DPM Chapter 5-Big People Part 2
Translated by Snowfall77
Wu Xingyun slept until dawn. When he opened his eyes, he found Wen Nuo standing by the window, looking out.
Wu Xingyun’s stomach rumbled. He massaged his head and muttered: “Why was there no reveille?”
Turning around, Wen Nuo said: “Staff here don’t require it. And many work late into the night. Winning a war needs inspiration, therefore there’s no set work hours for everyone.”
“Oh.” Wu Xingyun wasn’t used to such a loose life. After he straightened his bed, he quickly dressed. Examining himself in the mirror on the back of the door, he fastened his top button and fixed the tilt of his hat.
Deta-Nuo’s mild environment had been adapted to sustain human presence. There was no need to wear a combat suit, so Wu Xingyun wore his deep gray dress uniform. The mirror reflected back to him a dark young man with a shining smile.
Wen Nuo stood next to Wu Xingyun, quietly watching Wu Xingyun primp. When Wu Xingyun was finished, Wen Nuo said: “You already look very good. You don’t need to stare in the mirror anymore. Let’s move quickly, you’re scheduled for a meeting with the bigwigs at the Federal building. You’re going to meet high-ranking Federation officials and your instructors.”
Wu Xingyun wanted to retrieve weapons from the arsenal, but Wen Nuo stopped him. “You’re not going to war. No taking weapons. You…Don’t look so serious.”
“Yes!” Wu Xingyun responded.
The two men descended the stairs and went outside to the dormitory parking lot. The driver of an armored vehicle greeted Wen Nuo: “Major, Sergeant, here!”
Carapace military vehicles were the most common means of transport for the Federation. They could be used amphibiously and even flown for short durations. During battle, they could function as a chariot. Otherwise, they worked as cars. Moreover, since Deta-Nuo was a front-line supply base, there were no other ordinary or civilian vehicles to use.
Wen Nuo and Wu Xingyun got into the car, greeting the driver with: “Sorry, we’re late.”
The driver made an indifferent noise, otherwise ignoring them.
After putting on their seatbelts, the two men waited, but the driver showed no signs of actually driving. A little while passed, and Wen Nuo had to ask: “Why aren’t you leaving? Waiting for something?”
The driver replied, “There’s another guy going to the Federal building too. He’s going to hitch a ride. When he gets here, we’ll leave.”
Wen Nuo was a little baffled, but before he could ask another question, he saw a man with a crooked hat running in the distance. Ouyang Liu.
Ouyang Liu came to the front of the car, telling the driver, “Sorry, I’m not intentionally late. Yesterday little ol’ me had something to handle, so…”
The driver was impatient, interrupting Ouyang Liu’s explanation. “Late is late, why brother with excuses? Get in!”
Ouyang Liu gave a couple awkward laughs and got into the back of the car.
Wu Xingyun, noticing Ouyang Liu’s discomfort, gave him a pained smile. Ouyang Liu returned the favor with a roll of the eyes and a raised middle finger.
The three men sat in mutual silence. The observation window of the carapace vehicle was closed, as it accelerated to full driving speed. The gray-green beetle-like vehicle sped through the streets. Then flew above the city river, further ascended to the cloud-layer, until eventually coming to the tall federal building.
The shell door slowly opened, as the driver dropped the vehicle into a landing spot. The three men got out, Wu Xingyun seeing the Federal building for the first time. He had thought, since it was on the front-line, it would perhaps be built differently, yet it appeared like any other federal building on any other planet. A semi-circular structure protruding from the surface, while the more substantial part extended underground.
A gorgeous receptionist came forward, asking Wen Nuo: “Are you Lieutenant Commander Wen Nuo, A-Level?”
Wen Nuo nodded. “Yes, I’ve brought him over.” He pointed at Wu Xingyun.
""
The lovely receptionist smiled at Wu Xingyun, generously offering her right hand, saying: “Hello. I’ve heard that you are sacrificing for the sake of the Federation. It’s an honor to meet you, we all admire you so much.
Scratching his head in bedazzlement by the beauty in front of him, Wu Xingyun failed to realize she wanted to shake his hand. He stammered with a red face: “I…I…I’m not…”
The embarrassed receptionist, thinking she had mistaken Wu Xingyun’s identity, instead got her hand shaken by an opportunistic Ouyang Liu. “Hello, I am a combat staff recorder. My name is Ouyang Liu.”
Gracefully drawing her hand away, the receptionist inclined her head at Ouyang Liu, then turned her attention back to Wu Xingyun. “Excuse me, aren’t you the legendary Ghost soldier, Wu Xingyun?”
