noveltune Chapter 90 The Value of the Second Lieutenant Rank
Chapter 90 The Value of the Second Lieutenant Rank
Chapter 90 The Value of the Second Lieutenant Rank
Chilian City, Central District.
The Third Vocational Academy, Class 4, Year 3.
It was during the break between classes, and the classroom was noisy. Students gathered in small groups, chatting and laughing.
Just then, a bespectacled boy in the back row suddenly jumped up from his seat, excitedly holding up his phone and shouting, "Look! The branch's official website has released an announcement about the special operations team!"
These words were like a stone thrown into a calm lake, instantly creating ripples throughout the classroom.
"Special operations team? You mean the elite unit that was all the rage a while back?"
"What did the announcement say? Who were selected?"
"let me see."
Many students immediately gathered around, asking questions all at once.
Students at professional academies pay more attention to things happening in the professional community than the average person.
A while ago, news circulated that the Red Lotus Branch was going to select young elites to form a special operations team, which attracted a lot of attention. However, there was no news after that, and many people thought the news was wrong. Unexpectedly, the Red Lotus Branch suddenly issued an announcement on the establishment of the special operations team.
"Don't push, don't push, I'll read it to you."
The bespectacled boy cleared his throat and raised his voice, reading: "In response to the current complex situation, the branch command has decided to formally establish a special operations team, directly under the branch command. The first batch of members is hereby announced as follows..."
""
He paused, his gaze sweeping over the students around him who were holding their breath and waiting, before continuing, "From the branch: Lieutenant Jiang Mu, Lieutenant Tan Jingxuan, Lieutenant Chang Yao, Lieutenant Tao Leshan, Warrant Officer Xu Wei..."
'
Each time a name was called out, a low gasp of surprise rippled through the crowd.
"These are all familiar names; each one is a renowned genius in the branch."
"Of course, those selected for the special operations team are all elites."
"The lowest rank is warrant officer, wow, this must be the first action team composed entirely of officers and non-commissioned officers."
"Anything else? What about the candidates for the regional detachments?"
The boy continued scrolling down the screen, reading: "East District Detachment, Second Lieutenant Lu Mingxuan, Second Lieutenant Shen Yutong—"
2
"Second Lieutenant Zhou Wenbin, West District Detachment—"
"Northern District Detachment, Lieutenant Lin Ze... Hmm, why does that name sound so familiar?"
The boy's voice suddenly stopped, and a puzzled expression appeared on his face.
At this moment, someone hesitated before speaking.
"Wait, isn't Sun Youyu's brother named Lin Ze?"
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone's eyes turned to the back row of the classroom, near the window.
It was no secret in the class that Sun Youyu had an older brother who was a group leader in the North District Detachment.
Many people are envious of this.
Sun Youyu was whispering something to Chen Han when she suddenly felt the whole class's gaze on her, and she was taken aback.
"Youyu, is your brother named Lin Ze? Does he work in the North District branch?" a girl couldn't help but ask.
Sun Youyu nodded subconsciously: "Yes, what's wrong?"
"It really is him!" The bespectacled boy excitedly held up his phone. "Your brother has been selected for the special operations team!"
"You mean this?" Sun Youyu wasn't surprised at all. "I know."
She had spoken with Lin Ze on the phone yesterday and learned that her brother had joined the special operations team and would soon be taking up a post at the branch. She was so happy about it that she spent the whole night.
"That's amazing! Youyu, your brother is only 19, right? A 19-year-old second lieutenant, he has a bright future ahead of him!"
"Youyu's brother will definitely become a big shot in the branch in the future!"
"I really envy Youyu. I wish I had such an amazing older brother."
"Youyu, when is your brother coming to the central area? Could you introduce us?"
A chorus of envy and amazement immediately arose around her, and the students looked at Sun Youyu with a hint of eagerness.
Sun Youyu smiled demurely, answering her classmates' questions one by one, but inside she was already overjoyed.
Hearing others praise her brother, she also felt a sense of pride and honor.
Chen Han watched this scene quietly from the side, her heart filled with mixed emotions.
Through family connections, she already knew the details of the battle in the North District.
