Except for the rather weird schedule of the first day's competition, the rest of the competitions were arranged fairly well. There was one game in the morning and one in the afternoon, and mecha enthusiasts were having a blast every day.
Compared to the mecha circle people who were more concerned about the competition process, other citizens of the Empire who didn't know much about this kind of niche competition were more concerned about something else.
After Gao Hai's recording of provoking Bai Li was exposed, the scandal of Gao's father and son was brought up again, and Lin Sheng couldn't escape it either.
After finally suppressing some of the heat, the eyes of the citizens of the Empire just moved away from Lin Sheng, and news of the rectification came from within the Imperial Research Institute.
A leader of the institute was dismissed during the rectification. He was corrupt and accepted bribes while in office, and interfered with the purchase of materials for some projects.
This news did not cause much stir at first, but a new newspaper directly revealed that this leader had briefly participated in the preparations for the mecha competition.
The competition has received a lot of attention recently, and once the news was reported, it quickly attracted attention from all parties, especially those in the mecha circle, who strongly demanded a deeper investigation of the leader.
The investigation did find the problem.
The rumor that "this year's competition will feature highly destructive mechas" that was widely circulated some time ago has caused trouble for some small research institutes. The Imperial Research Institute and the police station jointly investigated, but there has been no progress. Unexpectedly, a breakthrough was found because of this corruption case, and the investigation led to this leader.
When this young leader admitted that he spread rumors to disrupt the competition before the game at the suggestion of "someone", the mecha circle was in an uproar.
The newspaper that first reported on the young leader and the contest was quite outspoken, constantly reporting the latest developments, revealing that when the young leader was asked who the signaler was, he once said, "I can't tell you, anyway you can't afford to offend me."
The imperial citizen has been in an explosive state recently and his temper exploded.
Good boy, are you still counting on that "you can't afford to offend me" to help you? Wake up, you're about to blow your nose!
A young leader of a research institute dared to speak out after he fell from power due to bribery, which shows that "you can't afford to offend me" is his strong backer.
Dig, must dig! No matter how strong your backer is, the iron shovel of the imperial citizen can overturn you!
With one shovel, a surname popped up.
Lin.
The old majesty, who had just rested for two days, was almost fainted from anger.
"It's not a good idea to release the news directly," Zhou Yue's face on the virtual screen was as thin as ever, but he was in good spirits, "Only by digging along the way can people feel like they have dug out a treasure, and it can also be more fresh."
Bai Li was "amused": "'Treasure' A Mr. Lin Sheng must be very uneasy now, and the freshness he brings to the people may have a rotten smell."
"I think he can get a big lesson." Zhou Yue smiled coldly.
"Brother, can I go to the simulation warehouse?" Zhou Linshan asked behind him, "I think everything is almost ready."
Bai Li was very familiar with the background of the virtual screen, it was his research institute.
"Wait a few minutes before going up," Zhou Yue said, "I have to watch."
Zhou Linshan said "Oh" and shouted from a distance: "Good luck in the game, Major General Bai! "
This mecha is not too burdensome, his body can handle it." Bai Li said with a smile.
Zhou Linshan had been expelled from the First Legion because he concealed his age when joining the legion. He could only consider joining the local legion and is still preparing to participate in the review period.
The mecha that he was so comfortable operating before differentiation is now a bit of a burden for him. Zhou Yue came to Bai Li a few days ago, wanting Zhou Linshan to continue to adapt to the heavy mecha while using the white01 model to familiarize himself with maps and combat skills.
"Thank you," Zhou Yue said, "for lending the simulation warehouse to my brother. "
Zhou Linshan has just recovered from his late-differentiation body and is not suitable for long-term heavy armor training. Now he basically goes to Bai's Research Institute in the afternoon and evening. Occasionally, he will run into the substitute or Si Dong and have a simulated confrontation.
"Don't," Bai Li said, "If Boss Zhou is so angry again, I will have to kowtow to you."
If there had not been the material data provided by Zhou before, the completion of white01 would definitely not be as high as it is now.
Zhou Yue also helped a lot in the matter of Lin Sheng. Bai Li was very grateful to him. As soon as Zhou Yue mentioned the matter of borrowing the simulated warehouse, he agreed.
There was another game in the afternoon, and the two talked about a few other things before hanging up the call.
Situ had just finished replying to the text message and walked over to find Bai Li.
