Leader Zhang grumbled, “That’s because Seth Maverick poached someone who’s an even better poacher than he is, and now they’re stealing other people’s personnel. They have absolutely no organizational discipline!”

Leader Sullivan laughed heartily. “Lewis, I see it now. It’s just a case of sour grapes! The man pulled it off with his own abilities. If your division were capable enough, you could just poach them right back!”

Leader Zhang wasn’t targeting Nathaniel Nathan specifically. It was just that the army division he used to command had lost a significant amount of weaponry to Nathaniel under the guise of a “military exercise.” While he thought Nathaniel didn’t play fair, his capabilities were undeniable.

He snorted. “You think I can’t poach them back? This is my home turf today. No one is snatching this year’s top students from me!”

With that, he walked off, gave some instructions to one of his subordinates, and then shot a defiant look at Nathaniel Nathan. The message was clear: ‘I’ve already made my arrangements. You’re not poaching anyone today!’

Nathaniel Nathan glanced at Leader Zhang. ‘He’s reading way too much into this,’ he thought.

Leader Sullivan chuckled. “Leader Zhang is getting on in years, but he still acts like a child.”

Leader Liu then turned to Nathaniel Nathan and said, “If you see anyone suitable later, just give me the word. I’ll help you snatch them.”

Nathaniel Nathan replied calmly, “That won’t be necessary. I’m just here to observe today.”

Leader Liu pursed his lips, clearly not buying it.

Leader Sullivan then said, “I hear the students from Veridia University are participating in the showcase this year. I’m rather curious to see how they’ll perform.”

“What’s there to be curious about?” Leader Liu, who had clearly heard about this as well, said dismissively, “The students at Veridia University are taught by a bunch of bookworms. They’re all as scrawny as bean sprouts. What kind of results could they possibly get? I figure they’re just here for show.”

Leader Sullivan asked Nathaniel Nathan, “I hear you have a good relationship with Veridia University’s Chief Instructor, Sheldon Caldwell. What’s your take on this?”

“Let me clarify—my relationship with Sheldon Caldwell is not good,” Nathaniel Nathan said coolly. “As for this showcase, Veridia University should be able to place in the top three.”

Leader Sullivan asked, somewhat curious, “Why do you think so?”

Schools from all over the Veridia area were participating in the showcase this time. With over twenty institutions competing, placing in the top three would be an excellent result.

Leader Liu protested, “They’re just a bunch of bean sprouts! How can they possibly compare to our students, who go through real, hardcore training?”

Nathaniel Nathan replied, “As the saying goes, a bad soldier is one man’s failure, but a bad general ruins the whole army. By the same token, a brilliant instructor will naturally produce brilliant soldiers. Sheldon Caldwell may have lost to me, but his overall abilities are still formidable. It won’t be hard for him to lead the Veridia University students into the top three.”

Leader Sullivan asked curiously, “Didn’t you just say your relationship with Sheldon Caldwell isn’t good? Why are you speaking up for him now?”

Nathaniel Nathan glanced toward the student teams filing into the venue. “It’s precisely because our relationship is bad that I only said they’d make the top three. If we were on good terms, I would’ve said Veridia University will take first place.”

Leader Sullivan was stunned for a moment, then burst out laughing. “Interesting!”

He heard the pride in Nathaniel’s words, but he also recognized the underlying defense of Sheldon Caldwell.

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