After a few hours of rest, it was time for the next "big day" workout.
As they waited for Roy, Jean and Kine talked to other soldiers outside the hut.
— You were the highlight of the day! You must have impressed the General! — commented a soldier.
— If they are at this level... with only this age, wait only to see when they grow up! — commented another military.
The boys spotted the Captain, who was walking quietly to the cabin.
— Get out of here! — he cried, frightening all the soldiers. — Go take care of their business!
The soldiers, ashamed, ran away amid some laughter.
Soon after, Roy entered the cabin, shouting:
— TIME TO WAKE UP!
Clay and Slezzy stood up in a matter of seconds after that scream, standing straight up.
Roy smiled at the two of them and then turned around, withdrawing from there. The agents, confused, just followed him.
As they walked towards the next practice session, Slezzy disguised himself, pulled a conversation with Clay, so that no one around could hear them. He whispered:
— Clay! Hey, Clay!
— Han!? Why are you talking like that? — he answered, whispering. It was evident that the young man was still sleepy.
— What!? You're still sleeping by chance? Well, it doesn't matter. Anyway... I think there's... something wrong with these kids!
— What do you mean by that?
— Did you... by any chance... not wonder at all the fact that two children managed to run for seven kilometers... without stopping... without lowering the speed of their steps even a single second?
— They were of the Blue Order! Anyone who passes by turns the body into a real machine! Regardless of age!
Slezzy asked him again:
— Wait, what about that thing!? At one point in the race, Kine, she... put her hands on our backs! It was as if she had applied a syringe of adrenaline! I started to feel no more pain, no fatigue!
Clay put his hand on Slezzy's shoulder, calmly saying,
— You're thinking too much, mate! Just relax! Focus on the next test.
The group reached a place far from the initial hut. The target shooting area.
There were improvised wooden stands, as well as dozens of short, medium and long—distance cardboard targets. Everything was surrounded by extensive vegetation.
A tall and strong military man approached and received them.
— Captain Roy! Is this the FMA's newest training group?
— Hello, Saith! That's right! I brought them in to put the aim into practice... with the best marksman in our army!
"So this is the sniper that day"
Saith held a large precision rifle in his hands. His military clothes appeared to be about to explode due to his huge muscles. He wore glasses and was always chewing some gum. The in—depth details about his hair were identifiable, as his cap concealed it. His appearance was not so new.
— Listen to me, young people — said Saith, with a firm and thick voice — All the weapons that are inside this club are true. No doubt, now is the best time for you to show a little responsibility! You will be able to enjoy any equipment or weapon available. I will teach you to carry and handle all these wonders in the coming days. In fact, I recommend starting with the silenced carbines, the most precise weapons the army can offer.
— Great! I bid you farewell here! When you finish training in the evening, you will be excused to go up to the dressing room, if you change and collect your belongings. — Roy left them soon after. — I'll see them tomorrow morning!
The group walked into the improvised club.
But before Slezzy could get inside, Saith confronted him:
— Hey...
— Yes, sir!? — replied Slezzy, a little scared.
— Next time, ask Sanches' old man to give you at least one gun when you go out on those streets! — warned the shooter, laughing right after. — You can never predict if you're gonna get shot wandering around those alleys.
Slezzy, terrified, didn't answer.
Everyone walked to the club and there began another stage of training.