Ten thousand points of damage

“Does this award… come with money?”

Lu Xun couldn’t help but feel a cold sweat. He thought to himself that his idol was truly a pragmatist; his focus was completely different from everyone else’s.

He said with a complicated expression, “This… I don’t think so.”

Bai Ling glanced at him. “Then what’s the use? An award without prize money is just a pile of loose sand.”

Lu Xun: “…Fair point.”

However, he composed himself and switched to a serious tone: “But the [Moral Excellence Award] is the most prestigious honor besides the Overall Championship. It’s usually given to veteran pilots with deep seniority, rich experience, and high moral standing. It’s hailed as the ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ of the mecha mercenary circle.”

Given that his idol had been in the association for less than a month, winning this award was practically like retiring at eighteen—a total victory while lying down.

Unexpectedly, Bai Ling nodded, looking somewhat satisfied. “If it’s based on seniority, then I truly deserve it. I’ll reluctantly accept.”

Lu Xun: “?”

Aren’t you being a bit too arrogant?!

 

Although the reaction in the hall was enthusiastic, not everyone was willing to support a seemingly green pilot like Bai Ling.

For instance, there was Hu Ti, a Pelican pilot who had been grinding for seniority until the age of 57 and was preparing to take the award right before his retirement.

Hu Ti’s face was ashen and his fists were clenched tight thet were the size of a sandbag. A temper was stuck in his throat, nearly causing him to faint from rage.

He was a senior mentor at the five-star association [Water’s End, Goose Flight]. With over thirty years in the industry, his students were everywhere; half the mercenary circle had received his guidance. This year’s tournament happened to fall right before his retirement. His peers had already retired with honors, and Hu Ti felt it was finally his turn.

He never expected a young adult bird whose feathers hadn’t even fully grown to swoop in and snatch the honor that belonged to him!

It was bad enough that he took it, but the kid had the audacity to say he “deserved it based on seniority.”

His disciple, Yanzi, saw this and grew anxious. What should I do? Master’ was already upset because his mecha broke down these past two days. Now that his hopes are dashed, I hope he doesn’t have a heart attack.

Yanzi re-examined the group stage roster and suddenly had an idea: “Master, this ‘Bai Ling is in the third bracket of the first group, and you’re in the third bracket of the second group. You’ll have a chance to face him directly. When that happens, you can challenge him to a Betting Match, kick him out completely, and cut off even his chance at a revival round!”

“A Betting Match? This…” Hu Ti was stunned.

A “Betting Match” referred to a competition held under the condition of mutual consent. If one side lost, they voluntarily gave up their second chance to qualify and withdrew from the tournament immediately.

This method not only shortened the tournament process but also added a sense of unpredictable excitement, attracting more viewers to the channel.

Occasionally, to increase drama and exposure, contestants would raise the stakes using their sponsors’ funds.

In this way, winning not only brings face but also a lot of money, allowing you to vent your anger in every way.

Thinking of this, Hu Ti slapped his thigh. “Let’s do it!”

Hmph. I’ll raise the stake to the maximum and make that little white-haired brat lose everything.

 

---

Bai Ling had just walked out of the hall when the committee system sent him a message saying someone wanted a “Betting Match” with him.

Not knowing exactly what it was, he saw the pop-up and casually hit [Yes]. It wasn’t until he had circled back, settled the resentful old fish in a VIP box, and found some free time that he asked Lu Xun.

To his surprise, Lu Xun turned pale with shock. “You hit ‘Confirm’? Cancel it now!”

Bai Ling tapped the screen. “Time’s up, can’t cancel. It says the bet involves my sponsors’ investments. Doesn’t matter, I haven’t signed a contract with any sponsors anyway.”

He who has nothing has nothing to fear.

Lu Xun pressed his palm to his forehead. “But this agreement is legally binding! If you lose, even if it doesn’t take a sponsor’s money, you will be blacklisted as a defaulter!”

Bai Ling still didn’t take it seriously. “Simple. I’ll just win.”

Lu Xun looked shocked, wanting to shake his idol awake. “Wake up! That’s a veteran of over thirty years! He’s piloted more mechas than we’ve lost scales! What are you going to fight him with?”

Bai Ling thought for a moment. “My youth?”

Lu Xun: “……”

You really don’t follow the script at all, do you?

Despite the sudden turn of events, under Lu Xun’s dramatization, Bai Ling finally notified the association.

The association suggested he immediately accept the Gorgon’s investment contract. Bai Ling looked at the betting agreement, then at the golden curls peeking out from the upstairs box, and decided he didn’t want to be a kept man.

Otherwise, when he ascends to the throne in the future, people will say he relied on his Empress for support. How embarrassing.

Bai Ling: “Bring up those other 76 sponsors. I want to ‘thank’ them properly.”

The way he said “thank” sounded like he was calling for an “death sentence”.

Soon, he learned something new.

Apparently, finding sponsors meant sticking their logos all over the mecha and the pilot. The more sponsors, the more stickers.

