Chapter 177 Dispute
The moment Raven’s words fell, the entire courtyard descended into a stunned, suffocating silence.
Every pair of eyes turned to her, wide with disbelief.
Did she really just say that?
Everyone in Vyrdenia who held even the faintest shred of power knew the unspoken truth–there were people in the military who were never meant to see a battlefield.
Raven’s suggestion, to send everyone into combat, would shake the very foundation of their privileges.
And just as many had predicted, Benson’s face darkened instantly.
His eyes narrowed, sharp with hostility, as he stepped forward and hissed, “Send everyone to the frontlines? How did someone like you become a general? Are you really so ignorant that you can’t understand the contributions made by those who serve from within our borders? They’ve done far more for Vyrdenia than your reckless soldiers ever will.”
A chilling light flickered across Raven’s eyes.
She had anticipated resistance–but not this. Not the sheer shamelessness of it.
“Reckless soldiers?” Her voice cut through the silence like a whip. “The men and women who bleed on the frontlines to defend this country are nothing but expendable brutes to you?”
Benson’s lips curled with disdain. “Everyone can charge into battle. But the real talent -the ones who stay behind–think. They solve the problems your so–called warriors never could with brute strength alone.”
Raven let out a laugh–cold, sharp, and laced with fury. “Oh? Then what about the four million who’ve stayed safely within Vyrdenia’s borders all these years? Are they all solving unsolvable problems with their brilliant minds? Tell me, General Macy–what exactly have you done with that brain of yours to serve this nation?”
Benson’s expression turned to ice. “I have no obligation to report my work to you.” “Right,” Raven replied with a smirk. “Since you’ve made it clear our soldiers are replaceable brutes, then you won’t mind if I recall them to focus on strengthening themselves instead?”
“Absolutely n…” Benson began instinctively, then caught himself.
He wasn’t exactly up to date on the lefthe foreign front, but even he had heard
Successfully unlocked! whispers–about how Vyrdenia’s current strategic advantage relied heavily on the Sirius Pack.
Though he suspected those rumors were exaggerated, a free unit of highly trained
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Chapter 177 Dispute
fanatics fighting without pay or resources? That kind of asset was hard to come by.
But before he could finish his objection, Raven cut him off, voice crisp and merciless.” Almost forgot–Mr. Macy, we’re equals now. And I don’t need your permission to do my job.”
Without sparing him another glance, she pulled out her custom device and began tapping swiftly on the screen.
Benson watched her with stormy eyes. She hadn’t just ignored him–she’d dismissed him, as if he were an irrelevant afterthought. Still, he made no move to stop her.
A squad of fewer than a hundred, trained by a girl who’d barely shed her teenage years? He couldn’t take her seriously.
Even if this so–called Sirius Pack was recalled, how much could it possibly matter?
And if, by chance, Vyrdenia’s battlefield position did collapse… well, that wouldn’t be a total loss either.
After all, he’d been keeping his elite units in reserve–three top–tier hundred–man teams, trained personally by his closest subordinates.
Up until now, he’d been waiting for the right moment.
But if the tides turned, he could swoop in, play the savior, and seize control.
At that point, even Lorne would have no choice but to step down and hand him the
reins.
Lorne, however, wasn’t thinking about power plays.
He was watching Raven’s fingers fly across the screen, and panic crept into his voice.
“Raven–don’t do this. If you recall the Sirius Pack now, the border will fall. Once that happens, enemy forces will break through. Do you have any idea how many people will die?”
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