Reincarnated as an Energy with a System

Chapter 2033: Bet with Liam

Lorna continued with her explanation.

"Visual recognition will not be enough. The scenario assumes hostile Mekharans are using forms designed to resemble human Mechas, which means you are expected to identify friendly units through their encoded radio signatures."

Ning paid more attention to that.

Every human Mecha continuously transmitted a verification signal containing identification patterns that Mekharans could not properly reproduce. The exact details were encrypted and changed regularly, which made the signal far more reliable than simply judging what a machine looked like.

"If you fire on a friendly unit, you lose points," Lorna said. "If you ignore a hostile unit because it looks human, you lose points. Damage from obstacles reduces your score as well, and wasting ammunition will eventually begin costing you."

Ning knew from the basic information that for someone to be considered to have passed the simulation, they needed to score at least 300 points.

Lorna allowed that to settle for a moment before continuing.

"Before anyone becomes overly ambitious, remember that this is not a beginner-friendly test. Most cadets attempting it for the first time score below two hundred."

She changed the display again.

A number appeared.

"This is the academy record for this particular scenario by any cadet."

Ning heard several reactions around the room.

Lorna folded her arms.

"No student has reached higher than this. If you manage three hundred, you qualify to apply for the advanced simulation assessment. Passing that assessment makes you eligible for supervised training with an actual Rank 1 Mecha."

That changed the atmosphere immediately.

Ning could feel the interest across the room.

Actual access to a Mecha was clearly something most of the students wanted, but the academy had placed enough steps in front of it that very few could simply walk into the hangar and start training.

Only five cadets had been selected to attempt the simulation today.

Ning was one of them.

Liam was another.

Ning glanced toward him and found Liam already looking in his direction, though he quickly turned away when their eyes met.

That was interesting enough, but Ning’s attention soon moved elsewhere.

Naysha was standing several rows away. She had gone unusually still after Lorna explained the reward for passing the advanced assessment.

Ning knew exactly why.

Her Upgrade System had given her a quest to scan an entire Mecha. Until now, she had no legitimate way to get close enough to one. This simulation was the first step toward changing that.

Naysha pressed her lips together and stared at the Rank 1 Mecha displayed in front of the class, clearly thinking through the opportunity.

Ning noticed her biting her lip.

This was exactly what she needed.

Except she hadn’t been chosen today at all.

The announcement that only five cadets would be attempting the Rank 1 simulation had barely settled over the room when Liam made his way toward Ning.

Ning noticed him coming long before he reached him, though he continued looking at the simulation display as if he had not. Liam had been unusually interested in Ning since the previous evening, and after watching one of his friends fail repeatedly during combat training earlier that day, he apparently had not lost that interest.

Liam stopped beside him and glanced toward the five names displayed on the board.

"So they put you into the simulation on your first day," he said. "I suppose whoever arranged your transfer really does have enough influence to get you whatever opportunities you want."

Ning finally looked at him. "Or they needed five people and my name happened to be available."

"You can pretend that’s what happened if you want, but since you’re already here, why don’t we make it a little more interesting?"

Ning smiled faintly. "You want to bet."

Liam seemed pleased that he had understood so quickly. "Two thousand units. Whoever finishes with the lower score pays the other person."

That was enough money to make several nearby cadets turn toward them.

Ning had already learned the general value of Truimal’s currency while building his new identity. An average worker earned somewhere around three thousand five hundred units a month, depending on occupation and location, which meant Liam was casually proposing a wager worth more than half of what an ordinary person made in that same amount of time.

For academy students, it was an even less reasonable amount.

Ning looked at him. "Two thousand?"

"If that sounds too expensive, you can refuse. Nobody is forcing you to prove anything."

The smile on Liam’s face made his intention obvious. He had probably expected Ning to either back down and give him something to mock or accept because his pride would not allow him to refuse.

Ning did not particularly care which outcome Liam wanted.

"Fine. Two thousand units."

Liam blinked, apparently having expected at least a little hesitation.

Then his grin widened. "You agreed much faster than I thought you would. Don’t complain later and claim you didn’t understand how much money you were betting."

Ning smiled. "You’ll need to win first."

Liam laughed as though that part had already been settled and walked away to join several of his friends.

Jason, who had been standing some distance away, looked toward Ning with the expression of someone who wanted to help but didn’t have the courage to step forward.

Ning didn’t care.

Two thousand units was hardly worth thinking about when he could make it all back with his System.

Lorna soon called everyone to attention and pointed toward the simulation pods.

"Those of you attempting the exercise will receive two minutes before the scenario begins. During that time, the simulation will allow you to move the Rank 1 Mecha freely inside an empty environment so you can familiarize yourself with the controls, weight distribution, weapon response, and available systems. Once those two minutes end, the actual assessment begins immediately."

She brought up another display containing the scoring rules.

"These are the rules regarding how everything is scored. Make sure you remember it all. I’ll give you 2 minutes to read it all, and then I’ll start calling out your names right away."