Cannon fodder in the Interstellar

Seeing the instructors and mentors acting as if they were facing a major threat because of their outing, and hearing the repeated emphasis on being cautious of people around them, Ruo Manni guessed that the situation with the puppet people had been confirmed and spread, which is why the school was so nervous and advised extra caution.

However, Ruo Manni still found this level of tension unusual and wondered if there was something else, a serious threat to them that was making the instructors so anxious.

Normally, the night before the banquet, Ruo Manni would have had a practice session with the instructor. After completing her basic training, she went to the training room to wait for the instructor. According to usual practice, it should have been Instructor Dudley who came to train with her.

After waiting for a while without Instructor Dudley appearing, she received a text message asking her to come to his office. Although puzzled, Ruo Manni thought that Instructor Dudley likely had something to discuss privately, especially with the outing scheduled for the next day.

“Reporting in,” Ruo Manni greeted formally.

Instructor Dudley, however, was dressed in casual clothes, and his demeanor was relaxed rather than stern. He waved her over calmly, “Come here.”

Having been taught by Instructor Dudley for six months, the elite students held him in high regard, and Ruo Manni felt the same way. In fact, recent intense training had left her with a psychological shadow. Seeing the instructor in such a relaxed state made her even more cautious, tightening her nerves.

“Don’t be so tense. I’m just here to give you something on someone’s behalf,” Instructor Dudley said with a hint of amusement. It seemed that the recent training had made a deep impression on her, and though it was intense, such deep lessons were necessary for her significant progress.

“Is it Uncle Lin?” Ruo Manni asked.

Her first instinct was that it was Captain Lin. Since Instructor Dudley and Captain Lin were former comrades and had reconnected through her, and Dudley had previously delivered items from Captain Lin twice, she expected it to be Captain Lin. However, Dudley had always handed things over directly before, unlike the mysterious way today.

“No, it’s Colonel Hua De. He said his position is special and he couldn’t come to see you in person, so he asked me to pass this on to you,” Instructor Dudley explained.

To be honest, after the last time when Ruo Manni was seriously injured during training and Colonel Hua De and Dr. Paul suddenly appeared, Dudley had already started to have doubts about Hua De’s true intentions. This time, Hua De’s sudden involvement regarding Ruo Manni’s outing the next day only confirmed Dudley’s suspicions.

Dudley noticed that when Ruo Manni heard that Hua Deqi was sending her something, she only showed a slight surprise but no real astonishment, indicating she wasn’t surprised by Hua Deqi’s actions.

“This is a newly developed micro electroencephalograph. After you get back, read the user manual carefully. Colonel Hua De instructed that you need to be cautious tomorrow. If anyone approaches you and this device shows any abnormalities, you can immediately press this alarm button, and guards will appear. Additionally, this alarm button also serves as a shield, capable of automatically deflecting up to three attacks from thermal weapons. Make sure to carry it with you at all times.”

Instructor Dudley handed Ruo Manni two white, earring-shaped devices and said, “Colonel Hua De also instructed that you stay as close to the Second Prince as possible on your way to and from the event. His security is the strongest.”

Ruo Manni immediately put on the two earring devices without hesitation. This was the ultimate protection; with this shield, she no longer had to worry about someone hiding and taking a shot from the dark.

Although her current skill level meant she would not be instantly defeated in a direct confrontation with an enemy, and at least could hold out until the guards arrived, no amount of skill could compare to the threat of thermal weapons. Her greatest fear was being ambushed and assassinated from hiding, which was nearly impossible to defend against. Many had met their end this way.

With this protection, Ruo Manni felt secure about her safety for the next day.

But it wasn’t over yet. After giving her the defensive gear, Instructor Dudley took out a cold light gun and said, “This is also from Colonel Hua De. It has many functions and is very powerful. Be cautious when using it.”

Ruo Manni already had one, but given the immense destructive power of such a weapon, having another one was advantageous. Moreover, since it was a gift from her cousin, she accepted it gratefully. With two cold light guns, she was well-equipped for both offense and defense, and wouldn’t have to worry about running out of energy.

Just when Ruo Manni thought that was the end of it, Instructor Dudley took out a large box and said, “This is also from Colonel Hua De. It contains two evening gowns and matching jewelry for the banquet. It’s said that they were selected by Hua Deli’s mother. He mentioned that these gowns are not ordinary; even laser beams can’t penetrate them. The jewelry also has protective functions. Take them back and examine them carefully, and decide how to use them yourself.”

As Instructor Dudley spoke, he thought to himself that with these items, he no longer needed to worry about Ruo Manni’s safety.

In the past, Dudley had marveled at how, despite being a commoner, Ruo Manni looked like a member of one of the top ten noble families, and ended up as a classmate of Hua Deli. Life seemed so full of coincidences.

Now, he realized he was still young and naive. With Hua De’s extensive resources, these coincidences were unlikely to be mere coincidences; otherwise, it would be too implausible.

When he heard that the items in the box were prepared by the Second Mrs. Hua De, Ruo Manni was momentarily stunned.

After recognizing Hua Deqi, Ruo Manni had mentally prepared herself for the possibility of meeting her biological parents in the future, but she hadn’t expected it to happen so soon.

Even with preparation, it felt inadequate. Hearing that the items were prepared by the lady herself, Ruo Manni felt a pang of discomfort. These were meant for the lady’s own daughter, while she was just an impostor. Holding them in her hands felt uncomfortable, as if they were too hot to touch.

At the Queen’s birthday banquet, would she meet her…

“What’s wrong?” Instructor Dudley asked softly.

Having known the child for so long, he was aware that she was well-mannered, open-hearted, and intelligent. It was the first time he had seen such a conflicted expression on her face, and it seemed her ties were with the Hua De family.

“It’s nothing. My cousin was indeed very considerate in his preparations,” Ruo Manni said, regaining her composure and masking her feelings. Her thoughts were a bit disordered, and she trusted Dudley a lot; she was worried she might inadvertently reveal something.

Instructor Dudley was surprised. If Ruo Manni referred to Hua Deqi as her cousin, then his suspicions were indeed correct.

It seemed that Lin Changfeng had unexpectedly gained such substantial protection from the Hua De family, which explained his rapid rise in the past six months. Clearly, this guy was fortunate beyond belief.

Dudley felt relieved for Lin Changfeng, as aligning himself with Hua Deqi and the Crown Prince meant he no longer needed to fear suppression from the Lin family’s direct line.

Ruo Manni composed herself, put away the items given by Hua Deqi, and said to Instructor Dudley, “Instructor, there must be some major event happening outside concerning us. Could you explain the current situation in detail? I feel it’s not good for us to be entirely unaware. As quasi-soldiers, it’s important for us to be aware of our own dangers. You understand the consequences better than we do.”