Counterfeit Hero

Chapter 51: Chapter 11: Once Again as a Repair Soldier

Compton smiled and said to Tian Xingjian, ”Lieutenant, since your calculations and plan differ, why don’t you explain it to them so they can get convinced. I’ll leave this matter to you.”

Giving that Major a fierce glare, Compton turned and left.

As soon as the director left, the people in the 2nd Room started to stir again, shouting, ”Yeah! Explain it clearly!”

”If you can’t explain it, get ready to kneel and admit your mistake!”

Those who believed the director was secretly siding with them had mocking smiles, waiting to see how this Lieutenant would make a fool of himself.

Tian Xingjian pulled up the map of New Rome on his computer and asked the crowd, ”If I prove I’m right, you’ll kneel and admit your mistake?”

The Major and Keren exchanged glances and, spurred on by the other staff behind them, he decisively said, ”Of course!”

”Great!” Tian Xingjian didn’t want to waste any more time arguing with this lot. Pointing to the simulated map on the computer screen, he said, ”See this enemy base 200 kilometers from the vertical line between points E and H defenses?”

A few staff members from the 2nd Room crowded around to look, their faces changing at once. This was a temporary base hosting an Imperial Armored Division. Intelligence indicated that this division was resting, yet it was only 200 kilometers from New Rome’s flank defenses. In under two hours, this force could enter the battle. Expecting a fully mechanized reinforced infantry regiment to hold off an armored division for an hour was pure fantasy!

Fatty stood by with his arms folded, coldly laughing at the staff who had turned pale. ”If this plan isn’t garbage, what is it? Even using my second brain, I could come up with a better plan than yours!”

Keren hung his head in shame, while the Major, still unconvinced, said, ”What’s the big deal about just pointing out problems? Without redeploying flank forces, how can we defend with our main force facing nearly three times the enemy’s strength?”

Fatty coldly retorted, ”You really are a pig-brain. I just do the calculations; solving those problems is your job. Your bra broke, so you wrap your chest with your pants to hide your flesh? And you undressed so thoroughly, not even leaving on underwear, you idiot!”

He picked up a pen, drew a line on the battle map, and threw it to the Major. ”Can three divisions advance ten kilometers frontally against two entrenched armored divisions holding high ground? Do you think these mechas are the size of rats? If the right-wing infantry defense isn’t established on the high ground one kilometer back, what kind of hero are you presenting on the plains? Even if the enemy breaks through, the defensive forces at point T can establish a supporting line behind point R within three minutes, merely by redirecting the artillery. Can’t you even see that, you crappy strategist?”

Seeing they had nothing to say, Fatty waved his hand. ”I don’t need you to kneel. Today, I’m treating you like a fart and letting you go. Next time you dare to treat planning like a joke, I’ll use it to blow my nose and throw it back at you. If you can’t get past me, think it through before coming to me. Now get the hell out!”

The 2nd Room staff, though both ashamed and angry, felt relieved when they heard they didn’t need to kneel. They dragged the Major and the red-faced Keren and fled in disgrace.

The other staff from other research rooms who had gathered to watch the commotion also dispersed awkwardly. They had learned something this time. They had looked down on the 6th Room, commanding them around, but didn’t realize their plans had to be vetted by the 6th Room. If errors were found and mocked, their reputation would be in ruins.

The staff of the 6th Room felt vindicated. The injustices they had suffered over the past days were instantly repaid, and the dead atmosphere became lively. They flocked around Tian Xingjian, making a ruckus. The more reserved ones just smiled, while the less restrained ones laughed heartily and high-fived each other.

Pat also laughed, ignoring the triumphant ones, and left after announcing a dinner party for the 6th Room with a tune on his lips. This good-natured man was also sly at heart.

People from the 6th Room asked Fatty, ”Fatty, how did you spot the flaw in Keren’s plan?”

Fatty waved his hand foolishly: ”Damn, at first, I thought his plan was good, memorized it to impress at the frontline command, and got cursed out. Given this chance, wouldn’t I curse him back the same way? How they cursed me at the frontline command, I cursed him the same way!”

