dmims Chapter 7 Self-confidence is a virtue
Chapter 7 Self-confidence is a virtue
Troy's Upper Nest
The noble warrior, dressed in aristocratic robes, had an arrogant expression. Behind him were two soldiers wielding laser spears and a priest from the Church of Athena.
In the past, the Church had often been above the Trojan nobility, but since Hector came to power, the Church's authority has faced its most serious challenge.
The samurai stood behind the human wall formed by the soldiers, watching the eligible young men who had come to participate in the selection process.
Most of them came from the upper and middle nests, while only a very small number of people who were missing limbs or had many parts mechanically modified came from the lower and bottom nests of the kingdom.
And those people were predictably ostracized.
Some of the Nestlings' mechanical arms were removed by the noblemen's sons and discarded like trash not far away, while they occasionally let out bursts of mocking laughter.
"Quiet!" The samurai's voice reached everyone's ears.
A small number of people showed dissatisfaction, but everyone maintained order.
Seeing this, the samurai nodded in satisfaction and was about to continue speaking.
Several heavy footsteps echoed behind him, the sound unlike that of ordinary footsteps, more like the marching of some steel behemoth.
The samurai turned around.
He saw several giants wearing bulky gray armor, their helmets gleaming with crimson eyes.
His family soldiers, facing the giants, gripped their laser spears with fear in their eyes.
"My lord," the samurai said respectfully.
He knew who these people were; his elders had been among those who had previously paid homage to the emperor.
Sizzle————
The sound of exhaust emanated from the gaps in the helmet, and the giant's large hand removed his Mark II helmet.
The skin beneath the helmet bore a striking resemblance to the bronze skin of the Trojan natives. However, the nobleman could immediately tell that this was not the skin color that the other race should have, but rather a surgical procedure performed to conform to or worship certain individuals.
This makes it look rather incongruous.
"My name is Moriarty, the company commander of the Ninth Company of the Second Legion of the Human Empire," Moriarty said.
"Yes, Lord Moriarty, may I ask what brings you here?" The samurai became even more humble.
He didn't know what the Second Legion was, nor did he know how important the position of company commander of the Ninth Company was, but as a nobleman, he knew when he should remain humble.
Moriarty did not respond to the samurai immediately. He stepped forward and gently pushed aside the soldiers who were blocking his way.
"Stand up, warriors," Moriarty's voice was deep and reliable.
At the same time, as he moved, the giants who had come with him also stepped forward.
They dispersed in perfect unison, going to each of the eligible young people who arrived.
Disdain emanated from the communication network beneath their helmets as they faced the trembling noble youths of Shangchao.
They nodded and took notes when faced with those young people who dared to stand tall, their faces filled with pride and confidence.
Faced with those stubborn boys and girls who had climbed up from the lower and bottom nests, missing limbs, they stood for a while longer to express their agreement, while rationality took over their assessment.
"You're quite good. What's your name, young man?" Moriarty stood before Achilles and his friend Patroclus.
He really liked the incredibly confident and proud look in the eyes of the boy in front of him.
"I have never seen you before," Achilles said.
Patroclus opened his eyes slightly and hurriedly said, "My lord, he is Achilles, and I am Patroclus. Please forgive my friend's rudeness; he meant no disrespect."
Moriarty was not angry, of course. As a company commander who had fought in the war to unify Terra, he did not have that sense of superiority over mortals.
The giant lowered his body so that his gaze was level with Achilles'.
"Moriarty, company commander of the Ninth Company of the Second Legion of the Human Empire, and you, young man."
My friend has already introduced me to someone.
"I want to hear what you have to say."
"You will hear my name again when the king applauds me later."
It's over. Patroclus began to consider what he could use to protect his friend's position in the Thetis family.
"Arrogance is not a virtue."
"Of course," Achilles said with a triumphant smile, "but self-confidence is a virtue."
"······"
"good!"
Moriarty laughed heartily.
He wanted to pat Achilles hard on the shoulder to show his affection for the boy.
He wanted to hand his sidearm to the boy in front of him, but the Astartes-specific sidearm was just a heavy burden for a boy.
"I admire you, young man!" Moriarty took out his sidearm and held it up to Achilles' eyes, waving it gently. "If, by then, I truly hear my father's praise of you, and you truly achieve first place, my gun is yours!"
Even Achilles subconsciously glanced at his own hands as he stared at the nearly half-meter-long explosive pistol.
To many Trojans, Achilles was tall and strong enough, but to the Astartes, who were about 2.4 meters tall in armor, Achilles was not much better than a little girl.
Even so, Achilles remained confident.
"I don't need your gun, but I want to be like you."
Upon hearing this, Moriarty's eyes lit up. He suppressed a smile and nodded in agreement.
"Yes, young man."
"You will not only gain the right to become one of us, but this gun will also be yours."
"But young man, after that, you must become a recruit in the Ninth Company."
Do you agree?
After saying that, Moriarty clenched his fist, palm facing up, and held it out horizontally.
He looked at Achilles, who was smiling, and at Patroclus, who had a vague feeling that something was amiss.
Before Patroclus could make a move, Achilles had already thrown a punch:
"The oath is made!"
"And what about your friend?" Moriarty's gaze returned to Patroclus, who was trying to make himself less noticeable.
Achilles' brilliance was too dazzling before, but looking back now, the boy next to him seems to have his own shining points as well.
To be able to become a friend of someone as confident and arrogant as Achilles, and even to change Achilles's mind if not for one's own position of power, such a person would be very suitable to be the deputy company commander of Dalian.
We must find a way to recruit this kind of talent to Dalian!
Patroclus was somewhat dumbfounded. Just as he was about to say a few words of modesty, Achilles' flamboyant voice casually made the decision for him.
"Patrocross will naturally be with me."
"We're good brothers."
"Then, I'll be waiting for you in the Ninth Dalian, young man." Moriarty couldn't suppress the smile on his face.
As an emotionless Astartes, one of the warlords and nobles of Terra, he had never shown such a relaxed smile since the War of Unification.
Just then, the other Astartes had finished recording and returned to Moriarty's side.
Most of them frequently glanced at the boys, while others looked straight ahead, clearly not interested in any of them.
One of them walked behind Moriarty, and only after they returned to the platform did he speak to Moriarty.
"two."
"kindness."
"One was named Apollo, and the other..."
"What's wrong?"
"He is my father's brother, Paris."