Chapter 35 Part 2

Slow to aim down sights, rarely hitting moving targets, even looting was a tiny bit slower than usual... It made this Sniper the most obvious weak link in the team.

Pei Ran was speechless.

As expected, Brother Wei was absent from TZG's last match; a substitute took his place. In this match, Lin Xuhuan performed exceptionally well. With three teammates eliminated, he managed to survive until third place.

The two had just come out after finishing dinner when Yan Zhun's phone rang.

The Coach's tone was serious, telling him to return to the Base.

"Then you should hurry back. I can go back to the dorm by myself," Pei Ran said.

Before Pei Ran could turn around, Yan Zhun reached out and grabbed one of the dangling straps of his backpack.

"Do you have classes tomorrow?" Yan Zhun asked, already knowing the answer.

Pei Ran said, "No."

Yan Zhun hummed in acknowledgment and asked, "Want to come see your boyfriend's room?"

-

Despite losing the match, the members of TZG remained composed. Those who were training stayed in the training room, and those who couldn't train went back to their rooms to shower and rest.

Having played professionally for so long, their mental fortitude wasn't that fragile.

However, there was a difference. While Lin Xuhuan and the Assaulter were playing duos, they both frequently glanced towards Brother Wei's closed door.

When Yan Zhun arrived, the two were coincidentally on a break, lying like corpses on the living room sofa. Seeing Yan Zhun enter, Lin Xuhuan shot up. "Brother... Baby Ran!"

Yan Zhun placed a box on the table. "Desserts Pei Ran bought. Where's the Coach?"

"In the review room. Been there for two hours." Lin Xuhuan opened the dessert box, his words sweeter than the cream puffs inside. "These look so good. Baby Ran is the best."

Yan Zhun couldn't be bothered to correct his form of address anymore. He turned his head. "Why don't you go up first? The room is the first one on the left on the third floor. Feel free to use anything inside."

Pei Ran shook his head. "I'll wait for you."

When Yan Zhun pushed open the door to the review room, the large screen was on, displaying the last match of the day.

He closed the door and sat down next to the Coach, watching with him.

"His reactions are too slow." After the camera focused on the substitute who played today, the Coach spoke up. "He often appears in positions he shouldn't be in."

Yan Zhun gave a lazy hum of agreement. "He's probably been practicing sniping a lot in private. His shortcomings in close-quarters combat are too obvious."

Coach: "Can't keep up with the team's pace."

Yan Zhun said, "But his quick-scoping is decent... He insta-killed one."

"There are four people on a team. Knocking one down is useless if you can't finish them off."

As the substitute was killed, the Coach raised his hand and pressed pause.

"Not watching anymore?"

"Come back and play."

The two spoke at the same time. As their words faded, the room fell into silence.

Yan Zhun let out a scoff. "Are you crazy?"

The Coach took a sip of tea and said, "I'm not."

"Ah Wei's hand has been an issue for a while. He got a cortisone shot a while back, hoping to last through this tournament, but from the looks of it... it's not working out. During this time, I've contacted many people, and this year I've worked my ass off training three batches of Youth Trainees. Not a single one is ready to be put on the main roster. The Second Team's Assaulter is decent... but I don't need an Assaulter right now."

Yan Zhun's smile faded. "I'm also an Assaulter."

"You're different," the Coach said. "You can play Free Man."

Free Man, the fourth position on the team, is the ultimate test of a player's comprehensive abilities. It not only requires outstanding skill, but also the ability to assess team rotations and cover the rear to prevent ambushes while getting kills. They do everything that needs to be done, and find a way to do what seems impossible. On many teams, the Free Man also serves as the Commander.

In the past few years of competition, TZG was the only top-tier team without a designated Free Man.

Yan Zhun was silent for a moment, then said helplessly, "How long has it been since I last competed? There are so many brilliant rookies out there, you don't need to recruit an old, weak, sick, and disabled player..."

The Coach cut him off. "Whether you can still play or not, I'm the Coach. I know better than you do."

"I know it's difficult to ask you to give up your studies. Your dad and mum might not agree." The Coach had clearly come prepared. He opened a file on the table. "But I have to at least try."

"The annual salary is this much. It's not as high as Lin Xuhuan's and the others' for now, but it's definitely the best price for a rookie on any team. It includes the five social insurances and one housing fund, two free trips per year, and separately calculated advertising fees and streaming income. Room and board are covered, everything is covered. If you want, I can even arrange your marriage for you."

"The team has a physical therapist, a masseur, a nutritionist... A doctor accompanies us to every match. Wrist strain is unavoidable, but the team will do its utmost to protect you. Other problems, like your stomach issues, we won't let them act up again."

"As for your studies... you'll still have to train when it's time to train, but the Base is close to your school. If you can handle it, I won't force you to drop out."

"Yan Zhun." The Coach closed the file and pushed it in front of him. "I am now formally inviting you to join TZG. I hope you will consider it carefully."

Yan Zhun looked down at the file on the table, his fingers pressing down on it so hard his nails turned white.

Finally, he pulled the file a little closer to himself.

"I'll think about it."

The Coach secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He said, "If you have any other requests... we can discuss them."

Before leaving, Yan Zhun turned back to ask, "What are Brother Wei's plans for the future?"

"He'll move behind the scenes and become an assistant coach."

Yan Zhun nodded and closed the door to the review room.