160. You'll Get Use to It
Inside the walled training grounds, young men finished their physical training and immersed themselves in wooden barrels, enduring the scalding medicinal baths.
Wade Rivers dried his hair and headed toward his residence, carrying a bowl filled with meat and herbal medicine.
At the entrance of a simple house, the young man in black uniform lounged on the steps, a bowl in his hands as he lazily stirred his noodles.
Jade Rivers stood beside him and murmured, "Sergeant Kane, don't you find the food rather plain?"
"It's alright." I picked up some noodles and moved aside to make room for Wade.
Though the food was bland and monotonous, I found contentment in sharing peaceful moments with people who genuinely cared about me, rather than craving anything fancy.
Wade wolfed down his meat, amused at the situation. Sergeant Kane had made it clear he only wanted food and shelter—nothing more. His days consisted of merely eating and sleeping, creating a stark contrast to the disciplined atmosphere of the training grounds.
He wondered what duty Sergeant Kane had in H.A.R.M. Days had passed, yet no one had come searching for him.
During this period of leisure, Sergeant Kane's demeanor had softened considerably. The cold and agitated expression he wore upon arrival had melted away, replaced by a relaxed attitude that others couldn't help but envy.
Suddenly, a commotion broke through the normally quiet atmosphere within the high, oppressive wall.
Through the chaotic footsteps, figures radiating strong Aura and deadly intent swept in like storm clouds.
The training instructors turned their heads to look. When they saw the attire of the newcomers, they were stunned into silence, completely forgetting protocol.
This mundane place was rarely visited even by majors. Yet today, an unprecedented number of high-ranking officials had arrived with great urgency—officials so important that trainees never had an opportunity to see them. The situation was extraordinary.
A tense silence fell over the entire training ground.
Wade's jaw dropped and he stopped chewing. "Sergeant Kane, what's going on?"
I took another mouthful of noodles, not even bothering to lift my eyelids. "I don't know."
Apart from killing vampires, my understanding of H.A.R.M. was probably about the same as Wade's.
"Sergeant Kane, they're heading this way..." Jade murmured.
Many cold gazes swept over Jade, causing her to freeze nervously in place.
Hundreds of new recruits didn't even dared to breathe, watching as this group neatly walked towards the house in distance.
The crowd parted as they came to a halt.
The old man in black armor strode to the front, fixing a quizzical gaze upon the young man casually eating noodles.
The lieutenant generals assumed serious expressions as they stepped back in unison, straightened their postures, and with hands clasped above their heads in salute, shouted as one, "Good afternoon, General Kane!"
Their voices echoed off the high walls and shook the very foundations of the compound.
"Whoa!" Wade gasped. Having never witnessed such a scene before, he felt his nerves tingle with anxiety. In an instant, he leaped up and darted to the side.
I swallowed the last mouthful of noodles and put down the bowl of soup. One look at General Grant told me my peaceful vacation had come to an end.
To my surprise, after serving as a colonel for just a few dozen days, I had apparently been promoted again.
I brushed off my uniform, rose to my feet, and saluted respectfully. "John Kane reporting for duty, sir."
… …
Skyler Grant exhaled deeply.
The sense of ceremony he had originally felt had deflated during the search for this new general.
All of H.A.R.M. had been thrown into chaos, and they'd even needed Chloe to use her special technique to track his silver bell. The young man had managed to completely evade them with his concealment techniques. Even here in Seattle—how could anyone be this cautious? Didn't he ever get tired?
The old man wearily handed over the black armor and red cloak, saying, "Hurry up and help General Kane change."
Two lieutenant generals stepped forward, took the light armor, and escorted me into the house—as if they feared I might vanish in the blink of an eye.
The Rivers siblings stood at a distance, overwhelmed by the powerful aura radiating from these figures. The pressure was so intense it seemed to squeeze their hearts, making each breath a struggle.
At this moment, everyone bowed and saluted, their eyes fixed on the figure in the black uniform as he walked into the house.
After what seemed like an eternity, the door reopened.
When he stepped out, his black armor shimmered with an icy gleam, his tall figure radiating an imposing and extraordinary aura.
The scarlet cloak rippled in the air, contrasting with his pale face and lending a fierce edge to his commanding presence.
… …
I adjusted the arm guards, twisting my wrist uncomfortably as I tried to get used to them.
"You'll get used to it after wearing it awhile," Skyler Grant said with satisfaction.
The young man who had appeared lazy and unmotivated moments ago had transformed completely—now he stood as someone who could battle through hordes of vampires, commanding a deep sense of awe with merely a calm expression.
"From today forward, John Kane is the thirteenth H.A.R.M. General of Cascadia!" The old man turned, his expression growing stern.
Within half an hour, this news would spread across Seattle, then ripple outward until it reached every corner of the twelve cities and 205 counties.
Across the training ground, countless faces froze as everyone's breathing quickened.
None of them had ever imagined they would witness the appointment of a H.A.R.M. General. The moment felt surreal, as if they had stepped into a legend.
"General Kane, have you finished your meal?"
General Grant cast a warm glance at the young man with a faint smile. "If you're done here, come with me to meet the Admiral."
"Yes, sir."
I turned to the Rivers siblings. "I need to leave now, take care."
Wade Rivers swallowed hard. Though he had sensed Sergeant Kane was extraordinary, seeing him now in the black armor and red cloak—transformed into this cold, imposing figure—left him stunned beyond words. He still couldn't quite process it.
Though he had never seen general's armor before, he understood the profound significance of a H.A.R.M. General's title in Cascadia.
Their role was to protect millions of civilians in the jurisdiction of each city.
The siblings watched as his figure retreated into the distance, until the entire group disappeared behind the high wall.
They stared blankly and lowered their gazes, only to realize everyone else was staring at them with looks of disbelief.
… …
Deep within H.A.R.M. headquarters lay an elegant, quiet courtyard.
Its residents were rarely gathered together.
Theodore Montgomery sat in the center of the courtyard while Albany Laurent stood at his side, reporting on the recent movements of powerful vampires beyond Cascadia's borders.
Max Vierkant and Alex Bai helped Max's grandmother prepare dinner.
In the corner of the courtyard, Aisha Patani leaned against a large tree, arms crossed and eyes serene, with a pile of empty whiskey bottles at her feet.
"Has Junior Sister Patani harmonized too much Frozen Resolve in her body?" Albany Laurent looked at the whiskey bottles with concern. Though he knew that she needed this medicinal whiskey to dispel the cold, this seemed excessive.
At those words, a somber expression flickered across Theodore Montgomery's face.
His expression quickly returned to normal as he glanced toward the courtyard entrance. "They're here."
Just as his words faded, Skyler Grant appeared at the courtyard entrance, gave a slight nod in greeting, and turned to leave.
After the old man left, I walked into the courtyard in my black armor. I raised my hand in a respectful salute to the only unfamiliar face present. "John Kane reporting for duty, sir."