue immediately rolled out, hiding behind the mecha without daring to make a sound, his stiff smile identical to Bei Man’er’s.
Jiang Jianming still tried to resist, nestled in the cockpit not knowing whether to laugh or cry. “I’ve been in the cockpit for less than ten minutes, okay, Your Highness!”
Ryann, with a push against the mecha body, leaped to a position outside the cockpit, expressionless. “You promised me you would recuperate well.”
Jiang Jianming: “Even a patient needs to get some fresh air.”
“……”
Ryann was so angry that the corner of his eye twitched. Considering the presence of others, it was not appropriate to make a scene, so he squeezed out a low voice through clenched teeth. “…Which family’s patient gets fresh air by operating a mecha?”
Jiang Jianming inwardly groaned, but on the surface, he still played the innocent to muddle through. He blinked and said, “Listen to me, if I don’t touch and manipulate again, the feeling in my hands will become dull, and besides…”
Ryann raised the crystal bone from his wrist.
Jiang Jianming surrendered in a second, tumbling out of the cockpit. “Don’t smash! Don’t smash, don’t smash, I don’t have the money to fix it if you break it——”
****
As expected, His Excellency Jiang was carried away by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince like a trophy.
Ryann first took him to the rest room next to the training ground, placed him in a seat, and let him rest for a moment before leaving.
Jiang Jianming was helpless against the Little Highness’s overprotection, but he resigned himself to accepting the energy water handed to him by the latter, and in between, he asked in a warm voice, “Why do you have time to come so early today?”
In this private rest room with no one else, Ryann leaned against the door and said indifferently, “Something came up suddenly, Chen asked me to find you.”
That’s how he caught the patient who was getting fresh air by operating a mecha red-handed. His Highness finished his unspoken words with a deep look.
Jiang Jianming pretended not to understand and was about to ask what it was, but Ryann smoothly brought up another topic.
He glanced outside the door, and with a somewhat complex emotion, he asked, “Do you…do you like this?”
Jiang Jianming: “Like what?”
Ryann: “Standing high up, being watched by so many people.”
“…The way you ask.” Jiang Jianming lowered his eyelashes and held the bottle of energy water in both hands, with a hint of melancholy smile hanging from the corner of his lips.
Actually, there was pressure.
Not to mention Ryann, Man’er and Audrey, in order to support him, had almost made the words “intimate relationship” known to the whole world.
Despite this, there were still many veteran generals and old nobles who looked down on him, thinking that the military’s use of a disabled person was a joke, and there were many new humans who thought the same.
Even among the civilians and the non crystal race, there were actually voices opposing him, which Jiang Jianming was aware of.
These days, sometimes he would remember Xie Yuduo’s kneeling at the Stele of Heroes, and he would also remember the words of the already sacrificed Commanding Officer Huo Lin.
Jiang Jianming was actually very clear-headed. Due to the various special auras he carried, there was a group of people trying to put him on a pedestal, making him a symbol of something.
Just like how the Crown Prince Ryann once symbolized the glory and invincibility of the empire.
He also knew that these days, when Garcia returned to being Ryann, what he faced was not just the joyful tears and smiles of the imperial people.
There would definitely be questioning and skepticism.
Questions about what exactly happened back then, and why he had to live under a pseudonym for three years.
Questions about whether the Crown Prince had ever gone against the will of the empire, and if that meant being arbitrary, arrogant, and willful.
Questions about whether the “fake death” three years ago meant that the Crown Prince had been defeated, whether the enemy was too strong, or whether His Highness was not strong enough.
The higher you stand, the colder the wind, the steeper the ground beneath your feet, the more dangerous the fall.
It only takes one small mistake, even a handle, a loophole that was lured into being created, will doom the climber forever.
For Jiang Jianming, the days of dozing off in the Aslan Library as a young military academy student were gone forever.
But if he wanted to stand shoulder to shoulder with the Crown Prince, he had to walk up this steep path.
Thus, Jiang Jianming looked straight at Ryann and calmly replied, “I am willing.”
This was not a matter of liking or disliking, but he was willing.
After speaking, Jiang Jianming immediately worried that such an answer, when heard by Ryann, might make him think he was being forced, so he added, “If it’s with you, then I do like it.”
“….…”
Ryann pursed his lips tightly, his sharp eyes awkwardly looking away, clearly showing the awkwardness that once belonged to Garcia. The tips of his ears seemed to turn a bit red, a pureness that was just like the Little Highness Ryann of the past.
The Crown Prince came over silently and sat down, pulling Jiang Jianming into his embrace, his chin rubbing against the black hair a few times, and he whispered softly, “…a kiss.”
Jiang Jianming chuckled lightly, and taught him meaningfully, “You don’t need to ask every time.”
Ryann then gave him a precious kiss on the corner of his lips.
Jiang Jianming was already accustomed to his lover’s affection. He casually straightened His Highness’s hairband and asked, “What does the old marshal want from me? It’s not about receiving a military rank again, is it? I’ve said that I won’t consider it until Major General Xie returns…”
Ryann’s breathing was slightly disordered, his eyes darkening with restraint…He wanted to go further but didn’t want to be abrupt at such a casual moment.
The forceful kiss at the Black Shark Base was already a loss of control, taking advantage of the disparity in their strength to suppress was despicable, and there shouldn’t be a second time.
Therefore, a few seconds later, the Crown Prince still withdrew his hand and stepped back, saying, “You’ll be happy, there’s news about Xie Yuduo.”
“What!?”
Jiang Jianming suddenly looked up, meeting Ryann’s calm eyes… That expression was like a tranquilizer, gently and powerfully erasing the tension he should have felt before it even appeared.
It wasn’t bad news. Jiang Jianming realized this instantly with surprise.
Indeed, Ryann nodded at him and said, “The expeditionary army of the Silver Big Dipper has safely completed the first stage of the voyage, the empire has received remote interstellar communication from Xie Yuduo. Chen wants to convene a temporary military conference…..Let’s all go.”
