Chapter 54 "Garrett, letâs go check it out," said Duncan, the commander of Eastern District.
With that, Duncan turned on his heel and headed for the door with Garrett, leaving the other two to their squabble.
"These two never play by the rules..." muttered the commander of Western and Southern Districts.
Those remaining in the conference room exchanged puzzled glances, wondering why the commanders had left halfway through the meeting.
"Danielle, youâve got killer aim. Care for a match against me and Elliot?" Justin asked cheerfully.
âWeâre not done yet? I bet thereâs still more to come later, Danielle thought.
"How about a friendly match?" Elliot chimed in.
Knowing her exceptional marksmanship, he wasnât about to pass up the chance to see her in action.
Danielle sighed inwardly. âHow could I say no? Heâs my dear brother.
"Sure." Danielle nodded.
The group moved from the combat arena to the shooting range. Some soldiers were still absorbed in the earlier sparring match, unable to snap out of it.
Others buzzed with anticipation, speculating about Danielleâs shooting skills. After all, the sparring match had been electrifying, and now they were certain Danielleâs marksmanship would be just as impressive. Otherwise, the bosses wouldnât have proposed a competition.
"Plain old shooting is boring. How about we blindfold ourselves? Letâs see whoâs got the best aim," Justin proposed.
"Great! Iâm in," Maximus said, his excitement barely contained. One by one, they stepped forward. First up was Luke, who covered his eyes with a blindfold and raised his gun. Relying on his muscle memory, he fired, hitting dead center. Five more shots followed, each finding its mark with the same precision.
Cheers erupted from the Lion Assault Squad. "Captain Marsh!"
"Not bad, Luke. Your aim keeps improving," Justin said, getting his gun ready.
"Go, Captain Guerrero! Youâre the best," cheered the Tiger Assault Team.
Calm and focused, Justin put on the blindfold and cocked his gun. He fired three rounds, all hitting the bullseye.
Next came Maximus, his aim as sharp as theirs, hitting every mark.
Impressed, Danielle raised an eyebrow. âSeems like one must have some serious chops to be a special forces captain, she mused.
Then, it was Elliotâs turn. Known for his legendary marksmanship, he didnât disappoint. With his blindfold on, he fired three rounds. Each bullet pierced the bullseye almost simultaneously, a feat that left the crowd awestruck.
Their marksmanship was flawless. Even with blindfolds on, they hit the bullseye without fail.
"Major Darling never misses," the soldiers murmured in amazement. "Three bullets tore through the target at once? Thatâs unreal."
This was the first time Danielle witnessed Elliotâs shooting prowess, which was indeed formidable.
The district commanders watched from the back of the crowd. The commanders of the other three districts had mixed feelings. They were impressed by the talent on display but disappointed it all came from the Northern District.
Finally, it was Danielleâs turn. As she took her place, all eyes were on her. The crowdâs anticipation was palpable. She calmly put on the blindfold, raised her gun, and fired three shots in quick succession. The red center of the target was obliterated. A clean hole punched right through it, leaving a gaping void that shattered its core. Even more shockingly, the three bullets pierced through each other so seamlessly that only a single spent shell remained on the ground.
Every shot found its mark with perfect precision, as if the gun itself was an extension of her will. The bullet flew straight to its target with a subtle pull of the trigger.
The crowd was in awe. Gasps filled the air as Danielleâs marksmanship proved nothing short of extraordinary. "How did she do that?" someone whispered, disbelief etched across their face.
"Sheâs a sharpshooter in a league of her own," another murmured.
Even the district commanders were floored. They had seen outstanding shooters before, but this was on an entirely different level. Without hesitation, the commanders rushed toward Danielle, determined not to let such a talent slip through their fingers. Everyone greeted the commanders respectfully, but they completely ignored the crowd, their faces filled with eagerness.
"Miss Darling, Iâm Fergus Maxwell, commander of the Southern District. Would you consider joining us? Name your terms, and Iâll make it happen,"
Fergus said, his tone filled with hopeful enthusiasm.
"Nonsense, thereâs nothing remarkable about the Southern District," interjected the commander of Western District. "Join us in the Western District instead. Weâll offer double whatever they promise, and you wonât even have to take on extra duties."
"How can the West compare to the South? Donât be fooled by him," Fergus said dismissively.
"Miss Darling, after seeing your combat skills and flawless marksmanship, I must say youâre the most talented person Iâve ever encountered. Come to the Eastern District. Youâll have unparalleled opportunities with us," another commander chimed in.
"Lydia couldnât stop singing your praises. Youâre incredible! Why not work alongside your brother in the Northern District?" Garrett said.
In their bid to recruit Danielle, the commanders pulled out all the stops, paying no mind to the astonished looks of the crowd, their faces filled with eager anticipation.
Danielle was speechless, thinking, âIs this for real? This is getting absurd...
Sensing her reluctance, they softened their approach. "Take your time to decide. No rush."
Danielle replied with a polite but firm tone, "Iâm flattered, but Iâm only here to treat the patients. The sparring and shooting matches were just spur-of-
the-moment. Iâll start school soon, so Iâm afraid I have to decline."
The commanders stared at her in disbelief. "Wait, you know medicine?" They didnât register her rejection; instead, they shifted to a completely unrelated question.
"A little," Danielle replied humbly. Those who had witnessed her medical expertise wisely kept quiet, knowing she wanted no further attention. If the commanders knew she was highly skilled in medicine, it would be even harder to let her go.
While the commanders brooded over their failure to bring her on board, Danielleâs phone rang. It was David.
"Done for the day?" Davidâs captivating voice came through the line.
"Yes," Danielle replied, recalling their dinner plans.
"Iâve sent Nathan to pick you up. Heâs waiting outside."
Not A Small Town Girl (Danielle and David)
ï¤Chapter 53 Realizing he must still be busy, Danielle responded, "Got it."
After the call ended, Danielle said goodbye to everyone and took her leave.