“Mmh.” Yao Si nodded, agreeing.

Competitions among academies weren’t always about the outcome, but the development of the students. It was of the highest priority.

Yao Si turned toward the others, and saw that they didn’t seem against the idea. “Then you can go ahead with this.” But just as she was about to head back home, she realized that no one else were moving. “What’s wrong? Is there anything else?”

“Your Highness…” Sister Luo Ying said. “We haven’t decided on the award for this competition.”

“Award?” Yao Si paused. “Isn’t there a precedence we can follow?”

“This is the first ever robot competition.”

“…”  Er, this is tricky . How could she have any idea on what award was good? A trophy, a medal, or prize money?

“It is to motivate the students. So according to the academy’s tradition, the president is responsible for preparing the award which should be special and memorable.” Sister Luo Ying glanced at Yao Si with anticipation. “There isn’t any restrictions on the object; it would be given together with the prize money.”

I have to personally decide on an award? What a wasteful tradition!

“President, anything is fine. It doesn’t have to be anything valuable since the prize money is always generous,” a department head added.

“Anything is fine?”

“Yes, I’m sure anything you prepare will be well received.” Everyone looked at her with anticipation, clearly in fan mode. Their gazes were burning with sincerity.

Yao Si lips twitched. “Haha… Are you guys expecting Mu Xuan’s signature?”

“…”

Silence fell over the crowd for a moment, but just as Yao Si was about to change her mind…

All the department heads came rushing over to her .

“President, can I participate too? Those with inside news should be able too!” After she showed the way, others came flooding in as well.

“President! Is it too late for me to transfer to the mechanics department?”

“Me too, President! I’m originally from the mechanics department.”

“President, can we exchange the prize money for two signatures instead?”

“…”

You crazy fans, enough! 

–

The robot competition details were finalized just like that. The student committee gave an unusually enthusiastic response toward a competition held by another academy. The news about Mu Xuan’s autograph being set as an award spread like wildfire once the meeting ended.

The entire academy went into a frenzy!

A sudden wave robots swept through the academy with almost everyone selecting the robotics field as their optional course. For the very first time, the robotics office wasn’t able to keep up with the influx of interested students. No slots were available after a few days.

Moreover, it wasn’t just the First Academy which was plagued by such a phenomenon, for the news went viral throughout the entire galactic web. After that… the entire Galaxy was filled with students trying to squeeze their way into the First Academy.

Countless people applied for the robot competition, increasing the qualifying matches from the original one to ten rounds. After all, almost 95% of the students had chosen to participate.

There was also a huge wave of orders on the galactic web’s black market, offering to purchase the competition prize at any price!

In a blink of an eye, an original friendly competition between academies became an affair that was closely followed by the entire Galaxy. The common greeting among people morphed into: Have you heard about the robot competition by the First Academy?

The First Academy’s name was sent to another level. They were more like the organizing committee than just a participant and had cast the actual organizer Zhuo Feng Academy aside.

A prayer for Zhuo Feng Academy!

Yao Si had never expected that a casual statement could cause such a series of events, but was it bad? She didn’t really care much about the prize.

Isn’t it just an autograph? Was this due to her dad’s fame or hers?

But she was really intrigued by the robot competition after coming across the wide range of robots during the fight with the caterpillar beast. Even though the attack power of robots was not comparable to that of abilities, they offered more protection than blood and flesh.

Besides, they were new technology!

“Your Highness, do you want to see the fields available for the optional course?” Luo Ying asked curiously when she sat down beside her.

“Alright.” Yao Si agreed casually.

They were allowed to choose other fields in the high school branch. There wasn’t a restriction to the number of courses and the length of the school term, so students were free to learn as much as they desired. However, once the decision was finalized, they would have to pass the final year examination to qualify for the graduation.

With a high-level mentor Mu Xuan and the bloodling training programme, there wasn’t a need for Yao Si to hone her abilities through the academy. Hence, she could only opt for something else.

“Such diligence is as expected of Her Highness,” Luo Ying remarked with a proud expression.

“I intend to choose three courses, but have only decided on one since there are so many choices. Do you have any suggestions?” Yao Si asked in a conversational manner.

Luo Ying blushed and her eyes sparkled. “Your Highness, the music department seems like a good choice. With your talent, you would definitely attain galaxywide fame as a singer. There’s also the art department. Your Highness, you look like an extremely artistic person. You can choose to specialise in drawing, directing movies, or design. These are all great courses for women. It’s all good as long as it isn’t something like the manly mechanics department. Oh right, Your Highness, what’s the course you picked?”

“Er… Robot Operating”

Sister Luo Ying froze slightly before saying with a serious face, “Your Highness, this… is a really great decision! As expected of Her Highness to have such ambition even in the robotics field.”

“…” What an awkward attempt at diverting the topic! 

“I’ll pick robot operating as well then.” Luo Ying happily tapped open the course application and selected the option she had just mentioned.

Could she be any more obvious? Wasn’t girls supposed to do something more feminine?

“Oh right, why did you look for me?” Yao Si asked. Luo Ying should have been having lessons around that time.

“Oh, it isn’t anything important.” She waved her hand dismissively. “Helping you choose your course is of greater importance.”

She continued to describe the other courses in the academy. The First Academy differed from the technical specialization schools in Blue Planet in that there was an extensive range that covered all the subjects in the Galaxy. The high level of technology was probably the reason why teachers weren’t necessary for lessons; everything was taught with the use of technology. Hence, the First Academy offered everything, be it medicine, art, technology, robotics, etc.

Based on recommendations, Yao Si chose cultural history and biological geography which would aid her in understanding the Galaxy. She clicked the two options and turned to glance at Luo Ying.

On a closer inspection, she realized the girl was typing in a chat group with several familiar figures. At the very top of the chat was a red row of words.

[Luo Ying: Attention! Her Highness has already picked mechanics, cultural history, and biological geography so those who wish to admire her from a close proximity, hurry! There’s no time to waste!]

“You-your Highness!” Luo Ying flushed a deep shade of red upon noticing Yao Si’ gaze. She explained uneasily, “These… these are bloodlings from the academy. They wish to enroll in the same courses as Your Highness, but they didn’t dare to ask you. Since we are somewhat closer…”

“…” You are part of the crazy fan club! 

“Your Highness, don’t worry, only a small group of bloodlings will know about it. I won’t sell your information to anyone else!”

Yao Si lips twitched. “Sell?” You sell information as well…

“Er…” Luo Ying froze, her face flushing a deeper shade of red as she stuttered, “You-your Highness…”

“Forget it, but make this the last time.” Yao Si sighed. In the end, it wasn’t like it was some sort of secret. “I’ll head home now.” She glanced at the time on the optical computer and saw that it was almost time for lunch.

“Yes, Your Highness, take care.” Luo Ying perked up instantly, bolting upright.

Just as they were about to reach the door, the young woman suddenly thought of a question. “Oh, Your Highness, may I know when my dad is coming back from the trip he took with you?”

“Your dad?” Who is he?

“Gu Shucheng.”

“…”

F*ck! Yao Si finally realized what had slipped her mind: She had totally forgotten all about Nephew Gu and the others on planet Shadow!