"Su-tow-u…" The guy muttered, his lips almost trembling when he realized something. "Sutow! Haha! I… I- I'll be of more use to you in the future, Leader! Thank you for recognizing my efforts! Hahaha! Did you hear that guys?! This is why you should always be calm and rational, just like me!… and Leader!"
I inwardly sighed as I watched the spectacle before me happen. The way Sutow flaunted himself with pride to the others, I felt that it would turn out to be a problem if I were to validate him more.
Quickly taking note of this in my mind, I promised myself that I would try to have everyone validated and be worthy of validation. It'd be great if competition would arise after all, as that would solve the problem of arising arrogant individuals that could ruin a team formation and that could ignite rebellion.
Not only that, but through competition, everyone will grow equally and faster! Igniting competition between them would be the equivalent of hitting two birds with one stone!
'Ah, yes. Sun Tzu, the art of war…' I couldn't be happier about having read that book back on Earth. As I observed the ten people before me, thoughts of raising them into perfect soldiers, the ones who would execute anything I commend them appeared in my mind.
My shields, but also my comrades! Interesting… Interesting. Why settle for them being just a one-time situation, when I can make them follow me all the way, even to death?
"Uh-uhm! Sutow.." I cleared my throat.
"Yes?"
I see the man was quick to accept this new name of his.
"I think I've figured out how it works," I told him before taking a step back.
"Come, stand where I stood and give the ground a few rubs. Try it and see if it works."
Sutow did not hesitate after hearing my words. He went and did exactly as I had instructed him to do. In an instant, he was gone, disappeared. My assumption about how the teleportation magic works was correct!
"Hey… Hazel. Yes, you." I looked at the girl, straight into her hazel eyes. In them, I noticed a subtle change that showed her thoughts, reflecting surprise and realization. Her bright but teary eyes conveyed those emotions.
"I… Do I get a name too?! But I didn't do anything useful? I only cried while you were gone… I couldn't even say anything, much less come up with a suggestion. I… I just followed wherever the crowd went…" she sniffed as she murmured.
'Is she about to cry again?' I thought in my mind as I let the poor girl finish her sentence. This thought remained unspoken, and I did not show her any form of affection or hate.
"Yeah yeah, just do the same as Sutow did just now, and wait for the others and me who will be there with you soon. You care for me, so that should at least mean that you're willing to do your very best in front of me. If the name feels too much for you right now, how about earning it? Try not to cry so much. Be brave and be strong. You can do that much, right?" Was how I responded to Hazel who was degrading herself.
"Hm-hm!" To my words, Haylee nodded before doing the same as Sutow had done a short minute ago. She quickly disappeared from the town as well. Then I turned my attention to the crowd who were standing in silence.
"You!" I called out to the broccoli-looking guy who was standing amongst them.
"Brolee! Other than those two, you have shown a decent amount of strength in some areas too." I told him when he was at a decent distance close to me. "I do not give you this name because you've done something great for me; you have not, not yet at least. But I trust you will soon..."
I noticed the man's face quivering slightly with emotion; however, I pretended not to see and continued, "So, prove to me! Prove to me that you can also achieve greatness, perhaps even greater than Sutow or Hazel can ever achieve! Are you willing to do that, Brolee? Or was I wrong to give you a name, to give you my trust?"
"No, you are not wrong! Thank you. Thank you for believing in me even though I'm not the brightest." Brolee suddenly started thanking me with tears threatening to spill from his eyes.
Ignoring his tears, I asked, "And why do you say you are not the brightest?"
To this question, Brolee responded by saying that he previously had given him a very foolish answer to the question of how to deal with the unbearable hunger. His foolish thought of an infinite amount of free food that will forever be provided by the bad guys! A thought that seemed so idiotic the more it was questioned, which is probably why Brolee finds it natural to refer to himself as someone who is not bright.
"I see… Although your answer was wrong and thoughtless, I understand you just wanted to help. I can feel you have a good heart and therefore you can be cultivated into the perfect image that I have of you.
That's why, Brolee... That's why I believe in the future, you will do amazing in some way or another, even if you think of yourself as someone who isn't bright. In fact, not only do I trust that you'll be amazing in the future, but, I also entrust you with the role of someone who can be an example to others."
When I was done with my words that gave him vigor, I motioned him to proceed and said, "I'll see you soon."
Brolee soon left the town as well. There were seven people left before me…
This time, I didn't call out to someone anymore. Instead, I was speaking to each one of them equally. Doing so was a part of this whole plan that I had set up ever since appointing Sutow with a name.
To have specially selected individuals that would grow through a competitive environment, and to have a group that feels like they are below those who are specially selected by me, but that also feel like they can catch up to them as long as they work hard enough.