I, who was eager to retire, became an Imperial General.

Chapter 24 Maslow's Quotes

"Ahem, Captain, I'm just carrying out a mission. Really, I'm not happy at all because I can use the mission as an excuse to curse people. I promise you!"

Looking at John's ferocious expression, Wendy gave him a forced laugh and explained.

Before you say that, could you please put away that excited smile on your face?
Isn't this just a classic case of protesting too much?
And he was repeating the same old things I said in the command post.
Did I give you permission to read it? You idiot, don't you have any sense of copyright?
By this time, John had already realized what was happening.

The words Wendy just recited in front of everyone were just the same old lines he made up on the spot to deal with Dormammu and his gang of idiots.

This sense of social stagnation, as if someone were reading a diary aloud, instantly infuriated John.

The merciless iron hand pressing down on the other person's head tightened its grip, ignoring Wendy's pleading screams, its voice filled with rage:

"Mission? What kind of bullshit mission requires you to perform this damn cult propaganda ritual in front of the 14th squad? You'd better give me a reasonable explanation, Sergeant Wendy!"

"Ah, Captain, it's true, I'm not lying to you. This was an order personally given by General Dormammu. I really didn't mean to punish them, boohoo!"

Wendy looked at John with teary eyes, her expression full of grievance.

The instructions were given personally by Dormammu?

Wait, could it be...?

Upon hearing these words, John seemed to finally realize something, and his pupils dilated.

As if to confirm his inner judgment, Wendy, looking aggrieved, quickly gave an answer that made John's eyes go black:

"Just half an hour ago, after the meeting at the command post, His Excellency the General sent his bodyguard to the 6th Battalion and issued a task to have the soldiers read Maslow's Quotations to enhance their understanding of the Imperial spirit."

"The so-called 'Maslow's Quotations' is your speech at the meeting. The general believed that the spirit you put forward at the meeting not only fully explained the spirit of the empire, but was also forward-looking and very educational. Therefore, the general ordered that your quotes be compiled into a book and that the soldiers read and memorize them."

"In order to test the specific effectiveness, the general arranged for a pilot test to begin with our 14th squad. For this purpose, Battalion Commander Olaf specially appointed me as the ideological instructor of our squad, responsible for supervising the squad members' memorization of Maslow's quotes."

"So I really am carrying out a mission, and I'm definitely not making excuses to vent my stress by yelling at people. Please, Captain John, you have to believe me!"

Looking at Wendy, who was explaining things to him with a sincere expression, John felt a ringing in his ears and his hands and feet began to feel cold uncontrollably.

He thought his survival plan being disrupted was bad enough, but he never expected that old man Dormammu would leave him with a damn 'big surprise'.

Moreover, it was a huge surprise that would allow him to completely become an 'imperial lackey'!

This isn't some quote promoting the spirit of empire; this is fucking trying to kill John Maslow!
If this damned quote were to gain the Empire's approval and officially spread within the Imperial Army...

Without a doubt, John was certain that within half a month, the Allied forces would send professional agents to assassinate him, the 'Number One Lackey of the Empire'!

Stop it! This damn propaganda must be stopped!
This is exactly the guillotine developed by Louis XVI!
John was so angry that the veins on his forehead bulged, and he wanted nothing more than to snatch the damn quote from Wendy's hand and tear it to shreds.

But feeling the admiring or questioning gazes of those around him, he knew that if he wanted to stop this damned lecture on promoting 'loyalty,' he would have to find a suitable reason.

Otherwise, he'll probably be met with a smile from the surveillance forces!

Thinking of this, John immediately took a deep breath, suppressing the urge to hang Wendy, that idiot subordinate, up and beat her. Instead, he forced a smile and began to work his brain at lightning speed:

“Oh, I see. It seems I misunderstood. But Wendy, I think you seem to have some misunderstanding about Battalion Commander Olaf’s instructions.”

"deviation?"

Wendy looked at John with a puzzled expression, then hesitated, pointing to the enthusiastic crowd:
"I don't see any problem, Captain. Look, everyone is incredibly excited to be able to read your quotes!"

