A Dramatic Reunion

Even when Zhang Tie had been wanted by the Empire's secret police, the Iron Horn Legion had never revoked his officer status. The secret police's warrant had never been recognized by the Imperial military. Even after Zhang Tie left the Norman Empire, his identity within the Empire remained that of an Iron Horn Legion officer, unchanged to this day.

The rotten debt of Major Franka framing him back then had been entangled with deep-seated conflict between behemoths such as the Empire's Northern Frontier Military Region and the Northern Frontier Order Review Committee. The secret police wanted him, while the military wanted Major Franka. Neither side would yield. When the conflict suddenly erupted, he and Major Franka became mere pawns in the clash between two giants. As for the truth behind the conflict between Zhang Tie and Major Franka, no one cared anymore.

Only later did the situation take a dramatic turn. Huaiyuan Hall emerged behind him, and the secret police lowered their banners and fell silent. Now, although the warrant for him had yet to be withdrawn due to matters of face and procedure, so long as he did not run to the secret police headquarters and shout, "I'm Zhang Tie, come arrest me," he was essentially invisible in the eyes of the Imperial secret police.

As for the Empire's Northern Frontier Military Region, there was even less of a problem. If the Iron Horn Legion admitted that Zhang Tie was at fault, it would be tantamount to the Northern Frontier Military Region slapping its own face and admitting defeat in its contest with the Order Review Committee. When the honor of the entire military was at stake, there was no possibility of backing down.

So, for Zhang Tie, all this return required was keeping a low profile. There was