81: Chapter 81 Shocking! He became a major in his senior year of high school.

Jianghai No. 3 Middle School Auditorium.

The principal stood on the podium, spitting as he spoke into the microphone. He was trying to forcibly link Lin Fan's military achievements with the school's nurturing.

The students below were dozing off.

Lin Fan sat in the first row, idly picking at his nails.

This kind of commendation ceremony was more tiring than killing a Lord-level exotic beast.

"Bang!"

The heavy oak doors of the auditorium were violently slammed open.

The loud noise instantly drowned out the principal's reedy voice.

Two columns of fully armed City Guard soldiers filed in.

Black tactical exoskeletons, cold firearms, and the smell of gunpowder fresh from the battlefield.

The uniform thud of military boots.

Thump, thump, thump!

Everyone looked at the situation in confusion, "What's going on?"

The noisy auditorium instantly fell silent.

The principal's words caught in his throat, and the speech in his hand fluttered to the ground.

This wasn't the school's security team.

These were real instruments of violence who had seen blood.

The two columns of soldiers parted, and a middle-aged man in a dark green military uniform strode out.

On his epaulets, two bars and four stars told everyone: Senior Colonel.

The adjutant of the Military Region Command.

He ignored the school leaders who came to greet him and walked directly to Lin Fan.

His resolute eyes stared intently at Lin Fan.

More than three thousand teachers and students in the entire hall didn't dare to breathe.

Lin Fan looked up, his gaze calm.

He was evaluating the opponent's combat power.

Grandmaster Initial Stage, with a profound aura, a true practitioner.

The Senior Colonel took out a gilded document from his briefcase.

His movements were meticulous.

Filled with a suffocating sense of ceremony.

"Hereby appointed, Jianghai City citizen Lin Fan..."

His voice was loud, booming through the microphone to every corner of the auditorium.

"In view of his outstanding contributions in the '11·07' massive beast tide defense battle, providing logistical resources, turning the tide, and assisting in the slaying of the Lord."

"Approved by the Military Region Command, hereby awarded..."

The Senior Colonel paused, his gaze sweeping across the entire hall.

"The rank of Reserve Major in the Huaguo National Defense Force!"

"Enjoying the treatment of a full regiment commander!"

Silence.

Eerie silence.

Even a falling needle could be heard.

If the previous praise for Lin Fan was mainly due to the blind box industry and his battlefield contributions, he was still, after all, just a high school student.

Now, he was a Major officially appointed by the state.

Not a commendation, not an honorary citizen, but a real military rank?

In this high-martial world, military rank meant privilege, resources, and a license to kill.

How many outstanding graduates from martial arts universities, after ten years of rolling in piles of dead bodies, couldn't even touch the threshold of a Major?

And Lin Fan.

Eighteen years old.

Not yet in college.

Rising to the top in one step—this was the benefit of military merit.

"Brother Fan is awesome, greetings, Commander!"

A sudden shout broke the silence.

Fatty Zhang Hao suddenly jumped up beside him, clapping desperately, the fat on his face jiggling.

This shout was like a fuse.

"Boom!"

The auditorium exploded.

Exclamations, screams, and roars of disbelief tore through the roof.

Those girls who had once mocked Lin Fan's F-Rank Talent now looked at his back, their intestines green with regret.

An eighteen-year-old Major.

What kind of concept was that?

This meant that as long as Lin Fan didn't fall, he was definitely a future General in the making.

This was a true powerful family.

Facing such immense wealth and glory.

Lin Fan stood up.

He didn't salute, nor were his eyes filled with tears.

He took the heavy letter of appointment and opened it to read.

Then he looked up, his face serious.

"Um... Commander."

Lin Fan rubbed his fingers, "How much is a Major's monthly allowance? Is there five social insurances and one housing fund? Can I be exempt from taxes when I sell blind boxes in the future?"

The Senior Colonel's stern, square face visibly twitched.

The cheers throughout the hall came to an abrupt halt.

Li Zhen covered his face.

This kid really never forgets to maintain his greedy persona.

But this was precisely the smartest approach, using vulgarity to dissolve jealousy, and greed to conceal ambition.

The Senior Colonel took a deep breath and turned off the microphone.

He took a step closer and said in a voice only the two of them could hear:

"Allowance will be issued at three times the Martial Artist standard. Tax exemption is impossible, but military procurement goes through a green channel."

