40: Section 40

Realizing this, Jing Yuan felt a massive headache coming on.

It wasn't that he absolutely had to have the position of Deputy Captain.

Participating in this trial and fighting his way to the top for the Deputy Captain position would mean stepping over Mark's trusted confidants to rise in rank.

If he didn't participate or intentionally lost, Mark's band of brothers would think he looked down on them.

Who didn't know that Jing Yuan was powerful enough to fight Mark to a draw? To lose on purpose against them—what would that even mean?

Moreover, it would be difficult to explain things to Charles. Didn't you want to be Deputy Captain? Why lose on purpose? Did you not want to offend those around Mark?

He had thought he was playing a dangerous game for gain, but now he was caught between a rock and a hard place.

What about the future? Walking straight into the lion's den?

"It won't come to that! It won't come to that," Jing Yuan shook his head.

In this apocalyptic world, the most critical thing was still increasing one's strength. As long as one was strong enough, who would be the sheep? Who would be the tiger?

Jing Yuan left his residence, preparing to go for a run on the Lighthouse's outer ring road.

He ran to a secluded spot and saw a familiar figure standing by the edge, watching the clouds.

The tall figure and golden hair made Jing Yuan think back to that night in the Hall of Dawn.

"Penny?" Jing Yuan walked over and called out softly.

The blonde woman turned around; it was indeed Penny.

Jing Yuan smiled and asked, "Are you watching the clouds here again?"

Penny smiled but didn't answer directly. Instead, she asked, "What are you doing here?"

"Running."

Penny was a bit puzzled; this wasn't exactly a good time for a run. She joked, "You're certainly working hard for that Deputy Captain election."

"So you know about that too."

"The whole Lighthouse knows."

Jing Yuan grumbled, "They're certainly making a grand spectacle of it."

"Aren't they just!" Penny looked at Jing Yuan and asked with a smile, "This trial... it wouldn't happen to be specially arranged for you, would it?"

"What makes you think that?"

"With your abilities, in a one-on-one fight, who could possibly be your match?"

Jing Yuan laughed. "You have that much confidence in me?"

Penny wore an expression of deep approval. "Everyone saw your performance during this surface mission. Actually, I don't quite understand. With your capability, after staying with the Wasteland Hunters for six months or a year, being appointed Deputy Captain would be a matter of course. Why go through the trouble of a trial right now?"

Jing Yuan gave a helpless smile. "There are many twists and turns involved, and there's no need to force ourselves to understand them all. For us, the most critical task is how to survive in this wasteland."

Penny nodded. "Well said!"

After saying those words, Jing Yuan was suddenly struck by his own realization.

Yes! In this world, survival was paramount.

Staying on the Lighthouse all day had made him dizzy with all these schemes and maneuvers.

Compared to this apocalypse, compared to destroying the Phage Beasts and clearing the mana ecology, what did these power plays on the Lighthouse even matter?

Jing Yuan couldn't help but chuckle twice.

Penny looked at him oddly and asked, "What are you laughing at?"

"Nothing." Jing Yuan wore a smirk. "Penny, something suddenly came up. I have to go. Let's chat again when we have the chance."

"Okay."

After bidding farewell to Penny, Jing Yuan went straight to the door of Mark's residence.

"Captain, open up!"

After resting for two days, Mark was clearly in a much better mood.

Jing Yuan only knocked twice before Mark opened the door.

"Oh, it's you! Come in and sit!"

Jing Yuan followed Mark inside and then asked directly, "Captain, do you know about what's happening outside?"

"What's happening?"

"The selection for the Deputy Captain?"

Mark hesitated for a moment, then nodded and said, "I know."

Jing Yuan sat on the sofa behind Mark and pressed further, "What do you think about it?"

Mark glanced at Jing Yuan first, then said seriously, "The format is a one-on-one arena battle. In terms of individual combat power, no one is your match. However, there are a few people you need to be careful of. For example, Mo Cheng—don't be fooled by his prosthetic leg; he's agile and clever, and he'll use little tricks that are hard to guard against. Then there's Gao Ge and Kun Jie; they have extensive combat experience, though they're getting older and might be more willing to give the opportunity to the youth."

Hearing Mark give him such earnest advice, Jing Yuan felt a bit embarrassed to speak.

"Captain, haven't you thought about the underlying issues behind this?"

Mark smiled slightly and said, "There are no outsiders here. If you have something to say, you can speak plainly with me."

Jing Yuan knew Mark had a straightforward personality, so he stopped beating around the bush. "Captain, remember I told you last time that Charles wanted to recruit me? This Deputy Captain trial was also prepared by him for me."

Mark hesitated slightly. He'd had some doubts about this trial himself, but they weren't major, so he hadn't looked into it.

With Jing Yuan putting it like this, he understood completely.

"Captain, look at that list for the arena matches. Every single person on there has more seniority and experience than a newcomer like me, and they are more qualified for the Deputy Captain role. But according to the arrangements of our Leader, I must step over them to take this position."

