Chapter 203: Rank Conferral Ceremony

Hearing these two names, the crowd voiced admiration, and then the applause below thundered.

Not to mention the Donghuang Supreme Commander Yixian, even the Maritime Affairs Bureau Director General Qinglong had only met them once at the opening ceremony; normally such figures are never seen.

Moreover, especially the Donghuang Supreme Commander Yixian, there has never been talk of her attending the Commander Academy's graduation ceremony; this might be her first time coming to the academy for a graduation, so they are extremely fortunate.

Furthermore, many commanders, even after a lifetime of struggle, rarely see the Donghuang Supreme Commander.

As Qinglong and Yixian waved to the crowd, the applause below grew even more fervent.

Amid such applause, Qin Ge's heart was not calm; instead, he turned his head and quietly asked Mikasa senior, "Mikasa senior, what do you think Yixian is coming to our school for this time? Someone like her wouldn't come to a school's graduation ceremony for no reason, would she?"

"I don't know." Mikasa shook her head, then smiled and said, "But I notice Yixian's glances toward this side have increased a bit; perhaps she's come to find you."

"Well, Mikasa senior, don't joke." Qin Ge said speechlessly, "She is the esteemed Donghuang Supreme Commander, equivalent to overseeing the entire Donghuang navy; could she possibly come to the academy to find me, a first-year student?"

Beside her, A Furore chuckled, "If you were merely a first-year student, that would be impossible, but you are simultaneously a first-year student and a tactical instructor at the Commander Academy, an existence that has altered the pattern of Donghuang's coastal defenses."

With such an identity, it's not impossible but highly probable. Therefore I think Yixian most likely came because of you.

"Huh?" Qin Ge was somewhat surprised, and looked over at Yixian; at that moment, Yixian happened to look his way, nodded at him, then turned her gaze to the Prince of Wales.

If before it was merely A Furore and Mikasa's speculation, now Qin Ge can be certain. As the Donghuang Supreme Commander Yixian, this visit to the academy indeed possibly is for him.

Could it be that the Prince of Wales told Yixian about his situation? Or perhaps it's truly because of his own achievements, as A Furore said?

Unclear, Qin Ge suddenly felt his mind a bit muddled, but now is not the time to think about that; after the meeting ends, he should know the outcome.

Whether blessing or curse, misfortune cannot be avoided; the esteemed Donghuang Supreme Commander surely wouldn't make things difficult for himself, would he?

Holding such thoughts, Qin Ge relaxed his mindset and continued listening to the Prince of Wales's speech.

"... I hope everyone does not waste the two years of study at the Commander Academy, nor their own efforts. Always remember the oath we took upon entering the academy: together strive to repel the Blades, defend Donghuang, and safeguard the Azure Lane."

As the Prince of Wales's impassioned speech echoed, enthusiastic applause rose from below. First-year students were greatly encouraged, while second-year students shed moved tears, for two years is not something that passes in a blink; all the hardship and difficulty they have endured bit by bit.

After the Prince of Wales finished his speech, he paused a moment and said to everyone, "Now please have the second-year commanders come on stage in order, and also have all instructors rise to bestow the non-commissioned officer rank upon the second-year commanders."

After hearing that, Qin Ge immediately stood up with Mikasa and the other instructors, walking to the front of the stage. Meanwhile, Ninghai, who manages the warehouse, pushed a small cart over, upon which lay the non-commissioned officer rank and other items.

Qin Ge and a few others nodded, each picking up a set of shoulder insignia and similar items, standing in a row, awaiting the arrival of the second-year students.

The second-year students then came forward from front to back in order, stepping onto the stage, standing before each instructor, and with the instructors' help changed into the non-commissioned officer rank.

The whole process took a considerable time, after all there are fewer than ten instructors while the second-year students number over a hundred; after finishing with the ranks, each person said some encouraging words, thus consuming much time.

After the last batch finished changing, the Prince of Wales said again, "From now on you are no longer a cadet commander but a true commander; you must face stronger enemies and harsher wars, so are you ready?"

"Ready!" the second-year students below shouted enthusiastically.

"Very good, I heard your voices and sensed your ambition, so keep striving!" the Prince of Wales smiled, "But before that, for commanders who have performed outstandingly within two years at the school, the school will give appropriate rewards."

"Now I will call the names; those named please come on stage. Chen Bo Jun, Zhang Shaocheng, Wu Kedong..."

As the Prince of Wales's voice sounded, several people walked onto the stage, and these individuals are the school's prominent figures.

Chen Bo Jun needs no introduction—he is the winner of both the individual and team championships in the Exercise League.

Zhang Shaocheng is no slouch either; otherwise he wouldn't have accumulated so many supplies right at the start of his second year, purchasing Wisdom Cubes from Qin Ge.

As for the other few, they too have achieved in other areas; basically these people represent the strongest batch among the second-year students. Naturally, the one in charge of awarding this time is Dean Prince of Wales, and besides the honorary certificate, there are also some resource rewards.

And after these awards were finished, the Prince of Wales continued, "Of course, besides outstanding commanders, our school has also produced many outstanding instructors this year, and among them, Instructor Qin Ge's contributions to the Commander Academy, to Donghuang, and to the Azure Lane are the most outstanding."

Therefore here we confer upon him the title of Honorary Instructor; no matter where he goes in the future, he will forever be the Honorary Tactical Instructor of the Commander Academy.

When the Prince of Wales finished speaking, Qin Ge also rose from his instructor seat, and amid enthusiastic applause from the nearby instructors, he stepped forward toward the Prince of Wales.

The Prince of Wales then took out an honorary certificate and a medal from his Ship Equipment space, presented the certificate with both hands to Qin Ge, and also hung the certificate on his chest.

"Hehe, keep working hard from now on." the Prince of Wales laughed, saying to Qin Ge.

"I will surely not disappoint the Dean's expectations." Qin Ge nodded, feeling the weight of the honorary certificate in his hands, inevitably sensing its heaviness.

"These are merely the academy's rewards for you; besides these, there is also someone who will give you a reward." the Prince of Wales said.

"What? These aren't over yet?" Qin Ge said to the Prince of Wales.

"Of course not." the Prince of Wales shook his head, turned around, faced the crowd, and said, "This lifetime honorary instructor title and badge are the Commander Academy's reward for Instructor Qin Ge.

"And now let us invite the Donghuang Supreme Commander Yixian to bestow the Donghuang Command Department's reward upon Instructor Qin Ge!"