Wu Xingyun shook his head in a rush. “No…there’s no legends…I am…Wu Xingyun.” Sweat on his forehead, Wu Xingyun was nonplused.
“Please come with me, the President has been waiting for you.” The receptionist’s expression was gentle. “I also heard that the Night Shard is coming to take a look at you.”
The three men trailed after the receptionist towards the building. But at the door, the receptionist abruptly halted and asked Ouyang Liu: “Why are you following?”
Ouyang Liu explained: “I’m been selected for the marriage escort team, didn’t you just say….”
The receptionist interrupted Ouyang Liu, while pointing to a passage that led to the external training ground. “Soldiers being screened for the escort team should go there. There are ten thousand candidates and, at most, only one hundred of the best will be chosen to escort our hero. You may not qualify. You shouldn’t be too arrogant.”
Ouyang Liu stole an unreconciled glance at Wu Xingyun. He stepped closer to the receptionist and leaned in to whisper: “Be more accommodating. I used to know the Night Shard, and our relationship is good, he’ll want to see me…”
The receptionist reiterated in a louder voice. “Soldiers who taking part in the screening process will please go out and turn left!”
Ouyang Liu: “Do you know who I am…I am…”
Fiercely glaring at Ouyang Liu, the receptionist responded: “I don’t know who you are. I only know that the person the president wishes to see is Wu Xingyun. You have nothing to do with it! The screening is drawing to an end. If you don’t go now, no matter your qualifications, the answer will be no!”
Confronted with someone so contradictory and insensitive to him, Ouyang Liu’s shame turned to anger. He pointed at the receptionist, sputtering: “You…You…You…” Then he broke into a run, headed for the passage.
The receptionist watched his retreating back and humphed, whispering under her breath: “Delusional man, he’s just one of Vice-President Ouyang’s bastards. And he wants to talk the Night Shard first? Disgusting. Who does he think he is?”
After muttering to herself, the receptionist recalled that she still had two other men next to her. She hurriedly assumed a professional face: “Lieutenant Commander, sergeant, please come with me.”
Wu Xingyun followed, carefully maintaining proper appearance, through a corridor, down an elevator, into an underground passageway, turning this way and that, until they stopped outside a hall.
DPM Chapter 5-Big People Part 2
Translated by Snowfall77
Wu Xingyun slept until dawn. When he opened his eyes, he found Wen Nuo standing by the window, looking out.
Wu Xingyun’s stomach rumbled. He massaged his head and muttered: “Why was there no reveille?”
Turning around, Wen Nuo said: “Staff here don’t require it. And many work late into the night. Winning a war needs inspiration, therefore there’s no set work hours for everyone.”
“Oh.” Wu Xingyun wasn’t used to such a loose life. After he straightened his bed, he quickly dressed. Examining himself in the mirror on the back of the door, he fastened his top button and fixed the tilt of his hat.
Deta-Nuo’s mild environment had been adapted to sustain human presence. There was no need to wear a combat suit, so Wu Xingyun wore his deep gray dress uniform. The mirror reflected back to him a dark young man with a shining smile.
Wen Nuo stood next to Wu Xingyun, quietly watching Wu Xingyun primp. When Wu Xingyun was finished, Wen Nuo said: “You already look very good. You don’t need to stare in the mirror anymore. Let’s move quickly, you’re scheduled for a meeting with the bigwigs at the Federal building. You’re going to meet high-ranking Federation officials and your instructors.”
Wu Xingyun wanted to retrieve weapons from the arsenal, but Wen Nuo stopped him. “You’re not going to war. No taking weapons. You…Don’t look so serious.”
“Yes!” Wu Xingyun responded.
The two men descended the stairs and went outside to the dormitory parking lot. The driver of an armored vehicle greeted Wen Nuo: “Major, Sergeant, here!”
Carapace military vehicles were the most common means of transport for the Federation. They could be used amphibiously and even flown for short durations. During battle, they could function as a chariot. Otherwise, they worked as cars. Moreover, since Deta-Nuo was a front-line supply base, there were no other ordinary or civilian vehicles to use.
Wen Nuo and Wu Xingyun got into the car, greeting the driver with: “Sorry, we’re late.”
The driver made an indifferent noise, otherwise ignoring them.
After putting on their seatbelts, the two men waited, but the driver showed no signs of actually driving. A little while passed, and Wen Nuo had to ask: “Why aren’t you leaving? Waiting for something?”
