“Commander Bernardo!”

  Antonio’s salute was still meticulous.

  Bernardo signaled him to sit, then slid a few sheets of paper toward him.

  Antonio saw a simple sentence written on the paper:

  The First Military District will apologize to the public. As Deputy Division Commander, [Space], I will strictly enforce the ban on subordinates accepting private media interviews and will not express any personal opinions, publicly or privately, regarding the West Gate Street incident. Furthermore, I will personally abide by this regulation strictly.

  “Copy this exactly. Fill in your name in the blank space,” Bernardo instructed kindly.

  “What about them?” Antonio asked while copying, pretending not to care.

  “They’ve already signed. You’re the only one left; you were slow to arrive.”

  “Mm.”

  Antonio finished writing the guarantee quickly, handed it to Bernardo, and asked considerately, “When is the apology? What do I need to do to cooperate? Give the order, and I’ll handle it now.”

  Bernardo’s pupils contracted.

  A moment ago, he was full of hostility toward Antonio, but now he felt he shouldn't be.

  “Bernardo, don't be fooled by his handsome face,” he reminded himself internally.

  Antonio, unable to see through those deep eyes, put on a look of concern: “What’s wrong? Are you worried your authority will be questioned after the apology? I think we can push the blame onto Dimitri. He’s dead anyway.”

  “...”

  Bernardo hadn't expected this attitude from Antonio. He had called the other two deputy commanders to sign first specifically to force Antonio to fall in line.

  He didn't expect that while the other two only complained about their subordinates not necessarily following orders, Antonio not only signed proactively but even offered solutions.

  After finishing the writing, Antonio looked up and saw the strange, contemplative look in Bernardo's eyes.

  “What is it? Why are you looking at me like that? Are you worried that I or others will tell the outside world it was your idea? We won’t. If that gets out, the country will face massive turmoil, and no one will have it easy. If you don't trust them, call them back and have another meeting.”

  Bernardo certainly wouldn't hold another meeting. Such matters only lead to disagreement in meetings; breaking them down one by one was the better way.

  “I’m staring at you because your forehead is red from being pressed against a desk. You didn't sleep last night. It’s been hard on you.My heart aches for you...”

  Antonio: “...”

  “You look quite cute right now.”

  The kinder the old man sounded, the more Antonio's skin crawled. He was an officer fresh off the battlefield,and he was actually being called "cute" by an old man!

  Cute?

  If this were a battlefield, Antonio would have shot the old man dead on the spot.

  Just then, hurried footsteps approached.

  “Commander Bernardo!” As Colonel Garrison saluted, he noticed Antonio was there, and a look of resentment appeared on his face. “Commander... Antonio...”

  “Reporting to the Commander, there is intel involving...”

  Garrison intentionally cut himself off.

  Bernardo pretended not to know: “Involving whom? Him? Antonio, it involves you. Let’s hear it together.”

  Antonio was generous, spreading his hands: “Fine, let’s hear it.”

  “Starry Sky TV just reported that Antonio obtained 10% of the mining land equity through improper means and is suspected of murdering Salazar, a staff member from the Land Bureau who held the files for that plot.”

  “What did you say?”

  Antonio flared up, grabbing Garrison’s arm.

  The first part was at least true, but the part about murdering a staffer was way too much.

  This was a total fabrication!

  “Don't touch me!” Garrison shook off Antonio’s hand.

  Antonio noticed that Bernardo seemed to enjoy this drama, maintaining a smiling attitude.

  He pretended to be flustered, muttering: “What’s wrong with me touching you? I didn't even do anything to you, I just grabbed your arm.”

  The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  But Garrison looked like he was about to cry, hysterical like a resentful woman: “What you did to me... don't you know it yourself?”

  “Antonio, what exactly did you do to him?” Bernardo was almost laughing out loud.

  The way the old man was looking at Antonio now was as if Antonio were standing there without any clothes on.

  Antonio also had a surge of resentment.

  “A piece of gossip from some trashy little TV station is worth you rushing here to report to the Commander?”

  “Keep talking.” Bernardo ordered, ignoring Antonio’s attitude.

  “That staffer is currently in the First Hospital. Should we go visit him?” Garrison asked, standing at attention.

  Antonio turned his face away.

  Bernardo leaned his nose right up to Antonio’s face, almost close enough to kiss him: “Antonio, Garrison asked you if you want to visit Staffer Salazar. Why aren't you answering?”

  The question was clearly for you, yet you insist it's for me?

  Antonio turned, wanting to glare at the old man, but nearly bumped noses with him. He pretended to panic and scooted his chair back.

  “Commander, I didn't mean it.”

  “Wait... what did you say? You didn't mean it? You didn't mean to kill Salazar, or you didn't mean to mess with Garrison?” Bernardo’s tone was teasing, but his face showed a hint of anger.

  “Neither...”

  Antonio was just about to explain when Bernardo slammed the table hard: “Speak! That day you locked Garrison in the room, did you 'do' him? I thought others were joking, but seeing Garrison’s aggrieved and afraid-to-speak-out look now... it turns out... it’s actually true...”

  Antonio: “I...”

  He glanced at Garrison and found Garrison looking even more resentful, as if he were about to throw himself into Bernardo’s arms, crying and saying: Commander, I’m carrying Antonio’s child, make him take responsibility...