With that, the Senior Colonel's hand heavily patted Lin Fan's shoulder.

"Also."

"General Ye Canglan asked me to tell you."

"He is very interested in your blind box technology. This military rank is half for your military merits, and half for General Ye Canglan's influence."

"Take care of yourself."

Lin Fan's pupils contracted slightly.

General Ye Canglan.

That name again.

It seemed that behind this glory was a struggle in Kyoto.

This was both a protective charm and a death warrant.

"Please thank General Ye Canglan for me."

Lin Fan put on his signature fake smile, "Another day, I'll invite him to open a blind box and give him a two percent discount."

The Senior Colonel gave him a deep look, then turned and left.

He came quickly and left just as quickly.

Leaving only a hall full of shock.

In the corner.

Su Qingxue looked at the young man on stage, chatting and laughing with the Senior Colonel.

She was deeply moved, and then thought of the family pressure she was currently facing.

The gap was getting wider and wider.

Before, she could still treat Lin Fan as a friend, thinking he was just a capable businessman.

Now, he was part of a national organization.

The pressure from her family, coupled with her own desire to become stronger.

The decision had been made.

She took out her phone and composed a text message.

No longer hesitating.

Send.

...

After school.

The school gate was packed solid.

Countless people wanted to rush up and curry favor.

Even homeroom teachers from other classes wanted to poach him.

"Major Lin! I'm the homeroom teacher of Class Two, our class has a great atmosphere..."

"Brother Fan! I'm your long-lost biological brother from different fathers and mothers!"

In the end, the City Guard stepped in and forcibly cleared a path.

Lin Fan darted into the bulletproof car arranged by Li Zhen as if fleeing for his life.

"Brother Fan, the celebration dinner tonight..." the Fatty shouted from outside the car window.

"What celebration? I'm going back to sleep!"

Lin Fan yelled through the window.

The car window went up, cutting off the noise.

Lin Fan leaned back in the leather seat and let out a long breath.

Tired.

More tired than fighting a battle.

Dealing with these pretenses was more mentally exhausting than facing exotic beasts.

He just wanted to find a quiet place to sort out how to use that S-rank Dragon Crystal.

He was too high-profile right now.

He needed to cool down, otherwise, he might get carried away.

Back at Imperial Dragon Residence.

Lin Fan collapsed onto the sofa, not even wanting to move a finger.

His phone vibrated.

An unfamiliar number.

But Lin Fan instantly guessed who it was.

Only that aloof school beauty would send such a text message without emojis or small talk.

[Tonight at 8 PM, Blue Note Cafe. Regarding an important collaboration with you, and... some information about Kyoto. Su Qingxue.]

Lin Fan looked at the screen.

His fingers gently tapped the table.

Collaboration?

Information?

It seemed that this eldest daughter of the Su Family finally couldn't hold back.

The information about Kyoto was precisely what he lacked most right now.

General Ye Canglan's appearance gave him a sense of crisis.

He had to figure out the other party's background.

He replied with one word:

Okay.

"Bro!"

Lin Xiaoya came over with a plate of sliced apples.

The little girl was wearing pink pajamas, her complexion much rosier than before.

She happened to glimpse the text message interface on Lin Fan's phone.

Her eyes instantly lit up, like two small light bulbs.

"Is that Sister Qing Xue? Are you going on a date?"

Lin Xiaoya leaned over gossiping, ignoring Lin Fan's tired expression.

Lin Fan flipped his phone face down on the table and rolled his eyes.

"What do kids know? It's for business."

"Oh, come on."

Lin Xiaoya pouted and put a piece of apple into Lin Fan's mouth, "Doing business at a cafe? Bro, dress nicely tonight."

She looked Lin Fan up and down, at his wrinkled school uniform.

Her face full of disdain.

"Don't always wear your school uniform. Now that your business is so big, you're embarrassing our Lin Family. There's a new shirt I bought for you in the closet."

Seeing his sister regain her vitality, Lin Fan felt a warmth in his heart.

He fought so hard outside, even disguising himself as a greedy clown.

Wasn't it all for this?

As long as his sister could be healthy and happy, he would dare to punch a hole in the sky if it meant achieving that.

"Alright, alright, I'll listen to you."

Lin Fan ruffled his sister's hair.

This battle was worth it.

He stood up and walked towards the bathroom.

Tonight's "date" probably wouldn't be so simple.