152: Why is there a school badge on my brother's school uniform in Chapter 152?

(This chapter is an extra update for "Lianxi Erdian Wu"! Thanks to the boss for the Great God certification!)

(Wishing the boss overflowing wealth and wild parties every night!)

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The tense atmosphere in the conference room finally dissipated.

Commander Qin Luo let his shoulders drop, as if he had unloaded a thousand-pound burden.

He sealed the agreement, which was enough to shake the entire Federal education sector, into a special safe. With a "click," he locked it shut and solemnly announced that this unprecedented special recruitment meeting had reached Perfection.

The meeting had ended, but Su Ming's "post-meeting work" had only just begun.

He took out his phone and, in front of all the top Federal bigwigs, scanned their codes one by one.

"Teacher Sun, let's add each other on WeChat. I'll need you to look after me when I go to the Imperial Capital."

"Uncle Tie, let's add one too. I have a terrible sense of direction. I'll have to trouble you if I can't find my way when I go to the Northern Territory."

"Teacher Lang, Instructor Ying, don't run off..."

His attitude was enthusiastic, his smile sincere; anyone who didn't know better would have thought he was a model student who respected his teachers.

But everyone sitting there was a seasoned veteran; who couldn't see the green glint flashing in the boy's eyes? Adding him on WeChat was fake; thinking about when those benefits would arrive was real!

"Haha, say no more!"

Lang Qingyun laughed the heartiest, dialing a number on the spot. "Hello? Air Force base? Yes, get me the latest 'Thunder' model, private license plate! Drive it to Jiangcheng No. 1 High School immediately! Recipient? Su Ming! Yes! That Su Ming!"

Hanging up the phone, he winked at Su Ming. "Little Brother Su, your big brother handles things with flair, right? I'll let you experience the joy of Mach 5 tonight!"

Tie Moshan was the most straightforward. He snatched the phone from Su Ming's hand and scanned the code himself, asking in a muffled voice, "Send me your home address. I'll mail you the Undying Heavy Gold raw ore as soon as I get back to the academy! I guarantee the monthly amount will only increase, never decrease!"

Su Ming scratched his head, feeling a bit embarrassed. "Um... the place I'm renting expires today. Could you wait two days? I plan to get a new nest near Southern United Academy first, then I'll mass-message everyone once I have the address."

As soon as he finished speaking, Teacher Lin Qinyin stood up elegantly. She pushed the black card flowing with starlight toward Su Ming, her voice cold. "I've already transferred one billion to the card as pocket money. Buy whatever you want to see; don't skimp."

One billion... pocket money?! In the conference room, Lieutenant Colonel Chu Feng and Commander Qin Luo's eyelids twitched simultaneously.

Teacher Lin Qinyin acted as if she hadn't seen everyone's reaction. Her gaze fell on Su Ming, her tone as flat as if she were discussing what to eat for dinner. "Don't you have nowhere to stay? I have several properties in Zhennan City, where Southern United Academy is located. I'll have someone transfer a villa into your name later. When you come to Modu next semester, I'll gift you another one by the Huangpu River."

"Holy crap!"

Lang Qingyun, who had been trying hard to maintain his image, couldn't help but blurt out a swear word. We just started exchanging pleasantries, and you're already gifting money and villas? How is this even fair? He-tui! That's unsportsmanlike!

Teacher Sun from Imperial Capital University wasn't to be outdone. He slowly pushed up his glasses and said to Su Ming with a chuckle, "Student Su, villas are nice, but they lack heritage. Imperial Capital University has some modest assets at the foot of the Imperial City. I wonder if you'd like a courtyard house with a garden? It's close to our school, so it'll be convenient for you to attend lectures in the future."

Tie Moshan, Lang Qingyun, and Instructor Ying Wuhen all turned their heads in unison, cursing in the corner.

"Rich snob!"

"They only know how to corrupt the flowers of our motherland with these worldly possessions!"

"Pah! We uphold the bottom line of Federal martial ethics; we don't compare wealth, and we don't flaunt status!"

Though they cursed aloud, they were sour with envy inside. There was no help for it; they were poor! When they got back, they would definitely have to properly educate the brats in their own academies! The point exchange ratio would need to be adjusted too! They were all blockheads!

Chu Yao watched from the side, laughing until she trembled.

Lieutenant Colonel Chu Feng also walked over, his face filled with both happiness and emotion. He took a heavy silver-gray metal bracelet from his space and tossed it to Su Ming. "Take this."

The surface of the bracelet was engraved with the emblem of the Southern Military Region.

"A military-standard terminal, bound with your military serial number and Captain authority. Merit points, mission System, supply exchange—it's all in there."

Su Ming caught the bracelet and snapped it onto his wrist. The bracelet automatically contracted, the metal fitting his skin as a faint light scanned over it.

"Beep. Identity confirmed: Su Ming, Captain, Reserve of the 8th Independent Regiment, Southern Military Region. Merit point balance: 30,000."

The mechanical female voice rang in his ears, and Su Ming nodded with satisfaction.

