Silas waved his hand dismissively.
"I’m not competent enough to do that," he replied calmly. "Do whatever you want."
The room went silent.
Frank’s face darkened with rage. "This is a command," he said sharply.
Silas smiled.
"As a captain," he replied softly, "I’m not going to listen to you." His eyes glead with defiance. "Do whatever you want, General Frank."
The silence that followed was heavy, foreboding, and filled with the unmistakable scent of an impending storm.
Hearing those words, Frank let out a low chuckle.
His gaze fixed on Silas, fury simring in his eyes, sharp enough to cut.
Frank drew in a slow, deliberate breath, smoothing his expression into a calm smile that never quite reached his eyes.
"So you really believe I won’t hold you accountable?" His tone carried a quiet threat.
"Don’t misunderstand. I won’t allow you to disrespect just so you can claim dismissal from the military." His fingers tapped lightly against the table. "That has been your goal all along, and I won’t let you achieve it."
Silas listened without blinking, then curved his lips into an unhurried smile.
"Leaving this base?" He tilted his head slightly.
"Why would I ever want that?" His eyes locked onto Frank’s, dead-set and cold.
"My girlfriend is stationed at another base. She often needs certain... resources from the military. Maintaining cooperation like this benefits both of us."
His voice softened, almost pleasant. "And who knows, I might even be able to pull a few strings."
The words dropped into the room like a stone into still water. For a heartbeat, no one breathed. Then Frank’s composure shattered.
"Enough!" His shout echoed off the walls. "If you insist on disrespecting , then you’ll run laps around the base until your salary bleeds dry!"
He knew that Silas was lying, but he had no proof!
Silas only smiled, calm and infuriating. "I won’t." He shrugged lightly.
"I won’t follow your orders, and I certainly won’t allow myself to be arrested. Whatever you intend to do, you simply can’t."
Frank stiffened, a muscle jumping in his jaw. He turned briefly, offering a stiff nod to his teacher, then snapped his attention back.
"Aren’t you worried?" His voice dropped. "I could dismiss you right now and stamp you with a derit you’d never escape."
He shook his head as if brushing away sothing unpleasant. "I’m not even hearing what you’re saying."
Silas’s eyes narrowed slightly, and Frank’s lips twisted into a dark smile.
"At least try to maintain decorum," he continued. "Once this apocalypse ends, the military will be reinstated. With your record, you’ll never be readmitted."
Silas chuckled softly. "I’ve always believed in letting the present stay in the present."
His shoulders relaxed. ’The future can wait.’ "I don’t expect much, and even if the military cos back, I’ll find my way in."
General Frank smiled thinly. "Since you’re not fired yet, I’ll punish you myself." His voice hardened. "I’ll have you locked up for this disrespect."
Silas lifted a finger, wagging it slowly. "You can’t make that decision." His eyes glead. "You’ll need a bit more power."
Frank clenched his fist, knuckles whitening. He finally understood the ga. Silas now had just as many supporters as he did.
As long as Silas wished, every confrontation would end in a draw. Irritation surged, hot and violent, and for a split second, Frank imagined slapping him across the face. He swallowed it down and spoke in a grim, asured tone.
"Then I propose severe punishnt."
The room fell silent again. Then General Janet leaned forward.
"Instead of punishing him, wouldn’t it be better to let him go?" Her voice was firm. "He’s far too disrespectful."
Several generals nodded in agreent. The balance shifted visibly. Frank’s fear crystallized into reality. He felt the urge to claw at his own hair, but he restrained himself and fixed Silas with a hard stare.
"If you don’t wish to stay," he muttered, "then leave." His eyes glinted. "But you’ll surrender half of what you own."
Silas’s smile blood, bright and almost radiant, and it sent a sharp throb through Frank’s temples. "I’m ready."
"Don’t even think about military fraud," Frank snapped. "If you try, you’ll pay dearly."
Silas’s smile softened. "I’ve never committed fraud." He paused, thoughtful. "At most, I play a few tricks. If you’re capable, you’ll survive them."
He stood, the chair scraping loudly against the floor, and walked toward the door.
"I haven’t dismissed this eting!" Frank roared.
Silas glanced back, amusent flickering in his eyes. "It doesn’t matter. I’m already fired."
He left without another glance.
Frank stood there, chest heaving, then forced a stiff nod toward his daughter.
’Once he hands over half his assets, I’ll find where his food is stored,’ he thought darkly. ’I’ll move it all to my own house.’
Elsewhere, Silas was thinking of sothing entirely different. ’If he wants what I own,’ he mused, ’then I’ll make sure that’s exactly what he gets.’
The next day, as Frank sat behind his desk, a dismissal letter landed in his hands.
The mont his eyes scanned the contents, rage exploded through him.
He nearly quit on the spot. Silas had played him perfectly. Without hesitation, Silas had totaled his debts and generously donated the slip half of his debt to the military.
As for personal assets, Silas had calmly declared that everything under his na belonged to Ivy. Ivy wasn’t part of the military. Ivy’s food was Ivy’s alone. Silas personally owned nothing but debt.
The revelation struck like a hamr. Frank’s vision went dark, and he collapsed.
When he woke, he pointed weakly at a nearby subordinate. "Spread the word," he demanded.
The subordinate lowered his head. "It’s already out. Everyone hates Silas now. They want him outside the base."
"Then so be it!" Frank snarled. "Kick him out. Let him learn what it ans to beg for rcy!"
The words froze in his throat as realization dawned. That was exactly what Silas wanted. Exactly what had happened.
The subordinate fell silent, understanding passing between them without another word.
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