Translator: Henyee Translations  Editor: Henyee Translations

At that moment, a battle team from the staff officer department was waiting in the plaza. Everyone in the area were curious about their actions but didn't dare to bother them. The Senior Captain leading the battle team suddenly walked towards Ling Lan's group of six. He walked in front of Ling Lan and saluted her, “h.e.l.lo, are you Major Ling Lan?”

Ling Lan was dumbstruck. She was a Senior Captain a moment ago, so when did she become a Major? She saluted back with many unanswered questions in her head, “h.e.l.lo, I am Ling Lan and you are?”

“I am the team leader of one of the battle teams guarding the staff officer department, Senior Captain Yue Lin. I came here specifically to welcome you, Major.” Although Senior Captain Yue Lin's tone was respectful, his eyes still showed a hint of surprise and confusion. Although he had seen the pictures of Ling Lan's group of six, he was still very surprised at the young-looking faces of the actual person.

After hearing all that, Li Lanfeng and the others, who were standing beside Ling Lan were all moved. If the division's General was considered to be the brains of the division, then the staff officer department would be the center of command for the entire division. The orders and decisions of the General would go through them and then be sent out to every corner of the division.

It could be said that the staff officer department was the most important department of a division. The thousand year war G.o.d, Marshal Luo Yasen, who had never lost a battle, had once said that in order to defeat a division, they would need to do was to take out the staff officer department. From this, it can be seen how important the staff officer department was within a division.

Who knew that such an incredible department would actually send people down to welcome them. Ling Lan and the others instantly felt they were being pampered. They didn't stop for a second, sat in the hover car Yue Lin had prepared and flew towards the staff officer department.

As they left the plaza, the veterans, who stood by watching silently, suddenly erupted into discussions.

“The staff officer department actually sent someone to pick them up. Who are those new recruits?”

“That new recruit is already a Major. How can us veterans, who are still with a captain-rank, live in this division in the future?” Some veterans couldn't help but to be green envy…

“Do you guys think those new recruits are going there because something happened at the staff officer department?” Even veterans had exuberant curiosity.

“Who knows. How are we supposed to know what happens at the staff officer department?” The heart of the 23rd Division's control and order was a mysterious and heavily guarded place that people looked up towards. Common soldiers were prohibited from getting close to the staff officer department.

It was also the place that determined officer rankings and promotions. Thus, one should never mess with an officer from the staff officer department. Otherwise, that individual shouldn't even think of getting any promotions. Even if the individual had a chance to, the department would make it impossible.

Of course, if an individual had connections within the staff officer department, then congratulations. As long as the individual did not make any major mistakes, the individuals would easily climb to the position the individual is capable of.

The staff officer department in each division was a force to be reckoned with! This was also another reason why these veterans were surprised when the staff officer department sent people to welcome those new recruits. It should be known that, normally, those guards from the staff officer department would never behave like they had today. Not using their nostrils to look at an individual was considered to be in a good mood.

At that moment, the information about Ling Lan acquiring two Caesar ace mechas was still under wraps. Even those who Ling Xiao had contacted were making moves surrept.i.tiously. In the 23rd Division, other than those who knew about the incident, other officers did not know about this information.

Even though these veterans weren't certain the reason why those youngsters were treated in such a way by the staff officer department, this scene still made those who witnessed it to remember it as clear as day. Not long after, the five divisions all publicly released the information. These veterans then finally understood the reason why those youngsters were receiving so much attention by the staff officer department. Those youngsters were the heroes who achieved greatness for the 23rd Division.

Inside the staff officer department, the Second Staff Officer Tong Zhiying was very busy. After looking at the piles of doc.u.ments on his desk, he couldn't help but rub his temples… Man, when He Xuyang was there, it didn't feel like he was important. Now that he left, why did he feel that he needed He Xuyang again?

The adjutant beside him quickly brought a cup of water and said, “Major General, please take a break.”

“No I can't. That b.a.s.t.a.r.d Big He just left and left all these gifts for me. The corps is still waiting for our reply.” Tong Zhiying drank the cup of water to help himself become more alert. Then he put down the cup and continued to read through the doc.u.ments he had on his desk.

The adjutant sighed and took away the cup. Ever since the First Staff Officer He Xuyang temporary left the staff officer department for an errand, Major General Tong would work until midnight. These were the leftover doc.u.ments that had already been thinned by the lower ranks… It wasn't easy being a high-ranking official.

After flipping through a few pages of the doc.u.ments, Tong Zhiying suddenly remembered something. He raised his head and asked, “Did that Major called Ling Lan arrive yet?”

The adjutant replied immediately, “He hasn't arrived yet, but the people downstairs have sent someone to welcome them. Don't worry, it won't affect anything.”

“That's good. Before Big Boss He left, he repeatedly told me to make sure this must be done correctly. I also want to see this Ling Lan and what he's capable of. He actually made Big Boss He care for him so much…”

Tong Zhiying frowned and continued, “I remember that this Ling Lan is still a new recruit, had only just pa.s.sed the training period and was distributed to a mecha clan. After less than a month, Big Boss He let him advance to a Major. He even ignored everyone else's criticism and wanted to appoint Ling Lan as the 250 Mecha Clan's Regiment Commander. Although 250 Mecha Clan was useless, it was still an official mecha clan. Once Ling Lan a.s.sume the position, he would become a clan level official. He would actually be able to enter the higher-ranks of the division and would have the power to command soldiers…”

“Big Boss He always does his work fairly, but now he looks after Ling Lan. If I didn't know Big Boss He personally, I would even suspect that Ling Lan was Big Boss He's illegitimate child…” After saying all this, Tong Zhiying began to laugh out loud. He couldn't help but think that because He Xuyang cared for Ling Lan way too much.

