I only wanted to retire, but I ended up becoming an extremely popular character.

Following the destruction of one giant cannon fortress in the "Clock Tower Town - Giant Cannon Fortress" special operation, another giant cannon fortress under construction and nearing completion was also destroyed under Colonel Xavier's meticulous planning.

For the time being, the two swords of Damocles hanging over their heads have been removed.

Inside the "Imperial Blade" Legion's command center, everyone was cheering for the two victories.

Xavier had already personally drafted the battle report on the destruction of the two fortresses and was preparing to submit it to the Imperial Military Headquarters to recommend the soldiers who had contributed to the operation.

Xavier handed the final report to a lieutenant colonel beside him: "Lieutenant Colonel Horton, take a look at this report. Is there anything that needs to be revised?"

Horton Anderson, a lieutenant colonel, was about 40 years old, a little younger than Xavier.

His face was angular, with a shallow scar diagonally across his brow bone, and the edges of the lieutenant colonel's epaulettes on his uniform were slightly shiny from years of handling.

Lieutenant Colonel Horton took the report, glanced through it briefly, and pointed out the key problem: "The report itself is fine, but..."

Lieutenant Colonel Horton paused deliberately: "I think in addition to reporting the results of the battle, we should also include the strategic direction of the 'Imperial Blade' legion going forward."

"All subjects of the Empire, including His Majesty the Emperor, are very concerned about the substantive progress of the Western Front in the direction of Goldberg."

"I don't think the Imperial Military will be satisfied with a report that doesn't reflect the progress of the battle lines, and more importantly, I doubt His Majesty the Emperor will be satisfied either!"

Colonel Xavier had considered this as well. The emperor and his ministers only focused on changes in the battle lines, the number of enemy troops killed, and the number of casualties inflicted on senior officers of the Holy Kingdom.

These small actions often have a decisive impact on the final victory.

However, neither the emperor nor his ministers cared that the "Imperial Blade" legion had bombed several fortresses and killed a few soldiers and low-ranking officers of the Holy Kingdom.

These numbers mean nothing to those in power.

No matter how eloquently Xavier spoke, they wouldn't care.

Because they are known as the "Empire's Edge"!

"The Blade of the Empire" is tasked with breaking down all obstacles to the Empire, destroying all its enemies, and winning victory after victory for the Empire.

Beyond that, all other words are pale and inadequate.

Colonel Xavier sighed softly and leaned back in his chair:

"Houghton, it is precisely because I understand the Goldberg battlefield that I know that the current 'Imperial Blade' is simply incapable of launching a large-scale offensive."

"The losses from the last battle have not yet been recovered, and the corps urgently needs rest and reorganization."

"We need to give a group of junior officers the opportunity to grow and develop through experience, so that they can become field officers who can truly shoulder the future of the 'Imperial Blade' legion."

His voice deepened, his gaze sharpening: "Instead of listening to those mediocre officials who don't understand the actual situation and only know how to talk big in the halls of power, spouting off one sentence here and another there, and sending my soldiers and officers to charge into battle and make pointless sacrifices for the beautiful battle reports they speak of!"

"From a soldier to a lieutenant, and then to a field officer, we both know how much of the Empire's resources are consumed, and how many people die in the process!"

"Recently, I've identified a junior officer with some potential. I believe that if given the right opportunities to hone his skills, he might be able to shoulder the heavy responsibility of the 'Imperial Blade' legion in the future!"

When Xavier talked about the lieutenant, he couldn't help but smile, making no attempt to hide his admiration for the lieutenant.

(At that moment, somewhere far away, Zod inexplicably sneezed.)

Colonel Xavier had already said so much; if Lieutenant Colonel Horton were to argue with him further, he would appear to be too stubborn.

Although Horton understood that Xavier's goals were always noble and ambitious, he could not guarantee that those in high positions would also understand Xavier.

He nodded slightly helplessly: "Since you've said so, Colonel, then I have no objections."

Lieutenant Colonel Horton gently placed the report back on the desk.

