Chapter 426 No Right to Plead
There was a mischievous smile on Catherine’s face when she looked meaningfully at Branden.
“You have to think it through. Becoming my trainee halfway through is not something easy. You may lose your life during my training.”
Her words sent a chill down the other trainees’ spines. They knew their instructor was not joking. They might accidentally get themselves killed.
Facing Catherine’s question, Branden’s expression remained unchanged.
He replied to Catherine calmly, “Sir, I want to join your camp. I can bear any consequences, even death. I’ve signed the disclaimer. Please, give me a chance.”
He did it formally with a good attitude. Catherine was interested in it. Since Branden offered to be tortured, why not? She would not be merciful to him.
“0339, back in the line.”
“Yes, sir!” Branden shouted aloud and stood in the line. Catherine asked the other trainees to have regular training. As for the newcomer, she had something special for him.
The first round was a physical challenge. When Francis joined her camp halfway, she only threw Francis out of the plane and asked him to swim to the island.
Branden was later than the others for a week and had offended her, so Catherine would not make things easy for him.
The trainees had witnessed her fighting against six people but never saw anyone fighting against eighteen people.
Cather asked eighteen trainees to attack Branden simultaneously. Her request was simple. The last one standing would be the winner.
Branden could pass the test if he could be the last one standing. Meanwhile, Catherine demanded the other eighteen trainees. She eyed them sternly, her eyes harsh and domineering.
“There are eighteen of you. If you can’t deal with only one person, you’ll have no time for rest in the next few days.”
The trainees’ faces were as white as a sheet.
It was already a wild wish for them to rest for even one more minute now. It would be equal to killing them if they lost all the time for rest because of the newcomer. They could only give it their all for their benefit.
After finishing her words, Catherine glanced at Carlo, Cory, and Francis among the eighteen members. If they dared to do the game-fixing, she would show them how miserable they would be to cheat.
Under her gaze, Carlo and his brothers felt a sting in their hearts and shivered. They did not dare to cheat even if Catherine did not warn them. Especially after Branden had signaled them with his eyes not to do so.
If they did not bend all their efforts, Branden would not spare them before Catherine did anything.
The trainees were no longer the ones a week ago. After receiving Catherine’s training, their collaborative combat skills improved significantly.
Even Catherine was no match for them if the eighteen people attacked her together. This time, Branden was in great trouble.
He might be beaten hard to the ground.
Branden heard Catherine’s order but still looked at her peacefully without anger or fear. There was his usual tenderness and affection for her in his eyes.
“Sir, trust me. I’ll do my best.”
Catherine snorted silently and averted her eyes from him.
She would not be soft-hearted. Branden’s trick was of no use to her. Paxton watched the scene between Catherine and Branden before the monitor screen and facepalmed.
Branden was hopelessly in love with Catherine. Paxton was sure of it. The first round of training began. The team of eighteen members surrounded Branden and attacked him.
It was inevitable for Branden to get hurt, even with his excellent combat skills. Catherine observed their fight with a straight face, and her expression barely changed.
Paxton had thought they would fight casually and punched Branden several times, then Catherine would be tenderhearted to let Branden go.
What surprised him was that Catherine left not long after the fight began. But the trainees knew Catherine’s style and did not relax even when she was gone.
No one knew if Catherine would hide somewhere and keep watching them. What if she noticed them slack off and made the training harder?
Catherine’s leaving had left Paxton dumbfounded. The combat was not faking. Eighteen experts in fighting versus Branden only! Even though Branden was powerful, he could not oppose many skillful people simultaneously.
Catherine had set the time limit to two hours, double than before.
She did not want to let Branden get past the first round. Paxton hated to stay aside and watch. He wished he could bear all the suffering for Branden.
“Sir, just give up. Please!”
Branden turned his head and looked askance at Paxton coldly.
His eyes were warning Paxton not to speak again.
Paxton realized Branden was determined. His hands were tied since Branden did not listen to him, nor did Paxton have the ability to stop the fight. Paxton could only wait.
One hour later, Branden started to be physically tired.
He was not down yet, but he got a lot of injuries.
Yet, he still stood imposingly and had no trace of falling. The other eighteen people’s courage mounted during the fight. It was a rare but great opportunity for them to face off such an expert like Branden.
The fight continued, and Branden was beaten non-stop.
Paxton could not bear to see it any longer. He knew it was almost Branden’s limit for holding to it for an hour.
Branden did not listen to Paxton, so Paxton needed to get someone Branden would listen to to persuade him.
Knowing where Catherine was from Jon, Paxton set off to see her.
Catherine was lying leisurely in a hammock by the sea. The sea breeze blew and brought her coolness. She was more relaxed than any other.
Paxton’s heart burned with rage when he saw her chilled-out look, but he still smiled ingratiatingly at her.
“Miss Swann, it’s been over an hour. Branden is already physically tired. You see, we’ve been knowing each other for so long. How about…”
Catherine heard his voice and looked down at him. Her bright, big eyes revealed themselves slightly behind the sunglasses. She sneered as she sized Paxton up and down. “What? Are you going to beg me to let him pass like that?”
“Of course not!” Paxton denied it immediately and paid Catherine a lot of compliments. Finally, he said, “Miss Swann, it’s too challenging for the first round. Don’t you think?”
“You think it’s challenging?” Catherine’s cold voice contained doubt.
Paxton was about to nod when he stiffened because of what Catherine said. “If memory serves, I’d been held in a cage with a tiger in front and a lion behind me that year. I didn’t think it challenging at that time.”
Paxton gave up persuading her decisively.
If he were Catherine, who had experienced so much and knew that the foe was her boyfriend now, he might do the same thing as she did.
Probably, he would be more spiteful than Catherine. Paxton knew he had no right to plead for Branden. It depended on Catherine how she wanted to deal with Branden to vent her anger.
Paxton left quietly without saying anything else.
He could only pray in his heart for Branden’s safety.
