The passionate, inflaming speech of the major simply manipulated dumb new recruits who lacked brain cells. After decades-long war with the beastmen, those who survived were definitely not fools. Everyone understood that being a frontline scout was a job of life and death.
The unlucky guys at the conscription place were all silent because they had no choice. With supplies growing increasingly scarce, leaving the base to make a living would only present two dire options: starvation or becoming dinner for the beastmen. Survive by one's own strength? That was a pipe dream.
There were no cheers or applause. The new recruits were expressing their resentment with this silent protest. The major turned pale, took a deep breath to swallow his impulse to scold them. There was no need. After all, they were not far from death.
