Chapter 937: Namelist Chapter 937: Namelist Federation Headquarters: The towering structure of the Federation Headquarters stood imposingly under the clear sky, its gleaming metal exterior reflecting the sunlight.
Inside, the atmosphere was tense.
The Federation Head, Ben, stood nervously before two intimidating figures: Clinton Francis and Sally Johns, both legends in their own right.
Clinton, a man who appeared to be in his mid-forties, possessed an aura that could shake entire armies.
His well-defined features and sharp eyes revealed the years of experience and battles he had fought, although his actual age was a well-guarded secret that could astonish even the oldest warriors.
Beside him stood Sally Johns, an equally fearsome warrior, with a cold yet dignified presence.
Her tall frame and piercing blue eyes made her seem untouchable, her beauty as striking as her strength.
Both were warriors of extraordinary caliber, far beyond the Gold Mark Warrior Rank, and they carried with them the authority of Star University, an institution that shaped the future of the galaxy’s mightiest fighters.
Noticing the beads of sweat on Ben’s forehead, Clinton and Sally, in a silent understanding, gently restrained the overwhelming pressure of their aura.
In an instant, their presence diminished, making them appear like ordinary individuals-an illusion that only the most powerful could manage.
“Your name is Ben, right?” Clinton asked, his voice deep and commanding, yet not unkind.
Ben, who had been standing stiff as a board, nodded vigorously.
“Yes, my Lord.
I’m Ben, the current head of the Army Federation,” he stammered, clearly trying to maintain his composure.
Without wasting any more time, Ben gestured towards a hidden corridor.
“I will take you to the office without delay.” Clinton gave a brief nod, and Sally’s eyes flickered with acknowledgment as they began to follow Ben through a discreet, heavily secured passage that led to the uppermost floor of the headquarters.
The room they entered was lavishly furnished, though not ostentatious-designed more for comfort and functionality than grandeur.
At the center was a large, polished desk with two high-backed chairs on one side and a single chair on the other.
Clinton and Sally sat down behind the desk, their demeanor calm yet authoritative, while Ben seated himself across from them, every muscle in his body tense as he awaited their orders.
Clinton’s sharp gaze swept the room once more before finally settling on Ben.
He leaned forward slightly, his hands clasped in front of him.
“I won’t waste your time.
We are here to select warriors to join the ranks of Star University,” he began, his tone clipped and businesslike, though it carried the weight of someone used to being obeyed without question.
Sally, who had been silent until now, spoke up, her voice as cold and precise as her reputation.
“We’re selecting warriors starting from SSS-ELITE Rank to those just below the Black Mark Warrior level,” she clarified.
“The best of the best.
Only those capable of surviving the trials will be considered.” Ben nodded eagerly.
He knew what this meant.
For the warriors of the Federation, this was an opportunity of a lifetime.
To be chosen by Star University was a path to greatness-if they survived the grueling selection process.
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Ben sat nervously at the desk, his fingers tapping softly against the cool surface as he pushed two copies of the name list across to Clinton and Sally.
He had spent days meticulously curating the names, selecting warriors whose talents and elemental affinities were far above the average.
For the Federation, these names represented the best of the best.
But for Star University, this was merely the entry standard.
The university’s reputation was legendary, only accepting warriors who had the potential to reshape the Tier-4 region with their power.
Ben was well aware of this, and though he had chosen the most qualified candidates, an uneasy feeling gnawed at him.
Clinton and Sally took the lists, their expressions unreadable as they began to flip through the names, their eyes scanning each with practiced efficiency.
Every so often, one of them would pause for a brief second, likely recognizing a family name or a particular warrior’s reputation, before moving on to the next.
The silence in the room was deafening, the only sound being the faint rustling of paper.
As Ben watched them examine the lists, his mind drifted to the one name that wasn’t there-Zack Lockwood.
Zack was a warrior of remarkable potential, but he was just shy of reaching the SSS-ELITE Rank.
The selection process for Star University only considered those warriors who had already attained this rank or higher, and unfortunately, Zack had not yet reached that milestone.
