Chapter 82: The Deed Is Done

Ye Chong made a request to use Blue Sea Academy’s modification room, and Principal Lan agreed without hesitation. He even personally escorted Ye Chong to the most advanced modification room in the entire academy! When Ye Chong entered this chamber—reputed to be the most state-of-the-art on Blue Sea Planet—his eyes lit up greedily at the sight of rows upon rows of dreamlike, top-tier equipment. When Principal Lan generously told him that all the instruments and materials here were at his disposal, Ye Chong nearly threw himself into the room with abandon.

Even Shang was caught up in a half-mad frenzy, howling with excitement.

Principal Lan watched Ye Chong’s usually wooden face come alive with a rich array of expressions for the first time, smiling with satisfaction. “Let’s see if I can’t snare you now!” he thought smugly. Having met all sorts of people, Principal Lan knew well the art of catering to someone’s interests.

Ye Chong wasted no time, immediately tinkering with the many unfamiliar machines, ignoring Principal Lan entirely.

Principal Lan, however, took no offense and quietly slipped away, but not before instructing the room’s supervisor: “No matter what Ye Chong asks for, fulfill every request! And if you fail to take care of him, you’d better pack your things and go home.” So terrifying was this warning that the supervisor’s head bobbed like a pecking chick.

Ye Chong didn’t even notice when the principal left. Had he realized how far his vigilance had slipped, who knows what he would have thought? Shang, too, was uncharacteristically cooperative, pulling up the automated noodle machine’s holographic blueprints straight from the virtual network. Ye Chong and Shang exchanged ideas, while the supervisor hovered anxiously nearby, desperate not to do anything that might cost him his job.

The supervisor watched Ye Chong stare blankly into space, not daring to breathe too loudly lest he interrupt some stroke of genius. He recalled the sweat and tears he’d shed to secure this job at Blue Sea Academy, and a wave of bitterness washed over him.

In the modern world, no one starved, but without a stable job you’d be sent to the relief district, living off government aid. Your basic needs would be met, but to have anything more, you had to climb.

Ye Chong and Shang’s exchange was intense. Though Ye Chong was no match for Shang in calculations, his flashes of creativity never failed to amaze Shang and Mu. Usually, Ye Chong would propose some brilliant idea, and Mu and Shang would validate and refine it.

Suddenly, Ye Chong thought of something and stood up to look around.

Seeing this, the supervisor guessed he was searching for something and hurried over with a fawning smile. “Is there something you need, sir? I’m the supervisor here—just tell me what you’re looking for. The principal already said you can use any materials you like.”

Ye Chong paused, realizing the supervisor was so close yet had gone unnoticed, and his face darkened. Only after confirming there was no hostility did he relax slightly, warning himself to stay alert.

Since the supervisor insisted, Ye Chong said, “I need flour and water.”

Moments earlier, the supervisor had resolved that even if Ye Chong wanted the rarest, most expensive materials, he’d find a way to get them. Never did he imagine Ye Chong would ask for something as simple as flour and water.

With the flour and water painstakingly procured by the supervisor, Ye Chong, under the supervisor’s stunned gaze, began making handmade noodles in the most advanced modification room on Blue Sea Planet.

After five hours of work, Ye Chong looked with satisfaction at the large machine before him, while the supervisor was practically catatonic. Because there was no automatic noodle machine in the room, Ye Chong, guided by Shang, had simply built one using the room’s tools and materials.

Ye Chong carefully tasted the freshly made noodles. When the supervisor saw him serving them up not in a bowl, but in the hollowed-out foot of a mech weighing over thirty kilos, he felt like dying.

Hmm, not bad—the taste was nearly identical to his own. Naturally, Ye Chong had no intention of offering the supervisor a taste; he polished off all the noodles himself.

Pointing to the automatic noodle machine, Ye Chong asked, “Can I take this with me?”

The supervisor nodded numbly.

Watching Ye Chong casually heft the several-hundred-pound machine out the door, the supervisor felt like weeping. Was this man insane? He had just witnessed the most absurd scene imaginable—someone making noodles in the finest modification room on Blue Sea Planet, kneading dough on one of only a hundred ultra-flat optical tables in the entire Far Star System, and using a mech’s hollowed foot—worth over a hundred thousand diamond coins—as a noodle bowl. And to make matters worse, the foot hadn’t even been washed afterwards.

