Chapter 109 - Rejection

At the 425th Regiment’s stall, the recruits stared in collective bewilderment at a lone person standing among the ranks of platoon leaders and deputy platoon leaders.

It was their acting head instructor for the latter half of their training, Lao Jian.

“Why’s Instructor Lao standing there? Is Platoon 752 looking for recruits?”

“No, can’t you see? It’s a newly formed platoon, Platoon 1777.”

“Huh? Instructor Lao isn’t going back to his original platoon? Didn’t he say he would go back once we graduate?”

“He can’t. I overheard somebody saying just now that Instructor Lao hasn’t been allowed to return since he was called in for investigation at regimental headquarters for losing a raw source energy chunk. Apparently, the military decided it would be better if he was separated from his original platoon members. It seems the acting platoon leader has been doing a good job too, so they just left it as is.”

The recruits passed this news around, though all prefacing it by saying it was hearsay.

These rumors actually came from the platoon leaders and deputy platoon leaders in the regiment, as part of competing for recruits, though it helped that the gossip was also largely true.

While it was true that Lao Jian had lost a raw energy core and was under investigation, saying he was forcefully separated or even expelled from his original platoon was a bit of a stretch. There was actually an important reason Platoon Leader Lao had stayed behind, enduring stares and gossip as he painstakingly formed a new platoon. It had to do with Mira’s promotion to platoon leader being rejected.

Establishing a new platoon involved recruiting ten veterans from the same regiment, then another ten from across the entire army, finding a deputy, and finally scouting out some fresh blood from the graduating batch. It was an exhausting process, both for the platoon leader and others. This was why getting clearance to form a new platoon had always been difficult.

Regiment 425 had managed to secure permission for one new platoon, and they weren’t about to give it up just because Mira’s promotion had been denied.

In a way, this could be seen as a form of karmic retribution between Han Qingyu and Blood Gourd Boy. Lao Jian had tricked him into joining the Coalition, so Han Qingyu indirectly made it so that Lao Jian couldn’t go back.

“Platoon 1777, first round of mutual selection. Please raise your hands if you want to join Platoon 1777!” the regiment lead advisor called.

When nobody raised a hand, he could only repeat the introduction, highlighting Lao Jian’s strength and combat record in the hopes of persuading somebody to join.

The crowd remained unresponsive.

This was a new platoon. Although new platoons still had some veterans among their members, at least half tended to be freshly graduated recruits. Most such platoons in the past started by partnering with neighboring districts and gradually working their way up from there. Basically, it was a trap.

So, even though Lao Jian had served as their head instructor for a time, none of the recruits were willing to be the first to choose him.

“Platoon 1777...” the regiment lead advisor repeated helplessly.

Lao Jian continued to stand there all alone, trying his best to feign nonchalance. Deep down, though, he was actually on the verge of tears. If this went on, he’d have no choice but to scoop up the leftover recruits at the end.

“I’ll join,” a voice finally called out. “I’ll join—that is, if you want me, Instructor Lao?”

Many people turned toward the voice, then burst out laughing.

The speaker was Liu Shiheng.

His D-rank integration level wasn’t actually that bad, and the majority of platoons in Regiment 425 would’ve normally welcomed him. That was, if not for the fact that he was the recruit most notorious for refusing to go into battle.

Peals of good-natured laughter broke out.

“Come on,” Lao Jian beckoned. When Liu Shiheng walked over, he smiled wryly and whispered, “At least we can talk about Han Qingyu together since we both know him. It won’t be as boring that way.”

Gasps suddenly filled the air.

Looking up, Lao Jian was astonished to discover that Mira had approached in her capacity as a deputy platoon leader.

“You, Miss Mira?” Lao Jian asked nervously.

A while back, he had foolishly tried to take her in as his goddaughter, much to her offense. Considering the fact that her promotion had also been rejected, there was simply no way she was in a good mood.

Why would she agree to be my deputy platoon leader? Lao Jian wondered. Is she messing with me?

Lao Jian couldn’t help but hesitate.

