Fangzhou Xier, starting with failing the art exam

The Duke of Wellington watched this scene and snorted coldly.

He saw no point in this "honorable defeat" tactic.

"His Excellency the Duke seems rather dissatisfied with our performance?" Lacey noticed his expression.

“Your Majesty, I was just thinking that real war doesn’t end with a mere show of force,” Wellington said calmly.

“That’s why we need the Peace Games,” Lacey replied with a smile.

……

In the afternoon, at the shooting range.

"A special event for Laterano!" Mob excitedly announced.

"The showdown between Miss Remuel and Mr. Federico!"

"Meshko Group reminds you: Do not imitate this!"

The outcome of the match was a foregone conclusion.

Exusiai won by a narrow margin in the rapid-fire round, but Executor won back the score in the precision shot round.

The Lateraners swept the top spots in the shooting events.

At the awards ceremony that evening, Chen Huijie, Hoshiguma, Greta, and others stood on the highest podium to receive their awards.

Lai Xi personally pinned the gold medal on Chen Huijie.

“Your swordsmanship is pure,” Lacey told her.

“Leytania has also changed a lot,” Chen Huijie replied.

"Hopefully, there will be more opportunities for Longmen and Triinttelme to communicate."

"my pleasure."

……

As night falls, undercurrents surge within Peace Village.

Tomorrow is the highly anticipated tactical squad competition.

Inside Victoria's camp, the bugle is making final tactical preparations.

“The Sarkaz are adept at creating chaos and exploiting panic.”

"Our mission is to crush them with absolute discipline. Bagpipes, you're in charge of the assault."

"Roger that, sir!" Bagpipe wiped her spear, eager to try.

The atmosphere was much more relaxed in the Sarkaz dwellings.

W was fiddling with a bunch of colorful simulated bullets.

"Hedley, which vent do you think I should hide the 'surprise' in?"

Hedley examined his greatsword: "Proceed according to plan, Ines. How are the Victorians doing now?"

Ines closed her eyes, then opened them after a moment: "That commander called the Horn is very tense; they really want to win."

“Very good.” W grinned.

She picked up a candy and popped it into her mouth, mumbling, "Tomorrow, let those guys dressed like honor guards know what a real battlefield is like."

A side note: [Bonus Chapter] The First Terra Peace Games (Part 6)

"It's here! It's here! The highly anticipated tactical squad competition!" Mob's voice rang out precisely on the morning of the second day.

"Meshko Defense presents to you! This is a simulated combat exercise!"

"The location is—the simulated district of the Imperial Military Academy!"

Inside the Imperial Military Academy, a vast simulated city scene covering several hectares was constructed.

It includes high-rise buildings, a network of sewers, and complex streets, and is usually used for simulated training by military academy students.

"Victoria's 'Storm Commandos' versus 'Kazdel Mercenaries'!" Mob shouted.

"On one side is the epitome of the Imperial Army's regular forces, on the other are ghosts forged in the flames of war! Who will dominate this concrete jungle?"

Both teams entered the field.

Victoria's side: Horn (command/fire support), Bagpipes (assault), Qinliu (flag bearer), and other combat team members.

They were well-equipped, their uniform armor gleaming in the sunlight.

Kazdel's team: W (Demolition/Assault), Hedley (Heavy/Assault), Ines (Reconnaissance), and the rest of the combat team.

Their equipment was a motley collection.

Mob: "The match begins!"

The bugle immediately gave the order: "Bagpipes, seize the high ground! Advance steadily!"

Bagpipes: "Yes!"

Victoria demonstrated exceptionally high levels of professionalism.

They covered each other, moved with precision, and quickly moved towards the center of the block.

On Kazdel's side, Ines vanished into the shadows in an instant.

"Two people on the third floor on the left."

"Two people on the right side of the street."

"The commander is in the rear."

Her voice came through the squad channel.

"Hedley, draw their attention from the front, I'll go add some something to their mix!"

