System, are you messing with me? - Chapter 22: Chapter 22

Thanks to the fact that Shu Ning took down a huge amount of Sphinx the previous day and confused the rest of the still living monsters on Samadon, the following parts of the war were way more comfortable to fight.
Less and less soldiers got injured or even killed from the sharp claws of the creatures and more and more strength and faith returned to the human participants of this war.
Especially General Sun stood elegantly with his military uniform on the battlefield while slaying the Sphinx left and right and bathing in their disgusting blood. It was an amazing sight to behold to see such a handsome and refined man powerfully march over the wide field, wielding his sword to dispose of every obstacle in his way. So much so, that many of the other soldiers and even Zhou Feng couldn't help but glancing at him from time to time.
In the few days that the third army needed to reduce the Sphinx population to an acceptable number, Shu Ning and a few of his comrades had taken the blue moon on orders of the Captain to a hidden place further into the planet. It was discussed before that the stone would stay on Samadon for now and some of the researchers on their home planet could investigate about it in detail. Only after making sure the Stone was safe, would it be brought back to the base for further research.
Bringing the stone into the depths of the monsters home posed to be quite the difficulty though as Shu Ning couldn't use any more of the Systems props for a while, but after struggling for ten days in the 'tigers den', the small team finally made it back to their camp again and the entire third army could at last board the spaceship to return.
The rooms inside of the transport were very big and comfortable so that all of the dead tired soldiers just dropped down onto the soft cushions of their beds and fell asleep right away. Only Shu Ning, Zhou Feng and Sun Zhilong stayed awake during the entire travel time because of different reasons.
Zhou Feng was taking a comfortable bubble bath inside of her own single room that she snatched as soon as she boarded the ship while thinking of a way to secretly get rid of Yang Quan and get her hands on the General. But during the entire second half of the war the man either completely ignored her efforts or just coldly stared at her without any reason, so she could only angrily gnash her teeth at those memories and focus more on planning Yang Quan's downfall.
At Sun Zhilongs side there was still something else he needed to attend to before succumbing to the comfort of sleep himself. The interface of the light brain that he had just opened up blinked slightly while working overdrive on his request before making way to a middle aged wrinkled face that momentarily scowled in displeasure when he saw who was at the other side of the call. A beat of silence passed between the two high ranking Soldiers as they just stared at each other, swirling with dark thoughts of the other. But before long Sun Zhilong was snapped out of his reverie by the loud scolding of the other that would definitely last a while and that he already knew would be coming in no time.
And while all the rest of the lower ranking soldiers relaxed inside of their shared rooms and used the few hours that they had left to forget about their previous anxieties and stress, Shu Ning just dropped down on to a small armchair in the corner of his own single room that he go dragged into by another companion and stared blankly ahead as he conversed with his system about the happenings of the war and some other irrelevant things. Shu Ning just couldn't rest after all that happened. Too many thoughts about the scheming Female Lead and the strange light he saw in the Generals eyes were swirling inside of his head. Thanks to the calm and innocent voice of his System though, Shu Ning could slowly feel his confusing thoughts stopp and his body relax into the soft cushions of the chair in this unfamiliar place and yet unfamiliar world.
After another six hours of travelling through the dark expanse of the universe, the airship finally landed at the docs of the military base. Two rows of bulky men with the same uniform as their own stood readily on the metal bridge of the platform to await their arrival. So as soon as the heavy door of their transport opened to reveal the men's stock stiff posture, the loud welcoming and congratulations of the other teams accompanied Sun Zhilong and his entire group while they all proudly walked past the celebrating soldiers as they made their way inside of the building.
No one in the military actually thought that the third army would return from the mission in one piece much less come back victorious. Most of the Soldiers where just waiting for the notice of complete annihilation of their comrades but when that never came and now even their airship arrived back home, the celebration and talk about the armies feat and strength were numerous.
Pure joy was plastered onto the faces of the posing soldiers Shu Ning passed and for a short while everyone really did seem to treat their team as war Heros and miracle. But that feeling quickly dissipated again when Sun Zhilong guided their team along a narrow hallway and into a gorgeous big hall. At least gorgeous to some peoples standards. For Shu Ning though it was just out right snooty with all the gold decorations, minx vases and stone statues of important figures.
At the other side of the grand hall a group of older men were situated on a king sized couch  inlaid with sparkling sapphires. But that wasn't the worst of it. That couch and a few other similar enriched armchairs were placed on top of a slightly raised stage, as if those overly important elders saw them selves way above everyone else. The position of their seating probably meant to make it easier for them to look down on the others. With how small their body length seemed to be.
Shu Ning giggled softly at the picture of seven old and tiny men with pointed hats on an oversized couch that Alpha all to happily applied to his own amusing thoughts.
