"Me?"
Zhou Yuan was stunned, lost in thought.
This doesn't make sense. He's just a rookie soldier fresh out of boot camp, far from qualified to be a squad leader.
Could it be that this team leader is a practical person who only values strength and not qualifications?
"Boss, are you talking about this rookie?"
"Boss! He's just a rookie!"
The reaction from the veterans was even greater than Zhou Yuan's daze.
This rookie came in and beat up the veterans on his first day, and now he gets to be a squad leader?
Moreover, among the people present, which one of them hasn't killed bugs before? How can they let a rookie ride on their heads?
It's unfair!
The reaction of the rookies was similar to Zhou Yuan's. They were all momentarily speechless.
As fellow rookies, Zhou Yuan becoming a squad leader right away?
"Shut up, all of you!"
"I'm informing you, not consulting with you!"
"Compared to the forty-seven veterans beaten up by a rookie, obviously a rookie who can defeat forty-seven veterans is more suitable to be the squad leader."
Turner pointed his finger in the air as he yelled.
"If qualifications can represent everything, then the commander of the fortress should be the seventy-one-year-old veteran Eden in the cafeteria!"
"Remember, this is a battlefield, a paradise for the strong and a hell for the weak!"
"If anyone thinks they can be a squad leader, come forward now, defeat this rookie, and you'll be the new squad leader!"
"..."
After being shouted at by Turner, the veterans fell silent.
Forty-seven veterans beaten up by a rookie, this incident was indeed unbelievable.
They could already anticipate that this incident would spread throughout the Talis Fortress.
The victor would become a big star, enjoying the cheers and admiration of everyone, while they, the losers, would become the butt of everyone's jokes during their rest time.
As for the squad leader...
They could only accept it for now!
Regarding qualifications, the veterans actually understood what Turner was saying.
In a battlefield like this, the strong should wait for more opportunities, and the weak should follow the strong to fight.
They were unwilling before because they were among the forty-seven losers and felt that they had been cheated.
If this happened in another group, they would definitely think it was only natural and even feel that the position of squad leader was too low.
A rookie defeating forty-seven veterans, this is simply a superhero, it's a waste for him to just be a soldier!
"Rookie, don't be too happy."
"Just like I said earlier, this is a battlefield, a paradise for the strong and a hell for the weak."
"I hope you can remain strong. If one day you become weak, then the position of squad leader won't belong to you anymore."
After lecturing the veterans, Turner looked at Zhou Yuan with a serious expression.
"Understood, sir!"
Zhou Yuan saluted respectfully and replied loudly.
Indeed, most soldiers have better opportunities on the front lines, and Zhou Yuan found the right place in Talis Fortress.
"Well."
Seeing Zhou Yuan's enthusiasm and lack of arrogance or retreat, Turner nodded in satisfaction and continued:
"I have cleared out the 8th squad for you. You can pick your team members from the rookies. Submit the list to the work hall by 11 PM tonight."
"By the way, you are now a private first class. When you go to the work hall, get your new shoulder patch as well."
"As for what tasks the 8th squad will do and where they will go, you can check it on the work tablet."
"The same goes for other squads with vacancies, get it done quickly and don't affect the evening work."
Turner gave a brief reminder and then left the dormitory with his cigar in his mouth.
Once Turner left, the rookies in the dormitory became excited.
A rookie becoming a squad leader!
And he gets to choose his team members from the rookies!
Now that's great, they would rather be in Zhou Yuan's squad than be bullied by the veterans.
But before they could approach Zhou Yuan to volunteer, Zhou Yuan became busy.
When Captain Turner came earlier, he also brought the other squad leaders, who were now greeting Zhou Yuan.
"Man, you're really strong. I'm sure you can knock out a bull with one punch."
"Hey, buddy, thanks for your praise. I can tell you're also a tough guy."
"Thanks, we're comrades from now on."
As the saying goes, don't hit a smiling person. The attitudes of these squad leaders were good, and Zhou Yuan responded warmly, complimenting each one as they greeted him.
"Thanks!"
Only the veterans who had been beaten by Zhou Yuan were not happy.
Watching their squad leader chatting enthusiastically with Zhou Yuan, their faces turned green. This was a naked betrayal!
Also, from now on, they would have to address Zhou Yuan as Squad Leader.
Damn it!
"Guys, it's time to get down to business."
"The rookies are about a dozen, you go ahead and pick first."
After exchanging greetings, some squad leaders asked Zhou Yuan to choose his team members.
They had seen the rookies' profiles, and other than Zhou Yuan, the rest were all about the same level.
It would be better to give Zhou Yuan face and let him choose first, consider it making friends.
"Thanks, I won't be polite then."
Zhou Yuan nodded and scanned his gaze over the expectant rookies. Finally, he pointed his finger and said:
"Blake, Johnson, Taylor, Martin, White, Brown, James, and...you two."
Zhou Yuan quickly picked nine people.
Six of them were familiar faces from the boot camp, one was his little brother who recognized him as the leader, and the other two were heavyweight-looking black soldiers.
There was no need to hesitate. The familiar faces were all at least squad leader level in the boot camp, and their combat qualities were not low.
The little brother had to be recruited as well since he was the first to pledge allegiance.
As for the last two black soldiers whom he was not familiar with, their heavyweight was a good characteristic, at least they would be more stable when shooting.
"Yes!"
The people chosen by Zhou Yuan were excited, while those who