Qin Yu was awakened by a clamor of noise.
Her ear was pressed against the bed as she listened to the sounds outside.
Even though the soundproofing in the East Palace rooms was relatively good, Qin Yu could still make out the noise from outside.
It sounded like a group of people were moving something, their voices carrying through the wall.
‘Could it be that the simulation pods have been delivered?’ Qin Yu felt a surge of excitement. She was very excited about the simulation pods.
These were things one could only see in science fiction in the real world. Now, in the Phantom World, they could be created through magic. Qin Yu had been looking forward to them for a long time.
She hurriedly got out of bed, got dressed, and went outside her bedroom.
In the courtyard outside the bedroom, there were still traces of the tracks used to transport the simulation pods earlier. Many workers were dismantling them.
“You’re awake? Hurry up and eat your breakfast. We need to prepare for the military exercise.” Luo Shangyu, who was standing in the garden observing all this, noticed Qin Yu and walked over to her.
“I want to see the simulation pods first…” Qin Yu looked impatient.
“The simulation pods are still being calibrated. You can see them later; it’s not too late.” Luo Shangyu pushed Qin Yu, leading her to the main hall of the East Palace where breakfast was already prepared.
Qin Yu sat at the breakfast table, but her mind was already wandering. She quickly finished her breakfast and went to the room where the simulation pods were placed. This room had originally been unused, but now it had become the place for the simulation pods.
Two pure white, egg-shaped simulation pods were placed in the room. Their sci-fi appearance was completely out of place in the classical surroundings.
Qin Yu ran to the side of a pod and gently tapped its hull. It made a crisp sound, but Qin Yu couldn’t identify the material.
“Your Highness!” Yin An’s voice suddenly rang out.
“Yes!” Qin Yu only then noticed that the Grand Tutor was also in the room.
“I’m here to explain the specific details of this military exercise.” Yin An walked up to Qin Yu, handed her a small booklet, then walked to Luo Shangyu and handed her an identical one.
Qin Yu opened the booklet. Inside was not only information about the opposing commander and the soldiers on both sides, but also an introduction to the battlefield terrain.
“The opposing commander this time is named Chen Yufei, a well-known general. Her official positions are Governor of Capital West Road, Minister of War, and Chief Secretary of the Secretariat.” Yin An explained to Qin Yu.
Qin Yu had heard of this person before. Chen Yufei was not old, only around seventeen or eighteen, but her family was prominent, holding a hereditary noble title.
During the peasant uprisings a few years ago, Chen Yufei happened to encounter rebels while traveling. With only a few dozen of her personal guards, she relied on favorable terrain to defeat a rebel force of nearly a thousand.
After this battle, Chen Yufei’s reputation soared. Through her family’s influence, she entered the military for training. In just a few years, she had already become a high-ranking official guarding the capital region. Simultaneously, her military achievements also earned her the concurrent title of Chief Secretary of the Secretariat.
Facing such a formidable opponent, Qin Yu was somewhat worried. She was very concerned that her experience from playing RTS games in the real world might not be enough to contend with a powerhouse like Chen Yufei.
But, as soon as she thought of having Luo Shangyu to help her, Qin Yu became optimistic again. She believed that Chen Yufei, being young, was still a bit green compared to the thousand-year-old veteran Luo Shangyu.
“The location for this battle is a forest in the southern part of the Empire.” After finishing the introduction of the enemy commander, Yin An began to describe the battlefield.
Qin Yu looked at the information in her hand. She hadn’t been to this forest that was about to become a battlefield, but according to the map, it was located within a basin.
The terrain within the forest was relatively flat, with only a few small hills rising up. At the same time, there were rivers winding through it.
“Your bases are on the eastern and western edges of the forest. The victory condition is to capture and hold the enemy’s base for three consecutive days without it being recaptured.”
“Hmm…” Qin Yu was deep in thought. Hearing the victory condition, she already had a strategy forming in her mind for the upcoming battle.
“Qin Yu, you must do your best!” Yin An patted Qin Yu’s shoulder and said earnestly,
“Your exercise with Chen Yufei has attracted the attention of the court ministers. To truly command the Chengji Empire, relying solely on the title of Emperor is not enough…”
“I understand.” Qin Yu nodded with a grave expression. From Yin An’s words, she understood that her victory this time was of extraordinary significance. She had to win.
“Come here.” Yin An called out to the people outside the room, and several individuals entered.
“Your Highness, we will assist you into the simulation pod.”
They gave a slight bow, walked to the front of the simulation pod, and simply pressed a button. The pod slowly opened.
The egg-shaped pod split open along a seam in the middle. The upper half lifted, revealing the interior. The inside was almost hollow, with only a platform resembling a recliner.
“Your Highnesses, in a moment, you will need to remove your clothes and lie down inside naked. This will allow you to fully interface with the virtual world.”
“After we leave, the two of you can begin. Once you are lying down, you only need to press the start button.”
“Alright.” Although Qin Yu found the requirement to remove all her clothes very strange, she accepted it.
Seeing that Qin Yu and Luo Shangyu understood how to use the pods, everyone bowed to them and then withdrew from the room.
After making sure the door was locked, Qin Yu slowly removed her clothes.
The egg-shaped simulation pod was like a bathtub, its side rim higher than the floor.
Qin Yu held onto the rim and slowly climbed inside, lying down on the interior platform.
An icy sensation instantly enveloped Qin Yu. She placed her hands on a part of the pod’s interior that resembled armrests.
‘Is this the switch?’ Qin Yu’s hand seemed to have touched some buttons and knobs, but her almost supine position didn’t allow her to see what was written on them.
She sat up slightly and finally saw the small text next to the buttons and knobs.
‘Door lock?’ Qin Yu gently turned the knob labeled ‘door lock.’ A sound of unlocking came from the door.
‘It’s remote-controlled?’ Qin Yu turned the knob back to its previous position, and the sound of the door locking followed.
“It’s that start button!” Luo Shangyu reminded her from the side.
“I know!” Qin Yu retorted, “I just wanted to explore each one.”
Luo Shangyu couldn’t be bothered to argue with her. She pressed the button, and her simulation pod’s hatch closed.
Not wanting to fall behind, Qin Yu also pressed the start button.
The egg-shaped pod’s lid closed. Faintly, Qin Yu heard the sound of a magic formation activating.
As the lid closed, the top of the simulation pod became semi-transparent, like glass.
Qin Yu was curiously looking at the interior of the pod when a moist sensation traveled up from the soles of her feet.
She looked down. A pale blue, viscous liquid was rising.
‘?’
Qin Yu lifted her foot. The blue liquid slid off her foot, leaving no residue.
‘What is this?’ Qin Yu was quite frightened because the liquid, which had just reached her ankles moments ago, was rising rapidly and had almost reached her chest.
Suddenly, Qin Yu remembered The Matrix, where people were also enveloped in a viscous liquid used as a nutrient solution for raising humans.
‘Maybe this serves a similar purpose?’ Qin Yu had a guess. She also understood why she and Luo Shangyu had to enter the pods naked.
The liquid soon covered Qin Yu’s nose. The feeling of suffocation didn’t come. Qin Yu found she could still breathe.
Just as she was still relieved she wasn’t suffocating, an irresistible drowsiness made Qin Yu close her eyes almost uncontrollably…