Chapter 7: Chapter 5: Team Integration
Five people sat around the coffee table. Luo'er coughed and was the first to speak: "Well, I'm glad our team was formed. A few days ago, we were just strangers in the same class, but now we've become members of the same team, and that makes me very happy."
He paused and continued: "In the process of forming the team, everyone did their best, and that we could assemble is also a form of fate. But... in this process, I may have been overly eager for instant success, therefore neglecting some fundamental principles. So I want to formally apologize to Sister Moumou here and confess; I just hoped our team could be quickly established and become combative. However, because I'm not good at dealing with other people, I often make unilateral decisions. But it wasn't my intention to sideline Sister Moumou and put myself in the position of the captain; I just wanted our team to be established as soon as possible, nothing more. Sister Moumou has been the captain from the beginning. If during these few days, any of my presumptuous actions has caused any inconvenience to Sister Moumou, then I sincerely apologize to you here."
"No, no need." Tangmo waved her hands repeatedly, not knowing what to say. The atmosphere was just right, but as soon as Luo'er opened his mouth, the whole atmosphere immediately became tense.
"No, this is a fundamental issue. I really didn't mean to take Sister Moumou's place. I just want the team to be quickly established. This is what's in my heart." Luo'er looked at her and said earnestly.
"What's this about replacing or not," Tangmo clenched her fist, struggling to say, "Sometimes I feel like Luo'er should be the captain, he's so reliable and serious. Most of the time, I just... fool around."
"No, I always believed that Sister Moumou is the captain!" Luo'er said with certainty.
Hu Daoke looked at Tangmo, then at Luo'er. To be honest, he admired this guy who could instantly kill the atmosphere with just a few words. Then he interrupted: "Sister Moumou, you're already the captain. Since Luo'er has confessed, don't refuse."
"Well, if I am the captain..." Tangmo turned back and looked at the other members of the team.
No need to say anything about Hu Daoke. Although Cheng Ziang wouldn't express his opinion, it didn't matter who was the captain for him. However, Baiyue...
Before she could finish, Baiyue took the initiative and said, "Luo'er told me to listen to you, so I will."
"Eh, that's not what I mean..." Tangmo seemed a bit overwhelmed.
"Sister Moumou, since everyone recognizes you as the captain, why not carry out your duties as the captain?" Hu Daoke said as he leaned on the table.
"The duties of a captain, what are they?" Tangmo seemed even more nervous.
"For example, giving speeches at activities like these." Hu Daoke gestured with his hand.
"A speech?"
"Bureaucratic style!" Cheng Ziang suddenly joked.
"Right, right, right!" Hu Daoke agreed.
"Well, let's all introduce ourselves..." Tangmo's voice was somewhat shaky as she spoke.
"Luo'er, you first...." Tangmo turned back and looked at him.
"Sister Moumou, the captain should start first." Luo'er said with a serious face.
Tangmo looked at Luo'er's serious face, not knowing whether this guy was deliberately messing with her. She cleared her throat and said somewhat awkwardly: "Hello, everyone. My name is Tangmo, your captain...uh, I'm of mixed Dwarven heritage, so I'm a bit short... is that okay?"
She looked at Luo'er as if seeking help. Luo'er nodded his head and sat upright saying, "Hello, everyone, my last name is Luo, call me Luo'er. You can probably tell that I am a Half-elf, to be precise, a Wood Elf hybrid."
The Wood Elves are one of the three major Elven races in Otherworld, their most distinctive features being light hair, green pupils, and pointed elf ears that droop.
"Hello, everyone, my name is Hu Daoke, Sister Moumou's faithful companion. Although I'm a Half-beastman, I'm much more handsome than those ugly brutes." Hu Daoke said whilst flexing his muscles in a narcissistic manner.
Perhaps it was because Hu Daoke's maternal genes come from Earth, his appearance was not completely similar to the Beastman Race in the textbook. Although he looked a bit fierce in the eyes of ordinary people, compared to the Beastman Race, he was much more refined and looked more human.
Next up was Cheng Ziang. His self-introduction was simple: "Cheng Ziang, Aud Hybrid."
