"Snap—"
At this moment, Wu Ju slammed the table heavily and said in a low voice, "Gu Tianlong, we've summoned you here today to question you because you've done some things. As for what you've done, you know it in your heart, and I advise you to confess truthfully!"
"Elder Wu, I don't know what you're talking about!"
Gu Tianlong realized his earlier lapse in composure and immediately changed his expression, hitting back with indignation:
"Although I don't know what Jiang Wuming and the extraterrestrial enemies discussed, it's not appropriate for the two Chief Officers to summon me here like a prisoner and interrogate me based solely on Jiang Wuming's word!"
"—"
Wu Ju was speechless.
He had intended to take advantage of Gu Tianlong's momentary panic and force a confession in one go, but he hadn't expected Gu Tianlong to be completely unfazed.
Li Rui secretly sighed in his heart.
He could see that Gu Tianlong was clearly hiding something and was also prepared.
In this case, without evidence, it would be almost impossible to make Gu Tianlong talk.
"Gu Tianlong, we are just asking questions, not interrogating you."
After sighing, Li Rui spoke again, first correcting Gu Tianlong's statement, and then said, "How about this, we will continue to verify this matter. You can go back for now."
"Okay."
Gu Tianlong nodded, then stood up and said righteously, "Chief Officers, all these years, I have been devoted to the country. Since joining the Military Department, I have served the country with utmost loyalty! My biggest regret and problem is not being able to bring my comrades back alive. Apart from that, everything I have done is with a clear conscience, and everything I have said is true! If Jiang Wuming thinks I have a problem, let him confront me directly, rather than gossiping and backbiting like a woman!"
With that, Gu Tianlong turned and left without waiting for Li Rui and the other two to respond.
Li Rui and Wu Ju raised their eyebrows at his words.
Zhu Jian's expression changed, and he was about to stop Gu Tianlong from leaving, but Li Rui stopped him with a look.
"Gu Tianlong is clearly problematic, and he's even hitting back and criticizing Wuming, it's truly hateful!"
After Gu Tianlong left, Zhu Jian couldn't help but say.
"I also think Gu Tianlong is acting strangely," Wu Ju nodded, agreeing with Zhu Jian.
"But we don't have any evidence."
Li Rui followed their words and said, "We must find evidence of Gu Tianlong framing the Battle Dragon team in the shortest possible time."
"How do we find it?"
Wu Ju and Zhu Jian asked in unison.
"Monitor his every move, especially listen to his communicator."
Li Rui's eyes flashed with a sharp light, "He colluded with others to harm Wuming and the Battle Dragon team, and since it wasn't successful, he will definitely contact them again. As long as they communicate, they will be exposed, and we will get the evidence."
"That makes sense."
Wu Ju and Zhu Jian's eyes lit up.
Subsequently, Zhu Jian, following the instructions of Li Rui and Wu Ju, used his authority to coordinate with the relevant departments to monitor all of Gu Tianlong's communication devices.
As a result, before Gu Tianlong could even return to the field hospital, Zhu Jian had intercepted two phone calls.
Both calls were initiated by Gu Tianlong.
The first call was to the head of the Gu family, Gu Zhengze.
The second call was to the Great Elder of the Dragon Gate, Long Yongjie!
On the phone, he complained sequentially that Li Rui, Wu Ju, and Zhu Jian had become suspicious of him and interrogated him based on Jiang Wuming's one-sided statement.
Ten minutes after Zhu Jian intercepted Gu Tianlong's two phone calls.
Li Rui received a call from Long Qisheng.
"Old Li, what are the results of your investigation regarding Gu Tianlong and the Battle Dragon team?"
When the call connected, Long Qisheng proactively asked.
"Elder Wu, Director Zhu, and I personally questioned Gu Tianlong about everything that happened that day. Gu Tianlong seems to have some problems, but there is no evidence for now," Li Rui replied truthfully.
"If there's no evidence, how can you say he seems to have problems?" Long Qisheng retorted.
"—"
Li Rui was speechless; logically, this statement made no sense.