"Don't worry, Horton!" Xavier walked over to Lieutenant Colonel Horton and handed him a glass of wine. "I'll find a way to talk to those old fogies in the military!"

Just then, three envoys from the Empire arrived silently at Xavier's command post.

They were dressed in pure black suits and wore masks with their lips sewn shut.

The gold ring brooches on their chests were particularly eye-catching—the central design was a right hand resting on the Imperial Code.

When Xavier saw the three uninvited guests, he mistook them for assassins and was about to call for the guards.

But when he saw the gold brooch on the other person's chest, he completely abandoned such a foolish idea.

Colonel Xavier and Lieutenant Colonel Horton stood there, stunned and somewhat at a loss.

The masked man leading the group introduced himself first: "We are the SSC, an intelligence and security agency directly under His Majesty the Emperor."

"As for our specific duties, you don't need to understand them. You only need to know that we represent the will of the Empire, that is, the will of His Majesty the Emperor!"

The masked man's name is "Fingers Manskain".

SSC, short for Sovereign Silent Canon, is both the organization's code name and a metaphor for its essence.

This organization, directly subordinate to the Emperor of the Oserwell Empire, was not an ordinary intelligence or security agency. It symbolized the highest form of imperial order in the shadows: both the adjudicator and the execution terminal.

The authority of the 'Sovereign Silent Canon' does not derive from any written code, but is solely an extension of the Emperor's will.

It is an ironclad rule that needs no writing, cannot be violated, and cannot be publicly stated, yet it is the ultimate premise that all imperial power institutions must silently abide by.

SSC's actions are never accompanied by arguments, require no announcements, and are not open to questioning.

Their very existence is a manifestation of the emperor's will.

They obey only the supreme will of the empire, and perform "silent correction" on all existences that deviate from the ultimate order.

Colonel Xavier was well aware of what the "Sovereign Silent Canon" represented.

Moreover, their arrival is certainly not going to be a good thing.

Xavier lowered his head, listening quietly as SSC's Fingus conveyed the supreme will from His Majesty the Emperor:

"We are conveying the Crown Prince's orders to you solely on behalf of His Majesty the Emperor."

"The Crown Prince is very dissatisfied with the current progress of the battle, and is even becoming somewhat impatient..."

SSC, which originally belonged directly to His Majesty the Emperor, was now conveying the orders of the Crown Prince.

Clearly, the Crown Prince had the Emperor's approval, enabling him to instruct the SSC to convey this order.

This terrified Xavier even more than a direct rebuke from His Majesty the Emperor.

For once, fine beads of sweat appeared on Colonel Xavier's usually serious and calm face as he retorted:

"Our 'Imperial Blade' legion has not been slacking off. Our legion has made significant progress in several battles against the Holy Kingdom, successfully destroying two massive artillery fortresses that threatened my Goldburg..."

"Colonel Xavier has always..." Horton was about to speak up and say a few words for Xavier.

"Shut up, Lieutenant Colonel. Are you telling the SSC what to do?" But Fingus ruthlessly interrupted him: "You're not qualified to get involved in this conversation."

The moment Finger finished speaking, an invisible pressure spread out.

Lieutenant Colonel Horton, a veteran who had seen life and death on the battlefield, was momentarily speechless. His Adam's apple bobbed up and down, but he ultimately couldn't utter a single word.

Although Finger looks quite young.

But he just stood there quietly, yet the gaze he cast made Horton clearly feel the scrutiny and oppression of a superior over a subordinate.

It wasn't simply a sense of reprimand stemming from rank, but rather a deeper, more profound sense of absolute control over rules and order.

This sense of oppression is not only because he represents SSC.

Furthermore, the aura emanating from Fingus himself was in no way inferior to that of any general who had been through the baptism of blood and fire, and was even more refined and penetrating.

If Horton's aura was forged on the battlefield, it carries the ruthless decisiveness of gunpowder and iron-blooded battle.

Then Fingers represents the absolute authority in the shadows that decides life and death in silence.