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Chapter 33 [James McCloud]
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A new instructor, introduced by executive director John Tanaka, comes to train the Galaxy Mobile Platoon.

His name is James McCloud and he is a former soldier. The group quickly grows tired of his militaristic training methods. Unlike the others, Rick believes in his methods and continues the grueling exercises.

McCloud had once been an instructor for Dark Million. Having left, his plan now is to have Dark Million and the Galaxy Mobile Platoon take each other out in the races, leaving him with the victory. McCloud follows through with this plan in the next race. Everyone is helpless to fight back as McCloud steals the victory. But Dark Million seeks revenge. They set up an ambush for McCloud as he returns from the race, and Luna Ryder attacks him. It's Rick who comes to his rescue.

When McCloud was in the military, a close friend had betrayed him. Ever since then, he had been unable to trust other people. So, he would preemptively betrayed others for his own gain in order to avoid that experience again.

Rick, however, was different. Despite being tricked by McCloud, he had still come to the traitor's rescue.

Because of this, something starts to change in McCloud's cold heart.