"Old Li, just now, the Grand Elder and Long Yongjie of the Dragon Gate both called me. The Grand Elder told me that Gu Zhengze found him and said that you interrogated Gu Tianlong based on Jiang Wuming's word, which is a distrust, and even an insult, to Gu Tianlong. Gu Zhengze is very dissatisfied with this. The Grand Elder asked me what was going on, and you're telling me there's no evidence; how am I supposed to respond?
Also, Long Yongjie directly lost his temper on the phone. In his words, the Dragon Gate Sect Leader, Zhuge Lingyun, died fighting extraterrestrial enemies of the Heavenly God realm, and the two Dragon Gate Elders who were protectors of the Dragon God team also died on the battlefield. In this situation, for the frontline command to interrogate Gu Tianlong based on Jiang Wuming's word, without any evidence, is an insult to Gu Tianlong and disheartening to the Dragon Gate!"
Seeing Li Rui's silence, Long Qisheng spoke again, his tone stern.
"Marshal, our actions were indeed a bit hasty," Li Rui said with a complex tone.
"Old Li, since there is no evidence to prove Gu Tianlong has problems, then this matter ends here," Long Qisheng declared.
"Ends here?!"
Li Rui's tone changed.
"Yes. This is my decision, and it's also the Grand Elder's decision. The Everest War is not over yet, and we cannot afford to cause internal chaos and problems." Long Qisheng stated.
"What about Wuming then?" Li Rui asked.
"As for Jiang Wuming, you go and appease him. Tell him that if he has evidence, the Military Department will certainly severely punish Gu Tianlong according to national laws and regulations. But if he doesn't have evidence, then he should abandon speculation and inference and obey the overall arrangements!" Long Qisheng instructed.
Li Rui fell silent again.
This time, Long Qisheng didn't speak and directly hung up the phone.
Li Rui put away his communicator and paced back and forth in his office, frowning.
Because he knew he couldn't appease Jiang Wuming, and he didn't even know how to face the young man.
However—
Even if he couldn't face him, he eventually notified Jiang Wuming to see him.
Ten minutes later.
The young man appeared at the frontline command headquarters again and stood before Li Rui.
"Wuming, Elder Wu, Director Zhu, and I interrogated Gu Tianlong, and even interrogated him, but we found no evidence."
Li Rui looked at Jiang Wuming with an apologetic expression and told him the truth.
"Understood, Chief Officer."
The young man nodded, seeming unsurprised by the outcome, his expression exceptionally calm.
"Wuming, although there is no evidence at present, it doesn't mean there won't be in the future..."
Li Rui spoke again.
However—
This time, before he could finish, Jiang Wuming calmly interrupted, "Chief Officer, how long is 'in the future'? Twenty years?"
"—"
Li Rui was rendered speechless.
He thought of how the young man had struggled to survive for twenty years in a precarious situation.
"I have asked Zhu Jian to monitor Gu Tianlong's every move, including listening to his communicator. It shouldn't take long to find a clue," Li Rui added.
"Chief Officer, it's useless. The matter has been exposed, and Gu Tianlong will never reveal any flaws. He can anticipate that you will investigate and monitor him secretly, and he will also call his grandfather and the Grand Elder of the Dragon Gate to exert pressure on the Military Department and you.
Under such circumstances, Long Qisheng, and even Long Shengzhe, will never agree to you continuing to investigate Gu Tianlong. They will only blame me for being meddlesome, disrupting internal unity within the Military Department, and affecting morale!"
The young man chuckled self-mockingly, "It's just like back then. My father fought bravely on the battlefield, and my mother was framed and died. Everyone knew who did it, but there was no evidence, and no one even continued the investigation."
Li Rui fell silent again.
At this moment, although the young man was smiling, his smile, in Li Rui's eyes, caused Li Rui to feel immense pain.
The young man's father was once a hero of the Dragon Country's Military Department, leading soldiers to defend Loulan Ancient City, ensuring peace for the Dragon Country and the world, yet he could not protect his own wife.
The young man's master, in order to protect this world, fought the strongest extraterrestrial forces on the Eastern Sea Military Academy and on Mount Everest, leaving with injuries.
Since joining the Military Department, the young man, in order to fulfill his oath under the national flag and to inherit the 'Battle Saber Legacy' from his father, had repeatedly fought bravely, making countless contributions, and was hailed as a hero of the Military Department and the future of the Dragon Country.
