Chapter 723
Chapter 723: Episode 029 Selection End (10)
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4 min read
However, the two instructors who usually wait for them were nowhere to be seen.
Surprised initially, the group quickly straightened up, lining up in silence.
A quiet stillness prevailed.
The sky was clear, the morning sun spilling through the clouds, bathing the entire base in a gentle glow.
Half an hour later, Austin Shepherd and Nathan Foster arrived, obviously late.
"Isn’t today supposed to be a day off training?"
Surprised by the confusion on Austin Shepherd’s face, they watched as hundreds of eyes fell on them simultaneously, a wave of fierce energy washing over them.
Nathan Foster deliberately lagged half a step, leaving Austin Shepherd to bear the brunt of the intense stares.
Austin Shepherd looked slightly uncomfortable.
Without saying a word, it was clear they were all waiting for results.
Last night, Austin Shepherd and Nathan Foster had spent the entire night reviewing all the information of the new recruits. As dawn was breaking, they summoned Bard Walker and finally, twenty minutes ago, finalized the list.
This was their first time coaching, and their first time selecting personnel.
Needless to say, being the subject of so many intense gazes significantly increased their anxiety and pressure.
Standing in front of several hundred people, Austin Shepherd needed to muster up some mental fortitude.
"The following people, step forward! Men and women, form separate lines!"
With the newly printed list in his hands, Austin Shepherd tried to maintain his composure, focusing his gaze on the names in his hands.
"Selena Wilson!"
"Calvin Ramos!"
"Stuart Weston!"
"Flossie Wright!"
"Becca Reyes!"
"Belinda Nichols!"
"Jocelyn Carrington!"
One by one, the names rang out, echoing powerfully across the square.
It took three minutes to finish reading the list.
For these new recruits, each second was pure torture.
Out of the 300 recruits, Austin Shepherd only kept 60 for the amphibious combat team.
Among them, 20 were women, and 40 were men.
Those whose names were called sighed in relief, but many didn’t know that this was just the beginning.
For this team, sixty people were too many.
After reading the names, Austin Shepherd handed the list to Nathan Foster.
Gesturing for him to continue reading.
Nathan Foster looked somewhat confused as he took the list. As he pulled his hand back, he was startled to see a hint of regret in Austin Shepherd’s eyes.
His grip tightened around the list, and Nathan Foster furrowed his brows before turning to announce the whereabouts of the others.
Those who had been chosen to train here were among the best in the new recruits team, and after the previous assessment, their capabilities were well above average. So besides the ones who stayed, the remaining soldiers wouldn’t be too worse off.
Apart from Marine Corps, they had other good options.
Without Austin’s display of emotion, Nathan read the list from start to finish, his tone steady and calming.
Intense feelings stirred among the new soldiers, having experienced three months of training, competition, and collaboration, their bonds had been strengthened. These few minutes would now determine their fate—staying or leaving.
Soldiers come and go in the military camp, it’s a reality they’re all too familiar with.
In the new recruit team, they might not have had a deep understanding of this, but now, they felt it deeply.
Leaving or staying, either way, heralded a new future.
However, what that future looks like, none of them could predict.
In comparison to joy and sadness, confusion prevailed.
"Alright, you get a day’s time,"
In the tense atmosphere, Austin Shepherd tried to sound as relaxed as he could.
Then, his gaze swept across the chosen women soldiers, "Everyone else can dismiss for now, you ladies stay."
Soon, only the twenty women soldiers were left standing before the two men.
Austin Shepherd and Nathan Foster stood there silently, making no effort to initiate a conversation.
It seemed as though they were waiting for something.
"Shepherd, are all these women chosen?"
Suddenly, a clear female voice rang out.
— End of Chapter 723 —