This time.
When Duge led the team into action, he had actually completely contradicted the low-profile keywords in his speech and behavior. Therefore, he did everything possible to cover up the flaws. Deceiving the eye was an approach that, although it risked offending people, was the best solution to the problem.
Watching the ace mecha pilot being dragged out by Duge, along with Palm Seal marks on Du Jianming’s and his staff’s reddened faces, Nalan Li was stunned. Although Duge didn’t admit it, she knew Duge had once slapped the President hard in the face.
What she hadn’t expected was that upon their first meeting, Du Jianming—who merely wanted to assess their strength with a very normal inquiry—was slapped in the face by Duge without any hesitation.
It was one thing to slap a commander, but he went ahead and hit all the officers behind him as well.
What on earth was wrong with him?
Once he put on the mask of a masked hero, he wasn’t himself anymore, right?
After a series of slaps, you’ve offended all the high-ranking officials of the Seventh Group Army. They are the most spirited warriors. Do you think they’re like the President who considers the bigger picture?
Aren’t you afraid they’ll shoot you in the back?
Your keyword couldn’t really be ’splinter,’ could it?
Change identity, change persona?
Not only Nalan Li was shocked, but also Xiang Jiaojiao and Xu Wan, especially Xiang Jiaojiao. With agility as her keyword, she once believed no one could catch up with her speed which had been boosted by Sang Chao’s Swift Battle enhancement.
But could Duge’s speed actually be faster than hers?
What was his keyword?
Could it also be related to speed?
No wonder Lin Hong was never worried about her skill to perfection; it turned out she couldn’t possibly reach him with her speed alone, much less dismember him!
If the two of them kissed at their fastest speed, no one else would have a clue, right?
As she watched Duge’s profile, Xiang Jiaojiao’s thoughts inadvertently began to wander...
...
Watching Du Jianming and the group of officers stare at Duge with fury, as if they wanted to shoot him full of arrows, Nalan Li’s head suddenly grew heavy. She began stammering as she tried to explain on behalf of Duge, "Commander Du, I apologize. Alien Warriors are unbridled and hard to tame. I haven’t completely subjugated them yet. Lin Hong’s keyword is ’splinter’; he has multiple personalities. Sometimes, even he can’t control what he does..."
With a glare full of anger at Duge, Du Jianming had to use his rage to cover the shock in his heart.
He had seen videos of Alien Warriors online and considered they might be very strong. Yet, he had never imagined they would be this powerful. Had that fellow from a moment ago harbored killing intent, the top ranks of the Seventh Group Army would have been wiped out by now.
"Nalan Li, there’s no need to explain to him," Duge said. "I’ve already hit the President, so hitting another commander doesn’t matter to me. The higher the rank of the person I hit, the stronger my power becomes. Now it’s just hitting the President and a commander, but in the future, I’ll go to the space frontier to fight the generals of the Hill people, to fight the leaders of the Hill people. Commander Du will forgive me for my broad-mindedness, right?"
A perfect step-down was offered.
Caught off guard, Du Jianming chuckled and clapped his hands, "You’re absolutely right. As long as we can defeat a few more Hill people, I’ll say this slap was worth it..."
"Commander Du truly understands the bigger picture," praised Duge, looking admiringly at Du Jianming. "I am a peace-loving person. If one day I can help Green Star defeat the Hill people, and Commander harbors any resentment, feel free to slap me back. But on the battlefield, I hope the Commander won’t harbor any grudges."
"The young brother worries too much," laughed Du Jianming. "With restless Alien Warriors below and alien invaders threatening Green Star above, we are immensely grateful for your assistance. How could we possibly turn on you? As for the slapping, even less likely. If you can help Green Star defeat the Hill people, what’s another slap on this cheek for me?"
"Such noble righteousness, Commander Du," Duge greeted with a fist.
"You are too courteous," returned Du Jianming with a salute.
Nalan Li was dumbfounded.
She swallowed hard. The slapping incident was settled just like that?
What sort of incredible social skills were these?
The longer she interacted with Duge, the more she felt like a waste, as if her decade-plus of special agent training was nothing but playing house in kindergarten...
"Commander Du, should my companions still demonstrate their abilities?" Duge asked with a smile.
"Of course, if they can demonstrate, they should. Knowing both ourselves and our enemy, we can win every battle. Once I understand everyone’s capabilities, I can coordinate with you better. The Alien Warriors from Marta are powerful, and we will have to rely on you to attack them," Du Jianming’s gaze fell on Xu Wan and the others, smiling, "But there’s no need to take your skill demonstrations out on the old man. I’m too old to take a few slaps!"