65: Chapter 65 Shooting Yourself in the Foot

Qin Ce began filling out the transfer application form on his team badge.

The content was simple: apply to transfer from the Elite Class's standard defense zone to the direction of Yuntai Town, and follow the military's unified arrangements.

The surrounding crowd gradually shifted their attention back to the screen and began making their own pre-war preparations.

Everything was properly arranged.

However, as Jiang Ruowei watched this scene, a thought inexplicably surged in her mind.

Hmm?

That's not right.

Not only did this Qin Ce stick to his choice, but he also used such a clever method to dissolve everyone's opposition, even turning resistance into assistance.

Did he just calculate her into his plans?

...

In a shadowed corner of the training ground, a figure quietly retreated further into the darkness and took out his communicator.

It was Sun Hao, a member of the original Thunder Squad.

He looked at Qin Ce, who was filling out the application form in the middle of the field, a trace of malice flashing in his eyes.

It was this guy who stole their team badge, causing them to drop from seventh place to a Team 13 that didn't even have a ranking!

Because of him, they had spent the last few months being looked down upon everywhere, barely able to pick up any missions!

And now, the twelve team badges of the Elite Class had been allocated twelve slots for participation in the war.

But what about them?

As a so-called temporary squad, they had worked from dawn to dusk for the past three months just to avoid being at the bottom and getting kicked out of the Elite Class.

In the end, they didn't even get a single slot!

Although Old Man Wei said he had arranged guard duties at the military base for them—which wasn't worse than the Outer City—could that be the same thing?

Now, Qin Ce wanted to transfer to Yuntai Town?

In his dreams!

Sun Hao quickly typed a message on his communicator:

[Brother Wu, Qin Ce is applying for a transfer to Yuntai Town. He's already obtained the class teacher's approval authority and is filling out the form. He wants to take advantage of the beast tide to protect his family. This is a rare opportunity for revenge. Can you pull some strings so he can't go?]

Click, send.

A few seconds later, Wu Zhou's reply came back:

[Got it. Leave it to me.]

Sun Hao looked at those four words, a cold arc curling at the corner of his mouth.

Qin Ce, you've made life hard for us.

I'll make you... taste what it's like when things go against your wishes.

He put away his communicator and silently blended back into the crowd.

On the other side.

At this moment, Wu Zhou was following his uncle, who served as a mid-level officer in the City Defense Army. They were in the command center on the Inner City walls, familiarizing themselves with wartime procedures and collecting the defense zone missions for their family squad.

When he received Sun Hao's message,

He was first stunned, and then a hideous smile, a mix of extreme malice and excitement, appeared on his face.

"Qin Ce... You refused the road to heaven and barged into the gate of hell!"

"You want to go back to Yuntai Town to protect your commoner family?

"Keep dreaming!"

He immediately stepped aside, away from others, and dialed an encrypted communication. His voice was filled with resentment: "Dad! Qin Ce! That's the bastard who made me lose my team badge, got me kicked out of the Elite Class, and ruined my future! He's applying for a transfer during wartime; he actually wants to take the chance to move back to his Yuntai Town hometown to hide from the war! Such a selfish, morale-disrupting villain who only thinks of his own home and interests at the front lines—we absolutely cannot let him succeed! He must be severely punished!"

On the other end of the line, a majestic and steady voice was silent for a moment before saying: "Understood. I will handle this matter."

...

Back on the field, Qin Ce had just finished filling out the last item and clicked submit.

[Transfer application submitted, awaiting military review]

A prompt popped up on the interface.

He put away his team badge, looked up, and gazed toward the southeast.

Yuntai Town, wait for me.

He said silently.

Little did he know that the venomous snake in the shadows had already flicked its tongue.

...

Only half an hour of preparation time remained.

Wei Ming quickly issued orders in the center of the training ground, his voice steady and powerful, like a precision-running machine:

"Jiang Ruowei, Starlight Squad, Inner City West Plaza defense zone. The combat supply list has been sent to your team badge. Wait for the pickup notification from Warehouse No. 3. You must complete preparations and depart within one hour!"

" Zhao Rui, Gale Squad, Inner City East District defense zone. You are responsible for assisting in the defense of the City Lord's Manor's flank. The pressure will be high, so I've allocated two extra emergency medical kits for you. Once Qin Ce's transfer order comes through and you've collected your mission, you can wait for the warehouse notification."

"Mountain Team, Main City North Gate defense zone..."

"Shadow Squad, Main City South Street Tower..."

"Frost Blade Team, Main City West Canal Bunker..."

The arrangements for each squad were finalized, and supplies were adjusted and discussed specifically for their needs.

The teachers of the Battle Academy were actually not ordinary people; each was a top talent in their respective fields.

If it weren't for disabilities, Pet Beasts, or various other special reasons, it would have been impossible for them to be here.

However, because of their excellence, the pre-war preparations were organized with absolute clarity!

As each squad in the meeting room was assigned, the atmosphere grew increasingly tense.

Finally, only six figures wearing ordinary student uniforms without team badges on their chests remained—the original Thunder Squad, now Team 13.

Wei Ming looked at them, his tone softening slightly: "Qin Ce's slot has opened up, so you don't have to go to the peripheral military units anymore. It just so happens that the Outer City defense zone is short a team. You'll fill in. I'll help you apply for an official team badge—"

"What?!" A shrill voice suddenly interrupted him.

It was Sun Hao.

His eyes widened, and his face instantly turned pale. "We... we're going to the Outer City defense zone?!"

"Is there a problem?" Wei Ming frowned. "Although the Outer City defense zone can't compare to the Inner City, it's still a proper defense zone with the city walls to rely on. It's much better than the peripheral military outposts you were originally assigned to."

"But... but..." Sun Hao was incoherent, cold sweat trickling down his temples.

He had just informed Wu Zhou because he wanted to use the Wu family's hand to crush Qin Ce's transfer order.

He wanted to cause trouble for Qin Ce and let him taste the bitterness of being suppressed!

But he never expected that if Qin Ce's transfer was rejected, the vacated slot would be passed down—and as the only 'extra-budgetary team' in the Elite Class, they happened to be the ones to fill the gap!

What did this mean?

It meant that if Qin Ce went to Yuntai Town, they could have gone to the Outer City defense zone!

Although it wasn't as good as the Inner City, it was at least a regular defense zone with a city defense system to rely on. The survival rate and military merit gains were much higher than the original peripheral outposts!

Moreover, their team badges would be restored, making them a real squad again.

But now...

If Qin Ce's transfer was rejected, wouldn't they be...

"What exactly are you trying to say?" Wei Ming sensed something was wrong, his gaze turning sharp.

"No, nothing..." Sun Hao hurriedly lowered his head, not daring to meet his eyes.

But it was already too late.

At that moment, the team badge on Qin Ce's wrist suddenly vibrated violently!

It wasn't a normal prompt, but a blood-red mandatory notification accompanied by a piercing alarm sound:

[Warning: Transfer Application (No. TS2026-0216) has been rejected]

[Reason for Rejection: During wartime, an individual's unauthorized request to transfer from a designated defense zone to a non-strategic location is suspected of evading combat duties and disrupting military morale]

[Additional Punishment: Applicant Qin Ce is prohibited from using external communication functions during wartime (except for emergency military intelligence); must strictly guard the assigned defense zone and is not allowed to leave without authorization, otherwise it will be treated as 'wartime desertion']

[Punishment takes effect immediately]

...