“Am I not welcome?” Mira asked coldly, sending him a glance.

“Of-of course, v-v-very welcome! Thank—thank you for joining us, Miss Mira!” Lao Jian hastily stammered out, his tone rushed but fawning. He was afraid she would change her mind and walk away. “How about this? From now on, I’ll be the platoon leader in name, but ?you could have the same authority in practice...”

He had yet to even scout out a deputy platoon leader. In that capacity, Mira was undoubtedly an excellent choice, both in terms of battlefield support and day-to-day operations. She had proven this over her past five years in the position.

Not to mention, she likely still had connections with the veterans she had originally planned to recruit for herself.

When Lao Jian saw that Mira, though silent, had stopped to stand beside him, he breathed a sigh of relief.

At that moment, a sudden applause rang out.

A middle-aged officer was walking toward the 425th Regiment, clapping with a smile. The man stopped in front of Regiment Commander Li, leaned forward, and directly applauded him.

“Congratulations, Old Li! Congrats on supplying the army with two outstanding recruits this year. You’ve made a great contribution!” The man chortled.

Li Wangqiang stared silently at him.

“Especially Han Qingyu! He’s definitely going to go far, don’t you think?” the man continued, unperturbed. “I just wonder if anyone will remember that he actually came from Regiment 425 by then. You know how it is. When people talk about this kind of thing, they usually just say what platoon that person came from.”

Unable to hold back any longer, Li Wangqiang finally snapped, “Yang Wudong, you got a death wish?!”

The man remained unruffled. Smiling, he asked in an exaggerated tone, “What kind of language is that, Old Li? I thought we were good friends. I’m just here to congratulate you!”

The commotion this exchange caused had brought the 425th’s mutual selection to a halt, as everyone stopped to gossip.

“Who is that? How dare he be so rude, deliberately rubbing salt in our regiment commander’s wound in front of everyone?”

“That’s the commander of Regiment 439, Yang Wudong. Don’t you remember?”

“Nope.”

“Back when we were preparing to return from the source energy field last September, he was arguing with Regiment Commander Li about our routes. He also exposed Little Qing as an A-ranker, and even kicked him to boot!”

Oh, I remember now. He’s Regiment Commander Li’s old rival in love!”

“Right, old rivals in a love that neither won.”

“No wonder. They were already taking jabs at each other back then...Oh no, the regiment commander is standing up. Do you think they’re gonna start fighting?”

“Let them fight. It could be good for our regiment commander. He’s been in a bad mood, so he might as well let off some steam.”

Things had already descended into chaos at Regiment 425’s stall.

***

An announcement suddenly blared from the command platform.

“Recruitment for the Gold Erasers has begun. The mutual selection for the Gold Erasers is now underway.”

A crowd of recruits instantly rushed en masse toward the command platform. Some headed over because they were confident, while others just wanted to try their luck. Regardless, they were all looking to compete for what they assumed was the only remaining spot—the other one was all but promised to Han Qingyu.

“By the way, where’s Han Qingyu?”

“You’re right, where is he?”

“I haven’t seen him.”

Even if it was a done deal, procedures surely still had to be followed. A round of asking and searching around confirmed it for the gathered recruits: Han Qingyu hadn’t shown up!

A few of them anxiously stood on tiptoe to scan the training ground, only to realize he was standing back in the military formation.

There weren’t many people left in the formation.

It was only at this moment that He Tangtang finally built up the courage to ask, “Little Qing, are you sure you don’t want to join the Gold Erasers?”

He was determined to follow Han Qingyu. However, if his friend joined the Gold Erasers, there was no guarantee they would want He Tangtang as well.

Everyone still in the formation immediately gathered around to hear Han Qingyu’s response.

“Mn.” Han Qingyu nodded.

An uproar rippled through the crowd, spreading across the training ground.

News inevitably reached the command platform as well.

“Han Qingyu isn’t joining the Gold Erasers.”

“Huh? Really?!”

“It’s true. He just said it himself. And look around, he isn’t here, is he?”

“That’s insane. I think I’m actually losing it.”