The Mantis, the Cicada, and the Oriole

"It... it was Xu De who started it!"

Facing the instructor's question, Thomas, who had been trembling with fear, ignored the pain in his throat and rasped out his response.

"Yes, that's right!"

"Exactly!"

The few who had been beaten alongside Thomas chimed in immediately, and even those who hadn't participated in the fight, seeing the situation turning against Xu De, nodded in quick succession.

No matter how capable Xu De was, the military was defined by a strict hierarchy; if the instructor wanted to deal with him, there was no way he could escape the palm of his hand.

Therefore, the group that had been surrounding Xu De, along with those who were naturally inclined toward authority, all nodded in agreement, launching a barrage of accusations against him.

It was as if he were the bully.

As for Xu De.

He did not panic. Although it was infuriating to have the truth twisted, he did not lose his composure.

He simply turned his head toward the surveillance camera behind him and spoke.

"Reporting to the instructor, I request to review the footage!"

The reason he had lured them into that specific corridor earlier was precisely to ensure he was within the camera's range.

He had made sure everything was captured clearly.

"You..."

The instructor, not expecting Xu De to have such a move up his sleeve, choked on his own breath.

Even the crowd that had been accusing Xu De fell silent.

However, Xu De knew this alone would not be enough to stop the instructor.

After all, the man could simply lock him up first; as for the surveillance, once he was in custody, the instructor could claim whatever he wanted.

If he said it was broken, no one would care.

"I will look into it! But until then, as a primary participant, you are to be confined..."

The instructor continued, just as Xu De had anticipated.

But before the instructor could finish his sentence, Hans took a large step forward from behind.

"Instructor! I can testify that Xu De is telling the truth!"

Though Hans's voice still carried a hint of fear, it was remarkably firm.

"You're his friend! Of course you'd cover for him!"

The instructor said dismissively, but no sooner had the words left his mouth than three more people stepped forward.

"I saw it too!"

"Me too!"

"I also saw that Thomas was the one who attacked!"

Among the three who stepped out, some had been bullied by Thomas, while others truly respected Xu De's strength.

In any case, Xu De turned back to look at the three of them earnestly, silently etching their faces into his memory.

It was not easy to stand up at a time like this.

With those three stepping forward, a dozen more from the hundred-strong group gradually moved to stand behind Xu De.

It was a clear display of defiance, standing toe-to-toe with Thomas's side.

The instructor, watching this scene unfold, felt his blood run cold beneath his intense rage.

If this situation spiraled, it could easily turn into a military mutiny, and that was a capital offense.

He was clearly just an ordinary soldier; even if his piloting skills were good, his foundation was weak. Why were so many people willing to stand with him?

The instructor failed to account for the fact that the charisma Xu De had displayed during their exchange was the primary reason they had stepped forward.

Unassuming yet unyielding, simply standing there with calm strength and speaking with integrity made him radiate a sense of righteousness.

Consequently, they did not want to see a youth who shone like the sun framed by a villain.

After all, if that happened, where would justice be?

Moreover, they realized that they themselves could very well be the next Xu De.

For those of them without connections, sticking together was the best survival strategy.

However, the instructor did not deliberate for long before reaching his decision.

"You... you are all spreading rumors and disrupting military morale! Arrest them all!"

In this situation, he had to cut the Gordian knot.

Once they were arrested and he controlled the narrative, he would be safe.

As for these few, once they were thrown into confinement and properly broken, they would naturally change their tune.

Although the instructor's order had been issued, those few soldiers from the inspection team had no intention of obeying it in the slightest.

Instead, they looked as if they had seen a ghost, fearfully lowering their rifles and snapping back into a rigid military posture.

The sound of those military boots striking the metal floor was heavy, echoing through the corridor as if it were a tolling bell of welcome.

"You..."

The instructor, just about to demand an explanation, turned his head and saw Revil, who had appeared silently behind him; a chill instantly shot from the soles of his feet straight to his scalp.

Even his neck, which had been flushed red, turned deathly pale.

"Instructor Rick, quite the display of authority you have there."

Revil wore a smile, though the warmth did not reach his eyes.

Anyone with a discerning eye could hear the mockery and sarcasm within his tone.

"Lieutenant Colonel Revil! I was only..."

"Dereliction of duty, abuse of power—see you at the military tribunal."

Revil seemed too lazy to say anything more, merely nodding to signal the inspection team, who were acting like mice having seen a cat, to drag the man away immediately.

As they walked, the instructor's pleas for mercy continued to echo through the long corridor.

The grating sound made both Revil and the people behind him, who had thought they were standing on the right side, break out in a cold sweat.

Especially the fence-sitters from before; they felt like dying inside.

If they had known this Lieutenant Colonel would come out to take charge of the situation.

They would never have stood behind Revil, no matter what.

That idiot instructor, failing to handle his superiors and then grandstanding for no reason.

Wasn't this just harming himself and others?

Just as everyone was filled with regret and fear, Revil did not spare them much of a glance.

"Those who were spouting nonsense just now, one week of solitary confinement."

Military discipline was not exactly strict here.

However, with this punishment, they might not survive.

After all, if the World Tree were to explode while they were in solitary confinement, what would happen?

It went without saying.

Of course, Xu De felt no pity.

Although, to a certain extent, the other party's crimes did not warrant death.

But he had no reason to save them either.

Whether these people lived or died afterward was none of his business.

As for the few who were being sent to solitary confinement, they actually looked relieved upon hearing it was only for a week.

A week was just enough to skip the potential combat; while they wouldn't earn any military merit, there was certainly no danger.

After all, the World Tree was so safe.

Just like that, quite bizarrely, both sides had no objections to Revil's decision.

"Corporal Xu De, I am very pleased that our military can possess a talent like you."

Ignoring Thomas and the others who had already been dragged away, Revil looked at him with a warmth completely different from before.

Originally, he had intended to wait until Xu De had no way out before stepping in to bestow a favor.

But he had not expected Xu De to force that instructor to such a point all on his own.

He feared that even if he hadn't come out, Xu De could have resolved the problem himself in the end.

Combined with the calmness and composure he showed during the fight earlier, Xu De was one of the people with the greatest potential he had ever seen.

Second only to that blonde kid who went to the moon to play with the Zero.

Whether in close-quarters combat or flight, he possessed immense potential.

Moreover, he had a clear head and understood tactics.

These were all essential conditions for a top-tier pilot.

Otherwise, why were pilots so highly sought after?

It was not something the ordinary grunts here could do.