Chapter 33 – The Simulation & The Sound of Popping Pride
The Ship Piloting Simulation Hall was deadly serious.
No jokes.
No noise.
Only future commanders of Blue Star.
Massive holographic galaxies rotated above the training pods.
Military instructors stood with arms behind their backs like statues carved from discipline.
Lin Yan stepped in quietly.
Star whispered internally:
"These people look like they eat stress for breakfast."
"Stop talking," Lin Yan muttered internally. "This place feels expensive."
Chin
In the back row sat a boy with thick glasses and a mountain of books beside him.
Messy hair.
Uniform perfectly clean.
Posture straight.
His name was Chin Luo.
Everyone in Blue Star's upper circles knew his family.
Military bloodline.
Generals. Admirals. Fleet Commanders.
But here?
He was just the quiet rich kid.
And unfortunately—
Four students surrounded him.
"Hey, Bookworm."
"Reading about ships doesn't mean you can fly one."
"Maybe your daddy can fly it for you."
Chin didn't reply.
He adjusted his glasses.
Stayed silent.
That silence made them bolder.
One of them grabbed his collar.
"Say something."
Lin Yan stopped walking.
Star spoke softly:
"Your heart rate increased."
"Yeah."
"Are we intervening?"
Lin Yan exhaled slowly.
"…Yeah."
The First Pop
Lin Yan walked over casually.
"Excuse me."
The bullies turned.
One smirked. "What do you want, scholarship boy?"
Lin Yan looked at Chin's collar being held.
"Let him go."
They laughed.
"And if we don't?"
Lin Yan smiled.
Calm. Not loud. Not dramatic.
Just calm.
"Then I'll embarrass you."
They lunged.
Big mistake.
The first bully threw a punch.
Lin Yan tilted his head slightly.
The punch missed.
Lin Yan lightly tapped the guy's wrist.
Pop.
Not bone breaking.
Not dramatic.
Just a sharp pressure release.
The bully dropped to his knees, arm numb.
"What—what did you do?!"
Star whispered:
"Applied minimal kinetic shock through joint compression.
Efficient."
Lin Yan didn't reply.
The Second Pop
Another bully tried to tackle him.
Lin Yan stepped aside.
Placed two fingers on the guy's shoulder.
Pop.
The sound echoed.
The guy froze mid-charge like his body forgot how to function.
He collapsed.
Temporary nerve disruption.
Clean.
Precise.
Not flashy.
The room went silent.
The Third
The third bully hesitated.
"…What are you?"
Lin Yan shrugged.
"Good at school."
The third charged in fear.
Lin Yan moved forward this time.
A light palm to the chest.
Pop.
The air compressed.
The bully flew backward into a simulator pod.
The pod cracked.
Not shattered.
Just cracked.
Instructor eyes snapped toward the scene.
Star calmly added:
"We may have slightly exceeded 'low profile.'"
"…You think?"
The Fourth One
The last bully didn't attack.
He stepped back.
"I—I didn't touch him."
Lin Yan looked at him for two seconds.
Long enough.
The bully ran.
Aftermath
Chin was still standing there.
Glasses slightly crooked.
Eyes wide.
"…You didn't break them."
Lin Yan adjusted his bag.
"No need."
Star added internally:
"Breaking people causes paperwork."
Lin Yan almost laughed.
Chin stared at him.
"…Why?"
There it was.
Not fear.
Suspicion.
Lin Yan understood instantly.
People didn't help Chin for free.
They wanted money.
Connections.
Favors.
Lin Yan scratched his head awkwardly.
"I just don't like noise."
Chin blinked.
"…Noise?"
"They were noisy."
That was it.
No heroic speech.
No dramatic line.
Just that.
Chin studied him for a long moment.
"…You're strange."
"Yeah."
"…Thank you."
"Don't mention it."
Star whispered:
"Friendship probability rising."
Lin Yan ignored it.
But for the first time—
Chin walked beside him.
Not behind.
Not ahead.
Beside.
Simulation Begins
The instructor's voice thundered across the hall.
"All students. Enter pods. Today — basic combat navigation."
Lin Yan slid into his simulation seat.
Screens activated.
Star's voice sharpened.
"Finally. Something worthy."
"Behave."
"Define behave."
"Don't hack the system."
"…Understood."
Two seconds later—
"I will only optimize it slightly."
Lin Yan sighed.
This was going to be interesting.