Xia Fei’s reasoning was very easy to follow. There was no way a drone cobbled together at the last minute could perform too well, so he invested everything toward offense, like a dead man’s final struggle. When faced against a battle that there was no way of achieving victory, a true warrior would never choose to flee but use what’s left of their life to execute one final attack.
It would of course be a cause for celebration if they emerged victorious, but if the attack was met with failure, there would not be any regrets since they had already done their best.
Constantine and everyone had made the mistake of treating a drone that was put together at the last minute, with low performance and completely disposable, as a normal drone. None of them had considered that the drone itself was flimsy and could die at any time, so what was the point of preserving something like that? Instead, they should have done what Xia Fei did and used every last bit of strength it still possessed for one final gambit.
Years of Floating Light nodded. Even the defense expert Blackened Vessel was rendered speechless. While reinforcing a drone’s defense was definitely a good idea, it still needed to take into account timing. In their present predicament, Xia Fei’s option was still the most thorough and unencumbered. It would also be the most likely to succeed in escaping, leaving a wake of blood behind.
“All of us have our reservations deep down, unable to toss aside everything, afraid of sacrificing, afraid of dying. That is why the ideal combat drone in our hearts needs to have a balanced performance, yet it is precisely because of this that we forgot that the scenario we’re in is one where we are already backed into a corner with no escape.”
“Xia Fei, you’ve made the right choice. In an extreme situation, all we can do is put up a fight, with the best of our abilities, and we can’t expect to account for luck. It’s foolish of us to think that a bit of additional armor to the drone will be enough to increase its survivability when it will only eventually die. Very good. We’ve now gotten a good understanding of the thoughts behind your creation; you two may now leave.”
Xia Fei and Constantine left the room, and Years of Floating Light addressed all the other panel of judges, “This can’t be made any clearer. Let’s begin our evaluation.”
The old men inside the room each tapped on their computer, and the result was hardly worth discussing, since all nine of the judges gave the same score.
…
The tournament today had already come to a close, yet the audience lingered around the venue, unwilling to leave. A good chunk of the participants had also stayed. All of them wanted to know just what Xia Fei’s and Constantine’s final score would be. This strange event had left them all perplexed, unsure just what the Association of Machinists were up to.
“The scores are out!”
It was unknown who had yelled this out, but everyone lifted their head and had their eyes glued to the large display screen the next instant. The first to get his score was Constantine.
“The max score of 120 points, with an additional 10 points awarded from the organizing committee, giving a total of 130 points.”
“What?! 130 points from that crappy metal box he assembled?”
“How could that be? So many outstanding participants had gotten zero, so why is it that Constantine got a high score of 130 points?”
…
“Is the organizing committee stupid? What in the world is their grading criteria…”
The crowd was reeling. Constantine’s creation did not seem to be anything exceptional to their untrained eyes, yet it had strangely earned such a high score. Everyone was suspicious even as the posts online flooded in. The Golden Finger Cup was a top-tier tournament that cast a wide influence. There were countless viewers in the Alliance following these events, and this news had generated even greater furor—a tidal wave that crashed directly onto the Association of Machinists.
Li Mo’s expression was grotesque. Constantine had surpassed him by 107 points through this event alone, and the other events would only be much tougher. After all, it was no easy feat to play catch up with over 100 points difference.
Still, everything was not over yet. The moment Xia Fei’s score was displayed, the emotions of the crowd turned into rage once more, for he had obtained 170 points for this event, the full 120 points and additional 50 points awarded by the organizing committee.
“That’s two max scores! Xia Fei has actually gotten the maximum twice!”
“This is really too strange. This is the first time the tournament had a participant that got a double maximum score, and to think it would be given to Xia Fei… But that thing he assembled looks absolutely ugly.”
“It’s not just ugly; I’ve never seen such a hideous drone all my life.”
“Get the organizing committee out and explain to us just why Xia Fei got max points!”
“The Association of Machinists is also a top-tier organization; how could they fool us like this?”
“The way I see it, Xia Fei shouldn’t have gotten max points. They ought to have deducted points, instead. Looking at that drone he built is an insult to my eyes.”
