Chapter 138: The Sub-Captains’ Selection [2]

Tim pressed the button, and several yellow circles began appearing next to different names on the hologram.

The aspirants held their breath.

Everyone wanted to know who had been chosen.

But most of all, the women.

And among them, Emily and Carol seemed to be the most nervous.

Liam, on the other hand, kept his eyes fixed on his own name.

10 — LIAM DAVIS

He waited.

A yellow circle appeared next to one of the names.

Then another.

And another.

Liam kept waiting.

’Come on...’

His eyes remained fixed on his name.

But nothing appeared.

A small pang of disappointment ran through his chest.

The names finally became marked.

EMILY GREEN

IVY HARRINGTON

RUBY RED

LILLY RUSSELL

LYDIA DAVIS

Emily’s eyes widened.

"Yes!"

The young woman raised both arms and, without thinking, hugged Carol.

"He chose me!"

Carol barely had time to react before she was caught in her friend’s embrace.

"Emily!"

"I knew it! I knew I could do it!"

Emily pulled away a few seconds later and looked at Carol.

Her smile faded slightly.

"Ah..."

She realized that Carol hadn’t been selected.

"I’m sorry. I shouldn’t be celebrating like this when you..."

Carol quickly shook her head.

"Don’t worry."

She gave her a small pat on the shoulder.

"Congratulations. I knew you could do it."

Emily smiled again.

"Thanks."

Chuck walked over and raised a hand.

"Congratulations, partner. You deserve it."

Emily high-fived him.

"Thanks, partner!"

Liam also smiled when he saw how happy she was.

However, he then turned his gaze toward Lydia.

His wife was still staring at her name on the hologram.

LYDIA DAVIS

Three circles. Three colors.

Three sub-captains.

Amber, Don Rouch, and Tim.

All three had chosen her.

And Liam...

None.

Lydia seemed unable to process it.

"This..."

She looked at the ranking again.

"Three sub-captains have already gone."

Liam took her hand.

"Yeah."

"And all three chose me, but none of them chose you."

Liam smiled.

"There are still two chances."

Lydia stared at him.

"Liam..."

"Don’t worry about me, honey."

His smile remained on his face.

But Lydia could see it.

She knew him too well.

That smile wasn’t real. It was forced.

Liam was trying to reassure her.

He didn’t want her to feel guilty for being chosen.

He didn’t want her to think that her opportunities mattered any less just because he wasn’t being selected.

Lydia squeezed his hand, but said nothing.

She knew Liam didn’t want to see her worried.

So she simply smiled back at him.

"Okay."

Liam nodded.

"That’s it."

◇◆◇

A few feet away from them, the young prodigy Maxwell began laughing.

"Ha, ha, ha!"

Everyone turned their heads.

Maxwell had his arms crossed and a huge smile on his face.

"Tim is way too predictable."

Tim smiled, trying to ignore what his friend was saying about him.

"Always looking to surround himself with women."

Some of the aspirants burst out laughing.

Even Chuck laughed.

Tim sighed.

"That’s not true."

Maxwell shook his head.

"Of course it is."

Then he looked at the hologram.

"Although I have to admit, I didn’t expect you to choose me, even though we’re friends."

Tim stared at him for a few seconds.

"You know I can’t let our friendship influence my decisions."

"I know."

Maxwell smiled.

"But I had to mess with you."

Tim shook his head, amused.

"Whatever."

He took the microphone.

"Now I’ll hand things over to the next one."

He turned toward a man who was calmly smoking.

"Mr. Wayne, you’re up."

Wayne stepped forward.

The cigarette was still hanging from his mouth.

"Thanks for the introduction, Tim."

"You’re welcome."

Tim handed him the remote control.

Wayne took the device and stood in front of the hologram.

Then he took the microphone in one hand and removed the cigarette from his mouth with the other.

He looked at the aspirants.

"I hope those chosen by me are responsible people."

His gaze swept across the hangar.

"People willing to fulfill their duties and work when necessary."

He took a drag.

"If you’re among the chosen, congratulations."

Wayne raised the remote.

"And if you’re not..."

He shrugged.

"You know what to do."

He pressed the button.

This time, black circles began appearing next to several names.

The aspirants quickly searched for their names.

But this time, only three aspirants were selected.

ARCHIE YOUNG

MAXWELL MASTERS

LYDIA DAVIS

Maxwell looked at his name and smiled.

"I guess it’s not bad."

But the strongest reaction came from the other end of the hangar.

Archie froze completely.

He looked at the black circle next to his name.

Then he looked at it again.

And again.

"..."

His lips slowly curled into a smile.

Finally.

After everything he’d been through.

After all the trouble with Fire Skulls.

After having to put up with those hunters who treated him like garbage.

He would finally have a chance to leave that damn guild.

"Finally..."

Archie clenched his fists.

"I’m finally getting out of that damn place."

Wayne watched him from the front.

He saw the young man smiling in the corner of the hangar.

And he smiled too.

Then he looked toward the rest of the aspirants.

It was then that he noticed something.

Some aspirants were already leaving the facility.

Those who were well outside the top 100.

Some walked slowly, while others kept their heads down.

There were tired, disappointed, and saddened faces.

They had made it all the way to the end of the trials.

And yet, they hadn’t earned a spot.

Wayne watched one of them walk past him.

The man clenched his fists as he tried not to show his frustration.

Wayne opened his mouth.

He seemed about to say something.

But he stopped.

Perhaps there was nothing he could say.

So he simply lowered the microphone.

And handed it to the last person remaining.

Jane Armstrong.

The sub-captain took the microphone, but said nothing.

Wayne returned to his place.

Now everyone was looking at Jane.

She would be the last one to make her selections.

Lydia looked at Liam.

He was still staring at his name on the ranking.

10 — LIAM DAVIS

Top ten.

That should have been reason enough to feel proud.

And he did.

But he couldn’t stop wondering about one thing.

’How is this possible?’

Amber had seen him fight.

Don Rouch had seen him during that S-rank dungeon.

Wayne had too.

Even Tim had told him that he found him interesting.

All four of them had seen him in action.

And yet...

None of them had chosen him.

Liam looked at the ranking again.

9 — ROBERT HANKS

Robert hadn’t received a single circle either.

He was sitting a few feet away, completely unconcerned.

It was as if he’d known from the beginning that he wouldn’t be chosen.

And apparently, he didn’t care.

Liam watched him for a few seconds.

Then he looked back at his own name.

’Maybe they won’t choose me.’

He took a deep breath.

’But that’s not the end.’

He had made it this far.

He couldn’t let despair take over.

Lydia squeezed his hand.

Liam looked at her, and she smiled.

"Everything will be okay, honey."

Liam nodded.

"Yeah."

Jane finally raised the remote.

Everyone fell silent.

Emily and Carol stared intently at the hologram.

Chuck and Jordan stopped chewing their gum.

Liam looked at his name again.

Jane didn’t say a single word.

She simply...

Pressed the button.

Several blue circles began to appear.

One.

Two.

Three.

Four.

And finally...

Five.

The selected names began appearing in front of everyone.

CHUCK MILLER

LILLY RUSSELL

DUNCAN STEEL

MAXWELL MASTERS

...

Liam held his breath, because there was one final name.

The blue circle slowly appeared next to it.

And Liam smiled.