North Star Starship Academy · Class 3-8
"Well, well, your Zhao Chen from Class Eight didn't show up for class again today. Could it be he's too scared to come and hiding somewhere?"
A mocking voice drifted into the classroom of Class Eight during their break.
Hearing this, the students in the classroom all wore expressions of displeasure.
They didn't need to guess to know who it was.
Zhang Haoran from Class 3-2, along with his gang of cronies.
Ever since Zhao Chen and Zhang Haoran agreed to a Starship Duel, Zhang Haoran had frequently come to the Class Eight classroom to flaunt his superiority. After failing to see Zhao Chen several times and learning that Zhao Chen had taken a long leave of absence since that day, he became even more arrogant.
He believed Zhao Chen was afraid of him.
"Zhang Haoran, this is our Class Eight classroom. If you have no business here, please return to your own Class Two!" A cold-faced girl walked up to Zhang Haoran and spoke with a frosty glare.
"Come on, school rules don't forbid visiting other classrooms during free time.
Besides, I'm here to look for your dear classmate Zhao Chen. He challenged me to a duel, and with the end of June just a few days away,
I'm just worried he might have forgotten about the duel and wanted to remind him." As Zhang Haoran spoke, his eyes swept over the girl before him—the class belle of Class Eight and also their class monitor, Shen Bing.
Shen Bing replied coldly, "Zhao Chen hasn't attended class for over half a month. If you want to find him, figure it out yourself. Don't disturb us."
"Oh my, isn't Class Eight supposed to be a united group? It sounds like Zhao Chen isn't even part of your class." Zhang Haoran laughed.
At that moment, the followers behind Zhang Haoran began to jeer.
"I think that kid Zhao Chen is just scared and hiding, too afraid to show his face."
"Once June ends, it's vacation. Our esteemed Baron probably wants to slink back to his territory in disgrace."
"What a coward. If he didn't dare to duel, why did he challenge our Young Master Zhang in the first place?"
"If you ask me, our Young Master Zhang should be magnanimous and just have Zhao Chen kneel on the ground, call him 'Dad,' and admit he was wrong. That'll be enough. Hahaha…"
The mocking laughter at the classroom door
made the students of Class Eight extremely uncomfortable. However, most students in Class Eight came from ordinary backgrounds and had average grades.
In contrast, Zhang Haoran's Class Two consisted of students from well-off families.
As a result, apart from Shen Bing—who was strong-willed and academically outstanding—daring to confront them head-on, the other students could only swallow their anger.
This led many students in Class Eight to resent Zhao Chen internally.
That guy was simply an embarrassment. Before, he had no skills and was ostracized within the class—that was bad enough. Now, he was causing trouble outside and dragging them all down with him.
Someone like him should just drop out as soon as possible.
"Zhang Haoran, if you have the guts, duel me! What's the point of shouting here? Besides, the duel is set for the end of June, and the deadline hasn't even arrived yet!" Li Wei couldn't hold back any longer and stepped forward to confront Zhang Haoran angrily.
Although his father, as an interstellar merchant, had repeatedly warned him to keep a low profile in both actions and words,
he simply couldn't stand by while his friend was mocked and bullied.
"Li Wei, what... trying to stand up for that useless brother of yours? Honestly, your choice of friends is really poor. Why pick such a useless Baron? What value does he have?" Zhang Haoran didn't respond to Li Wei's words, instead continuing to mock Zhao Chen.
"You..." Li Wei's face was filled with rage.
"Since someone can't wait to go through the withdrawal procedures, I'll kindly grant him his wish."
At that moment, a calm, unhurried voice came from outside the door.
Everyone's attention was drawn to it.
They saw Zhao Chen, who hadn't been seen for some time, stroll in leisurely, looking mockingly at Zhang Haoran and his group.
Zhao Chen, who had been missing for almost a month, had actually appeared!
"Well, well, I thought you were hiding and didn't dare show your face." Zhang Haoran looked at Zhao Chen with some surprise but wasn't worried in the slightest.
In his eyes, Zhao Chen was nothing more than an ant he could crush however he pleased.
"I was just resting for a few days. I didn't expect someone to be so eager for a beating.
In that case, let's set our duel for tomorrow. How about it, Young Master Zhang?" Zhao Chen said with an air of nonchalance.
Li Wei quickly walked over to Zhao Chen's side and whispered, "Zhao Chen, calm down. This Starship Duel is no small matter. Once it starts, there's no turning back."
"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing." Zhao Chen patted Li Wei on the shoulder.
"Stubborn and unyielding. Then let's officially set the duel time." Zhang Haoran took out his student ID card, looking provocatively at Zhao Chen.
Without hesitation, Zhao Chen also took out his ID card.
Under everyone's watchful eyes, the two officially confirmed the duel time.
Tomorrow morning at ten o'clock, North Star Starship Academy's No. 2 starship simulation duel arena.
"Since everything is settled, please take your lackeys and get out. Don't disturb our class's studies." Zhao Chen issued the order to leave.
Zhang Haoran's followers glared angrily; how dare this useless Zhao Chen insult them.
Zhang Haoran stopped his followers. Now that the duel date was set, there was no need to waste more words here. They just had to wait until the duel, win in front of everyone, and make this Baron lose all face, slinking away to drop out of the academy.
"Then I'll look forward to an exciting battle tomorrow. Don't disappear again by then." Zhang Haoran couldn't resist one last taunt before turning and leaving with his people.
Zhao Chen calmly and confidently returned to his seat.
The other students in the classroom began whispering among themselves.
But most of their comments were cold and sarcastic.
"Zhao Chen is really crazy. What ability does he have to duel Zhang Haoran?"
"It's not even certain if he has a starship. I heard Zhang Haoran has a brand new T2 Starship!"
"If Zhao Chen embarrasses himself and drops out, that's one thing, but dragging our Class Eight down with him is his fault."
Zhao Chen paid no attention to these words. Only results could shut these people up.
Li Wei sat next to Zhao Chen and was about to speak when someone else spoke first.
"If a person lacks sufficient strength, then everything they do is wrong. Since you are a member of our Class Eight, I don't want to see you nailed to the pillar of shame."
"Your sister is a genius student. Using her connections, you should be able to settle this matter." Shen Bing stood before Zhao Chen, her voice cold.
Zhao Chen looked at this beautiful class monitor from a commoner background. "Monitor, you don't believe I can win either?"
"What do you think?" Shen Bing retorted bluntly.
Zhao Chen shrugged. "Then let's wait and see."
Seeing that she couldn't persuade him, Shen Bing's eyes grew even colder. She turned and left.
"Old Zhao, are you really going to duel Zhang Haoran?" Li Wei looked at Zhao Chen seriously.
"Confirmed, certain, and not denying it." Zhao Chen was already tired of hearing this question.
For the sake of convenience in the future, it was time to show off his strength.
Li Wei stared at Zhao Chen, feeling that his friend's temperament had changed significantly since a month ago. "Since you've decided, then here's what we'll do. Tomorrow, use my T2 Hyena for the battle.
My Deputy Captain is a Starship Captain with twenty years of combat experience in the Imperial Army's T2 Starships. You just need to leave everything to him."
"Don't worry, I have a Starship," Zhao Chen said helplessly.
"Those three broken... Starships... you exchanged for them—they can't win!" Li Wei, seeing that Zhao Chen wouldn't be persuaded, was truly anxious.
Zhao Chen knew it was pointless to explain to Li Wei now, so he said no more. Finding an excuse, he left the classroom.
At this moment, probably no one believed Zhao Chen would win this duel.
Well, Zhao Chen was determined to win and show them!