Chapter Twenty-Five: Level One Combat Readiness (Part One)

The welcoming party was lively and boisterous, with a lavish spread of food and drink. Yet Zhao Li couldn't help but suspect that the enthusiasm of those voraciously devouring the dishes was less about welcoming him and more about their own desire for the delicacies on the table. Who knew how long it had been since a new recruit had arrived here? These people were already well acquainted with one another—seeing a newcomer must be a rare novelty.

While with Wolf King, Zhao Li had casually inquired how often the officers and soldiers here rotated out. The answer was that it happened about once every two years, with a month-long leave in between to help relieve the mounting pressure. Zhao Li found it hard to believe when he learned this. Who would have thought that serving on a planet could feel so much like a prison sentence?

The planet’s freshwater supply was another surprise. In all his geography lessons, Zhao Li had never heard of Montbatten, which must be a closely guarded military secret. To be assigned here was clearly a special appointment by the military. Zhao Li was baffled—how could a rookie just out of boot camp be trusted with such a post?

Still, none of that mattered. What mattered was that he was here now, and soon, he would be sent to that mysterious prison. All he could do was strive to fulfill his duty.

The officers and soldiers had clearly been stifled for a long time, and Zhao Li’s arrival brought a welcome change of pace. Any new face would have sparked some excitement, but Zhao Li’s feat of making Simpson so sick had created an even bigger stir. The gambling had entertained some, and for others, the wild swings of fortune at the table were a rare thrill.

“Everyone, let’s welcome tonight’s star—Sergeant Zhao Li!” boomed Wolf King. During a lull in the revelry, the crowd responded with raucous applause.

“Come, have a big drink!” A massive beer stein appeared before Zhao Li, nearly the size of his own head, practically a small barrel. It was Simpson, the driver, who handed it to him. After a few hours of rest, he was back to normal and showed no animosity toward Zhao Li, despite the embarrassment Zhao Li had caused him earlier.

Zhao Li stared at the enormous mug, unsure whether this was a gesture of camaraderie or a subtle form of revenge.

“Haha, Sergeant, this is the first time Simpson’s ever conceded a drinking toast. None of us have ever seen this before, so don’t you dare refuse!” someone shouted, and it was hard to tell if they were teasing Simpson, Zhao Li, or both. Zhao Li guessed it was a bit of both. After all, he and Simpson had been the reason most of them lost money—this was hardly surprising.

He’d never touched alcohol or cigarettes before; by law, minors, especially those who hadn’t trained in basic physical conditioning, were forbidden these things. Zhao Li had only just ceased to be a minor before joining the military.

Presented with such a huge mug of beer, Zhao Li hesitated, unsure what to do. Everyone was watching, conversations growing quiet. Across from him, Simpson held his own barrel, waiting for the toast. Zhao Li steeled himself, clinked mugs with Simpson, and brought the cold, frosty beer to his lips.

The icy liquid went down smoothly, cool and refreshing. His throat made a series of loud gulps, and in a matter of moments, the entire mug was empty. A roar of applause broke out as he set the mug down.

“Hah, our first-time drinker is a good sport!” Wolf King declared theatrically. “Let’s raise our glasses again for Zhao Li, the Roller Coaster King of Montbatten!” Cheers erupted, beer mugs held high, echoing throughout the camp. Clearly, Zhao Li’s new nickname had caught on, and Simpson showed no sign of displeasure.

“Kid, I have to hand it to you.” Simpson, having finished his own beer, clapped Zhao Li on the shoulder. “That kind of turbulence didn’t faze you at all. Why didn’t you join the Air Force?”

Zhao Li was tongue-tied, unable to explain. Fortunately, Simpson didn’t press further, though he kept asking how Zhao Li had managed to stay so calm under such conditions.

As Zhao Li struggled to field Simpson’s questions, suddenly, the camp’s alarm blared. Everyone froze for a split second, then, without hesitation, dropped whatever they were holding and sprinted toward their posts. In an instant, the rowdy crowd had scattered.

Zhao Li, new and unfamiliar with procedures, was left standing there, not knowing what to do. Luckily, Wolf King spotted him from afar and shouted, “Come over here!” Zhao Li snapped out of his daze and ran after him.

“Damn it, didn’t your basic training cover what to do in these situations?” Wolf King grabbed Zhao Li by the arm, and with a surge of strength, all but dragged him along at a dead run—Zhao Li had no time to resist.

This was not what Zhao Li had expected. Wolf King had always seemed irreverent, even a bit of a rogue, gambling in the barracks. Zhao Li had thought he was just another military hooligan. But the sheer power in Wolf King’s grip reminded Zhao Li exactly where he stood.

He was just a rookie, fresh out of basic training. Even if he’d done well in drills, compared to these veterans with years of service, he was still a novice. Experience, skill, and the ability to handle emergencies—he had much to learn.

But this was no time for reflection. He followed Wolf King at a run into the main building. Wolf King pointed to a thick, reinforced door, saying, “Stay here. That’s the entrance to the secure underground bunker. If anything happens, get inside!” With that, he vanished.

Staring at the open door—its thickness nearly a meter—Zhao Li was at a loss for words. He was a soldier now, but the veterans still looked after him.

Yet, being new, he didn’t know what he was supposed to do. He’d come to serve in a special prison, but here, in this camp, he had no assigned role. Aside from conventional weapons training, he had no experience with anything else. Even if he wanted to help, he wouldn’t know where to start.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Three chapters completed. Climbing the charts—thank you all for your recommendations and support!