Bai Ling stood on a circular virtual stage as light-sensing tags were tested on him. To be exact, 76 of them packed so tightly they covered everything below his neck.

This hordes of small businesses was all-encompassing: snack sellers, cleaning cloth vendors… there was even a heat-suppressant rod brand mixed in. It was a dazzling array of colorful trademarks.

If they were all applied, the effect would be identical to the “small advertisements” plastered on apartment hallway doors.

Lu Xun shook his head at the sight, but Bai Ling thought it was fine.

Young people have no vision. They don’t realize this is a free layer of visual pollution. When the stadium lights hit, I can blind my opponent’s retinas and deal ten thousand points of damage instantly.

---

At the same time, inside the VIP box.

Yu Chen opened his terminal and connected to the exclusive commentary channel Uriel had set up. According to Uriel, this new commentator was highly recommended by the Little Bird. So, even though the person had no experience in tournament commentary, for Bai Ling’s sake, he was given a one-month trial.

Uriel said respectfully, “If you find him unprofessional, we can hire him but also find a backup.”

Yu Chen gave a faint “mm,” not expecting much.

But the moment he put on the headphones and the sound connected, he heard—

Commentator: “Good afternoon, viewers. Welcome to the live broadcast. The main highlights of today’s program include…”

Yu Chen didn’t even hear the rest of the intro.

He unconsciously gripped his throat, feeling it blocked by an inexplicable emotion. Then he lowered his head and supported his forehead, his veins bulging as his long fingers dug deep into his hair.

It was an incredibly professional, hauntingly familiar voice.

For many years, he had fallen into a weary sleep at his study desk accompanied by this very voice.

An old friend that was lost and then found again…

Yu Chen’s heart pounded. A sense of providence descended upon him. He didn’t believe in fate and scoffed at coincidences, but this time, he felt that the things he had lost were slowly returning—and it all began with the news brought by that little bird.

“…The screen shifts to the contestant. We can see him standing on the light-tag stage, surrounded 360° by sponsor labels. The colors are… rich. Er… it looks remarkably like the 'Large vase with variegated glazes‘ from Ancient Earth’s Qing Dinasty…”

Yu Chen: ?

He could tell the commentator was racking his brain for positive words. But that gaudy, “pop-up ad” aesthetic was a direct violation of his personal taste. Absolutely not!

Since the disobedient bird kept making small moves, Yu Chen went directly to the association’s legal department via AI, demanding they “clear out the skin-disease ads” and switch to his exclusive sponsorship.

Seeing a leviathan, the legal team sincerely invited him to participate in the sponsorship bidding. Since the Captain had agreed, the association did indeed have the right to sign contracts on behalf of the pilot.

Thus, in the final round of bidding, a certain cold and prestigious military industrial group dropped a massive amount of cash to buy the exclusive rights. The amount paid was more than double the total of the other 76 companies combined.

On the stage, the 76 virtual logos on Bai Ling’s combat suit were instantly deleted, replaced by a single, simple, and elegant trademark.

He went from a “Large vase with variegated glazes” to a piece of Ru-ware porcelain, elegant, minimalist, and exquisite.

Bai Ling didn’t understand. “Is there a glitch?”

Lu Xun was dumbfounded. “No… that’s the power of money.”

Bai Ling pulled at the logo on his chest. It had a blue and white background and seemed to be the head of a woman with long, curly hair. But looking closer, the curls weren’t hair at all but writhing snakes.

A Gorgon?

Bai Ling felt he had definitely seen this logo somewhere, but he couldn’t quite place it. The stage only showed the logo, not the company name.

But it didn’t matter. He had to give the sponsor their money’s worth. Since they paid, there were certainly other VIP services.

Like shouting the advertisement slogan during the live broadcast before the match.

Shortly after, he received a small note said to be handwritten by the sponsor, containing the “important” slogan.

The crowd in the arena formed a dark ocean, and the number of online viewers was growing exponentially. Media outlets from the Federation and the Interstellar Alliance were all broadcasting live.

Bai Ling stood under the dazzling spotlights. Behind him stood the deep-space blue Rattlesnake; above him flew the Imperial flag. He stood straight as a sword about to be unsheathed. With an indifferent expression, he unfolded the note worth 200 million credits, preparing to read the slogan.

The camera zoomed in on the pilot’s face (which was blurred by a digital mosaic). One could vaguely see the pilot’s hand suddenly stiffen.

Bai Ling ground his small sharp teeth and hissed a hateful mumble. Then, with a mix of fury and amusement, he grit his teeth and shouted in a clear, cold, yet impassioned voice before the entire galaxy:

Yes, Your Majesty.

A direct, sincere vow.

He shouted it once and immediately launched into battle, catapulting into flight.

In the box, the merman rested his long legs on the table, leaning deep into his chair.

200 million credits just to hear that bird call him “Your Majesty.”

Yu Chen leaned back into the velvet chair, relaxed. “…That feels good.”

---

Author’s Note:

On how the Old Fish began emptying his secret vault from scratch:

Yu Chen: (Holding a pen, pondering) (Smiling tenderly) What should I make him shout next time?