Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
"Well, I'm going in," Freya said with a smile as she turned to him, then walked into the office, her charming smile reappearing. Freyr felt that this was not the right occasion for smiling confrontations. In many students' lives, countless battles had occurred between teachers and students, ultimately resulting in the students being punished or passively compromising. This was an undeniable fact, much like the existence of teachers in this apocalyptic era, which was as terrifyingly coincidental as the Zerg; both were rulers of memory.
He stood outside, frozen in place, unsure of where to put his hands. Twenty minutes later, Freya emerged with a pale face. "Are you okay? You look a bit unwell," she said, her expression fluctuating as she clearly avoided meeting his gaze, causing him to catch his breath.
"It's nothing serious; I guess I'm in for more trouble," Freya replied with a smile, as if she had never entered that room. But only she knew that she might soon face a new dilemma.
"Oh?" Freyr shot her a suspicious glance. Soon after, she brushed past him and exited the room, disappearing from view.
Inside the office, there was silence for a moment. Coach Clinton sat at his desk with his feet propped up, while the earlier conversation was genuinely taking place as Long Xingchen reported on the uneasy atmosphere within the team.
Clinton observed through the nano-monitor at the edge of the door and smiled. "Got it. From your report, I understand the threat posed by the troublemaker in your team. Aside from you as the captain, there's also that troublemaker who is indeed the real leader of the team. Is that what you mean?"
"Yes!" Long Xingchen caught onto the coach's implication but couldn't find a suitable way to continue the conversation, so he hesitated in place for a moment.
"That's perfectly normal. Letting those rascals take over Ice Dust Team's future will only bring shame to its honor and turn the whole team into chaos. You're about to graduate soon; during this time before you leave, I need you to cultivate a suitable successor. This task shouldn't be too difficult for you, my dear commander captain," Clinton instructed.
"It’s both difficult and easy; I have a bold idea regarding candidates."
"Unfortunately for you, since you're the captain and graduation is approaching, I think even if you wanted to manage similar issues within the team, it would be futile. You can't restrain their behavior; they are not gentlemen like you. They are human beings and should be treated as such. I want to hear your thoughts deep down; here you need not hold back."
"Are you suggesting recommending someone and deliberately nurturing them?" Long Xingchen raised an eyebrow.
"Oh?" Coach Clinton raised an eyebrow in surprise and then laughed. "You and I are thinking along the same lines; are we thinking of the same person?"
"I don't know; who do you have in mind?" Long Xingchen asked.
"Hahaha! Well, I'm talking about the newcomer Freyr. The principal asked me about his training situation in the team, and I just wanted to ask you about his character," Clinton replied with a grin.
"Uh, what a coincidence! Freyr's situation is quite special; it's not easy at all. Just what happened during lunch has already made it difficult for him to find his place in the future," Long Xingchen explained.
"I'm not asking you to evaluate whether he can find his place; I'm talking about his talent. Can't you see it? You are Long Xingchen—the most senior member of this team with the most qualifications to comment—do you not have more objective views regarding a junior who is about to take your position?"
"To be honest, he has a somewhat unique personality. He believes that everything must be done to perfection, and in pursuit of that perfection, he often gets lost in the minutiae of tasks. Today, I had him undergo Recovery Training, a twenty-kilometer long run. The sun was blazing, and the rule allowed trainees to access water during the process. Yet, he engaged in self-destructive behavior, running the entire twenty kilometers without drinking a single drop of water. Loyal to his thinking, he might seem like a good soldier to you."
"But in my view, those who are bound by rules and cannot think outside of them are the true failures. The war against the Zerg relies on tactical flexibility; if we could succeed just by adhering to rules, humanity wouldn't be struggling so much under oppression."
Coach Clinton hesitated for a moment before bursting into laughter. "This approach only highlights his stubbornness in handling matters. On the flip side, at least he is a diligent child who executes tasks seriously. I appreciate him for that. Sorry for interrupting your conversation; please continue."
"Additionally, as captain, I believe he needs extensive experience, including social skills and abilities. On one hand, I will subject him to rigorous assessments, but this is only to enhance his capabilities further. Once his abilities improve, at least no one in the team will underestimate him. However, when we secretly support him, it may lead to new conflicts, such as jealousy from teammates. Many in the Ice Dust Team possess exceptional talents; considering his abilities, his Gene Chain level is above average. Even the worst-performing member has a commendable Gene Chain evaluation. In the future, he will face even more challenges and may feel overwhelmed by responsibilities; he might not be prepared and could leave the team prematurely."
