Though Renyu appeared outwardly contrite under the scrutiny of numerous academy officers, he had secretly prepared thoroughly. Unnoticed by others, he discreetly summoned his personal holographic interface and began meticulously allocating attribute points.

  Having already completed one attribute point exchange, he commenced this round from the second exchange phase. Without hesitation, Renyu allocated both reward points to Agility, boosting it from 2.84 to 3.84 (+1). Entering the third exchange phase, he decisively invested all four reward points into Strength, causing it to leap from 3.19 to 4.19 (+1).

  Anticipating potential emergencies, Renyu resolved to rapidly equalise his Agility with that of the Lieutenant Colonel. With his current Agility at 3.84, he dedicated all eight bonus points to Agility in the fourth exchange phase, propelling the attribute from 3.84 to 4.84 (+1). Gritting his teeth at the mere three remaining bonus points, he initiated the fifth exchange phase, adding the final 0.1875 points to Agility. This brought his Agility attribute to a final value of 5.0275 (+0.1875).

  Following this allocation, his final attribute values became:

  Intelligence: 5.510 (including 0.305 gained naturally through intense mental calculations during the mission)

  Agility: 5.0275

  Strength: 4.84

  The instant his Agility surpassed 5 points, Renyu's body underwent a profound transformation. His skin became extraordinarily sensitive, each inch as acute as a tongue's tip. He could distinctly perceive the slightest friction between pores and fabric fibres, even autonomously controlling the opening and closing of his pores. Should one closely observe his arm at that moment, vast swathes of pores would be seen rhythmically contracting and dilating. More astonishingly, his aerobic respiration efficiency increased exponentially, causing blood oxygen levels and ATP concentration to surge dramatically, delivering unprecedented energy to every muscle.

  Even more miraculous was that, under this extreme control, his blood vessels could generate regular vibrations, much like a spider sensing its surroundings through the tremors of its web. This profound sensation, described in traditional terms, resembles ‘true qi flowing through meridians.’ In reality, it represents the ultimate mastery of the body's microscopic functions—when perception is refined to this degree, blood vessels cease to be mere conduits for bodily fluids and instead become another sensory organ spanning the entire body. Renyu felt he could minutely manipulate every muscle tissue within his physique.

  At this moment, Renyu's metrics had reached the limits of human capability. Within the Evolution Battlefield, the allocation of attribute points often dictates a Combat Evolution Officer's future development path and potential. For officers advancing through normal channels, raising both attributes above 5 points is virtually an impossible feat. Cases like Renyu's, where all three core attributes show promise of surpassing the 5-point ceiling, are exceedingly rare in the recorded history of the entire Evolution Battlefield. It is precisely due to this almost perverse ability to allocate points that the evolution system imposes special restrictions upon him, condemning him to remain perpetually in the reserve stage.

  Intelligence over 5 points, Agility over 5 points, Strength over 4—even with such advantages, Renyu dared not be careless when facing numerous officers. He prepared in secret to summon the ‘True Sword’ at any moment, guarding against a surprise attack using innate abilities.

  Outwardly, nothing seemed amiss. Yet Li Ziming, standing beside Renyu, suddenly sensed something amiss—a faint, chilling aura of lethal intent emanating from the young man who appeared to be sincerely apologising. That apologetic smile seemed like a mask poised to tear away at any moment, concealing volcanic energy ready to erupt.

  Li Ziming's talent perception was indeed keen, yet Renyu, bolstered by his intellect and agility attributes exceeding 5 points, now mastered every subtle muscle movement. He deliberately modulated his breathing rhythm, facial expressions, and body language, concealing his true intent beneath the fa?ade of contrite apology. This near-perfect disguise left those around him with only a faint sense of unease.

  Yet the anticipated confrontation never materialised. The brawl Renyu had envisioned failed to unfold. Faced with the explanation of ‘supporting the wrong person,’ several lieutenant colonels turned their gaze towards Li Ziming. One of them inquired, ‘Is this your man?’

