Chapter 302: A Strange and Wondrous Misunderstanding!
Translator: ryuxenji Editor: H2dH2mr
"Right, do you have a battle clan in Mecha World? I don't have one yet, so if you still have a spot open in yours, why don't you add me?" Li Lanfeng did not want to once again be passing strangers with his rabbit. He had not joined any battle clans thus far because — for one, he was afraid of exposing himself, and two, hadn't he been hoping for this precise scenario all this while? He only wanted to join the rabbit mecha's battle clan, even if the entire battle clan was made up of only the rabbit mecha ...
"Uh, I'm in the process of building one ..." Ling Lan had not expected that the leopard still had not joined a battle clan after these 7 years apart. Could it be that he had not enrolled into a military academy that year, instead choosing to go to a co-ed general academy? Or was he perhaps just a casual 1 mecha operator? Otherwise, with the other's control skills, it was impossible that no one wanted him.
Only military academies had battle clans, because all the cadets at military academies would eventually be Federation soldiers in future. The battle clan a cadet establishes at school would be extended into the army divisions they enlist into later and be expanded further there. In contrast, the students from a co-ed general academy may not necessarily become a soldier in future, hence they also did not have the right to form battle clans.
Of course, this did not mean that these students had no chance of joining battle clans — some mecha operators who liked mecha piloting would just sign up to join some battle clans that lacked members. Of course, no matter how skilled these people were in control skills, they would never become permanent members of a battle clan. The reason was simple — whether it was at present or in the future, they would never be military personnel. Only if they were willing to serve in the army later on and became proper soldiers would they then have the right to become permanent members of a battle clan.
Ling Lan was well aware that many mecha battle clans in Mecha World were extensions of mecha battle clans in the real world. In saying this, [Self-Defined Destiny] was basically confirming that he was similarly without a battle clan in the real world. This pretty much proved that [Self-Defined Destiny] was probably not a military academy student. Otherwise, with his abilities, even if he did not join any other battle clans, he was fully capable of making one of his own.
Ling Lan, who was originally planning to ask which school [Self-Defined Destiny] was studying at, found herself not daring to ask now. She was afraid she would hurt the other's feelings. Based on the leopard's passion and seriousness in honing his mecha control skills, Ling Lan knew very well that, if at all possible, the leopard would definitely want to study at a military academy.
"In the process of building?" Li Lanfeng was taken aback by Ling Lan's answer.
Someone who could enter the virtual world to learn mecha controls 7 years ago should be about his age, or perhaps even a little older than him ... why had the other not built a battle clan up till now? Could it be that the other was not a military academy cadet, or perhaps did not manage to enrol into a military academy to begin with and could only attend a general academy? And now he had become an official soldier so he could finally build a battle clan?
Li Lanfeng, who had wanted to ask the rabbit which school he was attending, hesitated. What if the other asked him the same question in return after? When the other found out that he was studying at the First Men's Military Academy, would the other's heart be pierced through by a heavy arrow?
"Then, when you build it, can you keep a spot for me?" After some consideration, Li Lanfeng decided not to ask this sensitive question, instead choosing to ask to join Ling Lan's battle clan in a serious manner. In Li Lanfeng's heart, even if the rabbit was just a small foot soldier, he would still be willing to become a member of the other's battle clan and follow the rabbit onto the battlefield to fight together.
"Uh, okay, will you become a soldier in the future?" asked Ling Lan carefully. If the leopard had not given up, replying yes, she would save a permanent member's spot for him. Later, once he entered the military, he could join officially. If not, she could only regretfully give the leopard a temporary contract. Ling Lan needed to take responsibility on behalf of all of the other members of her battle clan.
Ling Lan's question stumped Li Lanfeng for a beat, but he quickly figured out the reason behind it and replied firmly, "Of course." As expected, the rabbit was currently a soldier! Li Lanfeng was glad that he had not asked impulsively.
"That's fine then. There'll be a spot for you in my battle clan." Ling Lan let out a sigh of relief. She was well aware of the leopard mecha's raw talent and abilities in control — he was definitely no weaker than Qi Long. If the leopard could join, it would be much better than finding someone unfamiliar. She believed that Qi Long and the others would not dislike the leopard's character and temperament.
For some reason, Ling Lan had boundless confidence in the leopard, believing that he could definitely obtain the acknowledgement of the other clan members.
"We'll go to the 23rd Division," cautioned Ling Lan. She did not know how old the leopard was, whether the other was already at the age of enlistment. In any case, she wanted to notify the other so he did not apply for the wrong division. Four years later, when they went to the 23rd Division, even if the leopard was still a foot soldier, she could use her authority to transfer the leopard to her side so he could officially join her battle clan.
"Yes, understood," Li Lanfeng responded happily. He had originally planned to apply for enlistment at the 1st Division, but now decisively switched his goal for next year to enter the 23rd Division and then wait for his rabbit to find him.
Thus, the both of them gingerly avoided asking about school, each thinking that they were right in their assumptions about the other. In this manner, they missed their earliest chance to truly discover the truth about each other ... it had to be said that Ling Lan and Li Lanfeng did indeed have amazing rapport with one another — even their misunderstandings synced up with one another.
"That special-class mecha friend of yours ... could it be that he also has no battle clan? Won't he invite you to stay together?" Ling Lan recalled the special-class mecha that had been together with [Self-Defined Destiny], which had also been very strong, and could not help but ask curiously.