Tong Zhiying didn't know that although Ling Lan wasn't He Xuyang's illegitimate child, she still had a connection with the highest ranked division officer… Yes, Tong Zhiying had once thought about this, after all they both had the surname Ling right? However, Ling Xiao's image of being fair was deeply embedded in the hearts of the public. Additionally, there wasn't any confirmed reports that indicated General Ling Xiao had children. As for other descendants of the Ling family… Ling Xiao was already being merciful for not making it difficult for them. He wouldn't carefully nurture them right?

The ripple between Ling Xiao and the Ling family was a publicized secret within the 23rd Division.

This was also why Tong Zhiying didn't let his subordinates handle Ling Lan's promotion. Instead, he chose to do it personally. He indeed wanted to know what kind of person Ling Lan was, for Big Boss He to care for him so much.

At that moment, inside the staff officer department, all the staff members were busy. Inside the wide hall, there were staff members coming in and out of different rooms while holding large piles of doc.u.ments.

Although it was fully technological era where people relied upon the mainframe to arrange everything, the Federation had once seen how terrifying an out of control mainframe could be. Thus, the Federation still continued the habit from millennia ago to use paper doc.u.ments in order to record information. This was to make sure no issues would arise and was also the reason why the staff officer department had so many doc.u.ments flying around.

Every application, supply distribution doc.u.ment, promotion doc.u.ments, etc, were converted into paper form at the staff officer department. Then, these doc.u.ments would be signed by those who were responsible at those different fields of expertise. In the end, it would be converted back into an electronic form to send it to the lower ranks. The paper doc.u.ments would be kept in the data storage room in the staff officer department.

Thus, in the staff officer department, it would always be like a battlefield where everyone ran in every direction. Sometimes urgent doc.u.ments would cause people to run haphazardly. The staff officer department was the most disorderly place in the entire division. It was pure chaos as far as the eye could see.

Ling Lan's group of six followed Yue Lin into the staff officer department. Before they walked even a few steps in, a tightly closed set of doors suddenly opened up. A staff member held onto a pile of doc.u.ments and was running haphazardly. As luck would have it, he was going towards Ling Lan's group. The doc.u.ments in his hands were tall enough to block his view. Thus, made him unaware of Ling Lan and the others.

Right as he was going to b.u.mp into Ling Lan's group, the staff member suddenly panicked and shouted after he saw there were people in front of him, “Get out of the way! Out of the way!”

Yue Lin didn't think someone would rush out from the room. Right as they were about to b.u.mp into each other, Ling Lan suddenly pulled him away. Yue Lin felt his body move to the side uncontrollably. That staff member missed him by a hair.

The staff member, who didn't b.u.mp into anyone, didn't see Ling Lan's movements and thought the individual had moved aside. He saw that he didn't b.u.mp into anyone and was instantly relieved. He then said, “Brother, nice moves. Thank you.” In the next second, he sprinted towards the room he was heading towards.

Yue Lin glanced at Ling Lan with surprise in his eyes. The pull seemed to be simple on the surface, but was not as it seemed. The staff member came towards Yue Lin too suddenly. With his capabilities, Yue Lin wouldn't be able to dodge. Right as the two of them were about to b.u.mp into each other, Ling Lan easily helped him get out of the predicament. It seems that no matter from sight to reaction speed, Ling Lan was much better than him… Yue Lin thought about his Refinement stage physical skills and couldn't help but think that maybe Ling Lan had already reached Qi-Jin.

It had to be said that Ling Lan's age made everyone unable to connect her to the level of Domain. No matter if it was the Soul Society or Caesar, while they were looking for the Domain expert within the escort group for the princess, these two parties had instantly ruled out Ling Lan's group. They didn't even think that the Domain expert they were looking for was within Ling Lan's group.

Back then, Ling Lan secretly hid the fact that she had already advanced into Domain level to keep it as a trump card for herself. Now it seemed that it was indeed the correct choice. This made Ling Lan's age into her best protection. No one would suspect her group.

Yue Lin, who initially didn't really care for these newbies, now began to respect them. It was no wonder that he could become Majors at such a young age. Just from his physical skills, it was already many times higher than similar captain level officers such as Yue Lin's own captain.

Yue Lin didn't dare to be negligent anymore. He carefully led Ling Lan to an entrance of a room.

Yue Lin pressed down on a b.u.t.ton near the door and the door suddenly opened. What was seen was countless piles doc.u.ments and a person crawling on the floor as if he was looking for something.

Yue Lin immediately saluted the person on the ground and shouted, “Colonel Yu, Yue Lin at your service. Colonel Ling Lan has been brought here.”

Hearing that, the person quickly stood up and looked towards Ling Lan's group of six, who were standing behind Yue Lin, “You guys are finally here. The Second Staff Officer is waiting for you.”