  Li Ziming pointed at Renyu and Lu Ming, solemnly introducing them: ‘They were crucial members assisting Lieutenant Colonel Zhao Weiguo in completing this promotion assignment.’ Wang Leming turned to glance at Yun Chenhe upon hearing this. After receiving the latter's affirmative nod confirming ‘they are indeed our own,’ the Lieutenant Colonel from Northeast China, Duan Chonghe, finally addressed Renyu with earnest gravity: " Soldier, you must learn to distinguish friend from foe. Had such a misunderstanding occurred on the battlefield, the consequences would have been unimaginable."

  Renyu immediately nodded vigorously, his heart finally settling. This outcome had been entirely unexpected—he had braced himself for a stern reprimand at the very least. Truth be told, had the officer chosen to slap him as punishment, Renyu might have endured it silently, but he would have sought retribution during future missions. Should anyone resort to extreme measures like ‘a knife to the wrist for a lasting lesson,’ that would have crossed his tolerance threshold, prompting an immediate response.

  To be fair, organisations employing such ‘mob-style management’ did exist within the Evolution Battlefield, routinely punishing members with drastic measures like severing fingers. Yet such barbaric methods could only cultivate a gangster-level mindset. By contrast, as a major organisation, the Son of Heaven Covenant's lieutenant colonels would hardly make a mountain out of a molehill over a lieutenant supporting the wrong person. After all, an organisation's stature dictates its approach to matters.

  Two critical factors were paramount: Firstly, Renyu aligned himself with Li Ziming. As a reserve captain who had weathered the Firepower Era, Li Ziming's rank alone commanded attention. Having recently completed his promotion mission, he stood a strong chance of advancing to reserve major. More significantly, Li Ziming possessed a rare support-oriented talent, earning him considerable expectations from numerous officers. Secondly, Li Ziming's successful promotion signified Zhao Weiguo's flawless execution of this mission. Now a Lieutenant Colonel, Zhao Weiguo occupied a senior position within the Son of Heaven Covenant. Coupled with the special relationship between Li Ziming and Zhao Weiguo, Li Ziming's presence effectively represented Zhao Weiguo's stance.

  Against this backdrop, no one would risk offending a lieutenant colonel over Renyu's minor transgression. After all, future battalion operations would likely require fighting shoulder to shoulder, making unity paramount. Just as attention shifted away from Renyu, Lieutenant Colonel Wang Leming paced over to him. After scrutinising him closely, he abruptly asked, ‘You were a reserve second lieutenant, weren't you?’

  Upon Renyu's nod of confirmation, Wang Leming regarded him thoughtfully, as if etching the young man's features into memory. Then, with a meaningful tone, he remarked, ‘Do well.’

  As a fellow member of Zhao Weiguo's guild, Wang Leming distinctly recalled that during discussions about assigning suitable support for Zhao Weiguo's mission, Renyu had been a mere rookie fresh from his novice tasks. Now, not only had this rookie returned alive, but he'd advanced of schedule—proof of his exceptional performance during Zhao Weiguo's promotion mission.

  Within the Evolution Battlefield, capital was a vital resource, and knowledge an even more precious one. But individuals capable of exercising initiative, operating independently, and aiding mission completion were the most valuable strategic assets. The Son of Heaven Covenant, a faction centred on Eastern civilisation, was internally structured as a conglomerate of numerous societies. Unlike the God's Knights, whose societies were organised by ethnicity, the Covenant's divisions were based on distinct historical timelines. Though united under the Covenant banner, these societies maintained a strict separation of accounts, occasionally clashing over resource allocations.

  Wang Leming swiftly succeeded Li Ziming, commencing negotiations with other Covenant members on behalf of the society. As a Lieutenant Colonel within Li Ziming's ‘Xinhua Society,’ this responsibility fell naturally to him. Duan Chonghe bowed respectfully to the other Lieutenant Colonel-ranked Combat Evolution Officers: "We extend our deepest gratitude for your invaluable assistance during this group engagement. The compensation promised to each of you will be transferred to your accounts within five days by the Zhuxia Society." With this statement, the Combat Evolution Officers departed one by one from Evolution Square, each leading their respective forces.

  At that moment, a Lieutenant Colonel named Xiao Long approached Wang Leming. He cast a meaningful glance at Yun Chenhe before addressing Wang Leming: ‘Congratulations to you all. The Xinhua News Agency has gained another Lieutenant Colonel.’

