Shi Lang and the rest of the people returned to the spaceport. The group did not seem to be the same as they were before. Some girls were holding each other while shivering. Even the team leaders were somewhat pale. They were just keeping up the facade in front of everyone.
Looking at them, Shi Lang sighed, this scene reminded him of the first time his blade claimed a life in the past life. When he killed the Shamantis in this life, he was just rusty but his soul remembered the sensation of killing people. That was not something new to him and in just a few breathes the boy adjusted himself to the reality.
One must harden their own will to get over this. In all this chaos, Shi Lang noticed that two people were still normal. He walked over to a boy and asked, “Jenkins, is this sensation of killing someone not overwhelming you?”
He did not lower his voice deliberately, the others also heard this. In situations where the mind is not sure about what to do it will look at others for opinion.
Jenkins shook his head and said, “I have killed people earlier. My father would arrange for me to go and deal the final blow to death row inmates or people responsible for war crimes. So, gradually I got used to it.”
Shi Lang nodded and finding that he will not be able to channel anything useful from this statement, the boy moved to Amelia, who was also standing aside from the group. He asked in a calm voice, “Are you fine?”
She nodded, her expression was a little different from the indifference on Jenkin’s face. He asked, “What are you thinking?”
The girl said, “Inside that trench while retreating I made a slip-up and bumped into an officer. I acted quickly and was discovered. I acted based on my instinct and slashed my knife at the throat of that officer and ran away. However, that person still shot at my back.
I was already invisible, yet he was able to hit me with a bullet. Then followed a rain of bullets, I could sense my bones cracking when the bullet hit me from a close range, but I ran out. In those few seconds, I sensed the fear of death. I was really afraid. Thinking about it now I realized that if I had been any less willing to kill them, I would have died.”
Shi Lang placed his palm on her around her shoulder as he stood beside her and gave her a gentle squeeze. He said, “I would have hated you if you died so early. We have yet to drink the wine at our weddings.”
Amelia was stumped and blushed. However, this random remark made her relax, she replied in a calm voice, “Who is going to marry you?”
Shi Lang did not say anything and cast his gaze over the rest of the group. Some people heard their conversation and they slowly got over the shock. Instructor Den happened to walk over at this movement. Shi Lang noticed his arrival and said, “Attention.”
The group reacted quickly and all stood up in attention. They saluted to Den and the man said, “At ease.”
The people parted their legs and held their hands behind their backs in a neat movement. They were all still dressed in war gear. Den cast a scrutinizing gaze and said, “You all have done well in the final round of the Military entrance examination. I am glad to announce that you have all passed the exam.”
The group was excited but they did not show anything on their faces. This was a military site. Den saw them all maintaining their composure and nodded. He said, “Now, you will all surrender your firearms and other ammunition to the store in charge over there.” he pointed to a building in the distance and continued.
“You can keep the knife if you want to but only for a moment. After this, we will board the spaceship and head back home.
You will be given a day off before your graduation ceremony, on the same day you will be told where to report to your divisions. Now dismissed, you all have half an hour.”
“Yes, Sir.” replied the students.
The group moved quickly and within twenty minutes they had returned the arms, ammunition, and also the armor. Their uniforms were returned to them and they changed into them. Surprisingly, they all decided to keep the knife as a memento.
…
The spaceship came out of space jump and everyone held onto the plastic bags. Den asked Shi Lang, “Do you think what you said after finding out the special troops was a brave or very good thing?”
Shi Lang said, “I will accept it may not be a glorious thing to hear as you people were on the other end. However, you all put our lives in danger. As a group leader, It is my duty to vent the emotions of my group, similarly like I have to protect their safety and make sure they do not die because of my mistake.
If we had not found out about the special forces and kept on pushing then we all might have been killed with the break of dawn. You cannot shrug away this on my head, Sir.”
Den was stumped by his reply and after a few minutes he said, “Do you know that in military ranks, I am superior to you?”
The boy said, “Sir, you might also know that I am now an official member of that division. You are not my superior, and as for the fact of you being my instructor. I am not a student of the battle class.”
His bland tone and a clear hint of ‘Shove your rank up your ass’ made a vein bulge on Den’s forehead. It just so happen that the two people were sitting beside each other and the whole exchange was done in a hushed voice, and the rest were still dizzy from the space jump so no harm came to the dignity of the instructor.
The spaceship landed in the spaceport of Metropia. The students came out the hatch door and they all boarded a dedicated bus for them. The students were later dismissed by Den. Those who lived in the dormitory moved to the dormitory as the fatigue came washing over them. Those who had been putting up outside moved to their homes as well.
Amelia was walking to the school gate as well to board her car, when a soft voice made her freeze, “Amy..”
This voice, she recognized, belonged to Shi Lang. The boy came up to her from behind and asked, “What are you doing tomorrow?”
Amelia shook her head indicating that she had no plans. The boy said, “Then would you like to go on a date with me?”
The sudden proposal stumped her. The boy said, “You see, we will be given our posting orders tomorrow and I do not know when we will be able to meet, so, I thought maybe you would like to go out and spend some time together.”
Amelia thought about it and nodded in agreement. She did not say much but the sparkle in her eyes and the faint blush was evidence of her happiness. Shi Lang was standing beside her and unable to control himself, he stole a peck on her cheek. The girl opened her eyes and before she could react, the boy ran away.
Amelia stomped her foot on the ground. She did not know the reason she never put up her guard around him. To think that a few months ago both of them were just using each other and showing off their pride and ego.
The girl boarded a car sent to pick her up and sigh, “Maybe this is the reason why I like you.”
The vehicle drove away merging with the rest of the traffic.
…
Shi Lang was running through the crowd on the sidewalk when he suddenly froze and gazed at the dark alleyway on the side. He got inside and said, “Come out.”
A figure wearing black clothes, walked out of the shadow, forming a vague outline from the dim sunlight reflecting off her armor. The figure was that of a female. Her face was covered with a hood, and a soft voice sounded, “Captain Arkham has invited you to meet.”
Shi Lang raised his eyebrow, “Why should I?”
He was not a fool to believe any shady figure popping out of the shadow. The lady also did not make things difficult and slowly used her communicator and said, “Did you not receive a message?”
Shi Lang nodded and said, “I did, however, I will be joining the division only the day after tomorrow, so I have no obligation to follow you up. Please leave.”
That said, the boy moved and merged between the crowd before the lady could even react. She chased after him secretly but his traces were not to be found. She gritted her teeth and raised her communicator. After the call connected, she said, “Captain, he refused…”
After explaining the scene, the lady was told to not lose her calm and go back.
…
In a dim-lit office, Captain Arkham said with a musing smile on her face, “Things are about to become interesting.”