Chapter 77: The Youngest Vice-Captain in the Guild
Liam slowly lowered the dumbbell until it rested against his leg before lifting it again.
The gym at the Ace of Spades Guild headquarters was fairly crowded that morning. Some hunters were working out with weights, others were practicing their abilities in the special areas, and several were running on the treadmills.
Liam, for his part, had been focused on his exercises for several minutes.
He wasn’t particularly strong.
He knew that.
Although his physical condition had improved considerably since becoming a hunter, he was still nowhere near being comparable to hunters specialized in strength.
A few yards away, Lydia was casually running on a treadmill.
She didn’t look like she was trying very hard.
In fact, she seemed to be enjoying herself.
Her hair moved with every step as she casually watched the gym’s screens.
Liam finished another repetition and let out a sigh.
"I think I’ve had enough."
Lydia turned her head toward him without stopping her run.
"Are you tired already, darling?"
"I’m doing my best."
"That’s what you always say."
Liam smiled.
"And you could stop showing off about not needing to exercise."
Lydia let out a small laugh.
At that moment, someone approached them.
It was a young man, probably a few years younger than Liam.
He wore fairly loose red workout clothes. His hair was slightly messy, and he had a somewhat timid expression as he approached.
He seemed hesitant about whether he should actually talk to them.
Finally, he gathered his courage.
"Excuse me... are you Liam and Lydia Davis?"
Liam set the dumbbells down beside the bench.
"Yes, that’s us."
He stood up and extended a hand.
"What can we do for you?"
The young man seemed relieved that Liam responded so naturally.
He took his hand and shook it.
"It’s a pleasure."
Liam immediately noticed that the young man was looking him over.
Not in an uncomfortable way.
Rather, it seemed like he was studying him.
His eyes quickly moved over Liam’s arms, shoulders, and posture.
The young man even seemed slightly surprised.
Liam didn’t have an impressive physique.
It was obvious that he worked out, but he didn’t have any extraordinary strength.
The young man released his hand.
Lydia turned off the treadmill and walked over.
"Is everything okay?"
The young man smiled.
"Yeah, yeah. I was just curious."
"Curious?"
"I wanted to meet some of the rookies who are going to participate in the squad selection."
Liam raised an eyebrow.
"The selection?"
The young man nodded.
"Vice-Captain Wayne has spoken pretty highly of you two."
Liam remained silent for a moment.
"Wayne spoke highly of us?"
"Yes."
"That’s certainly strange."
The young man let out a small laugh.
"I know. It’s strange for Wayne to speak highly of anyone."
Lydia covered her mouth to hold back a laugh.
Liam sighed.
"I suppose that means we should feel proud."
"That’s exactly why I wanted to meet you."
Lydia tilted her head slightly.
"And what’s your name?"
"You can call me Tim."
"Just Tim?"
"Yes. I don’t really like my full name."
Liam smiled.
"Well, Tim. It’s nice to meet you."
Likewise, he seemed curious.
"Are you participating in the squad selection too?"
Tim smiled.
Liam noticed that his expression had changed slightly. As if the question amused him.
"Well..."
Before he could answer, a woman’s voice echoed from the other side of the gym.
"Boss!"
Tim went pale.
Another voice immediately followed.
"Timothy! We’ve been looking all over the building for you!"
The young man put both hands on his head.
"No..."
Two women quickly approached.
Both were wearing workout clothes.
One had short green-dyed hair and wore clothes of the same color.
The other had violet-dyed hair and wore workout clothes in the same shade.
The green-haired woman pointed at Tim.
"You’re training with the rest of the team today."
The violet-haired woman crossed her arms.
"You’re not getting out of it again."
Tim looked like he was about to cry.
"I’m sorry..."
Liam blinked.
"What?"
Tim turned toward them.
"Excuse me. I would’ve liked to talk a little longer, but I have to fulfill my duties."
The two women grabbed him by the arms.
"Come on!"
"You can’t keep running away!"
"Wait!"