While Tian Shi's power shocked her, what she found even more unbelievable was that Lin Ze had actually killed a level 5 professional in a head-on confrontation.
She clearly remembered that Lin Ze had only recently advanced to level 3, but he had already made another breakthrough so quickly.
Moreover, their strength is so great that they can kill level 5 professionals.
This is even more outrageous than when he killed a level 4 while only being level 3!
This rate of growth is simply astonishing!
"No wonder he was chosen by the special operations team..." Chen Han thought to himself. "With Ze's current strength and potential, he may not only become a lieutenant or captain in the future, but even a field officer may not be his final goal."
She suddenly recalled her family elders' evaluation of Lin Ze—this boy is no ordinary person.
In retrospect, this assessment was not an exaggeration at all.
Sun Youyu was only freed from the crowd when the school bell rang.
Even so, she could still sense that people were secretly glancing at her during class.
The news that Sun Youyu's brother had joined the special operations team caused quite a stir in the academy.
After class, many students from other classes came over to try and get close to her.
When school ended in the afternoon, the homeroom teacher called Sun Youyu over and asked her about her well-being.
All these changes made Sun Youyu feel somewhat uncomfortable.
When she confided these things to Chen Han, he looked at her with an expression that seemed perfectly natural.
"That's normal."
"Don't be fooled by the large number of second lieutenants in the special operations team. They may seem low-ranking, but officers of this rank hold a significant position in the entire Chilian City."
"If you put him in a district detachment, he'd be either the second or third in command; if you put him in a branch, he'd be good enough to be the captain of an ordinary action team."
"To give a more vivid example, several of our academy's deans retired with honors as second lieutenants, while a serving second lieutenant like Brother Ze has a much higher value than an honorary rank."
After hearing Chen Han's explanation, Sun Youyu suddenly understood.
The deans of the Third Professional Academy are all highly respected and revered figures with extremely high status.
The thought that her brother was even more powerful than the hospital directors made Sun Youyu feel a dreamlike sense of unreality.
Before I knew it, my brother had become so amazing.
As they walked out of the academy gate side by side, Sun Youyu suddenly heard a familiar voice calling her name.
"Youyu."
She turned her head and looked over, a delighted smile immediately spreading across her face.
More than ten meters away, Lin Ze, dressed in casual clothes, was looking at her with a gentle smile.
"elder brother!"
Sun Youyu screamed and pounced on Lin Ze, hugging him tightly and jumping up and down excitedly.
"Brother, when did you come to the city center? Why didn't you tell me!"
Sun Youyu bombarded her with a series of questions, her face beaming with surprise.
Lin Ze smiled and ruffled his sister's hair, saying, "I just arrived today and have been busy moving and settling in, so I haven't had a chance to tell you yet."
"Moving?" Sun Youyu blinked. "You have a place to live in the central area?"
"Yes, I've already rented a place." Lin Ze nodded.
After being promoted to second lieutenant, his benefits and perks naturally increased as well.
The branch originally planned to arrange for him to live in the officers' quarters, but Lin Ze declined and instead rented a villa through the military unit.
With his current income level, he can easily afford to live in a villa.
If you save up for two or three years, buying a villa in the city center won't be a problem.
"That's great!" Sun Youyu cheered. "Then I can come visit you more often from now on."
She currently lives very close to the Third Vocational College, and considering the commute, she cannot easily move.
But it's okay, she can go and stay with her brother during holidays.
Lin Ze readily agreed.
Anyway, all the things involving his secrets were kept in another house that had been secretly prepared, so there was no need to worry about Sun Youyu discovering them.
"Xiaohan too." Lin Ze then looked at Chen Han and said with a smile, "You're welcome to visit anytime."
Chen Han smiled and nodded: "Thank you, Brother Ze."
After an afternoon of news spreading, Sun Youyu has become a prominent figure in the Third Academy.
Just standing at the entrance for a short while attracted a lot of attention.
Some of the more astute students, through the close interaction between Sun Youyu and Lin Ze, guessed Lin Ze's identity and immediately showed eager expressions on their faces.
Sun Youyu quickly noticed something was wrong and hurriedly pulled Lin Ze away.
"Brother, let's go check on where you live first."
Lin Ze readily agreed and led the two women toward the car parked not far away.