That's the damn problem, you brainless idiot!
John was furious, but he suppressed his anger and didn't lash out. Instead, under Wendy's questioning gaze, he calmly shook his head.

"No, this forced memorization and understanding of loyalty, apart from making things look better on the surface, does not play a significant role in helping soldiers understand the true spirit of the Empire."

"Personally, I believe that as a soldier of the Empire, if you want to prove your loyalty to the Empire, this kind of lecture is not the way to do it."

"While this kind of mass recitation may indeed have some effect, it is inefficient and a deceptive practice."

"A soldier's loyalty to the empire is never measured by how loudly he shouts his slogans, but by his actual actions!"

"Those who are truly loyal to the empire are often those who can hold firm to their principles when faced with external temptations and dare to give their lives for the empire in times of crisis."

"When the empire is in decline, it will not betray its country for fame and fortune; when the empire is strong, it will not become corrupt for personal gain."

"A true imperial warrior should live his life in such a way that when he looks back, he will not regret wasting his years, nor be ashamed of having accomplished nothing."

"On his deathbed, he could proudly say, 'I have dedicated my entire life and all my energy to the most magnificent cause in the world: the struggle for the strength of the empire!'"

"This is the true spirit of the empire, and the loyalty that all soldiers in our empire must learn!"

Amidst the astonished and admiring gazes of the crowd, John slowly withdrew his right hand from Wendy's head, then spoke with a 'kind' expression to this foolish subordinate who only caused him trouble:

"So, Sergeant Wendy, do you understand what to do now?"

"I understand, Warrant Officer. I have realized my mistake and fully understand the imperial spirit you wanted to convey to me!"

After recovering from John's inspiring speech, Wendy, whose eyes were now red with emotion, looked at John as if she were looking at a great man. She immediately straightened her back, her face full of confidence.

Just when John thought this damned 'Maslow trial' was about to come to an end, Wendy's next words completely froze the smile on his face.

"To ensure that the soldiers can more deeply understand the spirit you convey, starting today, I will cancel the inefficient practice of holding collective lectures and instead establish a Maslow Quotations study group to regularly share and exchange our experiences in memorizing Maslow's Quotations, so that we can learn from you better!"

After a slight pause, as if remembering something, Wendy immediately turned around and raised her arms to the rest of the crowd, whose eyes were sparkling:

"Everyone, let's learn and understand the true spirit of Maslow together!"

Get it? You're just afraid I won't die fast enough in prison, aren't you?
Wendy, are you sure you're not some kind of idiot sent by the goddess of misfortune to ruin me? John was seething with anger. Just as he was forcibly maintaining his composure and trying to find some more excuses to persuade Wendy, this idiot, to stop causing him trouble, he thought to himself.

The crowd in the square, however, began to agree and speak out:
"Vice Captain Wendy is right. Our understanding of Maslow's words is still too superficial. We can't possibly reach the level you, Captain, have reached. So forming a study group is absolutely necessary!"

“I think so too. Also, what Captain John just said should be recorded in Maslow’s Quotations!”

"Yes, true loyalty lies not in how loud the slogans are, but in the actions. This statement is truly profound and deserves to be recited and remembered day and night!"

"That line you just said—that a person's life shouldn't be about regretting a life of mediocrity, but about fighting for the empire—is really good. It gets my blood pumping!"

"This is fantastic! This is the imperial spirit I've always wanted to pursue! Everyone in Squad 14, please let me join the study group!"

The group discussed animatedly, and eventually seemed to reach a consensus. Even the soldiers from the other companies who had been watching the spectacle joined the members of the 14th squad in raising their arms and shouting:
"John Maslow! John Maslow!!!"

The crowd's voices grew louder and louder, even attracting the attention of the soldiers patrolling nearby. After learning what had happened, these soldiers, who were already dizzy from the shock of the famous quote from the other world, seemed to be infected by it and joined in the shouting.

For a moment, the entire square seemed to be a gathering of cult members, with the number of people constantly increasing and the air filled with an indescribable atmosphere of fanaticism.

