Chapter 1536 A Chance To Redeem Yourself


    General Zahn''s frustration was more than evident in his growled answer. "I was worried about the


    operation, that''s why.”


    "And for a damn good reason too, it seems." He shot a withering re at Axel. "Jordan, before you


    decided to attack General Cross, were you aware that your actions would cause a diplomatic mess


    so horrible it would take years to clean up?"


    Axel''s expression betrayed his shock and resentment at being chewed out so directly. "But, sir!


    General Cross and his people killed those captives— that''s a direct breach of all the international


    laws we stand for-"


    "And I don''t me him in the least," General Zahn interrupted coolly.


    Axel was dumbfounded as he started to question, "Sir-"


    General Zahn eyed the various captives kneeling on the ground with distaste. He was well aware of


    their status as the backbone of the Dark Temple. He said coldly, "Whatever you may think about


    these bastards, I''m going to assure you that they are at least ten times worse than that. They aren''t


    just professional killers— no, they train others to be their brand of killers as well."


    "Every year, they abduct millions of children from all around the world and bring them to


    concentration camps in Siberia." General Zahn chuckled humorlessly. "And that frozen hell is where


    they train those children to kill. Out of those millions of children, usually only one survives the entire


    ordeal."


    Axel''s eyes widened in horror. He sucked in a cold breath of air unconsciously.


    A million children, set upon each other''s throats to survive, killing and killing until only one prodigy


    survived.


    This was truly sess, if sess was something cruel that demanded to be built on a mountain of


    bleached bones and rotten flesh.


    General Zahn''s next words were bitter. "And this brainwashing is exactly how they create their


    infamous assassins. For every top-grade assassin they create, countless families across the world


    loses a child. They are worse than cruel- they are literally living devils on this earth.""


    "And so,” General Zahn said with the same sense of bitterness that had suffused his earlier words,


    "I say well done, General Cross."


    Upon hearing General Zahn''s words, Axel fell awkwardly silent. What had seemed like righteous


    anger earlier now felt extremely out of ce, an insult to every victim of the Dark Temple. Without


    that feeling of justice, he was oddly unsure of how to address Nathan now.


    General Zahn calmly said, "Now, Jordan, I want you to apologize to General Cross."


    Reluctantly, as much as he chafed against it, Axel did as he was told. Summoning his courage, he


    apologized in a small voice, "General Cross, I''m sorry for offending you earlier. Please ept my


    apology."


    However, his principles would not allow him to roll over so utterly and he raised his chin in a


    purposely defiant manner, gritting his teeth. "But I still believe it''s wrong to just kill prisoners of war


    who have already surrendered to us!"


    "Even if they are truly guilty, they still have to stand trial and let thew decide whether they should


    be killed or spared.” Axel''s voice was impassioned.


    Nathan just sighed lightly, as if he had heard this argument more than once. "The way I see it, I''m


    just responsible for sending the sinners to face God. Then it''s His call whether He wants to forgive


    them or not."


    Upon hearing Nathan''s flippant statement, Axel and his Peacekeepers once again found


    themselves dumbfounded.


    Nathan broke into a smile, patting Axel''s shoulder. He said, "I''ve said this before, but you have your


    own principles and I have my own code. None of us are in the wrong; we''re just doing our duties."


    "But," Nathan added, "You''re still inexperienced. You need a lot more training."


    Under the dried blood on his face, Axel flushed an embarrassed shade of red.


    Chuckling as he came over to shake hands with Nathan, General Zahn said, "My Peacekeepers


    usually aren''t allowed to interfere in battles, General Cross. They have good and adequate training,


    but they could use some pointers from you and your men in terms of actual battlefield experience."


    "You''re too modest, General Zahn," Nathan smiled, sping the other man''s hand firmly. "Especially


    since my men and I all look up to you as one of the infamous Princes of Hell."


    General Zahn gave a hearty chuckle of acknowledgement. "That may be true, but I''m not much next


    to your legendary prowess, General Cross."


    They went back and forth like this for a while, exchanging various tteringments with each


    other. Finally, Nathan was able to leave General Zahn in charge to settle the aftermath of the scene.


    With Colin, Ava and the Elite Eight in tow, Nathan left the Dark Temple.


    That night, they boarded a private jet to make the long trip back to their nation.


    Making the trip alongside Nathan and his other allies were Ava''s mother, her younger brother, and


    her younger sister.


    Inside the Commanding Officer''s cabin, Ava was kneeling remorsefully in front of a seated Nathan.


    Tears ran unrestrained down her cheeks as she cried like a little child.


    Ever since thatst incident, she had felt far too ashamed to see the General again, much less


    show herself in his presence. And yet, he had stille to rescue her and her family.


    In the past, she had repressed every single emotion to survive the endless stretch of dark days. But


    now, on the ne headed back home, that dam had broken down thunderously. She threw herself


    onto her knees before Nathan, hugging his feet tightly as she cried and cried like a lost child finally


    returning home atst.


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    Nathan looked down at Ava silently, watching her body shake with every sob. In a measured tone,


    he said slowly, "I want you to know that the crimes youmitted was unforgivable."


    At Ava''s soundless nod, he continued, "But the North Army now requires every bit of manpower it


    can get and training a new talent isn''t easy. That''s why I''m pardoning you. However, you will be


    demoted to the lowest rank in the army and you are given a chance to redeem and prove yourself


    again. Do you ept these terms?"


    It was not so much a question than an order, but Ava raised her tear-streaked face to look up at


    Nathan without any hesitation. "Yes, General, I do."


    Teary-eyed, she caught his gaze. "I am your humble servant, General, to the end of this life and this


    world. I will never ask for more again, not now, not ever. As long as


    you''re willing to allow me to serve under you and fight your battles, I will be content."


    Rating the Trantion Will Gain Two Pearls.