Though Ferdinand did not fear death, the other generals did.
With James’ threat looming over them, they decided to concede. “I-It was Willy. He told us to send the
twenty-eight fighters to fight you at Mt. Thunder. If they lose, then we were supposed to mobilize our
armies.”
“That’s right! It was Willy who planned all this.”
“He instructed us to capture the Black Shadow General of the Southern Plains to use as leverage
against you. We only mobilized because he said he needed our help.” Everyone clamored at once.
James clenched his fists.
Henry’s life was hanging by a thread because of them. He wanted all of them dead, right there and
then. The atmosphere in the room chilled over. The generals lying on the floor could sense his lethal
intent. They quivered in fear as if they were face-to-face with a ferocious beast.
James took a deep breath.
He unclenched his fists.
Against his personal desires, he chose not to kill them. After all, killing them might make it harder for
him to leave the mountain alive.
“Reporting to central command. We’ve lost the Black Dragon’s trail. Please give further instructions.”
“No Black Dragon sighted in Area C.”
Intelligence reports began flooding in. James grabbed a general and hissed, “Order the army to head
toward Area D.” The general did not dare disobey him.
“This is central command. We have received news that the Black Dragon has escaped to Area D. Head
toward the area immediately.”
After the general relayed his orders, James smashed the communications equipment to pieces.
With that, central command lost all contact with the outside world.
Now, all James needed to do was wait for dawn. Henry’s grave condition occupied the back of his
mind. He had no idea if he was still alive. After tying everyone in the room up, James speedily left the
room and headed for the cave where he had hidden Henry.
Using his great agility, he traversed through the dense forest in the blink of an eye. Soon, he reached
the cave and found Henry. Carrying Henry on his back, he quickly returned to the top of Mt. Thunder.
The sun’s rays peeked through the horizon.
James inspected Henry’s condition. He pulled a silver needle out and stimulated Henry’s organs to
keep him alive.
At the same time, in the military region of the Southern Plains…
Levi was awake the whole night.
He felt anxious ever since seeing James off. In his office, his eyes were glued to his clock the whole
time. It was six o’clock in the morning. The sun was slowly rising above the horizon.
James had not returned.
He stood up and gave the order, “Attention!” “Air force regiment reporting for duty!” “Special forces
brigade reporting for duty!” “Infantry battalion reporting for duty!” “Missile regiment reporting for duty!”
As Levi delegated the orders, all buildings in the military region lighted up. All the commanders of
different brigades and regiments reported for duty.
Levi looked at the time once again and shouted, “Attention! We’ll leave camp at seven o’clock in the
morning. Our destination’s Mt. Thunder Pass. Our mission? Flatten it!”
The sound of the war trumpet could be heard throughout the entire military region. Everyone was ready
for combat.
All combat aircraft were prepared for take-off at any moment. All armored vehicles, tanks, and missile
launching vehicles stood on standby.
Hundreds of thousands of the Black Dragon army boarded the vehicles. After Levi gave his directives,
all his generals headed to his office.
“General Levi, what’s going on?” “Why are we blowing the war trumpet?” “Is the enemy attacking?”
“The Black Dragon General has resigned. Have you asked the higher-ups for permission?” Faced with
their questions, Levi replied, “Though the Black Dragon has resigned from his post, he’ll always be the
commander in my heart. Yesterday, he appeared at the Southern Plains and headed toward Mt.
Thunder Pass. Before he left, he ordered us to mobilize the army and flatten the Mt. Thunder Pass if he
didn’t return by daybreak.”
62fb1bb41dcb31934bd49bda