Tempest of the Stellar War - Chapter 292

Chapter 292: Leader’s Code

Lie Guang smiled and explained, "You're just inexperienced . Look at the Skylink receipt . Your ticket price should be ten dollars too . The other 90 dollars are admin fees . Inter-planetary transactions of small amounts are very troublesome for banks . You know it's . . . mainly also because Earth's and Mars' transport signals are not completely merged yet . It's not that expensive, really . Your card has been registered on Mars . They won't charge the admin fees the next time you swipe it . Oh, right, if you use it 100 times on Mars, they'll even give you a full refund of the registration fees . "

Zhang Shan stared hard . 100 times? They might as well not have added that as a benefit .

"Wang Zheng, seems like you and I are both out of luck . " The only thing that made Zhang Shan feel better was that Wang Zheng had swiped the transport signal before him . He didn't feel so bad since he had company .

Wang Zheng smiled and said, "I've been to Mars before . You can actually register for free at the service station . . . "

Register for free?

Free!!!

Zhang Shan stared so hard, his eyes looked like they were going to pop . "Why didn't you say so earlier!?"

"It's written on the Mars travel guide," Zhang Runan said, patting Zhang Shan on the shoulder, laying a blow on him . Zhang Shan shivered and said, "We're not here as tourists; who the heck has time to read that thing?"

"It's also written under the special items to note on the Skylink page where you apply for a Martian visa . "

Meng Tian said, swiping her way into the station, giving Zhang Shan the "final blow" .

Even though they were given the green light on all aspects since it was a IG training, the visa application had to be done in person . It was a very simple procedure that required just an electronic signature, but you had to enter the host planet's page upon signing . According to visa application procedures, it was mandatory to read all these items to note .

Zhang Shan felt deflated in an instant .

Lie Guang chuckled and consoled him, "I'll treat all of you to a good Martian meal . Just eat your stomach's worth . "

"That's not the same . . . but . . . what's in a Martian meal?"

Zhang Shan was quite the glutton . He quickly forgot about the unhappiness caused by the 90 dollars and pestered Lie Guang for an answer . Wang Zheng laughed . "The last time I came, I tried a few tasty dishes . I've got to try more this time . . . "

Hearing Wang Zheng and Lie Guang's introduction, Zhang Shan drooled . Zhang Runan shot a look of despise at him, while Meng Tian quipped in from time to time, evidently also having been to Mars before .

Soon enough, everybody was on board the Intergalactic Train to Mars . Beside them were many other trains that were headed to other space stations or space cities . There were as many as seven space cities that orbited Mars, their population adding up to 10 million .

Similar to the city transport lines, seats on the Intergalactic Train were free for all . You could even stand if you liked . In terms of stability, the Intergalactic Train was better than transport ships .

Wang Zheng found a spot by the window and sat himself down . Zhang Shan continued to pester Lie Guang about Martian food . They also talked about things other than food . Like wrestling . . . like women . . .

Seeing that, Meng Tian took the seat beside Wang Zheng . This seat was usually taken by Zhang Shan . Brothers from the same dormitory got to look after each other outside . . . . these were Zhang Shan's original words .

Wang Zheng smiled . He could smell the light, natural fragrance from Meng Tian . Since IG training started, the two of them hadn't had a chance to relax and sit down together like this .

"Wang Zheng, what do you think about my abilities? What needs to be improved?"

Meng Tian suddenly asked .

Meng Tian had recently made huge improvements, and it was time for her to make a choice . There were many directions her Frost Ability could head towards . It could focus on attack, or could be used as a form of support . Looking at Wang Zheng, Meng Tian found it difficult to choose .

Wang Zheng was stumped . "No need to think for the rest of us . Choose something that suits you . "

Meng Tian nodded in silence, appearing to have understood . This worried Wang Zheng instead . He looked at Meng Tian .

Meng Tian turned away . Her snow white cheeks were blushing . "What?"

"Heh . Nothing . "

Wang Zheng shook his head .

Meng Tian batted her eyelids and said, "Don't worry . "

" . . . I'm not worried . "

Wang Zheng rubbed his chin and Meng Tian gave a faint smile . Since they had spent so much time training together, not everything had to be said aloud . Just a few words and a look and they understood each other .

Sharing the same type of ability gave them much better chemistry .

The Intergalactic Train slowly drove into the standard signal transport tunnel, gently rocking, and then accelerated . It did not fly in a straight path to Mars, but instead, went around it . From the windows, they could see Mars' beautiful landscape . It was a different beauty from Earth and was a lot less blue, mostly made of land .

During that time, Lie Xin was actively playing host in the cabins . The Lie family was indeed the host on Mars, being the oldest clan to live there and the most powerful family . All legitimate, illegitimate, or shady businesses had to have some sort of dealings with the Lie family to survive .

Lie Xin and Achilles had been forced into a corner . Mars was their final stop, and their final chance .

For Lie Xin, losing on home territory was unacceptable . But of course, she had to be careful of Lear, because Lear would emerge victorious if he won this match . He was way too slimy of a character .