Ben had wrestled with the decision, but in the end, he couldn’t include Zack on the list.
Should I feel relieved or regretful?
Ben thought.
The officials had arrived earlier than expected, leaving Zack little time to reach the rank required for consideration.
If they had come just a few weeks later, Ben was almost certain Zack would have broken through to SSS-ELITE.
Now, Zack’s opportunity to join Star University, at least for this selection cycle, seemed to have slipped through his fingers.
Ben glanced at Clinton and Sally, still deep in review.
Would Zack even want this?
He wondered.
Star University was a double-edged sword.
It could turn a warrior into a legend, but the trials and competition were ruthless.
A warrior who wasn’t fully prepared could be destroyed-either in spirit or body.
Perhaps it was a blessing that Zack wasn’t on the list yet.
Still, his absence gnawed at Ben.
Zack wasn’t just any warrior; he was special, with a rare combination of talent and drive.
Given just a little more time, Ben was certain Zack could surpass many of the warriors whose names now sat in front of Clinton and Sally.
The names they were reviewing consisted of the best the Federation had to offer-warriors from the top families and most powerful clans.
These weren’t just skilled fighters; many were core members of influential families, the next generation poised to strengthen their lineage’s influence within the Federation.
If even a handful of these family members were selected, their families’ political standing within the Federation would become even stronger, tilting the already delicate balance of power.
Ben’s thoughts wandered further down that dangerous path, imagining the political maneuvering that would follow the selection.
Families would use their standing at Star University as leverage, alliances would be formed, old rivalries intensified, and the internal politics of the Federation would grow even more complex.
It could lead to internal friction, destabilizing the delicate balance he had worked so hard to maintain.
No, focus.
He shook his head slightly, mentally pushing away those concerns.
This was not the time to worry about political ramifications.
His task was to ensure that only the most capable warriors were put forward for Star University.
Whatever came afterward would be dealt with in time.
He watched as Clinton turned a page and then exchanged a glance with Sally, who nodded subtly.
They were approaching the end of the list, but Ben’s heart rate didn’t slow.
All he could do now was wait for their verdict.
A few minutes passed in silence as Clinton and Sally finished reviewing the lists, their expressions serious but calm.
Finally, Clinton broke the quiet, setting the papers down with a firm hand.
“Alright,” he began, his voice steady and authoritative, “we can’t select all of them.
The number of seats available is limited, and we only want the best.
So, we’ll select 300 warriors to start.
These 300 will undergo trials back at Star University.” He paused, glancing at Ben before continuing, “Among those, only the top 150 or 200 will be chosen, based on their performance during the trials.
The rest won’t make it through.” Clinton’s words carried a weight that hung in the air.
The idea that more than half of the selected warriors would fail-and potentially lose their futures-was sobering.
Ben had seen firsthand how brutal Star University’s trials were, where even the most skilled warriors could fall short if they weren’t fully prepared.
Clinton turned to Sally.
“What do you think?” he asked, his tone suggesting that he valued her opinion greatly.
Sally’s eyes, cold and calculating, scanned the room for a moment before she responded.
“300 is fine,” she agreed.
“Only the truly talented will survive the trials.
If we recruit too many, we risk unnecessary losses.
Those who aren’t ready will meet their end, either in body or spirit.
The weaker ones don’t belong in Star University.” Her words were as sharp as her reputation, and Ben couldn’t help but nod inwardly.
She was right-Star University wasn’t a place for the faint of heart.
Only the elite would make it, and those who weren’t up to the challenge could face fatal consequences.
As Ben listened to their conversation, he began to feel a sense of relief.
Despite their terrifying reputation, both Clinton and Sally seemed rational and approachable.
They weren’t needlessly cruel or dismissive, but instead, focused on ensuring that only those who could truly handle the rigors of Star University would be given the opportunity.
Feeling a bit more confident, a thought crept into Ben’s mind-Zack Lockwood.
He could feel the urge to speak up bubbling inside him.
This might be the only chance to bring up Zack’s name, and now that Clinton and Sally had shown themselves to be reasonable, Ben believed they might listen.
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