"Captain, I don't think I've got much of a shot going up against Joseph," Zachary said, his expression darkening.

The thing he feared most had finally happened. It was not that he lacked confidence; he just had a realistic understanding of his own limits.

Moreover, Joseph came from one of Goldridge's elite families, with superior talent and unmatched resources. On the other hand, Zachary came from a military combat background. He was always direct: if he could win, he would say so. If he co