  It was exactly that expression of a woman who had been "knocked up" against her will.

  Nose, mouth, and eyes were all scrunched together.

  If Bernardo weren't present, Antonio would have burst out laughing along with Garrison.

  But I can't break character!

  After reminding himself, Antonio put on the face of someone who had messed up. Avoiding Bernardo’s gaze, he said, “I had a bit to drink then... I was indeed... a bit over the top with him... But men can’t get pregnant, right?”

  Bernardo’s eyes lit up. How the hell did that bitch Mimi keep tabs on Antonio? Saying he liked staring at women’s chests?

  Was she wrong?

  Could it be that Antonio played for both teams?

  “Antonio, you must apologize to Garrison. You went too far.” Although Bernardo was reprimanding him, his face was entirely that of someone watching a comedy.

  “I want him to pay!” Garrison snapped back viciously.

  “Commander, can I borrow some money from you? Lady Sweet took my salary card, and the 10% equity is gone too. I’m a total pauper now.”

  After Antonio made a pathetic little face, Bernardo finally burst into laughter.

  “Alright, alright. Come over to my place for a drink in a couple of days. I’ll see what I can do for you then.”

  Then, he actually ordered Garrison: “Back to work, now!”

  Garrison’s mouth was moving, probably cursing “Go to hell.” He left without even saluting.

  Antonio wanted to run too.

  But his arm was grabbed by the old man.

  “The old man is in heat...” Antonio looked at the old man’s obsessed gaze and came to this sickening conclusion, cursing his luck inwardly.

  “I say, Antonio, let’s go out and apologize together.”

  “Oh, you’re holding me because of the apology...” Antonio let out a massive sigh of relief and smiled. “Let’s go.”

  Shortly after, the two arrived at the military district’s press briefing hall.

  Over a hundred sharp-scented reporters had long been waiting there, demanding an answer from the military.

  The briefing hall faced the main gate of the military district, where tens of thousands of people were sitting on the ground. It seemed they intended to fight a "war of attrition" with the First Military District.

  When the two walked into the hall, the press gallery erupted. Everyone surged forward like they were on stimulants, crowding toward the front.

  Camera flashes went off everywhere.

  Reporters who had snagged front-row seats pulled out pens, paper, and recorders. Several looked like they had just hit the jackpot.

  “I told you, there’d be an apology.”

  “Exactly, exactly.”

  “Is this Commander Antonio? He’s so handsome.”

  “He sounded ordinary in the radio interview yesterday. How can he be this good-looking?”

  Antonio cast a flirtatious glance at a smitten female reporter. She immediately covered her mouth and giggled.

  Her face turned bright red!

  “Cough!” Bernardo was a bit dissatisfied with Antonio’s behavior. What time was it, and he was still flirting? “Everyone has been waiting a long time. It’s been hard on you. Facing public sentiment, the First Military District has been in meetings since this morning. Our consensus with superiors and even the Ministry of Defense is that the military should indeed not intervene in protest incidents. On this point, representing the First Military District, I sincerely apologize to the people of the nation!”

  After speaking into the microphone, Bernardo immediately bowed.

  Antonio followed suit and bowed quickly.

  “In this matter, the military has its own issues—failing to transition from a wartime state to a peaceful state. Last night, facing the West Gate Street incident, someone used force illegally; someone even stormed into the meeting room with a gun and pressed it against my forehead.”

  “Gasp...” The reporters cried out in shock.

  No one expected this. They only knew about the West Gate Street incident; they hadn't realized such a massive upheaval had occurred within the military.

  “Currently, Division Commander Dimitri, who used force illegally, is dead. Division Commander Ramon, who pointed the gun at my forehead, has been officially suspended. I reported this to the Ministry of Defense immediately, and I believe the Ministry will report the situation to the President shortly.”

  “As for the soldiers and civilians who were innocently sacrificed because of this, representing the First Military District, I express my condolences. Now, one minute of silence.”

  “...”

  After the minute ended, Bernardo continued.

  “Commander Antonio was mainly responsible for clearing the scene last night and has been busy until now. He has merit, but media outlets have reported that he holds 10% equity in the mining land. I specifically brought him here to let him explain this matter clearly.”

  “Uh...” Antonio pretended to be at a loss.

  “I indeed own 10% of the mining land equity. I’m sorry!”

  Bernardo really couldn't understand why Antonio would explain it this way. He wanted to curse, but he had to remain calm and dignified in front of the media.

  “But this equity was a gift from Mr. Sebastian. I don't know why he gave it to me. Anyway, my salary card has been taken by my ex-wife. I don't even have money to buy clothes. I can’t afford mining land. Thank you, everyone.”

  Flashes clicked and popped again.

  “Also, what I want to say is, if you don't believe me, you can go to the auction site—that church. Standing inside the church, you can see a small restaurant through the window. Ask the owner and his wife... That day, Mr. Sebastian took me there for a meal. The owner even shook my hand, hehe... It’s just that, their prices were 30% higher than the menu... I don't know why I’m saying this... anyway, I’m sorry. I really own 10% of the land equity. If the country needs it, I can donate it to the nation at any time.”

  What a "clumsy oaf" of an officer! Antonio secretly cheered for himself!