Chapter 357: Active-Duty Major

The sudden entrance of the unexpected visitors immediately drew the attention of everyone in the room. Su Yuncao's gaze locked onto Chen Fei in an instant. Had it not been for the familiarity of his face, Su Yuncao might not have recognized him.

Chen Fei, now clad in a deep green military uniform, had undergone a complete transformation in demeanor. He seemed like an entirely different person. He was like a legendary sword, honed over decades, emitting an aura of intense sharpness and power.

The three soldiers behind him carried the same air of discipline and competence. Two of them were young, while one was much older, likely in his forties. However, it wasn’t the age that caught the attention of the local commander, Mai Zixiong, but rather the insignia on the older soldier’s shoulders.

A lieutenant general! This man was a lieutenant general! An uneasy feeling suddenly rose in Mai Zixiong’s chest.

"Who are you people?" The old judge stood up and demanded, "This is a courtroom in the middle of a trial! By barging in like this, you are showing contempt for the laws of Great Xia. Leave at once."

Chen Fei, however, paid no attention to the judge's words. He glanced at Li Xiaofei, signaling him with a slight nod.

Li Xiaofei looked confused.

Brother, what do you mean by this? I don’t understand.

𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

Li Xiaofei was completely confused. This wasn’t part of his plan at all. Chen Fei was supposed to stay hidden and keep a low profile.

Why did he suddenly barge in with what seems like reinforcements? Is this some kind of last-minute backup?

"Su Yuncao, I bet you didn’t expect to see me here," Chen Fei sneered as he turned to Su Yuncao.

Su Yuncao frowned as he replied. "This is a public court, a sacred place that’s not to be desecrated. You’re just a mere school principal, and uninvited at that. What are you doing here?"

Chen Fei replied, "It’s time to settle the matter of you stealing my research paper."

A jolt of surprise ran through Su Yuncao.

Is this brute, Chen Fei, really going to backtrack at such a critical moment?

Raising his voice angrily, Su Yuncao barked, "Chen Fei, what nonsense are you spouting? Everyone knows that paper is the result of decades of my hard work, research, and teaching. How dare you try to claim it as your own? Do you even realize the consequences of such an outrageous lie?"

Chen Fei responded coldly, "You still won’t admit it even now, you old dog?"

Su Yuncao stood his ground, his voice full of self-righteousness as he said, "There’s nothing for me to admit. That paper is mine."

But internally, he was beginning to panic.

"Chen Fei," Su Yuncao warned, his voice threatening, "I advise you to think carefully before you speak. Some words, once spoken, leave no room for retreat."

"You’re Su Yuncao?" The man in the lieutenant general’s uniform finally spoke, his voice filled with power and authority. An aura of lethal intensity spread through the room. "Who gave you the courage to threaten an active-duty major in the Great Xia army?"

Active-duty major?

Su Yuncao was stunned.

"And you are?"

A sense of impending doom began to rise within Su Yuncao.

"I am Wang Sangao, Vice President of the Great Xia Central Army Special Operations Academy." The lieutenant general's voice boomed.

The Central Army Special Operations Academy?

Su Yuncao's heart skipped a beat. He was familiar with that school. It was an elite academy in Xiajing that was directly under the Great Xia military. Its students were primarily selected from active-duty soldiers after rigorous examinations. But the academy held an incredibly high status.

It had a unique and revered position within the military hierarchy of Great Xia. Every student was the cream of the crop when it came to special forces soldiers. Over the centuries, they had earned countless honors in Great Xia’s ongoing war against the star beasts, sacrificing their lives in droves.

However, because most graduates went on to the most dangerous battlefields and took on the most secretive missions, its mortality rate was extremely high, earning it the nickname The Tombstone Academy.

A vice president of such an academy, though technically part of the education sector, was certainly not someone Su Yuncao could afford to offend.