  Wang Leming offered a slightly awkward smile: ‘Regarding Yun Chenhe's payment, we shall settle that separately.’

  Xiao Long waved his hand dismissively: ‘No need for Purple Gold payment. We agreed to borrow Yun Chenhe for four missions, but this second assignment proved far riskier than anticipated. The remaining two are unnecessary—let him return.’

  Wang Leming frowned slightly: "We ought to honour our original agreement. For Yun Chenhe's next promotion mission, we can offer assistance."

  A broad smile spread across Xiao Long's face: ‘We don't require your help. How challenging could it be for a reserve lieutenant who's experienced the Firearms Era to advance to the Iron Age? Our Canglong Society has its own arrangements.’

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  Wang Leming's tone turned cold: ‘Are you intending to breach the contract?’

  Xiao Long spread his hands. ‘It's not that we intend to break it, but this time we nearly had no way to repay the loan.’

  Wang Leming insisted: ‘Should such a low-probability accident occur, we would compensate according to the contract.’

  Sensing the tense atmosphere, Renyu looked questioningly at Li Ziming. The latter explained with a wry smile: "You know Yun Chenhe's historical timeline differs from ours, right? Our timeline progressed from the Qing Empire to the Republic of China, then established the People's Republic; his timeline entered the colonial era after the Song-Yuan wars, followed by national fragmentation as major colonies fought each other. Ultimately, the Azure Dragon Federation reunified the realm—his original organisation was called the Azure Dragon Society. Due to certain transactions, he was loaned to our society. Now that Yun Chenhe has completed a Lieutenant Colonel-level mission, his value has skyrocketed, and they wish to renege."

  Within the Evolution Battlefield, any reservist who has entered the Firearms Era and successfully assisted a senior officer in completing combat missions sees their value skyrocket. Such reservists can aid Combat Evolution Officers in advancing from Captain to Major, with those seasoned in the Steam Era commanding particularly steep premiums. Since senior regular officers cannot promote lower-ranking regular officers, these reservists who prematurely entered the advanced era become critically important.

  However, reserve officers who advance to the advanced era and survive remain a rarity across the entire Evolution Battlefield. These ‘greenhorns,’ newly arrived in this world, often fall first on the brutal battlefield without the guidance of seasoned veterans. Statistics from the Son of Heaven Covenant reveal that the casualty rate for reserve officers in the advanced era is shockingly high, exceeding eighty percent. It could be said that every lieutenant reserve who emerges alive from the High Era battlefields has earned their experience through the sacrifices of countless comrades and their own battered bodies. This combat wisdom, forged in blood, holds irreplaceable value in assisting other commissioned officers with their promotion missions.

  Xiao Long's argument was not without merit. His true inner thought at this moment was that he hoped Xinhua News Agency would return Yun Chenhe as soon as possible. Yun Chenhe shot Renyu a helpless, wry smile and explained the reason through the holographic display. Renyu immediately understood the situation—Yun Chenhe had been subjected to this arrangement solely because he had signed a contract for twenty missions during his impoverished years. He still needed to complete nine more missions to regain his freedom.

  No matter how persuasively Xiao Long argued, Wang Leming remained unmoved, insisting the remaining two assignments must be completed before release. Finally losing his composure, Xiao Long pointed an accusing finger at Wang Leming and shouted, ‘Do you intend to work him to death over these two assignments? Making a reserve lieutenant participate in a major's promotion mission—how dare you even conceive such a thing! You bunch of penniless wretches who can't even afford to hire reserve officers!’

  Wang Leming retorted, ‘Calling us penniless? Who was it that traded personnel for a mere five tonnes of purple gold to settle debts? Now you're playing the high and mighty. If you can't handle losing, why not pull your knickers over your head? You've already thrown away your dignity. Besides, who says a second lieutenant can't participate in a major's mission? We've sent personnel in, too. Clearly, it's your training system that's flawed. Go back and reflect on that!’ "

  Xiao Long's fingers trembled with rage. He'd never imagined the usually mild-mannered Wang Leming possessed such formidable verbal combat prowess.

