Aiden hurriedly returned to the military camp, closed his room door, and pulled out the document Lucas had given him. As he read through it, his brow furrowed deeper and deeper. Once he finished reading the documents, he locked the document away in a steel safe.
This kind of safe was only possessed by a few individuals, such as Aiden and his brothers. It was used to store important intelligence and documents.
Once a major incident occurs, this steel safe would be the first to be escorted out. It contained highly confidential information related to various aspects of Sedona City's development.
"Ha... looks like I'll be busy for a while." Aiden sighed as he looked at the document. It included military layouts and various regulations, all of which were classified.
Having recently married, he found himself coming home in the dead of night. If his wife weren't so understanding, he would probably have to live at the military camp.
"Oh, right, the Guard Department needs to select people." Aiden remembered, picking up the test papers from the side. As he opened them, a sheet of paper fell out, which he examined carefully.
"The benefits seem quite good. I bet many of those younger guys will want to join the Guard Department." Aiden said with a smile, shaking his head.
Holding the test papers, Aiden left his room and instructed his subordinates to assemble the soldiers.
It wasn't long before all the soldiers gathered in the training ground of the military camp. About a hundred of them filled up a tenth of the area.
Aiden looked around and felt that the military camp was indeed a bit small. Considering the upcoming conscription and the addition of a 200-man cavalry unit, there wasn't enough space for proper training.
It wouldn't do to move training outside the city; that would waste a lot of time on the road and risk exposure of the army's formations to enemy forces. Thus, relocating the camp outside the city was a move he fully supported. After Sedona City expands, the eastern part will eventually be enveloped by the city, so this is just an early move.
Of course, the move wouldn't happen immediately. The new military camp in the eastern part of the city needs to be completed first. Otherwise, with winter approaching, setting up tents in the wild could lead to severe exposure and potential fatalities.
"Ahem…"
Aiden cleared his throat and scanned the gathered soldiers. He raised his voice and said, "I have an announcement today, and it's actually good news for everyone."
The soldiers fell silent, their eyes widening slightly. Months of training had ingrained in them the importance of discipline. They were no longer the inexperienced civilians and hunters who had just entered the camp.
"The City Lord has established the Guard Department and needs to select thirty individuals from among you. The benefits will be revealed once you're chosen. If anyone is interested, please sign up."
Aiden didn't specify the benefits, as revealing them might affect the morale of those not selected and could impact team unity.
"If you don't want to participate, you can leave the line and continue with your training." Aiden announced.
No one moved. Everyone remained in place, looking at Aiden with curiosity, eager to hear more. After all, he had said it was good news for them.
"..." Aiden was speechless. Not a single person left the line. Did they think the Guard Department was something extraordinary?
"Get the tables and chairs from the dinner hall and bring the pens you use for evening literacy classes." Aiden ordered immediately.
"Whoosh…"
The group dispersed. Although they didn't know what the Guard Department entailed, their curiosity was piqued.
Tables and chairs were quickly set up on the training ground, spaced two meters apart. Aiden also called in members of the War Wolves to supervise.
"You have one chance only. Anyone caught whispering, trying to sneak a look, or making loud noises will be disqualified from the test immediately."
Aiden began reading from the document Lucas had provided, "Answer honestly. A score of 80 or above will be required to pass. There are a total of 100 questions, each worth one point, and you have one hour to complete the test. The test starts now."
The soldiers quickly settled into their assigned seats, their curiosity tempered by the seriousness of the situation as they began answering the questions.
The test papers were soon distributed, each soldier receiving one. The sheets were filled with multiple-choice and true/false questions designed to assess an individual's mindset, worldview, sense of right and wrong, and moral judgment.
For example, a question might be:
"You catch a thief in the act. What would you do?"
A: Take the thief back to the Guard Department to be detained and interrogated.
B: Beat up the thief, then take the stolen money for yourself.
C: Kill the thief and then take the stolen money.
D: Warn the thief not to steal again and let them go.
"…"
There were many straightforward questions like this, but some were designed to be tricky. For instance, the scenario could be altered to involve a beautiful woman instead of a thief or a family member instead of a stranger.
Scoring 80 points or more on the test indicated a significantly higher sense of justice and moral judgment than the average person, making the individual more suitable for the role of a patrol officer.
Lucas's long-term plan was to establish a police academy to cultivate a sense of justice and loyalty to Sedona City from a young age. For now, this test was the only way to screen candidates.
As the test-takers worked through the questions, many were fidgeting anxiously, their faces flushed with frustration. A few couldn't resist looking up occasionally, and their test papers were promptly collected by members of the War Wolves.
Among those taking the test was Andrew. He had a good understanding of what the Guard Department was about. A few days ago, while guarding the bank, he noticed that a building across the street had opened with a sign reading "Guard Department."
Given today's situation, Andrew, though not particularly astute, could piece together what was happening. Working for the Guard Department meant he would have the chance to see Sophie every day. Even if he couldn't see her directly, just being near the bank where she worked would make him happy.
As time ticked away, many were sweating nervously. By now, they realized that the Guard Department was no ordinary place.
"Time's up, collect the papers!"
Aiden carefully put away his pocket watch, a precious heirloom he intended to keep safe for the future, even though his wife was not allowed to touch it.
Once the test papers were collected, Aiden returned to his room with them, took out the answer key provided by Lucas, and began grading. The more he looked, the more he shook his head. Many papers were filled with random answers, and a significant portion were left blank.
In the end, only twenty-two candidates passed, including Andrew. Aiden felt frustrated about the eight missing candidates and had to choose from those who scored in the 70s. As Lucas had anticipated, candidates who fell for the trap questions were not considered.
Ultimately, only three additional candidates were selected, and Aiden still couldn't reach the required number, leaving twenty-five qualified individuals.
The final list was quickly posted. The selected candidates, including Andrew, were to report to the Guard Department the next day. Andrew was the only beastkin among those chosen.
"Yes! Sophie, I will definitely marry you." Andrew said, clenching his fist with determination.
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