Chapter 14 Heed My Command

• Role Model For The People, Backbone Of The Country!
• Christopher glanced at the banner and immediately knew Lupine was responsible for it. Naturally, that left him fuming.
• What's with this high-profile return? I wanted to keep my journey back to Jadeborough on the down-low, but now, thanks to him pulling this stunt, everyone will know I'm back. Besides, even though these are words of compliment, I still wouldn't put them on a banner! I'm not that shameless, for goodness' sake! If word got out and my friends learned about this, how am I supposed to explain it to them? All this only makes me look like I'm blowing my own horn!
• “Oh, Lupine, I think it'd be better to send you back as soon as possible...” Christopher mumbled under his breath.
• Meanwhile, Lupine, who was less than a mile away from Christopher, was smoking a cigarette in his car. As it turned out, he had already looked into the latter's return to the Murray residence. Not only did he know about Jared, but he also found out that the Murrays had treated Christopher poorly, thinking he was an ordinary man with no power or influence.
• Needless to say, Lupine felt his anger building.
• No power or influence? Rubbish! Anyone who thinks that of Mr. Yaeger has got to be blind!
• As a result, Lupine had rung up the headquarters overnight and ordered their personnel to send the custom-made banner over. Since he had made the call through the internal phone system, everyone thought his order had come directly from the top management.
• “The Murrays are a bunch of ignorant fools!” Lupine snapped. “If it weren't for them being Julianna's family and that they had helped Mr. Yaeger in the past, I'd never forgive them! I've been kind enough to gift them the banner, so let's see if they still dare to belittle Mr. Yaeger!”
• Unfortunately, it never even crossed the Murrays' minds that the banner was for Christopher.
• After all, who would go to the trouble of sending a banner to a nobody like him?
• “Haha! I've figured it out! My father used to be in the military, so they must have given him this banner to thank him for his services,” Fabian piped up. He had suddenly recalled that his father had served in the army before, only to be medically discharged due to an injury. Therefore, he postulated that someone in the top management must have wanted to thank his father's generation for their contributions to Chanaea.
• “Yes, yes! I'm sure the banner's for Grandpa! What an honor it is for our family!” Fabio said in an excited, quavering voice.
• Everyone was momentarily thrilled by the news, except for Frank and Julianna. Frank was worried that he might lose the land he finally got his hands on, while Julianna was concerned about Christopher's safety. The burly men that Stephen had brought with him looked incredibly fearsome, and she knew it wouldn't be wise to get on their bad side.
• If push comes to shove and we lose our land in Dragon Valley, we can still afford to let that slide. What's scarier is if something untoward happens to Christopher and he ends up in the hospital!
• Fabian quickly strode forward and held the general's hand, his eyes brimming with grateful tears. “Thank you. Thank you so much!” he mumbled shakily.
• “You're welcome,” the general replied politely. “This is an honor and privilege for us!”
• Fabian, Fabio, the rest of the Murrays, and even Stephen felt themselves beaming with pride at the grand gesture.
• “Role model for the people, backbone of the country!” Fabio recited proudly before his eyes wandered over to the smaller words on the banner. “T-To Christopher Yaeger!”
• Almost immediately, he drew back in shock. “This can't be right. My grandfather's name should be on this banner, not Christopher's! What a ridiculous mistake! How did you guys mess this up so badly?”
• “Exactly! Why would you guys be giving this to Christopher?” another one of the younger Murrays chimed in. “He's just a nobody. How is he qualified to be awarded something so prestigious?”
• The next second, the Murrays turned to the general, only to confirm that the name on the banner was indeed Christopher's.
• However, everyone felt that he was unworthy of the prestige. After all, he was just an ordinary person, so why should he be given such glory?
• The general, who had spent the night rushing the banner out with his men, frowned with displeasure at the commotion. “We've made no mistakes on this banner!” he retorted.
• Pin-drop silence instantly befell the entire hall.
• No one had expected the fuss to be over Christopher or that he'd have a banner to his name.
• “H-How is this possible?” Stephen muttered, his face falling.
• Never in his wildest dreams did he imagine Christopher would garner so much attention and even have the military bestow him with a gift.