This is a car he just bought a few days ago to make commuting easier.
Upon seeing the vehicle, Sun Youyu became excited again, and even after getting in the car, she kept chattering and asking questions.
"Brother, when are you going to report to the branch?"
"the day after tomorrow."
"So you have a holiday these two days?"
"Yes, I can show you around tomorrow and the day after."
Lin Ze glanced at his beaming sister in the rearview mirror and casually asked, "How's class going lately?"
"Hmph, my mental attribute has already broken through to level 4, and I should be able to advance to level 2 soon."
Sun Youyu crossed her arms and struck a funny pose, as if to say, "I'm so amazing, praise me!"
Lin Ze didn't want to spoil the fun, so he showered Sun Youyu with a string of compliments, making her laugh non-stop and let out giggles.
With him constantly feeding her various skill and talent cards, it was expected that Sun Youyu's strength would improve rapidly.
In fact, if he wanted to, he could use cards to boost his sister's attributes right now and directly advance her to level 3.
level.
However, doing so would turn Sun Youyu into a paper tiger who has attributes but lacks systematic high-level skills and talents, making her helpless in actual combat.
Since we have the cards, we can improve Sun Youyu's attributes at any time, so there's no rush.
It's better to proceed step by step.
Chen Han watched the brother and sister playing with a smile, occasionally interjecting with a comment, creating a pleasant and relaxed atmosphere.
Before we knew it, the car had entered a quiet and upscale residential area.
The villas here are all detached, spaced far apart, shaded by green trees, and the environment is very pleasant.
Lin Ze's villa is located deep inside the town. It is a three-story modern-style building with a sizable courtyard.
The car stopped in front of the villa, and as soon as the three of them got out, Sun Youyu couldn't wait to run towards the villa.
However, she soon stopped in her tracks.
Not far away, seven or eight black cars were parked, forming a long line.
Next to each car stood one or two bodyguards in black suits, carrying beautifully packaged gift boxes.
In front of the villa gate, four well-dressed and distinguished men stood there, seemingly having been waiting for some time.
Seeing Lin Ze get out of the car, the four exchanged glances. After a silent exchange of looks, one of them greeted him with a smile.
"Hello, Lieutenant Lin."
The man speaking was about thirty years old, wearing gold-rimmed glasses, and had a refined and scholarly air, resembling an elite individual.
He bowed slightly, his attitude respectful yet proper.
"I am Zhao Wenyuan, the public relations manager of Xunfeng Military Industry. I am here on behalf of the company to congratulate you on your promotion."
As he spoke, two subordinates behind him stepped forward and presented the exquisite gift box with both hands.
"This is just a small token of my appreciation; please accept it."
Lin Ze was slightly taken aback, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes.
At this moment, Chen Han suddenly stepped forward and whispered in his ear, "Brother Ze, this is a common practice. Whenever a new officer takes office in the branch, companies with connections in the central area will send people to give gifts as a way of building good relationships."
She paused, glanced at Zhao Wenyuan, and then explained, "Xunfeng Military Industry is the largest manufacturer of standard equipment in Chilian City, and behind it is the Zhao family, which controls the military industry."
Lin Ze understood immediately. After thinking for a moment, he didn't refuse and accepted it with a smile.
Although he disliked socializing, he knew the importance of adapting to local customs.
In the central area, where various forces are deeply entrenched, being too unconventional is not a good thing.
Seeing Lin Ze accept the gift, Zhao Wenyuan's smile deepened. He said a few more flattering words before taking a few steps back.
Following closely behind, another person walked over.
"Lieutenant Lin, I am Bai Jingming, the public relations manager of Baicaotang. On behalf of the company, I would like to extend my congratulations to you."
After he finished speaking, his subordinates immediately and respectfully presented him with a gift box.
"Bai Cao Tang is a giant in the retail and wholesale of conventional medicines, backed by the Bai family."
Chen Han whispered a reminder to Lin Ze at the opportune moment.
Lin Ze nodded in understanding and accepted the gift after exchanging pleasantries.
Then the third and fourth men came forward and introduced themselves.
With Chen Han's explanation, Lin Ze also learned about the companies and families they represented: Extreme Training and Xinghui Group, respectively.
