Since childhood, Mo Han had navigated the cutthroat world of business alongside his father. He’d seen countless scions of wealthy families. Most peers only discussed stocks, deals, and business strategies. Very few understood firearms, let alone possessed the comprehensive knowledge and formidable practical skill like Mr. F.
Frank and Caitlin’s combat skills weren’t top-tier; they had both learned mostly from Mo Han. That was why their squad had previously been unable to clear Nightmare Mode instances. But ever since Mr. F joined, tackling Nightmare Mode became remarkably easy. He could tear a bloody path through a zombie horde with unbridled power, and coolly snipe a target’s head with unerring precision. No matter how chaotic or dangerous the situation, Mr. F handled it with effortless, masterful composure. Mo Han couldn’t help but respect him deeply.
Feeling admiration for a peer was a first. And so, Mo Han was intensely curious to see what kind of person Mr. F truly was.
Mo Han despised beating around the bush. He preferred simplicity and directness. He felt like it, so he asked to meet. Nothing to agonize over.
After logging out, Mo Han called Frank. “Next weekend, I’m thinking of going to Saint Romia Military Academy. Do you and Caitlin have time to come with me? Mr. F is a student there. I want to meet him in person.”
“Meeting an online friend?” Frank was extremely surprised. “Why the sudden decision? You’re usually so wary of people. What if he’s approaching you just to…”
“He’s not,” Mo Han cut him off, his tone confident. “I trust my judgment. People at school who try to get close to me usually want to leverage the Mo family connections. This person is different. He’s from a military family; his background has no business ties to the Mo family. Besides, you were the one who initially met him. He wasn’t targeting me.”
“But you’ve only known each other for half a month online! Isn’t meeting so soon a bit premature?” Frank was still uneasy.
Mo Han explained, “My graduation thesis has been submitted for review. Once the committee approves it, I’ll be preparing for my defense next month. I’ll be extremely busy then. This is a good window of free time, so I wanted to meet him while I can. It’s not an impulsive decision.”
Frank was silent for a moment, then scratched his head. “Mo Han, can I ask you something? Promise you won’t get mad!”
Mo Han’s voice held a smile. “Ask away, Senior.”
Frank asked carefully, “Could it be… you’ve developed feelings for this guy?”
Mo Han: “…………”
His heart gave a tiny jolt, but he instantly denied it. “Don’t be ridiculous, Senior. How could I fall for a generic system face?”
After all, who would fall for a face they’d seen a thousand times? The notion was absurd.
Frank rubbed his nose sheepishly. He also thought it was unlikely, yet Mo Han’s behavior was so unlike his usual self.
Ever since Frank had known him, countless people had confessed to Mo Han, given him gifts. Mo Han had never shown the slightest interest. He returned everything unopened, his expression as cool and detached as if it were completely irrelevant to him.
Mr. F was the first person Mo Han had actively wanted to meet. Didn’t that suggest a special interest? A little admiration, perhaps a tiny spark of… like?
Startled by his own analysis, Frank quickly derailed that train of thought, laughing it off. “Ha ha ha, forget I asked! I’ll go with you next week. Caitlin’s probably tied up with club stuff. Maybe we should invite Iman? He loves any kind of lively outing.”
Mo Han nodded. “Fine.”
Iman was a master at smoothing over social situations. With him there, at least it wouldn’t be awkward.
After the call, Mo Han left a message for Mr. F in-game: “Saturday, 6:00 PM. Milan Pavilion Restaurant outside Saint Romia Academy. Private Room 4, second floor.”
Luo Fei’s reply came swiftly: “Received. I’ll be there on time.”
Saint Romia’s rules were notoriously strict. Non-students and unauthorized military personnel were generally barred from campus. So Mo Han choosing a restaurant outside the academy was perfectly reasonable.
Saturday. That was seven days away. Coincidentally, the new students’ special training was scheduled to end next week! He could meet Mo Han looking sharp in his military uniform.
Just thinking about it sent waves of exhilaration through Luo Fei.
So excited he couldn’t sleep, he called Luo Ning. His voice was almost giddy. “Xiao Ning! I followed the plan you gave me, met Mo Han in the game, and we’ve been playing together for half a month. Now Mo Han actually wants to meet me, says he wants to be friends! This means he has feelings for me, right? Tell me, do you think he saw me in the game, all cool and unstoppable with a gun, and thought I was incredibly handsome? Is that why he’s starting to like me?”
Luo Ning’s sleepy, languid voice drawled back: “Royal Brother… what time is it right now?”