• If Christopher were just an ordinary retired soldier, it wouldn't matter much if I taught him a lesson because no one's going to stand up for a small fry like him! But now, wouldn't I be courting death if I continue to target him?
• The general's lips curled into a smile. “May I know which one of you is Christopher Yaeger?”
• As soon as she saw the banner, Julianna burst into tears and pointed at Christopher. “That's him. That's my husband, Christopher Yaeger,” she choked out. “He's only just retired from the army, and people are already trying to frame him. They're now even trying to steal his glory! Please help him!”
• Upon seeing Christopher being held down by the burly men, the general flew into a rage.
• He had been in the military for so many years, yet he had never heard anyone dubbed as a role model and pillar of strength for the country!
• Those who could be gifted the banner must have contributed significantly to Chanaea and deserved nothing but his utmost admiration and respect.
• Unfortunately, their role model was now being framed and bullied by others!
• “Get away from him, the lot of you!” the general ordered.
• “W-We have evidence! He stole our things, and we're only trying to get back what's rightfully ours!” Stephen stammered.
• Damn it! It's just my luck to run into this situation! But I can't possibly let Christopher off now, can I? If I do, the title deed will be gone for good!
• Julianna had had enough and decided to go all out to defend her husband. “What evidence do you guys have? Our deed was delivered to us by Fabio, and he said it was an inheritance left behind by Grandpa,” she said between sobs. “My husband has already notarized it, yet Uncle Fabian took advantage of being relatives with you to take him away and attempt to rob us! How dare you still talk about evidence! What gives you the right, Mr. Lathwell?”
• Stephen flushed with embarrassment and hastily replied, “Watch your words, Julianna. Stop slandering us!”
• By then, the general was quivering with anger as he turned toward Christopher. “Mr. Yaeger, is that the truth?”
• “Yes!” Christopher answered calmly.
• “Very well, then!” the general bellowed before turning around to glare at Stephen. “Let him go this instance!”
• Stephen exchanged glances with Fabian, only to see the latter hinting to him to hold his ground. As such, he took a deep breath and replied, “Hmph! Are we supposed to believe that you guys are generals? Christopher might have told you to put on this elaborate show, for all we know!”
• Despite that accusation, the general remained stoic. “Are you sure you don't want to release him?”
• “It looks like Christopher has spent quite a lot to hire you guys. Such magnificent acting skills! Shall I present all of you with awards?” Stephen mocked, getting even more convinced that none of the generals were real.
• After all, he was confident that Christopher was nothing more than an ordinary retired soldier. If the latter really had the power and influence, why would he allow himself to end up in such a pathetic state?
• I'm sure he hired these actors to pass off as generals and appear at Fabian's house if he doesn't leave by a particular time. Then, they'd be able to use the banner as an excuse to escort Christopher out, thereby taking the title deed away with them! If I hadn't been astute enough to see through his plan, he'd have happily made his escape!
• “Say that again if you have the guts!” the general shouted, his eyes blazing with fury as he glowered at Stephen.
• “Ha, that's quite an impressive act you got there!” Stephen scoffed. “Tell us, how much did Christopher pay you to do this? I'm willing to double it as long as you don't give us any more trouble and get the hell out of here!”
• The more Fabian heard Stephen's words, the more convinced he was that the generals were merely actors. “Exactly. How much did he pay you to put on this act? It can't be more than a hundred per person,” he shouted.
• The next second, Stephen fished out two hundred worth of notes and threw them on the floor, a mocking smirk still plastered on his face. “Here's two hundred for you. Keep the change and get out of my sight!”
• Before long, the rest of the Murray family started chiming in with their derisive comments. “If that's still not enough, I'll throw in a fiver!”
• “I'll contribute one buck!”
• “I don't have any money, but I bet you guys have never had expensive cigarettes before. I'll be kind and give you one packet. Take it and leave!”
• “How dare you! Troops, heed my command! Ready your guns!” the general thundered, his face livid with rage.
• As if it wasn't bad enough that someone as respectable as Christopher had been belittled and framed, the generals and soldiers had also been regarded as actors.
• To make matters worse, the Murrays had even mocked them relentlessly!
• How could anyone put up with that kind of disrespect?
• Right there and then, the sound of guns cocking in unison rang out from outside the Murray residence.