Beyond the Zenith

The White Erasers, of course, couldn’t be classified as evil. They wouldn’t have become a Color Eraser platoon if they were.

This district platoon, belonging to Regiment 404, had been established at the founding of the Ninth Army. Its history was illustrious, its battle record distinguished, and its combat strength formidable.

However, over time, it had evolved into a proving ground for the radical faction, or rather, the extremist faction of young officers who were trying to change the Coalition. It was their crucial base and stepping stone for cultivating new talent, accumulating combat merits, and advancing through the ranks.

Qi Shantong’s career had also started in the White Erasers, having served as its platoon leader for a full nine years, accumulating merits and rising through the ranks to senior colonel during that time.

A senior colonel as platoon leader. That was an absurdly over-ranked leader for a platoon. Only a Color Eraser platoon could have such a thing.

Qi Shantong’s signature manic laughter rang out in the tense atmosphere of his office, lasting for some time before cutting off abruptly.

Abruptly sitting down, he said with a straight face, “Fine. Give me a full debrief on this mission first.”

“Head Instructor Qi, I already submitted a detailed report while I was at the medical station,” Han Qingyu answered.

“Say it again.”

“Yes, sir. We received a call from the base requesting confirmation of a Wiper stronghold. Three of us infiltrated. A large number of hostiles and modified humans ambushed on site.” Han Qingyu recounted the events as written. “We fought to the last, sustained injuries, and broke through. The mission failed.”

“Is that really what happened?”

“That is exactly what happened.”

“Based on my inspection of the site and personal speculation, the battle conditions seem to differ considerably from your account. Are you certain there’s nothing suspicious you’d like to clarify?” Qi Shantong asked with a slight tilt of his head, staring at Han Qingyu in a way that made his skin crawl.

“Speculation is speculation.” Han Qingyu met his twisted gaze with a smile. “I could just as easily speculate that Head Instructor Qi assigned Regiment 425 recruit equipment officer Wen Jifei to this operation with less than good intentions.”

Their eyes locked. Han Qingyu didn’t yield an inch.

Back at the medical station, he had already decided against playing nice and trying to maneuver around a dangerous person like Qi Shantong. That would end with him inadvertently limiting himself. Since he had no desire to become one of them, it was actually safer and more liberating to do away with the niceties and openly address their conflict.

“Are you questioning a superior?” Qi Shantong leaned forward, his stare pressing.

“Not exactly. I believe that you didn’t know the site was a trap or that the enemy was that strong, and I’d certainly never be so bold as to suspect a major general of colluding with the enemy.” Han Qingyu said slowly, returning his fierce gaze. “But I don’t think you can claim you didn’t know that Wen Jifei is just an equipment officer. A Dice, at that.”

Even Lao Jian and Mira knew that information. There was no way Qi Shantong didn’t.

Qi Shantong burst into laughter, not offering a single word of defense and pivoting instead. “I’m really liking you more and more. So, you’ve made up your mind, then? You’re going to the Gold Erasers? Going to sit around with a bunch of people whose only job is guarding dusty old doors for the Coalition’s rotting establishment?”

“That’s really not something you need to worry about, Head Instructor Qi.” Han Qingyu touched the energy core in his pocket. “Though I will say, I do quite like the Gold Erasers.”

“Gutsy.” Qi Shantong held back his anger. “So you’re truly not worried that—”

“You’ve got it wrong, Major General Qi,” Han Qingyu said seriously. “Quite the opposite. I’m not a gutsy person at all. It’s not just death that I’m afraid of. I’m also afraid of being given a hard time, of being targeted, of accidents...”

Qi Shantong’s expression shifted to something resembling confusion.

“That’s why, while I was at the medical station, I decided to contact Tu Zi and Xin Yaoqiao. I told them that I’d refused an invitation from Major General Qi’s faction in the Ninth Army and that I was scared of getting targeted. If anything were to happen to me in the future, I told them to please... not go looking in the wrong direction.”

Qi Shantong stared at him.

His faction had always operated in extreme ways. Naturally, there was no shortage of people within the Coalition who were eager to find reasons to crack down on them.

“If there’s nothing else, sir, I’ll take my leave.” Han Qingyu stood at attention, saluted, turned, and walked toward the door.

As he opened the door, the White Erasers’ first lieutenant, Liang Ge, whom Qi Shantong had introduced earlier, said angrily, “You little punk. People call you the best in a decade, so you actually think you’re something special, don’t you? You just threw away a good opportunity.”

Han Qingyu stopped in his tracks. Without turning around, he smiled to himself and said, “Yes, I did, because I don’t need anyone to give me an opportunity like this. If I want something, I’ll climb up to it and take it with my own hands.”

With that, he walked out.

He had thoroughly offended Qi Shantong before recruit graduation. Was it foolish? Maybe. It sure felt good, though.

***

At nine o’clock that night, Mira stood on a small balcony at the back of the instructor building that faced the mountain and peered up at the stars.

“I’m sorry, Elder Brother. Little Mira let you down again.”

She had often dreamed of pinning on the platoon leader’s insignia and then going to the Ninth Army Mountain to pay her respects with pride. This was supposed to be the year it happened. She had gotten her hopes up, only to be disappointed yet again.

“Oranges or apples?” a person called from below, holding up a bag of fruit.

“I—”

“Can’t decide? Then take one of each.” Han Qingyu tossed them up one after the other.

Mira had no choice but to catch them. After a moment’s thought, she put on a brave face. “Are you here to comfort me? You really don’t need to. I’ve been through this enough times over the years that I’m used to it. You should focus on choosing your platoon right now.”

“No, I’m here to apologize.”

“What? Apologize? For what?”

“Because the person who told the regiment you weren’t suitable to be platoon leader... was me.”

Mira fell silent.

“You can throw the apple at me. I won’t dodge.” Han Qingyu lowered his head, bracing himself. Given his physical condition, even a direct hit wouldn’t really hurt. Still, not knowing whether the throw was coming, or when, was nerve-racking.

Mira raised her hand, brandished the apple, then the orange, before finally peeling off a piece of orange rind and tossing it down in a token gesture. “You—Why?! Do you have any idea how-how embarrassing this is for me? Everyone thought I was going to be platoon leader this year. I thought so too. I even went to the recruit training to pick people out, and then—”

“Because you’re honestly not suited for it,” Han Qingyu interrupted. “I was afraid something would happen to you if you became platoon leader.”

“Is it because I’m an E-ranker?”

“No. It’s because you could never bring yourself to make the most correct and rational choice on the battlefield in time. You want to take care of everyone, but you can’t.”

“So it’s still because I’m useless.”

“No. You’re not the only one like that. Even Captain Wang Liuzheng of the Red Erasers couldn’t do it back in his day.”

“Oh.”

Han Qingyu’s words made sense. Despite quickly coming to terms with it, Mira was still angry at him and kept a bitter expression.

“Fine. I understand. You may leave now,” she dismissed.

“I’m not done yet, though. Can I come up?” Han Qingyu asked with a smile.

Mira hesitated briefly.

***

Wen Jifei, He Tangtang, and Liu Shiheng crouched behind a nearby wall, watching this scene play out.

“No way, that bastard actually went upstairs?!”

“That’s too much.”

“Have some shame.”

In reality, Han Qingyu stayed for less than three minutes. After offering a small suggestion, he immediately came back down.