Facing Baby Duke's barrage of scolding, Edward Baldwin was stunned for a moment, then broke into a cute smile.

"Still smiling!" Baby Duke glared at Edward Baldwin and ordered in a tone that brooked no argument, "Help me get up!"

Hearing this, Edward Baldwin didn't move. He was wondering why he should help Baby Duke get up—this was a seat, not a bed.

"Aiya!!!..." Baby Duke let out a spoiled, irritated sound, flailing her hands and kicking her feet, whining, "I'm so annoyed, so annoyed! Mom, I miss you, I miss you..."

The male and female officers saw Baby Duke's antics, shook their heads and smiled, then immediately put on a stern expression.

"Baby Duke, get up!" the female officer said coldly.

"No!" Baby Duke covered her eyes.

"Get up!" The female officer walked over.

"No! No means no!" Baby Duke was simply being stubborn.

Seeing the icy-faced female officer approaching, Edward Baldwin suddenly darted forward and hugged the female officer's leg, shouting at her, "Don't hit her palm!"

The female officer, surprised to have her legs hugged, couldn't help but take a closer look at Edward Baldwin.

"I'm up now." Baby Duke jumped up from her seat, made a face at the female officer, and sat there happily.

Her demeanor had changed completely; no one could guess what was going on in this little girl's mind.

"Return to your seat!" the female officer said coldly, staring at Edward Baldwin.

Edward Baldwin quickly let go of her leg, shrank his head, and ran back to his seat.

Everyone was awake now. The female officer swept a cold gaze around and said, "We're about to arrive at the subtropical rainforest. Inside, there are poisonous snakes, scorpions, leopards, wolves, tigers, and wild boars."

"A zoo!" the little girl who had been snacking said happily.

"Heh, that's right, it's a zoo." The female officer chuckled twice, her face stern. "But these animals aren't locked in cages—they're out in the open. Maybe if you take one step forward, you'll be bitten by a poisonous snake. Maybe if you just turn your head, a tiger will bite your head off. It's very dangerous inside; you could die at any moment. I'm not joking with you—I'm telling the truth."

The children's eyes were filled with excitement. Having never seen such things before, they only thought it sounded fun and interesting.

"Do you know why your parents sent you here?" the female officer asked.

"To be soldiers..."

"Lots and lots of people to play with..."

"Can't sleep in anymore..."

"Have to eat properly now..."

"Then who will wash my clothes?"

"......"

All sorts of strange answers popped up, making for a noisy scene.

"To become the best soldier!" a young yet steady voice rang out.

The one who said this was the tallest child. He sat there expressionless, as straight as a soldier.

"Very good." The female officer glanced at the child, nodded, and continued, "Most of your fathers and grandfathers are soldiers of the Republic. They have spent their lives fighting for the country and the people, demonstrating with their words and actions a soldier's boundless loyalty and love for the nation. You are their descendants. They place their hopes on you, hoping you can surpass them and become the best soldiers. Advance bravely, never retreat, and even if death lies ahead, face it with a calm smile and charge forward."

"I am willing!" the soldier-like child said in a deep voice.

There was no doubt that this child was the best among them, having undergone rigorous military training under his father's supervision since childhood.

"That's why you've come to the Special Class A unit to undergo your first survival test." The female officer raised a finger. "Survival means staying alive. Survival training means you must ensure your own survival. All the training in the Special Class A unit revolves around survival. If you can't survive, it means elimination—it means being sent home."

If the previous words hadn't scared the children, the last sentence about being sent home filled them with fear.

Because they knew what would happen if they were sent home. Those terrifying words had been spoken more than once by their fathers.

They were raised from childhood as candidates for the Special Class A unit, because that unit represented the highest honor for a soldier. True military families dreamed of their children joining the Special Class A unit and surviving to the end in the brutal competition.

If they were sent back, it would be a disgrace to the entire family. It meant they weren't good enough, and that the bloodline filled with the spirit of the military could no longer continue.

The bus instantly fell silent. All the children's faces showed fear. They were afraid of this, even though they had just laughed at Edward Baldwin for being afraid his father would beat him to death.

At this age, all children feared their fathers the most.

"After you get off the bus, there's a rainforest straight ahead. Those who make it through can stay; those who can't will be sent home."

After saying this, the female officer returned to her seat and closed her eyes to rest.