(For the newly-appointed Sect Leader "Tadashi," an additional update!)
This, this is...
The Broken Sword Knight Medal!
By now, Li Shen had finally seen clearly and also recalled the legends within the military about Ruan Xiongfei's other identity.
The officers rubbed their eyes in disbelief.
To actually see the real Broken Sword Knight Medal...
In their minds, this was something the Army Group Commander should possess.
Though they thought this, none dared to delay their reaction.
Because the surveillance inside the room was also watching them.
A row of officers stood up in unison, saluted!
Ordinary soldiers might not know, but officers below the rank of Colonel must give a military salute upon seeing it!
This was the true privilege within the Federation's military forces!
Even though Ruan Xiongfei had retired and wasn't appearing in his military capacity, as long as he held this lifetime honor medal, Li Shen and the others had to stand and salute.
The bald man who sat casually in the chair rose solemnly to return the salute, then sat back down, resuming his ruffian-like demeanor.
Beside him, Gu Qing stared dumbfounded at the man who had grabbed him; Ruan Xiongfei was a stranger to him, but this did not prevent him from recognizing the medal.
Looking at his own legs that were about to sneak away, he quietly put them back and stood properly at this bald man's side.
He thought he could guess the upper limit of the combat power of the man beside him, but now he felt he was truly naive.
A man who held the Broken Sword Knight Medal... definitely did not have a small number of lives claimed by his hand.
Thinking this, Gu Qing felt a chill at the back of his neck.
How on earth had he encountered such a god of death!
"Captain Ruan, may I ask what brings you here?" Li Shen now could not act out and could only ask with restraint.
"I came to pick someone up, but right before entering, I just happened to overhear some things and thought I'd ask about them."
Sharp ears can explain it?
Ultrasonic radar ears, huh?
A specially made wooden door weighing over a ton, with a dual sound isolation system, how sharp must your ears be to hear through it?
But thinking of this big bald head's almost limitless combat power, he let it slide.
An abnormal person, no matter how exaggerated, is normal.
"Please enlighten me, Captain Ruan." Li Shen's expression darkened further.
"That's... why would my direct disciple's honor be revoked?"
"Who is your direct disciple?" At this point, Gu Qing, who might have had his brain waterlogged, asked, then immediately realized he might have done something very foolish.
"Mu Fan! Tsk, you're quite pleasing to the eye," the palm-sized hand patted Gu Qing's shoulder, the tone and gaze of approval made the Captain want to cry without tears.
He really wanted to slap himself; why had he unwittingly followed the rhythm of the big bald head beside him?
Watching Li Shen's almost murderous gaze from across the room, he felt he was as good as dead.
"Regarding everything related to Planet 131, it has been sealed, and the related combat achievements have also been archived, hence they can't be entered into military records."
"Hm, and then?" After digging in his left ear, Ruan Xiongfei also probed his right ear, sounding unconcerned.
"Then, are you referring to this video? It requires further verification."
"Oh, further~~ verification, huh." Ruan Xiongfei stood up, an action that made Li Shen and the others tense.
"Lin Hao."
"Present." Why was he being called upon?
"When you boarded the Star Thief Battleship, you weren't the only one with a recording video, right?"
"Every soldier wearing Exoskeleton Armor generates a video record."
Hearing this, Li Shen had a bad premonition, but seeing Bald Ruan's brazen attitude, he didn't dare interrupt.
"Good, pack these videos for me and then I'll send them to some old friends for their enjoyment. Tsk tsk, to kill over a hundred personally without any support, and our Blue Capital Star Military Department is actually stingy with a single Centurion Medal. Recruiting outstanding students into the Army Reserve on our own turf, and yet treated like this, I wonder if General Zeng Baopu really doesn't care about these future seeds..." Big bald head's tone grew heavy with regret toward the end, but looking again at his fierce appearance, it was somewhat out of character.
"Yes, Captain Ruan." Lin Hao saluted excitedly in response.
If Ruan Xiongfei stepped in, the matter could probably be blown sky-high. Discussing with the War Department about an issue that went straight up to Commander Zeng Baopu of the Blue Capital Star garrison, do you have no shame?
