Setting aside the childish bickering between the two main members of Team 18—the newly crowned champions—the organizing committee officially announced the winning team's name but chose to keep the identities of the two participants private.
The committee members had their own reasons for withholding the names. These two youths were only twenty years old, four or five years younger than the average age of the other contestants. They did not want these promising talents to be cut down mid-journey by the weight of sudden fame, causing the Federation to lose future military geniuses.
Before the saplings could grow into towering trees, it was up to these old-timers to shield them from the wind and rain. This was a gesture of protection from the elders, most of whom had retired from active duty to take up vice-positions at various academies, dedicating their remaining energy to nurturing the next generation.
In the previous timeline, during the same competition held on Planet Kanta, no students from Benen Military Academy had participated, and there had been no live star-net broadcast. However, faced with the exceptional performances of Ji Wei and Hill, the committee had harbored the same protective intentions.
Yet, their painstaking efforts had ultimately been thwarted by a research report Hill proactively released to "prove his innocence," exposing himself to the public eye. That report, titled "Mecha Energy Curvature Rotation Application," burst onto the scene and completely disrupted the committee’s arrangements. Simultaneously, it made the name "Hill" famous throughout the Federation.
This time, however, due to the slight flutter of a butterfly's wings, Hill didn't even have a name to show for himself in the Joint Competition.
In this iteration of the league, aside from the brilliant Feng Zhixi and Ji Yeran, others like Ji Wei, Benjamin, the Omega from the perennial third-place academy, and even some of the courageous solo combatants had their own highlights, showing the old guard the hope of the Federation's future.
But for Hill, this outcome completely derailed his plans.
In particular, the moment Hill exited the holographic simulation system, he received his first warning from the "System." His mission had failed. If there were a next time, it would not be a warning, but a punishment.
The System warned Hill that the maximum penalty was "Stripping." If the host failed the final mission or reached the punishment threshold, the System would automatically detach and depart. At that point, everything the host had gained from the System—all items and abilities—would vanish.
This was the first time the System, which usually maintained a weak presence, had revealed its predatory side since Hill had acquired it.
By now, Hill had already tasted the sweetness of the System's rewards and could no longer live without its help. Perhaps he had started out with the intention of using the System, but now, this useful tool had become the very foundation of his existence. He absolutely could not lose it!
The Omega, who was usually adept at calculating his moves while hiding behind an innocent and sweet exterior, made his first irrational decision under the weight of these repeated provocations.
He would directly publish his research results: "Mecha Energy Curvature Rotation Application."
This was a plan Hill had formulated the moment he received the reward from the System.
The Federation encouraged innovation and invention. Anyone with new research results could apply for a patent; the system was open to all citizens. However, under normal circumstances, patent applications were submitted tier by tier, starting from the planet and star system levels.
After all, in the vast Federation, inventions were as numerous as the stars, and geniuses were as common as crucian carp crossing a river. It was not uncommon for two people thousands of miles apart to publish similar research at nearly the same time.
Filing tier by tier was not the result Hill wanted. When he first received the System's reward, his ambition had immediately driven him to find a shortcut to the top.
To find that shortcut—to make his name known across the Federation in an instant and become the center of attention on the star-net—the only way was to send the research directly into the Federal Supreme Patent Database.
The Federal Supreme Patent Database archived the most elite research results in the entire Federation. Only results accepted there were qualified to be broadcasted to the public and have their names etched into the Federation's star-net history.
Sending the System's results into that database was the shortcut Hill had been looking for from the start.
However, applications for the Federal Supreme Patent Database were subject to a rigorous vetting system. An obscure nobody like Hill had no right to apply directly. Even someone like Feng Zhixi, the youngest Chief of the Lanli Research Institute, had yet to have a single achievement qualify for entry.
In his previous life, the twenty-year-old Feng Zhixi had intended to use the "Mecha Energy Curvature Rotation Application" report to apply for the Federal Supreme Patent. Unfortunately, someone had beaten him to it.
That person was Hill.
In the previous life, Feng Zhixi had been qualified to apply because he already possessed a vast number of high-quality research results and held the status of Chief at Lanli. Hill possessed none of these conditions, nor did he have the patience.
Under what circumstances could an obscure little intern be qualified to bypass the levels and submit research to the Federal Supreme Patent Database?
A high-profile event like the Joint Competition, which drew the eyes of the masses and was backed by a committee of heavyweights, was the perfect opportunity. Sometimes, public scrutiny could be a powerful catalyst.
In the previous timeline, that was exactly what Hill had done. He had deliberately pushed himself into the eye of the storm, then rode the wind straight to the clouds!
This time, he had employed the same perfect plan, only for it to fall through, resulting in a stern warning from the System. Such a blow caused the normally calculating Hill to make an impulsive choice.
Of course, no matter how irrational he was, he wouldn't just dump his research into a minor planetary-level patent office and let the pearl be covered in dust. Hill had a second shortcut prepared. Though not as dazzling as the first, it was the next best thing.
His "next best thing" was Benjamin.
"The Lanli Research Institute Patent Database?" Benjamin was taken aback. He looked at Hill, his heart skipping a beat. "Why are you asking about that?"
Benjamin suddenly felt that he couldn't quite read this sweet and lovely Omega anymore.
