Chapter-35 My name!!

With everyone gathered, Merrick prepared to lay down the rules for their final task. He surveyed the students, who stood tall and eager, ready to embrace their mission. The air was thick with anticipation, and the faint rustle of gear and equipment underscored the seriousness of the moment.

"You've all completed your initial training," Merrick began, his voice steady and commanding, "but now it's time to embark on the true journey of a soldier. Your objective is to eliminate the zergs in your designated area. Each zerg is equipped with a unique chip that tracks which team is responsible for its demise, leaving no opportunity for dishonesty."

The students exchanged glances, their expressions a mix of determination and excitement. They had trained for this moment, and now it was finally here.

"For every zerg you take down, your team will earn points," Merrick continued, his tone shifting to one of encouragement. "The team that accumulates the most points during this assessment will receive a special reward from the Academy. This is not just about individual glory; it's about teamwork, strategy, and the bonds you forge with one another. You have one month to complete this task."

He took a step closer, his voice lowering to a more personal tone. "I want you to remember why you chose this path. Each of you has the potential to become a great soldier, but it will require sacrifice, courage, and unwavering commitment. Trust in your training, trust in your teammates, and above all, trust in yourselves. Best of luck to you all!"

Imanuel arched an eyebrow, absorbing Merrick's uplifting words. Had he not been paying attention, he might have overlooked the fact that Merrick held the rank of Admiral. Since their last encounter, Merrick had made it a point to seek him out whenever he had a moment to spare.

Imanuel had attempted to decline his advances with subtlety, but alas, Merrick's confidence in his charm was unwavering. His boldness had escalated recently; just the previous night, he had asked Imanuel out. Had Imanuel not turned him down, he might have found himself on the receiving end of a heartfelt confession.

As Merrick continued to motivate the students with his steady tone, he caught sight of Imanuel. A smirk danced at the corners of his mouth, and without hesitation, he shot Imanuel a playful wink.

Imanuel: "….."

Okay, maybe I misjudged this guy; he's utterly audacious!

…

"Fuck! Did that peacock just wink at the top beauty!?!" Kester was angry when he noticed Merrick's actions.

Everyone at the base was well aware of Merrick's infatuation with Imanuel, whose ethereal beauty naturally attracted admirers.

But the problem is messy romantic history of Admiral Merrick. It is said that he doesn't care about gender of the other party, but no one has ever been able to stay beside him for more than 3 months. Even though he has great career achievements, but his personal life is too chaotic.

Liam's expression was also pretty ugly, "He really deserves a beating!"

"Don't worry! We will definitely have a chance in the future!"

Liam nodded vigorously, "Yes! Mr. Imanuel doesn't seem to like him either! So there should be no chance for the Admiral."

If eyes could kill people, than Merrick would have died at least a thousand times under their gaze. But he ignored all of them and continued his speech wothout any burden. Anyways, they are just half grown kids, they can't do anything even if they want to.

After he finished giving the instructions, it was time for the team arrangements. In fact, the list was already organised, so it didn't take long before they joined their teammates and started making preparations.

"Hey! Liam! It looks like we are in the same team!" Kester exclaimed.

Liam was also looking at the list. Their team comprised 30 members, including five students with S-level mental power, six individuals at the A-level, one exceptional S-level healer, and the remainder falling into the B and C categories of mental power.

Suddenly, his gaze stopped at a certain name, "Kester! He is also in our team…"

Kester glanced at the list, and his expression turned as dark as a cloud on a stormy day,"This bastard Troy is really lucky this time."

Troy, who was coming towards this direction, shuddered after hearing this. If possible he really wanted run away, but it's a pity that he definitely cannot do this now that he is in their team.

Even since that day, he has been trying hard to avoid Kester as much as possible. His sworn big brother Nickolai, who could put up a fight with Kester, did not participate in this special training, leaving Troy to fend for himself with a bunch of sidekicks who couldn't fight their way out of a paper bag.

….

Before long, the entire team had assembled, and in a silent consensus, they selected Kester as their leader. His prominent status and exceptional mental strength made him the best candidate for the role.

Kester was not surprised, so he swiftly stepped up and designated their roles. "No. 2, 7, 4, and 10 will join me on the offensive front. Liam, you'll take charge of the defense alongside no. 5, 11, and 14."

Kester then shifted his focus, his tone becoming more serious. "No. 21, 25, 29, and 16, you will be tasked with safeguarding the healer during our journey. Keep a close watch and ensure he can focus on his duties without distraction."

Even though this healer could not help the people from the empire, but at least he can help others. So, it is better than nothing.

Finally, he addressed the remaining members of the group, "The rest of you will provide support. Whether it's gathering intel, supplying resources, or offering backup when needed, your role is crucial. We're all in this together, and every contribution counts."

Everyone was satisfied with this arrangement. Even if there were a few who were unhappy, they didn't dare to speak it out loud in the presence of Kester.

Just at this moment they heard a familiar ethereal voice.

"Ahem! Can I ask the Captain what am I supposed to do?"

All of them immediately looked towards the source of voice. There stood the silver haired beauty who could only be viewed from a distance in their minds.

It took a long time for the calm and composed Kester to come back to his senses. His face was flushed, even his dark horns turned a little red at the tips, "M-mr. Imanuel! Why are you here? N-no … I mean It's a pleasure to meet you!"

Kester was really flustered to meet his crush at such a close distance. During this time, they rarely saw Imanuel on the training field because the other party was always in the hospital to perform surgeries on soldiers whose mental sea was damaged.

Imanuel smiled at their reaction, "It's nice to meet you too."

Seeing that they were still confused about his sudden appearance, Imanuel took the initiative to explain, "I know you all must be confused… I will also join your team because I need to look for a special flower in the area assigned to you… I hope you won't find it troublesome."

All of them knew that Imanuel's main focus was on mental power, so he must need it for his research. So, they welcomed him enthusiastically.

"Mr. Imanuel! How can it be trouble!? Please feel free to join us!!"

"Mr. Imanuel, you are more than welcome! We will definitely help you find this flower. "

"Yes! Mr. Imanuel! You can just tell us what it looks like!"

"Thank you, everyone. But you don't need to worry about me… I will bring someone to help me. You guys can focus on your task…" Imanuel did not want to take advantage of them, so he refused politely.

Although they really wanted to help Imanuel, in the end, they didn't force it.

"Ahem!"

They immediately looked Kester, who was trying to get their attention. Even though there was still a slight blush on his face, he finally calmed down, "Mr. Imanuel, You don't need to worry. As soldiers it is our duty to protect people, so you can rest assured, we will help you get your things smoothly."

Imanuel did not argue anymore, he said with a smile, "Okay, then please take care of me on the journey, Captain Kester!"

After saying that he talked with others to familiarise himself with them. But he didn't know how lethal the effect of his words had on Kester.

My name!

He knows it!!

He knows my name!!!

Kester was so happy about this fact, that he immediately wanted to turn into his prototype and fly in the sky.

Liam, on the other side, was hesitating as he looked at Imanuel. He really wanted to talk to him, but he didn't know how to start a conversation.