.?O,? Shi Lang sat on the command chair while the rest of the officials stood behind him. He was overlooking the entire ranks of the fleet standing in front of him. The atmosphere was very tense. Shi Lang seemed to have become the devil, those who looked in his eyes, thought their blood was freezing slowly.

In the gathering of such a huge crowd, only breathing was the only sound audible. The communicator on his wrist shook slightly. Shi Lang asked, “The time limit is up, notify those who did not come back here, they do not need to come back at all.”

Sikar shivered but he still replied, “Yes, Sir.”

At least a thousand soldiers from higher ranks had yet to report for duty. Shi Lang’s order directly fired these people. After the order was passed down, the general asked, “In my absence, the discipline of the fleet seemed to have evaporated. You all might think you are very good now that the other fleets directly look at you as specialists in confrontation and other things.”

His voice was not loud but it echoed through the minds of all the soldiers standing in front of him. those who were still thinking that the General was just that and will ‘hide’ forever, were awakened. They were all using spirit energy for cultivation now, they knew what was going on here. Shi Lang was directly using the energy in the void to convey his thoughts to them.

A few of the rebels were still not awake. Shi Lang asked, “I would like to give you a chance, come and take what you want. Let your fists speak.”

At first, none of the people stepped forward and this made Sikar smile faintly. However, the next second his smile froze. Not a single person, but a whole group stepped forward. These people were all standing together, Deputy General Sikar had an urge to cough up blood. Yet, he could only clench his fists and watch the show progress in front of him.

Shi Lang gazed at the group of people and said, “In the entire fleet, are you the only ones who want to challenge me?”

The group waited for a few seconds before the highest-ranking officer in front of them said, “Yes sir.”

Shi Lang nodded and then his body appeared in front of the group. The people were shocked. Unlike the past when a quick action from Shi Lang left a blur for them to follow, this time there was no such thing. They were shocked to see that the speed of a person could reach such a level. Shi Lang said, “Shall we begin?”

The officer in lead was shocked, his heart was being squeezed by the pressure from Shi Lang’s gaze alone. But he did not want to give up so easily. He said, “Yes, we can begin.”

Shi Lang nodded and said, “Assume your formation if you have to.”

That said, he turned around and walked up to stand ten meters away from the group. The people were all standing on the elevated platform, the matches were held here only. Sikar looked at the two sides and said, “Begin.”

The group of people rushed at Shi Lang with all their might and resolve but after ten minutes, Shi Lang had broken at least one of their limbs and put them down on the ground. These [people were left groaning and after the duel Shi Lang said, “They are prohibited from taking the advanced medical treatment. Have them all wear casts, I want them to remember this moment for a long time.”

This was utterly humiliating, but none of the people complained. They did not have the right to complain against this treatment, after all, they violated the discipline of the army when they slacked in their duties and tried to rise in ranks with the idea of dueling with this monster.

Shi Lang said, “You all have misunderstood the idea of a Duel. It is not to rise in the ranks but to seek an explanation from the higher-ups in the orders that do not sit well with you, but that too only is possible during times of peace. The first fleet is a unit that is on stand-by forever. You do not have the right to challenge your superiors. Yet, time and time again I accommodate you all.

For what? So that when I am outside dealing with something important, you can stand up and come back to bite me in the ass? Today, I would like to announce one thing, if I am challenged for my rank or any other bullshit reason, I will fight you, but the battle will only stop with death. Do you want to rise in the ranks? Good, go practice and earn merit and rise. Try and snatch the rank that I have gained from my hard work, and I will leave you inches from death, where you will understand that it was not easy to even die.”

His voice at the end of the second half of his speech was louder and everyone who heard it was shivering. Shi Lang finished speaking and then he moved back to the command bridge. There he let out plans for the training of the first fleet.

When the people saw this new plan, they cursed the eight generations of those rebels. The general was going to kill them and he was going to do it without compassion. The training plan was not the only thing but even the level one should achieve was set. If a soldier could not break through the next level from their current level in the next six months, they will be demoted.

The decree was passed and a lot of the soldiers who were dissatisfied could not say anything, because Shi lang had even mentioned the fact that he did this deliberately. Did they not use the option of Duel to fight with him, stating that they are dissatisfied, here it was the reason to be dissatisfied but did they have the guts to come and challenge him again?

..

Shi Lang was about to return home when he received a message from the cabinet secretary that the president has called for him. He did not know what it was but the tone indicated that things were serious.

The young general moved from the spaceport to the president’s residence directly. The young man got down from the car and the soldiers on duty saluted him in a crisp fashion. The leader of the federation happens to live in a low-key place, Shi Lang nodded at this and found Hayley standing at the door.

The girl saluted him first and then held his arm as she led him inside the house. Shi Lang did not mind as they were old friends and the bond was basically that of brothers between them. He asked, “Why do you guys stay in such a low-key house? Is this not unsafe?”

Hayley shook her head and said, “This place is safer than the parliament, okay? This whole city is filled with military personnel and is a non-fly zone. Now, do you have to ask if this is safe or not?”

Shi Lang smiled as the two came inside the villa. He asked, “Why am I called over here today?”

Hayley shook her head and said, “All I can tell you is that I am clueless. The old man did not tell me anything, when I asked him, his reply was, Federal Secret. Can you imagine? It is not as if you will not tell me later.”

Shi Lang chuckled and said, “Why do you think I will tell you a Federal Secret?”This chapter was originally shared via n(0)vel(b)(j)(n).

Hayley smiled evilly and said, “Because I still have the ability to control you at your wedding and make you walk around like a chicken.”

Shi Lang shivered and said, “Bitch.”

“I know, don’t be jealous of my talent now.”, said Hayley.

Soon the two people arrived at the doors of the study. Hayley knocked on the door and the president’s voice sounded from the inside, “Come in.”

Hayley pushed the door and said, “Old man, I will tell mom if I found you smoking one more time. Do you understand?”

The president was waving his hand to fan out the smoke inside the room and said, “It was herbal smoke, my love.”

Hayley shook her head and said, “Waste.”

Then she walked out of the room calling for her mother. Shi Lang saluted the old man in front of him and asked, “What can I do for you, Sir?”

The president said, “Have a seat first, General. The matters with the first fleet have been dealt with, I presume?”

Shi Lang nodded and the president said, “It has been hard on you.”

Before Shi Lang could shake his head to deny it, the old man said, “It is about to get harder.”

Shi Lang was surprised when the old man passed a file to him. Yes, it was a physical file with pages and all. On the cover, it said, Galactic Showdown. The young man raised his head and the old man said, “Prepare a team, you will lead.”