The 6th Room collectively broke out in a cold sweat, secretly feeling fortunate.

After this incident, the 6th Research Room’s staff became highly sought after. Especially after several outrageous plans were rejected by the 6th Room, invitations for meals and pleas for favors were endless. After all, the face of the military staff was at stake. Offending the 6th Room could mean every plan would be scrutinized with a magnifying glass, finding problems even where there were none.

Only a few people knew about the conflict, but those who had encountered Fatty didn’t dare challenge his authority again. While he may not have gained everyone’s approval, in the minds of some, the highest level of the Combat Department was likely that mysterious Lieutenant in the quiet room of the 6th Room.

Some sharp-minded folks suspected that this Lieutenant might be the legendary platoon leader who created the classic simulation, but Compton vehemently denied it. Friends at the frontline command also denied it. However, these denials only made the Lieutenant sitting in front of his computer doing calculations even more mysterious.

Fatty had a naturally punchable face with no demeanor of a master. As long as no one offended him, he always looked meek and groveling, visualizing people unsatisfied, especially the Major, who bad-mouthed him behind the back. Fatty became a symbol of brutish ignorance, accidentally getting things right like a blind cat catching a dead mouse, losing all reputation.

Especially, some female secretaries or female staff, hearing so much negativity about him, became increasingly repulsed by this lecherous Fatty.

”Sky-Filling Fire” started on schedule. Fatty took a day off to stay in the Simulation Cabin, eyes glowing. In just a few minutes, top mecha masters from across the universe would enter this virtual world for combat. The thought of competing with these masters excited Fatty to the point of trembling.

Entering the game, Fatty was dumbfounded, it was a training camp for new recruits! The instructor carrying a big knife looked exactly like that old Bear Instructor.

Fatty nearly cried at the thought of being sent back to training. Reluctantly, he participated in the training camp, passing various tests. He received a score for personal intelligence, strength, speed, and endurance. His results were pretty good.

In the end, he received a 700-year-old ET mecha and joyfully left the training camp. No one knew who he was in the network. Like a nouveau riche, he shouted, ”Masters, here I come!”

What’s the use of being a master? In front of Fatty, the world was full of ET mechas, no one paid him any attention. How could he compete? With this mecha, no matter how good his operating skills were, it was useless.

Tian Xingjian was frustrated for a while, then he settled down to study the game’s system settings carefully. From the training camp, the ET mecha could continuously upgrade. Upgrades required parts, which could only be acquired by completing tasks or defeating bandits. Once enough parts were collected, he could go to the Mecha Modification Center to upgrade. The upgraded mechas were all the well-known private mechas throughout history, from the lowest level to the highest.

However, none of these mechas appealed to Fatty. He directly chose the profession of Mechanical Repair Soldier. Aside from it being his old trade, the system also allowed this profession to manufacture its own mechas. As long as the parts were properly assembled, they would naturally form a good mecha. Random assemblies would result in junk, and the parts would be wasted.

The success rate of such synthesis was very low. Even if successful, the mecha would have almost no advantage compared to professionally developed ones.

Because of the game’s realism, the AI game center’s determination of mecha manufacturing strictly adhered to real-world logic. Without in-depth professional knowledge and skilled modification techniques, creating a mecha was as hard as climbing the heavens.

Many players saw the Mechanical Repair Soldier as a support role that saved on maintenance costs. But to Fatty, it was his ticket to fortune. After all, the game was developed based on the war simulation network he had participated in. Regarding these data, Fatty was clearer than anyone. As long as he had the right parts, he could build a better mecha.

The only regret was that Biological Dual State Metal was absolute top secret and couldn’t be included in the game’s data. He could only use the available materials and parts.

After completing a series of tasks, Fatty successfully changed his profession to Mechanical Repair Soldier and received an automatic mechanical repair arm. Seeing this familiar device in his hands, Fatty squinted his eyes and gave a satisfied grin.