"There is an emergency at the substitute," Situ frowned and said, "He may be late. "
In normal matches, substitutes are not needed, but just in case, a waiting room is reserved for substitutes at the main stadium so that drivers can be replaced in time. Bai Li's substitutes are always on standby in the waiting room.
"It doesn't matter," Bai Li sent a text message to Lu Zhao, "there will be no need for substitutes in this afternoon's match."
Situ looked worried: "I'm just worried that you can't hold on. "
The three games from yesterday to this morning were all very tiring. More and more mechas were eliminated, which also means that the remaining ones are getting stronger and stronger. White01 is not a quick-fighting mecha, and Bai Li's three games took a long time, which put a lot of burden on his body.
"I just don't understand why your luck is so shit," Situ couldn't help but said, "You can get so many orphan refresh points, and I didn't know there were such refresh points before you came out of some maps."
"This only shows that you don't know enough about refresh points," Master Bai taught him, "Every map has infinite possibilities."
Situ pushed him: "Don't be pretentious, speak nicely."
Bai Li said honestly: "I can't help my shitty luck. "
After repeatedly falling into refresh points that almost killed him as soon as he appeared on the field, Bai Li gradually confirmed that it was "fate" that didn't want him to go too smoothly.
He couldn't explain to Situ that bad luck was part of his fate.
The afternoon game started early, Bai Li's leg massage had just ended, and he was notified to prepare to enter.
"I just feel uneasy," Situ handed the helmet to Bai Li, "why don't you think about it, and if it doesn't work, you can find a substitute."
Bai Li put on the helmet and punched Situ on the shoulder: "You have to trust Major General Bai. "
The commentator's excited introduction came from the main stage. Under the holographic projection, the white01 model crossed the field and landed on the main stage, waiting for Bai Li to appear.
Bai Li and Situ exchanged fists and walked towards the main stage.
Situ didn't know that this was a match for Bai Li where there could be no substitutes.
The characteristic of the white01 model is that it can reduce the burden on the body and is suitable for special groups. From the first game, Bai Li has been tied to this mecha.
If he can't stand the pressure and his leg injury recurs, and he chooses to withdraw from the game and replace it, it means that he has denied the greatest significance of white01's existence.
This game can be won or lost, but you can't withdraw.
He took a deep breath and sat in the simulation warehouse.
This map is a map that Bai Li often refreshes during training, in a universe in battle.
There are scattered spaceship wreckage all around, and fragments from explosions are constantly splashing. If you are not careful, you will be hit by stray bullets from warships and small boats in battle.
As soon as Bai Li refreshed the map, there was a burst of astonishment from the audience.
"Why is he so unlucky every time?" Jiang Hao frowned and cursed, "I have never encountered this refresh point since the first time I went to the simulator."
Bai Li landed on a small boat, and the boat was hit as soon as it landed. The blast directly overturned the lighter white01. Bai Li stabilized the fuselage in time, so he was not destroyed by the stray bullets that rubbed past at the beginning.
The supporters breathed a sigh of relief, and then couldn't help but curse the simulator prepared by the event organizers.
"Has Bai Li never landed at a normal refresh point?" Han Miao slapped his thigh angrily. "Now people on the forum call him the 'blind teacher of refresh points'. You know, no one has ever seen a driver like him who starts the game with a straight to hell."
Lu Zhao crossed his arms and looked at the holographic projection. This time the map was not unfamiliar to Bai Li, and
he was not at a disadvantage like the previous few games. The more this was the case, the more uneasy he felt.
Bai Li did not say it explicitly, but Lu Zhao knew that this abnormal refresh point was intentionally creating difficulties for him. At first, it was just dropped in a place that was not convenient for active attack. Starting from yesterday, the refresh position was basically to make Bai Li suffer damage at the beginning.
Even ordinary people could sense this blatant targeting, as if the power that had controlled Bai Li for so long had finally lost its patience to slowly adjust, and it was eager to get Bai Li, the stepping stone, out of position.
Bai Li was indeed affected, with sore legs and poor sleep quality after taking medication. Lu Zhao was worried, but he knew it was impossible to persuade Bai Li to give up.
This grandson was very stubborn, and he would not stop fighting until he could no longer stand up.
Bai Li operated the mecha and fired an ion cannon at the heavy mecha from behind a wreckage, successfully hitting the opponent's side arm.
