Chapter 127. Independent Recruit
The aircraft moved through the clouds with swift speed.
During this period, Aiden was asleep, but he was extremely alert. He was well aware that he could not let his guard down. He has a 6 trillion bounty on his head. So, anything was possible.
However, there were no attacks during the flight.
Aiden theorized it may have been because the assassination attempts had been planned for when he got to the base and he was tasked with missions. Aiden theorized that with how the situation had developed, he would most likely not be added to a unit. This way, he would be easier to kill when he went on a mission. If he were added to a unit and a division of that unit he was part of was sent on a mission, it would be quite difficult to assassinate him because there would be witnesses around. Also, there was a possibility that the division would deem the assassination attack as a general strike on the division and retaliate. It was too risky. To Aiden, it wouldn’t make any sense if those targeting him didn’t pull any strings for him to operate alone.
Aiden smiled. "I actually prefer it that way. Operating alone will be better. Honestly, these fellas think they are making things difficult for me. They don’t know they are literally making me more comfortable," Aiden thought. "How amusing. I will make sure to finish what they are all starting in the future."
[We are landing soon. I repeat, we are landing soon. We have been in the atmosphere for 11 hours. We flew over the Eldorian State, the capital, 2 hours ago. We are currently North of Eldorian State. We will be arriving at the Frontlines, and specifically, base C322 in a few moments,] the pilot announced.
The recruits braced themselves. What will the military really be like? Will it be as brutal as they had been told by the captains it will be? Or were the captains trying to scare them?
Aiden’s eyes turned crimson. He narrowed his eyes. He tuned up his enhanced hearing, too. He scanned across the perimeter.
The buildings of C322 below looked like simple fortresses. But they gave one a very ferocious and impregnable feeling. The base was very large, stretching for as far as the eye could see. Operatives could be seen performing drills below. Some were simply having conversations. Others were leaving for missions. Some were resting.
Aiden also scanned offices where captains were assigning missions. From there, his focus shifted to meeting rooms of admirals. But he heard no conversations about him. No meetings concerning his death. No statements about whether or not he was to be sent on missions that could get him killed.
"Of course. What was I expecting," Aiden thought.
He wanted to find leads on anyone in charge who may have been instigated to send him on missions that could get him killed. The earlier he knew them, the better.
But he found nothing.
"Industries at their level are very meticulous. They don’t want to risk exposure. If there are any public leaks about their plans concerning me, it will reflect badly on them. But someone will definitely talk. Some sort of meeting will happen sooner or later between one or two people about me. I will scan the base later," Aiden thought.
***
Southern Continent.
Eldorath Empire.
North of the Capital.
Military Frontlines.
Base C322.
An aircraft glided downwards from the cold morning clouds. It proceeded to land at a secured, designated landing spot.
Several new recruits came out. There were 300 of them. They followed 3 captains.
The recruits were led from the landing spot in the current mountainous area through several checkpoints. After being confirmed, they were allowed entry into the base.
Several looks of amusement and curiosity from various operatives were on them.
Greenhorns, huh, the veteran operatives thought. By the time they were done with their military service, more than half of these hopeful-looking fellows would be dead. As for those who’d be alive, some would be mentally unstable. Some would be the opposite—they’d be more equipped than they were before they enrolled. Some would decide to stay in the military to make names for themselves here. Others would leave to spread their wings across Endra.
Rounding several buildings, they were led into a large hall.
"Wait here," the captains instructed. The 300 operatives obediently remained at where they were.
The captains walked towards four men and four women in military uniforms standing a couple of distances away. They were beginner Rank 3 warriors. They all had extraordinary demeanors. They looked like battle-hardened men and women. The four men and four women exchanged a few words with the three captains that led the recruits here. After that, the three captains left the new recruits to them.
The four men and four women stood before the 300 recruits.
"The captains that escorted you to the base have already explained the basics of the military to you, so there’s no need to go over them again." A female captain stepped forward. "The only thing I’d add is this... you are free to have relationships with the opposite sex. This is the military, not a kindergarten. However, if you want to have some intimate time with your partner, you have your private residences for that. Anyone caught going at it with someone at public places would be killed on the spot."
The recruits nodded politely. The woman was very weird, though. She was talking about something like that with such a straight and serious face.
"Now let’s get serious. There are 8 captains here. Each of us are unit heads. The three hundred of you have been divided into groups to be added to our existing units. Our units are named after us. My name is Kiara. This is Paulson... That is..." She went ahead to introduce the other captains to the recruits.
"Your names will be mentioned alongside the units you are assigned to. Walk to your unit head when your name is mentioned," she said.
The recruits nodded. "Yes, Ma’am."
"Private Hanu Brea... Don Unit."
"Private Jaken Hamas, Paulson Unit."
"Private Esmeralda Sinclad, Harry Unit..."
"Private..."
"...Van Unit..."
Very soon everyone had a unit... except for one person... Aiden Vhorn...
Even the captains were quite surprised. They whispered among one another.
"Is there some mishap? The Crimson Reaper does not have a unit."
"Oh, right. He’s here? Which one?"
"Can’t you see him? The ordinary-looking, brown-haired guy with black eyes dude standing there!"
"Damn... now that you mention it... it’s him! I almost didn’t recognize him."
"But why does he not have a unit? Did the higher-ups miss something?"
Suddenly, the phone of one of the captains budged. "I see," he said. He looked at the other captains. "Apparently, he has been assigned to another captain. He will operate independently without a unit. He will be assigned independent missions. Reason is that based on his psychological profile, it’s best for him to work alone."
"I see."
The captains knew what was going on here. Someone high up wanted Aiden Vhorn dead. But what could they do? They were soldiers. Their duty was to follow orders.
"Private Aiden Vhorn will not be assigned a unit. He will be assigned to a separate captain who will be in charge of him and supervise his missions. He will operate better independently," one of the captains announced. He looked at Aiden. He was expecting Aiden to be worried.
But the young man was calm. It was as if he was expecting this.
"It seems he knows the motive behind this arrangement. What a terrifying young man. I hope he survives this. Will be such a shame to lose such a rare gem because of petty higher-ups," the captain sighed inwardly.
"Noted, Sir," Aiden nodded politely.
"Take these." One of the captains handed over military watches to them.
These watches operated similar to the ones they had in the universities before they graduated.
"The only difference is these ones are used in the military. Also, you can’t select missions on it since you’ll have to meet your captains for mission briefing and missions will be chosen and assigned to you by the higher ups. There’s no need to explain their other function to you all because they work like the ones you used in the universities," a captain said. "Information on your rooms are on it. You’ll find your military uniforms in your rooms. Dismissed!"
"Sir!" the recruits chorused. Everyone left.
The new recruits looked at Aiden Vhorn. They thought he was getting special treatment because of his abilities. Aiden, oblivious to their thoughts, tapped the watch twice. A holographic screen popped up before him.
"Works just like the university one, huh," he thought. "Northern district of the base, Segar Complex, room A24."
Aiden noted the room on his private profile. He left the large hall.