These minefields did not serve their intended purpose. Two energy beams soon tore through the void. The destroyer easily dodged them, but the raider behind, taking advantage of the path cleared by the positron cannon, broke through the minefield without any obstacles and continued to tail the destroyer. In just a few seconds, it had already closed the distance by about four-tenths of a light-second.

Brian Carter, seeing this, was not worried but instead let out a sly, fox-like grin, pleased with his successful scheme.

“Warning! Warning! A large metallic object detected ahead. Database comparison indicates it is an Imperial Venom Sting Type-III automatic mine. The route directly ahead is blocked and impassable. Forcing passage is expected to result in a minimum damage rate of twenty-seven percent and a speed reduction of fifteen percent. Main cannon firing is recommended—”

“Ignore it! Launch the ship’s anchor, target at seven o’clock, activate the left auxiliary thruster—”

A giant grappling hook attached to an alloy cable was launched from the warship, tightly grabbing onto a medium-sized asteroid at the seven o’clock position. The destroyer’s anchor was originally designed for emergency repairs or loss of power, allowing the ship to latch onto passing asteroids or other small celestial bodies to stabilize itself. But now, Brian Carter used it as leverage for an emergency turn.

With the help of the anchored asteroid and the left auxiliary thruster, the red team destroyer under Brian Carter’s command managed to execute an instantaneous turn at full speed. What was previously a pursuit from behind became a face-to-face confrontation.

At this moment, everyone watching the simulated battle understood that Brian Carter had essentially secured victory. Although the destroyer’s firepower was slightly inferior, its armor could make up for that shortcoming. With Brian Carter’s demonstrated command ability and the destroyer’s still-intact combat power, the blue team’s George had virtually no chance of turning the tables.

But the surprises from Brian Carter didn’t end there. As the turn was completed, the positron energy cannon, already fully charged, roared once again. The blue team’s raider first dodged with textbook maneuvers, but what awaited it was disaster.

—The ship plunged directly into a minefield, and after a chain explosion, both main gun barrels at the bow were deformed.

“How did he do that? How is this possible?”

Emily Thompson leaned forward, her face full of disbelief.

“When he was laying mines earlier, some of the mines used the ship’s hull and the dense mines behind as cover to move to both flanks. Because the asteroids blocked the view before, the blue team had no chance to notice.”

Pointing to the area of mine distribution in the 3D projection, Paul Turner patiently explained, “I saw this process too, but didn’t pay special attention. Now it’s clear—it was a trap he set up in advance. With such tactics, even those famous generals would probably fall for it.”

“Looks like there’s no need to keep watching. The outcome is decided! Total time: one minute and forty-five seconds, a bit longer than when he faced opponents of the same level before.”

James Foster switched the simulated battle scene on the screen to Brian Carter’s profile, then looked at the elegant woman in white before him. “I wonder what you think, Miss Thompson. Of course! You don’t have to give me an answer right now.”

Emily Thompson glanced at Paul Turner, only to see her HR director nodding slightly. Frowning a little, Emily Thompson asked, “Judging from the footage just now, it’s not an exaggeration to call him a genius. But I have a question: for such a talented cadet, besides you, Principal, has no one in the entire Federation military noticed him?”

“It’s no wonder you’re surprised, Miss Thompson.”

James Foster’s expression stiffened, then he gave a wry smile and opened the drawer again. This time, he took out a stack of documents—all transfer orders from various Federation fleets. “These are requests from my old friends and subordinates, hoping to have Brian Carter transferred under their command, but I refused them all. The reason I suppressed his grades and didn’t let him graduate is precisely because of this. I think you know, Miss Thompson, about those damned regulations in the Federation military! Even my high-ranking friends can’t get around these obstacles. But Brian Carter—he’s the greatest treasure I’ve ever discovered in my life. Unless they offer a battleship or a fleet for him, no one is taking him from me!”

The two people across from him fell silent, inwardly agreeing with James Foster’s words. The so-called regulations referred to the military rule that required at least four years of service and over six months of experience in every position on a warship before one could be promoted to even the lowest-level captain. For ordinary rookie officers, this was excellent training, ensuring that when they became captains, they would have a solid understanding of every part of the ship. But for a genius like Brian Carter, it was not really suitable.

If it were peacetime, that would be one thing, but now it was wartime. For such a genius to be wasted in insignificant positions would truly be a shame!

Emily Thompson’s gaze flickered, then she gently shook her head. “I’ve seen his talent now, and as you said, he’s indeed an outstanding warship commander. But I think what he needs most right now is experience.”