Volume One: Rise of a Genius

Chapter One: Innocent Love

Mid-New Era, the twenty-fifth year since the founding of the Eastern Alliance. It is the tenth year of the full-scale cold war between the Eastern Alliance and the Sith Federation, and the world has entered a tripartite standoff.

The Eastern Alliance, the world's largest economy, accounts for one-third of the global population, with a total of nineteen member states. Centered around the Haitang Republic, the Yamei Empire, and the Peninsula Federation, it is an emerging superpower.

The Northern United Nations, officially the United Mediterranean Nations of the North, is located in the planet's northwest and consists of a dozen or so highly developed small and medium-sized countries—the oldest established power.

The Sith Federation, officially the Western Ocean Free Federation, is the world's leading military and political power, and the second largest economy.

Currently, a fragile peace is being maintained with great difficulty, but the shadow of war always looms.

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Eastern Alliance, Haitang Republic, H Province, Z City, Classroom of Senior Year (5), No. 1 High School.

“Class, there’s less than a month left before your high school life ends. As your teacher, I wish every one of you could get into top universities for politics, economics, and so on. But while ideals are beautiful, reality is harsh. With a 15% acceptance rate, the remaining 85% of high school students have no choice but to enter various vocational colleges, or even go straight into society. The last mock exam is over, so before the national high school entrance exam, there will be no more tests. As your teacher, I suggest that those who usually rank below 30th consider applying to vocational and technical colleges that interest you…” (Due to the rise of vocational education, admissions to various specialized and comprehensive universities have actually decreased.)

Jason Carter had been secretly watching the beautiful school belle Catherine Newman, pretending not to hear the teacher’s words. But in the end, the teacher’s words still made their way into his ears, into his heart, leaving him both disappointed and sad, yet clinging to a sliver of hope.

Jason Carter’s grades had never made it into the top forty. Whenever people asked about his grades, his father would always say “below average, below average.” This was just a way to save face—there were over fifty students in the class, and Jason Carter was basically always ranked after 40th.

Of course, it wasn’t that Jason Carter was stupid. He was actually fairly smart; his poor grades were because he found it hard to settle down and study. His longing to become a mech warrior, along with his wild imagination, took up most of his energy and time. He dreamed of becoming a mech warrior—fighting, fighting, and fighting again—becoming a super hero admired by all.

Because the lowest possible rank for a mech warrior was Captain, and most started at Major. Because a mech warrior’s income was more than ten times that of an ordinary person. Because mech warriors had incredibly cool and powerful mechs. Because mech warriors were extremely rare.

Because being a mech warrior was his dream—a dream that had never changed, unwavering and constant. But a dream is a dream, and reality is reality.

The entire Eastern Alliance had over a dozen member republics and nearly two billion people, but only about a thousand could become mech warriors each year. Most were selected from the military, and only a very few were recruited from top exam candidates. The only school that recruited was the Alliance’s Supreme Military Academy’s Mecha Combat Department. In history, no one from this city had ever been admitted. So, realizing the dream of becoming a mech warrior through the Alliance military academy was unrealistic. Jason Carter had heard that there were some underground clubs where you could learn mecha combat—even though they were knock-offs, with old, half-scrapped mechs—so Jason Carter planned to work hard for a few years to save up money and go there to learn mecha combat.

“Catherine Newman, tell the class—which university do you want to apply to?” Mr. Parker asked Catherine Newman with a smile.

Catherine Newman stood up, her snow-white, slender neck paired with her exquisite, beautiful face, truly like a proud swan.

She was the class belle and school belle whom Jason Carter had secretly liked for three years—one of the two great beauties of Z City, and one of the most beautiful school belles in the century-long history of this high school. Of course, Jason Carter was just one of hundreds or even thousands of admirers—not unusual at all. And it wasn’t as if Jason Carter was madly in love with her. Teenage boys always have a crush on the prettiest, most attractive girl.

“Alliance Advanced Political Academy.” Catherine Newman’s voice was crisp and pleasant, full of extraordinary confidence.

“I’m sure you’ll get in,” said Mr. Parker. “What about you, Samuel Langley?”

Basically, whenever Catherine Newman was mentioned, Samuel Langley was always brought up as well.

“I will apply to the Alliance Supreme Military Academy’s Mecha Combat Department.” A tall, handsome young man stood up, his determined and passionate gaze fixed on Catherine Newman, his expression full of confidence that he would win the heart of this beautiful, proud school belle.