Chapter 141
At the Dragon Soldier Project Training Center, the trainees, who were usually clad in their workout gear, received a sharp change of attire—neat suits were distributed instead.
According to the instructors, from today onwards, training would be put on hold for the ‘Talent Recruitment Period,’ as high-ranking individuals were expected to visit.
While some trainees had eagerly awaited this day, voicing no complaints, others were openly disgruntled. Roman and Cruel were among the latter.
“It’s like we’re livestock being traded. Dressed up prettily just before being sold off,” Roman grumbled.
“You look the part of livestock too, which makes it all the more fitting,” Cruel retorted.
“Do you have a death wish?”
As Roman and Cruel bickered as usual, Kasa, who often stuck with them, deftly intervened.
“Shush! Not today, okay? Even the usually lenient instructors won’t show any mercy today. Look over there.”
Kasa pointed towards a corner where the instructors were gathered, eyes sharp, vigilantly watching over the trainees.
With a change in the Special Task Force leader, the instructors had softened, but today, they were as strict as ever.
Lorena and Charl shook their heads at the sight of the male trainees’ antics.
“How long will they keep this up… Don’t you think so, Lady Lorena?”
“Just ignore them. It’s a headache to get involved.”
“You’re right, aren’t you?”
Charl smiled wryly, surveying the surroundings.
The sight of all the trainees lined up in rows on the first floor common area was strikingly similar to their early days at the training center.
Of course, only a handful of survivors remained compared to back then.
At that moment, nobles and institution heads began to trickle in.
* * *
The trainees were abuzz as they watched the nobles and institution heads stride through the entrance.
“Hey, look over there, it’s the Chief of Police!”
“There are people from the Sangong Family too!”
“And the Inspection Bureau, said to be on par with the Special Task Force…”
“The noble-born kids say today could be a chance to rise in status, and it’s true.”
The trainees were awestruck by the presence of such high-ranking individuals, whom they wouldn’t dare to even glance at directly.
Being recruited by the people mentioned today would be a golden opportunity to leap from commoner to privileged class.
No, even being recruited by an unmentioned country noble would mean living without the worry of hunger for a lifetime.
Their eyes sparkled with anticipation.
Who among these distinguished visitors would choose to take them? What offers would be extended?
Their hearts began to pound with excitement at the possibilities.
* * *
As the trainees harbored grand dreams, gazing at the nobles entering the venue, the instructors, led by Damian, were in constant motion. Distributing documents filled with trainees’ information to the numerous nobles was no easy task.
With only one document left, Damian exhaled with a look of distaste. “Is this the last one?” He searched for the individual numbered ‘100’ and soon found him.
Damian’s eyes widened in recognition. It was Yan, wearing a badge marked ‘100’.
“Wow! You’ve changed quite a bit after staying in such a nice place with good water and air, haven’t you?”
Yan smiled awkwardly as Damian greeted him warmly.
“It’s only been three months, what are you talking about? Has it not started yet?”
“It’s about to start. Where are you off to?”
Yan chuckled and shook his head. “Nothing like that. Just wanted to say hi to the guys, it’s been a while.”
“There will be plenty of time for that later. You know how the process works, don’t you?”
Yan had experienced the ‘Talent Recruitment’ several times before his regression. He knew better than anyone here how and in what order things would proceed.
However, Damian, thinking Yan was unaware, briefly explained.
“After I give my speech and step down, we’ll start with number one. Each person will go up and talk about the advantages of their faction. It’s a way to appeal and attract the trainees.”
Yan nodded. “Then when it’s my turn, I’ll have to give an excellent speech.”
“Indeed. But it won’t be easy. The people who came today are quite formidable.”
“That’s true. I’ve heard this batch is the best ever.”
Damian smirked in agreement. Even excluding Yan, there were more than five trainees who had reached the fifth rank.
The other trainees were also skilled enough to easily overpower a novice knight.
Damian continued his explanation.
After the appeal time ends, the trainees will choose the faction they want to join.
The chosen faction will then have the priority to recruit those trainees.
Recruitment is only finalized when both parties make the same choice.
Those who are not recruited by any faction will naturally become part of the Special Task Force.
Having finished his explanation, Damian shrugged his shoulders, indicating he would leave if there were no further questions.
“Let’s have a cup of tea after everything is over. I have something important to tell you.”
“Tea? Sure. I’ll send an instructor later, so wait for me. I have things to do, so I’ll go ahead.”
With that, Damian turned and left.
And shortly after…
The newly installed podium on the upper floor of the common area was lit up.
Tap, tap.
Damian, tapping the voice amplification artifact a couple of times, began his speech.
“Greetings to the nobles and institution heads who have come from all over the empire. I am honored to have been appointed as the leader of the Special Task Force by His Majesty…”
His voice, carried by the artifact and connected speakers, echoed through the training center.
And shortly after…
“I’ll keep it short. We will now begin the ‘Talent Recruitment’ for the Dragon Soldier Project trainees.”
The Talent Recruitment period had begun.
* * *
The trainees still stood on the first-floor common area, while the distinguished guests who had come to the training center leaned against the third-floor railing, attentively listening to others’ appeals.
First in line were the knight commanders representing the Sangong Family. Their faces were familiar to most, having been known before the regression. Curiously, Hans, the butler from the northern Beowulf Duchy, was also present.
