I Pick Up Talents on the Interstellar Battlefield Chapter 735 - 526: The Three Talents (Part 2)

Beside him, Xue Wuyang remained expressionless, silently trailing at the end of the line, his eyes vigilantly scanning the surroundings.

...

"Military Lord, Xue Wuyang, Kane, and Zhou Ziming, all three have been brought in."

Inside the conference room, two soldiers approached Qin Tian, standing before him and delivering a crisp military salute, their tones respectful.

"Alright, you may withdraw." Qin Tian nodded slightly, his voice calm.

The two soldiers offered another salute before turning and quietly exiting the room, closing the door softly behind them.

Upon clearly perceiving the figure seated in the head chair, Xue Wuyang and the other two immediately tensed, their breathing unconsciously becoming shallow.

Even Kane, who had appeared aggrieved moments before, instantly suppressed all playful expressions, his face turning extremely serious—the man seated there was the Guardian Envoy of Ice Extreme Pass, the one who held their fates in his hands, General Qin Tian!

Qin Tian surveyed the three men, speaking in a steady tone, "So, how are you adjusting to the dormitory environment?"

"Adjusting well! The environment is excellent!" Kane was the swiftest to answer, nodding his head hastily. "The triple room is spacious and clean, fully equipped, far superior to the prison!"

Qin Tian let out a chuckle at this, his tone laced with a hint of jest, "If the conditions here were worse than the prison, you would probably be mounting a rebellion on the spot."

Noticing Qin Tian’s approachable manner, devoid of any arrogance one might expect from a superior, Kane's heart completely eased. Returning to his naturally sociable disposition, he shrugged and remarked, "You jest, even if gifted ten times the courage, we would not dare to rebel! A mere flick of your finger could suppress us all."

His words were skillfully chosen, praising Qin Tian without appearing excessively flattering.

Qin Tian inwardly acknowledged the astute observation—indeed, Kane, having served as a Mercenary Corps Leader, grasped the art of discourse.

His gaze settled upon Kane, instantly bringing up the relevant information:

Kane, hailing from a Silver Bloodline Family of the Empire, had awakened his family’s bloodline, the "Crimson Firebird."

This bloodline bestowed upon its wielder the abilities of fire manipulation and flight. While not at the pinnacle among Silver Bloodlines, it occupied a solid mid-to-upper tier ranking.

What rendered Kane particularly unique was not only the successful awakening of his bloodline but also an exceptionally rare mutation he underwent—this new bloodline he dubbed "Phoenix."

The power of the mutated Phoenix bloodline far exceeded that of the original Crimson Firebird, rivaling even some Gold Bloodlines.

Consequently, during his time at the Spiritual Energy School, Kane was consistently the darling among his peers, basking in endless praise and admiration.

His inherently warm and outgoing personality, coupled with his adeptness at building connections, ensured a smooth trajectory throughout his life.

Post-graduation, he and a few close friends established a Mercenary Corps, with him assuming the leadership role.

Initially, the Mercenary Corps flourished, attaining considerable renown within the industry.

However, a group of young individuals too accustomed to effortless success began acting with ostentation, inevitably leading to friction with other mercenary corps.

During a public altercation, members from both factions erupted into a fierce brawl. In an attempt to rescue his besieged comrades, Kane inadvertently caused the death of a core member from the opposing side within a designated city fight zone, thereby infringing upon the Empire’s laws, and was ultimately sentenced to ten years of imprisonment.

He was currently in the second year of serving his sentence.

Qin Tian observed the ever-cheerful Kane, musing inwardly that incarceration had apparently failed to extinguish this young man’s spirited nature.

An individual possessing Golden Level talent, with combat strength approaching Tier Six, naturally captured his attention—a person like this, with proper cultivation, could evolve into a formidable weapon.

Yet, when juxtaposed with Kane, the value of the remaining two individuals, in Qin Tian’s estimation, even surpassed his.

His gaze slowly shifted to the weathered countenance of Xue Wuyang, as the relevant intelligence surfaced:

Xue Wuyang, forty-seven years of age, a Tier Six Five-Star Spiritualist, had awakened the exceedingly rare Cyan Dragon Bloodline.

Originally an orphan, he unexpectedly awakened his Bloodline Power at the age of sixteen, leveraging this innate talent to gain entry into the Empire’s military academy, thus officially commencing his military career.

Owing to the potent capabilities of the Cyan Dragon Bloodline, augmented by his steady and resolute personality, Xue Wuyang's progression through the military ranks was remarkably consistent: from an outstanding academy graduate to a pivotal member of special operations units, then to a ground forces battalion commander, and subsequently transferred to the Space Fleet as a leader, with each advancement substantiated by concrete achievements.