The audience in the stands was yelling for the Association of Machinists to explain their grading, while Li Mo was shivering all over. If he thought Constantine’s score was somewhat outrageous, then Xia Fei’s double max score was even more unbelievable.
As he was competing directly with Xia Fei this time around, Xia Fei was basically a thorn in his flesh, so how could he stand to watch as the latter pulled so far ahead of him in this tournament?
Li Mo’s face went expressionless as he turned to step outside. At the same time, he pushed a button to call someone.
“Father, I suspect that there’s something fishy going on with the Association of Machinists. I’ve only gotten 23 points for today’s event, yet someone actually got the double max score of 170 points. You’re an old acquaintance of the chief referee Years of Floating Light; could you try and help me find out just what’s going on here?” Li Mo was suppressing the boiling emotions inside him as he spoke.
Li Mo’s father, Li Guan, slightly furrowed his brows. “I’ve already told you not to join this pointless tournament, but you just wouldn’t listen. As the inheritor of the great Li family, you will one day inherit Planet Financial Conglomerate. A title in the Golden Finger Cup isn’t going to be of any help to you there.”
Li Mo gritted his teeth. “Father, I promise that this will be the last time I’ll dabble in machinery. After this tournament is over, I will go according to your wishes and work for the company.”
Li Guan was stunned. His son had always loved tinkering with toys since young, and he grew up to become obsessed with machinery. As his father, he had always been worried that his son would choose to be a machinist and refuse to take on the family business, but now, Li Mo himself had laid this down and decided to work for the company, so of course he was very happy about this.
“Fine, I’ll go beg for a favor on your behalf and talk to Years of Floating Light; wait for my call.”
The video-call ended, and Li Mo looked at Avril in the distance. He saw the score on the screen as well, huffing a cold snort as he kicked a peach blossom by the side of the path, causing the petals to scatter all around.
…
“Congratulations. I’ve lost fair and square this time, but this isn’t the end of the tournament. I’ll be sure to give it my all and compete with you for the other events,” Constantine pushed his glasses and said as he shared the elevator ride with Xia Fei.
Xia Fei responded, “It’s nothing. We simply have different ideas, which cause us to have such contrasting views. This had nothing to do with our skills. But I’m curious; who did you learn your skills from?”
Constantine shook his head and replied, “Then who did you learn your skills from?”
Xia Fei smiled. “I don’t wish to say.”
“Me either,” Constantine answered.
The elevator doors slid open abruptly; a surging audience came charging toward them, engulfing both Xia Fei and Constantine all around. There were all kinds of questions being shouted at them, wanting to know why the two of them got such high scores.
…
Xia Fei knitted his eyebrows and turned toward Constantine. “Take care; I’ll be taking my leave first.”
The Sly Thrust technique was completely unpredictable, so much so that Xia Fei was able to navigate through the thronging crowd with ease, slipping between the gaps of people like water. Xia Fei disappeared into the crowd in the blink of an eye, leaving just Constantine to face the dogged inquiry from the crowd of thousands.
“What an interesting opponent.” muttered Constantine to himself as he stared at the already gone Xia Fei, habitually pushing up his glasses.
…
While the whole world was stunned by the results, the Association of Machinists had no choice but to let the chief referee Years of Floating Light personally come out and explain everything, and only then did it set this storm to a rest.
The tune of the posters online did a full one-eighty, from proclaiming their hatred for Xia Fei and Constantine to marveling at their ability to adapt and formulate decisive plans. Of course, there were some who still criticized the Association of Machinists for their convoluted assessment strategy, believing that they had failed to clearly outline the rules of the test and was thus a severe violation of the rules.
The Association of Machinists naturally ignored all those naysayers. As the highest authority in the machinery industry, they had their reasons for testing the participants’ adaptability. In fact, they claimed that the events to come would have even more inexplicit factors, so they could comprehensively consider the qualities of the participants.
…
As the sun set on this day, Avril finally got to meet Xia Fei in a little garden far away from the event center.
“I was very worried earlier that those people would hold you back,” Avril nervously said.
Xia Fei replied, “I slipped away the moment I noticed that the situation’s no good. They can’t do anything to me.”
“You were really too cool this time. Double max scores… This is even the first time anyone has gotten such results!” Avril excitedly gushed. Though she had been filled with doubts during the event, Avril was still very happy for Xia Fei’s wonderful results.