Luo Fei checked the time, his expression freezing in embarrassment. “1:30 AM.”
Luo Ning replied, “You woke me up in the middle of the night… to ask if Mo Han likes you?”
Luo Fei: “Uh…”
Luo Ning rolled his eyes, even though Luo Fei couldn’t see it. “If you ever do this again, I’m packaging every piece of childhood blackmail material I have on you and sending it straight to Mo Han.”
Luo Fei’s repentance was immediate. “I was wrong! I was just too excited, I needed to share it. You’re the only one who knows about this, so I just wanted to talk to you…”
Luo Ning’s tone softened slightly. “From what you’ve described, it sounds like Mo Han does have some favorable impression.”
Luo Fei’s eyes lit up. “Really?!”
Luo Ning hummed in affirmation. “From my observations this past half-month at school, Mo Han is the unattainable idol of countless juniors. Cold and aloof, notoriously difficult to approach. He’s never actively tried to make friends with anyone. All those pursuers? Rejected without a shred of mercy. Since he took the initiative to befriend you, it at least means you’re someone special in his eyes.”
Special. I’m special to him?
Luo Fei felt a surge of joy so powerful he wanted to run laps around the building. But at 1 AM… probably best to restrain himself. He didn’t need the instructors thinking he’d lost his mind.
Luo Ning’s tone shifted, becoming serious. “But you have to handle this meeting carefully. If he feels like you were toying with him, his opinion of you could instantly plummet into the negative.”
Luo Fei sobered immediately, his excitement chilling into focused contemplation. He stroked his chin. “I’ve been thinking the same thing. Mo Han is too sharp. Last time I tried lying to him, he saw through it in minutes. This time, I’m not planning to lie. I’ll just come clean.”
Luo Ning’s brow arched. “Are you going to expose my involvement?”
Luo Fei hastily assured him, “Of course not! I’ll just say I found out he was playing this game and decided to check it out. Your name won’t come up at all.”
Satisfied, Luo Ning yawned widely. “Alright, I’m going back to sleep. You should sleep too, Royal Brother.”
The call ended. Lying in bed, sleep remained elusive. Luo Fei tossed and turned, his mind endlessly replaying the scene of teaching Mo Han to snipe earlier. How close they’d been… He’d held Mo Han from behind, practically embracing him, wanting to pull him fully into his arms.
He wished he could’ve frozen that moment forever, holding Mo Han and never letting go.
Luo Fei woke the next morning feeling refreshed and energized. His roommate, Ludwig, emerging from the opposite bedroom, looked utterly exhausted.
Luo Fei greeted him, a note of concern in his voice. “Didn’t sleep well?”
Ludwig rubbed his temples, his voice raspy with fatigue. “Mn. Didn’t get to bed until 2:30 AM.”
Luo Fei asked, feigning ignorance, “Why so late?”
It seemed that hyperactive Omega, Iman, had thoroughly worn his roommate out.
Ludwig confirmed it: “Spent two hours in the game teaching an idiot how to shoot. Managed to drag his score from a 1 all the way up to… a 5.”
Luo Fei: “……”
He wondered what Iman would think if he heard Ludwig calling him an “idiot.”
Iman’s mental power was exceptionally high. He was a top-tier academic like Mo Han, virtually untouchable in the Mecha Manufacturing Department with perfect scores. Someone with his intelligence couldn’t possibly take two hours just to learn basic sniping. He was clearly pretending.
Pretending to be slow, to be clumsy, all to prolong his time with Ludwig.
Iman was truly something else. If he actually fell for Ludwig and started seriously pursuing him, Luo Fei estimated his roommate’s head might just explode from the sheer… intensity.
An Omega with that much vitality… most people wouldn’t stand a chance!
From that day forward, Saint Romia’s special training entered its final examination week. Every skill they’d learned was tested systematically. Failing a module meant an additional week of remedial training. Failing the retest meant immediate expulsion.
The exam requirements were brutally strict, and the instructors were all merciless taskmasters. Most freshmen were utterly exhausted, some less physically fit even collapsing and ending up in the infirmary.
But for Luo Fei, Ludwig, and others who had undergone such conditioning since childhood, this level of difficulty was manageable.
They methodically passed one grueling assessment after another. In the end, Luo Fei achieved a perfect score in every category, ranking first overall for the entire year.
Upon the special training’s conclusion, the academy recognized outstanding students with awards. Luo Fei received a merit-based scholarship of over ten thousand credits.
