NCCnovel Chapter 1468 Lingering on the Edge
Chapter 1468 Lingering on the Edge
He adopted a state of being that was a mixture of immense exhaustion, regret, and even...
A hint of humble obedience in his expression.
His massive metal hands struggled to support him on the handrail, slowly, with a creaking sound of metal joints grinding together, as he tried to stand up.
This action immediately alerted Claude and the others, who subtly raised their weapons.
But the captain did not stand up straight. Instead, he bowed slightly towards the head of the table in an unprecedented, almost hunched posture. His hoarse, dry voice rang out, carrying a heavy metallic friction noise, yet deliberately kept calm:
“Xiao... Commander.”
This address seemed to have exhausted a great deal of effort, carrying a distinct awkwardness and difficulty.
"You...win."
He paused, seemingly trying to organize his thoughts to make his words sound more sincere!
"Just now... it was I... no, it was me... who was blinded by anger and... the shame of defeat."
He reluctantly admitted, his crimson electronic eyes not even daring to look directly at Xiao Dingshan, but instead fixed on the ground, seemingly muttering to himself with his head down:
“I…I admit…my mistake. I…underestimated Xiao Ce, and I…underestimated you.”
He took a deep breath, and the sound of his inhalation said:
"You...are right. My era...is over."
My stubbornness and arrogance... have cost the lives of too many loyal warriors... Looking back now...
I...I am truly no longer fit to lead the legion.
His gaze slowly swept over the silent officers, his voice carrying a deliberately crafted sorrow:
“Junk...Sophia...Claude...and everyone...please...accept my apology.”
He bowed slightly, his posture extremely humble: "I'm sorry...to those brothers who died in battle...and...I'm sorry to you all..."
This sudden confession and humble attitude made the atmosphere in the meeting room even more strange.
The officers looked at each other, their faces filled with surprise and uncertainty.
Jonk was somewhat moved, his eyes flickering;
Sofia pushed up her glasses; her gaze behind the lenses remained sharp and scrutinizing.
Claude frowned, his grip on his weapon tightening; he instinctively sensed something was wrong.
Victor silently increased the intensity of the energy suppression field.
Actually, what the captain wanted was very simple; what he thought was even simpler...
That means only at the poker table is there a chance to turn the tables...
Xiao Dingshan stood before the main seat, his face devoid of any joy of "victory," only displaying a cold calm.
He watched the captain's humble performance, and saw the predator's resentment and calculation that he tried to hide but could still catch in his eyes. A slow smile crept onto his lips.
It's not a feeling of relief, nor is it a feeling of agreement.
It was a knowing, sarcastic laugh.
It's like admiring a wounded beast, trying to lull the hunter into a false sense of security by feigning death.
"Captain..."
Xiao Dingshan's voice was not loud, but it clearly drowned out the tragic atmosphere that the chief captain had deliberately created!
Each word was like an ice bead hitting a metal floor. He said calmly, "The acting was quite good."
The captain's hunched body stiffened abruptly, as if he had been pierced by an invisible needle.
He looked up, a hint of undisguised astonishment and panic flashing deep within his crimson electronic eyes!
But she quickly masked it with a look of exhaustion on her face: "Xiao... Commander... what... what do you mean by that? I... I meant it sincerely..."
"sincere?"
Xiao Dingshan took a step forward, looked at the captain, and then said coldly, "Are you truly admitting defeat? Do you genuinely believe that siding with the Prince is a wise move? Or..."
He suddenly stopped, his gaze like a cold probe, piercing straight to the captain's core as he asked:
"Do you really think that by temporarily backing down and admitting defeat, you can lull us into a false sense of security and then find an opportunity to... slip away?"
He leaned slightly closer to the captain's metallic face, frozen in shock...
The voice was lowered even further, yet carried a chilling edge:
"Play the 'revenge is a dish best served cold' game? Wait until you escape alive, then gather your strength and come back for a comeback?"
boom!
Xiao Dingshan's words were like a thunderclap, exploding in the captain's mind!
A tremendous storm raged within him! How could he have known?!
My thoughts were so clearly seen through by the other party!
