Chapter 140: Platinum Rank and the Ace of Spades’ Big Six

Liam walked toward the front of the hangar.

With every step he took, he could feel the gazes of hundreds of people on him.

Around him were the aspirants who had been selected by the five sub-captains to join their respective squads.

But Liam didn’t understand why.

Captain Armstrong watched him approach with a huge smile.

’What’s going on?’

Liam finally reached the front of the group.

Armstrong raised the microphone.

"Welcome, Liam."

Liam gave a slight nod.

"Thank you, sir."

Although his voice sounded calm, he was completely confused on the inside.

Armstrong turned toward the other aspirants.

"As you all know, the five main squads of the Ace of Spades are known as the Big Five."

The five sub-captains remained behind him.

"They are led by the most capable hunters in our guild. The hunters who are part of them are considered some of the best we have."

Armstrong paused.

"But there weren’t always five."

Some of the aspirants began murmuring.

"Until recently, we only had four squads."

Tim lowered his head slightly.

"And then our young Timothy came along."

Several women among the aspirants began applauding.

"Tim!"

"Let’s go, Tim!"

"You’re amazing!"

Tim placed a hand behind his neck.

"This is embarrassing..."

Maxwell began applauding exaggeratedly.

"Bravo, Timothy!"

Tim narrowed his eyes at him.

"Max."

"Our little Tim!"

"Stop doing that."

Maxwell continued clapping as he laughed.

Armstrong smiled as well before continuing.

"Since then, the five squads have become one of the greatest forces within the guild."

The Captain looked at all the aspirants.

"And I have to say, I’ve seen some great prospects in this Selection."

Some of them proudly raised their heads.

"Every year, new hunters emerge with impressive abilities. And, to be honest, it seems like every generation is better than the last."

Armstrong slowly walked in front of them.

"But I’ve also seen some problems."

The smile faded slightly from his face.

"There are hunters who only think about themselves. Extremely talented people who don’t understand how important it is to work as a team."

Some aspirants lowered their gazes.

"There are also those who are too kind. People who put the needs of others above their own to the point of putting the entire group at a disadvantage."

Liam listened attentively.

"It is rare to find a hunter capable of making a team work."

Armstrong stopped.

"Someone who can understand their teammates’ strengths and weaknesses."

His gaze passed over the five sub-captains.

"Someone who can make decisions."

Then he looked at Liam again.

"And, above all, someone who can make others want to follow them."

Liam felt a strange shiver.

’Why is he looking at me like that?’

Armstrong smiled.

"That’s why I don’t intend to waste a great opportunity when I find someone with that kind of leadership ability."

The Captain raised the remote control James had used earlier.

Liam frowned.

Armstrong pressed a button.

The ranking hologram appeared again.

But this time, next to Liam Davis’s name...

Circles appeared.

One red.

One gold.

One yellow.

One black.

One blue.

And finally...

One violet.

Liam’s eyes widened.

"What...?"

He stared at the hologram.

"How?"

The five colored circles belonging to the sub-captains were there.

But none of them had selected him.

Liam turned his head toward them.

Amber had her arms crossed, wearing a calm smile.

Don Rouch bared his gold-capped teeth.

Tim was smiling.

Wayne smoked his cigarette with his arms crossed.

Jane stood straight, watching him with a small smile.

They were all looking at him as if they knew something he didn’t.

Liam turned his gaze toward Lydia.

She was smiling.

And unlike him, she seemed to have begun to understand.

"What’s going on?"

Armstrong let out a small chuckle.

"I suppose it’s time to explain."

Liam swallowed.

"I asked the five sub-captains not to display their votes next to the name of the person I had chosen as the new sub-captain."

Liam’s brain seemed to stop functioning for a few seconds.

"New... sub-captain?"

Armstrong nodded.

"Yes."

Liam looked at the hologram again. The six circles were still there.

"But it was obvious that all of them were going to choose you."

Liam opened his mouth, but no words came out.

’Did I really hear that right?’

A new sub-captain?

Him?

A hunter who, until recently, had been desperately trying to get into one of the squads?

Armstrong smiled as he watched his reaction.

He seemed to be enjoying the moment.

"Liam Davis."

The Captain raised a hand.

"Congratulations on your promotion."

Liam blinked.

"Promotion?"

"That’s right."

Armstrong’s smile grew even wider.

"From this moment on, you are officially a Platinum-Rank Hunter."

The hangar erupted in murmurs.

"Platinum Rank?!"

"How?!"

"That guy?!"

"When did he rank up?!"

Liam stood completely frozen.

"..."

’Platinum Rank?’

It didn’t make any sense.

He hadn’t done anything that justified a promotion of that level.

Well...

He had done a few things that he might not have considered impressive enough...

But...

’Is that really enough for this?’

Liam put a hand to his head.

’Maybe I got hit during the trial.’

’Maybe I’m still inside the simulation.’

’Maybe I’m hallucinating.’

James quickly approached Captain Armstrong.

"Captain..."

Armstrong looked at him.

"Yes?"

"We hadn’t told him that he had ranked up yet."

The Captain’s eyes widened.

"Oh."

Liam stared at him.

James sighed.

Armstrong raised a hand.

"My apologies. I got ahead of myself."

James shook his head.

"That seems to be the case."

"But that doesn’t change anything."

Armstrong looked at Liam again.

"Right now, Liam Davis is a Platinum-Rank Hunter."

The murmurs grew louder.

"And he is also the new sub-captain of the Ace of Spades Guild."

Armstrong continued.

"Therefore, he will have his own squad."

Liam felt his heart skip a beat.

"My... own squad?"

"Exactly."

Armstrong pointed toward the aspirants gathered in front of them.

"And now it’s time for you to select the people you want to become part of it."

For a second, nobody reacted.

Then...

"WHAT?!"

The hangar exploded.

Applause began echoing from every direction.

"Congratulations, Liam!"

"You did it!"

"Platinum Rank!"

"Sub-Captain!"

Liam turned his head.

His teammates were celebrating.

Emily was jumping for joy.

Carol was applauding with a huge smile.

Jordan raised both arms.

Carl was smiling.

Chuck shouted from among the selected hunters.

"I knew you were destined for something big, Boss!"

Even those who hadn’t been selected by any squad seemed excited, feeling that they now had another chance.

Lydia was smiling the widest of all. Her eyes sparkled as she applauded.

Liam looked at her.

Finally, a smile appeared on his face.

A genuine smile.

Not the one he had used to pretend that everything was fine.

A smile filled with surprise, relief, and happiness.

"Platinum Rank...?"

Lydia laughed.

"Platinum Rank!"

Liam burst out laughing.

"This is crazy."

"But it’s real!"

Armstrong approached him and patted him on the shoulder.

"Welcome, Sub-Captain Davis."

Liam looked up.

"Thank you, Captain."

"Now, come."

Armstrong pointed toward where the other sub-captains were standing.

"You’re one of us now."

Liam took a deep breath.

"It’s time for you to make your own Selection."

The Captain smiled.

"After all..."

He raised the microphone.

"We have a new member of the Ace of Spades’ Big Six."

Liam looked toward the rest of the aspirants.

He hadn’t been expecting anyone to choose him.

Now...

He was the one who had to choose.