Challenge

Wade was strong—very strong. Louis had known that for a long time. He had always ranked first in combat at the training camp, far ahead of second place. The CP series usually used a metric called Doriki to estimate strength. Wade's Doriki at the training camp was in a league of its own, already far exceeding one thousand. It was an utterly terrifying level. Normally, a fully armed Marine soldier had a Doriki Value of ten. A Doriki Value one hundred times greater did not mean Wade could fight a hundred men alone. In fact, as long as he had enough stamina, fighting a thousand or even ten thousand alone was not impossible.

In terms of Doriki Value, Wade's score was more than twice that of second place. That was why the department recruiting him was CP0. He had the ability for it. Everyone present was amazed, but no one found it surprising.

Naturally, Louis was not dissatisfied with Wade. Even if Wade had lacked the corresponding strength, Louis would not have stepped forward. Wade was his closest friend. There was someone else he refused to accept.

Frank ranked second in Doriki Value at the training camp. During the last test, his Doriki had been 590, an exceptionally formidable level. More than twenty years later, even Kalifa, an official member of CP9, would only have a Doriki Value of 580. Aside from knowing only one move of the Six Powers, he already fully met the threshold for becoming an official CP9 member.

Naturally, Frank was the one Louis refused to accept, though the man was indeed qualified. Compared to him, Louis had a Doriki Value of 480, more than a hundred lower. The age gap was there for all to see. Louis was twelve this year, while Frank was eighteen—a difference of six years. There was simply too great a difference between a body that had only just begun developing and one that had fully matured. The gap was that obvious.

But Louis was unconvinced. It was only a difference of one hundred Doriki. Doriki did not determine everything.

"Louis."

The Instructor's eyes darkened slightly. Although CP was not the Marines, it still valued absolute obedience to orders. Louis's open defiance displeased him greatly. "What are you dissatisfied with?"

"Him."

Louis knew his actions would surely displease the Instructor, but he had no choice. Wasting his years in CP8 and becoming a low-level Intelligence Officer under the government was absolutely not the outcome he wanted. If not CP0, then at the very least, he had to get into CP9. The more he learned about this world, the more he understood that if he wanted to hold his own life in his hands, he had to keep climbing higher.

"Instructor, I refuse to accept that he can enter CP9."

"..."

The anger on Frank's face vanished in an instant, replaced by deep delight at Louis's misfortune. Of course he understood that, to the Instructor, a troublemaker like Louis needed to be made an example of.

"Oh?"

The Instructor closed the folder and tucked it beneath his arm. He strolled over to Louis and said softly, "Are you questioning me? Questioning the decision made by all the Instructors?"

This brat is courting death!

That was what Frank thought. He had never gotten along with Louis and the other two. On one hand, Wade crushed him in every regard. On the other, Louis, the youngest of them all, had still displayed extraordinary talent. His only weakness was his irremediable age. With those two around, Frank had never been able to smile at the training camp. It made him feel threatened.

But now he could smile. He had secured a place in CP9, and now he was watching Louis throw his life away. He nearly burst out laughing.

"No, Instructor. I only think that compared to Frank, I can contribute more to the government." Louis raised his voice. "I'm stronger than him."

"Ha ha ha ha! Interesting, brat." The Instructor laughed heartily. "You mean you understand better than I do, is that it?"

"The strong rise, and the weak fall back. This world is just that simple," Louis said in a deep voice.

"Yes, this world is just that simple." The Instructor looked at Louis. "Brat, you've completely changed my impression of you."

The Instructor did not deny Louis's excellence. His talent was absolutely no worse than Wade's. After all, he was only twelve, the youngest in the training camp, yet he was already among the strongest. But he was still too young and needed time to grow. CP8 was not a field operations organization, so Louis would have ample time to develop there. That had been the Instructor's original plan, but now it seemed this brat was far too eager for quick success.

"Instructor, I want to challenge him!" Louis pointed at Frank. "The winner takes the position!!"

"Huff."

The Instructor let out a breath. "You brat—"

"You really are courting death!"

He raised a leg and kicked Louis squarely in the chest.

It was like being struck by a speeding train. Louis felt an overwhelming force slam into him, sending him flying. To become the Chief Instructor of the South Sea Training Camp, this man's strength had to be terrifying beyond measure.

"Hm?" The Instructor froze for a moment, then the corner of his mouth curled upward. "Interesting."

"Instructor!"

Dylan immediately grew anxious and nearly rushed forward. The only reason he had not was because Wade, standing beside him, reached out and pressed a hand on his shoulder. Dylan turned his head.

"Don't rush."

Wade tilted his head slightly, a smile on his face.

"It hurts."

Louis's feet carved two deep tracks into the ground, yet he remained standing firmly. His chest throbbed with pain, but it was only pain. For someone proficient in Tekkai, the Instructor's casual strike was not enough to break through his defenses.

"Are you convinced now?" the Instructor asked with a light laugh.

"I'm not convinced."

Louis straightened up and shouted.

"..."

This time, Frank truly nearly laughed aloud. This brat was really determined to court death. Even after all that, he still did not know how to restrain himself.

"Is that so?" The Instructor grinned. "Then what do you want to do?"

"I want to challenge Frank!" Louis said bluntly. "The winner enters CP9, and the loser steps aside."

"Louis!!"

Frank's growl was low and full of fury. He no longer felt like laughing. Did this brat really look down on him that much? His Doriki was not even five hundred, and he was only a twelve-year-old brat! Yet he dared provoke him like this, exactly like that bastard Wade! Neither of them took him seriously at all!

"Hoh."

The Instructor smiled noncommittally. "You really do have guts. Fine. Today is the final graduation assembly, so let's make it lively one last time."

"Frank, this brat thinks you are unworthy of CP9. What do you think? Will you accept his challenge?"

"Gladly."

Frank grinned, revealing two rows of gleaming white teeth. He did not look at Louis. Instead, he looked toward Wade, his gaze filled with provocation. He refused to accept Wade. Although the difference in their strength had already become quite obvious, that did not mean he should admit defeat. Unruliness was common to all men of the sea. Since he could not beat Wade, taking back some pride from Wade's brother was not a bad idea.

"Then it's settled."

The Instructor gave Louis a meaningful look before speaking. "The place in CP9 will be decided by a duel between Louis and Frank."

"Good."

Louis nodded in satisfaction. He had to join CP9.

"No problem."

Frank naturally believed that victory was assured. His Doriki Value was a full fifth higher than Louis's. For two people in battle, being even a little stronger meant being overwhelmingly stronger.

"Don't kill him."

As Louis walked past Wade, the blond man moved his lips and said that.

"Mm."

Louis nodded as though it were only natural.

He would teach that idiot that Doriki did not determine everything.