"Ah, jealousy? Perhaps. But isn't that interesting? People can change their personalities due to external influences during their growth process. That's what makes us unique individuals—creatures capable of surviving in any extreme environment. We are those kinds of people. I believe he can adjust his mindset appropriately. As for his assessment, I think you need to pay special attention to him; in reality, you must also push him rigorously. Soon enough, he'll show you the consequences of underestimating him. He is a strong-willed child; thus, we must tame him in this manner."
"But if I isolate him from the team completely, won't that hinder tactical communication? How will he manage others without time for discussions?"
"I don't care whether he understands interpersonal relationships; as long as he can become the flawless person I envision, that's enough. Moreover, jealousy only breeds discord. He has an inherently proud personality; asking someone so deeply ingrained in solitude to change is quite difficult. Even if you place him among others, I'm guessing they wouldn't even remember his name. You teach him tactics while his role is to respond effectively during critical moments for the team. He is meant to become a commander; being captain essentially means holding that position of leadership. A commander simply needs to delegate tasks to subordinates while breaking down missions into smaller parts for each team member to execute."
Clinton chuckled.
"Isn't this what I used to do? Does he really have to face it again?" Long Xingchen asked.
Clinton sighed and replied, "Of course! Haven't you already become the best commander? Although you're not perfect yet, you can still refine your shortcomings after graduation. You've been through it yourself and know what he's lacking and what he desires. Teach him; you are his best mentor and friend."
"Coach, did you call for me?" Freya entered the office with a smile directed at the coach as the door behind her quickly closed. Despite those outside eager to peek inside, they saw nothing that could alleviate their curiosity.
"Yes, yes! I called you because I wanted to chat with you—our beautiful manager," Rekton said with a smile.
"Coach~"
After an awkward silence lingered for some time, Freya finally broke it with an unusually serious expression: "You called me and the captain here along with Freyr; this is actually a test for him, isn't it? You're preparing something specifically aimed at him?"
"Yes, exactly! That's my intention. Only by isolating him from the crowd can we observe his exceptional strengths clearly. His distinct characteristic lies in his independence and ability not to rely on groups—like a lone wolf—a proud lone wolf capable of becoming a remarkable commander like Caesar or Napoleon. However, until his assessment is complete, everything remains uncertain; perhaps there are seeds of weakness hidden within him," Clinton explained.
Freya took a deep breath and continued slowly: "It's interesting that many great commanders throughout human history were precisely dictators; those who walked down the path of dictatorship often met unfortunate ends. In the previous two worlds during the Cosmic Bug War, Hitler serves as a prime example. People often speculate about when the third Cosmic Bug War will arrive while eagerly anticipating invasions from the Zerg."
"Comparing him to those dictators is a sign of his esteem. He may lose something, but at the same time, he can join the battle more quickly. We need talents like him, precisely the kind that many have criticized me for believing in, and such individuals have not appeared for nearly a thousand years. It's as if God has abandoned us."
"But that's ridiculous. How do you know it's him? Just guessing and experimenting one by one, hurting their precious self-esteem—such an approach is too extreme."
"Everything is worth it compared to the fate of humanity. He must become that kind of leader," Rekton said earnestly.
"A dictator, then?"
"A leader."
Clinton furrowed his brow, emphasizing the two words.
"Alright, maybe I can't think of any rebuttal to your words. What else can I do? I can only listen to the mission you want to convey to me," Freya waved her hand dismissively.
"What's so terrifying about it? Whether it's the path of a leader or a dictator, it all relies on the respect within the team and his own values transcending material concerns to inspire others to serve him," Clinton chuckled.
"Are you kidding me? A person like that isn't human; he's a god," Freya thought to herself, though she didn't say it out loud. She smiled and said, "If he really can achieve that, it would be amazing. But what does that have to do with me? I'm just a manager who oversees trivial matters."
"Heh heh, according to reliable sources, you two have an unusual relationship. I think you can take on the secret role of psychological observer. I want you to dig up everything he knows and doesn't know, even what he dares not acknowledge. Of course, keep in touch with me directly. You can do it, just like you did with Long Xingchen."
Comment 0 Comment Count