"He and I both do not have official battle clans, though he is temporarily contracted to a mecha battle clan. The contract will automatically dissolve next year. If your battle clan still has a spot at that time, please add him too. Of course, if you feel that that's inappropriate, you can first make a temporary contract. Like me, he'll also become a soldier in the future." Only then did Li Lanfeng remember there was still Zhao Jun to consider, so he quickly explained, suggesting a temporary contract on his own at the same time.
Li Lanfeng knew well that he wanted to follow the rabbit mecha because of that wonderful affinity and rapport he had with the other, which was carved deeply into his heart to this very day. However, Zhao Jun had no ties whatsoever to the rabbit mecha — he could neither trouble the rabbit mecha nor decide Zhao Jun's future for him. After all, the rabbit could very well just be a small foot soldier, and based on Zhao Jun's current power level, he would at least obtain the rank of first lieutenant. Therefore, if Zhao Jun and the rabbit intended to collaborate, signing a temporary contract would be beneficial for both sides.
Li Lanfeng was not someone who needed to push all his friends into one clan — he knew very well that interpersonal relationships required affinity. He was certain that, for the sake of the rabbit mecha, he could compromise and tolerate things that he typically would not tolerate. He had already made up his mind that, even if the rabbit's battle clan consisted of a whole team of foot soldiers, he would still lower himself and curry favour with them in order to obtain their acknowledgement. This all stemmed from his determination to follow the rabbit which had been established 7 years ago. In the face of this type of conviction, all tribulations were but passing clouds.
"Hn, let's talk about it when the time comes. Right now, I have 5 other companions who should all be permanent members of the battle clan in future. Adding you, there should still be a few slots for a 12-man team. Oh, there are also two others who I have my eye on, though I still haven't asked them whether they're willing to join ... if the clan is still not full yet next year, ask your friend over to try out. If everyone is satisfied, then let's stay together." Ling Lan did not refuse Zhao Jun outright. After all, Zhao Jun was already a special-class operator at present; meanwhile, the support member candidates of the clan was pretty much settled, so all they needed to add were specialized mecha operators. Thus, Zhao Jun was undoubtedly extremely suitable.
"Oh, alright!" answered Li Lanfeng immediately, decisively agreeing on behalf of Zhao Jun. Zhao Jun did not have a battle clan for next year anyway, so it should not be a problem for him to hang out with Li Lanfeng for a bit. Hearing that the rabbit also had his eye on two other people, Li Lanfeng asked, "Who are the other two? Also people in Mecha World?"
"One of them is called [No Mecha Unrepaired], from Mecha World. As for whether the other has an ID in Mecha World, I can't be sure. He's a genius here on our end," replied Ling Lan.
"[No Mecha Unrepaired], this name is really familiar ..." Li Lanfeng paused over the name for a bit, then suddenly recalled it. Wasn't he that genius mecha engineer-mechanic who the Thunder King had his eye on? At the start, in order to get him, the Thunder King had gone so far as to seal off all the other's resources within Mecha World, causing the other to fail his assessment two years in a row. If the other had failed just one more time, he would have been expelled from the First Men's Military Academy ...
"[No Mecha Unrepaired] is from the Mecha Engineering specialization in the First Men's Military Academy ..." muttered Li Lanfeng softly.
"Oh, so you've heard of him!" said Ling Lan in surprise, "Yes, he's that prodigy of the Mecha Engineering specialization in the First Men's Military Academy. He was pressured by the Thunder King, and I just happened to help him out by escorting him to Suncreed City. I wonder if he would be willing to join my battle clan."
"So the one who helped him to Suncreed City was you ..." Li Lanfeng gaped at the mecha before him. The Thunder King had been livid over the matter, but no matter how much manpower or material resources he invested into finding the person who helped [No Mecha Unrepaired], he just could not find them. This forced the Thunder King to have no choice but to suck it up in silence — Li Lanfeng recalled how pleased he himself had been when he had found out about it back then.
Sure enough, his rabbit was his god of luck. Even though they had not recognised each other yet back then, the rabbit had still helped him to inflict a round of torment on the Thunder King. Li Lanfeng stared at the intermediate mecha across from him with grateful eyes but kept this appreciation to himself.
"I think he should be willing to join," said Li Lanfeng with a smile. The rabbit was the benefactor of [No Mecha Unrepaired] — this personal debt would have already made it hard for the other to refuse to begin with. On top of that, the rabbit was inviting him to join his battle clan, which was also a form of acknowledgement as well as a form of assistance.
Mind you, although all the other factions in the academy also coveted [No Mecha Unrepaired]'s engineering abilities, they did not dare to offend the Thunder King. Thus, no battle clan had invited [No Mecha Unrepaired] into their ranks. Without the assistance of any battle clan, even if he passed the assessment this year, the next few years would be very tough for him as some assessments would require the collaboration of a battle clan to complete ... the rabbit's invitation would definitely be a lifeline 2 which the other would never refuse.
"I hope things turn out as you say." Ling Lan felt that it was about time for her to really build her battle clan now. Even though she still could not officially set one up in the school, she could start testing things out in Mecha World, as well as let Qi Long and the others get to know the leopard a bit.
Just like this, Ling Lan and Li Lanfeng arranged a time for their next meeting in Mecha World and then respectively logged off.
The moment Ling Lan logged off, she found that Qi Long and the others had returned. So, she called them all over and solemnly declared that, within Mecha World, she would officially establish their battle clan —— Lingtian!
There was no helping it. This bunch of brats had long decided on this ostentatious name. Otherwise, why would they have chosen to style their usernames in 'Lingtian XXX' fashion? If she did not give their battle clan this name, this bunch of brats would definitely flip the table!