【Interstellar Contract Magician】Ruyuanke

Before the spaceship reached Planet 54, I noticed a change outside. The cabin's temperature control had already begun to adjust automatically, but a chill gradually seeped through the air. First, my skin felt slightly cold, then the entire cabin air seemed to grow cold and dry. The light reflected from the windows grew dimmer and dimmer, and the starry sky grew increasingly blurry. The starlight was no longer a warm silver, but instead had a chill. The universe, once shrouded in darkness, seemed even more desolate in this chilling atmosphere.

Soon after, the ship's communicator chimed, and a mechanized female voice informed us that we were about twenty minutes from our target planet. There was no further explanation. It wasn't until I caught a glimpse of the scene outside the porthole that I realized the coldness of that distant planet wasn't just a hollow sensation; it was a truly frozen, snow-covered world.

Bian 54 is a planet permanently covered in ice and snow, with virtually no atmosphere to protect it. Through the portholes, one can see no signs of life on the planet's surface, only ice and eternal cold. The silvery, vast expanse feels like a silent oppression, warning any approaching creature: survival here is nearly impossible.

I could feel the cold draft growing stronger from outside. The seemingly still snow reflected a cold light. The ship's engine hum grew deeper as the system constantly adjusted the temperature and air pressure. Although the cabin temperature had been adjusted to a comfortable level, the biting cold was still unbearable. Perhaps this was why the inhabitants there had to rely on specialized technology to survive in this environment.

The chill hit me, making it almost impossible to breathe. I instinctively wrapped my clothes tightly around me, feeling a wave of discomfort. Although the spacecraft's internal environment was controlled, the cold, planetary atmosphere still felt oppressive and enveloping. I began to wonder if I was truly prepared for such an extreme environment.

"It's cold on Planet 54," the spacecraft's mechanical voice sounded again, "Please prepare for landing, all passengers. The system has automatically adjusted the flight mode and is expected to enter the landing orbit in two minutes."

The spacecraft slowly entered the planet's atmosphere. The air grew thinner, and the view outside became clearer. I could see snow-capped mountains and desolate plains. The white ice blocks stood like giant, silent sculptures, silently framing the empty planet. Everything seemed cold and solemn, like an ice kingdom that had slumbered for millennia, brooking no disturbance.

I know Ye Qing lives in this desolate land, in this extreme environment. Whether he and his troops can adapt to the harsh cold, whether they've ever found a way to survive here, I have no idea. I just have a faint suspicion that he might become even more cold and unapproachable in this extreme environment.

As the spacecraft gradually approached the star surface, my heartbeat unconsciously accelerated. This would be my new starting point, a brand new life would begin, and on Planet 54, it would also be the beginning of a real life that I had never experienced before.

The good news was that I wasn't taken to the army, nor was I pushed directly onto the battlefield—which made me feel relieved. But the bad news was that I didn't meet Ye Qing in person as I expected, but was instead taken directly to the Imperial Eleventh Military Academy.

By the time I realized this, I was powerless to resist. The soldier handed me a brief document, informing me that Ye Qing was currently engaged in combat and could not meet with me. Instead, I would be taken directly to the military academy for a series of adaptive training and learning. All the explanations and arrangements left little room for discussion. I was forced to accept this arrangement, and I have to admit, this sudden turn of events caught me off guard.

The military academy's entrance hall was deserted, surrounded by thick metal walls. The corridors echoed with the sounds of electronic speakers and footsteps. The air was filled with the faint smell of disinfectant, as if no impurities were allowed to enter. The military academy itself was like an icy fortress. The cold outside did not disappear as we entered the building, but instead became even more harsh and oppressive.

"Your training schedule will begin here." The soldier said simply, pointing to a tall building behind him.

I didn't answer, but nodded silently, taking it all in. I had no idea what this military academy represented, but as soon as I saw the facilities and the strict atmosphere outside, I knew it must be something special.

The admissions process was straightforward, leaving me with virtually no choice. I was quickly registered, given my military academy uniform and belongings, and then directed to the academic building. What should have been a brief moment of respite was whittled down to a minimum. I had just disembarked from the spaceship, still struggling to adjust to life on this planet, and now I was being swiftly thrust into this rigorous military academy.

Soon after, I was led into a classroom. The students inside looked similar to me, all young and clearly new to the school. They wore uniform military academy uniforms and sat in neatly arranged seats, their expressions calm and serious. They didn't seem to have much emotional turmoil, as if they'd long since adapted to this chilly existence.

After I sat down, the instructor began a brief introduction. The content was simple, yet it left me a bit stunned. The curriculum here was vastly different from that of a typical school. Training and actual combat were the primary focus, with theoretical knowledge becoming secondary. Almost every class revolved around how to become a qualified soldier, with a significant portion of the time devoted to training in various survival and combat skills.

The courses here don't seem to care about my background or how the system is arranged, but only focus on whether I can adapt to this harsh environment. I am not an outsider, but a brand new warrior who must find my place here as soon as possible.

My heart sank slightly as I thought of Ye Qing and how all this was arranged. Perhaps it wasn't accidental. I never realized I would end up like this. I even began to wonder if I was being raised, or what.

I sat among these students and felt a little uncomfortable.

Almost everyone here has gone through rigorous entrance selection and practical assessments. Those who remain must possess exceptional talent and abilities. In a sense, my arrival wasn't particularly inappropriate; after all, the timing was perfect. As a former high-ranking mercenary, I also possessed my own self-preservation abilities.

However, my figure seemed a little out of place among these people - petite and thin, compared to their strong muscles and rigorous posture, I looked like an out-of-place alien species.

