The General, who had just entered his prime, leaned against the railing and gazed at the distant, dazzling river of stars through the transparent helmet of his lightweight spacesuit.
Dressed in combat fatigues, Yu Shuo leaned against the hatch with his hands in his pockets, quietly gripping his pistol. Xi Yan walked over at an unhurried pace, still admiring the stars overhead.
A golden star shone to his left, radiating light and heat. His spacesuit automatically activated its temperature control system.
"General Ning." Xi Yan fiddled with his Matter Projection Gun, standing a short distance behind him. "May I ask you a question?"
"Please ask, Marshal. I'll tell you everything I know," Ning Zhiyuan answered, still gazing at the stars.
"Good."
Xi Yan had already quietly raised his gun and aimed it at the back of his head.
"Then tell me, General Ning Zhiyuan."
"Are you loyal to me, or to yourself?"
The General, who had just entered middle age, looked at the distant stars and fell silent for a moment.
But Xi Yan had already pulled the trigger with a savage grin.
The bullet from the Matter Projection Gun shot past Ning Zhiyuan's shoulder, flew beyond the ship, and vanished among the stars.
It was merely a warning.
Yu Shuo instantly raised his gun and aimed at Ning Zhiyuan.
The personal guards around them followed suit, pointing more than a dozen dark muzzles at him.
Ning Zhiyuan stopped in his tracks, while Xi Yan slowly retreated behind the personal guards.
"General Ning, let's lay our cards on the table." Smiling, Xi Yan ran a hand over the golden gun. Unable to find where to reload it right away, he tossed it aside and switched to a black pistol.
"The truth is, I've run out of patience. It'll take about a minute for your crew to arrive after that gunshot. Whether you have one minute left to live or several decades is entirely up to you."
The middle-aged officer clenched his fists and slowly turned around.
He gave a bitter chuckle.
"As I thought. I had a fair idea why you suddenly came to the Starport."
"You were never after me. From beginning to end, all you wanted was command of these three warships."
He turned to face the dark gun muzzles, his pupils contracting.
Xi Yan held his gun with a broad smile, his eyes utterly unruffled. Twenty personal guards stood behind him.
Yu Shuo walked over and pressed his pistol against Ning Zhiyuan's temple. "Sorry, Brother Ning. I'm siding with the Marshal this time."
Looking at the twenty-two gun muzzles surrounding him, Ning Zhiyuan suddenly gave a bleak smile.
"Man! What can I say?"
"As expected, Marshal Xi Yan, you're a very decisive man. I never imagined you would disregard my standing and threaten my life."
"And your family's." Xi Yan smiled as he added, "I like playing nine-clan elimination."
Ning Zhiyuan took a deep breath and slowly raised both hands. "I'm willing to surrender."
"You know when to bend." Xi Yan smiled.
Ning Zhiyuan fell silent for a moment.
Of course he knew the Marshal would settle accounts with the old officials after taking power. But he was certain he had never crossed the line. His conscience was clear.
Xi Yan should not have been too hard on him.
Yet Xi Yan had still pointed a gun at him. Ning Zhiyuan, however, was already prepared.
Presumably, it did not matter to the Marshal who held the rank of general. All he had ever wanted was these three ships.
"I'll resign my post as general, hand over most of my family's assets, and surrender all my authority to you. If you wish to hold me accountable for any other offenses over the years, please spare my family."
"What are you talking about?" Xi Yan looked puzzled. "I only need command of these three Corvettes. You're doing a perfectly good job, so why would you step down?"
"Huh?"
Now it was Ning Zhiyuan's turn to be confused.
"Relax. Am I really that cold-blooded?" Grinning, Xi Yan lowered his gun and patted him on the shoulder. "All I want is for you to serve my will."
Ning Zhiyuan suddenly felt his mouth go dry. "Then, then you-"
"Neutrality is the greatest disloyalty. I was merely correcting your little mistake." Xi Yan's smile was as warm as a spring breeze. "See? Isn't this much better now?"
Feeling the terrifying pressure surrounding Xi Yan, Ning Zhiyuan could not help letting out a long sigh.
"Regardless, I support your decisions unconditionally, Marshal."
"Supreme command of these three Corvettes will also be transferred to you. You now have the strength to intimidate the entire nation... probably."
"So you know these three Corvettes are lousy in a fight too!" Xi Yan snapped.
"But that's more like it."
Xi Yan seamlessly switched to a gentle smile and pressed his palms downward at the people around him. "Why are you all holding guns? How can you be so disrespectful to our General Ning?"
Ning Zhiyuan could not help pressing a hand to his forehead and sighing.
The new Marshal was young, but that was precisely his advantage.
Because he was young, Xi Yan dared to think boldly and act boldly without worrying too much. The mature, steady Former Marshal would generally never have chosen such a radical way to consolidate power.
Xi Yan was extraordinarily arrogant, bound by no rules whatsoever. He feared no threat and acted resolutely according to his own will.
The personal guards lowered their guns and withdrew behind the three men to wait.
Ning Zhiyuan let out a quiet breath of relief.
Whatever happened, these damned political affairs no longer had anything to do with him.
Now Ning Zhiyuan knew he was safe. The process had been decidedly underhanded, but at least he no longer had to worry about his position or his safety.
At that thought, he actually felt a little relieved?
"From now on, you answer directly to me." Xi Yan turned and headed back, speaking with his hands clasped behind his back. "Now take these three ships to the Shipyard for refitting. Install Flak Cannons and Red Lasers. For defenses, two armor modules and one shield."
"Yes."
Reluctantly, Ning Zhiyuan opened the holographic screen on his Wristband and began issuing orders online.
My ship loadouts are so good already. Why change them? Seems to me there's nothing wrong with fitting them this way...
"Beta, coordinate the handover with General Ning."
"I thought you'd just kill him," Beta said, raising the volume.
"Then thank you so much for letting me live." Ning Zhiyuan looked thoroughly exasperated.
"Killing him outright wouldn't help me take control of these three ships," Xi Yan said calmly. "Besides, General Ning really has done a good job, apart from the ship loadouts."
"Seems fine to me." Ning Zhiyuan scratched his head.
"Shut up! Look at that bullshit loadout of yours! Next time we get new technology, I'm doing the fitting!" Xi Yan instantly flew into a rage.
Just thinking about those ship loadouts sent his blood pressure soaring!
"Fine, fine, fine. But Marshal, I count as one of your people now, right?" Ning Zhiyuan asked.
Xi Yan grinned. "Trust those you employ, and don't employ those you distrust. I'm willing to trust you."
"Thank you, Marshal."
Ning Zhiyuan's lips also curved upward. "Regarding the Shoigu-Gerasimov military faction..."
"They must be brought to account."
Xi Yan's expression instantly turned cold.
"I will never allow a force like that to threaten my rule over the Empire."
"I have a way." Beta chuckled softly.
Xi Yan raised his Wristband as he walked.
"Beta has an opinion too? Please, go ahead. I may not have accomplished much over the years, but my political instincts are still quite good," Ning Zhiyuan said.
"Indeed. Quite a coward. You don't see such spineless generals every day," Beta jabbed mercilessly.
"That's called following the tide!" With his weak spot exposed, Ning Zhiyuan flushed scarlet. "The Marshal is wise and mighty. Power over the Empire will inevitably return to his hands. How could I go against fate now?"
"Fuck." Even Xi Yan could no longer keep a straight face.
"Anyway, listen to me! I have a stratagem to slay the wicked faction, vanquish the traitors, and restore the realm from darkness to light!"
Xi Yan immediately knew this dumbass AI was about to launch into classical rhetoric and instinctively moved farther away.
Before you continue