This year was known as the Ares Era.

From then on, the Federation began its path of resistance, and up to now, except for the troublesome beast tides that erupt every century, the Federation has mostly lived a peaceful life.

Brian Walker became so fascinated by the historical background of this world that she forgot to look up information about 3212 Academy. When she went to report in the next day, she was dumbfounded.

Author’s note:  Walker·Secretly Begging·Brian: Just entered the city and already making money—my road to riches is just around the corner!

Chapter 3

The 5 a.m. bus from the junkyard to 3212 Academy took only ten minutes—extremely fast.

When Brian Walker arrived, it was still dark, and there were hardly any people at the school gate. It wasn’t until 5:30 that people gradually started to gather.

By 6 o’clock, the teacher came out on time.

“Everyone, form ten lines and follow me inside.”

The line was very long; Brian Walker estimated there were five or six thousand students present.

After a bit of commotion, the lines were finally organized. The teacher’s gaze swept lightly over the students, then turned around: “Follow me.”

The teacher led them to the school’s sports field and stopped. On the platform, there were nine other teachers waiting.

Ten teachers stood in a row, quietly discussing for a moment. Then the one in the middle stepped forward to address the students: “Welcome to 3212 Academy. From today, you are about to embark on a painful path of improvement.”

Brian Walker looked up at the ten teachers on the platform, a little distracted: The teachers in this world seemed a bit too upright and spirited, all with long legs and straight backs. In her world, they’d look just like soldiers.

“I don’t know how many of you will still be alive after the end-of-term exams, so please cherish every training session—it might save your life.” The teacher’s stern gaze moved from left to right. “Out of humanitarian concern, the school will distribute star coins at the end of each term based on the severity of your injuries. If you are unfortunately killed, a condolence payment of twenty thousand will be given to your parents.”

Brian Walker: “???”

Why did this sound so wrong to her?

A preparatory mecha operator was just supposed to learn about materials and lay the foundation for designing and repairing mechas in the future—how did life and death get involved? Judging by the teacher’s words, the five to twenty thousand star coins she saw yesterday weren’t scholarships after all.

Brian Walker suddenly had a bad feeling.

The teacher’s speech was short. Soon, each teacher led a group of students away to collect their uniforms.

Brian Walker followed the group, got her uniform, and took the opportunity while changing to open her light-brain and look up information about 3212 Academy. After skimming through everything at lightning speed, she was left speechless: “……”

3212 had only this one preparatory school, specializing in training preparatory mecha operators and preparatory mecha soldiers. Class B was for preparatory mecha soldiers; only Class A was for preparatory mecha operators.

…She had signed up for the wrong class.

The casualty and dropout rates for preparatory mecha soldiers had always been high. Five or six thousand enrolled, but after one semester, the number could drop to three thousand. Besides casualties, many students couldn’t endure and transferred to regular schools, so the tuition was a bit lower, and those with serious injuries at the end of the term would receive star coins.

Brian Walker stared at her light-brain for a long time. It was impossible to change majors now—she couldn’t make up the money. If she dropped out and reapplied next year, the tuition she paid yesterday would not be refunded.

She’d better muddle through this semester first. Once she found a way to make money, she could think about switching majors. She couldn’t waste a thousand star coins.

The teacher came by and saw that Brian Walker still hadn’t changed into her uniform, frowning: “What are you doing taking so long? Hurry up and change.”

Brian Walker immediately closed her light-brain and went to the changing room to put on her uniform.

After everyone in her group had changed, the teacher looked up: “Everyone, run twenty laps around the school.”

The 3212 campus was quite large, and they were still kids. After just one lap, everyone was exhausted, let alone twenty.

By the third lap, Brian Walker started feeling dizzy and lightheaded again—she was hungry.

“Stay sharp, all of you. Our Class B isn’t like Class A, which has a points system and gets a score for every test. The only standard here is that after the end-of-term test, you’re still alive.” The teacher strolled along behind them. “Alive, understand? Every extra lap you run now increases your chances of survival in the future.”

After six laps, the group was clearly divided. Dozens of students at the front hadn’t slowed down at all, while over a hundred at the back had already started walking.

Brian Walker was in the middle, running and panting, occasionally glancing ahead. The physical fitness of those students was a bit too strong.

By the tenth lap, the teacher stood at the front, holding a box from who-knows-where: “There are nutrient solutions here, about fifty in total. First come, first served.”

When Brian Walker heard this, her spirits lifted and her pace unconsciously quickened. Many students in the middle sped up just like her.

Brian Walker gritted her teeth and charged forward—not just for the nutrient solution. She wanted to stay; she couldn’t waste her tuition. Only by staying here would she have a chance to learn about mecha operators, so she had to finish all twenty laps.

“Thirty, twenty-nine… only ten left. Those at the back, keep it up.” The teacher said leisurely.

Brian Walker’s temples throbbed. There were still twelve people ahead of her. If she could overtake two and keep it that way, she’d get the last nutrient solution.

……