A Chemist's Interstellar Saga

Chapter 84: Arriving At Sugli Forest
Chapter 84: Arriving At Sugli Forest

After everyone introduced themselves, Drexel began to speak. ”Let’s talk about The Sugli Forest. Everyone, share what you know about it. Then, we will summarize and decide our next steps. Arix, you go first.”

Arix nodded. Then, looking at everyone, he said, ”I don’t know much about The Sugli Forest. I only know it covers more than 500 hectares. There are many strange beasts living there, and in the center, there are Celesterrors, which are basically like monsters. So, unless it’s necessary, I suggest not going to the center.”

Celesterrors were different from normal beasts. They had powerful psychic abilities, and were born with Star-Class physical power, which gets stronger as they age. They are so formidable that even insectoids avoid them.

Most importantly, in the Alliance, Celesterror were protected animals, like rhinos in the past world. People couldn’t kill, sell, or hurt them, unless one wanted to end up in jail or worse.

Hearing Arix’s words, everyone nodded in agreement. Then they all looked at the next person.

Calista felt nervous with everyone looking at her, especially since Drexel was watching too. She couldn’t speak at all. Seeing this, Arix gently held her hand to encourage her, as if silently saying, ’Don’t be afraid, I’m here with you!’

Calista felt warm inside and finally gathered some courage. ”I once went to the edge of The Sugli Forest with my dad. The thing I remember most is that there are many poisonous insects and leeches, so we should prepare before going into the forest.”

”That’s very useful information. Calista, you and Arix will handle the insect repellent, okay?” Drexel asked, looking at both of them.

Arix nodded calmly, and Calista nodded excitedly, even making little fists with her hands.

Then it was Femi’s turn. He seemed oddly excited. ”I’ve heard that The Sugli Forest has little pigs. They are a top ingredient in the Alliance’s high-end restaurants. And there are also matsutake mushrooms, hazelnuts, and”

”Stop! That’s enough. You will handle the food,” Drexel said quickly, cutting him off.

”No problem! Leave it to me.” Femi nodded enthusiastically and agreed readily.

Drexel breathed a sigh of relief, then looked at Dae-jung. ”What about you, Dae-jung?”

”The most dangerous thing out there isn’t the forest, but the people,” Dae-jung said seriously. ”The Sugli Forest’s Celesterrors are always targets for poachers, and there are many mercenaries too. Poachers are easy to guard against, but mercenaries are unpredictable. I suggest we keep our distance from them during the competition.”

Drexel thought for a moment before replying, ”Dae-jung has a point. But usually, the area is closed off before the student competitions to protect students and prevent cheating. So, we’ll consider your suggestion. Does anyone else have any ideas? If not, I’ll share some thoughts for everyone to consider.”

The four nodded and focused on Drexel, waiting for him to speak.

”I’ve only been to The Sugli Forest once. What everyone said is mostly right, but there’s another thing I need to emphasize. With autumn approaching, the beasts are starting to gather food. The herbivores aren’t much of a problem, but the carnivores might see us as food. So, our main concern should be those beasts. We also need to take turns keeping watch at night. This task will be handled by us three guys. Now...” Drexel continued to discuss possible situations they might encounter during the competition.

Amidst their discussion, the flight of their spaceship reached its destination. Six large warships landed at the outer edge of the Sugli Forest. Hundreds of people, stopped by a security cordon a hundred meters away, were talking about the closure of the forest.

”A military academy, no less. They shut down the entire Sugli Forest for a kids’ competition!” a disgruntled mercenary complained.

”Those ’kids’ could beat you so out of shape that your wife wouldn’t recognize you,” an older mercenary retorted with a roll of his eyes.

”Exactly, and those ’kids’ will protect you, your wife, and your children on the front lines someday. Don’t you feel ashamed saying such things?” another mercenary added.

The complaining mercenary fell silent and walked away.

”Hmph!” The other mercenaries continued to watch the six warships, eager to see the spectacle.

When the students disembarked, the mercenaries exclaimed in surprise, as if a group of baboons had descended from the mountains.

Arix and his friends were drawn by the noise and turned to see the people standing a hundred meters away behind the security cordon.

They wore a mix of lightweight, worn-out combat gear, and their weapons ranged from guns to clubs and large machetes. Just by looking at them, it was clear they were mercenaries who lived by hunting.

The military students curiously watched the mercenaries, just as the mercenaries, who rarely saw military students, watched them. Both groups observed each other with interest.

Some particularly outgoing mercenaries started cheering for the military students.

”Kids! Go for it! You’re the best!”

”The next Alliance admiral is among you! Go, go, go!”

”You can do it, kids! Ura! Ura!”

The students, feeling the mercenaries’ enthusiasm, responded warmly.

”Thank you! But we’re not kids!”

”Haha!” The mercenaries laughed at the students’ response and teased them even more enthusiastically.

The instructors stood by, watching the bickering between the mercenaries and the military students. Instead of stopping them, they raised their eyebrows and smiled, enjoying the show.

When it was almost 9 o’clock, an instructor coughed to get the students’ attention. Then, the instructor said seriously, ”The competition is about to start. Kids, get yourselves ready.”

”Yes, sir!” the students replied loudly. Some students waved goodbye to the mercenaries.

At 9 o’clock, the instructor announced the start of the competition. All the military students rushed into The Sugli Forest like a swarm of migrating mule deer.

After the students left, the sixth spaceship unloaded at least a thousand soldiers. They wore silver-white combat suits that could make them invisible. After disembarking, they disappeared upon receiving a command.

The soldiers used tracking bracelets to locate the students they were assigned to follow. They hid around the students, watching carefully to see if they were in any danger. They’ll interven if necessary.

Soldiers following students from a humble background had it easier, since these students had some knowledge of survival skills.

Those following the rich kids, on the contrary, had a hard time. Quite a few rich kids didn’t take any precautions and got bitten by poisonous insects, causing them to go into shock or faint from fear.

One student got bitten by a leech and just stared at it in terror.

’Why don’t you pull it off?’ the soldier thought as he observed in a distance.

The student fainted, convinced he wouldn’t survive the leech bite, and he even carved a farewell message on a tree before passing out.

’Is he really that fragile... but he just...’ the soldier wondered.