Abandoned Omega: Wanted by the Bigshots in the Military Academy

’He always seems to get delayed,’ Zoe Pierce thought to herself.

Because of this, the time that was supposed to be Miles Sherman’s had been cut in half.

’But if you calculated it by the mark, it’s as if there was no loss at all...’

She pushed the thought to the back of her mind.

The commendation ceremony was set for three days later, after which Zoe Pierce would be free to act as she pleased.

The new students still had to undergo military training. Although it was nominally scheduled from September to November, it was actually less than three months long.

If the training had really started on September 1st, Zoe Pierce would have been thrown in at the deep end.

Having grown accustomed to various commendations, the promotion felt rather routine to her and the others.

It was only when she saw everyone in the audience sitting with ramrod-straight backs, their expressions holding the sharp aura of a soldier, that the difference truly sank in.

「The next day」

Director Quinn personally came to pick up Zoe Pierce in a hovercar.

Zoe Pierce had changed into her formal uniform, her hair tied up in a high ponytail. The first impression her pretty face gave now wasn’t one of beauty, but of a valiant, dashing spirit.

Her entire aura had changed without her even realizing it.

The corners of Director Quinn’s lips curved into a slight smile the moment he saw her.

Once they were in the hovercar, Director Quinn told Zoe Pierce about the accommodations that had been arranged for her.

Zoe Pierce still had the campus layout on her Intelligent Brain, and she quickly located the place Director Quinn mentioned.

The faculty dormitories were almost all detached houses.

Since nearly every professor—most of them veterans—was particular about their personal space, and with the existence of spiritual power, the teachers’ residences were clustered together but arranged like a neighborhood of private villas.

They weren’t massive, just over a hundred square meters, but each was a separate two- or three-story building that included amenities like a Psionic Training Room.

The goal was to allow the instructors at the Federal Military Academy to live as efficiently as possible, both for their teaching duties and their personal lives.

Aware that Zoe Pierce’s spiritual power had a wide detection range, Director Quinn had deliberately assigned her a house farther away from the others.

As the hovercar passed one building after another, Zoe Pierce could see the first-year students standing ramrod-straight on the training grounds.

"The military training lasts for about a month," Director Quinn commented, his eyes flicking toward them.

The military training at the academy is longer than at regular schools. "In the past, the Omegas would only train for about a week. This time, they’re training alongside the Alphas for the full month."

"The intensity will just be lower for them than for the Alphas in the later stages."

"So, you still have nearly half a month to prepare."

Zoe Pierce was sitting in the passenger seat this time, not the back. She looked at Director Quinn. "Director, don’t you think you have a little too much faith in me? I have zero experience with this."

Director Quinn’s expression was as stern as ever, but looking at him now, Zoe Pierce no longer found it unapproachable. In fact, she paid it no mind.

"You’re a Colonel now. Instructing these Omegas will be beneficial for your future. If you build a rapport with them now, it will be good for both you and them when they eventually enlist."

As the hovercar neared their destination, Director Quinn continued, "Experience is something you build up over time. I’ve already spoken to a few of the other instructors for you. I’ll send you their contact information in a bit. If you have any questions, feel free to ask them for advice."

Zoe Pierce smiled at Director Quinn. "Director, you’re too good to us."

Director Quinn couldn’t stand such sentimental talk. Seeing Zoe Pierce’s bright smile and her house coming into view, he quickly cut off the potentially emotional conversation. "We’re here. Let’s get out."

As a specially appointed member of the faculty, Zoe Pierce’s safety was a top priority.

"The house was specially renovated for you, and I had specialists inspect everything."

After they got out of the car, Director Quinn began to explain, "It’s all equipped with pinhole cameras. You and the academy have access to the ones outside the house. You have sole access to the ones inside."

"Since you’re an Omega, I needed to be clear on this point," Director Quinn added. "I’ve sent you the exact locations of all the cameras. You can turn them on or off directly with your Intelligent Brain."

"There’s a Psionic Training Room and a physical fitness room in the basement. The second floor is your private quarters, and the first floor can be used for receiving guests. I’ve also left a hovercar for you outside, though you’re free to arrange for one you’re more used to."

After giving Zoe a brief tour of the house, Director Quinn stopped at the doorway.

He gave Zoe’s shoulder a light pat. "Work hard. Do a good job."

Zoe Pierce let out a long breath. "I’ll do my best not to disappoint you."

"Just strive to do your best."

Director Quinn gave a small smile and a nod, waving her off before getting into his hovercar.

It quickly vanished from sight.

The first thing Zoe Pierce did was turn off all the indoor surveillance cameras, leaving only the outdoor ones active.

She had a very clear understanding of her own capabilities now. An ordinary attack was unlikely to harm her.

During her time with the Military, she had grown rapidly in both physical conditioning and her ability to wield her spiritual power.

Unless that Terrorist Organization managed to bombard her with several hundred mecha, she could survive as long as she had a few seconds’ opening.

Clearly, such a premise was impossible on the Capital Star.

The Capital Star’s military power was almost completely controlled. Any mecha that crossed into a restricted zone would immediately receive a warning. Failure to respond would result in it being shot down on the spot.

So there was really nothing to be afraid of.

Zoe Pierce sat on the sofa, simply thinking about how she was going to structure her course.

’Physical fitness is the foundation, without a doubt.’

She thought about the exoskeleton equipment she had seen on her last mission, then glanced at the Omega curriculum Director Quinn had sent over.

Alpha instructors were already handling the specialized physical training, which made sense—it was the Alphas’ methods she herself had learned from.

Director Quinn hadn’t given her a specific teaching subject, leaving it up to her. He had even said that if she came up with good ideas, other instructors could adjust their own courses to accommodate them.

The curriculum for Omegas was still in an experimental phase, and Zoe Pierce was at the forefront of it—a pioneer.

Zoe Pierce wanted to offer them something new.

To that end, Zoe Pierce reviewed nearly all the past lessons from the other instructors, her mind turning over the Military’s current training methods for Omegas, especially regarding the control of their spirit seas.

Zoe Pierce stayed busy with this right up until the Omegas’ military training was about to end, even applying to the Military for certain video materials.

She also spoke with several of the professors who taught courses for Omegas.

If Miles Sherman hadn’t called, Zoe Pierce wouldn’t have even realized that night had fallen.

It wasn’t just a voice call, either. The moment Zoe answered, Miles Sherman’s face appeared on the screen.

"Miles." Zoe Pierce set her lesson plans aside and rubbed her temples. "Why are you calling?"

"Did something happen?" She thought it must be an emergency.

Miles’s eyes swept over her face, his voice low. "Nothing’s wrong. I just wanted to tell you, sweetheart... it’s finally my turn."