[COD] Newbie's Rise to Power

Keegan went to such lengths because he probably wants not only your submission, but also your initiative.

He craves control, wanting you to depend on him and need him.

So, are you going to turn the tables or play along?

Regardless of which one it is, what you need to do now is stay calm.

He's incredibly good at infiltrating; if you can't stay calm, he'll have you completely under his thumb.

Therefore, you don't react to his behavior at all, and you do what you're supposed to do every day, as if his 'distance' has no effect on you.

Human psychology is strange. When you try your best to impress someone, if they seem uninterested, you can't help but care and then start to examine yourself.

So you weren't surprised when Keegan reached out to you.

But what you didn't expect was that he would throw out a heavy bait.

"yn, you stay."

As the squad training ended and they were gathering to disband, Keegan suddenly looked at you.

So, under the questioning gazes of your teammates, you stood alone opposite Keegan, silently staring at him.

He walked slowly towards you, his voice muffled and resonant through his mask.

"Kid, shall we talk?"

You nodded and followed him to his residence at the base.

Although his rank was only sergeant, he was assigned a private room.

It was on the same floor as Koenig, but at the very end.

His room was also simply furnished, with no decorations on either the bed or the table.

But there were several guns on the table, and even a long sniper rifle leaning against the side of the table.

Then there was a neatly stacked pile of documents, and nothing else.

Everything was very tidy, as if it were just a tourist staying at a hotel.

ch.222: I need you need me

After Keegan entered, he took off his heavy coat and hung it behind the door.

The black turtleneck sweater clung to his body, but his bulging chest and arm muscles accentuated its shape. A military belt encircled his muscular waist, and below that were dark gray work pants.

The temperature in a confined space is much better than outside, so there is no need to wear such heavy clothing.

Keegan pulled out a chair and let you sit down.

Then, he opened a drawer on the table and took out two bottles of water.

"This is all I have in my room, have some first."

He handed one of the bottles to you.

You reach out and take it, but you can't help but complain in your heart.

He actually stored the water in a drawer. Luckily, he's a trustworthy person; otherwise, who would dare drink it!

Seeing that you had taken it, he also took off his mask, twisted open the bottle cap, and chug down half a bottle of water.

You also unscrewed the bottle cap, took a couple of sips, and then took the initiative to ask a question.

"Sergeant Keegan, what do you want to say to me?"

Keegan put down the water, his grey-blue eyes looking at you.

"Kid, I'm leaving."

You tightened your grip on the water bottle, but calmly asked him:

"Let's go? Is there a mission?"

What kind of mission is so urgent that it's almost Christmas and we still need to carry it out?

But Keegan shook his head and responded to you in a deep voice.

"There was no mission; my captain told me to go back."

You were taken aback; there was no mission, yet you were being asked to leave.

Does that mean he's leaving the base?

Yes, he wasn't originally from your base...

But if he leaves, it will be very difficult for you two to see each other again.

"When?"

You hear yourself asking calmly.

You feel as if you've been torn apart, and you feel sad and reluctant to let go.

But in my mind, I wondered if this was part of his 'tactics'.

Keegan: "Tomorrow."

You pursed your lips and lowered your eyes to hide your emotions.

So fast...

"Is there such a rush? Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are in two days. Can't you wait until after the holidays to leave?"

You try to control yourself and ask in the calmest voice, but your hand unconsciously tightens its grip on the water bottle, and the cracking sound of the plastic bottle betrays your emotions.

Keegan looked down at your hand, a gentle light appearing in his usually calm eyes.

“I have agreed, kid. There is nothing here that would make me disobey orders and stay.”

These words are causing you distress.

Nothing worth lingering over? Then what are you?

Then what about all those things he said and did to you?

After the heartache comes anger.

But his next words easily quelled your rising anger.

"The only thing I can still cherish is you, but you recently gave me a rejection, so I think it's time to leave."

A rejection? You recalled your recent deliberate ignoring of him, which did indeed seem like an attempt to distance yourself.

But isn't that because you're in a 'standoff'?

Or perhaps you're overthinking it?

However, Keegan's actions really fit the bill, and even now when he says these things, you can't help but suspect that it's another 'feint'.

Knowing that you have feelings for him, he uses the Zeigarnik effect to interrupt your progress and define your relationship as 'incomplete'.

People tend to remember unfinished things, especially feelings, more vividly.

It can also make people keep paying attention to it, unable to forget it, and unable to get it, thus developing into obsession.

When you are particularly attached to him, his reappearance will overwhelm your reason, and you may even follow him at all costs to 'fulfill' this regret!

Keegan is not only exceptional in military affairs, but also proficient in psychological tactics.

You suddenly feel a chill down your spine, and goosebumps rise all over your body!

Not only because you discovered his scheme, but also because you had to admit that you had already stepped into his 'trap'!

You truly cannot let him go; he was the beginning of your hazy, budding romance. If he were to leave and never return, you might truly find it hard to forget him.

Now, you have two choices.

Retreat, let him go, and cling to your obsession with him, planting an unpredictable time bomb for the future.

If you go ahead and make your relationship clear before he leaves, you'll lose control and find yourself in a passive position.

It's a difficult choice, but a clever tactic.

It's your own fault; you just had to fall for someone like him.

You look at him, and he looks down at you condescendingly, as if asking: What should you choose?

But why choose?

Instead of making things difficult for yourself, drag the person who's making things difficult down with you, and make you both drown!

"Keegan, you never asked me for an answer; you chose to give up yourself."

"Then, after you leave, I will try my best to forget you and completely sever our relationship."

After you finished speaking, you stood up and looked at him with eyes that revealed your reluctance.

"The conversation is over. I wish you happiness and good luck in the future."

Then, he turned and walked towards the door.

Just as you're about to grasp the doorknob, you hear hurried footsteps behind you.

A strong, powerful arm wrapped tightly around your waist from behind.

And your hand, which was resting on the doorknob, was covered and gripped by his large palm.

Through the thick clothing, his chest pressed tightly against your back, and his helpless voice came from above your head.

"Kid, is it so hard to say you need me, that you want me?"

After saying this, you remained silent for a few seconds before complaining in a wronged voice.

"Why should I speak? Why don't you speak? Is it because it's not important...?"

"kid!"

He interrupted you, and after a long, deep breath, he turned you over.

His deep, grey-blue eyes looked at you, but his speech was urgent.

"I need you, I want to have you, I've never denied that. I just..."

"I need your response and affirmation. I hope you will take the initiative and choose me firmly."