"Ah, so it’s Principal Wang," Su Yuncao managed to force a smile. "What an honor... The active-duty major you’re referring to is Chen Fei?"

"Correct." Wang Sangao’s voice was firm and sharp. Each word landed like a hammer. "In the name of the Army Headquarters, I am here to inform you that after a thorough investigation, it has been confirmed that you plagiarized the research paper of Chen Fei, the head instructor of the Second Special Operations Unit at our academy. The evidence is irrefutable. According to Great Xia law, I officially issue a military inquiry on behalf of Army Headquarters. You are required to provide a reasonable explanation within three days, or you will face charges in a military court."

His words rang out like a war drum, echoing clearly throughout the hall. A buzzing murmur spread through the room like a rising tide. Whether it was the jury box, the audience, or even at the judge’s bench, every face reflected unrestrained shock at the lieutenant general’s declaration. This was a direct accusation.

In the middle of a public trial, during a live broadcast before the entire city, a high-ranking officer representing the military had declared an official inquiry. Unless the lieutenant general was a fraud, the charge of plagiarism against Su Yuncao was now cemented. But was the lieutenant general a fraud? Obviously not.

Su Yuncao felt his head buzzing as he was completely overwhelmed. Even as seasoned as he was in navigating the treacherous waters of the martial world, he found himself at a rare loss for how to recover from this disaster.

When had the unknown Chen Fei gained such a formidable identity?

Whoosh!

A military inquiry letter shot out from Wang Sangao’s hand. It struck the wooden table in front of Su Yuncao with a sharp thud.

"We’re leaving," Wang Sangao said as he turned on his heel.

Chen Fei glanced over at Li Xiaofei, offering a slight smile and a reassuring look. "Remember the promise you made earlier... You owe Red Flag High School a championship."

He turned and left alongside Wang Sangao. No one dared to stop them. Even the old judge, who had earlier demanded answers, now stood there blankly.

Li Xiaofei rubbed his forehead. None of this had been part of his plan. It seemed like there was no need for him to act any further; Su Yuncao was done for.

The military inquiry alone would be enough to destroy Su Yuncao's reputation. A man whose reputation was in ruins would soon lose his influence. And without influence, everything Su Yuncao had built in Liuhe Base City would vanish into thin air.

For a moment, the entire hall was as silent as a graveyard at midnight. The first to regain his composure was Su Yuncao.

"Guards, take Li Xiaofei away." He ordered, taking a deep breath. His heart was boiling with murderous intent, and he no longer bothered to hide his manipulative nature. His voice was cold as he continued, "The public trial is over. Li Xiaofei’s ten charges have all been confirmed. The people of Liuhe Base City are filled with rage toward him. Let him await the execution of his death sentence."

The matter of the inquiry was indeed troublesome, but Su Yuncao believed it could be resolved slowly, even if it meant sacrificing some benefits. But first, he needed to get rid of the little pest, Li Xiaofei.

However, the security guards did not move. Su Yuncao glanced at Xie Renyu, the city leader and the one with the highest authority over the security forces.

He asked somewhat angrily, "What is the meaning of this?"

Xie Renyu smiled slightly, spread his hands, and said, "I'm sorry, I forgot to tell you. Li Xiaofei's identity is special; the Police Department does not have the authority to try him. Therefore, this farce of a public trial seems to be over."

"What?" Su Yuncao was shocked again. "No authority to try him? What do you mean?"

Xie Renyu replied, "I think you, Mr. Su, are well aware of the types of individuals the Police Department lacks authority over. Can you guess which category Li Xiaofei belongs to?"

Su Yuncao's face turned as black as coal.

Did Li Xiaofei have such a status? Why didn’t he mention this earlier? When he was arrested, he didn't reveal this aspect of his identity.

Countless chaotic thoughts flooded Su Yuncao's mind. He finally realized that he seemed to have fallen into a carefully crafted trap. It was only now that his adversaries were revealing their true intentions. He had been played.