The recruits of the 7th Company had finished their physical training. In the tactics room, Hoffman, Bill, and Yan Hui stood around the tactical table. They reviewed the scores.
The holographic screen showed the updated results:
1st Place: Paul, 60 points
2nd Place: Thompson, 56 points
...
4th Place: Justin, 54 points
...
9th Place: Ralph, 45 points
...
13th Place: Xiao Yi, 41 points
14th Place: Nangong Yi, 40 points
...
18th Place: Gatsby, 33 points
19th Place: Li Feng, 32 points
...
105th Place: Keen, 10 points, still last.
Eighteen recruits were eliminated after the assessment.
Bill laughed and said, “That Keen is always lucky. He barely avoids elimination every time.”
Yan Hui said, “Thompson is steady and reliable. Gatsby is clever and good at keeping the team motivated. Xiao Yi is calm and makes good decisions.”
Hoffman nodded. “They are all promising. Thompson can become a top interstellar paratrooper. Ralph is balanced and will excel with more training. Nangong Yi is sharp and capable. Li Feng is average but narrow-minded, just like Paul. Keen is hardworking but lacks courage and determination. He only passed because Justin helped him. Justin is quick to learn, has strong leadership, and works well with others.”
Bill asked, “Should we start courage and determination training now?”
Hoffman thought for a moment. “Yes. They have finished formation, tactics, and physical training. It’s time to move on,” he said. “Let’s go to the 7th Company barracks.”
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The lights in the barracks were off. The recruits were snoring loudly as they slept deeply.
Hoffman and the instructors entered, and the motion-sensing lights turned on. The room became bright. The recruits were too tired to wake up.
Hoffman grabbed a metal trash can and hit it with a rubber baton. The loud noise echoed through the room.
“Wake up! Get up now!” Hoffman yelled. “Get out of bed, put on your socks, fix your beds, and get into your uniforms. You have two minutes!”
The recruits jumped out of bed, scrambling to follow orders.
Jackson was among them, feeling annoyed. He had spent the day helping Keen, who weighed over 100 kilograms, complete the long-distance run and swamp trek.
“Damn Hoffman,” Jackson thought. “He doesn’t sleep, and he doesn’t let us sleep. I hope he stays single forever.”
Hoffman walked over and shouted, “Clown! Cowboy!”
Jackson stood at attention. Thompson, nicknamed “Cowboy,” hurried over and stood beside him.
Hoffman nodded. “After you fix your beds, go clean the toilets,” he ordered.
“Yes, sir!” Jackson and Thompson replied loudly.
Jackson thought it was pointless. Robots could easily do the work.
Hoffman added, “I want the toilets so clean that even the ‘Cosmic Saintess Cheng Xin’ would use them. Do you believe in the Cosmic Saintess Cheng Xin?”
The name reminded Jackson of a character from the novel The Three-Body Problem. He hated her for causing disasters in the story.
Hoffman asked the question again. Without thinking, Jackson said, “Sir, I don’t believe in her.”
Hoffman’s face darkened. He stared at Jackson and asked again, “Do you believe in the Cosmic Saintess Cheng Xin?”
Jackson realized he had made a mistake.
“Damn Cheng Xin,” Jackson thought. “She causes trouble everywhere.”
Hoffman’s intense gaze made Jackson uncomfortable. But Jackson stuck to his answer. “Sir, I don’t believe in her,” he said again.
Hoffman’s anger exploded. He threw the trash can across the room. It crashed loudly, drawing everyone’s attention.
Hoffman shouted, “I didn’t hear you, Clown!”
Jackson hesitated. He looked at the other recruits. Some seemed worried, while others looked amused.
Jackson decided to stand his ground. “Sir, I do not believe in the Cosmic Saintess Cheng Xin!” he shouted loudly.
The room became silent.
Hoffman slapped Jackson hard across the face. Jackson staggered but quickly stood back up. He adjusted his posture to a perfect military stance.
Hoffman roared, “Answer me again! Do you believe in the Cosmic Saintess Cheng Xin?!”
Jackson’s defiance was clear. He shouted even louder, “Sir, I do not like the Cosmic Saintess Cheng Xin!”
Hoffman’s anger suddenly disappeared. His expression softened.
He asked, “Where is your temporary squad leader?”
Jackson pointed to Paul.
Hoffman called Paul over. Paul approached quickly, thinking he would be praised.
“You are relieved of your position. Jackson is now the temporary squad leader,” Hoffman announced.
Paul froze in shock. He returned to his bed silently, his anger directed at Jackson.
Hoffman turned to Keen and said, “Move your bed next to Jackson’s. He is your new leader. He will teach you everything, even how to pee.”
Keen nodded nervously.
Hoffman looked at Jackson and said, “You lack knowledge, but you have courage and quick thinking. That is enough.”