"General Sun. How wonderful that you finally decided to come back to us. We were all terribly worried about your team after all."
Sun Zhilong lifted his eyes away from the stage of the elders to search for the person addressing him. The voice was all to familiar to any of the third armies soldiers as it was quite common to see the fifth army clash with their own. They were like ice and fire. If the two teams came across each other in the military base, insults were still the most harmless things that could happen.
So with all the ferocity that the terribly exhausted third army could muster, they their heads to the left side of the hall and glared at every one of the other team members until the sparks became visible.
The forefront of the fifth army took a handsome and muscular young man. Not as handsome and refined as General Sun but the other still carried himself with the grace of a person in his position. If one could completely ignore the ugly sneer and the hateful words sprouting out of his mouth,  he might even seem likeable.
"General Han. We appreciate your concern for us, but there was no need to worry. The mission was, after all, given to us in believe that we wouldn't dissapoint the elders trust."
Captain Han's facial features seemed to twist even more in anger at Sun Zhilongs nonchalant tone. Within a few steps the man had already marched right up into the personal space of his arch enemy in provocation.
"Feel like you are a hero now, or what? Don't get ahead of yourself. It will take decades for your rediculous team to actually be able to hold their own against me. With those weaklings you will never stepp up the ladder at all. You will always stay the puny little General who will die sometime soon because of the inabilities of your 'soldiers'."
Shu Ning felt his comrades tens beside him. They were already on edge just from seeing the fifth army before  but by now every single one of their people were boiling inside and only holding back their temper because their Captain hasn't made a move yet.
Sun Zhilong looked oddly calm for someone on the receiving end of such blatant disrespect. As if the man didn't hear anything at all.
That only incited the aggression of Captain Han more though. With a low threatening growl the man prepared to throw himself onto the other General when another Soldier determinedly stepped between the two opposing factions.
"If General Han would please be so kind as to stepp down. Our comrades have already tired themselves from battle and wouldn't make up for a good fight. In others eyes that could only be seen as bullying.  The elders are also still waiting for our report on our mission. it would be disrespectful to keep them waiting for much longer. For your own good as well, sir."
The Protagonist smoothly bend her waist into a half bow to show her sincerity before straightening her back once again and lifting her head to stare directly into General Han's eyes.
"If you could move your rivalry to a better time and not in the present of the esteemed elders, we would be grateful to proceed."
General Han scoffed at the intrusive soldier standing unafraid before him and would have liked to show this child how fearsome he could get but the young ones words were indeed reasonable. Starting a fight in front of the elders seats has never ended good before, so he rather held back his growing irritation for now and get back at those trash another time.
"We'll be leaving. But don't think for a second that this is over brat. Putting your head out where it doesn't belong has never ended good. Remember that."
Shu Ning stood quietly at the sidelines and watched the whole conflict unfold and then abruptly end with just a few of Zhou Feng's words. The protagonist truly had a talent with getting her way and thanks to her interference in the last minute, all of their comrades were looking at her with admiration and gratitude. Even a few of the elders nodded approvingly at her praise of them.
Just a few words and the whole room practically hang at her lips. Especially one such enchanted person caught the attention of Shu Ning. It was a slender youth with slight stubbles at his chin and whose hard chest muscles almost burst the military uniform.
The young man was standing right behind the leader of the fifth army and absentmindedly rubbed his lips with his fingers as he dazedly gazed at Zhou Feng. When Captain Han gave orders to depart another soldier of their team needed to push the guy forward with both of his hands to finally get him moving.
Shu Ning: "Alpha. Is this a joke? What is the Male Lead doing here? In the original Plot, Wu Kang met the Protagonist after Yang Quan ran away with her and followed the female back to the army after the originals death. So what is that guy doing here now? And how come he looked like a love struck donkey with only one look at that wretched female?"
System: "..."
Shu Ning: "Don't play dead with me. I can feel you role around my consciousness."
System: "Don't be angry Host. This system doesn't know what the Male Lead is doing here. But Host can always be sure that changing the plot will only mean that the world will search for a different way to bring the Leads together (*^▽^*)"
Shu Ning: "...All right. Doesn't matter. He is included in my revenge plan anyway. Still. Can you check the reason he came here?"
System: "Of course Host. Just give me five minutes....No, three will be enough."
Shu Ning internally rolled his eyes at the Systems foolish behavior but otherwise just let Alpha act or talk in anyway that they wanted to. As long as Alpha got the work done, they could stay the way they are. After getting used to the Systems childish personality, it would be weird anyway if they suddenly changed.
System: "Got it. It seemed that Wu Kang's father enrolled the Male Lead at this military base."
Shu Ning: "Seemed that even that guys father had enough of him now. Makes it easier for me though. I don't have to hunt him down after finishing with the Protagonist."