Xia Fei did not continue to discuss this topic; he had simply done his best, and the results were not something he could get a grasp on. Actually, what he enjoyed more was the process of the tournament itself.
“I know that there’s a decent store selling barbecued fish nearby; shall we go over there at night and try some?” Xia Fei suggested.
A look of guilt appeared as Avril tugged at Xia Fei’s hand. “Sorry, grandfather’s birthday is coming soon. I still have to go and practice all the pedantic aristocratic etiquette. Apparently, many members of the royal family from various territories will be coming, and I’m afraid if I don’t practice everything properly, grandfather may not let me come out and see you.”
Xia Fei expressed his understanding, urging her to return and not to worry about him.
…
“The participant Xia Fei didn’t go against the rules at all. You shouldn’t think any more about it. I think the chances of you winning this time isn’t great, so why don’t you just give up early and come back to the company to work? As the distinguished heir to Planet Conglomerate, spending your days with dirty machinery isn’t befitting of your status.”
…
“Also, the birthday for the patriarch of the Jian family is coming up soon. By then, I want you to prepare an exquisite gift in an effort to curry favor with that old man. Though their Starlink Corporation has little to do with our Planet Financial Conglomerate, the interplanetary internet they have encompasses the entire Alliance. If we are able to gain control of their company, we’ll be able to crack down on potential rivals through the information channels. Besides, Starlink Corporation has quite a bright future development-wise, so you’d better not mess it up,” Li Guan warned.
Li Mo curled his lips together. “Don’t worry father. I already like Avril quite a bit, so leave this matter to me.”
Li Guan then flashed him a cunning smirk. “What does this have anything with whom you like? If you like someone, you can just find somewhere to raise her; there’s no need for you to marry her into the family formally. The reason why I want you to get close to the Jian family is they have value to us. You’re already of the age where you should know that feelings are but a children’s plaything. Don’t ever treat it as anything. You’ll naturally come to realize in the future that, as long as you have money and power, you can easily get a hold of everything you desire.”
Li Mo nodded gravely. “Father, I understand. Everything in this life is pointless, and only money is one’s best friend. Still, I’m unwilling to lose to that rascal Xia Fei. He’s spending all his time pestering Avril, and that isn’t very conducive to our plan.”
Li Mo took this opportunity while his father was happy to cleverly mention Xia Fei on the sly, not at all saying anything about the feelings the two had for each other but to raise the notion that he was a potential obstacle.
Li Guan laughed. “What can he do? No doubt Xia Fei’s only by Avril’s side for her money; just give him how much he wants and this matter will be settled.”
Li Mo shook his head. “I tried, and he didn’t accept. Do you think we should…”
Li Guan was slightly surprised, seriously considering the possibility of killing off Xia Fei.
“No. Now isn’t the time. Let’s wait some more,” Li Guan said without any doubt in his mind.
After ending the video-call with his father, Li Mo slammed his fist violently onto the desk. He simply could not take this lying down. Not only was it due to Xia Fei now being ahead of him in points for this Golden Finger Cup; more importantly, it’s the attitude that Avril was showing toward Xia Fei. Even a blind man could tell that they had deep feelings for each other, and it was not the usual favorability that one would show to just anyone. Instead, it was a kind of tacit understanding that was shaped after having spent plenty of time and experienced setbacks together. Though they did not often get to see each other in person, they definitely had each other’s heart in their minds.
“What’s so good about a pauper?!” Li Mo bellowed in his frustration. Just thinking about how he might be unable to have Avril’s heart even if he had her in person made Li Mo abnormally mad. An order was all it would take for him to remove that eyesore forever, but doing so might end up incurring his father’s reproach.
The father-son relationship Li Mo and Li Guan share was very similar to most distinguished families; they were not exactly on good terms, and the son had been taken care of by servants and nanny’s since young due to his wealthy background. The only interaction he had with his parents were the weekly routine conversations. Adding the fact that there were plenty of rules that restricted his freedom, it was impossible for these people born with such backgrounds to ever have a normal childhood like the common man.