However—
The young man was almost like that towering man from back then, unable to protect the people around him.
What a tragedy this was!
What kind of resentment must the young man harbor in his heart?!
Li Rui didn't know.
He only felt a lump in his throat.
He wanted to say something, and he wanted to do something, but he felt powerless.
"Chief Officer, thank you."
Just as Li Rui was momentarily lost in thought, Jiang Wuming bowed deeply to Li Rui and then turned to leave.
Li Rui opened his mouth, wanting to stop the young man, but couldn't utter a single word.
After Jiang Wuming left Li Rui's office, he went to Qi Wufu's special ward.
In the ward, Li Guyi and Li Lianyi were both present.
"Grandpa Li, Lianyi, I want to speak with the Marshal alone."
After entering the ward, Jiang Wuming said.
"Okay."
Li Guyi nodded, then took Li Lianyi out of the ward.
Jiang Wuming walked directly to the bedside, looked at the unconscious Qi Wufu, and said softly, "Grandpa Qi, I know you've always felt guilty about my father's affairs back then. That's why, after learning my identity, you've been protecting me and supporting me in secret, always hoping that I would join the Military Department and inherit my father's legacy.
Later, when I joined the Military Department, you were as happy as a child. You began to spare no effort in cultivating me, wanting me to take your place and become the future Marshal of the Military Department.
In the eyes of outsiders, the Marshal of the Military Department holds great power, second only to the supreme leader, but you know that I actually have no ambition, nor do I wish to become the Marshal of the Military Department.
You even know that I formed the Battle Dragon team largely for my brother Qin Xiaozhi.
I want to help him realize his life's wish, to become a staff officer in the Military Department and bring pride to the Qin family!
You know all this, so when Long Shengzhe targeted me, you went to the Red Wall Courtyard to scold and bang the table, but in the end, you returned empty-handed. It wasn't until my master slapped Long Qisheng off Longhu Mountain that they began to restrain themselves and change their attitude.
A few days ago, my master was injured, and you were unconscious. My brothers and sisters and I fought valiantly on the battlefield, only to be almost framed and killed.
Yes, we almost died.
At that time, Wei Xia was severely injured, and I fought until my meridians were broken and my internal organs were shattered, and I didn't even have time to kill the last enemy.
King Yama took pity on us and didn't take us.
Brother Zhi no longer trusted the Military Department and destroyed his communicator, wanting to wait for me to wake up to make the decision.
After I woke up, I decided to return to the frontline command.
Because I felt that you were still here, Advisor Li was still here, and Uncle Zhu was also here, and you should be able to give me justice.
However, they asked me to produce evidence to prove that my brothers and sisters and I were framed.
I know that Advisor Li and Uncle Zhu did their best.
But, I'm sorry, Grandpa Qi, I can't produce any evidence!"
As the young man spoke, he suddenly raised his right hand, clenched his fist, placed it on his chest, and saluted the unconscious elder on the sickbed.
On the sickbed, the elder's finger moved slightly.
Just once.
But the young man didn't see it; he turned and left directly, his expression exceptionally determined!
Outside the ward, Li Lianyi was specifically waiting for Jiang Wuming. Seeing him emerge, she immediately went to meet him.
"Didn't I tell you not to come? Why did you still come?"
The young man stood before the girl, asking softly while meticulously tidying the messy strands of hair from her forehead.
"I want to do something for this war with you."
The girl gazed at the young man with a calm expression and said slowly.
"I don't want to do it anymore."
The young man met the girl's gaze, not hiding anything.
"Have you decided?"
The girl's heart stirred, realizing something.
"Yes."
The young man nodded, then hugged the girl tightly, "I'm sorry. If I can't get justice for my brothers and sisters, my conscience will not be at peace."
With that, the young man kissed the girl on the forehead, then released her and strode away.
"Whatever you do, I will support you."
The girl stood in place, her eyes red.
She knew what the young man was about to do.
She also knew what it would mean if the young man did so!
Whoosh!
The response to the girl was the sound of something cutting through the air.
The young man shot forward, leaping out of the frontline command compound.
The night was as black as ink.
The young man's killing intent soared!
...