  Wang Leming pressed his advantage: ‘If anyone's truly trying to milk the contract dry, it's you lot, isn't it? I recall Yun Chenhe only has nine contract uses left with you.’

  Xiao Long turned to Yun Chenhe: ‘Yun Chenhe, relay our earlier agreement to Major Wang.’

  Yun Chenhe sighed. ‘Should I accomplish a specific objective in the next mission, it will offset five quotas. If I can recruit a reservist who experienced the Firearms Era, all nine quotas will be cleared.’ He cast an apologetic glance at Renyu.

  Wang Leming immediately scanned Li Ziming and the other two with wary eyes before fixing Xiao Long with a piercing stare. Clapping his hands, he sneered coldly, ‘What a cunning scheme! Trying to lure a few of my men away?’

  Xiao Long replied frankly, ‘I shan't hide it from you. We have personnel here aiming to advance to the officer rank. This mission is crucial; we must ensure absolute success.’

  At this, the frost on Wang Leming's face melted instantly, replaced by a smile so dazzling it sent shivers down one's spine. ‘Why didn't you say so sooner? Since it's business, we're naturally willing to do it. Let's keep things separate—why mix them up? Our hire price is fair, no cheating of young or old.’

  Xiao Long's mouth twitched, knowing full well Wang Leming's expression signalled he intended to demand an exorbitant price. He shot Yun Chenhe a fleeting glance, his eyes clearly stating: “These are the men I've hired from Wang Leming. Your previous contract remains unchanged.”

  Noticing Yun Chenhe's dejected expression, Renyu sighed softly and inquired, What exactly is your next assignment?‘ Noticing the majors' gazes, he added, ’I'm currently unattached and free to choose my own missions."

  Li Ziming immediately tugged Renyu's sleeve, whispering urgently, ‘Don't act rashly. Remember our original plan.’ Wang Leming frowned as well. ‘Lieutenant, this is a conversation between majors. You...’

  Xiao Long abruptly raised his hand to interrupt. ‘Hold on. Wang Leming, don't try to pull the wool over our eyes. Reservists without signed contracts do indeed possess the right to freely choose their assignments.’ He turned to Renyu, a sharp gleam flashing in his eyes.

  Wang Leming snapped at Renyu, ‘What business is it of yours? Do you think a novice like you could handle a high-level mission world? Don't go playing cannon fodder without even realising it!’

  Xiao Long retorted immediately: ‘Spare us the attempt to tarnish our organisation's reputation.’ He turned to Renyu, his tone softening: ‘You wish to understand the mission's difficulty?’

  Renyu nodded: ‘Might I see the specific mission details?’

  Xiao Long narrowed his eyes, probing cautiously: " Have you... Experienced the Firepower Era? What proof do you have?" Renyu pondered briefly before raising his hand to activate the light screen. A flash of light erupted, and a tonne of purple gold materialised abruptly in the square in the form of a cube. The violet-gold radiance instantly drew the attention of everyone nearby. When they saw that the owner of this pile of purple gold was merely a reserve lieutenant, the onlookers all wore expressions of utter disbelief.

  Xiao Long visibly faltered. He hadn't anticipated Renyu proving himself through such a bluntly straightforward method. In the Colonial Era, even with a perfect evaluation, a single mission's reward rarely exceeded 100 kilograms of purple gold. For Renyu to produce a full tonne at once, while holding only the rank of lieutenant, implied he'd participated in fewer than ten missions. Even achieving perfect scores in every Colonial Era mission wouldn't have amassed such a quantity. The only explanation was that he had undertaken missions in the far more challenging Steam Era. Linking this to Zhao Weiguo and Li Ziming's connection, the answer became clear—not only had he survived Zhao Weiguo's promotion mission, but his performance had undoubtedly exceeded ninety points.

  Renyu retrieved the purple gold: ‘Is that sufficient proof?’

  Xiao Long's face lit up with an enthusiastic smile: ‘Excellent, truly excellent. Lieutenant, have you considered joining a guild with greater prospects?’

  ‘Clang!’ A sharp metallic clang echoed as Wang Leming drew his sword from its scabbard, his icy glare fixed on Xiao Long.

  Renyu ignored the interruption and pressed on: ‘Can you elaborate on the mission specifics now?’

