Starting from the deputy company commander of the Soldier Assault Team

Looking at the queue in front of him, Qi Huan frowned and spoke again, "I have to say, you guys are really slow. I don't know what I brought you here for."

In the words of our deputy squadron leader, they're not even as fast as the old lady selling popsicles at the gate. Look at this line, it's all crooked and haphazardly arranged—it's such a waste of food.

Qi Huan was simply nitpicking. There was nothing he could do; they were meeting for the first time, and their heights and ranks varied.

The first group of complete strangers was a makeshift ragtag group. Under the reprimand of the senior officers, they lined up according to their height. Since they didn't know each other, it was naturally a bit slow.

Qi Huan glanced at the disgruntled expressions on the faces of the group in the queue, chuckled dismissively, and said in a disdainful tone, "Everyone's got it. Turn right, run, destination: the stadium, run."

Soon, the forty-three men arrived at the gymnasium with Qi Huan.

Old A's indoor stadium isn't very big; it's basically just a standard basketball court with a simple grandstand on one side. It's not very big either, with only a little over three hundred seats.

It's quite convenient to hold events like playing ball, meetings, or award ceremonies here when the weather is bad.

Forty-three people stood on the basketball court, each with a solemn expression, looking up at Qi Huan above.

Indeed, Qi Huan was standing on the stands, nearly a meter taller than them.

Looking at the obedient crowd, Qi Huan put his hands behind his back and spoke loudly, "The pumpkins are all here, let's talk."

In terms of our relationship, we are comrades-in-arms. We are here to learn together, train together, and achieve our goals together.

In terms of rank, some of you are my superiors and some are my subordinates. I hope you will put aside your official airs and soldierly arrogance.

Remember these words: the people here know no pain, the people here know no rest, the people here know no hunger.

They only know how to forge ahead, and they only know that there is no task that cannot be completed.

In terms of position, I stand in the position of instructor, and you stand in the position of trainees. I will treat you all as colleagues.

I don't need to introduce myself. Those of you who stay or are eliminated will remember me for the rest of your lives.

Listening to Qi Huan's pretentious words, Zhang Anbang wondered who he was imitating with his arrogant demeanor. However, he figured that this cocky attitude was probably from a classmate at military academy.

While spinning the basketball in his hand, he shouted at Qi Huan, "Hey, Qi Huan, why are you talking so much nonsense to them? They're just useless pumpkins that will be obsolete any day now. Is it worth it?"

They're living paycheck to paycheck; let them collect their stuff and get out of here.

I'm waiting to play ball, it's such a disappointment to waste my time here.

Zhang Anbang's words were quite harsh. Qi Huan had called them pumpkins, but Zhang Anbang called them useless pumpkins, adding that they were doomed to live.

Even those of them listening to the lecture here say it's a waste of time.

In the quiet stadium, everyone could hear Zhang Anbang's words clearly, and at that moment, everyone was looking at Zhang Anbang with angry eyes.

If looks could kill, Zhang Anbang would probably be riddled with holes by now. However, looking at his young face and the rank of major, they dared not make any move.

After all, among them, only Wu Zhe had the same rank as Zhang Anbang; the highest rank the others held was captain. Therefore, they could only curse in their hearts.

In the team, Wu Liuyi, Xu Sanduo, and Cheng Cai didn't react much to Zhang Anbang's words. Zhang Anbang had cursed far more often than he had used foul language when he was in the Steel Seventh Company, and using profanities was commonplace for him. This was nothing.

Zhang Anbang's attitude puzzled them greatly. Although the deputy company commander was usually very sharp-tongued, he shouldn't have spoken like that on their first meeting.

Xu Sanduo was very curious. It was the first time they met in basic training. The deputy company commander was so nice back then, always smiling and making people feel close to him. He wondered what had happened to him in the past six months.

"Yes, Deputy Squadron Leader," Qi Huan responded loudly, then turned to the forty-odd people and said, "Then I won't say any more. During the training, there are no military branches or ranks."

After receiving your training uniforms, you are nothing; you are zero. Do you know what zero is?

Looking at the group of people who were quietly looking up at him, Qi Huan said with dissatisfaction, "I'm asking you a question, so answer me."

Forty-three people answered loudly, "We know."

The voice was already quite loud, but Qi Huan was still not satisfied. "Answer louder! Haven't you eaten?"

"We know!" the crowd shouted even louder, their veins bulging, showing just how hard they were yelling.

Hearing the deafening sound, Qi Huan finally nodded in satisfaction, then turned to look at Xu Yuanzhou beside him, "Discipline them."

"Yes," Xu Yuanzhou replied, and began calling out numbers, "Number one."

"Here!" A captain ran up to the stands and received his training uniform.

"Number Two," Xu Yuanzhou continued to call out.

"Here!" Another captain ran up to the stands.

Number three.

"arrive."

Number four.

"arrive."

Number Five.

"arrive."

……

"Number 26."

"arrive."

"Number 27."

"Here!" Tuo Yonggang responded loudly and ran up to the stands.

……

Number 38.

"arrive."

Number 39.

"Here!" Wu Zhe responded loudly and ran up to the stands.

……

Number 42.

"arrive."

Number 43.

"arrive."

Xu Sanduo and Wu Liuyi responded loudly and ran up to the stands.

Soon everyone received their training uniforms; some didn't feel anything, while others were overjoyed.

Cheng Cai grinned, full of excitement, while Xu Sanduo showed off his big white teeth, revealing his signature smile.

Wu Liuyi held the Serupswood camouflage in his hands, his eyes full of fighting spirit. Just like he had told the company commander and political instructor of the mechanized infantry company, this was not an emotion, but an interest. He was very interested in this place.

The experience of the Steel Seventh Company after the exercise left him feeling very resentful, and he had been thinking about it ever since. When the deputy company commander mentioned it to him, he immediately decided to come.

Wu Zhe, clutching the training uniform in his hands, whispered, "Twenty-seven, inside information."

Wu Liuyi stood between the two men, remaining silent. He had never broken the rule of not speaking in the ranks since he started recruit training.

Cheng Cai, standing next to Tuo Yonggang, was smiling as he held his training uniform. He listened to their conversation with a bit of curiosity, but he didn't respond, instead listening intently.

Tuo Yonggang tilted his head and whispered, "What inside story? Could it be that Butcher was removed from his position?"

Wu Zhe shook his head slightly. "You wish. It's about our instructor who hasn't shown up yet."

"What's wrong with the instructor? He can't be even more ruthless than him, can he?" Tuo Yonggang replied in a low voice. He was a little skeptical. In his opinion, Qi Huan was already ruthless enough.