"If you think so, that's it!" Rocky echoed. He also sensed a trace of hostility in Deputy Commander Lin's tone, so he decided to take advantage of the situation.
"No, Basil. We need to get to the point. Has the crisis in the western region's front line been resolved or not?" Tucker asked, looking at Rocky with concern swimming in his eyes.
"It has been settled... sort of," Rocky replied ambiguously, shrugging slightly.
"What do you mean? Yes or no? Give us a direct answer!" Deputy commander Lin snapped, being slightly rude on purpose.
"Commander Tucker sent me to the front line of the western region with Commander Ling to solve the crisis caused by the spiritual beasts. If you're asking me in regards to the spiritual beasts, then I've completed my task." Rocky was deliberately avoiding the majority of what had happened during his mission. He kept his face calm. If he didn't take credit for what he had done, Tucker would be left with a greater impression of him.
"That's good." Tucker nodded and smiled. He was just glad that Rocky hadn't disappointed him and that he had completed the mission.
"Report!" Suddenly, a scout rushed in, interrupting them.
"What's wrong?" Tucker asked, turning to face him.
"I just received a message from Grand Commander You. It said that Spiritual King Basil has successfully solved the crisis in the front line of the western region on his own and killed many of the spiritual race's troops. As a result of this, Commander Ling has asked for the higher level to record Spiritual King Basil's courageous deeds. Grand Commander You has chosen to give Spiritual King Basil a second-class merit," the soldier relayed.
Over the next couple seconds, Tucker and his three deputy commanders were too dumbfounded to react. Rocky had just finished telling them that he had solved the crisis in the western region's front line, but he hadn't mentioned that he had caused a heavy loss for the spiritual race's troops. None of them had seen it coming. And even more surprising, Rocky's actions had impressed their boss so much that he had personally granted him a second-class merit. It was an honor for everyone in their base.
"Basil, why didn't you tell us about your great achievement?" Bertram asked, shattering the silence.
"In my eyes, it isn't a great achievement. I'm just lucky," Rocky answered, keeping up his modest facade.
"I'm afraid it's not that simple. This time, you have brought some luster to the Tiger Whisker Pass. Well done!" Tucker praised, beaming with joy. With Rocky's contribution, he would reap some benefits too since he was the commander. In fact, with the personal merit citation from Grand Commander You, he would have an easier time competing for the position of the grand commander in future.
"Thank you. If you don't have anything else to say, I'll be on my way," Rocky said, cupping his hands and leaving. As he walked away, he thought about how his goal had been reached.
"Sir, it looks like Basil is a person we can depend on!" Bertram said.
"It's just a second-class merit. What's the big deal? This means nothing," Deputy Commander Lin complained, crossing his arms over his chest.
"If my memory serves me right, you've only received one second-class merit in your career, Deputy Commander Lin," Bertram replied without any hesitation.
Deputy Commander Lin was rendered speechless.
"Men, you can go now," Tucker interjected, waving his hand.
Without another word or sour glance at each other, the three deputy commanders retreated from Tucker's camp.
Meanwhile, Rocky returned to his residence. The moment he pushed the door open, he saw a delicate, half-naked back. Eunice was wiping her body clean with a white cloth in her hand.
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