Growing up in the Royal Palace, he’d never lacked for anything. Money was just a swipe of a Crystal Card. But credits earned through his own sweat and effort held a completely different weight. He wanted to use this scholarship to buy something meaningful. After careful thought, he went to the official merchandise store for Law of the Jungle.
The game’s popularity meant its merchandise sold incredibly well. Among the offerings were custom-made items: players could order personalized figures of their favorite characters, creatures, weapons, or even game scenes. Luo Fei commissioned a custom character model of Mr. F, complete with a sniper rifle, intending to give it to Mo Han as a keepsake.
This way, a little piece of Mr. F could always be with him.
The official store was efficient. The model, ordered on Friday, arrived by Saturday morning. The figure was incredibly lifelike and could perform various actions and expressions via voice commands—like a miniature, pocket-sized Mr. F. Pleased, Luo Fei carefully placed it into its box. He hoped Mo Han would like this gift.
Saturday arrived.
At 4 PM, Mo Han picked up Frank and Iman to head to Saint Romia Military Academy.
Both Herman University and the Academy were located within the Alkaid Starfield. Planets within the same star system didn’t require Spatial Jumps; direct travel via interstellar Hovercar sufficed, taking just over an hour.
During the journey, Mo Han and Frank chatted idly. Iman, however, was listless, lounging on the sofa and yawning non-stop.
Frank had to ask, “Iman, what’s up with you? You look completely drained.”
Iman mumbled, “That Hunter guy kept me practicing sniping until past 2 AM again. Had an early class at seven, so I barely slept.” He sprawled out on the sofa, starfished, muttering, “Gonna take a nap. Don’t mind me.”
The normally hyperactive, effervescent Omega was so exhausted he couldn’t keep his eyes open.
Mo Han glanced at him but said nothing, his attention returning to the navigation map ahead.
For some reason, the prospect of finally meeting the Mr. F he knew from the game stirred a genuine sense of anticipation within him.
This was the first time he’d ever initiated a meeting with someone he met online.
An hour and a half later, the hovercar docked at the planetary space station. Following navigation, the three made their way to the restaurant Mo Han had booked.
This planet served as the Empire’s primary military hub. Uniformed personnel were a common sight. Patrols of military mecha squadrons roared periodically overhead, their engines a deep, thrumming vibration.
Unlike the lush, scenic planet housing Herman University, this place was dominated by vast, sprawling deserts. A colossal artificial satellite hung on the horizon, radiating a golden luminescence that bathed the stark landscape, blending sky and earth into a single, awe-inspiring vista.
Iman, having napped for an hour, was fully revived, his boundless energy instantly restored.
It was his first time here, and Saint Romia Military Academy piqued his intense curiosity. “My Dad graduated from the Academy’s medical school, and my Father from its Mecha Department! I’d love to actually see the campus—it’s their alma mater! Outsiders really aren’t allowed in?”
Frank confirmed, “I hear the Academy’s security is extreme. Visiting usually requires a formal application and a student escort the entire time.”
Iman’s eyes suddenly blazed. “Then I can just ask Luo Fei to escort me! Isn’t he at this school?”
Mo Han: “……”
At the name “Luo Fei,” Mo Han’s expression momentarily stiffened.
He’d almost forgotten. That First Prince, Luo Fei, was also enrolled at Saint Romia.
Mo Han currently had no desire whatsoever to see that persistent piece of sticky candy.
Oddly, though, ever since his confession and Mo Han’s polite deflection, the First Prince had been remarkably well-behaved. No further contact. Perhaps he’d finally come to his senses? Realized that the two of them had no future together, that his feelings were just a passing infatuation. After a period of cooling off, that so-called “like” had probably faded. And with the Academy’s brutal special training demanding every ounce of his focus, when would he even have the energy to dwell on who he liked?
His own strategy of distance and time had been effective. It hadn’t damaged their connection beyond repair, but had simply given Luo Fei the space to sort out his own feelings.
At this thought, a faint, relieved smile touched Mo Han’s lips.
Frank, catching the smile, tilted his head in confusion. “Mo Han? What are you thinking about?”
Mo Han replied lightly, “Nothing. Just managed to resolve a troublesome matter. Feeling much lighter.”
Frank didn’t know what the “troublesome matter” was, but he was genuinely happy for his friend. “Rare to see you in such a good mood! Let’s hurry to the restaurant, Mr. F might be waiting already.”
Mo Han was always punctual. They arrived at the designated restaurant precisely at 5:55 PM, five minutes early.
Stepping into the lobby, his eyes were immediately drawn to a tall soldier standing there.
