Chapter 384 General Zuo Arrives Late

• Principal Chen happily led his little cousin, a Three-Star Warrior Captain, to meet Mark Brooks, grinning the whole way. After today, he’d be the groom! But when they arrived, he froze. Why was Mark sitting there perfectly fine? Meanwhile, Big Bone Lee and the others were cowering off to the side like they’d messed up. “What’s going on with you guys?” Principal Chen asked. Big Bone Lee looked embarrassed. “Mr. Brooks, we lost.” “You lost?” Principal Chen shot a surprised glance at Mark. “Not bad. You’ve trained, huh? But it won’t help. Know who this is? My cousin! A Three-Star Warrior Captain—he’s cut down countless enemies on the battlefield! You dare cross me? Get on your knees and crawl!” “Another Three-Star Warrior Captain?” Mark was a little surprised too, remembering that Josh Mallin he’d met right after coming back last time. “Another? With your luck, how many Three-Star Warrior Captains do you think you’ll meet in this life?” Principal Chen rolled his eyes and politely pulled up a table for his little cousin. “Cousin, don’t be so formal with me. Out there I’m a General, but with family, no need to stand on ceremony.” Huang Donghai chuckled, then planted himself in the seat without waiting. Hearing a Three-Star Warrior Captain call himself General, Mark smiled. Since when did the word General get this cheap? “You peasant, you the one who hit my cousin?” Huang Donghai barked, chin high. Mark gave the pair a flat look and nodded. “Yeah. Me.” “Then why aren’t you on your knees yet? You want me to do it myself?” Huang snorted, swaggering hard. “Do you even know what your cousin did?” Mark asked. “I’m the one asking questions here. You think you can question me? Ten seconds. Kneel and plead guilty and I’ll let you settle it in private. Otherwise I’ll hand you to the Enforcement Center. Enjoy prison food.” Mark almost laughed. “You’re really leaning into that Three-Star swagger. If I gave you a courtroom, would you start calling yourself Old Mr. Yoder?” “Still mouthing off. Looks like I’ve been too merciful. Men, smash his mouth first!” Huang roared. “Yes, sir!” Guards from both sides rushed in to grab Mark and slap him. “So lively. Can’t even enjoy a cup of tea in peace,” a voice drawled, as Xavier Yoder and White Dragon walked in. Seeing the two, Big Bone Lee’s face twitched hard. “Mr. Xavier, Mr. White, what brings you here?” Big Bone Lee quickly lowered his head. If he offended these two, he could forget mixing in the Sniosille underworld. “Big Bone Lee? You causing trouble here?” Xavier sneered, then patted the cheek that had been slapped. “Just dealing with a clown. Sorry to disturb you, Mr. Xavier.” Big Bone Lee hurried to apologize. Xavier’s face darkened and he slapped Big Bone Lee across the face. “And you think you can insult Mr. Brooks?” Then Xavier and White Dragon bowed to Mark together. “Mr. Brooks, we’re late. Say the word.” Mr. Brooks. Say the word? Big Bone Lee painfully turned his head to look at Mark. Even these two treated him with that much respect. If he’d offended Mark, was he done for in Skyrion? “Principal Chen, who are they?” he asked quickly. Big Bone Lee was the toughest guy he knew in the underworld. If even he showed this much respect to these two, were they major players? “Principal Chen, these two are old-guard bosses in the underworld here. If you don’t count a few big shots who came in from elsewhere these last two years, these two basically represent the whole Skyrion underworld. I can’t afford to cross them,” Big Bone Lee said solemnly. Principal Chen’s expression flickered. In the past, he wouldn’t have dared cross them either. But now, with his little cousin back and a Three-Star General in the family, that was a different story. “Cousin, can you handle those two?” he whispered. “Two underworld nobodies. You think they compare to a Three-Star General like me? Beat it, or I’ll bring a squad and wipe your underworld clean,” Huang Donghai said, riding the high. He’d been dying for some big names to set off his rank. “Three-Star General?” Xavier and White Dragon’s expressions changed. Had Mr. Brooks tangled with someone from the military? “Mr. Brooks, this might be tricky today,” Xavier said, uneasy. White Dragon might be called the Madman, but when it came to the military, even he flinched a little. “You two don’t need to lift a finger. Just watch,” Mark said. As soon as he finished, a crisp rhythm of boots sounded at the door. A squad of soldiers in green uniforms, rifles slung, filed in. Faces around the room changed at once. “General Huang, for something this small, you called in the army? That’s out of line,” White Dragon said, face dark, sweat beading on his brow. Xavier panicked too. He never thought this Three-Star would be so bold—pulling a unit without a word. Huang was pleased with the two underworld bosses’ reactions and stood with a cold smile. But he had his doubts—did he even call anyone? “You. Which unit?” Huang asked with a bossy air. No one answered him. “I asked which unit. You deaf?” Huang raised his voice. “Are they deaf or are you blind? Throwing your weight around without seeing who you’re facing—what are those dog eyes good for?” A stern bark cut in, and another figure in uniform stepped in. Huang took a good look and blanched. That was Zuo Yang, the temporary head of the veterans’ administration this time around. In rank, he was a Four-Star Battle Marshall. “General Zuo, what brings you here? What did you just say? I can’t see? What’s going on?” Huang shrank a size and asked meekly. “How many days have you been a Three-Star Warrior Captain? And you’re already abusing your power? Five years ago some idiot just like you pulled the same stunt. His honors were stripped on the spot,” Zuo Yang said coldly. “The same stunt? Heh. General Zuo, the more you talk, the more confused I get. What stunt?” Huang honestly didn’t get it. Zuo sighed, then stepped straight up to Mark, squared his shoulders, and gave a crisp salute. “General Zuo Yang reporting late to duty. I failed to restrain Huang Donghai in time. Please punish me, the Defender.” The words hit like thunder. “The Defender?” Gasps rippled through the room. “Wait… who’s the Defender? Mark Brooks?” “This can’t be an act, right?” Xavier and White Dragon were the most stunned. They’d been following Mark for a while, but never thought he was the Defender. Huang Donghai’s face twitched hard. He stared at Mark, all that big-shot bluster gone, his neck shrinking. If anyone lied, Zuo Yang wouldn’t. No one knew the detailed identities of all veterans in Skyrion better than him.