Li Shen's palms were already squeezing so tightly in secret that his veins bulged. The last thing he feared encountering were those who had a direct line to the top.
Despite holding a high position in the War Department, there were many within the military sectors who looked at him with disfavor.
It may not seem like much, but if Ruan Xiongfei really went over their heads and contacted the higher-ups, then he would be slapping his immediate superior in the face. With Ruan Xiongfei's connections, he might indeed be able to reach Commander Zeng.
Thinking back on the message from Sky Communication received earlier, it was a promise for the future versus his own current career prospects.
Almost in an instant, Li Shen made his decision.
"Captain Ruan, as for internal affairs concerning the garrison on Blue Capital Star, I think there's no need to spread them further. Please, Captain Ruan and Major Lin, leave at once. As for the Centurion Medal for the student Mu Fan, I will apply to my superiors and deliver it to you later."
By this point, Lin Hao was already preparing to stand and leave.
However, unexpectedly, the bald man on the other side muttered to himself leisurely, "The War Department is under Colonel He Gang's jurisdiction, isn't it? I saw him when I was going upstairs just now. He was entering office 201. Colonel Li, would you mind taking a trip with us?"
The military officers around Li Shen looked at him with expectant eyes; the bald man's presence was too daunting.
The Colonel's gaze fixed on Ruan Xiongfei's indifferent expression, and suddenly, a calm smile appeared on his face, "Captain Ruan, I have learned my lesson."
"Hahaha, I'm a teacher now, with quite a few students."
Ruan Xiongfei contentedly rubbed his bald head.
This commanded infinite admiration from Lin Hao at his side - what truly was a seasoned old soldier... That's it!
"No need to trouble Captain Ruan with Colonel He. We'll just wait here, I'll send someone to fetch it."
Five minutes later, a silver medal enshrined in a crystal box was jointly brought in by two Lieutenants and two soldiers.
"Captain Ruan, here is the Centurion Medal for your student."
Ruan Xiongfei's eyebrows twitched, "Has his information already been entered into the honor system?"
"Yes."
Sure enough, he was as sharp as old ginger, every question carrying a bite.
"Alright then, you're busy so I'll go see my disciple now, hahaha."
He snatched up the medal's crystal box, waved at Lin Hao, and then casually walked out of the hall.
It was only after watching the bald man's retreating figure that the two Lieutenants suddenly remembered they had forgotten to stop him.
The medal was supposed to be awarded by Military Department personnel to the individual, what did it mean for someone else to take it away?
"Colonel, this...?"
"It's fine, let them go. Don't provoke that bald guy in the future," Li Shen instructed with an inscrutable face, neither joyful nor angry.
...
In the assembly hall, Mu Fan was completely unaware of the events happening on the third floor of the security building and that a bald man accompanied by Lin Hao was making his way towards the underground hall.
At the moment, he was just leaning back with his eyes closed, resting.
Well, to be precise, he was listening to an Intelligent Life rant excitedly in his ear.
Yes, Black was very agitated right now.
Because just a moment ago, light-years away, its avatar had controlled an SCV to perform its first welding repair, and the sparking flame and the crackling sound drew no reaction from the Zeg Clan.
When it tried to repair a damaged Heavy Hammer Tank, still no Zeg appeared.
So, on planet 131's Red Plain, several SCVs began working frantically, sparks twinkling in what was once a desolate base.
"Mu Fan, the Zeg Clan have absolutely no response to purely mechanical noises! What does this mean? We can now proceed with the construction of the base! The future mechanical legions are waving at me, hahaha! If you become the Commander, then I'll be the Deputy Commander."
"You be the Commander..." Mu Fan said weakly. At the moment, Black had the enthusiasm of someone who'd found a new toy.
"Really? I'm so touched, what should I do, you're actually promoting me! So, the mechanical legion will have two Commanders."
"From now on, please call me Commander Black, and how about you be Commander Egg?"
Mu Fan's calm demeanor nearly collapsed into rage.
"Roll."