Chapter 1562: Chapter 1562

Chapter 1562:

Lionel and Rita froze, their ears flushing a deep red.

“Ma’am, we are sorry!” Lionel’s voice boomed with sincerity.

Although Rita’s face burned with shame, she mustered the courage to meet Harlee’s gaze and saluted.

“Ma’am, we were wrong. We made a rash plan without considering everyone’s night-shooting abilities and almost jeopardized the entire team. We are ready to face any consequences.”

The exhaustion from fighting off the wolves still weighed heavily on everyone, their bodies spent. Yet, Harlee didn’t show any sympathy. Instead, her reprimand came swiftly and without mercy. Those on the elimination list couldn’t suppress their growing resentment.

Leif couldn’t hold back.

“Ma’am, we don’t believe Lionel and Rita did anything wrong! If it hadn’t been for their plan, we would have all been dead!”

Zoya couldn’t resist chiming in, her tone dripping with sarcasm.

“That’s right, ma’am. You were clearly up in that tree. So, why didn’t you lend a hand? Could it be you were the one who led the wolves to us?”

Most of the other recruits shared similar thoughts. After all, since Harlee had lured snakes for training, luring wolves should be a walk in the park for her. But no one dared to voice that thought openly. So, when Zoya spoke up, everyone’s faces briefly flashed with shock.

Zoya wore a defiant expression, as if to say, “I’m already out, so what do I have to lose?” She paid no mind to whether Harlee would take offense.

Before the elimination list was posted, Zoya might have been more cautious about stepping on Harlee’s toes. But now, with her future hanging in the balance, she cared only about her happiness. After all, starting tomorrow, she wouldn’t have to endure the grueling training anymore. Once she went back, she could even get promoted and become Harlee’s superior someday!

“Do you all think so?” Harlee watched the soldiers, her expression playful yet her eyes as cold as ice, her voice stripped of any warmth. The soldiers shifted uncomfortably under her gaze. Earlier, when Harlee had appeared, they had assumed the wolf pack’s sudden arrival was part of her training strategy. However, after her comment, no one dared to voice that belief.

After a tense silence, Lionel spoke.

“Ma’am, were you… Were you in the tree the entire time?”

Lionel, like the others, suspected that the wolf pack’s appearance might have been orchestrated by Harlee, similar to the snake training. How else could they explain the alpha wolf’s sudden docility in Harlee’s presence? Yet, they had been in the courtyard the entire evening and had heard no sound of Harlee climbing the tree, nor had they noticed when the squad leaders had vanished.

Harlee nodded, her expression unreadable.

“Yes.”

Unable to contain his curiosity, Lionel asked, “Was this all a test for us?” He feared this might be a final evaluation, with those who underperformed at risk of elimination.

Harlee’s gaze swept over the soldiers, her eyes hinting at a chill as moonlight cast half her face in shadow.

“Not exactly.”

Lionel and Rita exchanged puzzled looks. What did she mean by “not exactly”? Did it imply this wasn’t part of the official elimination process, or that it wasn’t a test at all?

Rita addressed Harlee with a raised voice, ensuring all could hear, “Ma’am, did you see the wolf pack approaching and choose to hide in the tree to both assess our skills and protect us?”

Her question was deliberate. She wanted the others to understand that Harlee’s intentions behind the training were not to torment them but to enhance their capabilities as swiftly as possible.

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