CHAPTER 380: CHAPTER 179: KEY TRAINEE

An hour later, the bomber landed at the 011 base.

The one responsible for the landing was Lei Jie.

No matter how talented Jiang Yu was, he still didn’t dare to take risks at this critical stage of takeoff and landing.

But in any case, just the recent flight left a deep impression on him.

If her initial display of skill and quick hands-on ability could be explained by "learning capability," then her astonishing roll in an emergency, which even Lei Jie found incredible, could only be described as talent.

She wasn’t even aware of what she had done; everything seemed to be a reflex based on instinct.

Even after completing the maneuver, she was more flustered than Lei Jie.

---- But so what?

After all, she completed it, and she did it using her intuition, coming up with an optimal solution.

From that moment, Lei Jie was certain that the girl in front of him would be the future top pilot of the Huaxia Air Force.

The quick reaction ability, decision-making capability, and analytical skills she displayed were something many people did not have and could not acquire, no matter how long they studied.

But she was born with them.

For someone like this, are you going to keep her on the ground lugging a rocket launcher, or let her take full advantage of her skills in the sky?

No way!

Lei Jie made up his mind and, after climbing down from the plane, immediately said to Jiang Yu:

"Starting today, all your other work is suspended."

"You will focus on one thing, which is to train according to the plan I provide you."

"You won’t fly until the training is complete."

"This is for your protection, understand?"

Upon hearing Lei Jie’s words, Jiang Yu was momentarily stunned.

A hint of disappointment and confusion flashed in her eyes.

After hesitating for a moment, she asked:

"Commander... Is it because I’m not good enough?"

"I didn’t pass the assessment?"

This question left Lei Jie speechless.

Not good enough?

It’s because she was so damn good!

After a moment of careful thinking and choosing his words precisely, Lei Jie replied:

"It’s not that your flying isn’t good enough; it’s that your flying is too good."

"Just as I said, temporarily grounding you is for your protection."

"Because as it stands, your abilities already surpass this plane’s performance."

"If you fly blindly, it could lead to various accidents."

"For us, losing you would be an unbearable loss."

"I’m not talking about the plane; I’m talking about you!"

"Do you understand?"

"Understood!"

Jiang Yu took a deep breath and nodded solemly.

Lei Jie’s words finally reassured her.

It’s not that I’m flying poorly, it’s that... I flew too well?

This seemed to be the first time in her life she heard such a straightforward affirmation.

Although most people in Qian Island Lake Town acknowledged her identity and abilities, it’s different.

After all, the person speaking is the commander of the Huaxia Army.

They might be the most powerful force in this world, so getting their recognition, does it mean...

She has truly found her footing?

Jiang Yu instinctively looked towards Lei Jie, but he had already turned and left as if he had urgent matters to attend to.

So, she could only turn her gaze back to the bomber steadily resting on the ground.

She looked at it with a hint of fascination.

She didn’t know when she would fly again, but at this moment, she seemed to have found her belonging...

...

A few minutes later, in the operations command room.

Lei Jie stood in front of Chen Jian, speaking excitedly:

"One way or another, I’m set on this person!"

"Damn, do you know how amazing she is?"

"I won’t describe the rest, but the first time she watched a plane take off, she dared to execute a roll!"

"I’ve never seen anything like that in my entire life... can you imagine? Just days ago, she didn’t even know what an airplane was!"

"Honestly, she feels like she’s possessed by something supernatural."

"I dare say if it weren’t for the plane’s limited performance, she might have pulled off a falling leaf maneuver!"

After Lei Jie finished speaking, Chen Jian asked incredulously:

"Is it really that extreme?"

"It really is! What good would it do me to lie to you?"

Lei Jie clicked his tongue and shook his head before continuing:

"I’m serious, this plane isn’t that easy to fly."

"Having flown small fixed-wing aircraft before, I have some experience, but even I find it hard to control smoothly."

"But her? She took to the sky as if she were at home!"

"She’s not afraid of anything, no weightlessness, no overload... it’s not that she’s used to it, she just seems entirely unaware these things exist."

"And her final bombing run was excellent too."

"Her accuracy was a bit off, but the basic maneuvers were flawless."

"I’m telling you, with proper training, she can definitely handle all future flight combat missions we need to perform."

"Even when we have ground attack aircraft later, she can fly those too!"

"Got it..."

Chen Jian slowly exhaled before saying:

"Then let’s decide on this. You will train this person."

"Make sure to protect her; don’t let her meet an early demise."

"Got it, got it."

Lei Jie nodded repeatedly, then Chen Jian asked:

"So what about that Whale Catfish? Did you find it and blow it up?"

"No."

Lei Jie shook his head and said:

"That thing is incredibly cunning."

"It seemed to anticipate our arrival and prepared an ambush point in advance."

"We nearly fell for it, and when we returned to drop bombs, half of that Whale Catfish’s body had already retreated underground."

"The explosion should have caused some damage; it blasted a pit over a dozen meters wide on the ground."

"However, it likely wasn’t a fatal hit."

"It’s still alive?"

Chen Jian frowned deeply.

"Just can’t be sure."

Lei Jie paused slightly before responding:

"When we left, it still seemed capable of movement."

"But who knows, it might be on its last legs already?"

"Either way, its threat to us has greatly diminished."

"With aircraft, as long as we find it, we can kill it!"

"That’s good to hear."

Chen Jian finally breathed a sigh of relief.

The long-standing pressure from being watched and suppressed by this monster was instantly alleviated.

What if it’s strong? Air superiority is absolute, an insurmountable gap.

Thinking of this, Chen Jian said:

"Then let’s quickly arrange the production of the second plane."

"We now have two pilots, and the suppressive power we can generate is considerable."

"As for the Beast Tide... we will give them a King Yan’s roll call to see if they can still rise up in waves."

"Alright, let’s leave it at that for now."

"Go rest first, and after that, get the plane ready again."

"The residents migrating from the Imperial City will arrive soon, and I’m planning a special... welcoming ceremony for them."