Recruits like Clark were many in this Persian tiger’s base as they all trained with vigor. He played along, as they taught them basic marksmanship and fighting techniques.
He later figured out that the terrorist group stopped in this base to train the recruits. He sighed, as he watched the recruits train in high spirits, trying to outdo each other in results.
After hours of training, he finally brought his training results up a bit, as he directly matched this base’s top recruits in results, drawing gasps from others as he only started training for a single day.
After the day’s training, he quietly entered his assigned room, together with 4 other recruits. He didn’t try anything funny, as he knew that he was probably still being watched and monitored, to further confirm if he was a real stray criminal.
So, a new routine started for him, as he trained daily with the recruits. It was a fairly boring routine to him, but that's why it was called a mission, not a vacation.
After a week of training, he increased his grades again, becoming the best among this batch of recruits. That evening the high-grade soldier who recruited him, Elliot, came to his room.
They all immediately stood up and greeted him, the other recruits also knew that he was a high-grade soldier. Elliot singled Clark out from the group to talk, leaving the other 4 recruits to watch in envy.
He first congratulated him on his achievements before informing him that his boss, the overall commander of the base would like to see him tomorrow, as he was the best recruit they got from this town.
Clark was extremely excited inwardly and showed it outwardly also, as it was the expected reaction from any recruit. He fidgeted nervously, as Elliot watched him.
The executioner chuckled before he told him to sleep well tonight, that he will come to get him tomorrow morning and he also revealed some vital information to him.
The leader of this base was a high-grade soldier who already had his 2nd breakthrough. Clark was glad and afraid at the same time; he was glad because Elliot already started trusting him with vital information, and also afraid because of this base commander’s strength.
For every breakthrough a soldier undergoes, there is an increase in strength, endurance, and other attributes, but the increase is limited after the first breakthrough.
It is just like during the first breakthrough, you broke your limit. So, the second and other consecutive breakthroughs are just like expanding or upgrading your limits, which limits the overall increase in strength.
It's only intelligence that is not shackled, as every breakthrough leads to a sharp increase in intelligence, analysis, and thinking abilities.
As a high-grade soldier with one breakthrough more than him, he was naturally afraid of the leader, as he was stronger than him despite the difference not being much.
The terrifying problem is that the leader can play him, or better still trash him in any psychological battle or things related to thinking and manipulation.
He was restless for a long time, but he still steeled his heart as he slept that night. “No pain, no gain,” he reasoned.
The next day, Elliot was very punctual as he came around 7:00 am. Clark followed him after exchanging greetings, as he was already ready by then.
So, it began, his journey to gain more trust and infiltrate deeper into the terrorist circle.
Not long after, they arrived at the centermost part of the compound, Elliot knocked on the door 3 times before stopping, as they waited quietly. “Come in,” a deep voice echoed out, about 10 seconds later.
“Good morning commander,” Elliot greeted respectfully. Clark didn’t dare lag behind, as he echoed the executioner's words, greeting the commander also.
The commander nodded expressionlessly, as he finally raised his head to look at the 2 men before him. “Sit down,” he said, which they did.
“Clark, right?” he asked in a curious tone. Clark responded by nodding his head respectfully.
“I read about how Elliot recruited you last week, welcome to the Persian tigers”.
“Thank you, sir,” Clark humbly replied.
“According to observations, we’ve discovered that you have a lot of potentials. And if groomed properly, you could potentially be our next high-grade soldier.
What are your thoughts about this organization?” The commander suddenly asked.
Clark tried hard to keep a straight face as he replied, “sir, I don’t have much of an opinion about the organization. But I believe in its goal to rid the world of the hypocritic Spartan high officials, who use their soldiers as cannon fodder”.
“And I also like the environment between us recruits, we are just like brothers and sisters”.
“Damn, I think my ability to lie while keeping a straight face has improved a lot since starting this mission,” he thought after he finished speaking.
The commander smiled for the first time since they came in. "Good, I like your spirit, so I’ll give you a goal to work towards,” he said. “The organization provides an exotic sword and armor to any soldier who breaks through.
We have spares here in the base, so if you want to wield the weapons those hypocritic soldiers of the Spartan army wield, work your ass off towards getting it. That will be your goal,” he said with a smile planted on his face.
After all the talks and advice, Elliot stood up to leave as Clark followed behind him thinking about all the information he got.
He was very happy; first, the meeting was without hiccups, and secondly, the temporary base had a spare exotic armor and sword. As he already received some from the government, he could simply sell them for money if he got them, he thought excitedly.
He also learned another confidential news; this base will move to another town, as the local police force already started suspecting this compound as a hub for criminals.
They were very close to the truth, if they knew this was a base of the Persian tigers, they would have stormed in aggressively since, which led to the commander’s decision to move.
“I’ll have to change some of my plans,” he thought.