The opponent's pilot is average, but the weapons on his mecha are quite advanced, equipped with the latest detectors. Bai Li tried several times to lure him in with ion cannons, but all failed.
Bai Li was fully focused, ready to win this game in one go, so that he could have half an afternoon and an evening to rest.
Bai Li has played this map thoroughly, and he used continuous small harassments to lure his opponent all the way with him into the depths of the giant warship's wreckage.
The opponent was fooled and annoyed by this mediocre attack. He bombarded all the way and killed directly into the wreckage of the warship.
Bai Li knew this map very well, and there was a gap between the two rounds of explosions. The last wave just ended. Bai Li calculated the time and prepared to find the right opportunity to use the high-destructive weapons carried by the opponent to detonate the explosives in the warship. White01 is very fast and should be able to escape from the gaps in the wreckage before the explosives are affected.
At that time, the opponent's heavy armor and the entire warship will create a magnificent spark.
Master Bai was ready to show off. He watched the heavy mecha rushing towards him with artillery fire, blew a whistle, and moved his hand holding the controller slightly. White01 quickly slid to the side and distanced himself from the opponent again.
"The two sides have been fighting in this wreckage for a long time, and it seems that they have no intention of coming out in the short term," said the commentator. "Driver Bai Li is good at using the terrain and White01's high agility and high speed to fight. I wonder how he will deal with it this time - what a close call! The opponent's driver was almost hit by the flying debris! Even heavy armor would be damaged by such a large piece of metal!"
After being almost damaged, the opponent's driver calmed down from the attack in his mind and did not rashly chase Bai Li. Instead, he vigilantly attacked with long-range weapons in a safer place.
Bai Li made a "tsk" sound. This would not work. He did not have the energy to continue.
Just as he was about to lure again, the alarm device in the cockpit suddenly issued a sharp warning.
Before Bai Li could react, the interior of the warship, which was supposed to be a few minutes away from the next round of explosions, suddenly shook violently. The air wave brought by the explosion directly lifted up the two mechas in the wreckage. The relatively light fuselage of White01 was rolled up like a dead leaf and smashed directly into the small boat next to the warship.
Bai Li's heart skipped a beat.
In order to realize the real meaning of training, the simulator puts almost the same burden on the body as actually operating a mecha. Bai Li felt dizzy the moment he was blown away by the air wave, but fortunately, the special model of White01 relieved some of his pressure.
Even so, being hit on a small boat still felt bad.
He gritted his teeth and prepared to leave immediately, but the next second his eyes went black.
It was not because of physical discomfort that his eyes went black, but after the collision, the connection between the simulator and the map malfunctioned for a short moment.
Then, a sharp pain came from the knee of his left leg.
Bai Li suddenly tensed his body, and cold sweat oozed from his forehead.
"There is a fault in the connection between you and the mecha," the system prompt sounded inside the helmet, "Please leave the simulator as soon as possible and check the equipment connection."
"Both drivers were knocked over by the sudden explosion--" the commentator screamed, and then asked himself with some doubt, "Are the explosions in this picture so dense?"
Lu Zhao stood up abruptly, staring at Bai Li who was smashed into a small ship on the holographic projection.
"This picture is wrong," Han Miao also stood up, "This picture is wrong!"
The accident happened too quickly. Not all the audience were proficient in mechas, and most of them didn't know what happened. They only saw two mechas being hit by the air wave. One was hit towards the small ship, and the other was blown aside and hit by a stray bullet, suffering some minor damage.
The heavy armor quickly stabilized its body. The driver was still a little dizzy and turned around, but he did not miss the opportunity and bombarded Bai Li, who for some reason did not get out of the small warship in the first place.
"What's wrong with Bai Li!" Jiang Hao couldn't sit still.
Lu Zhao stared at the holographic projection closely: "He is not right. The explosion just now was premature. There is something wrong with this map."
Just one second before the bombardment hit the small warship, the holographic projection suddenly stopped.
When everyone was stunned, the commentator's voice sounded again: "Sorry, there seems to be some problems with the main system program! All games are suspended--"
The audience was shocked. The last time a game was suspended was several years ago when a driver suddenly fell ill in the simulator and had to be replaced temporarily.
Lu Zhao pursed his lips into a line. He stood there, his heart sinking to the bottom.