As the Federation's premier research institution, Lanli Research Institute held a very high priority level and possessed a direct channel to the Federal Supreme Patent Database. Hill’s goal was this "express lane."
Naturally, he couldn't tell Benjamin the truth. The sweet-smiling Omega opened his large emerald eyes, filled with innocence. "I've learned so much from you lately, Senior. I have a small, unrefined idea I'd like to try applying for, just to see if I can get a minor patent."
As he spoke, Hill lowered his head shyly and whispered, "I... I've run out of money... I-if it doesn't work... then I..."
Hill stammered for a long time, his eyes turning red with a look of stubborn pride. Benjamin was stunned, and his heart instinctively softened.
This Omega from a small planet was different from those born at the top of the pyramid; he didn't have their innate advantages. Yet, it was precisely this unique resilience, kindness, and beauty—even that tiny bit of ambition to better himself—that made the favored children of fortune feel a sense of pity and affection.
Benjamin was no exception. At that moment, looking at Hill’s shamefully lowered head, he instantly tossed aside the sliver of wariness that had arisen during the league. It hadn't been easy for this little Omega to get this far.
Thus, this small bit of "scheming" actually made Hill seem more real and endearing. This Omega simply didn't know how to disguise himself.
With this soft sympathy and affection, Benjamin dizzily handed over his application credentials. Then, he watched as Hill submitted his research, only for it to be flagged as "Plagiarism - Failed."
Benjamin: "???!"
Hill: "???!"
Hill was furious, nearly losing control of his expression. He roared internally, *System, get out here! What is going on?!*
Meanwhile, Benjamin, also stunned by this turn of events, stared blankly at the judgment provided by the patent database's Main Brain: *Mainline derivation process identical; data logic chain identical; research result applicability identical.*
After a thorough comparison, the Lanli Research Institute Patent Database's Main Brain gave its final conclusion: *A simplified, optimized upgrade of an existing work. Non-original. Contains highlights. Categorized as a practical popularization result.*
Benjamin, who understood the implications, looked at the frozen Hill with a complex expression.
The meaning of the Main Brain's judgment was clear: while it was possible for two people thousands of miles apart to arrive at the same result based on the same inspiration, it was impossible for two individuals to have identical derivation logic, experimental data chains, and even identical result applications.
If there were a few overlaps, it could be called a coincidence. But if everything overlapped, there was only one possibility—plagiarism.
The system's judgment indicated that there was already an unreleased research result in the database, and Hill’s so-called research was a copy of it.
The unreleased research currently sitting in the Lanli Patent Database was the "little gift" Feng Zhixi had specifically left for Hill before he departed.
In his previous life, based on his arrogant and untamed nature, Feng Zhixi hadn't cared to share his research fields or results with others; he was always a lonely trailblazer. Thus, when he saw that his research had been registered by someone else first, he had merely shrugged, destroyed his own results, and moved on without a hint of regret.
*I'll just switch fields,* the young and headstrong Feng Zhixi had thought at the time.
However, the reality was that he never got another chance. Someone had appeared out of nowhere, always one step ahead of him, stepping on his shoulders to become the Federation's brightest new star—that person was Hill.
Having returned to the past, Feng Zhixi had always wanted to clarify one thing: was it all a coincidence, or was it intentional?
Therefore, before leaving the Lanli Research Institute, he had filed all his future research that overlapped with Hill's into the patent database, choosing to keep them private and unpublished.
As one of the primary sources for the Federal Supreme Patent Database, any research Hill tried to publish—whether in the Lanli database or the Supreme database—would inevitably be compared against Feng Zhixi's filed work.
Because published research doesn't show the underlying derivation process and data, the Feng Zhixi of the past had no way to prove anything. The reborn Feng Zhixi chose to let the Main Brain perform the comparison itself.
Feng Zhixi wanted to know: was Hill a true genius, or a genius thief?
And now, he had received the first response from the Lanli Patent Database's Main Brain. The other party was a genius thief!
But how did Hill do it?
Feng Zhixi fell into deep thought as he looked at the information on his light-brain. He knew that in his previous life, some of those research results had only been concepts in his mind when Hill proposed them.
Could the other party actually crawl into his brain?
Furthermore, if it was a direct copy, why weren't the results identical? What was with those concise optimizations and upgrades?
What exactly was hidden behind Hill?
Lost in thought, Feng Zhixi instinctively looked up, wanting to discuss the situation with Ji Yeran. Then, he suddenly remembered—they had been in a "cold war" for three days because of their bickering.
And so far, the ice had not broken.
*Stingy jerk!* Feng Zhixi thought resentfully, trying his best to bore a hole through the Alpha's back with his gaze.
***
Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation
---|---|---
剥离 | Stripping / Detachment | The process of the System forcibly leaving the host, resulting in loss of all gains.
机甲能源曲率回旋运用 | Mecha Energy Curvature Rotation Application | The specific research topic Hill "stole" from Feng Zhixi.
联邦最高专利库 | Federal Supreme Patent Database | The highest level of patent registration in the Federation.
蓝礼研究院专利库 | Lanli Research Institute Patent Database | The internal database of the Federation's top research institute.
主脑 | Main Brain | The central AI system governing the patent database or other large infrastructures.
小学鸡 | Childish / Elementary schoolers | Slang for people acting immaturely or bickering over petty things.
冷战 | Cold war | A period of silence and tension between two people after an argument.
