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

Cassius's voice came from outside the door: "Report!"

Upon hearing the sound, Zod paused for a moment.

He's back so soon? He did the math.

The original mission deadline was five days, but because he had to give Captain Spent a reply on the fifth day, he gave Cassius a four-day deadline.

Today is the last day.

Cassius is back so early, he must have brought Zod "good news"!

For example, the task failed, or the target was not found.

As for how to explain the mission failure to Captain Spinter, Zod had already prepared his explanation in the past few days.

Everything is ready; all that's left is for Cassius to return.

He lowered his legs from the desk and casually straightened the wrinkles in his military uniform.

After confirming that his appearance was unharmed, Zod replied in a deep voice, "Go in!"

Cassius walked in carrying a paper report, his first words being, "I'm very sorry, Lieutenant Zod!"

Upon hearing "I'm so sorry," Zod's heart skipped a beat. Had the mission really failed?

Excellent! They couldn't escape his brilliant calculations after all!

Zod was pleased that his plan had worked.

Of course, he must not show any weakness in front of Cassius, as that would be too disrespectful to his hard-working subordinates.

He stepped out from behind his desk, patted Cassius on the shoulder, and comforted the "disappointed" Cassius: "Don't worry about it. No matter what happens, I'll take care of it."

How could he bear to let his subordinates take the blame?

Zod has to take the blame for this!

No one can take him from him!

"No, Lieutenant!"

Cassius scratched his head and handed Zod a report: "I have completed the task you assigned me. The bandit leader Killian Connor has been eliminated. This report details the entire process of the mission. Please review it."

He paused briefly, then explained, "Actually, I returned yesterday, but I was busy writing this report, which delayed me somewhat, and I'm only reporting back to you today. I'm very sorry!"

It turns out he wasn't apologizing for the mission failure, but for the belated report.

"What?" Zod was greatly surprised, his voice unconsciously rising a few decibels, but he quickly regained his composure.

He took the report, nodded slightly, and said approvingly, "Well done, Cassius! I didn't expect you to be so capable."

If I had known you were so capable, I wouldn't have assigned the task to you.

Now look what's happened, am I going to get credit for this too?

Although Cassius completed the mission, as his direct superior, and since the mission was assigned by Zod, he should logically also be held accountable.

Cassius, you've really "ruined" me this time!

Fortunately, Zod wasn't involved in the mission, so he didn't need to worry too much about his popularity.

"Well done!" Zod flipped through a few pages of the report and, after carefully reviewing it, found that Cassius had indeed done a good job.

Not only did he successfully arrest and kill a large number of bandits and seize numerous weapons, but he also single-handedly killed Killian, the leader with a bounty of 500,000 crowns.

What's even more remarkable is that not a single one of our soldiers was killed in action.

Judging from this mission alone, Cassius's performance was perfect, and he even exceeded the target.

Of course, as a superior, Zod could not ignore the achievements of his subordinates.

He closed the report and said to Cassius, "Cassius, I'm planning to go see Captain Spent later and give him your mission report. If the opportunity arises, I'd like to try to get you a warrant officer rank."

Zod wouldn't take credit, or rather, he didn't want credit at all.

Cassius followed him all the way from Blackwood Town to the "Imperial Blade" Legion, with missions and battles of all sizes following closely behind.

This time, the task was completed perfectly once again.

Although Zod didn't want the mission to be completed "perfectly" from a personal perspective, he was by no means the kind of person who would hinder or be jealous of his subordinates' promotions.

Since such a good opportunity has come up, his old superior must do his best to help Cassius get the rank of warrant officer.

He didn't have much say in the promotion of warrant officer to second lieutenant, because he was just a second lieutenant.

However, it would be reasonable for the sergeant major to offer his opinion to his superior, Captain Spinter, and try to persuade him to be promoted to warrant officer.

"Thank you, Lieutenant!" Cassius lowered his head, a hint of hesitation in his eyes.

Zod thought he was being modest again, so he advised, "Sergeant Cassius, you have fully demonstrated your talent and proven your loyalty and contributions to the Empire through your actions."

"These are all the results of your own hard work. It's only natural that you've been promoted. There's no need to be modest."

"Yes!" Upon hearing this, Cassius immediately stood at attention, accepting Zod's offer to recommend him for merit.

He then changed the subject: "Actually, Lieutenant Zod, the fact that we were able to complete this mission so perfectly is largely due to you. Only then could the mission be completed so smoothly."

"Me?" Zod looked completely bewildered.

He only said encouraging words, and other than that, he felt he hadn't done anything!

Could it be that Zod's chicken soup medicine was too potent?

"Yes!"

Cassius briefly recounted his battle with the Kylian.

The story focuses on how he learned from Zod's usual fighting style and ultimately used his "potential" to defeat a powerful enemy.

Finally, Cassius bowed deeply to Zod: "Lieutenant Zod, I know you have participated in the special training of Imperial officers and must know how to use that power. I implore you... to teach me how to better control this power!"

He knew that it might be somewhat inappropriate to ask Zod to teach him how to become a "Hakuja" under the pretext of completing a mission.

Completing the task was simply his job.

But he yearned to become stronger and desperately wanted to know how to master this power; he wanted to catch up with Zod.

At this moment, Cassius was filled with trepidation, feeling as if he were taking a "shortcut".

Logically, he should have accumulated military merits on the battlefield and then, like Zod, rightfully participated in the Empire's special training.

Instead of asking for instruction privately as is the case now.

This made him feel that it wasn't "honorable" enough.

"I thought it was something important!" Zod waved his hand casually. "It's just some basic techniques for a Level 1 'Hakuja,' no problem."

"Thank you, Lieutenant Zod!" Cassius bowed deeply again, his heart filled with gratitude.

He was once again impressed by Zod's magnanimity and demeanor.

Every matter that Zod considered urgent, important, or even a crisis seemed trivial to him, and he could always resolve it with ease.

"Sergeant Cassius, attention!" Zod suddenly shouted.

The moment he heard "Attention!", Cassius immediately straightened up and puffed out his chest as if by conditioned reflex.

"Soldiers should always stand tall and not always hunch over."

Zod was not a person who liked formalities.

"Yes, Lieutenant!"

At this moment, Cassius had already secretly vowed in his heart that as long as this man was still alive, he would follow him to the death!