Tim was practically dragged away by force.
"It was nice meeting you!"
Liam raised a hand.
"Likewise."
"Good luck! I hope to see you at the squad selection!"
The women continued dragging him away.
"Yeah, yeah! Now walk!"
"Don’t push me!"
Lydia watched the scene with a smile.
When they finally disappeared through the gym’s doors, she looked back at her husband.
"What did we just witness?"
Liam stared at the entrance.
"I have no idea."
Lydia walked over to him.
"That boy is really strange."
"Why?"
"It felt like he was studying us."
Liam crossed his arms.
"He’s probably some hunter from the guild who wants to join a good squad."
"And?"
"Maybe he wanted to meet his competition."
Lydia seemed to think about it.
A laugh echoed behind them, and both of them turned around.
A fairly muscular woman was standing near one of the machines.
She had been listening to their conversation.
"There’s no way you don’t know Vice-Captain Timothy."
Liam and Lydia froze completely.
"Vice-Captain?"
The woman smiled.
"Yes."
Liam’s eyes widened.
"That boy was a vice-captain?"
"The youngest vice-captain in the guild."
Lydia looked toward the door where Tim had been taken.
"That timid boy?"
The woman nodded.
"That’s the one."
Liam didn’t know what to say.
’How the hell can someone that young be a vice-captain?’
After meeting Wayne, Amber, and Don Rouch, Liam had expected all the vice-captains to be intimidating people.
Wayne was serious and authoritative.
Amber had a presence that made her difficult to ignore.
Don Rouch looked like a mafia boss.
And then there was Tim, a timid young man who seemed terrified of two women with colorful hair.
The muscular woman walked over and extended a hand.
"I’m Emily Green."
Liam shook her hand.
"Liam Davis."
Lydia introduced herself as well.
"Lydia Davis."
"Nice to meet you."
Emily looked at them with interest.
"So you’re the rookies everyone keeps talking about."
Liam smiled awkwardly.
"I suppose."
"We haven’t met all the vice-captains yet."
Lydia raised a finger.
"We’ve met Amber, Don Rouch, and Wayne."
Emily nodded.
"It’s my first time seeing Timothy in person."
"You’ve never seen him before?"
"No."
Emily shrugged.
"I haven’t had the chance to meet any of the other vice-captains either."
Liam thought that was strange.
But then Emily smiled.
"I’m not really interested in the others."
The muscular woman placed both hands on her hips.
"I want Timothy to choose me."
Liam and Lydia looked at each other.
"Choose you?"
Emily smiled even wider.
"I want to be part of his squad."
Liam felt that something wasn’t adding up.
"Why?"
Emily answered completely naturally.
"That’s the reason I joined the Ace of Spades."
Lydia’s mouth opened slightly.
"Just because of him?"
"Exactly."
Emily seemed completely convinced.
"I want to be in his all-female squad."
Liam and Lydia looked at each other in confusion.
’I think I heard that correctly.’
Emily continued smiling.
"Timothy is really good."
Liam finally reacted.
"And how do you know that if you’ve never seen him?"
Emily raised a finger.
"From the rumors."
"Oh."
That made a little more sense.
"Besides, he’s the youngest vice-captain in the guild. He must have something going for him."
Lydia smiled.
"Well, it looks like you already have a goal for the selection."
"Yes."
Emily clenched her fist with determination.
"I’m going to earn a spot in his squad."
Liam let out a small laugh.
"Good luck."
"Thanks."
Emily looked toward the door again.
"I hope you two have good luck as well."
Liam nodded.
"We hope so too."
Lydia took her husband’s hand.
"It’s going to be interesting."
Liam looked at the gym equipment and then at the door where Tim had disappeared.
Then he remembered Amber, Don Rouch, and Wayne.
And now another vice-captain had appeared.
’In three days, we’ll find out who actually wants us in their squad.’
Liam smiled.
"Yeah."
He gently squeezed Lydia’s hand.
"It’s definitely going to be interesting."