“Is it because he was a former knight commander that Hans has a keen eye for talent?” Yan wondered as he discreetly observed him.
However, Yan quickly realized he was mistaken. Hans’s gaze was fixed solely on Lorena, who stood above the common area.
“If it’s Lorena, there’s a good chance Hans personally recommended her, surpassing the knight commanders.”
If he had come to recruit talent, he should have prepared a speech or at least some appealing points. Yet, he seemed entirely unprepared.
Unless…
“Does he have a hidden agenda?” Yan pondered.
The atmosphere buzzed with anticipation as the recruitment period began.
* * *
The first to make an appeal was the commander of the Sun Knights, the premier knightly order under the Southern Duke, known as the Duke of the Sun. His distinguishing features were his sun-kissed skin, imposing stature, and rebellious gaze.
The trainees naturally assumed he would be rough and boisterous. However, the moment he began to speak, they had to retract their assumptions.
“Greetings, trainees of the Dragon Soldier Project. I am Merriott, serving under the esteemed Duke Juda Caballan.”
Merriott, the knight, spoke with a surprisingly soft and dignified tone.
Yan was familiar with Merriott Jin, also known as the Knight of Scorching Heat. He was one of the favorites of the Southern Duke, a superhuman who had reached the third rank.
Yan listened in admiration as Merriott outlined the Southern Duke’s recruitment terms, which were quite exceptional.
The pride of the Southern Duke’s domain, the Caballan Navy, was offering the right to board their warships.
To the uninitiated, this might not seem extraordinary, but those in the know understood its significance.
Yan couldn’t help but smirk at Merriott’s bold offer.
“The Southern Duke’s main adversaries are the pirates who roam the treacherous seas. As such, the Duke of the Sun holds his ship captains in high esteem, perhaps even more so than his knight commanders.”
Of course, reaching the rank of ship captain required immense capability, but the mere opportunity to board a warship was akin to opening the gates to a promising career.
The trainees, aware of this, were wide-eyed, itching to leap at the chance.
Next up were the right-hand men of the Western and Eastern Dukes.
Beyof, the White Wolf of the Western Duke, known as the Phantom Duke.
Riley, the Knight of Roses, the right hand of the Eastern Duke, known as the Thorn Duke.
Both were superhumans whose prowess was matched by few in the empire, aside from the Sangong Family.
Despite their significant authority, they seemed oddly passive about this ‘Talent Recruitment.’
At best, they offered positions as apprentice knights in their orders.
While these offers were not insignificant, given the prestige of their knightly orders, they paled in comparison to the Sun Duke’s terms.
Then came Hans, the butler of the Beowulf Duke’s household, well-known to Yan.
His appearance caused the trainees standing in the common area to glance surreptitiously at Lorena.
And the other Sangong Family’s representatives swallowed hard at the sight of Hans.
Though retired from active duty, Hans had been a formidable force among the Sangong Family’s knights in his prime.
Now, as the Beowulf household’s butler, he was known as the only person who could speak frankly to the Frost Duke.
If he had stepped forward, it was possible he brought something even more enticing than the Sun Duke’s offer.
“Hmm, the Ice Flower himself has taken the stage…”
“Did the Phantom Duke foresee this and deliberately opt out of this recruitment?”
“…Damn it.”
Hans then took a different approach from the other Sangong Family’s representatives.
“I am Hans of the Northern Wall. Unlike the fellows before me, I have no prestigious positions to offer.”
A flicker of disappointment crossed the trainees’ eyes at Hans’s words.
But Hans wasn’t finished.
“However, any trainee who joins the Beowulf household will be personally mentored by me. I’m not talking about mere advancement. I will generously impart skills and teachings. Until you stand as true powerhouses.”
With a mischievous smile unbecoming of his age, Hans pointed at the Sangong Family’s representatives.
“For the record, I am stronger than those lads.”
For the first time, a cheer erupted from the common area at Hans’s fiery appeal.
It was the most abstract yet, perhaps the most radical and heart-pounding proposition of all.
Lorena shook her head at the atmosphere in the common area.
Afterward, nobles and institution heads continued to step forward, each offering various conditions to recruit the trainees.
Some promised vast wealth, others superior martial arts.
Lesser nobles, with weaker forces and power, offered positions as future knight commanders, heirloom swords, or secret family martial arts.
Institution heads uniformly promised a path to the elite.
Thus, the order swiftly progressed until it reached the last number, 100.
Yan exhaled sharply as his number was called and ascended the podium.
The trainees began to murmur at the sight of a familiar face.
But the instructors quickly silenced them.
And in the ensuing silence, Yan spoke.
“Good to see you all. You know me, right? Yan, number 974.”
Yan didn’t mention flowery words or prestigious positions like the others.
He made just one promise.
“Come to me, and I’ll give you enough elixirs to last a lifetime. The contract is for three years, after which you’re free to leave.”
Elixirs for three years and then freedom?
Doubt flickered in the trainees’ eyes.
But Yan’s next words turned that doubt into eagerness.
“First come, first served.”
As soon as Yan finished speaking, his terms turned the training center upside down.
Not just the trainees, but all the distinguished guests from across the empire were stirred.