The Captain was dumbfounded. Hedy ignored him, turned to Arthur, and said through gritted teeth, "We're not done yet. I hold grudges."
Arthur's expression changed noticeably, but Hedy didn't care. She turned and left gracefully, leaving everyone astonished.
Back in the dormitory, she quickly began packing her things.
Memories that weren't truly hers flooded her mind, leaving her deeply uncomfortable.
Soon, noisy footsteps echoed in the corridor. The dormitory door burst open as several female soldiers rushed in. One of them shouted anxiously, "Hedy! Come quickly! Everyone in your class is being punished by the Captain!"
Hedy hadn't expected the Captain to be so petty—to use others as scapegoats.
When she arrived at the training ground, she saw the third squad leader leading the other nine members of her class in laps around the field.
All ten were drenched in sweat. When they saw Hedy, anger and resentment flashed in their eyes.
The third squad leader stopped in front of her, wiped the sweat from his face, and said, "Just wait a bit. After we finish these twenty laps, I'll go with you to see the Captain. When the time comes, I'll take the blame and the scolding for you. Don't be afraid."
His words made Hedy deeply uncomfortable.
"You really can't handle this," she whispered.
"Knowing I can't handle you, you still made such a mess?" he replied with a bitter smile, then sighed.
Seeing how downcast she looked, he lowered his voice and added, "I've always covered for you when you caused trouble. Even if I can't this time, I'll try to speak up for you. Hedy, when you get home, you have to study hard. You're not lazy—just a bit slow. Didn't I tell you? There's a saying: diligence can make up for weakness. As long as you work harder than others, you'll make something of yourself. No matter what people say, you can't just give up. Promise the monitor you'll try, okay?"
Hedy froze at his words. An awkward, hot sensation filled her eyes. She touched them subconsciously, shocked to find tears.
As a top-level killer, she had long forgotten what it felt like to cry.
She was startled that the remnants of the original Hedy's memories and emotions were affecting her so strongly.
"Crying again…" The third squad leader pulled out a pack of tissues and handed it to her.
She accepted it, and another memory surfaced.
Hiding alone in a dark corner, she had wiped her tears on her sleeve—only to get caught by the squad leader again and again. Eventually, he always seemed to have a tissue ready in his pocket to hand her. She'd secretly guessed he brought them just for her.
He might be the only person here who truly treated her well.
"This time I caused the trouble myself. I'll take responsibility," she said.
She wiped her tears, pressed the remaining tissues back into his hand, looked at his earnest face, and added softly, "Thank you… for everything."
Then she turned and walked away.
The third squad leader stood there in a daze for a long time, unable to recover.
Why was Hedy so strange today? It was like she'd become a different person.
---
In the Captain's office
Hedy entered with a cold expression. "You told me to come and sign the paperwork to leave. I'm here. Let's do it."
"You think you can just leave?" the Captain roared, veins bulging in his forehead. "After the trouble you've caused? At first, I was willing to let you go. But now you've embarrassed not just me, but our entire recruit company in front of the instructors! You think you can just waltz off? No way!"
What did that mean? He didn't plan to let her leave after all?
Hedy realized he probably thought letting her go would be too easy—and wanted to make her suffer first.
She snorted. "Then what do you want?"
"I don't have time for you now! We'll deal with your punishment tomorrow!" the Captain snapped. "Report here after training tomorrow morning!"
Hedy couldn't figure out what he was planning.
"If you have something to throw at me, then do it. But don't take it out on other people."
She didn't want the rest of her class punished because of her.
But the Captain was unmoved. "They have their own problems. Even if you can't manage yourself, don't worry about them."
Hedy wouldn't let it go. "It happened because of me. If you want to punish someone, punish me. They're running laps? I'll run for them!"
"You'll run for them?"
Her words were bold, but the Captain didn't believe she meant it.
"You usually whine and slack off in training, refusing to finish your runs. Now they're each sentenced to ten laps. You'll replace them all?"
"I will."
Her voice was firm and unwavering.
---
It was nearly lunchtime. The sun beat down mercilessly.
As Hedy approached the training ground, she spotted someone running toward her.
It was Susan—good-looking, top of the class, and popular in the recruit company.
But Hedy knew what she'd really done. Her gaze turned ice-cold.
Susan was startled by the look in Hedy's eyes and slowed down involuntarily.
Just then, someone ran over and yelled at Hedy, "What are you staring at? Here to watch us suffer? Or do you think you haven't caused enough harm? First you tried to desert, then you broke the rules and pissed off the company commander! Now you just walk away while our monitor is punished with us! Do you even have a conscience?"
This was Chris—true to her fiery reputation, always saying exactly what was on her mind.
Susan hurried to stop her, whispering urgently, "Stop it. Hedy's leaving anyway. Let's just—"
But Hedy cut her off coldly.
"Who said I was leaving?"
Susan and Chris both froze in shock. At that moment, the third squad leader ran over too.
"What did the Captain say?" he asked, concerned.
"The Captain said…" Hedy glanced at Susan, "we'll deal with it tomorrow."
"Tomorrow? Why…" The third squad leader looked confused.
"I don't know why," Hedy said evenly. "But the Captain told you all to go eat and rest."
Everyone was exhausted. They cheered at the news that their punishment was lifted for now.
They left the training ground in groups of three and four. But the third squad leader noticed Hedy standing there, unmoving.
"Why are you just standing there? Let's go!"
"Go on ahead," she said quietly, waving him off.
He gave her one last puzzled look, then left with the others.
Hedy was alone on the vast training field. She tilted her head back to stare at the blazing sun and let out a long breath.
She shrugged off her coat, dropped it on the ground, and started to run laps around the field.