The man was visibly tall, around 1.87 meters by estimation. He wore a crisp, dark blue military uniform, complete with the officer’s cap. A jet-black leather belt cinched his waist tightly, accentuating the clean, powerful lines of his physique. Black combat boots, polished, rose to just the right height, making his legs appear impossibly long and straight.
An already impressive physique, amplified by the immaculate uniform, seemed to gain another few centimeters of stature, his bearing utterly impeccable. He stood there, spine ramrod straight. Just his posture screamed a disciplined, rigorous soldier.
Uniforms had an undeniable power to elevate a person’s presence. Standing among casually dressed peers, his uniformed figure emanated a distinct, commanding aura.
Mo Han’s gaze lingered on him involuntarily.
Then, in the next second, the man turned around.
The face beneath the cap’s brim was almost unfairly handsome. Deep-set brown eyes, bright as stars beneath strong brows. A high nose bridge, lips with a subtly attractive curve. The entire structure of his face was sharp, angular, and resolute.
—Luo Fei?!
This man… was Luo Fei?!
His skin was slightly more tanned now, lending him a more mature, seasoned air. Combined with that sharp uniform… he seemed so radically different, so much more stable and grounded, that Mo Han almost hadn’t recognized him.
But scrutinizing the features closely… it was undeniably Luo Fei.
Moreover, the moment the man spotted Mo Han, his eyes lit up brilliantly, a smile curving his lips. He strode toward Mo Han with measured, confident steps, his voice low as he greeted, “Mo Han. Long time no see.”
In his full uniform, posture commanding, his stride was easy confidence—a complete departure from the shameless, grinning puppy-dog of Mo Han’s memory.
He was a dashing, undeniably attractive Imperial Soldier.
A wave of genuine shock rippled through Mo Han. He managed a polite greeting, though his voice held a slightly strangled note. “What a coincidence… What are you doing here?”
Luo Fei’s smile remained warm. “Meeting a friend.”
Iman, spotting this transformed Luo Fei, gawked as if he’d seen a rare exotic creature. He circled Luo Fei, eyes wide with disbelief. “Whoa, whoa, whoa! Are you actually Luo Fei?! You feel like a completely different person!”
Luo Fei glanced at him, still smiling. “A good change, or a bad one?”
Iman looked him up and down, then punched his chest with a solid thump. “Definitely a good change! You’ve bulked up, got some muscle now. Finally, a little bit of manly charisma!”
Luo Fei’s forehead creased with black lines. So the implication was… he’d had absolutely zero manly charisma before?!
Iman helpfully clarified, “Before, you were just a little boy. Now, you actually look a bit like a man.”
Luo Fei: “……”
Anyway, the assessment was technically positive… right?
Arguing with Iman in front of Mo Han wasn’t an option. Luo Fei simply accepted it with practiced grace, a slight smile curving his lips. “Thanks for the compliment.”
Iman was floored. Previously, Luo Fei would have immediately fired back a retort. What was with this unbelievably good temper today?
Mo Han didn’t want this encounter to drag on. A faint awkwardness pricked at him. He shifted his gaze away. “You should continue waiting for your friend. We won’t disturb you. We’ll head upstairs.”
Frank, having witnessed this entire exchange, was utterly lost. Who was this guy? What was going on?
Arriving at the booked Private Room 4 on the second floor, Mo Han finally offered a brief explanation. “He’s a friend Iman and I previously knew. I didn’t expect him to change this much after a month at the Academy.”
Frank’s face cleared in understanding. “Ah, an old friend! Should we invite him to join us for dinner?”
Mo Han instantly shook his head. “No need. Didn’t he say he’s meeting his own friend?”
Iman agreed, “Yeah, he’s probably dining with a classmate. We’ll just eat amongst ourselves.” He glanced at the time. “How is Mr. F still not here?”
The clock struck 6:00 PM sharp.
And then, the door to the private room was pushed open.
The uniformed Luo Fei, the same man they’d just seen in the lobby, strode in with calm confidence. A smile played on his lips. “Private Room 4, right? Hello everyone. I’m your teammate, Mr. F.”
Frank: “???”
Iman: “??????”
Mo Han: “………………………………”
Their collective mental state at this moment could only be expressed through punctuation.
Meeting Luo Fei’s smiling eyes, even the always-sharp Mo Han felt his brain short-circuit, a complete system crash of utter bewilderment.
Mr. F?! The system-faced teammate who’d dominated the game… was LUO FEI?!
A sudden, profound wave of regret washed over Mo Han.
If he’d known this… WHY in the world had he ever suggested meeting up?!