Lieutenant Colonel Chu Feng looked at the brand-new terminal on his wrist, unable to help but feel a bit wistful. "I originally thought applying for these 30,000 merit points for you was quite a lot, enough for you to exchange for many good things at the academy." He gave a wry smile. "Now, after what these financiers have done, I feel a bit embarrassed to bring it out."

Su Ming laughed. "Brother Chu, you can't say it like that. Money is money, but this is honor. How can they be the same!"

Lieutenant Colonel Chu Feng felt a bit better and pointed to the terminal. "Go back and study it slowly." He paused, then remembered something. "By the way, we've already packed up the Scorpion King's corpse and taken it back for research. After all, that thing is a Tier 7 Bloodline. Once headquarters finishes the evaluation, we'll grant you additional merit points based on its value."

After saying this, Lieutenant Colonel Chu Feng thought of the "corpse" that had been blasted into a pulp of meat by Su Ming, and the corner of his mouth twitched.

Wouldn't this just put pressure on the logistics inspection department? Whether they could research anything from a pile of pixels would depend on their skills.

...

The door to the conference room finally opened. Outside, Principal Ma Aiguo and a group of instructors from second and third-rate academies had been waiting until their eyes were sore. They stretched their necks like a group of ducks waiting to be fed.

"Click—"

The sound of the door lock turning made everyone perk up.

Commander Qin Luo was the first to come out. He handed the safe to the sergeant major waiting at the door and said in a deep voice, "S-class encryption, send it to the General Bureau. Today's matter is classified as top secret."

The sergeant major took the box, saluted, and left.

Principal Ma Aiguo and the other local academy instructors looked at each other. Where were Chu Yao and Tie Moshan's group? Where were the instructors from the Imperial Capital and Modu? Why hadn't a single one of them come out?

Before they could ask, the conference room door opened again.

Su Ming walked out. His stride was incredibly steady, perhaps even a bit cocky.

The most conspicuous thing was on his chest—the previously empty left side of his school uniform was now neatly adorned with a row of badges.

He had his left hand in his pocket, while his right hand held a shimmering black card, fanning himself with it again and again, looking just like a wealthy nouveau riche who had just won money at a casino.

Principal Ma Aiguo and the instructors were all seasoned veterans. At a time like this, no one dared to take the initiative to go up and ask, "Student Su Ming, which one did you choose?" Wouldn't that be asking to offend the other five top martial arts academies?

So, they began to communicate with their eyes, trying to judge the final winner from the expressions of the top instructors walking out behind him.

Huh?

Chu Yao from Southern United Academy was smiling. This was normal; after all, Su Ming's first choice was Southern United.

But... Teacher Lin Qinyin from Modu University was also smiling. Although it was just a slight upturn of the corners of her mouth, that arrogance couldn't be hidden.

Tie Moshan from the Northern Territory was also smiling, revealing a mouthful of big white teeth, and even patted Lang Qingyun on the shoulder.

Lang Qingyun from Eastern Lingyun Academy, Teacher Sun from Imperial Capital University, and even that Instructor Ying Wuhen who was like a ghost...

Everyone was smiling!

Principal Ma Aiguo and the instructors were collectively stunned. This script wasn't right! Shouldn't there be only one winner smiling, with the remaining five having dark faces? What kind of "peace & love" are you all pretending to have here? You offered such high conditions and still lost, and you can still smile?

But... looking at their expressions, it didn't seem fake. Could it be that this snatching game—had no losers? How could that be possible?!

Su Ming looked at the constipated expressions of these people and felt a bit annoyed. I've made it so obvious, are you all blind?

He deliberately puffed out his chest, letting the six badges of different colors shine brilliantly under the lights, and the black card in his hand switched directly from "pretending to fan" to "flat display" mode.

Su Ming wore an innocent smile on his face and began to greet the instructors waiting outside one by one.

"Hello, teachers!"

"Thank you for your hard work, teachers!"

"Principal Ma, you've been waiting here too... Oh my, your complexion doesn't look right, low blood sugar?"

His voice wasn't loud, but it was enough for everyone in the circle to hear. Especially when he greeted them, the black card in his left hand and the six badges flashing on his chest made it hard not to notice.

Principal Ma Aiguo adjusted his glasses, leaned in closer, and looked carefully at Su Ming's chest.

One, two, three, four, five, six.

Six badges.

The Crimson Vermilion Bird of Southern United Academy.

The Starlight Gate of Modu University.

The Ancient Cloud-Pattern Seal of Imperial Capital University.

The Mysterious Armor Shield of Northern Territory's Mysterious Armor.

The Wings of the Firmament of Eastern Lingyun Academy.

The Dark Moon Blade of Shadow Academy.

Six... six school badges?!

This... what was going on?

Finally, a bold young instructor, looking at the dazzling row of badges on Su Ming's chest, had his brain short-circuit and asked the ultimate question in everyone's mind.

"Student Su Ming, these... badges are?"

Su Ming blinked, an expression of "isn't it obvious" on his face.

"Oh, souvenirs given by the teachers. They said they were admission credentials, letting me get familiar with them in advance."

Souvenirs? Admission credentials? Had this stuff started being sold retail? Or was it—you managed to collect all the badges from six top martial arts universities by yourself?!

(There are two more big chapters!)