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nShi Lang got outside the office of the camp master and made his way to the mess hall. That was where all the instructors would gather most of the time. This time he did not have to face any traps. His journey was smoother and faster. As he entered the mess hall, he spotted, Carlos, John, and Yuu.

nHe came to stand in front of them and saluted. The three people gazed at him and nodded. Carlos said, “Kid, I heard you are venturing outside on the western woods?”

nShi Lang replied, “Sir, Yes, Sir.”

nCarlos nodded and said, “Since you passed the welcoming ceremony with flying colors, I will be giving you a tip. Capture a blue fowl, that will make your hunt easy.”

nShi Lang took a mental note of the tip and said, “Thank you very much, Sir.”

nJohn said, “Maintain the contrast. Things in the western woods are not as simple as they might seem to be.” his voice was calm yet cold as always.

nYuu said, “Lang, make sure that you bring enough ammunition, and tell that girl to maintain a distance with you. She is not yet good enough to get deep inside the western woods.”

nShi Lang nodded and said, “Yes, Ma’am, thank you very much. I will remember them.”

nHe was not confused about why these people did not ask him how he was or anything else. They were all battle-hardened people and they had created an image in his mind that was nothing less than a nightmare in his mind. They did not want to look mushy in front of him. Carlos said, “If you manage to capture and keep the fowl alive, then bring it back, I will roast us all a local delicacy.”

nWith that said, he stood up from his seat and walked out of the place. Shi Lang stood there maintaining his salute to his departing back. Yuu said, “I will cover you two in the officer mess. Come back safe, Lang.”

nYuu was not as awkward as she was in the past, she came forward and patted his shoulder as she said, “You did a good job to get promoted in your first month.”

nShi Lang replied, “Thank you, Ma’am.”

nYuu nodded and walked out of the room, while John was already nowhere to be seen. He was never much of a talker, well, not unless you are tied to a chair in his interrogation room. Shi Lang sighed at their backs and scratched his head. Then after shaking his head, the boy walked out of the mess hall.

nHe came outside the camp building and using his communicator he called for Amelia. The girl agreed to see him at the transportation area in ten minutes. She was done bathing and eating, ready to meet him. Dalia had sent him an intel report, telling him about the things he should be attentive towards and things that he should avoid at all costs.

nShe also mentioned several times inside the file that he has three days to complete the task and only then will she be able to make him the solution that can get him to the five-star realm without the help of a gene enhancing serum.

nShi Lang was reading the data using his mask’s visor to save time. He located Amelia standing near a corner, wearing her tactical gear. The youngster came to her side and said, “Amy, what is the code name you use when out on a mission?”

nAmelia was surprised but then she replied, “Wazir. The one that sees it all, and can change it all.”

nShi Lang nodded and said, “Nice to meet you, Wazir. I am Ace.”

nAmelia nodded and replied, “Yes, Sir. Glad to work with you.”

nShe was surprised to see how Shi Lang’s temperament has changed since he put on the bland mask on his face. His voice lost that softness, she realized that the mission was going to be dangerous. Since the gravity of the situation was not completely known to her. She put on her game face as well.

nThe two came to a chopper and the flight crew immediately put away the smiles on their faces. Shi Lang said, “Drop as at coordinates, XXX, YYY, in the western area of the woods.”

nHe was not asking them but telling them. The captain was aware that Shi Lang was not a low-rank person and he could even make their boss work like a junior, so they saluted and said, “Sir, we can take off in five minutes.”

nShi Lang nodded and turned to face Amelia. Then he walked to the side, letting the flight crew perform the pre-flight checks. Amelia naturally followed him. She was about to ask what the mission was about, when the guy said, “We need to hunt for a beast inside the woods. Avoiding the shamantis. That is the main objective. To achieve that we will have to follow a few tips.

nWe will move through the shadows in the noon and moonlight at night. We need to capture a blue-colored fowl. That will serve the purpose of bait. Also, you will follow each and every instruction inside the woods. The place is not as calm as it may seem, check your gear ammunition, if you think it is enough, then fine, otherwise, go replenish your supplies, I will wait here.”

nAmelia was listening to all that he said, with rapt attention. She could sense that things were complicated and he was scared about her safety. So, she said, “I have double-checked the supplies, Sir. There is no problem.”

nShi Lang nodded and then he went on to tell her about the plan in detail, after five minutes, the pilot of the chopper ran over and reported that they could now take off. The couple got onboard, and the rotors took them to the skies.

n…

nCamp Ragnarok, monitoring room.

nYuu asked, “Dalia, was it necessary to send him in the woods, like this? You know that he hates us for last time because of incomplete intel?”

nDalia shook her head and said, “I gave him complete data. Otherwise, even I will kill us all, let alone him. Plus the daughter of the boss is also tagging along. I dare not try anything.”

nJohn scoffed but did not say anything. Carlos did not hold back anything and said, “You all are hypocrites. Was Shi Lang an expandable piece, when the boss put him out there the last time? Now that her daughter is tagging along you all play safe? Do you not know it by now? Amelia’s talent is far behind that of Lang. This boy can represent us all in the…”

nDalia snapped, “Carlos, shut it. I am not having any arguments with you. The boy is too young to know the existence of that thing. He must step into six-star Terran without the help of a gene-enhancing serum. Otherwise, we all know what might be the result. Now shut up and watch them all. Be ready to take emergency actions if they need help.”

nYuu said, “The illness we ignore for too long a time, becomes a rotting poison, corroding our organs, and then we have to cut off that organ from the body.”

nDalia understood what they meant. She sighed and said, “This guy is the budding star of the secret division, he will get to know it sooner than later. Do not worry, you all know that it is not our place to tell him all this. The higher authority and the Fleet Council is the only one with enough authority to appoint people as the deck.”

nYuu nodded and said, “Yes, you are right, but this is still not the way things should be done.”

nJohn shook his head and decided to overturn the solemn atmosphere, “We need to monitor the cubs well. The flame leopard is a beast that can best a bloody five-star Terran with ease. As for these two four-stars? They are too emotionally attached to not risk their lives.”

nCarlos, said, “Shi Lang might manage to handle this task alone better than in a group. You know that Dalia.”

nThe blonde lady nodded and said, “Amelia, awakened the ability too rare among us. You all know that she will only grow under constant grinding. She needs both mental and physical whetting. Shi Lang is the best guy to trigger that.”

nYuu wanted to say something but she kept it to herself. This was one of the reasons behind Shi Lang’s task. Amelia has been growing stronger with every day spent out in the woods scouting. Yet, her growth potential was not being triggered. She was just too privileged because she had such skills instilled in her from childhood.

nHer basic foundation was too good. Later when she awakened an ability to turn invisible and vanish from the sensory radar of others, did she came out like a diamond. Although, a gem, but it needed to be carved before it could shine out like a true piece of natural art.

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