General Xu had passed the age of fifty, and as a Lieutenant General of the Empire, he was no longer active on the front lines. However, with thirty-five years of military experience and exceptional political acumen, he had distinguished himself among the ranks of the nation’s top commanders.
In recent years, he had rarely appeared before the media, operating mostly from behind the scenes—an almost legendary figure in military circles.
Yet today, he was fully dressed in uniform, his buttons fastened all the way up to the top. His entire posture was rigid and unwavering, exuding a sense of utmost solemnity and discipline.
At this moment, he was the first to step down from the off-road military vehicle. Then, he turned, bent slightly at the waist, and personally placed a hand on the car’s roof as he respectfully pulled open the door.
A hushed silence fell over the soldiers standing at the entrance.
All eyes were fixed on the car door.
The first thing to emerge was a pair of polished black military boots.
Crafted from fine leather, hand-stitched to perfection, they gleamed under the sun with a cold, razor-sharp sheen. Without pausing, they strode forward.
Instinctively, every soldier lifted their heads.
And as if by reflex—
Chin up. Back straight. Salute.
The dry, sandy soil of the desert mixed with the scent of freshly cut grass from the shooting range. Under the blazing sun, all eyes were locked on the figure stepping out of the vehicle.
Who was he—standing tall, his gaze sharp and unyielding?
Who was he—calm and composed, yet carrying an aura of absolute command?
Some men in this world did not need words.
They did not need to exert pressure or intimidation.
With just a single glance, they could send shivers through your very soul—and from that moment on, you would submit to them completely.
His presence was overwhelming—so powerful that it demanded attention without the need for introduction, rank or grandeur.
Even in a simple uniform, he commanded the room.
This was the Marshal.
The sole ruler of the nation’s military power—his authority undisputed.
Even in the most outspoken and chaotic nations of the West, the mere mention of his name would bring a flicker of awe and reverence to people’s eyes.
This man represented supreme military strength, unmatched power, and the ultimate aspiration of every soldier.
Under the gaze of the assembled officers, General Xu silently led Marshal He Mo toward the isolated shooting training room. Upon arrival, he bowed slightly and personally opened the door.
Inside, a stark white background wall and an array of electronic surveillance monitors filled the space. A row of target boards stood in perfect alignment, creating a world utterly separate from the scorching heat outside—inside, there was only cold, disciplined precision.
At the centre of the room, a single soldier stood in uniform, his back facing the entrance. He wore noise-cancelling earmuffs and stood perfectly still, as though immersed in his own world.
General Xu narrowed his eyes.
In just one year, this young soldier had changed again.
“General, everything is ready.”
The officer who had escorted Zhai Mu earlier approached General Xu cautiously and whispered his report.
For some reason, the moment they stepped into the training room, the temperature seemed to drop—as if the Marshal’s very presence had sucked the warmth from the air.
Even the officer did not dare lift his head to meet his gaze.
“Then let him begin.”
General Xu’s keen eyes swept over Zhai Mu’s back before turning away without hesitation.
He motioned for Marshal He Mo to take his seat.
Deep, pitch-black eyes settled on Zhai Mu’s limbs, scanning him with a quiet yet piercing intensity—as if he were assessing every inch of his physical condition.
Everyone in the Empire knew—
Before the Marshal, no one had secrets.
Because the moment his eyes fell upon you, every fear, every doubt, every weakness hidden deep inside you would be exposed—whether you wanted it to be or not.
At this moment, though Zhai Mu’s back was turned to the Marshal, he felt it.
An icy, bone-deep chill suddenly gripped his chest.
For a split second—
It felt as if a gun had been pressed against his heart. As if, in the blink of an eye, he could be pierced through.
His entire body went stiff.
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