After Li Zixuan became an Apprentice Captain, his first task was to stay at the base and mentor newcomers.

Now, the game "Beller" has become a global sensation, with practically everyone aged fifteen to sixty having experienced it. It truly became a nationwide phenomenon as originally planned.

However, playing the game wasn’t the ultimate goal. The game was only the first step in talent selection. Even if one performed exceptionally in the game, becoming a trainee was the best outcome, with further tests needed to remain part of the team.

Additionally, the game provided people with insights into information about the Alien Species and the state of the war against them, which holds great significance for the human alliance.

Li Zixuan had swiftly transformed from a student to a teacher. In the Anti-Demon Army, his rank was Four-star, not lower than the Bearded instructor responsible for their physical training.

Now Li Zixuan has his own small team. The base assigned him four crew members, and as the captain, he’s responsible for leading this team to ensure mission success.

Of course, the base didn’t spend so much effort training him just to let him be a substitute teacher. Although he is now a captain, he’s still an apprentice after all, with much to learn and improve.

So, Li Zixuan continued to mentor cadets at the base while deepening his own studies for further advancement.

Finally, after another three months of academy life, Li Zixuan received his first substantial mission from the base.

"This mission involves escorting a Star Alliance battleship for clearance work. The mission departs in three days, targeting the Ninth Asteroid Belt of the Guleng Star System, with the goal of assisting in cleanup, requiring particle beam mining and salvage tools... Brothers, time is tight. We have only three days to prepare, quickly contact the assembly department to help us refit!"

In the rest area of the Mad Bee Team, Li Zixuan and his four teammates confirmed the mission objective. When he saw that they needed to assist in clearing operations, he immediately realized that this task might not be the combat mission he initially imagined, but something more like mining and salvage work.

However, he was not disheartened. None of the team members showed any displeasure. Instead, they were excited to embark on their first mission in their lives.

Like Li Zixuan, these four teammates had just exited their respective training bases, boarding a real spacecraft for the first time. It could be said that this entire team was composed of newcomers, and their first mission was naturally not going to be a high-stakes combat task.

"This is our first mission outside the orbit of Water Blue Star. Although it’s not difficult, we must not be careless. We must stay focused and give it our all, even if it’s just salvage work, we need to outperform others!"

Li Zixuan encouraged everyone, his face full of energy.

"Don’t worry, boss, we’ve been waiting at the base for months. Now that we finally have a mission, there’s no way we’ll slack off, and we’re setting out with people from the Star Alliance too! My god, I didn’t expect our first mission would let us team up with such big shots!"

One man with plenty of acne on his skin said, appearing to be the youngest among them, still showing some signs of youthfulness, making it hard to believe he was already a registered astronaut in the Anti-Demon Army.

"Indeed, I’ve been on Rebirth Island for a few years now, and I haven’t had any interactions with anyone from the Star Alliance. I didn’t expect to join this mission. If we’re lucky, and they praise us even lightly, wouldn’t that add merit to us? It’d be best if we could directly join the Star Alliance fleet formation, that would be like reaching the top overnight!"

On the other side, a man dressed rather impeccably said.

"Ha, Yin Rao, with you being such a bookworm stuck in the base all the time, it’s no wonder you haven’t met anyone from the Star Alliance. I’ve been telling you to take a break and come to the Sky Garden with me, maybe you’d meet some friends from the Star Alliance."

A robust Caucasian man sneered at him.

"Alright, alright, let’s stop daydreaming. It’s better to take things step by step, focus on doing our tasks properly and make sure to perform well in the mission, so that the higher-ups can see our capability. Only then we can climb higher."

Li Zixuan spoke, effectively putting an end to their debate.

...

The three days passed in a flash. Li Zixuan and the others were ready, piloting their Mad Bee into a space shipyard outside the orbit of Water Blue Star.

"So this is the newly built Victoria Port, it’s truly beautiful. The last time I came here was with the instructor, it seems like it was three years ago, back then this place was just starting with a platform. I didn’t expect it to be completed so quickly."

The only female crew member marveled, her name was Meng Meimei, the logistics support specialist on this spacecraft.