Throughout the journey, Shi Yutang showed solicitous care towards Qin Shilei.
Qin Shilei responded with a smile to the kindness shown to him.
Soon, the two arrived at Kong Zhendong's office.
Kong Zhendong said kindly, "Shilei, I am aware of your intentions. Please have a seat. The military promises to deliver everything you are owed, not one item less."
With that, he instructed Shi Yutang to prepare the rewards.
"Commander-in-Chief, greetings," Qin Shilei said, then calmly sat down on the opposite sofa.
Kong Zhendong praised him, "Shilei, you are truly a hero of Nanzhuang City. With the Zombie King gone, recapturing Nanzhuang City is just around the corner."
Qin Shilei replied humbly, "It was mere luck."
Kong Zhendong continued, "We never hesitate to reward our heroes. I offer you the rank of Senior Colonel. I hope you will form a special forces unit and contribute to humanity's survival."
"Senior Colonel?" Qin Shilei was somewhat surprised by the offered rank.
"Yes, Senior Colonel," Kong Zhendong explained. "It will primarily consist of military personnel but can also absorb outstanding civilian evolvers."
Qin Shilei asked with a smile, "Can I have full command of this special forces unit?"
Kong Zhendong tapped the table lightly. "You will lead, but the military cannot have a sole say. Some officers will be assigned to assist you."
Qin Shilei's interest immediately waned.
His 007 Corps and An Qian's 018 Corps were not yet fully under his control. Why should he take on another special forces unit that wouldn't share his vision?
Just then, a graceful beauty entered carrying a teapot.
Kong Zhendong gestured to the woman and said, "This is my daughter, Kong Qingshu. She is sixteen years old and unmarried. She has enjoyed practicing martial arts since childhood and just recently advanced to Black Iron two days ago. She has been pestering me to introduce her to Nanzhuang City's top expert. You two should get to know each other better."
Kong Qingshu wore a red evening gown that perfectly accentuated her breathtaking figure. Her large, dark eyes sparkled with amusement and allure, while her shapely nose and moist, red lips were both sexy and enchanting.
At that moment, Kong Qingshu was gazing at Qin Shilei with captivating eyes, a hint of interest in her expression.
"Sixteen years old," Qin Shilei mused, looking at the mature and alluring Kong Qingshu. He wondered if young girls nowadays were really this mature.
No, she had to be older than sixteen.
Could "sixteen" in his phrase "nian fang er ba" actually mean twenty-eight?
Qin Shilei politely greeted her, "Miss Kong, hello!"
He couldn't help but think, "Commander Kong is really sparing no expense. He's even sending his own daughter to try and win me over. Is he trying to find a son-in-law?"
"Hello to you too, Qin Shilei. Do you have time to perhaps instruct me in swordplay?" Kong Qingshu's voice was sweet and captivating.
When her father had told her earlier today that he wanted to find her a husband, she had vehemently opposed it. Only upon hearing that the candidate was Nanzhuang City's top expert did she grudgingly agree to meet him. Now, upon seeing Qin Shilei, she felt a flicker of attraction.
Despite his rather gaudy golden armor, Qin Shilei possessed sharp, handsome features and an elegant demeanor, truly a dashing young man. Most importantly, his strength was astonishing; he was the foremost expert in Nanzhuang City, capable of slaying the Zombie King. He perfectly fit her criteria for a partner: stronger than herself and someone she found appealing.
Under her intense gaze, Qin Shilei politely refused, "My swordsmanship is also something I've only been learning for less than a month. I truly wouldn't want to mislead you."
He had rejected her?
Kong Qingshu was stunned.
She had been a pampered prodigy since childhood, not only from a privileged background but also possessing exceptional qualities. Her beauty was captivating, truly that of a goddess. She was accustomed to people flocking around her. This was the first time she had actively approached a man, only to be refused.