The Aud people of Otherworld are part of the Human Race. Their appearance is more similar to the Nordic people on Earth, with high noses and deep-set eyes, and their pupils and hair are mostly light colored. Although Cheng Ziang inherited the golden hair of the Aud people, his eyes were deep brown.
Although this guy seemed cold as ice and haughty, Hu Daoke found him surprisingly friendly and quite likable.
It was Baiyue's turn, and everyone's eyes were on her. Seemingly feeling anxious, she tugged the brim of her hat lower so that no one could see her face.
"Baiyue!" It was only after a while that she uttered these two words.
"Uhh...." Hu Daoke looked at Tangmo.
"Ah, no, no problem," Tangmo waved her hands and tried to mediate, "Yue'er is a bit shy. As long as we all know each other, just go through the motions, right?"
Luo'er looked at Baiyue. He could sense she was hiding something, not just her emotions.
"So, since the introductions are over, let's eat," Luo'er suggested.
"Great!" Tangmo excitedly raised her hand and exclaimed.
The dinner formally started, and Tangmo devoured her food, completely overlooking her feminine identity. Surprisingly, Hu Daoke, who was a big and crude guy, ate in a reserved manner as if he was trying to give way to her.
"Luo'er, your cooking is fantastic!" Tangmo praised sincerely.
"Thank you for the compliment. I've only done some trifling things," Luo'er said modestly, nodding his head.
He glanced at Baiyue. The girl had strange table manners. She put the food into her bowl and then turned her back to others to eat, as if she did not want anyone to see her eating. Although it was a bit weird, Luo'er had no intention of probing into it.
"Luo'er, are you also a subspecies born in the academy?" Tangmo casually asked while chewing.
"Ah, I... Oh, yes, I was also born in the academy," Luo'er stuttered unexpectedly in his reply.
"Do you remember what your mother looked like?" Tangmo continued to ask.
The mother Tangmo mentioned referred to their surrogate mothers. After giving birth to the subspecies, they were allowed to stay in the academy to raise the child until they reached three years old. Also, most of the surnames of the subspecies were derived from their surrogate mothers.
Luo'er suddenly shivered, and the food on his chopsticks fell onto the table. However, Tangmo did not notice this unusual behavior and continued to stuff food into her mouth.
"Your mother?" Luo'er lowered his head, his countenance suddenly clouding over.
"What's wrong, Luo'er?" Tangmo turned her head to look at him.
"No, nothing. I just thought of my mother," Luo'er responded with a smile.
"She must be beautiful, right?" Tangmo said, full of anticipation.
"Yeah, yeah... She's beautiful!" Luo'er stared at the table and agreed with a smile.
"Speaking of which, Luo'er, you're so unnoticeable. We've been in the same class for so long, and I didn't know you existed," Tangmo tilted her head and changed the subject.
"It's just... I prefer to keep a low profile," Luo'er replied.
"It's not just low-key, you're practically invisible. I had no idea we had such a cute elf in our class!" said Tangmo, staring at his elven ears for a long while before eventually deciding not to touch them.
"If I remember correctly, I think there will be a team-based assessment in a few days once the teams are finalized," Hu Daoke suddenly joined the conversation and brought up an important topic.
"Yes, it's a military subject assessment to measure each team's military strength, so we need to take it seriously." Luo'er immediately became serious upon hearing the topic.
"It's just a test, it won't count towards our final grades." Hu Daoke waved his hand dismissively.
"No, you all may not know." Luo'er said solemnly, "After the high school assessment, the academy will hold a selection competition. The winning teams will be incorporated under the headquarters and will be sent on missions in Otherworld."
"But why do we have to go to Otherworld?" Hu Daoke asked, waving his hand.
"Well, uh," Luo'er was caught off guard and took a moment before he elaborated, "I just think we shouldn't abandon such an honor."
Cheng Ziang didn't speak. His cold stare at Luo'er made him feel uncomfortable.
"Since we are a team, we should have a goal." Tangmo suddenly stood up, full of fighting spirit, "So, let's aim to win the championship in the selection competition."
Luo'er looked at her. He wanted to say something but kept silent. Although he felt grateful to Tangmo, he had no intention of revealing his real intentions at the time.
"Sister Moumou, you don't even know what the competition is about yet," Hu Daoke said with some resignation.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone