The Interstellar Queen of Scavengers

Chapter 1556: Chapter 1556: Three Matters

Ji You knew the elderly man, and not only her, but every student at the Lanyue Star Military Academy knew this elderly man. Although he did not often make appearances, his name and photo were prominently displayed on the school’s faculty list.

That’s right.

This elderly man was none other than Mr. Feng Zhen, the principal of Lanyue Star Military Academy, also known as the old principal among everyone.

Despite Principal Hong’s antics, which every year made him the most unpopular figure in the entire school, and his role as vice-principal making him often the representative in major events and important decisions of the school largely entrusted to Principal Hong, all of this made Principal Feng Zhen appear very low-key, like an invisible man.

However, due to health reasons, even though Principal Feng Zhen rarely appeared, he still earned the genuine respect of every student from the depths of their hearts.

At this moment, students standing upright in the square all lifted their heads, their gazes filled with respect as they looked at this old principal.

And Principal Feng Zhen, with the support of Hong Jiang, stood up from his wheelchair, then raised his hand, waving slightly, to greet all the staff and students:

”Hello, students.”

The voice was old, soft, and weak, but responding to him was the powerful and strong voice of the students:

”Hello, Principal!”

Feng Zhen was very pleased and raised his hand again, waving.

Besides him, Principal Hong softly suggested, ”Sir, do you want to sit down and speak?”

Feng Zhen gently shook his head, refusing, and softly but firmly said, ”I can hold on, don’t worry.”

Principal Hong did not persuade further, instead carefully supporting the old principal.

Feng Zhen did not give a long speech; in fact, every additional word was a burden to him now. However, he still looked at all the students and faculty below with a firm, gentle, and kind gaze, his voice very light, yet his tone solemn, saying: ”Today’s gathering is to announce three things. The first matter is that from today, the entire school will enter a lockdown mode. All students of the Combat Department will join the surrounding regular military’s patrol teams and will conduct daily patrols according to a lottery sequence. Students of other departments will enter defense mode, and everyone is required to learn combat and self-rescue measures...”

He couldn’t finish his sentence in one breath.

Beside him, Principal Hong promptly added that students from other departments, after their main subject studies, would have an additional combat training course appended. Finally, Principal Hong said, ”In short, students from other departments must have a certain ability to protect themselves.”

All students, hearing this, suddenly opened their mouths wide, and then, closed them again.

No one opposed.

And no one would oppose.

Such a sudden announcement from the school was undoubtedly like a bolt from the blue.

What does this mean?

Does it mean the situation has already reached such a critical point?

The students tried their best to appear calm and composed, but that moment of panic still leaked out, and everyone couldn’t help but fret.

The same went for Ji You.

She had just been out and not only encountered the terrifying Mayfly Swarm and the Black Bear Swarm, which appeared and vanished explosively; during a mission in the holidays, she also faced the Black Stinging Bee Swarm, the Scavenging Vulture Group, the chaotic Sea Iron Bull, Viper Worm... and those formless, intangible, yet omnipresent terrifying creatures that make one afraid to even breathe...

All of this had already given Ji You a huge sense of crisis, as she was constantly living in fear and dread, fearing the day when the real crisis arrives, afraid that she would only be able to helplessly wait for death then...

But!

Ji You was also preparing, constantly becoming stronger, stronger... She merely felt the time too brief, the preparation time too scant, too scant...

When the students’ hearts were in chaos, Principal Feng Zhen lightly coughed, suddenly waved his hand, and said, ”Everyone need not panic excessively, the crisis has not come yet, we are just preparing in advance.”

Upon hearing this, everyone collected their anxious expressions, even Ji You felt as if the fear pressing down on her chest had been removed by someone from above, suddenly relieved.

Ji You stood upright, ensuring she wouldn’t collapse to the ground due to any unexpected situation, and beside her, Chu Jiaojiao and others also stood straight.

Principal Feng Zhen said, ”War can return at any time, we don’t fight unprepared battles. Humans have defeated Star Beasts numerous times, and we will definitely overcome them this time as well. Trust our warriors, and believe in ourselves. Can we do that?”

”Yes!” the entire student body shouted in unison below.

Principal Feng Zhen was very satisfied, nodding his head. After a brief rest, his tone suddenly sank, and in that soft voice was endless sorrow and heaviness, ”In the past year, many of our classmates participated in the Alliance’s safeguard mission. They bravely fought against Star Beasts and criminals, until they sacrificed themselves... I am very proud to announce that we have 31 classmates who have made great contributions to the stability and prosperity of the Alliance. The second matter — let us all stand up and salute, solemnly welcoming the return of the spirits of the warriors who were away.”

Boom—

All the students felt their minds boom with the resounding words, touching their hearts deeply. Many students, being confined within the school, had not faced death directly before, although they were mentally prepared, it had never been this direct. Moreover, the school had never held such a solemn memorial, everyone didn’t even realize that so many students had sacrificed their lives in the past year.

Sacrificed...

Amidst the overwhelming shock and sorrow, despite being unprepared, the students orderly and meticulously stood up, solemnly saluting.

Then.

The elderly yet powerful voice of Principal Feng Zhen came: ”Hearty welcome to Hao Jialiang’s return to the school.”

”Hearty welcome to Chen Weirong’s return to the school.”

”Hearty welcome to Xu Feihu’s return to the school.”

”Hearty welcome...”

Principal Feng Zhen’s voice grew lower, even with a choking sob, but it felt like a sharp blade stabbing into each student’s heart.

It is unknown who began, but silent tears started falling onto the square’s floor.

Plop~

Plop~

Plop~

...

In an instant, the square seemed to have a sudden ’rain’.

Apart from the unstoppable ’sound of the rain’, no one made a sound; the entire square was filled only with the frail, elderly, and soft voice of Principal Feng Zhen.

Every time he mentioned a name, the screen behind him lit up with a beam of light, displaying the photo of the student called.

The atmosphere was solemn.

When Principal Feng Zhen finished reading all the names, it was as if all the strength had been drained out of him, staggering a bit, and thankfully, he was caught in time by Principal Hong beside him.

Principal Hong asked the old principal to sit down; he did not comply, but solemnly performed a respectful salute to the 31 students.

The next second, all the students followed with a military salute.

For a long time...

For a long time...

Just when the atmosphere was so heavy that it was hard to breathe, the old principal closed his eyes slightly, then opened them again, a light rekindled in his eyes, and he declared, ”Now, announce the third matter — ”