  Xiao Long looked troubled: ‘Well... this mission is rather special. You see, certain artefacts can breach mission barriers, so I can't disclose too many details.’

  Wang Leming stood by, sneering silently, his face etched with scorn. Renyu pondered for a moment, then rephrased his question: ‘Will missiles or nuclear weapons feature in the mission?’

  ‘Ahem!’ Li Ziming suddenly choked on his own saliva. To Xiao Long and Wang Leming, it sounded like a joke, but Li Ziming, who knew Renyu's background, understood—Renyu asked precisely because he'd already encountered such weapons, his perspective far surpassing ordinary imagination.

  Xiao Long couldn't help but laugh. ‘How could such things appear? Even I wouldn't be assigned a mission of that calibre. This one's merely... rather unusual...’

  ‘Then I'll take it,’ Renyu stated bluntly. ‘My terms: offset the remaining five mission contracts binding Yun Chenhe.’

  Li Ziming shook his head helplessly. A sharp gleam flashed in Wang Leming's eyes as he seemed to discern Renyu's character. He immediately addressed Xiao Long: ‘All right then, Xiao Long. I can let Yun Chenhe accompany you this time. My conditions aren't excessive—simply offset all of Yun Chenhe's remaining contract attempts.’

  Xiao Long cursed inwardly: ‘Wang Leming, you old fox, always shifting with the wind!’

  Xiao Long addressed Renyu with a measured tone: ‘You and Yun Chenhe are friends, I take it?’

  Renyu nodded frankly: ‘To be precise, we're comrades-in-arms who've fought side by side.’

  Xiao Long's face softened with approval: "Excellent. I admire your willingness to go the extra mile for your comrades—far superior to those driven solely by self-interest. ‘He shot Wang Leming a pointed glance. ’Should you complete this mission, Yun Chenhe's remaining nine contractual assignments shall be entirely forgiven."

  Wang Leming gritted his teeth inwardly, but saw Xiao Long already rising to his feet. ‘Brother Wang, it's time we discussed the specific terms for hiring Yun Chenhe.’

  Li Ziming shot Wang Leming an imploring look. Yet Wang Leming's mind was already elsewhere. A team's cohesion lay in its morale: internally, maintaining unity and welfare; externally, striving for maximum gain—this was the very foundation of internal solidarity.

  Xiao Long's claim that Xinhua News Agency couldn't afford reserve officers at the rank of major was undeniably true. Reserve officers at this rank were inherently scarce, typically appearing only in promotion missions for officers, occasionally selecting simpler tasks for respite. Every officer sought a ‘double safeguard’; Xinhua News Agency wasn't unwilling to hire, but simply couldn't find suitable reserve officers. Otherwise, they wouldn't have crammed so many junior officers into Zhao Weiguo's promotion mission.

  What is the essence of the reserve force? It is the battlefield's reserve capacity, a mobile contingent ready to reinforce critical fronts at any moment, and a special privilege for lower-ranking Combat Evolution Officers. Yet as ranks advance, vast numbers of reservists either fall in battle or transition to full-time service, causing this benefit to gradually vanish. Reserve officers at the rank of major are particularly rare.

  Reserve officers like Sun Binghui, a Lieutenant Colonel, typically only participate in their own guild's missions, only joining others during large-scale guild wars involving the Son of Heaven Covenant or other major organisations. The vast majority of reserve officers follow this convention, rarely assisting across guild lines. To truly retain an exceptional reserve officer, the best approach is to forge emotional bonds. Understand their desires and strive to fulfil them—a loyal, principled reserve officer becomes an invaluable asset to any faction they align with.

  Moreover, this matter now involves Li Ziming, a potential candidate for officer rank.

  Thus, when Xiao Long proposed negotiating Yun Chenhe's hire price, Wang Leming, having weighed his words carefully, stated: ‘No need to discuss the price. Simply postpone Yun Chenhe's remaining two assignments. This shall not be repeated.’ With that, he shot Renyu a meaningful glance.

  Renyu understood immediately: ‘Many thanks, Major Wang.’

  Wang Leming addressed Renyu solemnly: ‘Upon completing the mission, you must return home.’