The Apocalyptic Queen's Werewolf Journey (Thora and Darius) novel Chapter 33

**Shadows Hearts by Joseph King**
**Chapter 33: Caught on Camera**

**Hugo’s POV:**

Seated in the expansive main hall of the villa that was discreetly tucked behind the shooting club, I found myself engrossed in a myriad of split-screen monitors that flickered to life, each showcasing the performance metrics of the trainees. It was a surreal sight—data cycling through like a relentless tide, each number a potential soldier, a future protector of our realm.

My mission here was unequivocal: to sift through the raw talent of these young individuals for the military’s newly minted special operations unit. The stakes had never been higher, and the urgency of my task weighed heavily on my shoulders.

Two pressing reasons fueled my determination. First, I was eager to identify promising candidates among these trainees who could ascend to the esteemed Blue Star Military Academy, where they would delve into the intricacies of elite military strategy. The second reason, shrouded in secrecy, was far more alarming—the Astralis Empire’s space observation department had recently detected a bizarre rift in the fabric of space and time.

The energy fluctuations emanating from this rift were unlike anything we had encountered before, surpassing the known limits of our reality. It was imperative that the Astralis Empire acted swiftly to assemble and train this special unit. We needed to fortify our defenses against a potential threat that could emerge from another dimension.

Despite having already recruited several exceptional young talents from various military branches, I realized that my efforts were still insufficient. The seasoned soldiers, while steeped in discipline and experience, often lacked the innovative thinking required to confront the unprecedented challenges we might soon face. I craved fresh perspectives, individuals who could think on their feet and surprise me with their ingenuity.

“Mr. Stanton, I’ve compiled the profiles of all the trainees at the club,” the manager of the club announced with a tone of respect, interrupting my thoughts.

I nodded in acknowledgment, my eyes scanning the screens as the data refreshed in real time—height, weight, preferred firearms, ring scores, sniper aptitude ratings. Each statistic was a vital piece of the puzzle I was trying to solve.

Suddenly, the monitor at the far end of the room blinked with new information.

“Name: Felix Green. Height: 5’11”. Weight: 132 lbs. Age: 15. Wolf spirit awakened: Yes. Preferred firearms: M4, small caliber handgun. Average ring score: 9.5. Average reload time: 2.0 seconds.”

An eyebrow arched involuntarily. At just fifteen years old, Felix was already showing remarkable promise.

However, my attention quickly shifted to the figure who entered alongside Felix. The moment he stepped through the door, his sharp gaze swept across the ceiling-mounted security cameras, then flicked to the keycard in Felix’s hand, a sly smile creeping onto his lips.

“What incredible counter-surveillance abilities!” I couldn’t help but exclaim, zooming in on the monitor displaying his data.

The access keycards used by club members would typically reveal all their information the moment they swiped in, yet this newcomer had grasped that detail almost instantly. Such acute awareness was an exceedingly rare trait.

“Who’s that young person with Felix?” I inquired, turning to the manager beside me.

The manager leaned in to get a better look. “I’m not entirely sure. They don’t seem to be one of our trainees. It’s likely their first visit here.”

I narrowed my eyes, my interest piqued.

The young man beside Felix—his demeanor, the way he walked, and those exceptional counter-surveillance skills—they all pointed to one profession: a soldier.

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