Melina’s last words were quite something. She cleverly shifted the focus onto Lin Xiaohe.
Even though it wasn’t fair to Lin Xiaohe, those words had a good effect.
Parents started thinking, Marshal Chu definitely won’t just abandon Lin Xiaohe. And Lin Xiaohe is so capable, a captain at such a young age—maybe she really can save herself!
Lin Chiyang had known all along that politicians couldn’t be trusted and that nothing they said was true. So he wasn’t letting up.
“Speaking as a parent of an examinee, I strongly demand that the Federation publicly broadcast the exam footage.” His voice was choked with emotion. “Even if my sister is going to die, I want to watch her clearly. I need to know how she died…”
If someone harmed his little sister, he’d give up his own life if he had to, chase them to the ends of the universe, and avenge her!
Lin Chiyang’s request was completely reasonable and received widespread support from the other family members.
After Melina reported it to the parliament, they agreed to broadcast the exam field footage publicly.
Inside the Great Whale Hotel, there was absolute silence.
The only thing visible was the large virtual screen in the lobby, showing a live feed from the examination field.
The number of people watching this live stream had already exceeded 10 billion.
Grandma Lin leaned on Grandpa Lin’s shoulder, tears streaming down her face nonstop, blaming herself over and over.
“It’s all my fault. I never should have let Xiaohe take this exam! She’s only 18, so young.”
Grandma Lin closed her eyes, unable to look at the live stream.
During the previous two assessments, the Lin family only found out afterward just how much danger Lin Xiaohe had faced.
Given Lin Xiaohe’s personality—only reporting the good news, hiding the bad, and loving to show off a bit—those dangers and difficulties sounded as simple as climbing a hill when she talked about them.
But this time was different.
Now they were watching her, live, walking a tightrope over a cliff, where one wrong step meant death.
Wasn’t this just torture for them?!
Lin Jingqiu’s eyes were red and swollen. She had already cried many times in private.
Guilt and self-blame were crushing this beautiful young girl.
Her little sister was climbing the ladder so desperately precisely to treat her family’s illnesses and to provide them with a better life.
Lin Jingqiu sniffled, retreated to a corner, and while crying silently, she started banging her head hard against the wall.
This was all her fault. Why did she have to get sick? Why couldn’t she speak? Why did she have to make her little sister worry?
She was useless. She was the older sister, yet she had to let her little sister support the family!
She opened her mouth in a silent wail. An overwhelming wave of sadness was choking her.
“Jingqiu, don’t do that.” Mori, having lost both his arms, felt a special sympathy for this girl who was also physically disabled.
He stood in front of Lin Jingqiu and spoke gently, “You have an incredible talent for pharmaceuticals. You shouldn’t be trapped at home, taking care of your family. And don’t let worries about money stop you from studying pharmaceutical science.”
Lin Jingqiu was so lost in her self-blame that she couldn’t take in what Mori was saying, until he said: “If Xiaohe is going to go to the battlefield, a powerful pharmaceutical specialist would be her strong support, her backbone.”
Lin Jingqiu looked up, her tear-filled eyes fixed on him.
Mori smiled. “A good pharmaceutical specialist can concentrate a tube of nutrient solution a hundredfold. Other soldiers carrying one box of nutrients might last ten days. If Xiaohe carries one box you made, she could last a thousand days.”
Lin Jingqiu’s eyes began to brighten.
Mori’s smile grew wider. “The same goes for healing potions, better机甲 (mecha) conductive fluids, mental energy potions… the things an excellent pharmaceutical specialist makes are always in high demand.”
He deliberately pretended to look troubled. “But the birth of a genius is always accompanied by countless slanders and obstacles. Xiaohe is so outstanding, she’s sure to have many jealous people. Those people will definitely find ways to make sure Xiaohe can’t buy high-end pharmaceutical products, you know.”
A fire of anger ignited in Lin Jingqiu’s eyes.
Yes! Exactly! There were always bad people who wanted to harm her little sister!
Lin Jingqiu patted her chest and mouthed silently: “I’ll be there!”
Mori nodded firmly. “Mm. I’ll teach you everything I’ve learned in my life! Okay, let’s go find your dad and the others. They need us.”
Just as the two of them reached the lobby, they felt a breeze sweep through the room. Then the harp placed in the lobby started playing a tinkling, pleasant melody, like playful elves dancing on the strings.
They were leaping joyfully, playing a cheerful tune.
“Damn it! Our hearts are breaking, and you’re still singing? Singing what? I’ll smash you to pieces!”
One parent completely broke down. He grabbed a sofa and was about to smash the harp.
The hotel manager rushed over to stop him. “Guest, please calm down! That harp is made from the skull of a Sound Giant Whale! It’s incredibly expensive!”
Even if you sold yourself into slavery, you couldn’t afford to replace it!
The parent’s eyes were bloodshot. He looked like a wild beast that had lost all reason. “It’s mocking us, don’t you hear it? It’s mocking us!”
The hotel manager looked bewildered. “Who?”
Who would be so bold as to mock the examinees’ parents at such a sensitive time? Did they have a death wish?
The parent pointed at the harp, grinding his teeth. “It!”
The hotel manager gave him a strange look, then steeled himself and tried to soothe him. “Well, that’s just awful of it. Don’t be angry. Let’s see how the kids are doing? I heard that Lin Xiaohe has been appointed as the highest military commander. She must be really capable, right?”
“Of course! She’s a specially admitted student of the Central Military Academy. Marshal Chu himself signed her admission notice.”
The hotel manager, seeing that he had successfully redirected the parent’s attention, breathed a quiet sigh of relief and continued along that line.
“That’s right. I also heard that during her Fifth and Sixth Stellar Ring assessments, she was on real battlefields?”
Another parent added, “Yes, that’s correct. On the planet Morrison, she single-handedly destroyed an Empire base. On the planet Gonggong, not only did she rescue examinees and fellow soldiers from behind enemy lines, but she also single-handedly held off an entire army group of the insurrection!”
The hotel manager couldn’t help but gasp, “Wow! That impressive?!”
“Exactly! That’s why she was exceptionally promoted to captain.”
The hotel manager knew very well what these parents wanted to hear. He deliberately said loudly, “With her there, passing this exam is going to be a piece of cake! Those hackers really miscalculated this time. They probably never guessed we’d have someone this capable among the examinees.”
A glimmer of hope appeared on the parents’ faces. “That’s right. Lin Xiaohe will definitely be able to save all the kids.”
One parent wiped away tears. “As long as she saves my child, I’ll cover all her travel expenses to the First Stellar Ring!”
“Whatever she wants me to do, I’ll be her servant, anything!”
Everyone stared at the screen, at Lin Xiaohe dressed in the Federation military uniform, a general’s star on her shoulder, her expression serious. They couldn’t help but whisper.
“Hang in there, Lin Xiaohe!”
At first, the voices were small.
But more and more people joined in. Everyone’s worry and hope transformed into a single, deafening shout.
“Hang in there, Lin Xiaohe!”
Please, you have to succeed in saving the kids!
