Liam protested bitterly. “General, there’s no need for you to fight him one-on-one. The organization has already given you so much authority. With the Gray Wolf unit under your control, if just ten of them came out, that traitor could be killed a hundred times over.”

Conrad replied coldly, “I don’t need you to teach me how to handle my business. Furthermore, the Gray Wolf unit represents ten years of my blood, sweat, and tears; they’re the organization’s assets. I won’t abuse my position as their commanding officer to order them to help me settle personal vendettas or send them to their deaths.”

He added, “One last thing, Liam. I’ve told you countless times that you shouldn’t underestimate anyone, but you especially shouldn’t underestimate Andrew. Remember: this man is detestable, but he’s equally formidable.

“In the vast darkness, who knows how many lone wolves are lurking out there. And Andrew is absolutely the most terrifying predator among them.”

Liam stubbornly replied, “I’ll admit he’s strong. But he and his old man are both traitors. They’re a disgrace to Chetvine’s noble families and scum among us military men.”

Conrad let out a mocking laugh filled with sarcasm. “Liam, most of the time, what you see and hear isn’t necessarily the truth. The people above only tell you what they want you to see and hear.

“Andrew only showed anger for one brief moment just now. That was when you dared to insult his father. If he had killed you then, I wouldn’t have intervened. Do you know why?”

Liam’s face turned deathly pale as cold sweat poured down his face. He forced a nervous laugh, “No, sir.”

Conrad gritted his teeth in frustration. “Because you’re a fool who acts recklessly without thinking. Andrew’s father, General Reginald Lloyd, may have been labeled as a traitor, but he was once the supreme commander of the organization.

“And now that you’ve joined the organization under my recommendation, you’ve seen its greatness and its secrets. That means you are even less qualified to speak recklessly about one of its founders. Therefore, Andrew’s desire to kill you was completely justified. Idiot, there are things you have no right to say.”

Liam opened his mouth, but his tone became much weaker. “I know that he was one of the organization’s founders and highest-ranking officers. But his defection was also a judgment handed down from above; everyone who knows anything knows that. Fine, I won’t say more. People at that level decide their own truth. I’m just a small soldier. I’ll follow you, General.”

Conrad said evenly, “Good. Then let’s return to camp. For the next three months, I’ll head to Srovika Federation to recover fully and refine my martial arts even further. Andrew has returned, and between the two of us, only one will walk away alive.”

Liam quickly said, “That will be you, General, without question.”

Conrad gave no reply. He stopped mid-step, his shoulders tense, and spoke with weary resignation. “Luna, you’ve been eavesdropping long enough. Come out. I know you’re filled with questions and won’t stop until you get answers.”

From beneath the shadows of a building near the runway, Luna emerged with a sheepish smile. “You noticed me? How embarrassing…”

Conrad turned his head, his gaze sharp. “Don’t pretend to be clueless. You’ve been listening for over half an hour, and you know I was aware of it. Yet you still try to act like you weren’t.”

Luna laughed. “Then, may I ask you a few questions?”

Conrad waved his hand. “General Turman is our shared mentor. But Luna, though we’re both majors with the same rank, our organizations are not the same. If you’re still trying to dig into the unit I belong to, then forget it. I won’t tell you.”

Luna frowned. “At this point, what is there left to hide? I already know Andrew was once part of that organization, too, wasn’t he? Over the years, I’ve studied plenty. But why is it that whenever that organization is mentioned, all of you act like it’s taboo, like stepping on sacred ground?”

Conrad smiled faintly. “You’ve studied, yes… Even stealing files from our mentor’s computer, going to ridiculous lengths just to satisfy your curiosity. But let me tell you, Luna, some things bring no benefit once you know them. This world has its light, but equally, it has its darkness.”