Chapter 398 - 198: Rank Conferment Ceremony, the Future Generals Set Sail
Chapter 398: Chapter 198: Rank Conferment Ceremony, the Future Generals Set Sail
But even after more than a month, he still wasn’t quite used to the feeling.
The prosthesis was technologically advanced. When he walked, it was almost identical to before, with no discernible flaws.
But the lost sensation of flesh and blood was, ultimately, an irreplaceable regret.
"Master! You’re here so early today!"
A young man with a crew cut, wearing the logistics unit’s work uniform, saw Lin Tao and immediately hurried over with a broad smile.
Lin Tao nodded, his expression as serious as ever.
"I have just over a week left before I go home."
"I’m still a little worried about you, so I came to see how your work is coming along."
As he spoke, he walked over to a light Mecha undergoing repairs and tapped the newly welded armor seam with his hand.
"Every piece of equipment that comes in or goes out must be properly logged."
"The three daily self-inspections aren’t just to remind you not to get complacent; they’re about being responsible for the frontline Warriors who entrust their lives to us."
"If our logistics equipment causes any casualties on the front lines, our guilt would be unforgivable!"
Lin Tao’s voice wasn’t loud, but it carried an undeniable weight.
The young man’s smile vanished. He responded loudly, "Yes, Master! I’ll be sure to remember that!"
Lin Tao grunted in acknowledgment and began to carefully inspect the young man’s recent repair and maintenance logs.
Just then, a Martial Artist in the logistics unit’s combat uniform strode over.
"Mr. Lin!"
Lin Tao turned and recognized the man as Li Weiguo.
When he had been hospitalized with severe injuries, it was through Li Weiguo that he had managed to get in touch with his family.
Li Weiguo first gave Lin Tao a salute before speaking.
"Mr. Lin, Mr. Gao sent me to inform you that the award and graduation ceremony for our Ninghai Province’s Qiming General Star Training Camp is today. He said you should go to Conference Room 1 and watch the livestream with a few other comrades."
Lin Tao’s movements paused for a fraction of a second.
’Qiming General Star...’
An image of his son, Lin Ye, flashed through his mind.
A barely perceptible glimmer of light appeared on his weathered face.
’Xiaoye... I think he did end up going to that training camp.’
’I wonder if the boy actually graduated.’
Lin Tao’s expectations for his son weren’t actually that high.
In his eyes, Lin Ye being selected for a training camp filled with elites was already a huge surprise.
It was an incredible stroke of luck.
As for whether he could graduate successfully or make a name for himself there, he didn’t dare to hope.
Before long, Li Weiguo led him to the regiment’s conference room.
The moment he stepped inside, Lin Tao froze.
The room, which wasn’t spacious to begin with, was now packed with people. The air was thick with the mixed smells of smoke and body odor.
A long conference table had been pushed against the wall, and everyone was crammed into the front, huddled around an old twenty-eight-inch television mounted on the wall. Many people, having no place to sit, were forced to stand in the back.
Li Weiguo’s brow furrowed instantly.
He immediately spotted Zou Jianfeng, the Deputy Head of the Logistics Department, sprawled imperiously in a chair.
And that very seat happened to be the one with the best, most direct view in the entire conference room—the one he had specifically reserved for Lin Tao.
"Mr. Zou," Li Weiguo said, walking forward with a grim expression, "I recall putting a note on this seat. It’s reserved."
Zou Jianfeng slowly raised his eyelids, glanced at Li Weiguo, then at Lin Tao behind him, an indifferent expression on his face.
"Reserved? I didn’t see anything!"
"Ah, what’s the difference who sits here? No need to make such a big deal out of it. Is he the only one allowed to sit here? Am I not?"
Li Weiguo couldn’t be bothered to waste words on him. His voice dropped, carrying an unyielding harshness.
"This was a special order from Mr. Gao. It’s for Comrade Lin Tao. Move."
He wasn’t negotiating; he was giving an order.
Even though Li Weiguo held the same rank as Zou Jianfeng.
But the killing intent forged in mountains of corpses and seas of blood was unleashed, raw and unrestrained.
A slick operator like Zou Jianfeng, who had spent his years in the rear, was no match for this kind of pressure. His expression changed instantly.
He pursed his lips and reluctantly stood up, muttering snidely under his breath.
"Fine, fine. Making way for our regiment’s war hero. Of course, of course..."
A few logistics personnel behind him, who were clearly his cronies, let out a snicker. Their expressions held not a shred of respect for Lin Tao, only resentment and jealousy.
In the last battle, during the Chisel-tooth Race’s surprise attack, they had been the first to evacuate, while Lin Tao’s maintenance team had held their ground until the very end, earning great merit as a result.
Zou Jianfeng had always felt it was unfair that he, as the Deputy Head of the Logistics Department, had received no military honors.
Like Lin Tao, he had been temporarily drafted from a civilian post. In terms of rank, he was even one level higher than Lin Tao.
This resentment had been stewing in his heart for a long time and was now almost impossible to contain.
Lin Tao was a classic salt-of-the-earth type. Seeing the situation, he quickly waved his hands, not wanting to cause a dispute on his account.
"It’s fine, it’s fine. I can just stand and watch. It’s all the same."
"Mr. Lin!"
Li Weiguo put a hand on his shoulder. "This is an order from Mr. Gao. You will sit! If anyone has a problem with it, they can come find me!"
Lin Tao couldn’t argue with him and had no choice but to sit down.
The metal prosthesis on his right leg did indeed make it difficult for him to stand for long periods.
Standing for too long would cause his leg and back to ache.
After a short while, the noise in the conference room gradually died down.
The television screen on the wall flickered a few times and finally lit up.
Stirring military music began to play as the screen displayed a magnificent and solemn grand auditorium.
An announcer in a formal military uniform walked onto the stage and gave a brief opening speech in a resonant voice.
"...After thirty days and nights of brutal trials and tribulations, a total of fifteen outstanding cadets have distinguished themselves! With their sweat and willpower, they have proven themselves worthy of the title of Martial Artist, and even more worthy of the uniforms they wear today!"
"But before we honor our graduating cadets, please allow us to give the warmest round of applause to all the instructors who coached this province-wide training camp!"
The camera cut, and Yin Liulan, followed by Nie Cang, Su Yunjin, and the other instructors, marched onto the stage in neat formation.
Yin Liulan walked to the front of the stage, her posture ramrod straight, and delivered a perfect military salute.
"Reporting to all senior officers! The 89th Qiming General Star Training Camp of Ninghai Province has successfully completed all its instructional duties! We have not failed to live up to the high expectations of our leadership!"
From below the stage, thunderous applause erupted and continued unabated.
Lin Tao watched the grand scene on the television, his gaze fixed on the extraordinary instructors and generals on stage, and his heart couldn’t help but tighten.
’On a stage like that, with everyone watching...’
’Could his own son really be among those fifteen glorious individuals?’