The train completed a full circle and steadily entered Mars's atmosphere, continuing its journey 3,000 meters above the ground .

The train had more than one destination . It had a stop in every city, and there were a total of 16 state-level cities on Mars .

"Dear passengers, welcome to the Martian city of Vulture . This city used to produce a rare metal . . . . "

Every time they made a stop in a city, the train's public announcement systems would play information about the city's local history . The train travelled at an extremely high speed, making a stop every ten minutes, so they weren't bored . They looked out the windows through the journey, admiring Mars, enjoying leisure time like they hadn't done in a long while .

Everybody tried their best to relax and let their hair down . From Earth to the Moon, the IG training was exceptionally tense and fast-paced . They were not made of metal, but as true fighters, they could always find time for themselves to take a breather .

Half an hour later, the train arrived at their destination, Watt City .

Sixth stop for the Intergalactic Train .

They had barely arrived when a group of Martian soldiers came up to welcome them on the platform .

The Martian citizens cooperated well with the soldiers, avoiding the action on this side . Onlookers also stood far away in an orderly fashion . It was not merely the way they were brought up . On Mars, all citizens had to serve in the army, and even if they couldn't make it to become a professional soldier, they had to go through two years of military training . It was just that when they spotted Meng Tian and Milo, many young men started catcalling . Martians were always open to expressing their desires .

But the moment they saw Lie Xin, those who whistled hung their heads low . She was the publicly acknowledged future Martian Queen!

Lie Xin smiled and magnanimously waved at the onlookers .

Roar--

Thunderous applause and cheers ruptured as the people's saluted their Queen .

"Everyone, here please . "

The soldier who received them said, leading them out of the platform and on to a helipad on the other side . A military cargo plane was awaiting its orders .

They boarded the cargo plane and it took off without delay . Boom . . . the plane's body shook . A typical Martian vehicle . Boorish and with no hoots given to the details, caring only for practicality and quality .

Comfort? This word had never stayed for more than a minute on any Martian's mind .

Everybody was quiet . They were all thinking of the impending harsh and cruel training they would have to go through .

When they arrived at their destination, they did not expect to be received by a military base built on an isle in a wonderfully scenic location .

While alighting from the turbulent cargo plane, everybody felt as though they'd fallen off a cliff and into paradise .

Smiling, Lie Xin walked out and turned to the crowd . "Everybody, welcome to Lake Ithanlis . "

Mars' turf . From now on, Lie Xin was going to take the lead .

An army colonel walked up and saluted .

"Everybody, welcome to the military base M1 . My name is Duncan . I'm in charge of your training here . I shall cut to the chase . I only have one thing to remind everyone about . Wang Zheng won on Earth . Lear won on the Moon . In the final match on Mars, if either Wang Zheng or Lear win, they will become team leader right away . If either Achilles or Lie Xin wins, we will have an extra match . But at the end of the day, we will have everyone here to vote for the leader . "

When Duncan finished his piece, everyone was shocked . Especially Achilles . This arrangement was equivalent to sealing all his paths . Even if Achilles won this round, the Moon people were thoroughly despised . Unless some sort of miracle happened, nobody would even think about voting for him .

Lear, on the other hand, had gained quite a fair bit of popularity and was coming in strong .

Duncan was a passionate fellow . He spoke and laughed heartily but still hinted to everyone that this final round was not going to be easy on them .

Lie Xin had begun calculating . There was no need for her to consider the opinions of the weaker ones at first, but now that they'd come to such a situation, it appeared that she would have to say something and win some hearts . Damned Lear . He had made a move first . The way he treated Edison and friends made him much more likeable .

Lake Ithanlis . The largest lake that was naturally formed after Mars went through its transformation . The deepest end of the lake reached over 4,000 meters, similar to an ocean, except it was all freshwater .

When Mars first became a residential planet, freshwater was a strategic resource, and hence, the military base on Lake Ithanlis was built . It was used to manage and protect the resources at first . In times of war, they had to put up defenses, and prevent the enemy from causing destruction through their freshwater resources, such as leaking radiation, poison, and so on .

Today, Mars' waters made up a full scale hydrological system that spanned across the planet . It was self-sustaining . There were oceans, lakes, rivers, streams, and huge areas of forests . Water was no longer a scarce resource .

Consequently, the military base took on a new purpose and became the nurturing grounds of Mars' Special Forces: Military Base M1 .

M stood for Mars . The number "1" represented its place in the Special Forces .

The crowd made its way into the base . The interior design was consistent with the Martian way of life . Boorish, simple, practical, and sturdy .

While it looked dull on the outside, it had everything it needed and was in very good condition .

"Take a good rest today . Training will officially begin tomorrow," said Colonel Duncan, after taking everyone on a simple tour of the base and assigning their bunks . He spoke shortly with Lie Xin and left .

Duncan had just stepped out when Lie Xin clapped her hands together, signaling that she had a few words to say .