Had the entire world gone mad? Brain short-circuited, the supervisor stood at the doorway, staring dumbly after Ye Chong as he left.

The next day, word that Ye Chong would be joining Blue Sea Academy as a mecha engineering instructor spread across campus like wildfire. All attention shifted to this news, and the Mecha Warrior Tournament—the main event—was ignored for the first time in history.

In the principal’s office, only Ye Chong and the principal were present.

Principal Lan smiled. “Mr. Ye, if you have any requests, please let me know! I’m sure we’ll work together happily.”

Ye Chong thought for a moment. “I’d like to take the tuner’s elective class.”

Shang, having heard nothing about this in advance, nearly jumped out of his skin. “Yezi, ha! You’ve finally come around! That’s great! Wait, didn’t you always refuse to study as a tuner? What changed your mind?”

Ye Chong replied coolly, “Nothing special. I just want access to more Du Kun stones.”

“Even you’re coming around, Wooden-head?” Shang muttered, then grew quiet for a moment. “Yezi, are you only choosing the tuner course for my sake?”

“It’s not for you,” Ye Chong said nonchalantly.

Shang sounded on the verge of fainting. “Yezi, can’t you at least humor my vanity a little?”

“No need,” Ye Chong answered, unmoved.

Though they always seemed to bicker, warmth flowed quietly between Ye Chong and Shang.

If only Mu could come out and join them, Ye Chong thought.

Principal Lan was briefly surprised by this odd request, but quickly agreed. “Oh, of course! I hadn’t realized you were interested in tuning as well, Mr. Ye. I’m sure Professor Jiang from the Tuner Department will welcome your participation. Any other requests?”

“None,” Ye Chong replied crisply.

Principal Lan nodded, satisfied. “Then, please come with me.” He led Ye Chong to the neighboring classroom, where fifteen experts awaited to evaluate Ye Chong’s qualifications and determine if he was truly worthy to teach at Blue Sea Academy.

The building was packed; students from the mecha engineering department were buzzing with excitement at the prospect of Ye Chong teaching their classes. Everyone was focused on the events in that classroom.

Rui Su was also extremely excited.

Ye Chong’s impact was directly tied to her decision: had she not boldly switched all Blue Sea Academy’s broadcast channels to the one featuring Ye Chong, the effect would not have been so dramatic. This was the first time in the history of the Mecha Warrior Tournament that all cameras had been focused on a single contestant—a risky move, certain to draw criticism.

But she had succeeded! Her decisiveness and courage had paid off.

“Wang Xiao’er, make sure your holographic camera is aimed properly. You’ve done well, and there’ll be a reward when we get back! But don’t get cocky—once Ye Chong comes out, keep your camera fixed on him, got it? I’ll be right at the front, so watch your angles and lighting, and sync the audio! If you mess this up…” She added a playful threat.

Whenever Rui Su was in a good mood, she referred to herself as “big sis.” When she wasn’t, she’d make it clear she was not to be trifled with.

She stood at the classroom door, today dressed with special care. Already beautiful, she was now dazzlingly so, radiating mature charm. Nearby students stared, bewitched, but none dared come within ten meters of her.

In the crowded hallway, a strange scene unfolded: a stunning beauty stood alone, surrounded by a perfect circle of empty space.

Rui Su smiled smugly. “Serves you little punks right—this is what you get for crossing me.”

At twenty-five, Rui Su was breathtakingly beautiful, and over the years her poise had only deepened, making her irresistible. No inexperienced girl could compare.

By rights, a woman like her should have a swarm of admirers.

But Rui Su was a force to be reckoned with. During her time as a student, she’d earned the nickname “Witch Su,” and all were wary of her. Even the boldest suitors had been sent packing. Each year, the number of freshmen who suffered at her hands could be counted in the hundreds.

Suddenly, the classroom door opened. Ye Chong stepped out, his expression unchanged, followed by Principal Lan, grinning from ear to ear.

The hallway erupted in an uproar.

Unfazed, Principal Lan strode forward, raising his hands to quiet the crowd. Known for his pragmatic style, he enjoyed great respect among the students, and silence swiftly fell—even “Witch Su” became as docile as a lamb.

With everyone quiet, Principal Lan smiled and announced, “I have good news: Mr. Ye Chong has been officially appointed as a teacher in the Mecha Engineering Department. I hope you’ll all sign up for his classes!”

And with that, the building exploded with excitement once more.