The news of Wells Sub-Fleet's complete annihilation spread through the three major star domains under Blue Star Federation's control within forty-eight hours, traveling at faster-than-light communication speeds.
The military internal network was the first to erupt. A battle report titled "Elvira Star System Major Victory," issued by the Wanshi Star Sector Theater Command, was pinned to the front page of all military communication channels. The report concisely yet powerfully described the entire campaign, highlighting several key moments: Pluto Fleet defeating the larger Dragon Lizard Fleet against overwhelming odds, coordinating with Uranus Fleet to defend the Seventh Jump Point, and precisely decapitating five Imperial Fleet flagships while completely blinded.
But what truly ignited public opinion was the edited battlefield footage attached to the report. The images came from external sensor records of the Iron Fist Sub-Fleet's Indomitable. Despite the distance and interference from cosmic dust, twenty-four main cannon beams could be clearly seen suddenly piercing through the darkness of space like twenty-four Swords of Judgment, converging precisely on the Imperial flagship "Imperial Glory."
The slow-motion sequence followed: the battleship's shields overloading, armor vaporizing, hull being sequentially penetrated, and finally the reactor reaching critical mass and exploding into a blazing white sphere...
This forty-three-second footage was set to stirring symphonic music and passionate narration by the Federation News Agency, produced as a propaganda film titled "Starlight Blade: Complete Record of the Elvira Major Victory," and distributed across all civilian media platforms.
Overnight, Qin Bei Wang's name transformed from an ordinary Lieutenant Commander in military files to a Federation-wide household name - the "young hero."
In an upscale apartment on Capital Star "New Chang'an," Zhou Mingde, Department Head of Starsea Academy's Captain Command Department, was speaking enthusiastically to holographic interview cameras from three media outlets.
"...I always knew that boy Bei Wang was extraordinary! His academic results? Superficial! He was hiding his brilliance! I observed him many times during tactical simulation classes - while others buried themselves in calculations, he would stare at the star chart for ten minutes first, then suddenly propose solutions no one else had considered. I told other professors back then that this boy possessed [battlefield intuition], a talent no textbook can teach!"
During an interview break, Department Head Zhou took a sip of tea and whispered to his wife beside him, "Quick, bring me the photo album from the third shelf on the left in my study... yes, the one with graduation photos. I need to show them what Bei Wang looked like back then."
Ten minutes later, viewers across the entire solar system saw Qin Bei Wang's graduation photo at twenty-two years old. The young man in the picture wore crisp cadet uniform, his handsome features complemented by clear eyes and a faint, almost imperceptible smile at the corners of his mouth. The caption below read: Qin Bei Wang, Federation Starsea Academy Captain Command Department 214th Graduating Class, Captain Command major.
"Look! What a fine young man!" Department Head Zhou pointed at the photo, his voice filled with pride. "I said back then that this child would achieve great things! And indeed he has!"
Meanwhile, in another part of the city, Qin Bei Wang's high school homeroom teacher, Teacher Li, was surrounded by reporters in his living room.
"...Bei Wang was always special from a young age."
Teacher Li adjusted his glasses, trying to recall details from over a decade ago.
"His science grades were actually excellent, especially in physics and mathematics. He often solved problems even teachers found difficult.
But he disliked following conventional methods, always wanting to use his own approach... Oh, and he could draw too!
Once in art class, he drew a star chart with perfectly scaled proportions between the Galaxy Starfield and neighboring star domains.
I joked at the time that this child would make a good stellar navigator someday..."
This interview was edited into a two-minute short video that went viral across social media.
The hashtag #YoungHeroGrowthStory
surpassed 65 billion views within twenty-four hours.
The comments section was filled with mixed voices.
"Oh my god, his graduation photo is so handsome!
He totally has the face of a stellar novel male lead!"
"So the academic genius was actually pretending? That's so cool!"
"I just want to know if he has a girlfriend now..."
"Stop daydreaming, upstairs commenter. He's a Federation hero now, fighting on the front lines."
"I don't care! I'll wait for his triumphant return! I'll go welcome him at the starport!"
Amid all this noise, an inconspicuous entertainment piece aired on a certain entertainment channel.
A high-end menswear brand announced it would launch a "Star War Series" fashion line inspired by Qin Bei Wang's military uniform style.
In the promotional video, models wore form-fitting dark blue uniforms, their epaulettes gleaming with silver lines under the spotlight.
Even more remarkably, three days later, the Federation Postal Service Headquarters announced the issuance of "Elvira Major Victory Commemorative Stamps."
The stamp design featured that very graduation photo, set against the backdrop of twenty-four converging main cannon beams from the battle.
The initial issuance of fifty million sets sold out within six hours.
A "deification campaign," guided by officials, propelled by media, and participated in by the entire population, swept through the long-peaceful Federation society at an unprecedented pace.
Galaxy Star Domain First Fleet Command, Marshal's office.
Qin Qianfan sat behind the expansive desk, three different virtual newspapers spread open before him.
The front-page headlines all featured the same name and photograph.
Federation Starlight News' headline read: "Twenty-Two-Year-Old Military Star: Lieutenant Commander Qin Bei Wang's Legendary First Battle."
Military Observer's headline was more direct: "Marshal Qin Qianfan's Son Makes Name in Single Battle, Empire Sub-fleet Annihilated."
Capital Star Daily News took a sentimental approach: "From 'Bottom Student' to 'Young Hero': Qin Bei Wang's Comeback Path."
The office door opened with a soft knock.
Adjutant Major General Lin entered, holding a freshly printed online public opinion analysis report.
Noticing the newspapers on Qin Qianfan's desk, he paused mid-step.
"Marshal!"
Major General Lin said quietly.
"Should we have the News Agency... control the publicity?
Some reports are becoming excessively sensationalized.
This might create unfavorable conditions for Lieutenant Colonel Qin at the front line."
Qin Qianfan didn't respond immediately.
His gaze remained fixed on his son's graduation photo in the newspaper, his fingers unconsciously tracing the edge of the picture.
After a long silence, he finally spoke, his voice calm.
"No need."
"But..."
"He knows what he's doing."
Qin Qianfan interrupted his adjutant and raised his eyes.
"If he can't even withstand this level of public opinion pressure, he doesn't deserve to stand in that position."
Major General Lin fell silent.
Qin Qianfan stood up and walked to the observation window in his office.
Outside the window was the night sky of the Capital Star. The artificial sky dome simulated the star chart of the Galaxy Starfield, with countless points of light quietly twinkling.
"Print out those reports!"
He said with his back to the adjutant.
"Bind them properly and place them in the archive room... Cabinet B-47, third shelf."
That was the cabinet where family mementos were stored.
Inside, there was already a thick stack.
Photos of his late wife, his children's report cards and awards from childhood to adulthood, and the last family vacation photo they had taken together.