The C Zone lobby was bustling with people.
New recruits crowded around the large electronic bulletin board. The air was stifling, and the smell of sweat, excitement, and anxiety lingered in the enclosed space.
Cold white characters scrolled upward line by line on the deep blue screen. Each refresh triggered a low murmur, sigh, or curse from the crowd.
Each line of text determined the fate of a new recruit.
"Great! The logistics and maintenance department at the 'Sentinel' outpost! I won't have to go to the seventh mining district to dig for 'colored ore'!"
A frail new recruit nearly burst into tears upon seeing his name; the dark green hue of fear faded significantly from his body.
"Damn it! Another trip to the Seventh Mining District to dig for 'colored ore'!"
Another burly recruit punched the metal wall, and a flash of angry, dark red energy flickered briefly.
Nadeshiko, with her relatively petite frame, managed to squeeze to the front of the crowd to the bulletin board.
She tilted her head slightly and carefully scanned the rapidly scrolling screen, her fingers nervously clutching the hem of her training uniform. The "light pink" energy aura around her body was slightly disrupted by her tension.
Kai stood a short distance behind her, making no effort to push through the crowd. He could easily sense Nadeshiko's emotional fluctuations.
"Found it!"
Nadeshiko suddenly let out a suppressed gasp, her voice betraying both relief and unease. She quickly turned around and said to Kai and Ryan, who had just pushed his way beside her,
"The three of us have been assigned to the 'Deep Realm Intervention Advance Team Seven,' also known as the 'Pioneers.'"
"Pioneers?"
Ryan paused for a moment. The name carried some weight. Then, joy spread across his face, and his fiery red energy aura brightened severalfold.
"Ha! I knew it! That name just sounds so cool! 'Pioneers'!"
"They must be the Federation's most elite squad, tasked with secret missions in the most dangerous regions of the 'Foreign Depths'!"
Kai's heart sank. "Pioneer" implied the unknown, danger, and an extremely high casualty rate.
Nadeshiko's expression wasn't as excited as Ryan's. She furrowed her brows and continued reading.
"Team members: Ryan, codename 'Charge'; Sakuraba Nadeshiko, codename 'Pale Red'; Kai..."
She paused, looked at the screen again in disbelief, and then spoke in a tone mixed with surprise and unease.
"The squad leader... is... Gestalt Iron Gray—Resolute Sergeant."
"What?! That old ice cube, Gestalt?! He's our leader?!"
Ryan shouted even louder than before. The pride and excitement on his face froze instantly and was replaced by an expression as ugly as if he had swallowed a fly.
His bright "fire-red" eyes dimmed instantly, too.
"Are you kidding me? Have him lead us on a 'pioneering' mission?"
"He'll probably lead us straight into the mouth of a monster! This is unbearable!"
The ruthlessly strict standards of Gestalt's training camp came to mind.
But for Kai, it wasn't just about strictness. He recalled a cold, scrutinizing "malicious crimson" from the training field.
That man had already noticed his "differences."
Being chosen as captain by him would only make the path ahead more difficult.
At that moment, a cold, heavy, emotionless voice echoed through the hall's broadcast system, issuing an unquestionable command that drowned out all the noise:
"All members assigned to the 'Deep Intervention Advance Team Seven,' also known as the 'Pioneers,'"
"including Ryan, Sakuraba Nadeshiko, and Shen Kai,"
"assemble immediately at Equipment Distribution Point Three!"
"Repeat: assemble immediately! No delays!"
Ryan slapped his thigh and groaned, but his eyes betrayed his uncontrollable excitement and anticipation. He complained aloud, but his steps were no slower.
"Well, it seems there's no escaping it! Come on, you two 'Pioneers,' let's go see what our 'Iron-Faced' captain has in store for us!"
Nadeshiko glanced at Kai with concern, but the latter merely nodded calmly and followed suit.
An unknown trial had already begun.