"I have been practicing martial arts since I was young, and you are Nanzhuang City's top expert. Surely you wouldn't refuse to give me a few pointers?" Kong Qingshu said coquettishly.
Qin Shilei smiled apologetically. "My skills are mostly powerful finishing moves; I can unleash them but cannot easily retract them. I fear I might accidentally injure you, Miss Kong."
Kong Qingshu felt a surge of annoyance. Was he a block of wood, or a eunuch? Here she was, a beautiful woman, showing interest, and he kept rejecting her. Had her charm somehow diminished?
"Do I look that unappealing?" Kong Qingshu suddenly asked plaintively.
"Uh!" Qin Shilei shook his head. "Miss Kong, you are naturally beautiful and come from a good family. How could anyone find you unappealing?"
"Then why do you always act so distant?" Kong Qingshu's almost childlike demeanor even made Kong Zhendong a bit jealous. Had his daughter truly taken a liking to this young man? Was his precious cabbage about to be eaten by a pig?
Qin Shilei stated directly, "I already have someone I love."
Due to past romantic entanglements, An Qian and Zhang Xiaoli, who were by his side, hadn't eaten, and he had no inclination to get involved with anyone else.
"Heh heh," Kong Qingshu chuckled. "What are you thinking? Can't one have friends besides a lover?"
She uttered words she didn't even believe herself, her eyes betraying a hint of disappointment and frustration.
What rotten luck! Just as she was considering starting a relationship, he already had a partner.
Kong Zhendong said with a touch of regret, "Since Shilei, you are not interested in my daughter, I will not force the issue. However, I hope you understand the sincerity of my intentions and will interact with us more in the future."
At that moment, Shi Yutang entered from outside. "Commander-in-Chief, all the promised rewards for Qin Shilei have been prepared and will be delivered to his residence shortly."
He then placed several documents and a medal on the table. These were the proof of Qin Shilei's elevation to Divisional Commander. From this point onward, Qin Shilei would be the nominal commander of the 007, 018, 019, and 020 Corps.
Kong Zhendong announced, "Tomorrow, I will convene all four corps in the name of the military to announce your appointment as Divisional Commander, overseeing all four units."
Initially, the military's plan was to casually bestow the position of Divisional Commander, then deliberately assign a few troublesome corps to him. To secure his position, he would have to rely on his own strength to subdue them. The military would offer no further assistance. Now, however, in his effort to win Qin Shilei over, Kong Zhendong was personally endorsing him as the Commander-in-Chief.
As if fearing Qin Shilei wouldn't grasp the Commander-in-Chief's goodwill, Shi Yutang specifically added, "With the Commander-in-Chief's personal involvement, and the other two corps' leaders not being overly assertive, I believe Qin Shilei, you will quickly gain control of these four units."
Qin Shilei nodded and expressed his gratitude, "Thank you for the Commander-in-Chief's kind intentions."
After some polite exchanges, Qin Shilei left the command center. By the time he returned to Chiyuan Haoting, the promised armored vehicles and rocket launchers had also been delivered in front of the villa. Kong Zhendong had certainly put in considerable effort to secure Qin Shilei's allegiance. Not only were the tanks and armored vehicles chosen for their superior performance, but the accompanying ammunition also exceeded Qin Shilei's expectations. This was not a time of peace; ammunition was extremely scarce.
The delivery person leaned in and whispered to Qin Shilei, "Mr. Qin, Commander Shi had a major argument with Commander Fan over this batch of equipment. They nearly came to blows."
Qin Shilei understood and replied, "Please convey my thanks to Commander Shi for his generosity. I truly appreciate it."
After the man left, Qin Shilei casually put away some of the ammunition and then instructed Zhang Qiang to find someone who could operate a tank to receive it.
Just as he turned to go back into the villa, Mu Ziping approached, escorting a familiar figure.
Qin Shilei frowned and muttered under his breath, "It seems this trouble cannot be avoided after all."