As Miles’s confusion deepened, Lionel suddenly realized something. He quickly turned to Tony and asked, “Commander Tony, have you met her before?”
Though his words sounded like a question, Lionel already knew the answer deep down. He finally understood! So that wa why Raven had the guts to call Tony by name when they first met.
It also explains why, instead of punishing Miles, Tony turned the tables and questioned how he had even earned a general It turned out Tony already knew Raven. No wonder Tony got angry after hearing his words.
Just as Lionel had suspected, Tony shot him a quick, dismissive glance. “Well, at least you’re not completely hopeless,” he said, his tone dripping with indifference.
Even though Lionel had braced himself, Tony’s cold words still hit him like a sledgehammer. He thought of many things. H could feel the mocking stares of the soldiers around him, their disdain practically visible.
After all, he had just dismissed the idea of Raven becoming a junior captain as nothing more than a naive fantasy. Tony’s words were like a slap on his face.
Lionel realized he’d already crossed a line, letting Tony feel unhappy.. If he let Raven take the position of a captain today, h authority in the military would be as good as gone.
Even though he knew his next words might further irritate Tony, Lionel couldn’t hold back. With a sincere expression, he spoke up.
“Commander Tony, your rank is higher than mine, but I must say this. In the military, we value merit, not personal connections! Raven’s grandfather has served under me for over a decade. He’s been sent to the hospital countless times after life–threatening injuries. If personal ties were enough to secure a promotion, he’d have been a colonel long ago. But if ever let personal feelings dictate my decisions, how could I face the soldiers who have shed blood on the battlefield for our nation?”
Hearing this, the soldiers, who had been unsettled by Tony’s earlier words, now looked at Lionel with newfound respect. To them, Lionel wasn’t just a leader with exceptional skills and achievements. He was someone who wouldn’t let emotions or appearances cloud his judgment. He was the undisputed leader of the Southwest Warzone. They felt proud to serve under such a commander.
“Merit over feelings! That’s the military way!”
Suddenly, someone among the soldiers shouted. The next moment, a thunderous chant erupted across the massive training ground.
“Merit over feelings! That’s the military way!”
“Merit over feelings! That’s the military way!”
“Merit over feelings! That’s the military way!”
Tony stood quietly, watching the fervent crowd with an expression that was hard to decipher. It took a while before the soldiers‘ voices gradually quieted down.
Lionel felt the overwhelming support of everyone around him. He stood tall, basking in the moral high ground. Even now, facing Tony, he felt no fear.
When the soldiers‘ voices finally faded, Lionel stepped forward. His expression was solemn as he looked at Tony and said, ” Commander Tony, a girl who has never contributed anything to the military doesn’t deserve the rank of captain! If you insist on promoting her, it could spark a rebellion among the soldiers. I urge you to reconsider carefully before making such a decision!”
Tony was angered by Lionel. Then, his deep and piercing gaze locked onto Lionel. Though his voice was not loud, it carried across the entire field, reaching the ears of every soldier present, “Captain? That’s insulting her.”