Perhaps this was the main reason why plenty of these rich families would appear refined and cultured when looked on from the outside, while actually often indulging in perverse games unimaginable to anyone else behind closed doors.
Li Mo thought about things long and hard before finally letting the evil within him triumph, overwhelming the fear he had for his father’s wrath. He keyed in nine encrypted digits with his fingers as he exhaled, easing himself of the tension building inside him.
Soon, the man with the parted pencil mustache that always followed Li Mo around knocked at his door and entered his room.
“Young master.” The mustached man bowed low, a smile on his face.
Li Mo took out two glasses from his alcohol cabinet, pouring the amber gold liquid into two glasses before handing one to the mustached man. The man was very surprised, thinking with a grimace, ‘The young master is pouring me alcohol? Looks like this won’t be a small matter.’
As the saying went, ‘When a master smiles, the servant will soon lose their life.’ The mustached man had been serving the Li family for a long time and was already well aware of what to expect.
Li Mo took a light sip of his drink before saying, “There’s someone I don’t wish to see again.”
The mustached man was slightly taken aback but recovered with a laugh. “Young Master, do you mean Xia Fei?”
“Exactly.”
“But the master—”
Li Mo’s eyebrows sharpened, gazing at the mustached man coldly. “Are you going to listen to my father’s words or mine?”
The mustached man immediately lowered that glass as he bowed even lower. “I wouldn’t dare to go against the young master’s wishes.”
Li Mo coldly harrumphed. “Failure isn’t an option. I’ll bear whatever consequence that may come and leave it up to you to decide how you want to accomplish this task.”
“Understood,” the man answered.
Retreating out of Li Mo’s room, the mustached man adjusted the bowtie on his neck as he muttered quietly under his breath, “These rich b*st*rds are so hard to wait on. Just who am I going to find to do this? Oh, what a headache.”
…
For convenience’s sake, Xia Fei stayed in the living quarters that the organization provided. Though the place was not as comfortable as a hotel, at least he did not need to spend any money. While Xia Fei was no longer a pauper, he still did not enjoy extravagant spending. Xia Fei would not even hesitate if he needed to drop one hundred million star coins to purchase a warship with good performance, yet Xia Fei was definitely not willing to spend a thousand star coins just to stay in a hotel for a night.
Avril was busy preparing for her grandfather’s birthday, so she had already left long ago. Xia Fei ate the complimentary meal provided in the canteen before he retired to his room and continued his research and cultivation.
…
The black bat radar system was still a long way from mass production. Though the current design was performing well, the production process was fairly difficult, and just modifying the machine tool would require a top machinist to work for several days and nights, not to mention the materials wasted during production from the crashes and damages because of the overly complex design.
Xia Fei wished to reduce the production cost of the black bat radar, but he did not wish to sacrifice its performance. After all, Quantum Holdings was still in its early stages of development, so every single new product they made was of great importance. It was not Xia Fei’s intention to ruin his own brand.
However, cost and performance had always been incompatible; utmost effort was required to make the best product. While there was of course a market for making luxury goods, Xia Fei was not simply looking to sell his products to the warships of the rich. Naturally, Xia Fei was going to earn their money, but he was not about to let the average customer off either.
Xia Fei had once told Phantom, “There will come a day when all the spaceships in the universe will use a radar system made by Quantum Holdings.”
In order for him to make this goal a reality, Xia Fei was working tirelessly, sprawled over his desk, as he pored over every detail with Porter and Harris through an instant-messaging system.
All of a sudden, he heard the low voices of two men speaking outside his door. The quality of the free accommodation that the Association of Machinists provided was average, and the soundproofing was hardly exceptional. Given the fact that Xia Fei’s ears were also abnormally sensitive, he had no problem picking up what was being said by others outside, even though they were furtively whispering to each other.
Xia Fei was not paying much attention to such things though, since there were hundreds, if not thousands of people, walking down these corridors every day. There was no way he could have gotten any work done if he focused on everything everyone said as they walked by.
“Avril.”
Xia Fei abruptly stood up from his chair the moment he heard the people outside speaking that familiar name, but he could hardly make out all the other words uttered in that conversation, so Xia Fei had no way of knowing what was being discussed.
Turning off the display screen, Xia Fei crept over to the door and stuck his ear to it.