Disguised as a man, I'd always maintained relatively soft features, but in this environment, I seemed even more delicate. Although I maintained a calm and silent expression, I could still feel the subtle gazes coming from all directions, each one a bit cold and distant.

These students weren't friendly, at least on the surface. While they appeared to be listening intently and hushed in silence in the classroom, their private interactions were, in reality, remarkably distant and cold. In this environment, everyone jealously guarded their own territory, seemingly unwilling to engage with others unless it was necessary. Even when glances did occasionally exchange, they were often probing and scrutinizing, not friendly.

I was forced to adapt to this competitive atmosphere. In this military academy, relationships aren't as simple as in ordinary schools; they're more of a subtle game of chess. Everyone is secretly calculating their own strategies, quietly waiting for their chance. Perhaps this silent confrontation is the prelude to true war. No one readily reveals their weaknesses, and no one actively offers a helping hand. Everyone understands that here, only the strong survive, and the weak are destined to be eliminated.

The tension in the air was almost suffocating. In the corners of the classroom, people chatted in low voices from time to time. Their words were few, but each one tinged with a hint of coldness and impatience. Occasionally, a few people's eyes would linger on me for a moment, a scrutinizing look, as if judging whether I was truly qualified to sit there.

I tried to say hello to the people around me, but I quickly realized they weren't interested in interacting with me. I could sense the indifference and isolation, an invisible barrier that reminded me that this wasn't a warm campus but a cold, threatening outpost on the battlefield.

Yet, in this environment, I refuse to retreat easily. Perhaps this kind of indifference and alienation is exactly what I need. I know that only in this environment can I adapt more quickly, grow, and even surpass myself. In a sense, this is also a struggle for survival, and I am ready to meet this challenge.

My class, Special Abilities Class 1, is truly considered the pinnacle of combat effectiveness among this year's incoming special abilities class. Every one of us here possesses extraordinary strength—not just accidental talent, but truly elite individuals who have emerged from the test of blood and fire, distinguished by their actual combat prowess and exceptional survival abilities. Each of us must have experienced life-or-death struggles, dangers, and extreme challenges in the recent entrance selection process to be accepted into this class.

To outsiders, these students may appear to be born warriors and fearless heroes. However, they don't consider themselves heroes. Instead, they understand better than anyone that in the battles and competitions of this interstellar world, anyone can be replaced or surpassed at any moment. Each strives to achieve their goals, constantly improving themselves and striving to maintain their position in this icy world.

But I was different. I didn't get in through merit, nor did I pass through layers of screening. My existence was almost like an accident—an "outlier" thrown in by my foster parents. I hadn't undergone the same assessments as them, nor had I proven my abilities in any battles. To the people in this class, my arrival seemed almost without any background to support me. Aside from my status as a foster parent, there didn't seem to be much to be proud of.

I'm well aware of this; blending into this elite group is no easy feat. Everyone around me already possesses their own signature abilities and solid practical experience, while I can only admire their halos and desperately strive to catch up.

While their gazes were mostly cold and dismissive, a subtle wariness could be seen in them. How could an unrelated student, admitted through someone else's "protection," possibly even have a place here? This was a potential threat that could not be ignored, especially since they saw themselves as the protagonists of all this. Anyone else's presence would become an obstacle to their future.

But despite this, I remained calm. Perhaps they saw me as an overconfident outsider, but I knew deep down that I was destined to be unable to rely on others.

I have my own strengths, whether it's the potential of superpowers or the ability to survive on this icy planet, which may far exceed their expectations.

I don't need their acceptance and friendliness, as long as I can find my own place and prove myself in the end, that's enough.

Yet, I still felt a tinge of unease. This way of getting into the "elite class" didn't seem accidental. Perhaps my caregivers had already seen something, and I simply hadn't grasped its deeper meaning yet.

I couldn't help laughing during the principal's passionate speech.

The principal spoke with sonorous and passionate words about the school's glory, combat effectiveness and brilliant future, as if every student in his eyes was a future interstellar hero, carrying the hope of the empire.

And all of these people are racking their brains and trying every possible means to fight for the few places that Wang Sijun is recommended for admission every year.

I glanced at the students around me who seemed calm but were actually preoccupied. Their eyes were filled with competitive fire, and they were staring intently at the opportunities and future ahead, as if they were all waiting for the assessment after this speech, waiting to become the core of the empire's future combat power.

Yet, I simply found it amusing. Because I knew that for these people, no matter how hard they fought, no matter how hard they raced, it was all for a spot, a chance to move from the ordinary army to a higher rank, with more resources and attention. Everyone was fighting for their own path to the Fourth Army, and any obstacle on that path was an adversary, even a threat.

As for me, I was destined to have nothing to do with these people. My future would not be like theirs, where I would be selected to join the Wang Si Army or other high-end units.

Having not gone through the same hardships and having not personally experienced a battle with death, I am probably just an outsider who was "fished into" this school.

I think my fate is destined to be different from that of the elites in this school.

In the end, Ye Qing will definitely recruit me into his army. After all, I am his dependent - a status that not everyone can have.

He couldn't let such an important chess piece go to waste in this place. And I, knowing my mission, had already accepted this fate.

Despite this, I still had no urge to change. I wasn't afraid of others vying for spots, nor was I bothered by the tedious competition, confrontation, and selection process. After all, the final outcome had already been decided, and all that remained was perhaps just waiting.

I looked at the still passionate principal on the stage, a slight sneer curling up at the corner of my mouth. All of these people were fighting for their own opportunities, but to me, all of this might no longer be that important.