The driver replied, “There’s another guy going to the Federal building too. He’s going to hitch a ride. When he gets here, we’ll leave.”
Wen Nuo was a little baffled, but before he could ask another question, he saw a man with a crooked hat running in the distance. Ouyang Liu.
Ouyang Liu came to the front of the car, telling the driver, “Sorry, I’m not intentionally late. Yesterday little ol’ me had something to handle, so…”
The driver was impatient, interrupting Ouyang Liu’s explanation. “Late is late, why brother with excuses? Get in!”
Ouyang Liu gave a couple awkward laughs and got into the back of the car.
Wu Xingyun, noticing Ouyang Liu’s discomfort, gave him a pained smile. Ouyang Liu returned the favor with a roll of the eyes and a raised middle finger.
The three men sat in mutual silence. The observation window of the carapace vehicle was closed, as it accelerated to full driving speed. The gray-green beetle-like vehicle sped through the streets. Then flew above the city river, further ascended to the cloud-layer, until eventually coming to the tall federal building.
The shell door slowly opened, as the driver dropped the vehicle into a landing spot. The three men got out, Wu Xingyun seeing the Federal building for the first time. He had thought, since it was on the front-line, it would perhaps be built differently, yet it appeared like any other federal building on any other planet. A semi-circular structure protruding from the surface, while the more substantial part extended underground.
A gorgeous receptionist came forward, asking Wen Nuo: “Are you Lieutenant Commander Wen Nuo, A-Level?”
Wen Nuo nodded. “Yes, I’ve brought him over.” He pointed at Wu Xingyun.
""
The lovely receptionist smiled at Wu Xingyun, generously offering her right hand, saying: “Hello. I’ve heard that you are sacrificing for the sake of the Federation. It’s an honor to meet you, we all admire you so much.
Scratching his head in bedazzlement by the beauty in front of him, Wu Xingyun failed to realize she wanted to shake his hand. He stammered with a red face: “I…I…I’m not…”
The embarrassed receptionist, thinking she had mistaken Wu Xingyun’s identity, instead got her hand shaken by an opportunistic Ouyang Liu. “Hello, I am a combat staff recorder. My name is Ouyang Liu.”
Gracefully drawing her hand away, the receptionist inclined her head at Ouyang Liu, then turned her attention back to Wu Xingyun. “Excuse me, aren’t you the legendary Ghost soldier, Wu Xingyun?”
Wu Xingyun shook his head in a rush. “No…there’s no legends…I am…Wu Xingyun.” Sweat on his forehead, Wu Xingyun was nonplused.
“Please come with me, the President has been waiting for you.” The receptionist’s expression was gentle. “I also heard that the Night Shard is coming to take a look at you.”
The three men trailed after the receptionist towards the building. But at the door, the receptionist abruptly halted and asked Ouyang Liu: “Why are you following?”
Ouyang Liu explained: “I’m been selected for the marriage escort team, didn’t you just say….”
The receptionist interrupted Ouyang Liu, while pointing to a passage that led to the external training ground. “Soldiers being screened for the escort team should go there. There are ten thousand candidates and, at most, only one hundred of the best will be chosen to escort our hero. You may not qualify. You shouldn’t be too arrogant.”
Ouyang Liu stole an unreconciled glance at Wu Xingyun. He stepped closer to the receptionist and leaned in to whisper: “Be more accommodating. I used to know the Night Shard, and our relationship is good, he’ll want to see me…”
The receptionist reiterated in a louder voice. “Soldiers who taking part in the screening process will please go out and turn left!”
Ouyang Liu: “Do you know who I am…I am…”
Fiercely glaring at Ouyang Liu, the receptionist responded: “I don’t know who you are. I only know that the person the president wishes to see is Wu Xingyun. You have nothing to do with it! The screening is drawing to an end. If you don’t go now, no matter your qualifications, the answer will be no!”
Confronted with someone so contradictory and insensitive to him, Ouyang Liu’s shame turned to anger. He pointed at the receptionist, sputtering: “You…You…You…” Then he broke into a run, headed for the passage.
The receptionist watched his retreating back and humphed, whispering under her breath: “Delusional man, he’s just one of Vice-President Ouyang’s bastards. And he wants to talk the Night Shard first? Disgusting. Who does he think he is?”
After muttering to herself, the receptionist recalled that she still had two other men next to her. She hurriedly assumed a professional face: “Lieutenant Commander, sergeant, please come with me.”
Wu Xingyun followed, carefully maintaining proper appearance, through a corridor, down an elevator, into an underground passageway, turning this way and that, until they stopped outside a hall.
