Chapter 2026: Lunch Time

Ning saluted the officer and looked around the place for identification. A plaque hung on the wall behind the man, and a title card was placed on his desk.

Sergeant General Greeves.

The Sergeant General returned the gesture before studying him more carefully.

"General Choo has spoken very highly of you."

Ning kept his expression neutral, though internally he found that slightly amusing. The background the System had created for him was apparently doing its job extremely well if it had already arranged for a general willing to speak on his behalf.

The officer continued, "I don’t know exactly what you did to earn that recommendation, and I don’t particularly care as long as you justify it while you’re here. People who arrive with praise from someone that high up tend to attract attention, and if you fail badly enough, that attention reflects poorly on more than just you."

"I understand."

"Do you?"

"I do, sir. I won’t disappoint anyone."

The officer watched him for another second before giving a small nod.

"Good. Then I’ll hold you to that. Your formal schedule will be provided tomorrow, along with the rest of the equipment you’ll need. Until then, familiarize yourself with the dormitory and stay out of trouble. Is that understood, Cadet?"

"Yes, sir."

The officer’s expression suggested that he had heard those exact words from many students who had immediately gone on to prove otherwise, but he simply waved them away.

The soldier who had brought Ning inside led him back out of the administrative building and toward the dormitories on the other side of the academy. Along the way, they passed several groups of students, most wearing academy uniforms and carrying helmets similar to the ones Ning had already seen throughout Truimal. A few looked at him curiously, though nobody stopped to ask who he was.

Eventually, they entered one of the dormitory buildings and climbed several floors before reaching a room near the end of a hallway.

The soldier opened the door and stepped aside.

"This is yours."

Ning looked inside.

The room had been designed for two people, with a pair of beds placed against opposite walls, two desks, storage cabinets, and a shared space between them. One side was completely unused, and judging by the empty shelves and untouched bedding, nobody had ever moved into it.

"Everyone else has already been assigned to the double rooms," the soldier explained. "Since you arrived late, there wasn’t anyone waiting for a roommate. You’ll be alone here until another transfer comes in or administration decides to move someone."

Ning stepped inside and looked around. He had nothing to complain about.

"Thank you."

That earned the faintest hint of amusement before the soldier continued, "You’ll receive your uniform, helmet, identification, course schedule, and whatever else you need tomorrow. Until then, there isn’t much expected of you, so get some rest. Lunch will be served at 3, and dinner at 7:30. The staff will be aware of you, so you won’t need any ID until tomorrow. If you have anything else to ask, you can find me in the staff room."

Ning nodded. "Thank you for showing me around."

The soldier gave him a short nod before stepping back into the hallway.

The door closed behind him.

Ning remained standing for a moment, taking in the quiet room before choosing one of the beds and lying down. Considering the time, it would be a short while before it was time for him to eat.

He let out a small chuckle.

It had been a very long time since he had last joined an academy. It was fun to be back at one.

Ning rested his head against the pillow and looked toward the ceiling, letting time pass by. Then, at exactly 3, he got up and left for lunch.

By the time lunch came around, Ning had information planted into his mind that would help him hide among the students. Still, that didn’t tell him where the cafeteria was exactly, so he had to follow the flow of students to make sure he did not end up somewhere else entirely.

The cafeteria was packed when he arrived.

Several long lines stretched from the serving counters toward the entrance, with students standing shoulder to shoulder while talking among themselves. Most already had their academy identification ready, either displayed through their helmets or carried separately, but Ning had been told that his own would not be necessary for the first day while his transfer paperwork finished processing.

That meant he only needed to speak to the cafeteria staff.

Ning walked past the end of the line and headed toward the counter.

He had barely made it halfway when someone stepped in front of him.

"Where do you think you’re going?"

Ning stopped and looked at the student blocking his path. Two others were standing beside him, all three wearing the same academy uniform.

"I have some business ahead."

"So does everyone else. Get back in line."

"I’m not getting food yet," Ning explained. "I transferred in today, and I was told I need to talk to someone up there because I don’t have my identification."

The student glanced at the others before looking back at Ning.

"Sounds convenient."

Ning raised an eyebrow. "Convenient?"

"You show up without an ID, and suddenly you don’t have to stand in line like everyone else."

"I’m not trying to skip the line. I just need to tell them—"

"Then tell them when you get to the front."

Ning looked past the three students toward the serving area and considered whether explaining the situation again would accomplish anything.

Probably not.

They had already decided he was trying to cut ahead, and Ning had no interest in wasting several minutes arguing over something this unimportant.

"Fine."

He turned around and walked toward the back of the line.

One of the students behind him looked slightly surprised that the argument had ended that easily, but Ning ignored him and waited with everyone else.

He had no reason to hurry, after all.