No one spoke. The applicants looked like they’d been drained of blood.
Then Oscar snapped, voice cracking into hysteria. “So what if they used to be good? Those records are years old! Who among them is still practicing now?”
Someone beside him seized the lifeline and echoed, “Exactly! Even if they were impressive back then, they’re old now. They can’t be the same.”
Loyce’s reply was calm. “You’re right about one thing—they haven’t even started their hiring assessment yet. And you came here to cause a scene before any evaluation happened. You labeled them incompetent and called us scammers without proof.”
Her mouth curved slightly, but there was no warmth in it. “I haven’t tested them yet. But I can tell you this: they didn’t forget their skills. Real technique doesn’t vanish—it’s earned, drilled in, carved into muscle memory.”
Her gaze swept over the applicants. “Unlike people who polish their résumés with fancy degrees and refuse to do the work. You don’t measure up to them, not even close.”
“You—!” Several of them bristled, furious.
At that moment, Robert led Trevor and the others to the door. They’d been listening for a while. Hearing this young woman stand her ground for them, again and again, had left something tight in their throats.
Trevor pushed the door open and walked in. “She’s right,” he said. “And I’ll apologize for the disturbance at the hospital entrance. But compared to these people? My skill is the difference between a watermelon and a sesame seed.”
Holly rolled in beside him, steady and composed. “If anyone doubts us, then prove it. Whoever questions it can present evidence. Let’s compete.”
Xavier hurried to smooth things over. “No need. Everyone here knows you’re heroes. This is on us for not investigating properly—”
“I want the competition,” Oscar cut in, eyes fixed on the veterans.
He’d paid to dress up his résumé, sure, but his hands-on training was real. And he refused to believe he could lose to people missing limbs.
He turned to his friends, voice sharp with confidence. “They haven’t operated in years. You think they can still keep a needle steady?”

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