Chapter 96: The Eve of the Squad Selection
The headquarters of the Ace of Spades Guild was much more crowded than Liam had imagined.
As soon as they walked through the main doors, a multitude of hunters occupied practically every corner of the reception area.
There were people of all ages: young people who barely seemed to have awakened their powers, adult hunters with years of experience, and even some older men and women who walked with great confidence.
Lydia took Liam’s hand.
"I don’t want to lose you in this crowd."
Liam let out a small laugh.
"I think that would be pretty difficult."
Even so, he intertwined his fingers with hers.
It was the final day before the Squad Selection began.
And it seemed like practically everyone had decided to show up.
Liam looked around.
’I knew this was going to be an important event, but this is something else.’
The reception area was filled with conversations. Some hunters talked about their abilities, others discussed the best squads in the guild, and a few simply seemed to be there to observe.
There were even people who didn’t belong to the Ace of Spades.
For them, the selection was also an opportunity.
If they managed to impress the guild’s higher-ups, perhaps they could be considered for a place in that enormous organization.
Liam looked toward one of the walls.
There were several signs pointing in different directions.
ELEVATORS
STAIRS
And below them, another sign read:
SECOND BASEMENT — SELECTION CONFERENCE
Liam took out his phone.
8:00 a.m.
The conference would begin at ten.
There were still two hours left.
"Is everyone here already?"
Lydia looked around.
"Looks like it."
"It’s incredible that there are so many people."
"I know."
Lydia squeezed his hand a little tighter.
"You can really tell that the Ace of Spades is one of the largest guilds in the world."
Liam smiled.
"And we’re lucky to be part of it."
He looked at the crowd again.
"If we do things right, maybe we can end up becoming part of a squad."
Lydia smiled.
"Should we line up for the elevators?"
Liam looked at the long line of people that had formed in front of the elevators.
"No."
Lydia blinked.
"No?"
"I prefer the stairs."
"Really?"
"After all the training we’ve done this month, I’m not going to waste an opportunity to get a little more exercise."
Lydia laughed.
"Okay."
At that moment, a woman’s voice came through the speakers installed in the ceiling.
"Attention, applicants and hunters."
The voice echoed throughout the reception area.
"The informational conference regarding the Squad Selection will be held at ten in the morning on the second basement level of the building."
The crowd began to pay attention.
"During the next two hours, on the first basement level, you will find guild employees offering coffee, tea, hot chocolate, juices, and various breakfast foods."
Liam looked at Lydia.
"That sounds good."
The voice continued:
"We remind you that attending this conference is not mandatory to participate in the selection."
There was a brief pause.
"Thank you very much for coming."
The speakers went silent.
Lydia tilted her head.
"Do you really think there are people who would skip the conference before the selection?"
Liam shrugged.
"There’s all kinds of people. It wouldn’t surprise me."
Then he looked toward the stairs.
"Want to grab something before we go down?"
Lydia was about to answer when Liam noticed two young people near the entrance.
They couldn’t have been more than eighteen years old.
A pink-haired girl was staring at the enormous Ace of Spades emblem behind the reception desk, while a blond-haired boy looked at the elevators and the facilities with his eyes wide open.
Liam smiled.
’I looked just like that when I first came in.’
They looked like newcomers.
They were probably seeing a guild of this size for the first time.
Lydia finally answered:
"I’ll have a coffee."
"Then let’s go."
The two of them began walking down the stairs.
◇◆◇
The first basement level was practically another reception area.
There were tables covered with sweet and savory foods.
Muffins.
Cookies.
Sandwiches.
Fruit.
And all kinds of things to eat.
Several guild employees wearing black suits with the Ace of Spades emblem walked among the hunters, offering drinks.
Coffee.
Tea.
Hot chocolate.
Juice.
Liam was surprised once again.
’They really took this seriously.’
There were also an enormous number of applicants.
Some were sitting around, nervously chatting.
Then Liam recognized two faces.
"Liam!"
Emily raised a hand from one of the tables.
Lydia saw her and smiled.
"Emily!"
The two of them approached.
Chuck was sitting across from Emily, drinking coffee and eating a muffin, with chocolate smeared across his face.
Emily, meanwhile, had a banana in one hand and a blue energy drink in the other.
Chuck stood up.
"Great to see you guys!"
He extended his hand to Liam.
Liam shook it and noticed something.
Chuck’s hand was slippery and covered in chocolate.
Liam looked at his own hand.
Chuck continued talking as if nothing had happened.
"Want some?"
Liam looked up.
"Of your muffin?"
"Sure. Help yourselves."
Chuck pointed toward the tables.
"It’s all free. Courtesy of the guild."
Emily began laughing.
"Chuck loves anything that’s free."
Chuck smiled.
"I’m already on my fifth muffin."
Liam’s eyes widened.
"Fifth?"
"Yep."
Chuck took another sip of coffee.
"The blueberry ones are the best, but chocolate is a classic."
Liam burst out laughing.
"I think I’ll settle for a coffee."
"Have you guys already had breakfast?"
"Yeah. At our apartment."
"Then you’re missing out on a historic opportunity."
Lydia laughed.
"I don’t think free breakfast qualifies as a historic event."
Chuck pointed at her.
"That’s because you haven’t tried the blueberry one yet."
Before Lydia could answer, a woman in a black suit approached with a tray full of cups and glasses.
"Coffee, tea, or juice?"
Liam looked at the tray.
"Coffee."
He took two cups, one for himself and one for Lydia.
When he handed hers to her, she smiled.
"Thank you very much, darling."
"You’re welcome."
Emily looked at the enormous number of hunters filling the first basement level.
"There are so many people."
Chuck nodded as he finished another piece of muffin.
"Too many."
Emily placed her energy drink on the table.
"Let’s make a bet."
Liam looked at her.
"A bet?"
"Yeah."
Emily pointed toward the hundreds of applicants.
"How many of these hunters do you think will actually manage to become part of a squad?"
Chuck smiled.
"I say less than twenty-five percent."
Lydia took a sip of coffee.
"That few?"
"It’s an Ace of Spades selection."
Chuck wiped the chocolate from the corner of his mouth.
"I don’t think they’re going to hand out positions for free."
Emily finished her banana and smiled.
"I think at least half of the people in this room will make it."
Liam looked at the crowd again.
Some seemed confident in themselves.
Others were clearly nervous.
And a few even seemed to be talking as if they already knew they would be chosen.
’I wonder how many of them actually know what’s waiting for them.’
Lydia moved a little closer to him.
"And what do you think, darling?"
Liam looked at his wife.
"I say it doesn’t matter how many there are."
"No?"
"No."
Liam smiled.
"We’re going to make it."
Lydia smiled.
"I like that."
Emily rested both arms on the table.
"Then we’ve got a bet."
Chuck raised his cup.
"Perfect."
Liam raised his own.
"Perfect."
The three of them clinked their cups together.
Lydia watched them and let out a small laugh.
There were still two hours until the conference.
But Liam could already feel that familiar sensation in his chest.
Anticipation.
Nervousness.
And excitement.
Today, they would finally begin to discover just how great the challenge would really be.