W rushed out carrying a grenade launcher (loaded with a simulated grenade).

Just as Bagpipe reached the third floor, a sudden "boom" was heard beneath his feet, and a cloud of orange smoke exploded—W's preset simulated landmine.

"I'm 'dead'?" Bagpipe looked at the elimination mark on his body in disbelief.

"Take cover! Enemy attack!" the bugle shouted.

Hedley burst out from the street corner, not with a greatsword, but with a sweeping motion using his heavy scabbard.

Two of Victoria's soldiers raised their shields to block, but were knocked back several steps by the immense force.

"Brilliant! Mr. Hedley takes on two opponents at once!" Mob roared.

But the horn reacted extremely quickly; her shield instantly unfolded, firing several simulated projectiles that accurately struck Hadley's leg.

Hedley was "wounded".

Just then, W descended from the sky.

She used a zipline to slide down from the roof of the building opposite; while she was in mid-air, artillery shells were already firing.

"surprise!"

"Boom! Boom!"

The colorful paintballs exploded in the center of Victoria's squad.

Horn raised her shield and tried to withstand the attack, but most of her teammates were instantly "eliminated".

"This is too reckless!" the bugle roared.

"There's no time for you to pose on the battlefield, baby!" W landed and rolled to dodge the horn's shot.

Ultimately, under Ines's intelligence suppression and W's relentless damage output, the Victoria squad suffered heavy losses.

But thanks to the horn's tenacious command, it managed to hold out until the deadline.

"Time's up! A draw!" the referee announced.

There was an uproar.

Victoria's side clearly could not accept this outcome.

The match ended, and both teams returned to the assembly area.

Horn walked toward W with a livid face.

"Your tactics are completely disorganized and rely entirely on underhanded methods!" Horn said, suppressing his anger.

W pulled out a piece of candy: "Oh? You didn't know? On the battlefield, only those who survive are truly capable."

W then wore an unfriendly smile and said, enunciating each word clearly:

"If you're bad at the game, practice more. If you can't handle losing, don't play."

"you--"

The Victorian officer behind the horn, unable to bear it any longer, stepped forward and shoved W.

W's eyes instantly turned cold.

She didn't move, but Hadley did.

He slammed his greatsword into the officer's breastplate with a "bang," knocking him back several steps.

"presumptuous!"

The other members of the Victorian delegation gathered around.

"What? You want to start a war here?" Hedley looked at them coldly.

The atmosphere was tense.

"Everyone stop it."

A cold voice intervened.

He stood with his mace on his sword, blocking the way between the two groups of people.

"Laetanians, this is between us and these demons!" the Victoria officer roared.

"This is Triinttelmere," Jian said calmly. "Private fights are prohibited outside the arena."

"Get out of the way!" The officer drew his sword.

Jian's eyes changed.

She slowly pulled out the double maces from her back.

Just as the conflict was about to escalate.

"What happened, everyone?" Lacey's calm voice came through.

He came over with Taylor and Gertrude.

The Victorian officer immediately sheathed his sword and saluted Lacey: "Your Majesty, the demon has insulted the honor of Victoria."

Lacey looked at W.

W shrugged and threw the candy wrapper on the ground: "He started it."

Lacey turned to the Duke of Wellington, who also came over, looking displeased.

“Your Grace,” Lacey said calmly, “the result was a draw, which is a respectable outcome.”

"The post-match argument was unsportsmanlike."

Wellington stared at Lacey: "Your Majesty, your guest seems to have no concept of respect."

“Respect is mutual,” Lacey said. “In Letania, we respect the rules.”

"The mace is used to see the guest off."

He stepped forward with his mace.

The meaning is clear: either leave gracefully or be "asked" to leave.

Wellington's beard twitched.

To be treated like this in front of tens of thousands of spectators and representatives from various countries is an utter disgrace.

But he glanced at the Imperial Guards standing all around him and Theresis's interested gaze in the distance.