Although Jaime felt hopeless and dismayed internally, he was still holding himself together on the surface.
Wade was the complete opposite. When he realized the tide had turned, his knees gave way, and he crumpled to the ground unceremoniously.
The unpleasant smell of urine and feces wafted off him and permeated the air. He had lost control of his bladder and bowel due to pure, unadulterated fear.
Franklin looked at the group who had been completely surrounded and were trembling in their boots. "Disarm them!" He bellowed.
All the rifles owned by Jaime's party were instantly confiscated.
Nathan walked towards them, accompanied by Franklin, Colin, and a few other soldiers.
He stared at Jaime, whose face was pale with apprehension and lips were ashen, then shifted his gaze to the miserable figure on the ground. Wade was still sitting in a puddle of his own excretions, a picture of disgrace.
Nathan smirked. "What's wrong with the both of you? Didn't you say you wanted to see what I'm capable of? Why are you regretting your words now?"
Rivulets of tears ran down Wade's face. He lay prostrate on the ground and begged, his voice cracking with emotion, "Mr. Cross, I'm sorry! I made a mistake, and I realize that now. I was stupid for not knowing who I was speaking to. Please, you're a person of benevolence. Please have mercy on me!"
Jaime gingerly lifted a shaky hand to salute Nathan. "C-Commanding Officer..."
"Do not address me as your commanding officer!" Nathan shot him down immediately.
He then growled, "I distinctly remember you calling me an imposter and accusing me of leaking government secrets just minutes ago! You were convinced I was a spy for other countries and that I had committed treason! You even went as far as to lead a battalion of reservists to seize me. So, tell me, am I actually a commanding officer in your eyes?"
Franklin was incensed upon hearing this information. His features twisted in fury as he growled, "Jaime Dylan, your actions are outrageous. How dare you slander the General and deploy the reservists on an arrest mission without permission! Are you trying to undermine the military?"
Jaime fell to his knees with a heavy thud.
On the verge of a breakdown, he pleaded, "General, Major-General Wilson, I'm sorry..."
Nathan refuted coldly, "If 'sorry' can resolve all problems, there wouldn't be a need for the military discipline and the law!"
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