His service record remained unblemished, and should he persist on this trajectory, attaining the rank of Royal General was by no means an extravagant ambition.

Although his career was flourishing, Xue Wuyang also enjoyed a blissful family life, complete with a devoted wife and a charming ten-year-old son.

Fate, however, had other plans for this diligent man; his unique status as an "orphan with a Cyan Dragon Bloodline" drew unwanted attention. The predatory eyes fixed upon him belonged to the notorious "Blood Demon Cult" of the Empire.

Upon returning from a perilous mission, Xue Wuyang was shattered by a devastating blow: his wife lay dead, and his son had been cruelly abducted by the Blood Demon Cult.

The usually stoic man was utterly broken by this cruel turn of events.

Driven by an unwavering resolve to find those responsible and rescue his son, he shed his military uniform and embarked on a relentless pursuit of the Blood Demon Cult's trail.

During his investigation, he made a shocking discovery: the leak of his private information originated from a high-ranking military official, already deeply entangled in a conspiracy with the Blood Demon Cult.

Overwhelmed by a consuming rage that overrode his judgment, Xue Wuyang took matters into his own hands, personally executing the treacherous official. This act of defiance, however, made him a lawbreaker, leading to his imprisonment.

Qin Tian observed the deep-seated exhaustion and unwavering determination concealed within Xue Wuyang's eyes, solidifying his decision.

A talent like Xue Wuyang, boasting extensive military experience and leadership capabilities, coupled with exceptional combat prowess and innate talent, was precisely the asset he desperately required.

While Qin Tian's rank far surpassed Xue Wuyang's, he lacked the practical experience in grassroots troop command and military infrastructure development. His own career had largely focused on solo missions and specialized operations, leaving him with little expertise in managing large-scale military forces.

In Qin Tian's assessment, Xue Wuyang was the perfect candidate for the position of Chief Instructor.

The crucial tasks of establishing the Ice Extreme Pass's military strength in the future and implementing standardized training for the Barbarian Battle Group would necessitate the seasoned oversight of a veteran like Xue Wuyang.

Turning his attention to the final individual,

Qin Tian's gaze settled upon a distinctly youthful countenance.

Unlike Kane's inherent bloodline abilities or Xue Wuyang's seasoned military background, Zhou Ziming was a civilian Spiritualist through and through, possessing no discernible Bloodline Power.

However, his true distinction lay not in direct confrontation, but in his extraordinary talent for military strategy and command.

Zhou Ziming was a graduate of the prestigious Dawn Military Academy, recognized as one of the Empire's top ten military institutions. He had achieved legendary status within the Conducting Department, graduating with the highest honors.

It is widely known that the Conducting Department at Dawn Military Academy ranks among the top three in the entire Empire, rivaled only by its counterpart at the Royal Military Academy. To have excelled and topped such a renowned program speaks volumes of his exceptional command capabilities.

Following his graduation, he was swiftly integrated into the Royal Space Fleet's Strategy Department. His remarkable aptitude within the Conducting Department propelled his career forward at an accelerated pace.

Across numerous engagements, he consistently demonstrated an uncanny ability to predict the trajectory of conflicts and propose pivotal strategic adjustments, thereby rapidly earning profound respect and a multitude of accolades from his superiors, emerging as a meteoric talent in military command.

Nevertheless, a common failing among prodigious talents is their inherent arrogance.

He possessed an intolerance for the delays and incompetence of the mediocre, holding a disdain for superficial camaraderie. He consistently forged his own path, maintaining a detached and frosty demeanor.

Such a personality was inherently predisposed to friction within the intricate and nuanced environment of the military.

As anticipated, for his forthright critique of tactical deficiencies, he inadvertently offended a prominent Heir of a powerful Bloodline Family.

That individual, harboring a deep-seated grudge, leveraged their extensive familial connections to orchestrate a malicious plot. They deliberately assigned him critical military responsibilities while secretly manipulating vital intelligence and systematically severing supply lines.

Consequently, the mission culminated in a catastrophic failure, marked by devastating losses under his command.

As the designated military leader, ensnared by his adversary's machinations, Zhou Ziming faced a direct military tribunal, stripped of his ability to mount a defense, and was subsequently incarcerated, receiving a ten-year sentence.

Despite any personal shortcomings, Qin Tian was unwilling to let such a peerless command genius slip through his fingers.

However, for a genius of such immense pride to genuinely yield, the mere promise of a reduced sentence would prove insufficient.

Qin Tian possessed a profound understanding of such individuals; they held their own distinct sense of pride and principles, and coercion would invariably breed resentment. A more tailored approach was required.

Qin Tian's gaze remained fixed on Zhou Ziming's impassive, cold expression, a subtle glint igniting in his eyes as a strategic plan began to formulate in his mind.