Chapter 137: The Sub-Captains’ Selection [1]

The aspirants settled themselves more comfortably inside the enormous hangar.

Some were standing, while others, too exhausted after completing all three trials, had simply sat down on the floor.

Nobody seemed to have much energy left.

Even those who had been celebrating a few minutes earlier were now silent, waiting to find out what the final stage of the Selection had in store for them.

A massive hologram appeared on one of the hangar walls once again.

The ranking.

The names and positions of all the aspirants were displayed in front of them once more.

Liam stood beside Lydia and the rest of his group.

They were holding hands.

Meanwhile, Jordan quickly chewed on a piece of gum. Chuck had given it to him after the hunter had started getting nervous because he had nothing left to eat after finishing his chips.

"Are you sure you don’t have another bag?"

Chuck shook his head.

"I already told you, I don’t."

Jordan kept chewing.

"This isn’t enough."

"It’s gum, man. You’re not supposed to choke yourself with it."

Liam let out a small laugh.

Then James spoke into the microphone again.

"All right, aspirants. The moment you’ve all been waiting for has arrived."

The conversations ceased.

"Right now, the five sub-captains will step forward one by one and select those they believe deserve to join their respective squads."

James raised a hand.

"I wish you all the best of luck."

After saying that, he handed a small remote control to the first sub-captain.

"With that said... I give the floor to Sub-Captain Amber."

Amber stepped forward until she was standing in front of everyone.

The woman smiled calmly.

"I hope you’re all doing well."

Some aspirants let out a small laugh.

"I know you’re tired. You’ve been through three very demanding trials."

Amber briefly glanced at the ranking.

"And I want to tell you that if you’re chosen by me, I hope you’ll be comfortable working under my command."

She raised the remote.

"Good luck."

She pressed a button, and the hologram changed.

A red circle appeared next to several names.

The aspirants held their breath.

There weren’t many, but each of those names provoked a different reaction.

ADAM COLLINS

RUBY RED

DUNCAN STEEL

MAXWELL MASTERS

LYDIA DAVIS

Lydia’s eyes widened.

"Me?"

Liam immediately smiled.

"Congratulations, honey!"

Lydia looked at her name and smiled.

Then she looked at Liam, and her expression changed.

"But..."

"What is it?"

"Why didn’t she choose you?"

Liam blinked.

"Huh?"

Lydia pointed at the hologram.

"She chose me, but you’re not there."

Liam let out a small laugh.

"Don’t worry."

"But..."

"There are still four chances."

Lydia frowned slightly. She didn’t seem convinced.

Emily walked over and hugged Lydia from the side.

"Congratulations!"

Carol smiled as well.

"You deserve it."

"Thanks..."

Lydia looked back at Liam, who was still smiling.

Amber lowered the remote.

"That’s all from me."

Then she looked toward the other sub-captains.

"I give the floor to Sub-Captain Don Rouch."

Don Rouch walked to the front.

The first thing that caught the aspirants’ attention was his teeth. His gold caps gleamed when he flashed a huge smile. He was also wearing his trademark sunglasses.

"All right."

He took the remote from James’s hands.

"I hope those who are chosen by me feel special."

Some of the aspirants smiled nervously.

"And for those who aren’t chosen..."

Don Rouch shrugged.

"You can always come back and try again next year."

He pressed the button.

This time, the circles that appeared were gold.

The names began to light up.

IVY HARRINGTON

CARL CLARK

DUNCAN STEEL

MAXWELL MASTERS

LYDIA DAVIS

Lydia froze again.

She had been chosen once more.

And once again, Liam hadn’t.

"Congratulations, boss’s wife!"

Chuck gave her a thumbs-up.

"At least you get to choose which squad you want to join."

Lydia looked at him.

"I wouldn’t choose any squad that Liam isn’t in."

Chuck’s smile disappeared.

"Ah..."

Liam gently squeezed Lydia’s hand.

"Don’t worry, honey."

She looked at him.

"There are still three chances."

Lydia slowly nodded, but she was still worried.

Beside them, Jordan was chewing his gum faster and faster.

Chak. Chak. Chak.

Chuck looked at him.

"You’re going to break your teeth."

"I think I’m nervous."

"I think I am too."

Chuck pulled out another piece of gum and popped it into his mouth.

Liam raised an eyebrow.

"You too?"

Chuck looked at the hologram again.

There was no colored circle next to his name.

"I still don’t see a damn circle next to my name."

"There are three sub-captains left."

"I know."

"Then stay calm."

"I’m calm, boss."

Jordan and Chuck continued chewing at the same time.

Chak. Chak. Chak.

Liam sighed.

’He definitely can’t stay calm.’

Don Rouch spoke again.

"Well..."

He adjusted his sunglasses.

"I hope the ladies don’t go crazy now."

Several aspirants raised an eyebrow.

"Because the next person to reveal his selections will be..."

Don Rouch paused dramatically.

"The youngest sub-captain."

Some began whispering.

"Tim?"

"Sub-Captain Tim?"

Don Rouch raised both hands.

"Drumroll, please!"

Silence. Nobody did a thing.

Don Rouch looked around.

"..."

Then he burst out laughing.

"Ha! Well, I guess you’re all too tired to laugh at a good joke."

A voice came from behind him.

"Stop embarrassing me."

Tim walked up to him.

Don Rouch stepped aside, laughing.

"Sorry, kid."

Tim shook his head.

"It’s impossible to work with you."

He took the remote from Don Rouch’s hands and stood in front of the hologram.

Tim’s expression was much more serious than before.

The aspirants immediately paid attention.

After all...

Tim was the youngest sub-captain of the Ace of Spades.

And he was also known for having a rather unique squad. One that, until now, had no men in it.

Emily adjusted her hair.

Carol did the exact same thing.

Both watched the young sub-captain with a sparkle in their eyes.

Liam looked at them.

"Are you nervous?"

Emily immediately answered.

"No."

Carol crossed her arms.

"Not at all."

Liam smiled.

"Sure."

Chuck looked at both of them.

"They’re lying."

"Shut up!"

"Idiot!"

Tim raised the remote.

"Well..."

He looked at all the aspirants.

"I hope those who are chosen by me are prepared."

His eyes swept across the ranking.

"Because I’m not simply looking for the strongest."

Liam paid close attention.

’That sounds interesting.’

Tim continued.

"I’m looking for people who can work together. People I can trust."

The hangar fell silent.

Tim placed his thumb over the button.

Emily and Carol grew even more tense.

Jordan stopped chewing for a moment.

Lydia took Liam’s hand again.

And then...

Tim pressed the button.

A new color began appearing next to several names on the ranking.

Yellow.

The circles began forming one after another.

The aspirants held their breath.

Liam stared intently at the hologram.

And waited to find out if, finally, his name would appear among the chosen.