39 Squad Leader, Han Lee 8 (1/2)
Squeek.
The second year drill instructor Greseman was watching the squad battle through his monitor. He watched a couple of the key parts of the battle over and over. Greseman was a man with a protruding chin. He was as obstinate as his chin protruded. Han was not particularly fond of the obstinate type of instructors.
”Reporting sir, Drill Instructor Greseman.”
Han raised his chin a bit. He observed Greseman's expression. Greseman didn't let any of his inner thoughts show on his face.
'It's easier to deal with Sergeant Red. That man just swears then gets mad.'
Greseman spoke to Han in a low voice.
”It doesn't seem like you used bombs. You wouldn't have had any methods to get them, either. Based on your history, you're not so stupid to go ahead with such a plan.”
”We filled the storage space with oil. Jose used his ignition ability to burst it into flames.”
”That must have required a lot of practice. The timing of the explosions is very perfect. It wouldn't be considerate to call it a bomb.”
”We slathered a branch in oil and threw it to perfect his timing of utilizing his ignition ability.”
”So this is the tactic that you and squad 13 prepared. Han, do you know how much one airbeat cost.”
”I am aware that they are expensive.”
”If you are sent home, you won't be able to pay back the cost even if you labored for your whole lifetime.”
Greseman drove Han to a corner. Han closed his eyes and fiercely opened them again.
”I feel like the important point of today's meeting is to decide whether I broke the rules or not. Isn't this why you called for me?”
”If we are nit picking, you didn't break any rules. However, you should have been aware this would have become a controversy. The results are as such, you did not break any. Some drill instructors would praise you for finding such a loophole. However, we will not tolerate this a second time. Go and report this to your instructors.”
”Understood. May I add my own thoughts as well?”
”Speak freely.”
”If I was a psychic soldier facing against a dragon, this would not become a controversy, and nobody would ask me if I knew how much an airbeat costs. Dragons will not overlook someone because they are poor. We must utilize all methods in order to kill the dragon race. I only assumed our current situation for our battle. Our training program is constructed in a way to utilize every possible method in order to create the strongest soldier to win against the dragons, isn't that right?”
His words were eloquent and flowed smoothly like water. Greseman nodded.
”You speak like Sergeant Red. You are dismissed. Squad leader, Han Lee.”
Greseman said as he interlocked his fingers together. Han saluted and left the room. Greseman laughed as he watched Han leave. He replayed the squad battle once again and mumbled.
”He's unbelievably manipulative. He slips out of everything like a snake. However, this is even more of a reason that he must taste failure. Though, it seems he won't let himself lose easily.”
Greseman began setting up the stage for a more elaborate loss. Greseman calmly looked over Han's data.
'He doesn't have a single loss or major mistake. He climbed the ranks in perfect order like a robot. It's time he must taste the bitterness of failure.'
All squads have had at least one loss with every five wins. The squad battles are said to be selected at random, but Greseman and the drill instructors use the data to make sure squads don't consecutively win more than 5 times.
The evening run had ended. Han went to shower, and used the towel to dry his hair as he left the changing room. Kuro came running from the opposite side shouting something.
”Han! Look at this! Look at these requests for squad transfers.”
Kuro shook the documents. Han's left hand was still in a cast so he remained motionless.
”Don't get so worked up. Speak slower.”
Han had already been aware. The squad leaders were always the first to receive the squad transfer requests first to their data bracelets. He shrugged his shoulders.
”There are six requests! Now, we can become a ten member squad as well!”