A chill ran through me...
No! Absolutely not!
The captain's reaction was absolutely Oscar-worthy!
His electronic eyes widened suddenly, his face instantly filled with the grief and urgency of being wrongly accused, his voice rising eight octaves, trembling slightly...
"Commander Xiao! How could you make such a conjecture?!"
What right do I have to even think about making a comeback?!
I've simply come to terms with reality! I've realized my own failure!
I just think you're right...
I...I genuinely want to join everyone!
For the Legion... no, for the future of the 'Night Owl' Legion... do your part!
Even if... even if I'm just an ordinary soldier!
He became increasingly agitated as he spoke, even turning to the officers present, his voice carrying a fervent, sorrowful tone, and even a hint of pleading:
"Everyone! Did you see that? Commander Xiao... he actually distrusts me so much!"
Even someone like me, who has given up everything and only wants to survive...
He must be suspicious of everything! He must be on guard against everything!
Today it is me, a defeated former leader, who cannot tolerate this!
What about tomorrow? And the day after tomorrow?
When you are no longer so useful to him, when you once...
Even if there's only a fleeting moment of hesitation, what if he also suspects you? Does he see you as a potential threat, and then...?
He took a deep breath, amplifying the despair and fear he had deliberately created to the extreme, and continued:
"Clear them out one by one?!"
"If he can't even tolerate me, do you think he'll tolerate you?!"
These words, like a poisoned dagger, precisely pierced the most hidden corners of some officers' hearts...
Xiao Dingshan's eyes turned slightly cold when he heard him say that.
This guy is really vicious...
A collective gasp filled the conference room...
The emotion on Jonker's face turned into deep worry, and his gaze toward Xiao Dingshan was filled with complexity.
Some mid-level officers also began to whisper among themselves, their eyes darting around nervously.
Sofia remained calm, though her brow furrowed slightly. Claude was even more vigilant, his hand already half-drawing the energy pistol from his waist. Victor remained silent, but monitored everyone's expressions.
Fear is contagious, especially among groups that have just experienced a disruptive betrayal...
The chief commander skillfully exploited this remaining subconscious loyalty to the former leader and uncertainty about the future, successfully sowing a seed of suspicion between Xiao Dingshan and the new converts.
The captain knew very well that Xiao Dingshan should simply exterminate them all.
Therefore, these people will definitely become more suspicious of Xiao Dingshan...
“Commander Xiao…”
Jonk hesitated for a moment, but finally spoke, his voice pleading.
"The captain...he...he has admitted his mistake."
He was, after all, our leader.
Now that he's willing to humble himself and join us... perhaps... perhaps we should give him a chance? Let him prove himself?
He dared not look at the captain, his gaze only fixed on Xiao Dingshan.
"Yes, Commander Xiao..."
Another mid-level officer in charge of logistics chimed in quietly:
"He's all alone now, what trouble can he cause? Keeping him around might...maybe appease the soldiers who still have feelings for him...and stabilize morale?"
"Dr. Sophia..."
The captain looked at the woman who held the key to life at that moment, his voice filled with humble pleading:
I know I haven't been supportive enough of your research in the past...
But please believe me, I respect the value of technology!
I'm willing to work as a helper in your lab! Moving equipment, cleaning samples... I'll do anything! I just need a place to stay!
Sophia pushed up her glasses, her icy blue eyes scrutinizing the Captain-Commander...
He glanced at Xiao Dingshan again, then slowly spoke, his voice as calm as ever:
"From a purely pragmatic perspective, his presence could indeed cause unnecessary internal problems. However..."
She then changed the subject, saying, "Completely eliminating him might leave a shadow in the minds of some soldiers, especially during this sensitive period when we have just completed the transfer of power."
Although his technical skills are not high, as an experimental subject, he may... have special research value?
For example, could we study the long-term effects of high-intensity combat on advanced mechanical neural units?
Her voice was cold and devoid of any emotion...
It's as if they're evaluating an item.
Claude snorted and said in a gruff voice:
"Hmph! Sweet talk! Commander Xiao, this guy doesn't tell the truth at all! He's just a menace! Let me kill him outright!" He had already raised his energy pistol halfway.
