Chapter 2

He paid no more attention to the two of them, because at that moment, the massive "Nia" let out a deep, prolonged blast of its horn and slowly docked at the pier at the mouth of the Viridis River.

Jack looked away, as if everything that had just happened was nothing more than a trivial episode.

He picked up the unremarkable black tactical duffel bag at his feet with one hand and walked toward the gangway.

"Stop right there!"

A sharp, shrill voice came from behind him.

Alice watched Jack's indifferent retreating figure, and the anger in her heart was completely ignited. Since childhood, what man had she ever wanted that she couldn't have? Today, she was being ignored by this man again and again!

She lifted her skirt, clicked along in her high heels, and chased after him in a fury.

"What kind of attitude is this..."

The next moment.

All her words caught in her throat.

Her eyes widened as she looked toward the shore.

Lancelot, who had also caught up, was just like Alice—staring ahead in shock.

And not just them.

At this moment, everyone on the entire ship was looking at the dock in alarm.

What they saw was this:

The originally empty dock was now occupied by a sea of steel.

Before their eyes were rows upon rows of uniform black military boots, striking the cement ground with a thunderous, dull sound.

At the very front of the dock sat three pitch-black, menacing-looking riot armored vehicles, their dark cannon barrels coldly aimed in the direction of the cruise ship.

Behind the armored vehicles, hundreds of soldiers in dark blue special operations uniforms and Kevlar tactical helmets were spread out in tactical formation.

The weapons in their hands weren't batons, but HK416 assault rifles across the board, barrels pointed down, index fingers resting outside the trigger guards—a stance ready to enter combat at any moment.

This was the kind of killing intent that came from battle-hardened veterans who had long stopped flinching at death.

Just standing there, the oppressive force they radiated made people's legs go weak, as if an invisible hand was squeezing their hearts tight.

"What... what's going on?" Alice's body trembled as she murmured unconsciously.

Lancelot opened his mouth but couldn't make a sound. His throat was as dry as if he'd swallowed a handful of sand.

Just then, heavy footsteps came from behind the armored vehicles.

A burly, bald man with a fierce face emerged.

He wore a tactical vest, his chest hung with heavy medals, and his shoulders bore the rank of major.

Lancelot recognized this man!

This was Joseph Miller, commander of the Third Battalion of the Marine Corps stationed along the Viridis River, known for his iron-blooded ruthlessness and nicknamed "The Butcher"! Even the mayor had to show him respect.

His recommendation letter to Clayton Military Academy had been obtained by his father through a favor from Joseph.

"...Mr. Miller?" Lancelot instinctively wanted to step forward and make friendly conversation.

But then Joseph suddenly looked in their direction, those eagle-sharp eyes frightening Lancelot into stopping in his tracks.

The next moment.

Joseph's expression suddenly became excited—a look mixing fervor and awe.

He shouted toward the cruise ship exit with great excitement:

"General!"

"General?"

Alice froze, instinctively glancing at Lancelot. But Lancelot hadn't even enrolled yet—how could he be a general?

But if not him...

Then who could it be?

Alice seemed to realize something, but the thought was too absurd for her to accept.

Alice slowly turned her head and looked at Jack beside her.

She saw Jack, carrying his bag, walking over calmly.

When he reached Joseph, Alice and Lancelot witnessed Joseph make a gesture that made their blood freeze.

Joseph suddenly removed his helmet, tucked it under his arm, straightened his back, and gave the seemingly gentle young man a textbook-perfect military salute!

Then, the hundreds of armed special forces soldiers behind him followed.

Hundreds of right hands rose simultaneously, their movements perfectly synchronized, with a suffocating solemnity and gravity.

A breeze blew past, making the military flags snap and flutter.

In this deathly silence, Joseph's voice, loud as a bell, rang clearly across the entire dock:

"Salute!"

"Welcome, General Mr. Jack Carter!"

These words struck like lightning, instantly shattering all of Alice's pride, arrogance, and superiority into pieces.

General?

Three-star general?

This guy was the legendary military figure, the son of war, Jack Carter?

She had just tried to mock him using Lancelot.

At this thought, Alice felt her face burning hot with embarrassment.

Lancelot himself kept his head down, not daring to look at Jack even once.

Jack ignored them, not even pausing for a second. To him, whether it was Lancelot or the hot-bodied Alice, they were all just small-time characters.

He walked up to Joseph, nodded slightly, his voice calm and steady:

"Thanks for your trouble, Joseph."

"It's my honor to serve you!" Joseph shouted, his voice full of fervent worship.

Jack nodded and looked at the group behind him, saying, "Stand down. Don't alarm the civilians."

"Yes, sir."

Alice, Lancelot, and everyone on the ship watched Jack's retreating figure, feeling cold sweat break out on their backs.

In front of the bulletproof sedan.

Joseph respectfully opened the car door for him.

Jack got in the car. He had planned to close his eyes and rest, but Joseph looked at him, seeming to want to say something but hesitating.

"What is it, Joseph?"

Jack opened his eyes and asked. He walked to the bar inside the car and poured himself a glass of whiskey. This trip to Viridis State wasn't just to visit family—he was also here to assume a new position.

As Chief Military Advisor.

All military forces in Viridis State now fell under his command.

"General."

Joseph looked at Jack and carefully presented a letter.

Jack frowned slightly and put down his glass.

He took it and looked.

His expression immediately darkened.

It was an obituary!

An obituary for his adoptive father, William.

His adoptive father was dead!

Jack's hand gripped the obituary tightly, his knuckles turning white from the force. A cold gleam flashed in his eyes, and his entire demeanor changed completely at that moment.

Even Joseph, a battle-hardened lieutenant, trembled slightly when he felt Jack's presence.

"When did this happen?" Jack asked, his tone very low, like the calm before a storm.

His adoptive father had always been in good health—he wouldn't just suddenly die. There must be something suspicious about this.

"A week ago."

Joseph said with his head lowered.

"A week ago?" Jack's voice grew increasingly low. He had come back this time wanting to get together with William, never expecting something like this to happen.

"William wrote to me before, saying he'd found his true love and married her. Do you know about this?"

"That woman's name is... Isabella Simpson."

"I found out that before Mr. Carter died, he apparently gave all his estate and company shares to her. And today is actually Isabella's wedding day—to someone else."

Joseph said, steeling himself.

"What did you say?"

Jack's eyes turned cold as he looked at Joseph. The glass in his hand shattered in his grip, glass shards piercing his palm, blood flowing down between his fingers and dripping onto the floor.

William had only been dead a week, and as his wife, Isabella had already turned around and married someone else.

Plus, before William died, he had given all his property to Isabella...

Jack turned around, his gaze sharp as a blade, piercing through Joseph.

"Joseph, prepare the car. We're going to the wedding."

Jack's lips curved into a cruel smile.

"Since this 'Isabella' is in such a hurry to get married, how can I, as her 'son,' be absent?"

"I'm going to personally deliver her a big gift."

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