Military personnel's efficiency is indeed commendable. After receiving instructions from Expert Sofia, Number 0 obtained a reassignment letter by the afternoon.
The reassignment letter stated that in recognition of the comrade's outstanding contributions to multi-species research, they are especially reassigned to Prehistoric Society for species research. Even the "outstanding contribution" that made both Little Eight and Number 0 laugh and cry was written with sincerity and conviction. The mutant leech killed by Number 0, through the analysis of blood samples from its body, led Expert Sofia's team to identify more than ten unrecorded prehistoric creatures, several of which were the evolutionary ancestors of modern poultry and livestock. If conditions permit, in the future, the Kapa Military District will no longer need to import those troublesome pigs from the year 2564.
Accompanying the reassignment letter was the dull alien meteorite, which Number 0 also packed into their military bag. Before leaving to "return" to the year 2564, Number 0 checked their equipment and attributes for one final time.
Name: Number 0. Military Rank: Private (↑). Physical Strength: 100 (↑) Spiritual Power: 100 (↑) Anger Value: 0 Military Merit: 1250.
Equipment Attributes: Weapon, Zero-type Needle Setting Gun. Private Uniform, Durability 146/200. Thin-bottomed military boots, Durability 46/100. Military Backpack: 3/10, Prehistoric Map has been retrieved. The backpack contains the mission manual, NPC Maggie's species manual, and the newly acquired black meteorite. On the mission manual, completed mission count: 3, they are System Mission One, Escape Enemy Camp; System Mission Three, Save Kapa Military District. Special Mission, Rescue Expert Sofia.
Compared to before, the data and military rank have basically not changed, except for the newly added (↑) symbol.
"(↑) This symbol is the provisional mark before the system's final evaluation, after passing the evaluation, you will receive the corresponding ability enhancement." After nearly two months, it was easy to invite the deity but hard to send them away; finally managed to send off this maddening Number 0.
NPC Maggie was not informed in advance of Number 0's departure. On the night of the fifty-sixth day into the "Military Road" system, Number 0 knocked on NPC Maggie's door. Expert Sofia answered the door, and upon seeing Number 0, she hurriedly wanted to wake NPC Maggie, but was stopped by Number 0.
As Number 0 entered NPC Maggie's room, the little girl was sleeping soundly. After the two camps merged, NPC Maggie had more playmates, and the improvement in meals made her complexion rosier. Even in her sleep, NPC Maggie wore a smile on her lips.
"I won't belong here much longer, and I don't want the separation to seem too sorrowful," Number 0 remarked with emotion, unable to explain too much to Expert Sofia: that they were merely a passerby who hurried through Prehistoric Society.
"Even when you return to 2564, as long as your blood is purified, you can still come back to Prehistoric Society. Just like Colonel Barton and Colonel Washington said, you are always the military district's most outstanding private, Number 0." Expert Sofia was also reluctant to send Number 0 back to 2564, but for the order of the entire Prehistoric Society, she had to make that decision.
The Private First Class waiting to escort Number 0 back to 2564 was outside. Number 0 gently straightened the bedding for NPC Maggie and nodded to Expert Sofia as a farewell gesture.
The military transport route to 2564 is located between Dinosaur Forest and Kapa Military District. Leaving at dawn, it takes about six hours to reach the transport route, just in time to catch a prehistoric society sunrise.
The Private First Class escorting Number 0 was an enthusiastic Scot with a round ruddy face that glowed as if perpetually flushed from drink. All the way, he kept comforting Number 0: "Private, you don't need to be too sad. When we move to the new military region, the colonel will surely find a way to get you reassigned back here. I think Prehistoric is much better than 2564. What do you say, Number 0?"
Without the expected rustle of movement behind him, the Private First Class turned his head to see the grass where they had trampled lay prostrated on the ground, with no one behind him.
On a nearby hill with higher ground, a solitary figure stood. The sun rose from the horizon, and in the sky, the wings of several Pterosaurs, like gliders, flew towards the direction of the sunrise.
The silhouette seemed to shrink, as if being swallowed by the rising sun, until at last, it was as small as the head of a pin.
The Scotsman Private First Class squinted his eyes in pain, irritated by the brilliant morning sun. With narrowed eyes, the figure that resembled a black dot vanished, his reddened face carrying a look of bewilderment.
"Where did the person go, Number 0?"
In front of the fountain, now glistening with sparkling water, an additional figure appeared.
At the moment of sunrise, Number 0 had Little Eight transport her to the assessment point.
The transportation process was brief; in the blink of an eye, Number 0 was taken to the front of the fountain.
This was somewhat different from the "Crown of the Moon" seen by the National Security Department trackers that night. Perhaps because the time when Number 0 was transported had changed, the decor at the assessment point was different too, with the dried-up fountain transformed into the Life Spring, endlessly spraying water. At the center of the fountain no longer stood the Moon Instrument, but a Sun Instrument instead.
"Welcome to Sun's Crown. Here I will conduct the final review of your Military Merit Points. After the review is complete, you will be promoted to Private First Class. Would you like to proceed with the final settlement of your military merit?" The Sun Instrument rotated, a majestic male voice explained to Number 0.
"Yes," Number 0 walked into the fountain, where shiny white pebbles were spread across the clear waters. Beneath the water's surface, her reflection emerged—a face unlike Xia You's, yet strikingly similar.
"Name, Number 0. Final military merit, 1250 points. Military Merit Points required for promotion: 1000 points. After deduction for promotion, 250 points remain." No sooner had the male voice finished speaking than the military rank on Number 0's uniform changed. It went from a blank insignia to that of a Private First Class.
The final confirmation continued, "Total salary for two months as a Private amounts to 1000 military coins. Completion of the space mission is at 80%, meeting the requirements for a space reward. Number 0, would you like to accept the space reward?" The male voice inquired once again.
It turns out Little Eight wasn't deceiving her, after completing the space mission, there really were additional rewards besides military merit, but it was unknown what the reward would be. Number 0 responded with a question, "Yes, please tell me what the space reward is."
"You may freely take any one item from the Prehistoric Space," answered the Sun Instrument.
"Any one item?" Number 0 pondered. What should she take away? If possible, what she wanted most was to take NPC Maggie, but doing so would be wrong for both her and her family. Besides, bringing a virtual character into real life might create a whole series of problems.
"You could ask for some good equipment, like those combat weapons in Kapa Military District's arsenal. When you're capable of using them, they can be used again," Little Eight sought to help her reach enlightenment, as Number 0 tended to blank out at crucial moments.
Seeing that Number 0 was still hesitating, Sun's Crown did not force an immediate decision. There was still more than a day left before the two-month time limit of Military Road game concluded. Number 0 had more time to think. "Or perhaps you would prefer to exchange your remaining Military Merit Points first? Excess points can be used to exchange for military coins or the military equipment you need?"
"Military coins and military equipment..." Number 0 was uncertain whether she would enter "Military Road" again. Once she exited the "Military Road" system, she might have to face more secretive matters within Rand Military District. If that were the case, exchanging for military coins and equipment would not be so practical after all.
"Wait," someone, or more precisely, a player, suddenly appeared in front of Number 0.