Chapter 687: Chapter 688: An Unexpected Promotion
Ji Sisi’s words made the judge’s throaty roar choke back inside him, leaving him with the sensation of having sustained an internal injury without having been hit.
The judge looked at the arena he was in charge of—it had ended the earliest and also the most brutally.
He took a deep breath and contacted the main judge to see what to do, as the remaining four mechas clearly were unfit to continue in the competition.
About two minutes later, while other matches were still ongoing, the host’s voice rang out.
“The competition is over, please stop.”
Every mecha that had been in action stopped what they were doing, but looked around in confusion. Why had it ended?
There were quite a few mechas still standing on the field, several arenas had five of them.
“The competition has ended, and the final twenty contestants have been decided. Please arrive at the First District tomorrow to participate in the finals of the First District.”
As the host finished speaking, an advancement email was also sent to all the qualifying contestants.
But the Mechanical Control Masters on the field had yet to grasp what had happened—they clearly still had five people in their group, with no one eliminated, yet the match had ended.
The people on the field walked off in confusion, but the audience outside finally closed their gaping mouths.
“Bro, did that little one eliminate four by herself?”
“Must be, my eyesight has been pretty poor lately.”
“I think I saw her make only four moves, each taking out one opponent. That strength is truly terrifying.”
“What’s terrifying is not the strength, but how she immediately found the mechas’ weak points, striking with a single blow, and how precise her timing and movements were.”
“My goodness, looks can be deceiving. Even though she seemed to have advanced through luck, she’s actually incredibly skilled.”
“Who knows where this dark horse came from.”
“It feels even stronger than the Ji Family.”
“Uh, isn’t she from the Ji Family? That name?”
“No, the Ji Family’s team leader said they just have the same surname, no relation to the Ji Family at all.”
“I see, what a coincidence that they share the last name Ji.”
At that moment, all discussions revolved around Ji Sisi. The Ji Family’s team leader began to doubt their existence—was this really the waste of the Ji Family?
In the previous rounds, she had advanced through luck and by others conceding, Ji Sisi had made it through.
But what about this round?
Those movements, full of violent aesthetics, made it clear to everyone that this was her true skill.
Ji Sisi, having now shed her mecha and secured it, ran towards Nian Shutong without the slightest hesitation or leaving a gap for anyone to approach her for a talk.
“Mr. Nian, let’s go.”
“Okay, let’s go.”
Nian Shutong and the group promptly left the competition building and did not return to the hotel. Since all their belongings were stored in their space devices, they headed straight to the First District.
As for checking out of the hotel, Lian Qing could do it on the Star Network by themselves.
The competition had ended at just after five in the afternoon. The group first took the Starship heading to the First District. After reaching the First District, they returned to Nian Shutong’s house, ate some food, and rested well for the night.
While Ji Sisi’s side remained calm, the Ji Family’s side was not.
Everyone was still shocked by her mecha skills and abilities.
“Wasn’t Ji Sisi supposed to be a waste?”
“That’s what you call waste? I didn’t even advance.”
“I didn’t fare any better. If Ji Sisi hadn’t eliminated four by herself, I reckon I would have been in trouble.”
“What’s the deal with this Ji Sisi anyway? Hey, Ji Tiantian, you used to be close to her, right?”
Everyone’s gaze converged on Ji Tiantian, including the team leader.
Ji Tiantian showed a somewhat nostalgic expression, took a deep breath, and said, “I’m not sure either. The old Sisi really wasn’t good with mechas, and I didn’t know she was a Mechanical Control Master either.”
Having finished speaking, Ji Tiantian seemed to think of something, hesitating with a hand that loosened and then tightened at her chin.
“Ji Tiantian, if you have something to say, speak up. We are all from the Ji Family here.”
The team leader spoke, and Ji Tiantian, as if determined, began to speak, “It’s just… you can’t just suddenly become good with natural talent, but the mecha control can be trained.”
Ji Tiantian did not spell it out, but everyone understood.
“Damn! She cheated!”
“Maybe Ji Sisi isn’t really a Mechanical Designer, but a Control Master.”
“I just knew it. Which Mechanical Designer would personally fight in a mecha?”
“Exactly, every Mechanical Designer is protected. Who would let them go to the battlefield?”
“But how did she pass the exams?”
“That’s not hard; there must have been someone skilled in the Star Network helping her.”
“What is this for?”
“Who knows!”
A group of people started piecing together their imaginations, unwilling to accept the reality that Ji Sisi was stronger than them.
Ji Tiantian, who had steered the conversation, looked embarrassed as she tried to appease them, “It might not be the case. It’s just my guess. Maybe Sisi really is talented.”
“Cut the crap, talented my ass!”
“Exactly, I remember she couldn’t even complete the most basic assembly.”
“Right, there are much younger people in the Ji Family who have learned it. She couldn’t learn it, so how could she be a genius.”
“Alright, let’s not worry about Ji Sisi for now. If she really cheated, she won’t make it to the end. There are assessments in tomorrow’s competition.”
The team leader glanced at Ji Tiantian and ordered everyone to rest.
After everyone dispersed, the team leader called the Ji Family Head to report about Ji Sisi.
The final instruction received was to wait and see the results after the competition ended.
The team leader also understood that the Ji Family never needed a waste, but if there was an undiscovered genius, that would be a different matter altogether.
That night, everyone rested.
A Super Starship docked in the Third District, and an elegant older couple descended from it.
It had been a long time since they paid attention to such competitions. When they found the competition venue according to the address, they learned it had already ended.
The Empress was the first to find out the names of those who advanced, Ji Sisi among them.
“Old Huang, let’s take a trip to the First District.”
“Ah, we missed it the whole way.”
“Missed what? We’re about to see her soon.” The Empress thought for a moment and said, “However, let’s wait until Ji Sisi’s competition is over tomorrow before we go. We don’t want to affect her match.”
“Or else it looks like Nian Shutong will have a tough time.”
“Okay, as you wish.”
After deciding, the two set off for the First District.