Victor then sent a message to Siu Ding Shan via a private communication channel:
"Commander, emotional fluctuation analysis shows that there is a 93.7% chance that the Commander-in-Chief is lying. His inflammatory remarks have had a significant impact on some officers. Immediate physical isolation is recommended."
Xiao Dingshan watched this scene unfold quietly...
Hearing the different voices from all sides, the cold smile on his face had long since vanished, replaced by an unfathomable calm, like the sea before a storm.
His deep gaze lingered for a few seconds on the Captain-Commander's metallic face, which was filled with sincerity and grief, before slowly sweeping over the worries of Jonk and the others, Claude's murderous intent, and Sophia's scheming.
He knew perfectly well what was going on.
The captain's tactic of feigning retreat to advance and sowing discord was extremely insidious.
kill him?
It was certainly exhilarating, but as Jonk and Sophia said!
Executing a former leader in front of newly turned officers when morale is low, no matter how justified the reasons, will inevitably leave a shadow of sympathy and betrayal, hindering his ability to fully consolidate his forces.
Moreover, he keenly perceived that Sophia's suggestion regarding the research value, though cold, offered a new perspective.
We can't kill them, at least not openly now. But we absolutely cannot let them escape!
Xiao Dingshan's lips curled up again!
This time, it wasn't a sneer, but a composed smile that conveyed a sense of complete control and perfect strategy.
He raised his hand and made a downward pressing motion. The invisible pressure made Claude's finger, which was about to pull the trigger, stop, and also brought the discussion of Jon and the others to an abrupt halt.
"Everyone, please be patient."
Xiao Dingshan's voice was gentle yet carried an undeniable force as he said, "Claude, put away your weapon. Engineer Jonk, I understand your concerns. Dr. Sophia's pragmatic views... are also very insightful."
His gaze finally fell back on the captain. His gaze was calm and unwavering, yet it made the captain feel as if all his pretense had been stripped away, leaving him naked and exposed to the cold analytical instruments.
"Captain..."
Xiao Dingshan spoke slowly, his tone even carrying a hint of tolerance:
"Since you've so suddenly come to your senses and are willing to condescend to join our 'Night Owl' Legion and serve the Prince, and even more remarkably, Jon, Dr. Sophia, and others have all spoken up for you..."
He paused deliberately, admiring the fleeting glint of self-satisfied shrewdness in the captain's eyes.
"Well then, considering that your comrades have pleaded for you, and also out of respect for your past leadership within the Legion..."
Xiao Dingshan's voice suddenly became clear and authoritative as he declared, "I, Xiao Dingshan, as the acting commander of the 'Night Owl' Legion, hereby declare that I accept the loyalty of the Grand Commander. You are permitted to remain in the Legion!"
Upon hearing this, Jonk breathed a sigh of relief!
Several mid-level officers also showed some relief.
Sofia pushed up her glasses, looking as if she had expected it.
Claude snorted heavily and reluctantly sheathed his weapon.
The captain was overjoyed!
The first step was a success! He was immediately about to express his gratitude and loyalty once again.
However, Xiao Dingshan's next words were like ice water poured over his head:
"However, the captain has a special identity and a complicated past."
For the sake of the legion's stability and your own safety, you cannot be granted command authority or access to core secrets at this time.
Xiao Dingshan said succinctly, “Your new beginning will start at Dr. Sophia’s Resurrection Center.”
The doctor just mentioned that the state of higher mechanosynthetic units after extreme stress is worth studying...
You will serve as the doctor's special observation subject and... assistant, helping the doctor with some basic work.
"You don't need to bother with things like delving into core databases and weapon systems."
"assistant"?
"Object of observation"?
Are they using him as an experimental subject?
The captain's heart sank instantly. This was nothing short of a blatant insult and a form of imprisonment!
But he dared not show the slightest expression on his face...
He could only suppress the immense humiliation and force out a grateful expression that was more like a grimace:
"Thank you... thank you Commander Xiao... for your generosity... I... I will definitely... cooperate well with Dr. Sophia..."
"very good..."