Following that, everyone began discussing other rewards for Qin Bei Wang.
After several days of intense debate, they finally reached a conclusion.
Soon, an encrypted directive was issued from the Supreme Command.
It traversed the void across countless light-years, reaching every corner of the Federal Navy.
Every warship.
Every base.
Every frontline outpost.
On the screens, lines of golden text simultaneously appeared.
[Army-Wide Announcement]
[Approved upon deliberation by the Federal Supreme Command.]
[Senior Colonel Qin Bei Wang, Commander of the Pluto Fleet, is hereby promoted to the military rank of Vice Admiral.]
[Vice Admiral Qin Bei Wang is appointed as Commander of the Pluto Fleet. The fleet's classification is elevated to Duke-class Fleet, with its organization expanded to four Sub-Duke-class Fleets.]
[Vice Admiral Qin Bei Wang is awarded the Stellar Medal.]
[This is in recognition of his outstanding achievements during the Battle of the Bushman System, where he led his forces deep into the enemy rear, destroyed the Empire Star Gate, annihilated the Empire's four Joint Fleets—Abaddon, Marbas, Ares, and Erebus—along with five other fleets including the Blood Locusts, accumulating over 87,000 enemy warships sunk.]
[This order is hereby issued to the entire army as an award of commendation.]
The moment the news spread.
The entire Federal Navy fell silent.
Then erupted.
Lingxiao Star Sector, Bridge of the Lone Crane Fleet Flagship Xianhe.
Commander Sikong Jian stood before the Command Console, staring motionlessly at the line of golden text on the screen.
His eyes were wide open.
His mouth slightly agape.
It took several seconds for him to find his voice.
"Holy cow…"
His voice was hoarse, trembling with disbelief.
"He's just a carrier fleet commander…"
He paused, extending a finger to count the numbers one by one.
"Eighty… thousand… plus… ships…"
He finished counting.
Then he leaned back in his chair, breathing heavily.
"A Sequence Fleet only has a little over a hundred thousand warships."
He continued.
"With just a mother-class fleet, he took out nearly an entire Sequence Fleet."
Sikong Jian shook his head.
"That kid…"
"He's a real monster."
Baiyue Star Sector, Supply Warehouse of the Thunderfire Fleet Battleship Thunderfire.
Inside the cramped warehouse, the lighting was dim.
A young sergeant sat atop a pile of supply crates, holding a data pad.
The data pad displayed the army-wide announcement.
He stared at the line.
[Vice Admiral Qin Bei Wang is awarded the Stellar Medal]
He remained silent for a long time.
Then he murmured.
"Both twenty-two years old…"
"He's already a Vice Admiral with a Stellar Medal…"
He lowered his head, glancing at the military rank insignia on his right shoulder.
Two V-shaped chevrons.
Sergeant.
He smiled bitterly.
"And I'm just a lowly warehouse supervisor."
Beside him, another young soldier leaned over.
"What's wrong, Supervisor?"
The sergeant handed him the data pad.
"See for yourself."
After reading it, the soldier also fell silent.
A few seconds later, he sighed.
"Comparing people really makes you feel worthless."
Then he added self-mockingly.
"Probably won't make it to commodore even after a few centuries, huh?"
The sergeant nodded.
"Me neither."
The two exchanged a glance.
Then they both laughed.
In their laughter, there was envy, reflection, and a touch of shared pride.
After all, he was their Federation's hero.
Menglan Star Sector, a frontline base, soldiers' lounge.
A dozen soldiers sat together, staring at the massive screen on the wall.
On the screen, the all-forces announcement was playing on repeat.
An old soldier finished watching, leaned back in his chair, and let out a long sigh.
"Over 80,000 ships..."
He shook his head.
"I've fought for twenty years, and all the enemy ships I've seen combined don't add up to that many."
A new recruit beside him had shining eyes.
"Sir, that Qin Bei Wang... is he really only twenty-two?"
The old soldier nodded.
"It's written in the announcement, how could it be false?"
The new recruit took a deep breath.
"Twenty-two... Vice Admiral... Stellar Medal..."
He murmured.
"That's just too incredible..."
The old soldier smiled.
"Incredible?"
"The word 'incredible' isn't enough to describe him anymore."
His gaze fell on the screen.
"Our Federation's hero..."
"With just a casual move, he can make 80,000 Imperial warships vanish into thin air."
That announcement was like a stone thrown into a calm lake, stirring ripples in every corner of the Federal Navy.
And at the center of those ripples was a young man hurrying home.
He didn't know.
At this moment, the entire Federal Navy was talking about his name.
All were marveling at his achievements.
Not long after, when the Pluto Fleet received this announcement, the entire fleet erupted.
On the bridge of the Kunlun Mountain - Modified, everyone stopped their work.
They stared motionlessly at the line of golden text on the screen.
Then.
"Vice Admiral!!"
Someone was the first to shout out.
The voice exploded across the bridge, filled with irrepressible excitement.
"Our Commander has become a Vice Admiral!!"
Immediately after.
More voices joined in.
"A twenty-two-year-old Vice Admiral!!"
"The youngest Vice Admiral in Federation history!!"
"And the Stellar Medal!!"
"Four Duke-class Fleets! We're a Duke-class Fleet now!!"
Cheers rose one after another, loud enough to hurt the eardrums.
Zhuang Zhixuan stood there, watching this scene, unable to suppress the smile at the corner of her mouth.
She suddenly remembered the scene before their departure.
Back then, they had just received that near-suicidal mission.
The atmosphere on the bridge was so oppressive it was suffocating.
It was Qin Bei Wang who stood before the command console and said those words.
She closed her eyes.
That voice seemed to still echo in her ears.
"A twenty-two-year-old Senior Colonel, I'm already tired of it."
"What I want to hear..."
"Is 'twenty-two-year-old Marshal.'"
Qi Xiangbei leaned in beside her, also looking at the screen, murmuring.
"Vice Admiral..."
He paused, then continued.
"Two ranks away from Marshal."
Zhuang Zhixuan nodded.
"Just two ranks."
Her tone carried an indescribable certainty.
"He'll definitely get there."
Qi Xiangbei glanced at her and also smiled.
"I think so too."
The two exchanged a look.
Then simultaneously turned their gaze toward the figure standing before the viewport.
Qin Bei Wang.
He stood there quietly, his back to everyone.
Outside the viewport, the starry sky slowly receded.
The cheers on the bridge continued.
Zhuang Zhixuan took a deep breath.
She walked up behind Qin Bei Wang and stopped.
Her voice rang out, filled with heartfelt joy.
"Commander, this is wonderful!"
"Congratulations on becoming a Vice Admiral!"
Qin Bei Wang did not turn around.
But Zhuang Zhixuan noticed that his shoulders trembled slightly.
Qi Xiangbei also walked over and stood on the other side.
He straightened his uniform, then stood at attention.
His voice was exceptionally loud.
"Congratulations, Commander, on your promotion to Vice Admiral and command of the Duke-class Fleet!"
The cheers on the bridge gradually subsided.
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