The former is a leader in the chain of training centers and the production of training equipment, backed by the Hong family.
The latter is a monopolistic enterprise specializing in the refining and processing of extraordinary materials, backed by the Tan family.
Including the Zhao and Bai families, these four families are all prominent and well-established families in Chilian City, with many family members holding positions in the branch offices.
"Thank you all for your kindness." Lin Ze accepted the gift box, his tone calm. "Please thank your boss for his generosity."
The four men repeatedly told Lieutenant Lin not to be so polite, exchanged a few more pleasantries, and then took their leave.
The vehicle quickly drove away, and silence returned to the area in front of the villa.
Sun Youyu stared blankly at the gift box on the ground.
Even though she had already experienced it at the academy, seeing those four people who were clearly of extraordinary status being so respectful and courteous in front of her brother made her realize more and more clearly the change in her brother's current status.
"Brother, you're really a big shot now—" Sun Youyu let out a long sigh.
Lin Ze smiled and ruffled his sister's hair: "Let's go inside and see our new home."
"Um!"
Sun Youyu nodded vigorously and ran excitedly into the villa.
Chen Han, standing beside Lin Ze, whispered, "Brother Ze, the gifts from those four families must be quite substantial. Do you want to open them and take a look?"
Lin Ze nodded, went to the villa's living room, and casually opened a gift box.
Inside was a short sword that was entirely black, with intricate patterns engraved on its scabbard, and faint energy fluctuations flowing within it.
"The 'Dark Current' series longsword, the latest model from Xunfeng Military Industry, is a high-quality piece of equipment created in cooperation with the Legion." Chen Han recognized it at a glance, somewhat surprised. "This sword can't be bought anywhere else."
Lin Ze raised an eyebrow and opened another gift box.
The box contains ten test tubes, each filled with a faintly fluorescent blue liquid.
"One bottle of 'Bai Cao Tang's Starshine' series of healing medicines costs 50,000 yuan, so this box costs 500,000 yuan." Chen Han's voice was filled with a sigh.
The contents of the remaining two gift boxes were also quite valuable.
The extreme training includes more than ten Blood-Veined Ginseng plants that can strengthen the body's foundation and nourish vital energy, as well as a permanent Platinum Membership Card. With this card, you can enjoy the highest level of training services at any extreme training center in Chilian City at a 30% discount.
Xinghui Group, on the other hand, provided a wide variety of extraordinary materials.
One of them is a fist-sized piece of star-patterned steel, a precious and extraordinary material.
According to Chen Han's estimate, the market price is around 500,000.
In general, all four gifts were exceptionally precious.
Sun Youyu listened from the side and was speechless with astonishment.
Any one of these gifts would be a rare item that an ordinary person could only afford after saving for several years without spending any money, and some might even be impossible to buy with money.
"But now it's just a small token of my appreciation for my brother."
Is this the true value of a second lieutenant?
Chen Han was secretly filled with emotion.
Her family had done the same thing many times before, only the gifts they gave were far less valuable.
It wasn't that her family was stingy, but rather that the gifts from these four families far exceeded the standard for treating ordinary military officers.
This undoubtedly shows that they are very optimistic about Lin Ze's future.
Indeed, a genius who can kill a level 5 professional at the age of 19 is someone anyone would admire.
In fact, if it weren't for the close relationship between Chen Han and Lin Ze, the Chen family would have sent someone to deliver gifts as well.
Lin Ze calmly put the gift box away.
Although the gifts were valuable, they were not enough to make him lose his composure.
After all, he now holds the accumulated wealth of three guilds over many years, the value of which far exceeds the imagination of ordinary professionals.
After packing his things, Lin Ze smiled and said to the two women, "Go and choose a room. Xiao Han too, you can come and stay anytime you want."
Upon hearing this, Sun Youyu cheered and immediately pulled Chen Han upstairs to start choosing a room with great interest.
Lin Ze smiled and looked out the window.
The afterglow of the setting sun streamed into the living room through the floor-to-ceiling windows, bathing the entire room in a warm orange-red hue.
Looking into the distance, you can see a tall building that pierces the sky like a spear.
That was the location of the Red Lotus branch.
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