Captain Shiko glanced at Bobby in bewilderment.
He even pinched himself on his cheek and exclaimed in delight. "Yeah, it's not a dream! What am I thinking?"
He was all smiles as he slapped lightly on Bobby's back. "Hahaha, I thought today will be a disaster like it has always been..."
But interrupted abruptly as Bobby jumped in, saying: "Please, not my name here." There was a beseeching look on his face, along with a wry smile.
Captain Shiko quickly picked up on what he was coming to. "Alright, I understand!"
He added, "Anyway, I'm happy to have my pupil able to accomplish this feat which I couldn't in the past. Congratulations, lad!"
Bobby responded with a smile.
"Attention!" The angel who was floating in the air spoke with a thundering voice imbued with a trace of Angelic Grace Energy.
It chimed, and the surrounding once again returned to complete silence.
"Alright, this will be the last announcement….. " After pausing for a few seconds, he continued, "The Chief's Selection Trial will be held in the coming 67th day, counting from today. Alright, everyone, leave!"
The sea of soldiers cheered the name Loki and within five minutes, the place was vacated, leaving only Bobby and Captain Shiko on the premises of the Elite Group.
As they felt the eyes of the Angel, who was still floating in the air, Captain Shiko said with a chuckle. "Let's leave, too." And the two started walking.
After taking a couple of five steps, "Wait!" a voice chimed directed at them.
"Sir, we're about to take our leave. If there is nothing, then we will excuse ourselves." Captain Shiko responded, and the two continued to walk forward at a quicker pace as if he was afraid the announcer would insist on finding trouble with them for not leaving sooner like others.
"Please, wait!" The man said as he landed, blocking their path.
"What's the meaning of this, sir?" Captain Shiko asked with a frown and he was on alert.
"Calm down, Captain Shiko! I don't mean any trouble here. But I need you two to have a brief tour inside our building." And he added, "The Vice-chancellor is waiting for your presence."
After pondering for a while, Captain Shiko turned to Bobby and said, "Loki, off you go, lad. I can wait for you outside."
"Your presence is also required. This is mentioned in his words explicitly. Okay, follow me." Then the announcer spread his wings and began flying upward in the air.
Bobby and Captain Shiko also flew up in the air, closely following behind him, and they all entered ?the hall through the broad window.
All of them landed on the floor, folding their wings. The announcer first closed the window and rushed out of the hall.
He brought them in front of a room and said, "This one is the Vice-Chancellor's office. Please, enter, and finally, it's where we part our ways." Then he walked away hurriedly.
Bobby and Captain Shiko looked at each other, and they entered the office one at a time.
Inside the room, Bobby saw the middle-aged man he encountered yesterday, scribbling on a file.
After realizing that they were inside the room, Kuppo stopped what he was doing and glanced at them.
"Good morning, sir!" Both Bobby and Captain Shiko greeted and saluted him at the same time as they thumped their chests with their fists.
Vice-Chancellor Kuppo nodded his head and said as he gestured with his hand. "Have a seat?"
After the two sat on the nearby seats, Kuppo began, "Captain Shiko, do you know why are you here?" with a question.
"Not a clue, sir!" responded Captain Shiko with a firm tone.
? "Hmm, alright, fair enough! Then, I'll come to the point. On account of the Blue Lagoon Unit, let me at least give you applause for your remarkable service in grooming a next-in-line Chief candidate," said the Vice-Chancellor, and he clapped his hands.
Bobby joined the applause as he grinned at Captain Shiko.
Clap! Clap! Clap!....
"So, for your service, I will promote you to Class 3 Officer in my Elite Group! What do you think about it?" Vice-Chancellor Kuppo added.
"Thank you, sir. It has been my lifetime dream to work in this building." Captain Shiko responded as he stood up and gave another salute following the customs of the Blue Lagoon.
"Alright, you're excused. I have some secret matter to discuss with Agent Loki." Vice-Chancellor Kuppo asked him to leave his office politely.
Captain Shiko gave a last salute and rushed out of the room, leaving the two.
After several minutes, Vice-Chancellor Kuppo opened his mouth, starting the conversation. "You must be surprised, too…. Listen, Agent Loki, I'm the one who sponsors you for your candidacy selection."
"Why, sir? As much as I'm happy to accept this opportunity, I'm just a green-horned agent. And I heard that every other time they selected the seeds from the junior masters of the four noble families. Why me, sir?.... Especially a bastard to add up!" Bobby replied from the perspective of Loki.
"Exactly, the Chief's seat is left dusty all these times because of that. So, after I heard about your recent achievements, I had an idea in my mind but it turned into reality when I saw you here apprehending the Truth Of Banishment gang. That's when it clicks to my mind that you are the most qualified candidate for this term." Vice-Chancellor Kuppo responded, explaining with a calm tone.
He further added, "I only hope that you can finally clear this test and fill this empty seat after many centuries…. Oh, and worry not. During these two months, you're free to use the cultivation chamber and also the training hall here."
"That'll be unnecessary, sir. There was one nearby my quarter." Bobby replied as he didn't like to spend two full months here in this building just for training.
"Hmph! You call that a training hall. Agent Loki, you need to broaden your horizon. Before you deny it, why don't know visit and see for it yourself? I bet you'll change your mind." Vice-chancellor Kuppo insisted.