Chapter 391: Highest Standard

Chapter 391: Chapter 391: Highest Standard

"Who is that guy?"

"No idea. He must have some serious connections."

"We didn’t say anything to offend him just now, did we?"

"I don’t think so."

...

At that moment, Long Ming was following Minister Faiken deeper inside.

Along the way, they saw non-commissioned officers in military uniforms, as well as many people there on business.

When they saw Faiken escorting Long Ming, expressions of surprise appeared on their faces.

"Who’s that person?"

"I don’t know. He’s actually wearing gear inside a Military Department office, and a minister is personally escorting him."

...

Soon, they entered the building and arrived at the first-floor lobby.

The entire lobby was very spacious and bustling.

On the left side of the lobby were service windows, with many people lining up to handle their affairs. At the very back was the recruitment office. The line of people wanting to enlist stretched from inside all the way to the main entrance, numbering at least several thousand.

And these were just the ones who had appointments and had already passed the initial screening.

Long Ming looked with some curiosity at the long, snaking line before him.

"These are all people here to enlist, hoping to join one of the more prestigious legions. Of course, you’re different from them. You don’t have to go through all this trouble. We’ll go straight to the person in charge, Bai Zhan."

Faiken explained to Long Ming with a smile.

"Mm."

Long Ming responded taciturnly.

Faiken then led Long Ming straight inside.

The people waiting in line saw Long Ming and Faiken walk right past them and began to mutter amongst themselves.

"Damn, another line-cutter!"

"Are you blind? Didn’t you see the colonel next to him?"

"Sigh, it’s good to have connections."

"Alright, stop being so jealous."

...

Just then, a non-commissioned officer from the Third Legion froze upon seeing Long Ming, then immediately turned and ran.

「Recruitment Office - Inner Office」

A middle-aged man in a major’s uniform, with a strong build and a scar on his forehead, sat at a desk.

At that moment, a man with an extraordinary air, dressed in a custom-tailored suit and wearing glasses, was leading a twenty-year-old youth with an arrogant expression. He handed over an inconspicuous gift box and said with a smile,

"Lord Bai Zhan, this is my good-for-nothing son. He’s always wanted to join the army. Could you perhaps help him out?"

Bai Zhan took the gift box, opened it for a look, and a faint smile broke through his previously expressionless face. He said to Haven,

"Say no more. As long as he’s qualified in all aspects, I’ll get him into the Twenty-Fourth Legion. The logistics section, at that."

"Couldn’t he be placed a little further forward?"

Hearing Bai Zhan’s words, Haven immediately took out another box and pushed it over.

Bai Zhan accepted the box and glanced inside, then put on a troubled expression.

"Alright, then. The Nineteenth Legion. That’s as far forward as I can go. You know as well as I do that the more prestigious legions are harder to get into, and it’s not like I can just stuff him into a cannon fodder regiment."

"Yes, of course. Thank you for your trouble, Lord Bai Zhan."

Haven, knowing when to quit while he was ahead, didn’t push his luck.

CREAK~

The office door was suddenly pushed open without any warning, not even a knock.

Bai Zhan’s face immediately darkened. He snapped irritably,

"Who is it? Don’t you know how to knock?"

Just then, Faiken walked in with Long Ming.

When Bai Zhan saw Faiken, a flustered look appeared on his face. He quickly shoved the gift boxes on his desk into a drawer and stood up to greet him.

"Minister! What brings you here in person?"

Faiken turned his head to look at Haven and his son but didn’t say a word.

"You two, get out."

Bai Zhan immediately said to Haven and the others.

"Yes, sir!"

Haven and his son quickly left, closing the door behind them.

"I’m here to process Mr. Red Ghost’s enlistment."

Faiken said to Bai Zhan.

"Oh, for a small matter like this, you could have just called! I would have handled it perfectly for you."

"Cut the crap and get it done."

"Alright. Which legion is he joining?"

Bai Zhan asked with a grin.

"The Second Legion."

Faiken told Bai Zhan.

"No problem!"

Bai Zhan immediately took out a key, unlocked a safe, and pulled out the registration forms for the Second Legion.

"Process his enlistment at the rank of Second Lieutenant."

Faiken added.

"Huh? Minister, I can’t do that! Second Lieutenant is the highest possible rank for direct enlistment. It can only be granted by a council resolution or a supreme command from the Military Department."

Hearing Faiken’s words, Bai Zhan froze on the spot. The forms in his hand fell to the floor as he stammered in astonishment.

The Star Alliance’s control over military ranks and merits was exceptionally strict.

All new recruits had to start from the bottom as common soldiers.

Only when a new civilization was integrated would the council issue an administrative order granting assimilated personnel a certain military rank, and even then, the upper limit was Second Lieutenant.

As for the Military Department, although it had the authority to grant ranks to new recruits, the procedures and costs were extremely high.

Furthermore, the Star Alliance’s promotion and military merit system was also unique.

While their merit reports were approved by a special review department, those reviewers only had the authority for preliminary checks and organization. The final audit was submitted to the military merit system of Civilization Paradise.

Therefore, falsifying reports or making fraudulent claims was virtually impossible.

Of course, there were special tricks. For example, if a battle generated 100 merit points, any report claiming more than 100 points would be rejected by Civilization Paradise’s system. However, it was possible to award 90 of those 100 points to one person and divide the remaining 10 points among ten others.

Long Ming was also surprised to hear this. ’They’re making me an officer?’

"I told you to do it, so just do it. Stop wasting my time with questions. The administrative order from the Military Department will be down shortly. You don’t need to worry about it!"

Faiken said to Bai Zhan.

"Alright. Please fill out the basic information form first."

Bai Zhan was utterly shocked by Faiken’s words.

’Who the hell is this guy? Starting as a high-ranking officer? And in the Second Legion, no less. His future is limitless!’

"Mm."

Long Ming took the form and began to fill it out.

However, he didn’t write much. He only filled in his name: Red Ghost; gender: Male; and residency: Mountain City Mountain Civilization. Everything else was left blank.

If anyone else had filled it out like this, it would have surely been rejected.

But Bai Zhan just chuckled and praised him.

"Mr. Red Ghost, you have such fine handwriting."

"Alright, hurry up and enter it into the files and the system."

Faiken kept urging Bai Zhan to move faster.

"Okay, first I’ll link you to the system and bind the Military Department’s program. Please place your bracelet near this device."

Bai Zhan said to Long Ming with a grin.

Long Ming placed his bracelet against a device on the desk.

BEEP! BEEP!

The Star Alliance Military Department system instantly popped up on his bracelet, and he was then added to the Second Legion’s officer group chat.

Bai Zhan then began to input Long Ming’s information, fetch his military uniform, create his officer credentials...

「A little over an hour later.」

All the procedures were complete.

Bai Zhan said with a cheerful smile.

"All done."

"Mr. Red Ghost, we can go now!"

Faiken said to Long Ming with a smile.

"Alright!"

Long Ming immediately headed for the door.

Just then, Bai Zhan quickly pulled out a box of fine tea and handed it to Faiken.

"Minister, this is just a small token of my appreciation."

"Mm. Keep up the good work."

Faiken accepted it and then turned to leave.