The last time an important figure came to see Yu Lian, it was to award him a medal.
But this time, Yu Lian felt that it certainly wouldn't be anything good. There was no particularly convincing reason, he just felt that in these troubled times, good things definitely wouldn't fall to him.
In the dean's office, besides Director Franz, the newly appointed Director of Instruction, who seemed to maintain the same expression from beginning to end, there was another person wearing a black Internal Guard uniform. He looked even a few years younger than Director Franz, but his epaulet bore a silver general's star.
Yu Lian's gaze quickly swept over the armpatch of the other party. It was a shield design inlaid with a blue planet, too strongly designed, at first glance it looked more like the crest of an imperial noble family.
“Commonwealth Guard. Or rather, Blue Guards.” He had to admit, the name was indeed a bit lame!
Director Franz's demeanor was already somewhat cold and rigid, but this Brigadier General was even colder, a bit gloomy, a bit arrogant, yet seemingly suppressing a fierce intensity, giving the feeling of a vulture silently soaring above the clouds.
Of course, this guy wasn't bald, and he was a very handsome middle-aged man, the kind of person perfectly suited to play a protagonist in a cult film.
Yu Lian felt he had guessed his identity.
“You are Yu Lian, correct? I am Francis Morey. Deputy Commander of the Blue Guards, and Inspector of the National Unification Committee's Integrated Investigation Bureau.”
So, he was a member of the famous “National Unification Committee”! But then again, could the National Unification Committee also hold concurrent positions?
His voice was naturally on the gloomy side, but it was still quite authoritative, possessing a bit of Marlon Brando's three-part charm when speaking with a walnut in his mouth. Perhaps this way, his oppressive presence as a secret police officer could reach its maximum.
Yu Lian always felt that the other party's emphasis was on the last few words. This shouldn't be his illusion. Director Franz also glanced at Brigadier General Morey, frowning slightly.
“Director, can we speak alone?” Although Brigadier General Morey's words were directed at the Director, he looked at Yu Lian with a very impolite gaze, like a vulture scrutinizing its prey.
“Sorry, but no, sir,” Director Franz said.
“Before any student graduates, various military departments should not contact them in advance. This is a rule of the Central Defense University. As a staff member of the school, I am obligated to uphold this.”
Morey looked at the Director. Yu Lian noticed that this was the first time he had looked directly at the other party since he entered the room.
“What if I have something else to discuss? In my capacity as Inspector of the National Unification Committee?”
“Then I need to be here even more!” Director Franz said, not backing down, “Whether a student of the academy is under suspicion or needs to provide evidence, there is no reason for the school representative to withdraw and let a student face the secret police alone!”
Brigadier General Morey looked at the other party a few more times, then smiled indifferently, “It seems, Director, you have a considerable misunderstanding of us investigators. However, this is a sacred place for teaching and nurturing, and it's truly not appropriate for me to say much… So, Yu Lian, I'll get straight to the point.”
He paused, a hint of sharpness entering his voice: “May I know your whereabouts from February 4th to 6th?”
Yu Lian looked up and said frankly, “On the 4th, I visited the Independence Museum in Big Apple. Early on the 5th, I went to Mist Capital and then watched the Arsenal versus Red Knights match.”
Brigadier General Morey's expression was a bit stiff, probably not expecting Yu Lian to be so frank, and it took him almost a second to say, “Then, on the day you were in Big Apple, there was a riot in the lower city…”
Yu Lian nodded even more frankly: “Yes. However, I was in the upper city the whole time, blocked off on the north bank of Friendship River.”
Morey narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing the other party up and down. But just as he was about to say something, Yu Lian added, “However, since you are a Commander of a supernatural force and a national investigator, I can discuss my conjectures with you… I personally believe that the unrest in the lower city was originally just a normal demonstration by workers, and there seemed to be no out-of-control vicious incidents. Why did it escalate into a large-scale riot in a short period? There must be something fishy! Perhaps enemies of the state used supernatural powers to orchestrate it.”
Yu Lian paused, then said solemnly, “Yes, in the future, supernatural crimes, and even terrorist activities planned primarily by spiritual energy users, will become a new situation that the Commonwealth will inevitably face. The Alliance and the Empire already have relatively complete response mechanisms for this, but we do not. Therefore, I believe that we should start preparing now.”
Brigadier General Morey's expression remained gloomy and serious, but his eyes seemed a bit unfocused as he said, “Even the response mechanisms of the Empire and the Alliance cannot be flawless.”
This was indeed true. After all, there's a saying that it's impossible to guard against thieves for a thousand days when they can be thieves for a thousand days, and once supernatural powers are involved, it's even more impossible to guard strictly.
“You are destined not to be able to prevent all evil deeds, but afterward, you must investigate to the end. Not a single clue can be overlooked, tracing from the bottom of the Pacific Ocean to the edge of the Solar System, utterly eliminating the instigators! Yu Lian, don't you think this is the proper conduct for us, the supernatural power enforcers who uphold the nation?”
Brigadier General Morey’s voice grew deeper, his gloomy oppression transforming into chilling sharpness.