It's over, it's over!

Wendy Brown, you damn idiot, you're going to completely ruin my life!

Seeing that human-to-human transmission had already occurred, the number of people making cult declarations began to expand rapidly.

John, realizing that the current situation was developing in the direction he least wanted, felt utterly hopeless.

Especially when he thought about how he was about to lead a new force to carry out that damned joint operation ordered by Dormammu.

But even now, he hasn't come up with a perfect way to break the deadlock.

My already throbbing head suddenly started to hurt even more.

Never mind the grass, let it be.

Instead of worrying about the consequences of spreading this bullshit quote, I should first think about how to perfectly solve that damn task!
After all, my life is in danger right now, so how can I have time to think about the future!

Thinking of this, John immediately stopped worrying about the damned cult scene. Ignoring Wendy's displeased expression, he ordered everyone to disperse without a word, and then walked into his tent with a dark face.

Just as he was about to pour himself a cup of coffee, using this damned beverage meant for cattle and horses to give his already exhausted donkey's ass a few lashes, forcibly squeezing out his few remaining brain cells in order to devise a win-win strategy.

The footsteps behind him caught his attention. He thought it would be Wendy, that idiot, and was about to give her a good scolding when...

Turning around, he realized that the person who had come was actually Leia Binott.

However, compared to her previous calm demeanor, the silver-haired female deputy general's expression now appeared somewhat strange.

Her little face was flushed, and her gaze toward John held a familiar, almost silent, admiration.

Clearly, this eccentric girl has been successfully assimilated by that idiot Wendy after listening to the brainwashing speech.

No, are you coming?

Please have mercy on me, I'm really exhausted right now!

John sighed inwardly, but after thinking it over, he decided to dissuade the naive girl from participating in the operation.

After all, he simply couldn't bring himself to send someone who had helped him to their death.

“Warrant Lieutenant Leia Binot, let me be frank, you…”

Just as John was about to forcefully dismiss her, the tent flap was pulled open again, and Wendy's adorable figure, which made John grit his teeth in anger, walked in. She then spoke to John in a very casual manner:

"Captain, Battalion Commander Olaf just sent someone to say that the rest of the joint operation force has assembled, and only our 14th Squad is missing. He asked me to ask you when you plan to depart for the mission."

After speaking, as if noticing that there was another person in the tent, and vaguely realizing from John's face, which was as black as the bottom of a pot, that she had come at an inopportune time, Wendy immediately stuck out her tongue and tried to leave.

But when her gaze fell upon Leia Binott's unusual silver hair, she seemed to remember something. Her eyes widened in surprise, then she exclaimed:
"That hair color... you... no, you're not just Warrant Officer Leia Binot, the ace rookie of the Black Hawk Special Forces, are you?"

"Ace Rookie?"

John looked puzzled upon hearing this word.

"Wow, Captain, don't you know the Binot family? They're a mysterious family that inherits the 'Severing' technique, which is said to be able to cut off everything. Even compared to the 'Thousand Blades' technique wielded by that Star Shattering Sword Saint of the Allied Forces, they're not inferior!"

Wendy looked puzzled, seemingly wondering why her captain didn't even know such common sense.

But soon, as if she had thought of something, the expression on her face was instantly replaced by excitement and exhilaration:

"By the way, Captain, could it be that Warrant Officer Leia is our deputy commander for this joint operation? If that's the case, then we can just sit back and wait to win!"

"You should know that Warrant Officer Leia has a record of single-handedly repelling a thousand-strong Allied force!"

"Even among the regular members of the Black Hawk Special Forces, he's a top-tier expert!"

Wendy kept chattering away, but upon hearing the news, John only paused briefly before stepping forward under Leia's questioning gaze. He then took her small hand in his, his face beaming with an unprecedentedly gentle smile, and his tone utterly sincere:

"Lieutenant Leia, I apologize for the poor hospitality earlier. Please, no, please join my team!"

"This joint operation needs someone like you!"

……

(End of this chapter)