Chapter 440: Assessment
Nathan was shocked and quickly looked at Jared. “Madam, you are really putting my life on the line here!”
“Mr. Farrell, please let me explain. This is a training ground. I must wear combat gear, as I am the chief instructor. I can’t exactly stand here in a suit to train, can I?” Jared merely glanced at Nathan’s combat attire and said nothing, instead, he wrapped his arm around Tina and walked deeper into the training grounds.
In a matter of seconds, Nathan felt as though he had passed through the gates of hell.
Hayden patted Nathan on the shoulder with a smirk, “Hmm, the combat gear looks sharp.”
Nathan kicked at him and gave him a fierce glare.
He quickly followed Jared.
“Mr. Farrell, the training is already halfway through. If you’re thinking of adding new recruits, we might need to accelerate her progress.”
What Nathan implied was that Courtney needed to pass the prior assessment today in order to stay.
Jared’s stern face grew serious, “Let’s start now.”
Neither Tina nor Courtney objected.
It was only right.
If Courtney could not pass the previous assessments, it simply meant she did not have the strength to stay.
“Captain.”
From a distance, a man in an army-green short-sleeved shirt approached and saluted Jared.
He was Jason, the physical training assessor.
After greeting Jared, Jason looked at Tina and then his gaze fell on Courtney, “So you’re the girl who got in through the back door?”
Jason’s tone was unfriendly, and his look was disdainful.
Nathan signaled to him with his eyes, “Jason, watch your attitude.”
Come on, man, this is the lady’s person.
Besides, it’s not like she wanted to enter through the back door. If she fails the assessment, even Mr. Farrell won’t keep her. Don’t be so confrontational, careful not to make Mr. Farrell angry!
Jason, as if he hadn’t seen the signal, continued, “I am the physical training instructor. We start your assessment now. If you don’t pass, get lost immediately. It doesn’t matter who brought you here.”
His words were clearly aimed at Tina.
Hayden also noticed Jason targeting Tina and stepped forward, shouting, “Jason, who the hell are you talking weird to?”
Tina, however, held Hayden back, her cool gaze fixed on Jason, “Captain Jason is right. Show your strength and don’t waste my people’s efforts.”
Jason frowned, “It’s yet to be seen who’s wasting efforts here!”
A cold look crossed Jared’s face, “Captain Jason, it’s not like you to talk tough.”
Jason was the captain of the third squad of Bureau X’s special forces, the most temperamental among the four captains, but also highly capable.
His overall strength was greater than Hayden’s, but he was also very stubborn.
The only person he truly respected was Jared. He didn’t care much for Nathan or Hayden.
Hearing Jared speak, Jason’s attitude softened a bit.
“Alright, follow me. Let your strength do the talking.” Jason gave Tina a challenging look, his face full of warning.
That look, however, completely piqued Tina’s interest.
It seems that the real person Captain Jason wanted to challenge was her.
Interesting.
Tina slightly curved her lips, showing no concern for Jason.
Someone Jared couldn’t beat wasn’t worthy of being her opponent.
Courtney threw her backpack on the ground, challenging Jason with her gaze, “Don’t make it so troublesome. Take me on as your opponent. If I win, I stay here to train; if I lose, I’ll pack up and leave without bothering you.”
Seeing Courtney wanting to fight him, a hint of surprise appeared in Jason’s eyes. This teenager certainly didn’t lack guts.
Courtney changed into comfortable clothes and engaged in a one-on-one duel with Jason on the muddy grounds of the training field. Tina watched from the side, aware of Courtney’s abilities, but Jason was not lacking either. It was hard to predict who would win or lose.
“Uncle, want to make a bet?” Tina raised an eyebrow, “I bet a million dollars on Courtney winning.”
“I’ll bet on Jason then,” Jared also showed a hint of interest.
Many students gathered around, cheering on their instructors. Courtney, hearing the cheers, was not intimidated but instead filled with fighting spirit. The two quickly engaged in a fierce brawl, splattering mud everywhere, soon turning them both into mud figures.
Jason struck with precision and ferocity, while Courtney dodged the attacks using her physical advantages. In the end, the match was too close to call. Jason had a grip on Courtney’s vital point, and Courtney clutched Jason’s artery. Neither could advance any further.
Tina smirked and said to Jared, “Looks like we both lose.”
Nathan blew the whistle, stepped forward, and separated them, declaring, “It’s a draw.”
Hayden whistled at Jason, “Jason, aren’t you ashamed? To end up in a draw with a little girl?”
Jason kicked at the mud, splashing it towards Hayden. Tina gently pulled Hayden back two centimeters, and the mud landed precisely at his toes. Then, with a flick of her toe, a pebble soared up and struck Jason on the knee.Exclusive © content by N(ô)ve/l/Drama.Org.
The movement was smooth and seamless, even Hayden standing beside them didn’t notice. Jason felt a numbness in his left leg and looked at Tina in surprise. She raised an eyebrow at him.
Thinking he could bully her brother in front of her? She would see about that.
Jason was shocked. Tina had managed to attack him in a blink, and he hadn’t even noticed! Had Tina not intentionally let him realize, he would never have known the pebble was from her.
Jason gave Tina a long look. He had not joined the previous missions of Section X, only hearing colleagues say how inscrutable the team leader’s wife was, and how she had the leader wrapped around her finger, which unsettled him.
In Jason’s mind, Jared was almost godlike, the only person he truly admired. And Tina was just an unknown little girl, how could she be his match? In his eyes, no one worthy of Jared truly existed.
Seeing Tina today only increased his dissatisfaction. Only those who passed the preliminary assessment should enter the training camp, yet she was there merely through her connections, making the leader commit a mistake.
Thus, Jason was even more discontent, seeing her as not only unhelpful but a hindrance. But now, Jason was beginning to see things differently. At least he could acknowledge that Tina was stronger than him.
But whether she was worthy of the leader was another matter.
Courtney brushed the mud off herself and shouted at Jason, “Arrogant, did I pass my assessment?”
Jason paused, then lowered his eyes, “You passed, go change into your training gear and start training!”
With that, Jason stormed off.
Hayden was puzzled, “What arrogant? Courtney, his name is Jason.”
Courtney rotated her wrist, “I know, it’s his arrogance.”