Director Franz looked at the other party coldly, his hand in his pocket. He seemed ready to call security at any moment… though Yu Lian didn't think the security guards would do anything to a Brigadier General.
“No, not just enforcers of supernatural power… all enforcers should be like this! We are not Guardians, but deterers and avengers! The person I respect most acts this way, and I believe this should also become my code of conduct!” He bared his teeth in a smile, and from his wide white teeth flowed an undeniable aura of bloodlust and killing intent.
Yu Lian also withdrew his smile, his expression chilling as he waited for the other party's performance.
Uncle Wang, you were mistaken. This guy might be an excellent professional soldier, and an excellent hound, but in essence, he's actually a yandere in the late stages!
“So, Yu Lian, do you agree with this point? If you are willing to agree, the doors of the Commonwealth Guard will open for you!”
“Brigadier General Morey!” Director Franz exclaimed.
“Don't be angry, Director! Your student is such an excellent spiritual energy user, destined to be a member of our forces! However, the Commonwealth Guard is also divided into two parts! The practical, the vanguard, the glamorous! And those like me who do the dirty and arduous work behind the scenes!” Morey continued to smile grimly.
Just as he was about to say something, his personal terminal on his wrist rang, and a small image popped up. The image was clearly Wang Jingyang's avatar, labeled “Silly Sweetheart.”
Although the image was small, it couldn't escape Yu Lian's sharp eyes. And Yu Lian also knew that the other party must know it couldn't escape his eyes.
“This new model of personal terminal, I still don’t know how to turn off the caller ID…” He said the above with a straight face and the coldest, most arrogant voice, then calmly answered the call.
Immediately after, Brigadier General Morey's face instantly fell, his smile, uglier than crying, vanished. Half of his face was hidden in the interplay of light, as if every pore was beginning to brew a gloomy, unknown substance.
A few minutes later, he put down the terminal, looked at Yu Lian, and said in a lukewarm tone, “...I hope you'll consider it carefully.”
Then, he merely nodded perfunctorily to Director Franz, turned his head, and left the room.
His figure was still tall and straight, his steps still steady, but the master Yu Lian noticed a hint of urgency, anxiety, and even unease.
Yu Lian and Director Franz exchanged glances, both a bit lost as to what was happening.
“Forget it. Yu Lian, you may stand at ease for now.” The Director’s voice sounded a bit tired.
Just after leaving the dean's office, Yu Lian also received a call, and he knew without guessing that it must be Wang Jingyang.
“I’m sorry, Xiao Yu! The situation lately is a bit complicated. Your official entry into the Blue Guards will have to be postponed for a while.” Uncle Wang said from the other end of the phone. His tone was genuinely apologetic.
Yu Lian had never intended to join the Commonwealth Guard, so he truly felt there was nothing to apologize for.
...The Blue Guards' allowance is very high! If you miss out on half a year, that's at least over five hundred thousand!
That certainly warranted an apology!
...In any case, don't put too much pressure on yourself.” Wang Jingyang added, “Just focus on preparing your thesis and graduating!”
Wang Jingyang continued to ramble on with instructions and reassurances for several more sentences before reluctantly hanging up the abrupt call.
Yu Lian pondered for a moment, then suddenly thought of something, picked up his terminal, and casually operated it, entering the military's internal network. He quickly discovered that the heads of several key departments had been suspended, their authority replaced by their deputies or by parachuted personnel.
The most crucial and important among them was General Schwartz, the Chief of Staff. He had actually been suspended and was under investigation.
Brigadier General Morey’s abnormal behavior earlier must have been because he heard about this, right? Indeed, it was said that their relationship was very good, and the “person I respect most” he mentioned should be General Schwartz.
...Considering that General Schwartz's rainbow-colored scandal, Yu Lian suddenly shivered.
He felt a bit surprised, but only a bit.
Yu Lian disliked General Schwartz because, in the early stages of the coup, he had appeared extremely sluggish, foolish, and cowardly. To put it bluntly, the Red Heart Society, which orchestrated the coup, was able to quickly control Earth and even the Solar System, and General Schwartz, as Chief of Staff, was truly inescapable from blame.
But surprisingly, after the civil war ended, when he was rescued from his house arrest by the forces suppressing the rebellion, he miraculously transformed into a hero who would rather die than yield. Not only was he reinstated to his original position, but he was soon promoted by another rank.
And so, in the later story, when the Commonwealth and Earthlings most needed to resist, he, who was already the Minister of Military Orders, shrunk back once again. Of course, at that time, he wasn't the only one who shrunk back, nor was he the biggest one.
Of course, thinking about it carefully, it's not too strange. This guy's methods were very ruthless when he was ostracizing dissidents in the military before, giving the impression that some important figure was pushing him forward as a hatchet man.
Now, either the important figure behind him has also fallen on hard times, or the important figure behind him is preparing to use this opportunity to discard him after he has served his purpose.
In any case, he can no longer occupy such a high position, become a hero, or harm others and himself! This is truly a cause for great joy!
Furthermore, there's no reason why Captain Hayden Wellier, who is currently serving as General Schwartz's adjutant, shouldn't also suffer. That would be even more gratifying.