Mark smiled. He was kind and idealistic, but he wasn't stupid.

"Jing Yuan, you underestimate their breadth of mind and sense of duty. We Wasteland Hunters are different from other departments on the Lighthouse. We need to go down to The Surface to execute missions, facing life and death at any moment. You think this position represents power, but it is mostly responsibility. Do you think being a Deputy Captain means just standing on high and barking orders? When you take these companions to The Surface, you have to bring them back whole—that is the responsibility of this position. And I believe you can do that. During this mission, you showed everyone that you are capable."

Mark said a great deal, then paused and comforted him, "Since the trial has already begun, just focus on the matches. Fighting against these people is also a good opportunity to accumulate experience. As for anything else, you don't need to worry."

Jing Yuan opened his mouth to say something but stopped.

Since Mark had put it that way, saying anything else would seem inappropriate.

Jing Yuan's concerns were non-issues in Mark's eyes.

The people of the Wasteland Hunters were not petty. As long as one won fairly through skill, no one would have any grievances.

As long as Jing Yuan's strength was convincing, it wouldn't be stepping over veterans to rise, but rather being promoted by a group of older brothers.

Just as Mark finished counseling Jing Yuan, he received a message.

Because of the Deputy Captain selection, the high-level officials were arguing in the Council Hall, and Mark was notified to get over there immediately.

Chapter 41: Discussing the Selection Plan

When Mark arrived at the Council Hall, the heads of several departments were already present.

Charles, the Leader of the Light and Shadow Society, saw Mark arrive and said in a snide voice, "Our Wilderness Hunter Commander has arrived. Regarding the selection of the Wasteland Hunters' Deputy Captain, why don't we hear Captain Mark's thoughts?"

Mark stepped forward, looked at Lord Morgan standing at the very front, and after saluting, asked, "My Lord, hasn't the matter of the Deputy Captain selection already been announced? Why are we deliberating here again?"

Lord Morgan said, "The City Defense Force has many doubts regarding the selection process for the Wasteland Hunters' Deputy Captain and suggests redrafting the selection procedure."

"The City Defense Force?" Mark was a bit puzzled but didn't voice it.

If Jing Yuan were here, he would surely ask: "What does the Wasteland Hunters' selection have to do with the City Defense Force?"

But Mark wouldn't say that.

At that moment, Senge of the City Defense Force stepped out and said, "The Wasteland Hunters hold the most important positions on the Lighthouse. Command roles like Captain and Deputy Captain are of the utmost importance. If the candidate for Deputy Captain is determined solely by individual combat, it is far too one-sided."

Hearing this, Mark also felt it was reasonable.

Instead, it was Charles who asked with a smile, "Captain Senge, what do the affairs of the Wasteland Hunters have to do with your City Defense Force?"

"Ahem!" Dr. Carrie, who was nearby, spoke up. "Wasn't this matter of selecting a Deputy Captain for the Wasteland Hunters also proposed by you, Charles? What do the affairs of the Wasteland Hunters have to do with your Light and Shadow Society?"

Charles was not at all angered by the retort. He smiled faintly and said, "The Wasteland Hunters collect resources for the Lighthouse; their responsibility is great. Now that the situation on The Surface is severe, we cannot place the entire burden solely on Captain Mark's shoulders. Selecting a Deputy Captain to lead multi-line operations alongside Captain Mark will increase our efficiency in resource collection. This is planning for the long-term development of the Lighthouse. No matter which department it is, as long as there is a good method, it can be proposed to the Lighthouse."

"The Leader is right!" Senge stepped forward and said, "I was once a member of the Wasteland Hunters and am very familiar with their mode of operation. For the Wasteland Hunters, what is needed is not the reckless courage of a lone fighter, but rather strategic thinking, decisiveness, and command ability. It is indeed necessary for the Wasteland Hunters to establish a Deputy Captain position, but there is no need to use an arena format."

"Then what format do you say should be used?" Charles looked at Senge.

"The selection for a Wasteland Hunter Leader should, of course, be based on resource collection on The Surface!"

"Oh?" Charles pretended to think for a moment, then said, "That seems right! Captain Mark, what do you think?"

Charles threw the question to Mark, who also gave it some serious thought.

Mark looked at Morgan and said, "Senge is right."

A Wasteland Hunter captain needs to understand command and have decisiveness.

Winning an arena match only proves that one's individual combat power is high, but it cannot serve as a standard for measuring the ability to command a team.

Morgan nodded and said, "In that case, let's send them to The Surface for a collection mission!"

"Then what specific mission should be executed? Captain Senge, do you have any ideas?" Charles looked toward Senge.

Before Senge could speak, Dr. Carrie cut in. "I happen to be short on some mana ecology samples. I think it would be better to have them collect samples. If someone could capture a live Phage Beast and bring it back, that would be even better—it would show that both their command ability and individual combat power are top-tier. If someone can do that, forget Deputy Captain—I'd give them the Captain position."